1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5)
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Total fee paid:
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☐ |
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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3)
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Filing Party:
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4)
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Date Filed:
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Annual Meeting Date:
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Thursday, May 3, 2018
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Time: 10:00 AM
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Location of Annual Meeting:
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Orak Shrine Center
3848 Frontage Road
Michigan City, IN
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Date of this Script:
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April 26, 2018
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Callers:
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Craig Dwight, Todd Etzler, Mark Secor
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§
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Proxy Statement (be familiar with various proposals and have them marked for easy reference)
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§
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Proxy Card
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1.
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Election of three Directors to serve a three year term
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2.
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Amend Articles of Incorporation
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3.
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Amend Omnibus Stock Plan
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4.
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Advisory Vote to Ratify Named Executive Officers' Compensation
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5.
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Advisory Vote on Say on Pay Frequency
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6.
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Ratify BKD, LLP as Horizon's Independent Auditors
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I.
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CALLS TO SHAREHOLDERS VOTING AGAINST PROPOSAL #4 – "Advisory Vote to Ratify Named Executive Officers' Compensation"
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A.
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Introduce yourself and indicate that you are calling on behalf of Horizon Bancorp
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B.
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We are calling to see if you have VOTED your common shares of Horizon Bancorp?
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C.
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Glass Lewis Shareholder Services has recommend "FOR" votes on all shareholder proposals and Institutional Shareholder Services' has recommended "FOR" votes on all proposals except for proposal #4 "The Advisory Vote to Ratify Named Executive Officers Compensation", which they have recommended a vote "Against".
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·
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His duties or responsibilities are materially reduced or changed;
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·
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There is a material reduction to his base salary;
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·
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The company requires him move from his current job location; or
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·
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The company fails to continue to provide him with employee benefits substantially similar to those he had prior to the change in control.
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D.
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Horizon's Board of Directors' is recommending a vote "FOR" the Advisory Vote to Ratify Named Executive Officers' Compensation based on the following:
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1.
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Mr. Neff is a long-term employee of Horizon Bank since 1999.
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2.
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Mr. Neff has been under a change in control agreement since 1999, and his original agreement and his previous employment agreement entered into in December 2011 included the same severance benefit triggers as his current agreement. Horizon believes that it would be unfair to change the terms of Mr. Neff's original change in control agreement at a time he has agreed to accept additional responsibilities for the company.
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3.
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The severance triggers in Jim's agreement are virtually the same as the severance triggers in the change in control agreements we have with our other executive officers. These provisions have been clearly outlined in our prior proxy disclosures and have historically received very high shareholder approval votes as part of the shareholder approvals of our overall executive officer compensation, receiving 97% approval in 2017 and 95% approval in 2016.
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4.
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Horizon's CEO pay ratio is below the median for its peer group.
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5.
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Horizon's total executive compensation tracks closely with peer bank median.
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6.
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Horizon's shareholder proposal #2 – "Amend Articles of Incorporation" expands shareholder rights by allowing shareholders access to change by-laws. We believe this significant modification reflects Horizon's focus on the interests of its shareholders.
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7.
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Horizon's Compensation Committee recently instituted a minimum vesting period of three years for all stock options issued in the future to match the three year vesting requirement it requires for restricted stock. We believe this further reflects Horizon's focus on shareholders.
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8.
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Horizon's financial and stock performance has historically outperformed the banking sector.
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