UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x
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The Colonial BancGroup, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
We cordially invite you to attend the annual meeting of the shareholders of The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. to be held at 10:00 a.m., central time, Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at the Colonial Corporate Campus, 100 Colonial Bank Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama.
Enclosed is a Notice of the meeting, a Proxy Statement, a Proxy Card and the Annual Report to Shareholders for 2007. At the meeting, we will also report on matters of current interest to our shareholders.
We hope that you will be able to join us for the annual meeting in our Corporate and Bank Headquarters. Whether you plan to attend the meeting or not, please sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the accompanying envelope as promptly as possible. Alternatively, you may submit your vote by telephone or via the internet. Your proxy may be revoked by your vote in person at the meeting, by submission of a later dated proxy, or by you giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of The Colonial BancGroup, Inc., at any time prior to the voting thereof.
Thank you for your support of Colonial BancGroup.
Sincerely, |
Robert E. Lowder Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President |
March 18, 2008
NOTICE
of the
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
of
THE COLONIAL BANCGROUP, INC.
To Be Held April 16, 2008
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the annual meeting of shareholders of The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. (BancGroup), a Delaware corporation, will be held at the Colonial Corporate Campus, 100 Colonial Bank Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama, on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., central time, for the following purposes:
1. | To elect the nominees named in the Proxy Statement as directors to serve terms of three years; |
2. | To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as BancGroups independent auditors for 2008; |
3. | To approve the amended Stock Plan for Directors; |
4. | To approve the amended Management Incentive Plan; |
5. | To vote on a shareholder proposal; |
6. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof, but which is not now anticipated. |
Details respecting these matters are set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2008 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. A complete list of the shareholders of record entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each shareholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each shareholder, shall be open to examination by any shareholder at BancGroups principal office at 100 Colonial Bank Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama, during ordinary business hours for any purpose germane to the meeting. Such list will be open for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting.
All shareholders of BancGroup are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR PROXY VIA TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. YOUR PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY YOUR VOTE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING, BY YOUR EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF A LATER DATED PROXY BEFORE THE MEETING, OR IF YOU VOTE ELECTRONICALLY, THEN BEFORE 11:59 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON APRIL 15, 2008, OR BY YOU GIVING WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION TO THE SECRETARY OF BANCGROUP AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE VOTING THEREOF.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
Robert E. Lowder Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President |
March 18, 2008
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Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditor |
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Proposal 3: Approval of the amended Stock Plan for Directors |
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Proposal 4: Approval of the amended Management Incentive Plan |
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Resolution |
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Statement |
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Bylaw Provisions Regarding Conduct of Shareholders Meetings |
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Appendix A The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. Stock Plan for Directors (As Amended) |
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Appendix B The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. Management Incentive Plan (As Amended) |
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Appendix C The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. Risk Committee Charter January 2008 |
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THE COLONIAL BANCGROUP, INC.
100 Colonial Bank Boulevard
Post Office Box 241148
Montgomery, Alabama 36124
Telephone: 334-676-5000
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Proxy Card are furnished on or about March 18, 2008, by The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. (BancGroup) to the holders of record of Common Stock as of February 20, 2008 in connection with BancGroups annual meeting of shareholders (the Annual Meeting), and any adjournments thereof, to be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., central time, at the Colonial Corporate Campus, 100 Colonial Bank Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama. The matters to be considered and acted upon, including the election of directors, are described herein.
BancGroups Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors of BancGroup (the Board) recommend (i) the election of each of the five director-nominees named in this Proxy Statement for a term of three years, (ii) the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as BancGroups independent auditors for 2008, (iii) the approval of the amended Stock Plan for Directors, (iv) the approval of the amended Management Incentive Plan in order that payments made under this plan will continue to be afforded beneficial tax treatment under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and (v) a vote AGAINST the shareholder proposal.
Your proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board and is revocable at any time prior to the voting of such proxy by giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of BancGroup, by submitting a later-dated proxy, or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Mere attendance at the Annual Meeting without voting in person will not be sufficient to revoke a previously submitted proxy. All properly submitted proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with instructions, if any. If no instructions are given, the proxies will be voted FOR election of the director-nominees named herein, FOR Proposals 2, 3 and 4 and AGAINST Proposal 5 and in accordance with the instructions of management as to any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by BancGroup. In addition to mailing, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic means. Banks, brokers, nominees or fiduciaries should forward the soliciting material to the principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies, as required by law. BancGroup also will allow proxies to be delivered by telephone or via the internet. BancGroup may, upon request, reimburse banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding proxy material to the principals. BancGroup has retained the firm of Georgeson Shareholder Communications, Inc. to solicit proxies and will pay that firm a fee of $7,000, plus out of pocket expenses.
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of Common Stock who were holders of record as of the close of business on February 20, 2008. Only those holders are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Votes will be tabulated and counted by one or more inspectors of election appointed by the Chairman of the Board. Proxies marked as abstentions and shares held in street names which have been designated by brokers on
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proxy cards as not voted will not be counted as votes cast. Such proxies will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum at the Annual Meeting. A quorum consists of a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding.
The Board has determined that the majority of BancGroups directors are independent. Throughout this Proxy Statement, a reference to being independent means independent as that term is defined by Section 303A.02 of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE). In determining director independence, the Board broadly considers relevant facts and circumstances, including each directors personal independence and the manner in which each directors affiliations, both corporate and personal, might impair his or her independence. An independent director must be free of any relationship with BancGroup or its management that may impair the directors ability to make independent judgments. Particular attention is paid to certain relationships between each director and management of BancGroup and Colonial Bank, N.A. (Colonial Bank) and any credit relationships that may exist between Colonial Bank and a director or a directors related interest. Generally, credit relationships with directors and their affiliates will not impair independence so long as the terms of the credit relationship are similar to terms extended to other comparable borrowers. Additionally, unpaid co-membership with another BancGroup director or executive officer on the board or council of any religious, educational, governmental, public-service or non-profit institution is not deemed to adversely impact independence. A director who is an executive officer or principal shareholder of a company that makes payments to or receives payments from BancGroup for property or services in an amount which, in any one of the last three fiscal years, is more than the greater of $1 million or 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of either BancGroup or such directors company will not be considered independent. Applying these standards, which are intended to comply with the NYSE corporate governance rules, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Board has determined that each of the following directors presently in office is independent: Lewis E. Beville, Augustus K. Clements, III, Robert S. Craft, Hubert L. Harris, Jr., Clinton O. Holdbrooks, Deborah L. Linden, Milton E. McGregor, Joe D. Mussafer, William E. Powell, III, James W. Rane, Simuel Sippial, Jr. and Edward V. Welch.
The Board of Directors conducts an annual self-assessment led by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee undergo an annual assessment of their performance in accordance with their respective charters. The non-employee directors of the Board (which currently are all the directors except the Chairman) meet in executive session at each regularly scheduled meeting, and such meetings are presided over by Mr. Miller, Vice-Chairman of the Board. At least once a year, a super executive session comprised solely of independent directors is held in place of the meeting of non-employee directors. This executive session is presided over by Mr. Craft, Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. The Board intends that independent directors make decisions on matters of corporate governance. As additional corporate governance standards are adopted, they will be disclosed on an ongoing basis on either BancGroups website or in its public filings, as appropriate.
BancGroup has adopted a Code of Ethics for Principal Financial Officers that applies to BancGroups chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer. This code of ethics was attached as Exhibit 14 to BancGroups Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. Each year, the Board of Directors also reviews, amends if necessary or desirable, and readopts a code of ethics that applies to all employees, officers and directors of BancGroup and its subsidiaries. This more general code of ethics is posted on BancGroups website at www.colonialbank.com. In addition, copies of the codes of ethics and the committee charters referenced above are available to any shareholder who requests them by contacting David B. Byrne, Jr., Secretary, at 334-676-5000.
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Corporate Governance Guidelines
In compliance with NYSE listing standards, BancGroup has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. These guidelines are posted on BancGroups website at www.colonialbank.com.
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS
The Company has a process to facilitate written communications by shareholders or other interested parties to the Board. Persons wishing to write to the Board of Directors of BancGroup or a specific director or committee of the Board should send correspondence to Lewis E. Beville, Chairman, Audit Committee, P.O. Box 241148, Montgomery, Alabama 36124-1148.
All appropriately designated communications received from shareholders or other interested parties will be forwarded to the applicable director or committee of the Board of Directors. Anyone who wishes to communicate with a specific Board member or committee should send instructions asking that the material be forwarded to the director or to the appropriate committee chairman.
BancGroup encourages its directors to attend its annual meeting of shareholders. Last year, all of BancGroups directors attended the annual meeting.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
As of February 20, 2008, BancGroup had 158,049,100 shares of Common Stock outstanding with approximately 10,065 shareholders of record. Each such share is entitled to one vote. In addition, as of that date, 2,074,930 shares of Common Stock were subject to issuance upon the exercise of options pursuant to BancGroups stock option plans. There are currently 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized. BancGroup is not aware of any material change in the ownership of Common Stock since February 20, 2008.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
As of December 31, 2007, no person was known by BancGroup to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of BancGroup common stock, except as follows:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned(1) |
Percent of Class | |||
Barclays Global Investors, NA |
12,817,898 | 8.11 | % | ||
45 Fremont Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 |
(1) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G filed by Barclays Global Investors, NA on February 5, 2008. Barclays Global Investors, NA, Barclays Global Fund Advisors, Barclays Global Investors, LTD, Barclays Global Investors Japan Limited, and Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited share voting power over 11,641,820 of the shares and share dispositive power over all of the shares. These shares are held in trust accounts for the economic benefit of the beneficiaries of those accounts. |
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Security Ownership of Management and Directors
The following table indicates for each director, director-nominee, executive officer, and all executive officers and directors of BancGroup as a group the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned on February 20, 2008.
