Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.

1040 East Main Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
502.582.2571

March 23, 2015

Dear Shareholder:

We invite you to attend the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., to be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 40206.  There is a map on the back cover for your reference.

The enclosed Notice and Proxy Statement contain complete information about matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting, at which we will also review Stock Yards Bancorp’s business and operations.  Only shareholders of record on the record date for the meeting and their proxies are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is important.  Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we hope you will vote as soon as possible.  Please review the instructions with respect to each of your voting options as described in the Proxy Statement.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholders Meeting to Be Held on April 22, 2015:  The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at http://irinfo.com/sybt/sybt.html.

Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.

1040 East Main Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40206

NOTICE OF THE
2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

March 23, 2015

To our Shareholders:

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., a Kentucky corporation, will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 40206 for the following purposes:

(1)         To elect eleven directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified;

(2)         To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. for the year ending December 31, 2015;

(3)         To approve an amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares from 20,000,000 to 40,000,000;

(4)         To approve an amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to implement a majority voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections;

(5)         To present the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan to shareholders and the possible performance criteria to be used under it for approval;

(6)         To approve a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of Stock Yards Bancorp’s named executive officers; and

(7)         To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

The record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof is the close of business on March 2, 2015.

Your vote is important.  Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we hope you will vote as soon as possible.  Please review the instructions with respect to each of your voting options as described in the Proxy Statement.  The Board of Directors of Stock Yards Bancorp appreciates your cooperation in directing proxies to vote at the meeting.  If your schedule permits, I hope you will join me at the meeting.

WE URGE SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.

1040 East Main Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40206

PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

General Information about the Annual Meeting

Why have I received these materials?

We are mailing this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy to shareholders on or about March 23, 2015.  The proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (referred to throughout this Proxy Statement as “Stock Yards Bancorp”, “Bancorp”, “the Company” or “we” or “our”) in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders that will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.  We invite you to attend the Annual Meeting and request you to vote on the proposals described in this Proxy Statement.

What am I voting on?

·                  Electing eleven directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors are duly elected;

·                  Ratifying the selection of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. for the year ending December 31, 2015;

·                  Approving a proposed amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares from 20,000,000 to 40,000,000;

·                  Approving a proposed amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to implement a majority voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections;

·                  Approving the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and the possible performance criteria to be used under it; and

·                  Approving a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

Where can I find more information about these voting matters?

·                  Information about nominees for reelection as directors is contained in Item 1;

·                  Information about the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm is contained in Item 2;

·                  Information about increasing the number of authorized common shares is contained in Item 3;

·                  Information about implementing a majority voting standard is contained in Item 4;

·                  Information about the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and the possible performance criteria to be used under it is contained in Item 5;

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·                  Information about the non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of Stock Yards Bancorp’s named executive officers is contained in Item 6.

What is the relationship of Stock Yards Bancorp and Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company?

Stock Yards Bancorp is the holding company for Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company (referred to throughout this Proxy Statement as “the Bank”).  Stock Yards Bancorp owns 100% of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company.  Because Stock Yards Bancorp has no significant operations of its own, its business and that of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company are essentially the same.

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

Holders of record of Common Stock (“Common Stock”) of Stock Yards Bancorp as of the close of business on March 2, 2015 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.  On March 2, 2015, there were 14,738,480 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to one vote on all matters presented for vote at the Annual Meeting.

How do I vote my shares?

If you are a “record” shareholder of Common Stock (that is, if you hold Common Stock in your own name in Stock Yards Bancorp’s stock records maintained by our transfer agent, Computershare), you may complete and sign the accompanying proxy card and return it to Computershare or deliver it in person.  Shares will be voted as you instruct.  If you return your proxy card and do not mark your voting instructions on your signed card, Mr. Heintzman, Chairman and CEO, and Mr. James A. Hillebrand, President, as proxies named on the proxy card, will vote FOR the election of the eleven director nominees; FOR the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm, FOR the proposed increase in our authorized common shares; FOR the implementation of a majority voting standard, FOR the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and the possible performance criteria to be used under it; and FOR the approval of the compensation of the named executive officers.

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record, you are considered the beneficial owner of those shares.  This Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and any accompanying documents have been forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other holder of record.  As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction card provided by them or by following their instructions for voting by telephone or on the Internet.  Beneficial owners who wish to vote at the Annual Meeting will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and to follow the voting instructions on such form.