Shares of BancGroup Beneficially Owned | |||||
Name |
Common Stock |
Percentage of Class Outstanding | |||
DIRECTORS |
|||||
Lewis E. Beville |
24,237 | (1) | * | ||
Augustus K. Clements, III |
58,071 | * | |||
Robert S. Craft |
48,761 | (2) | * | ||
Patrick F. Dye |
31,025 | * | |||
Hubert L. Harris, Jr. |
12,696 | * | |||
Clinton O. Holdbrooks |
456,138 | (3) | * | ||
Deborah L. Linden |
10,448 | * | |||
Robert E. Lowder |
7,197,386 | (4) | 4.54% | ||
John Ed Mathison |
50,932 | (5) | * | ||
Milton E. McGregor |
1,001,460 | * | |||
John C. H. Miller, Jr. |
43,242 | (6) | * | ||
Joseph D. Mussafer |
51,908 | * | |||
William E. Powell, III |
36,417 | * | |||
James W. Rane |
159,260 | (7) | * | ||
Simuel Sippial, Jr. |
49,429 | * | |||
Edward V. Welch |
54,308 | (8) | * | ||
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT ALSO DIRECTORS |
|||||
Sarah H. Moore |
245,137 | (9) | * | ||
Caryn Cope Hughes |
209,522 | (9) | * | ||
Patti G. Hill |
211,171 | (9) | * | ||
David B. Byrne, Jr. |
48,029 | (9) | * | ||
All Executive Officers, and Directors as a group |
9,999,577 | 6.30% |
* | Represents less than 1%. |
(1) | Includes 474 shares owned by Mr. Bevilles son. |
(2) | Includes 2,808 shares held by the IRA of Mr. Crafts wife. Mr. Craft disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares. |
(3) | Includes 80,000 shares held by Mr. Holdbrooks as trustee. |
(4) | Includes 500,324 shares of Common Stock subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 2008. In addition, the total includes 25,960 shares owned by Mr. Lowders wife. Mr. Lowder disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. The total also includes 341,768 shares which are owned by the Estate of Catherine K. Lowder, deceased. Mr. Lowder is the personal representative and a beneficiary of the Estate and is also the trustee and a beneficiary of the Catherine K. Lowder Revocable Management Trust, to which the shares will be distributed. Mr. Lowder has been treated as the beneficial owner of these shares. |
(5) | Includes 2,000 shares owned by Dr. Mathisons wife. Dr. Mathison disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. |
(6) | Includes 21,363 shares owned by Mr. Millers wife. Mr. Miller disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. |
(7) | Includes 123 shares owned by a trust, of which Mr. Rane is the trustee. Mr. Rane disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. |
(8) | Includes 20,000 shares which are pledged as collateral for borrowings and 362 shares owned by Mr. Welchs wifes estate. Mr. Welch disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. |
(9) | Includes all shares subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 2008 by the following BancGroup officers: Ms. Moore (97,370), Ms. Hughes (40,310), Ms. Hill (77,570) and Mr. Byrne (15,111). Ms. Moores amount includes 4,649 shares owned by her son. Mr. Byrnes amount includes 500 shares owned by his wife. Mr. Byrne disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. |
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board recommends that the shareholders elect the five persons named below to hold office for terms of three years, or until their successors are elected. BancGroups Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the number of directors which shall constitute the entire Board shall be fixed from time to time by resolutions adopted by the Board, but shall not be less than three persons. If the shareholders elect directors as recommended by the Board, then the Board shall consist of 16 members. By resolution, the Board has currently fixed the maximum number of directors at 23.
BancGroups Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for the election of directors by classes to terms of three years, with one class of approximately one-third of the total number of directors to be elected each year. Five nominees are proposed for election to the class of directors whose terms expire in 2011. At the Annual Meeting, proxies cannot be voted for more than five directors or for a person who has not been properly nominated.
The nominees listed below were selected by BancGroups Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised solely of independent directors and is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and recommending to the Board director nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will periodically review the size and composition of the Board and determine whether it is necessary or advisable to change the size of the Board, or to add or replace directors.
Nominees for director are selected on the basis of outstanding career achievement; broad business experience; independence; financial expertise; integrity; ability to make independent, analytical inquiries; understanding of the business environment; and willingness and ability to devote adequate time to Board duties. The Board believes that each director should have, and nominees are expected to have the capacity to obtain, a basic understanding of (i) the principal operational and financial objectives, plans and strategies of BancGroup, (ii) the results of operations and financial condition of BancGroup and of any significant subsidiaries or business segments, and (iii) the relative standing of BancGroup and its business segments in relation to its competitors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers it essential that the Audit Committee have at least one member who qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and the NYSE.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers a variety of sources when evaluating individuals as potential Board members. BancGroup does not typically retain a search firm to assist in the selection of directors. Historically, most of BancGroups director nominees have served on one of Colonial Banks regional boards or the board of a company acquired by BancGroup, and have had a leadership position with a business or institution that is located in a community served by Colonial Bank. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board consider Colonial Bank regional board members to be an excellent source for nominees because service on a regional Colonial Bank board gives an individual an opportunity to better understand Colonial Bank and BancGroup, and the individuals prior service enables the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to evaluate the level of contribution that individual can make to BancGroup and its constituents. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board also take into consideration the diversity of the Board when selecting nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review this process from time to time and may alter the process at its discretion.
If, prior to the voting at the Annual Meeting, any person proposed for election as a director is unavailable to serve or for good cause cannot serve, the shares represented by all valid proxies may be voted for the election of
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such substitute as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the members of the Board may recommend. The management of BancGroup knows of no reason why any nominated person would be unavailable to serve as a director.
Assuming a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, a plurality of the votes cast will be sufficient to elect the directors. Voting for directors is Proposal 1 on the proxy card.
The bylaws of BancGroup contain certain limitations on shareholder nominations of candidates for election as directors at the Annual Meeting. See Bylaw Provisions Regarding Conduct of Shareholders Meetings for a description of such limitations.
The following table provides certain biographical information about each nominee to be proposed on behalf of the Board and continuing directors whose terms will expire in 2009 and 2010. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has been engaged in the principal occupation shown for at least the last five years. The Board recommends that shareholders vote FOR the approval of the following Director nominees.
NOMINEES FOR A TERM EXPIRING IN 2011:
Name, Age and Year Became Director |
Position and Office Held with BancGroup And Colonial Bank |
Present and Principal Occupation for Last Five Years | ||
Augustus K. Clements, III |
Director, BancGroup; Member, Executive Committee; Director, Colonial Bank | Managing Partner, Clements Financial Group, LLC, from 2001 through 2004; Financial Representative, Clements Financial Group, LLC since January 2005, Montgomery, AL. | ||
Patrick F. Dye |
Director, BancGroup | Special Advisor, Auburn University; Part Owner, Craftmasters Printing; Assistant to the President, Auburn University Foundation, since 2002; Former Host of Pat Dye Outdoors (Radio Show); Owner, Crooked Oaks Hunting Preserve; Former Owner, Wildlife Information, LLC (sold in 2006), Auburn, AL. | ||
Milton E. McGregor |
Director, BancGroup; Member, Compensation Committee | Chief Executive Officer and President, Macon County Greyhound Park d/b/a Victoryland; Chief Executive Officer and President, Jefferson County Racing Association (greyhound racing facility); Part Owner, Southern Springs Nursing Home; Part Owner, Union Street Partners, Montgomery, AL | ||
William E. Powell, III |
Director, BancGroup; Member, Audit Committee; Member, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; Director, Colonial Bank; Member, Colonial Bank Fiduciary Audit Committee |
Executive Vice President, Alabama Cattlemens Association (trade association representing the beef cattle industry), Montgomery, AL |
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Name, Age and Year Became Director |
Position and Office Held with BancGroup And Colonial Bank |
Present and Principal Occupation for Last Five Years | ||
Simuel Sippial, Jr. |
Director, BancGroup; Chairman, Compensation Committee; Member, Executive Committee; Member, Risk Committee; Member, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; Director, Colonial Bank; Chairman, Colonial Bank Fiduciary Audit Committee; Member, Colonial Bank CRA Committee | President, Sippial Enterprises, Inc. (real estate investment company), Montgomery, AL; Retired IBM Business Unit Executive |
CONTINUING DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2010:
Name, Age and Year Became Director |
Position and Office Held with BancGroup And Colonial Bank |
Present and Principal Occupation for Last Five Years | ||
Robert S. Craft |
Director, BancGroup; Chairman, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; Member, Executive Committee; Member, Risk Committee | President, Craft Development Corp. (golf course ownership and development company); Managing Officer, Pinehurst Development (real estate development company); Managing Member, Craft Turf Farms LLC (turf grass production and sales company); President, Wingo Trucking Inc. (trucking company); Managing Member, Woodlands Management Co. LLC (golf course management company); Managing Member, Brights Creek Development Co. LLC (golf course ownership company); Managing Member, TRI-TEL, LLC (hotel ownership company); President, Cotton Creek Condominium Development Corp.; President, Craft Realty, Inc.; Member, Craft Properties, Ltd. (a family limited partnership); Managing Member, Turf Properties, LLC and Turf Properties #2, LLC (turf grass production and sales company); Member, Craft Farms Land Development Company, LLC.; Member, Robert Craft Ventures LLC; Member, Turf Properties #3, LLC, Foley, AL |
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Name, Age and Year Became Director |
Position and Office Held with BancGroup And Colonial Bank |
Present and Principal Occupation for Last Five Years | ||
Hubert L. Harris, Jr. |
Director, BancGroup; Member, Audit Committee; Member, Risk Committee | Chief Executive Officer of INVESCO North America from August 2003 to December 2005, Atlanta, GARetired; Chief Executive Officer of AMVESCAP Retirement from January 1998, to August 2003, Atlanta, GA | ||
Clinton O. Holdbrooks |
Director, BancGroup; Chairman, Risk Committee | Chairman of the Board, East Central Area of the Alabama Region from July, 2002 to July 2006 - Retired; Chairman of the Board, Central Alabama Region June 2000 to July 2002, Birmingham, AL | ||
Robert E. Lowder* |
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, BancGroup; Chairman, Executive Committee; Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, Colonial Bank | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, BancGroup and Colonial Bank since 1981; also President of BancGroup and Colonial Bank from 1981 to 2003 and since 2005, Montgomery, AL | ||
John C. H. Miller, Jr. |
Vice-Chairman of the Board, BancGroup; Member, Executive Committee | Member, Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom, L.L.C. (law firm), Mobile, AL | ||
James W. Rane |
Director, BancGroup | President, Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc., Great Southern Wood of Florida, Inc., Great Southern Wood of North Alabama, Inc. and Great Southern WoodStatesboro, Inc.; Manager, Texas, Great Southern Wood, LLC; President, Global Fibers USA, Inc. , (lumber companies), Abbeville, AL |
* | Indicates that the director is also an executive officer. |
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CONTINUING DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2009:
Name, Age and Year Became Director |
Position and Office Held with BancGroup And Colonial Bank |
Present and Principal Occupation for Last Five Years | ||
Lewis E. Beville |
Director, BancGroup; Chairman, Audit Committee; Member, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | Vice President of T&B Ltd. d/b/a Thames, Batre, Mattei, Beville and Ison (insurance agency), Mobile, AL | ||
Deborah L. Linden |
Director, BancGroup; Member, Compensation Committee; Advisory Board Director, Central Florida Region; Member, Loan Committee Central Florida Region | Chief Executive Officer of Island One Resorts and Club Navigo (time share companies); Chairman of the Board of Island One Resorts Management Corporation (property management company), Orlando, FL | ||
John Ed Mathison |
Director, BancGroup | Senior Minister, Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, Montgomery, AL | ||
Joseph D. Mussafer |
Director, BancGroup; Member, Risk Committee; Member, Compensation Committee | President, MBC United Wholesale, LLC (beverage distributor), Montgomery, AL | ||
Edward V. Welch |
Director, BancGroup; Member, Audit Committee | Chairman of the Board, Welch, Hornsby & Welch, Inc, (investment advisory firm); former Chairman of the Board of Trinity Investments, Inc., (investment holding company); former Part Owner, The Timberlands, LLC and The Waters at Waugh, LLC (real estate development companies), Montgomery, AL |
Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees
BancGroups Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that there shall be an Audit Committee of the Board composed of not less than three directors appointed by the Board at least annually, none of whom shall be active officers of BancGroup. Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee shall meet at least four times each year, review BancGroups quarterly and annual financial reports, and report the results of its examinations in writing to the Board at its next regular meeting. The Audit Committee may make recommendations to the Board and, with the approval of the Board, employ an independent firm of certified public accountants. The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent, and that each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the experience and financial literacy requirements established by the NYSE. In addition, the Board has determined that two of its members, Lewis E. Beville and Hubert L. Harris, Jr., qualify as audit committee financial experts as defined by the NYSE and the SEC. The Audit Committee met seven times in 2007 (See Audit Committee Report). The Audit Committee Charter, as amended, is available on BancGroups website at www.colonialbank.com.