If you are a participant in the Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“KSOP”), are still employed by the Bank and have a Bank email address, you will receive an electronic version of the proxy card for the shares that you own through that savings plan.  If you are a participant no longer employed by the Bank or for another reason do not have a Bank email address, you will receive a paper version of the proxy card via postal mail.  In either case, that proxy card will serve as a voting instruction card for the trustee of the plan.  If you own shares through the plan and do not vote, the plan trustee will be instructed by the plan’s administrative committee to vote the plan shares as the Board of Directors recommend.

Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card?

Yes.  After you have submitted a proxy, you may change your vote at any time before the proxy is exercised by submitting a notice of revocation to the Secretary of Stock Yards Bancorp or a replacement proxy bearing a later date.  Or you may attend the Annual Meeting, revoke your proxy and vote in person.  In each event, the later submitted vote will be recorded and the earlier vote revoked.  Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not revoke your proxy unless you provide written notice of revocation.

What is a broker non-vote?

If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, you must instruct the broker how to vote your shares.  If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any proposal on which the broker does not have the discretionary authority to vote.  This is called a “broker non-vote”.  In these cases the broker can register your shares as being present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not be able to vote on those matters for which specific authorization is required under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that govern brokers.

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If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, your broker has discretionary voting authority to vote your shares on the ratification of KPMG LLP (Item 2) even if the broker does not receive voting instructions from you.  However your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote on the election of directors (Item 1), the approval of the proposed increase in our authorized common shares (Item 3), the approval of the majority voting proposal (Item 4), the approval of the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and the possible performance criteria to be used under it (Item 5), or the approval of executive compensation (Item 6) without instructions from you, in which case a broker non-vote will occur and your shares will not be voted on these matters.

What constitutes a quorum for purposes of the Annual Meeting?

The presence at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy of the holders of more than 50 percent of the voting power of all outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  Proxies marked as abstaining (including proxies containing broker non-votes) on any matter to be acted upon by shareholders will be treated as present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum but will not be counted as votes cast on such matters.

What vote is required to approve each item?

Directors will be elected by a plurality of the total votes cast at the Annual Meeting for the election of directors.  Assuming eleven directors are to be elected, a plurality means that the eleven nominees receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be deemed elected.

The selection of the independent registered public accounting firm will be ratified if the votes cast for it exceed the votes cast against it.

The proposal to increase the number of our authorized common shares will pass if a majority of votes cast on the proposal are cast for approval of the increase.

The proposal to adopt a majority voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections will pass if a majority of votes cast on the proposal are cast for approval of a majority voting standard.

The proposal to approve the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and the possible performance criteria to be used under it will pass if a majority of votes cast on the proposal are cast for approval of the plan.

The proposal to approve the compensation of our named executive officers disclosed in this Proxy Statement will pass if votes cast for it exceed votes cast against it.  Because this vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon Bancorp or the Board of Directors.

Any other item to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting will pass if votes cast for it exceed votes cast against it.

Who counts the votes?

Computershare, our independent transfer agent, will count votes cast by proxy at the Annual Meeting.  Computershare will certify the results of the voting and will also determine whether a quorum is present at the meeting.  Any votes cast in person at the Annual Meeting will be included in the final voting tally.

How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

A shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors may withhold authority to vote for all nominees for directors or may withhold authority to vote for certain nominees for directors.  A shareholder may also abstain from voting on any or all other proposals.  Votes withheld from the election of any nominee for director and abstentions from any other proposal will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but will not be counted in the number of votes cast for or against any matter.  If a broker does not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner of shares on a particular matter and indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary authority to vote on that matter, we will treat these shares as present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum but the shares will not count as votes cast on the matter.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of any matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

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What information do I need to attend the Annual Meeting?

We do not use tickets for admission to the Annual Meeting.  If you are voting in person, we may ask for photo identification.

How does the Board recommend that I vote my shares?

The Board recommends a vote FOR each of the nominees for director set forth in this document, FOR the ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm, FOR the proposed increase in our authorized common shares, FOR the majority voting proposal, FOR the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and the possible performance criteria to be used under it, and FOR the approval of the compensation of the named executive officers.

With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by the Board of Directors or, if no recommendation is given, in their own discretion in the best interests of Stock Yards Bancorp.  At the date this Proxy Statement went to press, the Board of Directors had no knowledge of any business other than that described herein that would be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting.

Who will bear the expense of soliciting proxies?

Stock Yards Bancorp will bear the cost of soliciting proxies in the form enclosed.  In addition to the solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone, facsimile or electronic transmission by our employees.  We reimburse brokers holding Common Stock in their names or in the names of their nominees for their expenses in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of such Common Stock.  The Company has engaged the services of Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC., a professional proxy solicitation firm, to aid in the solicitation of proxies from certain brokers, bank nominees and other institutional owners.  The Company’s costs for such services will be approximately $20,000.

Is there any information that I should know about future annual meetings?

Any shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2016 Annual Meeting”) must deliver the proposal to the Corporate Secretary at 1040 East Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40206 no later than November 24, 2015, if the proposal is submitted for inclusion in our proxy materials for that meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  In addition, Stock Yards Bancorp’s Bylaws impose certain advance notice requirements on a shareholder nominating a director or submitting a proposal to an Annual Meeting.  Such notice must be submitted to the secretary of Stock Yards Bancorp no later than January 24, 2016.  The notice must contain information prescribed by the Bylaws, copies of which are available from the secretary.  These requirements apply even if the shareholder does not desire to have his or her nomination or proposal included in Stock Yards Bancorp’s Proxy Statement.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS

Board Leadership Structure

The Stock Yards Bancorp’s Board of Directors represents shareholders’ interests in perpetuating a successful business including optimizing shareholder returns.  The Directors are responsible for determining that the Company is managed to ensure this result.  This is an active responsibility, and the Board monitors the effectiveness of policies and decisions including the execution of the Company’s business strategies.  Strong corporate governance guidelines form the foundation for Board practices.  As a part of this foundation, the Board believes that high ethical standards in all Company matters are essential to earning the confidence of investors, customers, employees and vendors.  Accordingly, Stock Yards Bancorp has established a framework that exercises appropriate measures of oversight at all levels of the Company and clearly communicates that the Board expects all actions be consistent with its fundamental principles of business ethics and other corporate governance guidelines.  The Company’s governance guidelines and other related matters are published on the Company website: www.syb.com under the Investor Relations tab.

The Board of Directors believes the most effective leadership structure for the Company is a combined Chairman and Chief Executive Officer position filled by Mr. Heintzman.  He is the director most familiar with the business of the Company and the banking industry, and the Board believes that he is best suited to lead discussions

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on important issues affecting the Bank and Bancorp.  Combining the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman positions creates a firm link between management and the Board and promotes development and implementation of corporate strategy.  As the Board is committed to strong corporate governance and Board of Directors, the Board has designated a lead independent director.  In addition to an independent lead director, three committees of the Board provide independent oversight of management — the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  Each is composed entirely of independent directors.

The Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee acts in the role of lead director.  The lead director presides at executive sessions of the Board which consist of non-management directors and are held at least four times annually.  He has authority to call special meetings of the independent directors and committees of the Board, serves as liaison between the Chairman and board members and is available to discuss with any director concerns he or she may have regarding the Board, the Company or the management team.  The lead independent director is responsible for providing advice and consultation to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and informing him of decisions reached and suggestions made during executive sessions of the Board of Directors.  The lead director reviews and approves matters such as agendas for Board meetings and executive sessions, and information distributed to board members.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board of Directors has a significant role in the oversight of risk management.  The Board receives information regarding risks facing the Company, their relative magnitude and management’s plan for mitigating these risks.  Primary risks facing the Company are credit, operational, interest rate, liquidity, compliance/legal, strategic and reputational risks.  After assessment by management, reports are made to committees of the Board.  Credit risk is addressed by the Loan Committee of the Bank.  Operational and compliance/legal risks are addressed by the Audit Committee of Bancorp.  Interest rate and liquidity risks are addressed by the Asset/Liability Committee comprised of Bank management and reports are made monthly to the Board.  Strategic and reputational risk is addressed by the above committees in addition to the Compensation Committee along with other executive compensation matters.  Oversight of the trust department is addressed by the Trust Committee of the Bank.  Corporate governance matters are addressed by the Nominating and Governance Committee of Bancorp.  The full Board hears reports from each of these committees at the Board meeting immediately following the Committee meeting.  The Bank’s Internal Auditor has a direct reporting line to the Audit Committee of the Board.  The Chief Risk Officer, Information Security Officer and Compliance Officer make regular reports to the Audit Committee of the Board and the full Board when appropriate.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