On January 16, 2008, the Board approved the charter for BancGroups newly formed Risk Committee. The Risk Committee was formed for the purpose of overseeing the policies, procedures and practices relating to BancGroups enterprise-wide risks, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and material pending or threatened litigation. The Board has determined that all members of the Risk Committee are independent, and that each member of the Risk Committee satisfies the experience and financial literacy requirements established by the NYSE. The Risk Committees charter is attached herein as Appendix C.
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BancGroups Asset/Liability Committee (ALCO) established a framework of procedures, responsibilities and policies regarding the management of BancGroups assets and liabilities in order to optimize net interest margin and net income under a range of interest rate scenarios while assuming reasonable business risks. Management provided to this committee detailed reports on the companys interest rate risk and liquidity position along with current strategies. This committee met four times in 2007. On January 16, 2008, as a result of the newly formed Risk Committee, the Board determined that the Asset/Liability Committee was no longer needed and therefore approved its dissolution.
BancGroups Compensation Committee discharges the Boards responsibilities in matters relating to executive compensation, administers BancGroups incentive compensation and equity-based plans, oversees the preparation of BancGroups proxy, and produces annually a report on executive compensation for inclusion in BancGroups proxy statement. The Compensation Committee met seven times in 2007 (See the Compensation Committee Report). All current members of the Compensation Committee have been determined by the Board to be independent. The Compensation Committees charter is available on BancGroups website at www.colonialbank.com.
BancGroups Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee nominates individuals to stand for election as directors of BancGroup, and monitors and evaluates BancGroups standards of corporate governance. After a full discussion of qualifications of the nominees, this committee recommended the nomination of the individuals listed on pages 6 and 7, who will stand for election at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. This committee met five times in 2007. The Board has determined that all members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has adopted a charter which is available on BancGroups website at www.colonialbank.com. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider a nomination recommended by BancGroup shareholders, but only if the nomination is submitted in accordance with its charter.
BancGroups Executive Committee performs certain actions in lieu of the Board at times when a meeting of the full Board is not feasible or practicable. This committee met three times in 2007. Actions taken by the Executive Committee at those meetings were later reviewed and ratified by the full board of directors.
During 2007, the Board met four times. All BancGroup directors attended 75% or more of the Board meetings and the respective committee meetings on which they served.
The following table shows the current membership of each committee.
Director |
Executive | Audit | Compensation | Nominating and Corporate Governance |
Risk | |||||
Lewis E. Beville |
Chair | X | ||||||||
Augustus K. Clements, III |
X | |||||||||
Robert S. Craft |
X | Chair | X | |||||||
Patrick F. Dye |
||||||||||
Hubert L. Harris, Jr. |
X | X | ||||||||
Clinton O. Holdbrooks |
Chair | |||||||||
Deborah L. Linden |
X | |||||||||
Robert E. Lowder |
Chair | |||||||||
Milton E. McGregor |
X | |||||||||
John C. H. Miller, Jr. |
X | |||||||||
Joe D. Mussafer |
X | X | ||||||||
William E. Powell, III |
X | X | ||||||||
James W. Rane |
||||||||||
Simuel Sippial, Jr. |
X | Chair | X | X | ||||||
Edward V. Welch |
X |
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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires BancGroups directors, certain officers and 10% shareholders, if any, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of BancGroups common stock on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such directors, officers and 10% shareholders, if any, are required by SEC regulations to furnish BancGroup with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To BancGroups knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such forms received by BancGroup, and written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, BancGroup believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than 10% Shareholders were complied with, except that Mr. Lowder, Ms. Moore, Ms. Cope, Ms. Hill, Mr. Byrne and BancGroups Chief Accounting Officer Brent Hicks filed late Form 4s, three transactions each, on January 22, 2007 reporting grants of restricted stock and stock options due to an administrative oversight on the part of BancGroup. Directors Milton McGregor and Deborah Linden each filed one late Form 4 each on January 16, 2008 for open market purchases. Mr. McGregors Form 4 reported three transactions that occurred on the same day. Ms. Lindens Form 4 reported one transaction.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
Compensation Philosophy, Objectives and Determinations
The overall guiding principle for executive compensation at BancGroup is to provide Pay for Performance. The Committee believes the compensation provided to its executives should be aligned with BancGroups financial performance and the creation of long-term shareholder value. It accomplishes this principle by paying total compensation at or near market median levels for delivering similar financial and shareholder performance with the opportunity for higher total compensation as performance moves above median providing for levels of compensation that are commensurate with overall performance. As further discussed under Pay Elements, compensation is comprised of three primary components: (1) competitive base salaries; (2) annual cash incentives; and (3) long-term incentives including Options, Performance Based Restricted Stock and Time Based Restricted Stock
The Committee uses both quantitative and qualitative performance measures to measure and determine this compensation philosophy, with incentive compensation plans aligned with performance using quantitative factors such as earnings per share (EPS), efficiency ratio, net income, non-performing assets ratio, net charge-off ratio, expense control and share price. The Committee believes these measures drive the success and growth of BancGroup and provide enhanced shareholder returns. Individual performance measures are also used along with the corporate measures mentioned previously. The Chief Executive Officers performance measures are objective and directly related to the CEOs duties and responsibilities. Executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer have one component of the annual incentive plan tied to the individuals overall performance for the year which is subject to the CEOs judgment, while all other performance measures are related to the Companys performance, are objective and are quantitatively measurable.
BancGroup seeks to maintain a Pay for Performance culture through its executive compensation programs. The following are the specific objectives of BancGroups compensation programs:
| AttractionProvide pay levels sufficient to attract highly qualified, experienced executives who can further BancGroups interests and enhance long-term shareholder value. |
| RetentionRetain the services of key executives who deliver significant value to BancGroup. |
| MotivationMotivate executive performance by providing annual and long-term incentives that are contingent upon achieving BancGroup and individual performance goals. |
| Shareholder Value CreationCreate a shareholder value-oriented culture by providing significant compensation opportunities comprised of equity-based incentives coupled with the encouragement of stock ownership. |
The Committee considers each of the following factors in determining the appropriate mix and level of compensation for each executive officer:
| BancGroups financial performance, including both annual and long-term. |
| Individual performance of executive officers. |
| The importance of share ownership by executive officers, which places emphasis on equity-based incentives. |
| Competitive pay levels commensurate with BancGroups peers. |
| Compensation summaries compiled for each of the executive officers. |
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| Mr. Lowders stock price performance goal arises from the Committees belief that, of management, he has the most significant impact on BancGroups stock price. |
| Ms. Moores, Ms. Hillss and Mr. Byrnes other individual performance goals are intended to encourage performance within their respective areas of control. |
| The strategic planning component is intended to reflect the overall contribution by the executive to BancGroups performance that cannot be measured by the other components. |
The Committee works with Mr. Lowder and management to establish performance levels for BancGroups financial objectives, and reviews and approves the individual performance criteria for the executive officers. The goals under the MTIP are generally established at three separate levelsThreshold, Target and Superior. If the Threshold level is not achieved for a particular performance objective, executives will not be entitled to an award for that objective under the MTIP, unless the Committee exercises its discretion. Threshold annual incentive payments are 50% of Target while Superior levels are defined as 200% of Target.
The Committee and management believe the Target performance objectives associated with each of the performance measures were stretch goals, requiring significant performance beyond that of the prior year and is reflective of a growth-oriented culture. Achievement at Superior represents an outstanding outcome fully deserving of a Superior annual incentive payout. The Committee and management believe the Threshold level performance criteria represent acceptable financial performance. The following represents the specific goals for 2007:
Threshold | Target | Superior | ||||
EPS |
$1.73 | $1.77 | $1.81 | |||
Efficiency Ratio |
40th Percentile of Peer Group | 50th Percentile of Peer Group | 85th Percentile of Peer Group | |||
Nonperforming Assets Ratio |
50th Percentile of Peer Group | 65th Percentile of Peer Group | 85th Percentile of Peer Group | |||
Net Charge-off Ratio |
0.25% | 0.15% | 0.10% | |||
Stock Price |
40th Percentile of Peer Group | 50th Percentile of Peer Group | 85th Percentile of Peer Group | |||
Net Income Growth |
50th Percentile of Peer Group | 65th Percentile of Peer Group | 85th Percentile of Peer Group | |||
Pretax Income of various Lines of Business | Pretax income of $1 million below Budget | Budgeted Pretax Income | Pretax income of $1 million above Budget | |||
Legal Expenses |
Expenses of $800 thousand over Budget | Budgeted Expense | Expenses of $700 thousand below Budget |
At a meeting held on February 12, 2008, the Committee reviewed BancGroups 2007 performance with respect to the performance measures chosen for both the MIP and MTIP and the individual performance of each of the executive officers, and certified that the executive officers, including Mr. Lowder, were eligible for the following payouts with respect to 2007 and payable in February 2008:
| Mr. Lowder$0, or 0% of salary, resulting from: |
| EPS$1.37, a payout of 0% of the superior level. |
| Net Charge-off Ratio0.35%, a payout of 0% of the superior level. |
| Stock price growth to peersbelow threshold, a payout of 0% of the superior level. |
| Ms. Moore$297,359, or 69.3% of salary, resulting from: |
| EPS$1.37, a payout of 0% of the superior level. |
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25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
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During 2007, Directors of BancGroup received fees as follows:
| Annual retainer paid as $6,250 per quarter. |
| $2,000 for each Board meeting attended. |
| Annual stock grant of shares worth $15,000 |
| Members of the Audit Committee received fees of $1,500 for each Audit Committee meeting attended. |
| Members of any committee other than the Audit Committee, received fees of $1,250 for each committee meeting attended. |
| The Chairman of the Audit Committee received $2,500 per quarter for serving as chair |
| The Chairman of the Compensation Committee received $2,000 per quarter for serving as chair. |
| The Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee received $1,500 per quarter for serving as chair. |
| The Chairman of the Asset Liability Committee received $1,000 per quarter for serving as chair. |
From time to time, BancGroup may form one or more special litigation committees. Fees paid to such special litigation committee members are $1,000 per meeting attended, provided, however, that in the event a meeting extends beyond four hours in length, then each member shall receive an additional $500 fee for any additional four hour period or portion thereof. There were no such special litigation committees during 2007.
Certain directors of BancGroup also serve as directors of Colonial Bank, and/or its regional and local advisory boards, and receive fees for services on those boards. Fees paid to BancGroup directors under the Directors Plan for service as directors of BancGroup and its subsidiaries in cash and stock in 2007 totaled $954,782. Each director has the opportunity to make an annual election to receive the cash fees outlined above in the form of stock.
The Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and related Tables with management. Based on such review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Simuel Sippial, Jr., Chairman
Milton E. McGregor
Joseph D. Mussafer
Deborah L. Linden
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of BancGroup consists of Simuel Sippial, Jr., Chairman, Milton E. McGregor, Joe D. Mussafer and Deborah L. Linden. Each of the Compensation Committee Members is an independent, outside director. None of the committee members is a current or former officer or employee of BancGroup. During 2006 and 2007, no named executive officer of the Company served on the Compensation Committee (or equivalent), or the board of directors of another entity whose executive officer served on BancGroups Compensation Committee.