During 2014, the Board of Directors of Stock Yards Bancorp held thirteen regularly scheduled meetings.  All directors of Stock Yards Bancorp are also directors of the Bank.  During 2014, the Bank’s Board of Directors held thirteen regularly scheduled meetings.

All directors attended at least 75% of the number of meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which they served.  All directors are encouraged to attend annual meetings of shareholders, and all attended the 2014 Annual Meeting.

Stock Yards Bancorp has an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.  The Bank has a Loan Committee and a Trust Committee of the Board of Directors.

Audit Committee

The Board of Directors of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. maintains an Audit Committee comprised of directors who are not officers of Stock Yards Bancorp.  For 2014, the Audit Committee was comprised of Messrs. Herde (Chairman), Lechleiter, Madison, and Priebe.  Each of these individuals meets the NASDAQ independence requirements for membership on an audit committee.  The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, and this charter is available on Stock Yards Bancorp’s website:  www.syb.com.

The Audit Committee oversees Stock Yards Bancorp’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors.  Management has primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process

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including the systems of internal controls.  In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee, among other things, considers the appointment of the external auditors for Stock Yards Bancorp, reviews with the auditors the plan and scope of the audit and audit fees, monitors the adequacy of reporting and internal controls, meets regularly with internal and external auditors, reviews the independence of the external auditors, reviews Stock Yards Bancorp’s financial results as reported in Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and approves all audit and permitted non-audit services performed by its external auditors.  The Committee reviews and evaluates identified related party transactions and discusses with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control those exposures.  The Audit Committee meets with our management at least quarterly to consider the adequacy of our internal controls and the objectivity of our financial reporting.  This Committee also meets with the external auditors and with our internal auditors regarding these matters. Both the independent auditors and the internal auditors regularly meet privately with this Committee and have unrestricted access to this Committee.  The Audit Committee held five meetings during 2014.

The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Herde and Mr. Lechleiter are audit committee financial experts for Stock Yards Bancorp and are independent as described in the paragraph above.  See “REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE” for more information.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Board of Directors of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. maintains a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  Members of this Committee are Messrs. Edinger (Chairman), Northern and Simon, all of whom are non-employee directors meeting the NASDAQ independence requirements for membership on a nominating and governance committee.  Responsibilities of the Committee are set forth in a written charter satisfying the NASDAQ’s corporate governance standards, requirements of federal securities law, and incorporating other best practices.  The Board of Directors adopted the charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and this charter is available on Stock Yards Bancorp’s website:  www.syb.com.

Among the Committee’s duties are identifying and evaluating candidates for election to the Board of Directors, including consideration of candidates suggested by shareholders.  To submit a candidate for consideration by the Committee, a shareholder must provide written communication to the Committee.  The Committee would apply the same board membership criteria to shareholder-nominated candidates as it would to Committee-nominated candidates.  The Committee also assists the Board in determining the composition of Board committees, assessing the Board’s effectiveness and developing and implementing the Company’s corporate governance guidelines.  This Committee held three meetings during 2014.

Compensation Committee

The Board of Directors of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. maintains a Compensation Committee. Members of this Committee are Messrs. Edinger, Lechleiter (Chairman) and Tasman, all of whom meet the NASDAQ independence requirements for membership on the Compensation Committee.  The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, and this charter is available on Stock Yards Bancorp’s website:  www.syb.com.  The responsibilities of this Committee include oversight of executive and Board compensation and related programs.  The Compensation Committee held nine meetings during 2014.  See “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION - REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” for more information.

Loan Committee

The members of the Bank’s Loan Committee are Messrs. Northern, Simon and Tasman.  This Committee generally meets twice monthly with one meeting each month being by conference call.  The Loan Committee is primarily responsible for oversight of the Bank’s lending function including loan quality matters and approval of large credit facilities.

Trust Committee

The members of the Bank’s Trust Committee are Messrs. Herde, Madison and Priebe.  This Committee held six meetings in 2014.  The Trust Committee oversees the operations of the trust department of the Bank to ensure it operates in accordance with sound fiduciary principles and is in compliance with pertinent laws and regulations.

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Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors

Shareholders may communicate directly to the Board of Directors in writing by sending a letter to the Board at: Stock Yards Bancorp Board of Directors, P.O. Box 32890, Louisville, KY 40232-2890.  Communications directed to the Board of Directors will be received by the Chairman and processed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee when the communications concern matters related to the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors.

ITEM 1.  ELECTION OF ELEVEN DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors presently consists of eleven members.  Directors serve a one-year term and hold office until the Annual Meeting following the year of their election and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, subject to his or her death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.

The eleven directors nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors for election this year to hold office until the 2016 Annual Meeting and until their respective successors are elected and qualified are:

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(1)         Ages listed are as of December 31, 2014.

(2)         Each nominee has been engaged in his or her chief occupation for five years or more with the exception of Mr. Lechleiter as described below.

(3)         No nominee holds, or at any time in the last five years has held, any directorship in a company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of such act or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Our Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Edinger, Herde, Lechleiter, Madison, Northern, Priebe, Simon and Tasman satisfy the independence requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market.  As employees of the Bank, Messrs. Heintzman and Hillebrand and Ms. Thompson do not satisfy these requirements.

If elected, we expect that all of the aforementioned nominees will serve as directors and hold office until the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.  Based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, all of the aforementioned nominees are standing for reelection.

Additional Information Regarding the Background and Qualifications of Director Nominees

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the particular experience, qualifications, attributes and expertise of each nominee for election to the Board.  Having directors with different points of view, professional experience, education and skills provides broader perspectives and more diverse considerations valuable to the directors as they fulfill their leadership roles.  Potential Board candidates are evaluated based upon various criteria, including:

·                  Direct industry knowledge, broad-based business experience, or professional skills that indicate the candidate will make a significant and immediate contribution to the Board’s discussion and decision-making in the array of complex issues facing Bancorp;

·                  Behavior and reputation that indicate he or she is committed to the highest ethical standards and the values of Bancorp;

·                  Special skills, expertise, and background that add to and complement the range of skills, expertise, and background of the existing directors;

·                  The ability to contribute to broad Board responsibilities, including succession planning, management development, and strategic planning; and

·                  Confidence that the candidate will effectively, consistently, and appropriately take into account and balance the legitimate interests and concerns of all Bancorp’s shareholders in reaching decisions.

Directors must have time available to devote to Board activities and to enhance their knowledge of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. and the banking industry.

Non-management directors are required to own stock equal in value to $100,000 within five years of joining the Board.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may exercise its discretion in enforcing the guidelines when the accumulation of Common Stock is affected by the price of Bancorp stock or changes in director compensation.  Management directors also have ownership targets as set forth elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.

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All directors’ ownership positions exceed the requirement, and some of the more long-serving directors are among the Company’s largest shareholders.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has presented a slate of eleven nominees for election as directors at the 2015 Annual Meeting.  All eleven nominees are standing for re-election and were last elected to the Board of Directors by shareholders at the 2014 Annual Meeting.  Below is a summary of the Committee’s consideration and evaluation of each director nominee.

Mr. Edinger is President of J. Edinger & Son, Inc., a family owned business, which is typical of the Bank’s historical customer base.  He brings this perspective to the Board, and he has the skills necessary to serve as lead director.  Mr. Edinger is a long-serving member of the Board with a deep understanding of the role of the Board and of the Company and its operations.  He chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and he serves on the Compensation Committee of Bancorp.

Mr. Heintzman holds an accounting degree, and prior to joining the Bank, worked as a certified public accountant for an international accounting firm.  He joined the Bank in 1985 and has served as Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and President.  In January 2005 he assumed the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. Heintzman has been instrumental in the Bank’s growth strategies and profitable execution.  His commitment to ethical standards sets the example for the Bank and its employees, and his tenure and experience in all areas of the business provide a unique perspective of the business and strategic direction of the Company.