Management recognizes that related party transactions can present unique risks and potential conflicts of interest (in appearance and in fact) while creating the appearance that BancGroup decisions are based upon factors other than the best interests of the Company and shareholders. Therefore, BancGroup maintains stringent written policies around interactions with related parties.
Directors, officers and other related parties are customers of and transact business with BancGroup (more specifically Colonial Bank and Colonial Brokerage, Inc.). All BancGroup transactions with related parties are to be on terms that are no less favorable to BancGroup, including interest rates, collateral and fees, than those of similar transactions with third parties. These transactions also do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present any other unfavorable terms.
Any loan that is to be made or renewed by Colonial Bank to a related party, as specified by the banking regulators (i.e. an individual or an entity that is related to or at least partly owned by that individual), must be approved in advance by the board of Colonial Bank. Additionally, as a result of the magnitude of the fees being paid, the BancGroup Board of Directors has approved the terms of the service contract with Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom, L.L.C.
BancGroup has retained in the past and proposes to retain in the future on behalf of BancGroup and its subsidiaries the law firm of Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom, L.L.C., Mobile, Alabama, of which a director of BancGroup, John C. H. Miller, Jr., is a member. Legal fees paid to this firm by BancGroup and its subsidiaries were approximately $3,938,000 in 2007. Management of BancGroup believes that this arrangement is at least as favorable to BancGroup as that which might be negotiated with unaffiliated parties for similar arrangements and services.
Certain directors and officers of BancGroup and their affiliated interests were customers of and had transactions with Colonial Bank and Colonial Brokerage, Inc. in the ordinary course of their business during the past year. Additional transactions may be expected to take place in the ordinary course of business. Included in such transactions were outstanding loans and commitments from Colonial Bank and Colonial Brokerage, Inc., all of which were made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rate and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.
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In 2007, the Audit Committee of the Board consisted of Lewis E. Beville, Chairman, Hubert L. Harris, Jr., William E. Powell III, and Simuel Sippial. The Board has determined that the members of the Audit Committee satisfy the independence (as defined by Section 303A.02 of the NYSEs listing standards) and experience requirements of the NYSE and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Mr. Beville and Mr. Harris have been determined to qualify as audit committee financial experts as that term has been defined by SEC rules and regulations.
The Audit Committee has adopted a charter. The Audit Committee reviews its charter for adequacy on an annual basis. The charter is available on BancGroups website at www.colonialbank.com. In accordance with its charter, the Audit Committee met seven times in 2007. The Audit Committee has reviewed BancGroups audited financial statements with management and its independent auditor to determine whether such statements were consistent with BancGroups audit policy and whether BancGroups internal controls were adequate for the preparation of the financial statements. The Audit Committee also reviewed with management and BancGroups independent auditor the quarterly financial statements of BancGroup prior to the filing of BancGroups Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q in 2007. The Audit Committee held discussions and received communications from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) and the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended. Based upon the reviews and discussion noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that BancGroups audited Financial Statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
One of the Audit Committees responsibilities is to recommend to BancGroups Board of Directors an independent auditor. In making its recommendation for 2008, the Audit Committee considered the fees paid during 2007 to PwC in relation to the services PwC provided and the compatibility of any non-audit services provided by PwC with their status as BancGroups independent auditor. The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services to be provided by PwC. The Audit Committee reviews allowable non-audit services that are proposed to be provided by PwC and approves such if it determines that these services are not incompatible with maintaining PwCs independence.
Taking all of these reviews into account, the Audit Committee appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as BancGroups independent auditor for 2008.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Lewis E. Beville, Chairman
Hubert L. Harris, Jr.
William E. Powell, III
Simuel Sippial, Jr.
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RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Aggregate fees for professional services rendered to BancGroup by PwC for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, were:
2007 | Percentage | 2006 | Percentage | |||||||||
Audit |
$ | 1,060,000 | 57 | % | $ | 960,000 | 64 | % | ||||
Audit Related |
184,000 | 10 | % | 52,000 | 3 | % | ||||||
Tax |
619,000 | 33 | % | 495,000 | 33 | % | ||||||
All Other |
1,500 | | % | 1,400 | | % | ||||||
Total |
$ | 1,864,500 | 100 | % | $ | 1,508,400 | 100 | % | ||||
Audit fees were for professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements and internal controls of BancGroup, statutory and subsidiary audits, issuance of comfort letters, consents, income tax provision procedures, and assistance with review of documents filed with the SEC.
Audit Related fees were for assurance and related services related to business acquisitions, the REIT Preferred Shares offering, employee benefit plan audits, and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. Audit Related Fees increased during 2007 as a result of fees related to the issuance of the REIT Preferred Shares services provided in relation to BancGroups two acquisitions, as well as two sale-leaseback transactions.
Tax fees were for services related to tax compliance, including the preparation of tax returns and claims for refund; and tax planning and tax advice, advice related to mergers and acquisitions, tax services for employee benefit plans, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities. The aggregate fees for tax compliance were $102,000 for 2007 and $90,000 for 2006.
All Other fees relate to BancGroups subscription to an online accounting information service provided by PwC.
The Audit Committee pre-approved 100% of the fees paid to PwC for 2007 and 2006.
BancGroups Audit Committee has considered the provision of non-audit services by PwC and the fees paid to PwC for such services and believes that the provision of such services and their fees are compatible with maintaining PwCs independence.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
The Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the independent auditor to audit the consolidated financial statements of BancGroup and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 and BancGroups internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders present at the meeting. Although shareholder ratification of the appointment of PwC as independent auditor is not
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required by our bylaws or otherwise, we are submitting the selection of PwC to our shareholders for ratification so that shareholders can participate in this important corporate decision. If not ratified, the Audit Committee will reconsider the selection, although the Audit Committee will not be required to select a different independent auditor for BancGroup.
The ratification of PwC as independent auditor of BancGroup is Proposal 4 on the proxy card. To ratify the appointment of PwC as independent auditor for BancGroup, a majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting must be voted in favor of Proposal 4. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes FOR the Proposal, but will be counted as being present at the Annual Meeting. The Board recommends that shareholders vote FOR the ratification of PwC as BancGroups independent auditors for 2008.
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
On February 12, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved adopting an amended Stock Plan for Directors (Stock Plan). The only change that will result from this amendment is that the valuation of the stock to be issued to Bank Directors and Regional Directors will be calculated consistently with the valuation of stock issued to BancGroup Directors (See page A-3). The Board recommends that the shareholders approve this amended Stock Plan, attached herein as Appendix A.
The Stock Plan provides a means whereby directors of BancGroup, Colonial Bank, as well as Colonial Banks regional and local advisory boards, may receive shares of BancGroup common stock in lieu of cash fees for service as directors. Directors of Colonial Bank and its regional and local advisory boards who are also employees are not eligible to participate in the Stock Plan. Up to 500,000 shares of BancGroup common stock may be issued under the Stock Plan.
Upon election as a BancGroup or Colonial Bank director, each director may receive, at the option of the director, in lieu of cash fees, that number of whole shares of common stock of BancGroup, rounded to the nearest whole number, determined by dividing the fees the director would have received during the directors current term of office by the average of the closing prices of the common stock as reported by the NYSE for the period of 5 trading days prior to the end of the quarter in which services were rendered. Shares issued in lieu of fees will be issued in restricted form until the end of the plan year. Under the terms of the 2007 Plan, the BancGroup directors plan year begins on the day of BancGroups annual meeting of shareholders and ends the day before the following years annual meeting. The plan year for Colonial Bank and its regional and local advisory boards begins on the first day of the calendar year and ends on the last day of the same calendar year.
In the case of BancGroup directors as well as Colonial Bank directors, they will be required to be paid in company stock for a minimum of 25% of their total fees earned during a year. There is no such requirement for the regional and local advisory board directors.
No director may receive more than 5,000 shares of Common Stock during any one year, except for shares which may be received through stock splits, stock dividends, or certain other events specified in the Stock Plan.
Directors to whom shares of Common Stock have been issued under the Stock Plan have all rights of shareholders with respect to shares of Common Stock so awarded, subject to certain provisions regarding
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forfeiture, which means, among other things, that directors may receive dividends upon and vote the shares of Common Stock received.
The Stock Plan does not directly impact the level of payments to be made to directors for their service to BancGroup. It does, however, require that at least 25% of total director fees (for BancGroup and Colonial Bank Directors) be received in BancGroup stock. It is not possible to determine the actual amount of cash or stock compensation that will be earned under the Stock Plan for 2008 or in future years since actual amounts will depend on the frequency of future meetings as well as the per annum and per meeting amounts established by the Compensation Committee under the Stock Plan. However, amounts earned for 2007 are included in the following Director Compensation Table (see page 38).
Voting to approve the amended Stock Plan for Directors is Proposal 2 on the proxy card. To approve the amended Stock Plan for Directors, a majority of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting must be voted in favor of Proposal 2. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes FOR the Proposal, but will be counted as being present at the Annual Meeting. The Board recommends that shareholders vote FOR the approval of the amended Stock Plan for Directors.
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
On February 12, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved adopting an amended Management Incentive Plan (the MIP), which among other things, contains amended sections 3.2.1 and 3.2.2. The new section 3.2.1 is designed to comply with a 2008 IRS Revenue Ruling which addresses Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code dealing with Executive Compensation. As a result, the maximum payout under the MIP was changed from a fixed amount of $3 million to 2% of the Companys net income. The new section 3.2.2 sets forth various corporate financial performance criteria that may be used by the Committee when establishing performance goals for executives under the MIP. The performance goals established by the Committee shall be objective performance goals within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
All of the officers that are included within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, will be eligible to participate in the MIP if so designated by the Compensation Committee. The MIP provides a means whereby executive officers of BancGroup may receive a cash bonus if certain performance based criteria are met. The Committee, prior to the close of each Plan Year, may designate the executive officers that will participate in the MIP during the next succeeding Plan Year.
The MIP is administered by the Committee, which has full and complete authority, subject to the limitations of the MIP, to determine the terms and conditions under which a participant will receive a cash award. The terms and conditions determined by the Committee (which need not be identical among participants) include the amount of the award that each participant will be eligible to earn during the year, and the performance goals that must be achieved in order for the participants to earn the award. The possible performance goals that will be used as criteria include earnings per share, net income, asset quality, shareholder return, stock price, return on assets, return on equity and other similar measures. No participant may be granted an award that could result in the participant earning an amount under the MIP greater than 2% of the Companys net income in any Plan Year.
After each Plan Year, the Committee will determine if the terms and conditions of each award granted were met and certify their findings to the participant and to the Board. The awards will be paid in cash as soon as administratively possible after the certification, but in no event later than 75 days following the close of the Plan Year.
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If a participant terminates employment during a Plan Year for any reason other than retirement, disability or death, no award will be payable under the MIP. If the employment terminates as a result of retirement, disability or death or if the participants employment is terminated for any reason other than willful dishonesty or gross misconduct, the participant or the participants beneficiary will receive a pro-rata portion of the incentive award determined as of the end of the Plan Year.
The Committee and management believe the Target performance objectives associated with each of the performance measures represent stretch goals requiring significant performance beyond that of the prior year.
It is not possible to determine the actual amount of compensation that will be earned for 2008 or in future years under the MIP since actual awards will depend on future performance measured against performance goals and objectives established by the Committee under the Plan. However, awards payable for 2007 under the MIP to Mr. Lowder are included in the preceding Summary Compensation Table. Currently, Mr. Lowder is the sole participant in the MIP.