Mr. Herde holds an accounting degree, is a certified public accountant and joined Baptist Healthcare System, Inc., one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in Kentucky, in 1984 as controller.  Since 1993 he has been Chief Financial Officer.  He has extensive experience in financial reporting and corporate finance.  Mr. Herde chairs the Audit Committee of Bancorp, is an audit committee financial expert and serves on the Bank’s Trust Committee.

Mr. Hillebrand joined Stock Yards Bank in 1996 as director and developer of the private banking group.  Prior to joining the Bank, he was with a regional bank and a community bank where he specialized in private banking.  He has directed the expansion of the Bank into the Indianapolis and Cincinnati markets and was named President in 2008.

Mr. Lechleiter is the President of the Catholic Education Foundation of Louisville.  From February 2002 until his retirement in January 2014, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kindred Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 healthcare services company based in Louisville.  Mr. Lechleiter also served in senior financial positions at other large publicly held healthcare services companies such as Humana Inc. and HCA, Inc. during his professional financial career spanning nearly 35 years.  His extensive experience in business leadership, financial reporting, corporate finance, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance is valuable to the Board.  Mr. Lechleiter serves on the Audit Committee as a financial expert and also chairs the Compensation Committee of Bancorp.

Mr. Madison is Chief Executive Officer of Plumbers Supply Company, Inc., an 86-year-old family-owned regional supplier and service source in the plumbing, heating and piping industries.  Because his company is typical of our customer base, Mr. Madison’s business perspective is important to the Company’s Board of Directors.  In addition, he is a long-serving member with a deep understanding of the role of the Board and of the Company and its operations.  Mr. Madison serves on the Audit Committee of Bancorp and the Bank’s Trust Committee.

Mr. Northern is a partner in the Louisville office of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs where he has practiced law since 1980.  Earlier in his career Mr. Northern was a White House Fellow, served as Special Assistant to the United States Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus and was the Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Romano Mazzoli.  Mr. Northern’s legal experience is valuable to the Board including corporate governance, compliance, strategy and acquisition and development activities.  He serves on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Bancorp and the Bank’s Loan Committee.

Mr. Priebe is President of Hall Contracting of Kentucky, which provides construction services in the areas of heavy construction, asphalt, civil, pipeline, and highway and bridge construction.  A registered professional civil engineer, he began his career at Hall in 1986.  Mr. Priebe has had extensive involvement with many civic organizations throughout his career.  He has worked with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Training Program and is actively mentoring a local electric contractor.  Mr. Priebe’s business acumen and familiarity with the local and regional economic climate bring valuable perspective to the Board.  Mr. Priebe serves on the Audit Committee of Bancorp and the Bank’s Trust Committee.

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Mr. Simon is President and Chief Executive Officer of Publishers Printing Company LLC, a fifth-generation printing company.  The company is the largest employer located in a county contiguous to the Bank’s primary market - one designated as a growth area for the Bank.  Mr. Simon’s reputation has assisted the Bank in gaining a larger market share in that area.  Mr. Simon brings his business perspective to the Board.  He serves on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Bancorp as well as the Bank’s Loan Committee.

Mr. Tasman is President of Tasman Industries, Inc. and Tasman Hide Processing headquartered in Louisville.  This family-owned business was founded in 1947 and operates 14 locations in North America with offices in Europe and Asia.  The company produces leather and finished products used by the military and general population.  Mr. Tasman’s extensive knowledge of consumer demands and global business trends brings a unique perspective to the Board.  He serves on the Compensation Committee of Bancorp and the Loan Committee of the Bank.

Ms. Thompson joined the Bank in 1992 as Manager of the Investment Management and Trust Department, at which time the Trust Department had $200 million in assets under management.  Under her leadership, the department has grown to $2.3 billion in assets under management and is one of the most profitable bank-owned trust companies in the country.  Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Thompson practiced estate planning law and worked in a regional bank’s trust department where she specialized in investment management and estate and personal financial planning.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THESE NOMINEES

ITEM 2.  RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee has selected KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 and has directed that management submit the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm to shareholders for ratification at the Annual Meeting.  KPMG LLP has been engaged to audit the consolidated financial statements of Stock Yards Bancorp for the past 27 years.  Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to be present at the meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Shareholder ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required by the Company’s Bylaws or otherwise.  However, we are submitting the selection of KPMG LLP to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice.  If the shareholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain KPMG LLP.  Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent audit firm at any time during the year if it is determined that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KPMG LLP