Approval of the amended MIP is Proposal 3 on the proxy card. To approve the amended MIP, a majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting must be voted in favor of Proposal 3. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes FOR the Proposal, but will be counted as being present at the Annual Meeting. The Board recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the amended MIP, herein attached as Appendix B.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL
The Board recommends that the shareholders vote AGAINST the shareholder proposal presented below.
Shareholder Proposed Resolution
Gerald R. Armstrong of 820 Sixteenth Street, No. 705, Denver, Colorado 80202-3227, 303-355-1199 owner of approximately 406 shares of BancGroup common stock, has notified BancGroup that he intends to introduce from the floor of the annual meeting the following proposal:
Resolution
That the shareholders of The Colonial Bancgroup, Inc. request its Board of Directors to take the steps necessary to eliminate classification of terms of the Board of Directors to require that all Directors stand for election annually. The Board declassification shall be completed in a manner that does not affect the unexpired terms of the previously-elected Directors.
Statement
The proponent believes the election of directors is the strongest way that shareholders influence the directors of any corporation. Currently, our board of directors is divided into three classes with each class serving three-year terms. Because of this structure, shareholders may only vote for one-third of the directors each year. This is not in the best interest of shareholders because it reduces accountability.
U.S. Bancorp, Associated Banc-Corp, Piper-Jaffrey Companies, Fifth-Third Bancorp, Pan Pacific Retail Properties, Qwest Communications International, Xcel Energy, Greater Bay Bancorp, North Valley Bancorp, Pacific Continental Corporation, Regions Financial Corporation, CoBiz Financial Inc., Marshall & Illsley Corporation, and Wintrust Financial, Inc. are among the corporations electing directors annually because of the efforts of the proponent.
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The performance of our management and our Board of Directors is now being more strongly tested due to economic conditions and the accountability for performance must be given to the shareholders whose capital has been entrusted in the form of share investments.
A study by researchers at Harvard Business School and the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School titled Corporate Governance and Equity Prices (Quarterly Journal of Economics, February, 2003), looked at the relationship between corporate governance practices (including classified boards) and firm performance. The study found a significant positive link between governance practices favoring shareholders (such as annual directors election) and firm value.
While management may argue that directors need and deserve continuity, management should become aware that continuity and tenure may be best assured when their performance as directors is exemplary and is deemed beneficial to the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders.
The proponent regards as unfounded the concern expressed by some that annual election of all directors could leave companies without experienced directors in the event that all incumbents are voted out by shareholders. In the unlikely event that shareholders do vote to replace all directors, such a decision would express dissatisfaction with the incumbent directors and reflect a need for change.
If you agree that shareholders may benefit from greater accountability afforded by annual elections of all directors, please vote FOR this proposal.
Board of Directors Recommendation
Your Board of Directors recommends that you vote AGAINST this proposal.
Through its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, BancGroup regularly examines its corporate governance policies and practices along with trends in the industry, keeping in mind that what is good for another company is not necessarily best for BancGroup. Since 1995, when BancGroup adopted its classified board, BancGroup has continued to strengthen its corporate governance policies. After BancGroup received this proposal, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seriously considered whether, in light of the current trends in corporate governance, BancGroup should move away from a classified board. After careful consideration, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee concluded that maintaining a classified board structure continues to be in the best interest of BancGroup and its shareholders. Based on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees conclusions and recommendations, the Board of Directors has determined that a classified board remains in the best interest of BancGroup and its shareholders, and that no action should be taken at the present time.
BancGroups Board of Directors OPPOSES the proposal for the following reasons:
| Long-term view. The Board believes that the shareholder proposal does not appropriately focus on the long term well being of BancGroup and its shareholders or the years of successful performance by the Company and the critical oversight by the Board and Management that have increased shareholder value. Having a three year term, helps board members take a view that is longer than the next quarterly or annual reporting period. |
| Corporate Governance. Mr. Armstrong correctly states that companies with strong corporate governance cultures tend to provide superior results over the long term. But there is no proven correlation between having unwanted corporate governance measures forced on a company, and that company achieving superior performance. Additionally, corporate governance measures are not one size fits all. For example, the typical corporate governance expert would probably indicate that the Board Chairman should not also be the CEO. However, without Mr. Lowders leadership both in management and in the boardroom, BancGroup would not be where it is todaythe second largest |
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Alabama-headquartered financial institution and one of the 30 largest bank holding companies based in the United States. Similarly, the Board of Directors has determined that a classified board is best for BancGroup and its shareholders. |
| Proxy Research and Voting Companies. The Board recognizes that many proxy research and voting advisory companies like Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. routinely support these types of proposals. Many institutional shareholders are short-term investors who are looking for maximum gain over a short-term period, sometimes quarters, sometimes months, sometimes even days. Some institutional shareholders and hedge funds put pressure on a company to sell itself or take other actions that will result in a quick profit for that group of shareholders, but which may be detrimental to shareholder value creation over the long term. A classified board can serve to slow or frustrate such third party efforts. As BancGroups Management has said many times, BancGroup views the Companys performance over the long term. To our long-term institutional and individual shareholders, Management suggests that investors consider performance over the long-term. |
| Cost Effective Takeover Protection. The Board of Directors believes that having some protective mechanism against hostile takeover attempts is in the best interest of BancGroups shareholders. Some short-term shareholders, who desire that the Company be sold would probably disagree. However, Management and the Board of Directors believe that hostile takeover attempts in the banking industry are generally highly disruptive to companies, are extremely distracting to management and ultimately destroy shareholder value. BancGroup does not want to encourage such actions. In the past, the Board of Directors has considered other mechanisms, such as a rights plan, also known as a poison pill. Rights plans may be desirable for some companies, but the Board has determined that a classified board, among other things, is more effective and efficient for BancGroups shareholders as an anti-takeover mechanism. |
| Board Evaluation and Planning. Each year, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee leads the Board in its self evaluation and helps the Board continue to improve. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also conducts an intensive evaluation of the members that are to be nominated for election that year. Having a classified board allows the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to bring more focus on the Directors up for election that year than would be feasible with a non-classified board. Additionally, under BancGroups Corporate Governance Guidelines, Directors can no longer stand for election if the Director is 75 or more years of age. As Directors reach retirement age, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has more time to select the best replacement candidate. It is not easy to identify sophisticated candidates, with exceptional business acumen and integrity, who are willing to take on the risk and hard work that coincide with being a director of a complex public company. |
| Board Influence. Mr. Armstrong states that he believes the election of directors is the strongest way that shareholders influence the directors of any corporation. Perhaps that is true for some corporations, but it is not true for BancGroup. The best way for a BancGroup shareholder to influence a BancGroup Director is communication. BancGroup Directors have and will listen to BancGroups shareholders, large and small. The Board will not always agree with each and every shareholder, nor will it always do what a particular shareholder requests, but the Directors will listen and respond. If a shareholder finds himself or herself in disagreement with the majority of the policies of the Board, or with how BancGroup is conducting its business, then that shareholder has the option of disposing of some or all of his or her BancGroup shares. Selling stock is perhaps the most powerful way an individual can indicate displeasure with a public company, as selling drives down the share price. |
| Continuity and Accountability. BancGroups Board of Directors acknowledges that it is extremely unlikely that its shareholders would vote all of its Directors out of office at the same time, even with a non-classified Board. Doing so would almost certainly be catastrophic for the Company and its shareholders. Why allow for the possibility? If BancGroup has a difficult year, as all companies do from time to time, the correct course of action is for the Board to evaluate Management and determine whether Management is correctly implementing the Boards policies, not for shareholders to blindly |
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vote the Board out of office. If a company exhibits poor performance, or if the board shows poor judgment year after year, then its board probably should be voted out of office. But that can and should be a process lasting over a period of more than one year. |
The shareholder proposed resolution is Proposal 5 on the proxy card. To approve this proposal a majority of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting must be voted in favor of Proposal 5. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes FOR the Proposal, but will be counted as being present at the Annual Meeting. The Board recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST the shareholder proposal.
BYLAW PROVISIONS REGARDING CONDUCT OF SHAREHOLDERS MEETINGS
BancGroups bylaws contain two provisions relating to the conduct of shareholders meetings. The first provision requires that certain procedures be followed by a shareholder of record who wishes to present business at the annual meeting of shareholders, including the nomination of candidates for election as directors. In order to nominate a person for election as a director or to present other business at a meeting, a shareholder must provide written notice thereof to the Secretary of BancGroup not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, provided that, if the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
As it relates to director nominations, the written notice must state all information as to each nominee required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors under SEC regulations, including the written consent of each such nominee. As for any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, the written notice must contain a brief description of the business, the reasons for conducting the business at the meeting and any material interest in the business of such shareholder. The notice must also contain the name and address of such shareholder and the class and number of shares of BancGroup owned beneficially and of record, as well as the same information for each beneficial owner who may be nominated for election as a director.
The Board is not required to nominate a person designated by a shareholder or to take up such other business as may be contained in a written notice from a shareholder; however, compliance with this procedure would permit a shareholder to nominate the individual at the shareholders meeting, and any shareholder may vote shares in person or by proxy for any individual such shareholder desires. The procedures relating to nominating directors and presenting other business at a shareholders meeting may only be used by a shareholder who is a shareholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice by the shareholder to the secretary of BancGroup. These procedures do not prohibit or apply to shareholder proposals under SEC Rule 14a-8 as described at Proposals of Shareholders.
The second provision of BancGroups bylaws relates to the conduct of the business at a shareholders meeting. Under that provision, the Board has the authority to adopt rules for the conduct of meetings, and, unless inconsistent with any such rules, the Chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures as, in his judgment, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.
Subject to certain rules of the SEC, proposals by shareholders intended to be presented at BancGroups 2009 Annual Meeting of shareholders must be received at BancGroups principal executive offices not less than 120
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calendar days in advance of March 18, 2009 (November 18, 2008), for inclusion in the proxy or information statement relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Only one Annual Report and Proxy Statement is being delivered to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless BancGroup received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders.
If a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement was delivered wishes to receive a separate copy of the Annual Report or Proxy Statement, he or she should contact BancGroups Director of Investor Relations, by telephoning 888-843-0622 or by writing to Director of Investor Relations at P.O. Box 241148, Montgomery, Alabama 36124-1148. The shareholder will be delivered, without charge, a separate copy of the Annual Report and/or Proxy Statement promptly upon request.
If shareholders at a shared address currently receiving multiple copies of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement wish to receive only a single copy of these documents, they should contact BancGroup in the manner provided above.
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BancGroup does not know of any matters to be presented for action at the meeting other than those listed in the notice of the meeting and referred to herein.
BancGroup will furnish shareholders, upon written request and payment of a reasonable fee for copying charges, copies of the exhibits to its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2007. Requests should be made to:
The Colonial BancGroup, Inc.
Attn: David B. Byrne, Jr.
Post Office Box 241148
Montgomery, Alabama 36124-1148
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR PROXY VIA TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET.
YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY BY GIVING WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION TO THE SECRETARY OF BANCGROUP AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE VOTING THEREOF, BY EXECUTING AND SUBMITTING A LATER DATED PROXY BEFORE THE MEETING, OR IF YOU VOTE ELECTRONICALLY, THEN BEFORE 11:59 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON APRIL 15, 2008, OR BY ATTENDING THE MEETING AND VOTING IN PERSON.
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Appendix A
THE COLONIAL BANCGROUP, INC.
STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
1. Purposes of Plan. The purposes of the Plan are to attract and retain well-qualified persons for service as Directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to provide incentives to such persons through the award of Shares of Common Stock of the Company by (i) payment of all or a portion of Directors fees in Common Stock, and (ii) Restricted Stock Awards, as deemed appropriate by the Compensation Committee of the Company and as allowed by law.
2. Definitions. For purposes hereof, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated:
(a) Award means a grant under this Plan of Restricted Stock.
(b) Award Agreement means an agreement entered into by the Company and a Director setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards granted under this Plan.
(c) BancGroup Director means any director of The Colonial BancGroup, Inc.
(d) Bank Director means any director of Colonial Bank, N.A., a subsidiary of The Colonial BancGroup, Inc.
(e) Board means the board of directors of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(f) Change in Control means (i) the occurrence of a transaction with respect to which either a notice or application must be filed with the Federal Reserve Board under the provisions of 12 C.F.R. § 225.41, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto (concerning the acquisition of control of a bank or bank holding company), or approval must be obtained under 12 C.F.R. § 225.11, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto (concerning acquisition by a bank holding company of a bank or bank holding company), and as a result of which more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company, or any successor thereof, are owned or controlled by any person or entity, or group acting in concert, which, prior to such transaction, owned or controlled less than 50% of the shares of the Company, (ii) individuals who were directors of the Company immediately prior to a Control Transaction (as defined below) shall cease within one year of such Control Transaction, to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, or (iii) the Company is merged or consolidated with another corporation and the Company is not the surviving corporation or survives as a subsidiary of another corporation, or the Company sells or otherwise disposes of substantially all its assets. Control Transaction shall be (i) any tender offer for or acquisition of shares of the Company, (ii) any merger, consolidation, or sale of substantially all the assets of the Company, (iii) any contested election of directors of the Company, or (iv) any combination of the foregoing which results in a change in voting power sufficient to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) Closing Price means the closing price of the Common Stock of the Company as reported by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or such other market value as the Board of Directors of BancGroup shall determine if the Common Stock ceases to be quoted on the NYSE.
(h) Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Company.
(i) Common Stock means Shares of Common Stock, $2.50 par value per Share, of the Company.
(j) Company means The Colonial BancGroup, Inc.
(k) Director means a BancGroup Director, Bank Director, or Regional Director, as applicable under the context.
(l) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.
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(m) Fair Market Value, for purposes of Section 3(b), shall be determined on the basis of the closing sale price on the principal securities exchange on which the Shares are traded or, if there is no such sale on the relevant date, then on the last previous day on which a sale was reported. In determining the value of shares for purposes of Section 3(a), value shall be determined as specifically provided in Section 3(a).
(n) Grant Date means the date the Compensation Committee approves a Restricted Stock Award.
(o) Grant Price means the closing price of Colonial BancGroup Inc (CNB) stock on the date a Restricted Stock Award is granted.
(p) Meeting means a regular or special meeting of the Board.
(q) Period of Restriction means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock is limited in some way (based on the passage of time or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, at its discretion), and the Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
(r) Plan means The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. Stock Plan for Directors, as set forth herein and as the same may subsequently be amended or modified.
(s) Plan Year means the first day of the calendar year through the last day of the same calendar year.
(t) Regional Director means any person who serves as a regional or local director with respect to Colonial Bank, N.A.
(u) Regular Fees means that amount of the fees payable to a Director in cash, and without regard to attendance at Meetings, during a Plan Year.
(v) Restricted Stock means Common Stock of the Company issued under this Plan to a Director with regard to which restrictions apply as provided herein.
(w) Restricted Stock Award means an award of Common Stock made under the Plan not received or vested, but shall become free and clear from all restrictions and encumbrances upon the expiration of the Term or Tenure of such Director as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.
(x) Shares means shares of Common Stock of the Company as defined herein.
(y) Section 409A means Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.
(z) Subsidiary means a subsidiary of the Company, or any subsidiary of a Subsidiary.
(aa) Supplemental Fees means fees paid to a Director for attendance at Board meetings, special Meetings of the Board, or otherwise, and which are paid only on an ad hoc basis.
(bb) Term means a term of one year, commencing on January of each year, in the case of Bank Directors and Regional Directors, and one year of a BancGroup Directors three year term commencing with the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company.
(cc) 1933 Act means the Securities Act of 1933.
Whenever appropriate, words used herein in the singular may be read as the plural and the plural may be read as the singular. Masculine pronouns used herein shall be deemed to refer both to women and men.
3. Election or Award of Restricted Shares of Common Stock In Lieu of Cash for Director Fees.
(a) Subject to the restrictions and risks of forfeiture contained in Section 6 below, each Director may elect to receive that number of whole Shares of Common Stock, rounded to the nearest whole number, determined by dividing the Regular Fees the Director is to receive during the Plan Year by the average of the closing prices of Common Stock for the period as described in A, B or C below, as applicable. A Director must make the election
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to receive a percentage of his or her Directors fees in stock prior to the beginning of the Plan Year. If the Director makes an election and does not change or revoke the election prior to the beginning of a subsequent Plan Year, the election shall remain in effect. An election is irrevocable for the Plan Year. For the purposes of this Plan, closing price shall mean the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or such other market value as the Board of Directors of BancGroup shall determine if the Common Stock ceases to be quoted on the NYSE.
When any Director is elected for a Term commencing after the first day of the Plan Year or ending prior to the last day of the Plan Year, the Regular Fees used in calculating the amount subject to this Section 3(a) shall be reduced to reflect the number of Meetings expected to be held during such Plan Year, or the number of months remaining in such Plan Year, as may be appropriate, treating the Meeting on the day of his election as the first Meeting of the Term and the Meeting on the day Directors are elected for a succeeding Term as the last Meeting during the Term. In the event the Regular Fees shall be increased, Directors then in office shall be awarded additional Shares of Common Stock based upon the average of the closing prices of the Common Stock for the applicable period described in A, B or C below, treating only the amount of such increase as the Regular Fees used in the calculation of the additional amount under this Section 3(a). In the event the Regular Fees shall be decreased, the number of Shares of Common Stock subject to this Section 3(a) for Directors then in office shall be decreased based upon such average of the closing prices of the Common Stock prior to their election, treating the amount of such decrease as the amount by which the number of Shares to be awarded shall be decreased.
A Director may also elect to receive Common Stock at the end of the Plan Year based upon the amount of Supplemental Fees such Director would have been entitled to receive during such Plan Year, subject to the restrictions and risks of forfeiture contained in Section 6 below, provided such Director has elected to receive Common Stock in lieu of cash payment prior to the beginning of the Plan Year. The number of Shares to which the Director is entitled shall be calculated at the end of the Plan Year and shall be equal to that number of whole Shares of Common Stock, rounded to the nearest whole number, determined by dividing the Supplemental Fees the Director would have received during the Plan Year by the average of the closing prices of the Common Stock for the period described in A, B or C below, as applicable.
With regard to the election to receive Common Stock in lieu of cash compensation as provided in this Section 3(a):
A. For BancGroup and Bank Directors, a minimum of 25% of all fees (Regular Fees and Supplemental Fees) earned during each quarter must be paid in stock. The Director must make an annual election prior to the beginning of the Plan Year to receive 25%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75% 85% or 100% of his or her fees in stock. The value of stock issued will be the five day average of BancGroup stock closing prices for a five day period with the last day being the last business day of the calendar quarter in which services were rendered. Stock earned during the Plan Year will be accrued and remain restricted through the end of the Plan Year and will be paid on the last day of the month following the end of the Plan Year.
B. Regional Directors will make an annual election to receive fees in cash or stock. There is no minimum required stock election for Regional Directors. The value of stock issued will be the five day average of BancGroup stock closing prices for a five day period with the last day being the last business day of the calendar quarter in which services were rendered. Stock earned during the Plan Year will be accrued and will remain restricted through the end of the Plan Year and will be paid on the last day of the month following the end of the Plan Year.
(b) In addition to the elections of Directors to receive payment of fees in stock, the Company may, from time to time, grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Directors in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. All Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Section 3(b) shall be granted at Fair Market Value (non-discounted). Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this paragraph may not be
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sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction established by the Committee and specified in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. All rights with respect to the Restricted Stock granted under this Plan shall be available during the Directors lifetime only to such Director.
The Committee may impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Directors pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock, and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws. At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Companys possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied. Except as otherwise provided herein, Shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan shall become freely transferable by the Director after the last day of the applicable Period of Restriction. During the Period of Restriction, Directors holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares. During the Period of Restriction, Directors holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be credited with regular cash dividends paid with respect to the underlying Shares while they are so held. Such dividends may be paid currently, accrued as contingent cash obligations, or converted into additional Shares of Restricted Stock, upon such terms as the Committee may establish. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the dividends that the Committee deems appropriate. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, if the dividend constitutes a derivative security or an equity security pursuant to Rule 16(a) under the Exchange Act, such dividend shall be subject to a vesting period equal to the remaining vesting period of the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which the dividend is paid. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Director shall have the right to retain unvested Restricted Shares following termination of his or her position as a Director with the Company in all other circumstances. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Director, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of service.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan except for adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, and other events specified herein, no Director may elect to receive or be awarded more than 5,000 Shares of Common Stock for any Plan Year as defined in Section 2(bb).
4. Terms and Conditions of Award. A Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement in appropriate form between the Company and the Director. Any Director who fails to enter into a valid Award Agreement with the Company shall be ineligible to receive a grant of Restricted Stock as provided herein. Such Award Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the Plan. The Award of any Common Stock to a Director under the Plan shall not entitle such Director to, or disqualify him from, a further Award of Common Stock under the Plan at a later date. Directors who serve as Directors of the Company and of one or more Subsidiaries are eligible for Awards of Common Stock in all such capacities.
Shares of Common Stock awarded and not vested under the Plan shall be awarded in the name of the Director only. All BancGroup Directors must execute a Special Power of Attorney allowing the Company to file Form 4 and Form 5s on their behalf. No more than 5,000 Shares may be awarded to and/or elected by any Director in a particular Plan Year as determined on a combined basis under Sections 3(a) and (b).
5. Securities Laws and Securities Exchange Restrictions on Common Stock Elected or Awarded Under the Plan. The Company shall have no obligation to issue Shares of Common Stock hereunder until such time as registration of such Shares has become effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the securities authority of any state or other jurisdiction in which such registration is required. In the case of all Shares of Common Stock elected or awarded under the Plan (unless such Shares have been registered under the 1933 Act), the election form and/or written Award Agreement evidencing the Award of such Shares shall contain
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a representation that such Shares are being acquired not with a view to resale or distribution and will not be sold or otherwise transferred by the Director to whom the election is provided or Award is made, except in compliance with the 1933 Act and rules and regulations thereunder. The election and/or Award Agreement may contain any other restrictions on the Shares of Common Stock that the Company deems advisable, including, without limitation, any restrictions necessary to meet the requirements of the NYSE or quotation system of a national securities association (including the NYSE) under which Shares of Common Stock are then listed or traded, and any Blue Sky or state securities laws applicable to the Shares of Common Stock. Share certificates issued in connection with elections or Awards of Common Stock under the Plan shall bear such legends and statements as the Company shall deem advisable to assure compliance with federal and state securities laws and regulations.
6. Deferred Vesting of Common Stock. A Director to whom a Restricted Stock Award has been made under the Plan shall not receive or be vested in the Common Stock awarded by reason of such Award, but shall receive and become vested in such Common Stock only upon the expiration of the Term of such Director as set forth in the written Award Agreement evidencing such Award, or upon such Directors earlier death or removal without cause. Upon the occurrence of such event, payment shall be made to the Director in accordance with the Award on the last day of the month following the end of the Plan Year in which the event occurred. A Director who will receive all or a portion of his or her Directors fees in the form of Common Stock as provided in Section 3(a) shall become vested in such Common Stock as of the last day of the Plan Year or upon such Directors earlier death or removal without cause. Upon the occurrence of such event, payment shall be made to the Director on the last day of the month following the end of the Plan Year.
Any Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(b) or paid in lieu of cash compensation in accordance with Section 3(a) which are not vested (a) shall not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated, anticipated, alienated, encumbered or charged, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law, and (b) shall be forfeited to the Company in the event the Director to whom such Shares were awarded ceases to be a Director for any reason other than death or removal without cause. Certificates for all Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Plan shall remain in the custody of the Company or its designated agent until the Shares represented thereby become vested. A Restricted Stock Award, if granted, will vest five years from the date of grant but will remain restricted until the Director resigns from service with BancGroup or due to death, failure to be nominated for another term by the Corporate governance committee or if nominated for another term and not approved by shareholder vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any restricted Shares issued under this Plan shall immediately vest upon the occurrence of a (i) Change in Control of the Company and (ii) upon dissolution of the Board of Directors of the Company.
With regard to a Directors receipt of Shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash payment of Directors fees pursuant to Section 3(a) above, delivery of such Shares shall be made on the last day of the month following the end of the Plan Year. As a result, the Company intends that the arrangement described in Section 3(a) shall be exempt from coverage of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A as a short-term deferral. Further, with regard to the Award of Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 3(b), the Company intends the arrangement to be exempt from coverage of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A as an exempted restricted stock program.
7. Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The Plan may be amended at any time by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that approval of the Companys shareholders shall be obtained for any amendment which (a) materially increases the benefits accruing to Directors under the Plan; (b) materially increases the number of Shares that may be awarded under the Plan, or (c) materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan. The Plan will continue until discontinued or terminated by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, no amendment, discontinuance, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of any persons affected thereby, alter or impair any rights or obligations created prior to such amendment, discontinuance, or termination.
8. Shareholder Rights. Directors to whom Shares of Common Stock have been awarded in lieu of Regular Fees under Section 3(a) of the Plan shall have all rights of shareholders to vote such Shares and to receive
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dividends thereon with respect to Shares of Common Stock so awarded, even though the Directors interest in such Shares has not vested under Section 6 hereof, provided that dividends shall be paid and voting rights granted only on a quarterly basis as to that number of Shares a Director would be entitled to receive for the quarter calculated by dividing the number of Shares awarded for the Plan Year and divided by the number of quarters in the Plan Year. If Shares of Common Stock, as a result of a stock split or stock dividend or combination of Shares or any other change, or exchange for other securities, by reclassification, reorganization, redesignation, merger, consolidation, recapitalization or otherwise, shall be increased or decreased or changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of Shares or other securities of the Company or of another corporation, the number of Shares of Common Stock shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such action. If any such adjustment shall result in a fractional Share, such fractions shall be disregarded.
9. No Enlargement of Rights. An Award under the Plan or right to receive payment in Common Stock in lieu of cash compensation shall not confer upon any Director any right to continue in office and shall not restrict or interfere with any rights to effect his removal from office at any time in accordance with law and the regulations of the Company.
10. Withholding of Taxes. The Company may require, as a condition to the election to receive or Award of Common Stock under the Plan or to the delivery of the certificates for Shares when such Shares become vested, that the recipient pay to the Company or to the appropriate Subsidiary, in cash, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the award or delivery to the Director of Shares of Common Stock. The Company, or the appropriate Subsidiary, to the extent permitted or required by law, shall have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Director any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Award or delivery of Common Stock under the Plan.
11. Authorization of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided herein, the number of Shares available for grants under this Plan is 500,000. Neither (a) Shares that are issued in respect of awards that the Company or a Subsidiary either assumes in, or substitutes for awards that were issued by another party (or its predecessor) in a merger consolidation or acquisition or other transaction involving the Company or a subsidiary nor (b) Awards that are settled in the form of cash, shall be counted against the forgoing number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. Any Shares authorized for use under this Plan which are not used during the existence of the Plan shall be deregistered. In the event of any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split, or a corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation, separation, split-off or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, any reorganization or partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such adjustment shall be made in the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under this Section as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number. If any Award granted under this Plan is cancelled, rescinded, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any Shares subject to such Award again shall be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan.
12. Expenses. All expenses and costs in connection with the adoption and administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.
13. Notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when personally delivered to the addressee or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the addressees last known address.
14. Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. This Plan is intended to be exempt from Section 409A requirements due to (i) the exemption for short term deferrals with regard to the payment of Directors fees provided in Section 3(a) above, and (ii) the exemption for certain restricted stock plans with regard to the Restricted Stock provided in Section 3(b) above, pursuant to the terms of Section 409A. The Plan shall be amended as determined to be necessary by the Company to remain in compliance with the exemptions from Section 409A or otherwise for legal compliance.
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15. Date. The effective date of this Plan is January 1, 2008.
THE COLONIAL BANCGROUP, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Robert E. Lowder | |
Its: |
Chairman, CEO and President |
ATTEST: | ||
/s/ David B. Byrne, Jr. | ||
Its: |
EVP, Secretary and General Counsel |
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Appendix B
THE COLONIAL BANCGROUP, INC.
MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1. BancGroup means The Colonial BancGroup, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business in Montgomery, Alabama, and any successor thereto, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, liquidation, or otherwise.
1.2. Board means the Board of Directors of BancGroup.
1.3. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.4. Committee means the Personnel and Compensation Committee of the Board.
1.5. Compensation means the base salary paid to Participants, excluding overtime, commissions, awards from other incentive programs, BancGroup contributions to fringe benefit programs, and other non-salary income.
1.6. Executive Officer means those officers of BancGroup within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1.7. Participant means an Executive Officer who has been designated for participation in the Plan by the Committee in accordance with Section 3 of the Plan and who has commenced participation in the Plan.
1.8. Performance Agreement means the written notice described in Section 3.2 of the Plan, executed by an Executive Officer of BancGroup and transmitted on behalf of the Committee by BancGroup to each Participant, setting forth the terms and conditions of each Participants participation in the Plan.
1.9. Plan means the Management Incentive Plan of BancGroup established by this document, as amended from time to time, and any related Performance Agreements.
1.10. Plan Year means any performance period which begins on January 1 of a particular year and ends on December 31 of that same year.
2. PURPOSE
The Plan is intended to promote and encourage excellence in the performance of responsibilities by the Executive Officers, to maximize BancGroups soundness, profitability and growth, and to provide an incentive opportunity that will permit those members of management who are positioned to make significant contributions to BancGroups success to receive appropriate total cash compensation.
3. PARTICIPATION
3.1. Selection to Participate. The Committee, prior to the close of each Plan Year, may designate in writing one or more Executive Officers as persons eligible to participate in the Plan during the next succeeding Plan Year. The Committee shall solicit the recommendation of the Chairman with respect to the participation of an Executive Officer, other than the Chairman, in the Plan. Participation in the Plan is conditional; participation in one Plan Year does not guarantee participation in successive years.
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3.2. Designation of Award and Performance Goals.
3.2.1. Not later than ninety (90) days after the commencement of each Plan Year, the Committee shall approve and establish, and communicate in writing to each Participant in the Plan for such Plan Year, the terms and conditions of each such Participants participation in the Plan for such Plan Year, including the award that each such Participant will be eligible to earn during such Plan Year (which shall be expressed as a percentage of each such Participants Compensation as of the first day of such Plan Year). A maximum award will be established for each participant in the Plan equal to 2% of the Companys net income. The Committee will have the right to apply negative discretion to the established awards based on the Companys and participants performance against a broad set of performance metrics as described in section 3.2.2.
3.2.2. The Committee shall establish corporate performance goals of one or more of the following business criteria: (1) earnings per share, (2) net income, (3) asset quality, (4) shareholder return, (5) stock price, (6) return on assets, (7) return on equity, (8) return on revenue, (9) return on capital, (10) changes in working capital, (11) EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (12) EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), (13) cash flow, (14) net profit before tax, (15) gross profit, (16) operating profit, (17) book value, (18) market capitalization, (19) price-earnings ratio, (20) efficiency ratio or (21) non-financial performance-including the management of reputational risk. Performance goals established by the Committee shall be objective performance goals within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, once the Committee has established performance goals for a participant, the Committee shall have no discretion to (i) increase the amount of compensation that would otherwise be due upon the attainment of the goals, or (ii) alter the goals for the Plan Year to which they relate. The Committee may, however, decrease the resulting payout in its discretion.
3.2.3. In establishing the award and performance goals of Participants in the Plan, the Committee shall consider the Participants level of responsibility with BancGroup and the Participants potential contribution to the performance goals of BancGroup. In establishing the award and performance goals of any Participant other than the Chairman of BancGroup, the Committee shall solicit the recommendation of BancGroups Chairman.
3.2.4. The Committee shall assign weightings to indicate the relative importance of each business criteria in determining incentive awards earned under the Plan. The sum of weightings assigned to any Participant must equal 100%. These weightings may vary from Plan Year to Plan Year, and, except with respect to the Chairman, shall be based on recommendations by the Chairman subject to approval by the Committee. The Committee shall assign such weightings not later than ninety (90) days after the commencement of each Plan Year, and such weightings shall remain in effect for the remainder of the Plan Year.
4. PAYMENT OF AWARDS
4.1. Calculation of Award Payments. Within sixty (60) days following the close of each Plan Year in which a Participant is participating in the Plan, the Committee shall compare the terms and conditions of the award of each Participant and the performance goals assigned to each such Participant. Following such determination, and prior to the payment of awards pursuant to Section 4.2 below, the Committee shall certify in writing to each Participant and to the Board whether each Participant has met the terms and conditions of the award for the Plan Year in question.
4.2. Payment of Award Amounts. All awards determined to have been earned pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Plan shall be payable in cash, as soon as administratively possible following the certification described in Section 4.1 above, but in no event later than seventy-five (75) days following the close of the Plan Year to which such award related.
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4.3. Effect of Termination of Employment on Payment of Award.
4.3.1. If a Participant terminates employment during a Plan Year for any reason other than retirement, disability, or death, no award will be payable under the Plan.
4.3.2. If a Participants employment terminates during a Plan Year as a result of retirement, disability, or death, the Participant, his beneficiary, or his estate will receive a pro-rata portion of the incentive award determined as of the end of the Plan Year. The proration will be based on the Participants year-to-date Compensation for the Plan Year and the achieved levels of performance as of the end of the Plan Year. The pro-rated award will be paid at the same time as awards are paid to active Participants.
4.3.3. If a Participants employment is terminated during a Plan Year for willful dishonesty or gross misconduct, no award will be payable. If a Participants employment is terminated other than for willful dishonesty or gross misconduct, the Participant will receive a pro-rata portion of the incentive award determined as of the end of the Plan Year. The proration will be based on the Participants year-to-date Compensation for the Plan Year and the achieved levels of performance as of the end of the Plan Year. The pro-rated award will be paid at the same time as awards are paid to active Participants.
5. ADMINISTRATION
5.1. The Committee, as Plan administrator, is authorized to administer the Plan, subject to and in accordance with the provisions set forth herein, and shall have all powers necessary and appropriate to enable it to properly administer the Plan, including but not limited to the power to:
5.1.1. approve the establishment and range of corporate goals, recommendations regarding participation, the amount of individual award payments, and all matters relating to the day-to-day operation of the Plan;
5.1.2. construe and interpret the Plan, establish rules and regulations, delegate such administrative responsibilities as it deems proper, and to perform all other acts it deems necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of the Plan;
5.1.3. suspend or terminate, in whole or in part, or amend the terms of the Plan, at any time, without the need for obtaining approval of the shareholders, by an instrument in writing; provided, however, that shareholder approval shall be required for any amendment that changes the material terms of the Plan applicable to any Participant;
5.1.4. cancel the participation of any person who conducts himself in a manner which the Committee, in the exercise of reasonable discretion, determines to be inimical to the best interests of BancGroup; and
5.1.5. correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary.
5.2. The Committees determination under the Plan of the persons to participate and receive awards and the terms and conditions of such awards need not be uniformly applicable to all Participants, but may be made by the Committee on a selective basis among persons who receive or are eligible to receive awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated. The Committee shall have final approval authority over the payment of all awards under this Plan, whether individually or collectively.
6. PLAN FUNDING AND ACCRUALS OF AWARDS
The Plan is unfunded and awards hereunder shall be paid from general corporate funds.
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7. NEW PARTICIPANTS, PROMOTIONS, OR TRANSFERS
All participation in the Plan is subject to approval by the Committee. Newly hired or promoted employees who enter positions which are considered to be eligible for participation in the Plan normally will, upon approval by the Committee, enter the Plan on January 1 next following the date of hire or promotion. The Chairman, however, subject to approval by the Committee, may authorize immediate participation upon hire or promotion.
8. MISCELLANEOUS
8.1. Construction of Plan. Except as provided under federal law, the provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, and shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of any successor or successors to BancGroup.
8.2. Right to Employment. Participation in this Plan shall not be construed as giving any Participant the right to be retained in the employ of BancGroup. Further, BancGroup expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss any Participant with or without cause, such dismissal to be free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, except as provided herein.
8.3. Nonalienation of Benefit. No benefit under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge, and any attempt to do so shall be void.
8.4. Withholding of Taxes. BancGroup shall have the right to deduct from any award payable under this Plan all applicable withholding and employment taxes at such times as they are due.
8.5. Plan Expenses. Any expenses incurred in the administration of this Plan shall be borne by BancGroup.
8.6. Entire Agreement. This Plan, as completed and executed by BancGroup, the Performance Agreements, and all amendments thereto, will constitute the entire agreement between BancGroup and Participants regarding the Plan.
8.7. Captions. The captions or headings in this Plan are made for convenience and general reference only and shall not be construed to describe, define, or limit the scope or intent of the provisions of this Plan.
8.8. Number and Gender. The masculine pronoun used shall include the feminine pronoun and the singular number shall include the plural number unless the context of the Plan requires otherwise.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. has caused this Management Incentive Plan to be executed as of the 12th day of February, 2008.
THE COLONIAL BANCGROUP, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Simuel Sippial, Jr. | |
Its: |
Compensation Committee Chairman |
ATTEST: |
/s/ David B. Byrne, Jr. |
Its: EVP, Secretary and General Counsel |
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Appendix C
The Colonial BancGroup, Inc.
Risk Committee Charter
January 2008
Purpose of Committee
The Risk Committee (Committee) is established by the Board of Directors (Board) to assist the Board in:
| Overseeing Colonial policies, procedures and practices relating to Colonials enterprise-wide risks; |
| Overseeing Colonials compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and |
| Overseeing material pending or threatened litigation in which Colonial is a party. |
Membership
The Committee shall be comprised of at least three directors. The chair and each member shall be independent for purposes of serving on the Committee in accordance with the independence requirements of SEC regulations and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. All committee members shall be financially literate.
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board may, at any time and at its discretion, replace a Committee member. The Board shall designate a Chair for the Committee.
Meetings, Structure and Operations
The Committee shall review, and recommend to the Board for approval, this Charter on an annual basis. The Committee shall also perform an evaluation of its performance at least annually to determine if it is functioning effectively. The Committee shall provide a report of its self-evaluation to the Board.
The Committee shall meet in conjunction with the regularly scheduled Board meetings, or as it otherwise deems necessary, but not less than quarterly. The Committee shall meet in executive session each meeting. The Committee will meet periodically with Colonials Executive Vice President, Risk Management and/or any other member of management in separate executive sessions.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
Risk Management
| The Committee shall review and annually approve Colonials Enterprise Risk Management Policy, which is supported by the individual policies for the following critical elements of risk : |
Credit Risk
Interest Rate, Liquidity and Capital Risk
Operational Risk
Compliance Risk
Legal Risk
Reputation Risk
| The Committee shall annually review and approve the Charter of the Risk Management Committee. |
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| The Committee shall annually review and approve the Enterprise Risk Management Program. |
| The Committee shall recommend to the Board limits or guidelines for Colonials material risks. The Committee shall review the trend and current risk levels of Colonial to monitor compliance with established limits at least quarterly. |
| The Committee shall monitor and review potential scenarios or emerging risks that would have a material impact on the earnings and/or capital of Colonial to ensure that Colonials exposure is within the Boards risk tolerances and that managements response is reasonable. |
| The Committee shall also monitor managements record of compliance with established Board policies. |
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
| The Committee shall oversee and review the effectiveness of Colonials system for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations, including the review and approval of Colonials Compliance Risk Policy as well as other related policies, including, but not limited to: |
BSA and AML, OFAC, Graham Leach Bliley, Business Continuity and Information Security
| The Committee shall review all regulatory findings directed to the Boards attention, assess the adequacy of managements response to all material regulatory findings, and monitor compliance with managements response. |
Committee Reports
In conducting its activities, the Committee has the authority to request any reports or information from management as it deems necessary to fulfill the Committees responsibilities. At a minimum, the Committee will receive the following reports on a routine basis:
| The Committee shall receive a report of all material pending or threatened litigation to which Colonial is a party. The Committee shall also receive a report indicating any material violations of securities laws or breaches of fiduciary duty. |
| The Committee shall receive and review all regulatory information directed to the Board, including management responses to regulatory issues directed to the Board. |
| The Committee shall receive the following risk management related information: |
Current and historical quantitative information on each of the major risks to Colonial, including credit risk; interest rate, liquidity and capital risk; operational risk; compliance risk; reputation risk and legal risk
Qualitative information necessary to understand Colonials risk exposures and risk management related to the above mentioned risks;
Any material instances of noncompliance with appropriate laws and regulations;
The results of scenario analysis, stress tests or emerging issues analysis which have been performed at the Committees request or which management believes would have a material impact on the earnings or capital of Colonial;
Status of managements compliance with Board established limits and policies;
Reports on material new laws, regulations or regulatory expectations.
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Resources and Authority
The Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention, or initiated on its own, with full access to all books, records, facilities, and personnel of Colonial. The Committee may also work with other committees of the Board or the Board directly to investigate matters of interest to the Committee.
The committee has the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties with Colonial responsible for the expense of such advisors. Colonial will provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, to any advisors that the Committee chooses to engage, and for payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
The Risk Committee acknowledges the separate and distinct function of the Companys Audit Committee. It is acknowledged that certain information and reports will be germane to the efforts of each committee and, therefore, will be made available to each committee.
Reporting to the Board of Directors
The Committee shall report material information generated pursuant to its activities to the Board and, where appropriate, its recommendations for action by the Board. Certain actions by the Committee may be similarly reported to the Board for approval, ratification, and/or confirmation. The Committee will provide to the Board, when appropriate, any reports necessary to allow the Board to monitor the activities of Colonial.
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PROXY
SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE COLONIAL BANCGROUP, INC.
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
April 16, 2008
The undersigned hereby appoints Lewis E. Beville and Robert S. Craft, and either of them, or such other persons as the Board of Directors of The Colonial BancGroup, Inc. (BancGroup) may designate, proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to represent the undersigned and to vote all of the shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of BancGroup (the Common Stock) which the undersigned would be entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 16, 2008, and at any and all adjournments thereof. The proxies, in their discretion, are further authorized to vote (i) for the election of a person to the Board of Directors if any nominee named herein becomes unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, and (ii) on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting, including matters incident to the conduct of the meeting.
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)
Ù FOLD AND DETACH HERE Ù
Ù FOLD AND DETACH HERE Ù
1. To elect the following Directors for terms expiring in 2011: (01) Augustus K. Clements (04) William E. Powell, III (02) Patrick F. Dye (05) Simuel Sippial, Jr. (03) Milton E. McGregor |
FOR all nominees listed except as marked to the contrary ¨ |
WITHHOLD authority to vote for all nominees ¨ |
||||||||||||
INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEES NAME IN THE ABOVE LIST. |
2. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as BancGroups independent auditor for 2008.
FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN ¨
| ||
3. To approve the amended Stock Plan for Directors.
FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN ¨
| ||
4. To approve the amended Management Incentive Plan. FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN ¨
| ||
5. To vote on the shareholder proposed resolution. FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN ¨
| ||
PLEASE MARK ONE OF THE BOXES FOR EACH PROPOSAL TO REFLECT YOUR VOTE.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY.
| ||
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED HEREIN. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PERSONS NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4 ABOVE, BUT AGAINST PROPOSAL 5. |
Signature(s)
Dated:
, 2008
Please sign exactly as your name appears on this card. Agents, executors, administrators, guardians, and trustees must give full title as such. Corporations should sign by their President or authorized officer.
|
Ù Please detach proxy at perforation before mailing. Ù
YOU MAY VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET.
If you are voting by telephone or the internet, please do not mail your proxy.
( VOTE BY TELEPHONE (
Call Toll-Free using a Touch-Tone phone
1-866-894-0537
VOTE BY INTERNET
Access the Website and cast your vote
https://www.securitiesinterlink.com/ccontinental/InterLink/SvltProxyVote
VOTE BY MAIL
Return your proxy in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Vote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Your telephone or internet vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time
on April 15, 2008 to be counted in the final tabulation.
YOUR CONTROL NUMBER IS
Vote by Telephone
Have your proxy card available when you call the Toll-Free number 1-866-894-0537 using a touch-tone phone. You will be prompted to enter your control number and then you can follow the simple prompts that will be presented to you to record your vote.
Vote by Internet
Have your proxy card available when you access the website https://www.securitiesinterlink.com/ccontinental/InterLink/SvltProxyVote . You will be prompted to enter your control number and then you can follow the simple prompts that will be presented to you to record your vote.
Vote by Mail
Please mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided or return it to: Proxy Services, C/O Continental Stock Transfer &Trust Company, 17 Battery Place, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10004.
To Change Your Vote
Any subsequent vote by any means will change your prior vote. For example, if you voted by telephone, a subsequent internet vote will change your vote. The last vote received before 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time, April 15, 2008 will be the one counted. You may also revoke your proxy by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.