ITEM 3.  PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY’S SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

The Board of Directors has recommended that Article VI of Bancorp’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation be amended to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 20,000,000 to 40,000,000 shares, subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual Meeting. The additional authorized shares will be available for stock dividends, splits, options, public or private issuances of Common Stock, acquisitions, and other general corporate purposes. When required for such purposes, shares will be issued on terms as the Board of Directors determines to be in the best interests of Bancorp without further action by the

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shareholders, unless such action is then required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange on which Bancorp’s securities may be listed.  Some of these potential uses may decrease certain per share financial measures for a period of time and may diminish a shareholder’s percentage of voting power in Bancorp.  Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe to any shares of stock in Bancorp. There are no current plans, arrangements or understandings for these additional authorized shares of Common Stock.

The proposed increase in the number of authorized number shares of Common Stock could be construed as having an anti-takeover effect, although the amendment to increase the authorized Common Stock was not proposed for that purpose. Under certain circumstances, such shares could be used to create impediments to or to frustrate persons seeking to effect a takeover or otherwise gain control of Bancorp. Such shares could, for example, be privately placed with purchasers who might side with the Board of Directors in opposing a hostile takeover bid.

Also, the amendment to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock might be considered as having the effect of discouraging an attempt by another person or entity, through the acquisition of a substantial number of shares of Bancorp’s Common Stock, to acquire control of Bancorp with a view to imposing a merger, sale of all or any part of Bancorp’s assets or a similar transaction since the issuance of new shares could be used to dilute the stock ownership of any such person or entity.  However, the Board of Directors does not have any present intent to issue any shares of Common Stock primarily for anti-takeover purposes.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

ITEM 4.  MANAGEMENT’S PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY’S SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO ADOPT MAJORITY VOTING IN UNCONTESTED DIRECTOR ELECTIONS

The Board of Directors has approved, and unanimously recommends that shareholders approve, an amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to implement majority voting in uncontested elections of directors.

Under Kentucky law, unless otherwise specified in a company’s articles of incorporation, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present.  The Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation do not specify the voting standard required in director elections, and our Bylaws provide for the plurality voting standard in director elections.  Accordingly, directors are currently elected by a plurality of the votes cast.  Under a plurality vote standard, only “for” votes are counted, while any “withhold” votes or abstentions are disregarded, such that, in an uncontested election (i.e., an election where the only nominees are those proposed by the Board), the nominees who receive the largest number of votes cast are elected as directors, up to the maximum number of directors to be elected.

The Company’s current corporate governance guidelines are designed to address a director potentially being elected while receiving a majority of “withheld” votes.  Pursuant to these guidelines,  any nominee for director who, in an uncontested election, receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” such election would be subject to an immediate performance review by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  The Committee would use the voting results to evaluate a director’s continued service on the Board and could recommend the Board to move for request of such director’s resignation from the Board.  The Board would act upon any recommendation of the Committee within 90 days following certification of the shareholder vote and promptly communicate to shareholders any action taken.  An uncontested election would generally be defined as any election of directors in which the number of candidates for election as directors does not exceed the number of directors to be elected.

In determining whether to recommend the adoption of majority voting in uncontested director elections, the Board of Directors considered the arguments for and against maintaining the existing plurality vote standard, recognized that many public companies in recent years have eliminated plurality voting in favor of majority voting for uncontested director elections, and took into account the views of  institutional shareholders who believe that

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majority voting enhances director accountability and corporate governance.  After careful consideration of this topic, and upon recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors concluded that it is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders to strengthen the Company’s current approach by amending the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to implement majority voting in uncontested director elections.

Under the proposed amendment, a nominee for director in an uncontested election will be elected at a shareholder meeting for the election of directors if the number of votes cast “for” the nominee exceeds the number of votes cast “against” the nominee.  “Abstain” votes and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the election but will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the shareholder meeting.  For contested elections in which there are more director candidates than director positions to be elected, the voting standard will continue to be a plurality of votes cast.

The proposed amendment would amend Article VIII of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to read as follows.  New language appears in italics:

ARTICLE VIII

DIRECTORS

SECTION 1.01    The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and conducted by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.  The number of directors of the corporation shall be fixed from time to time by or in the manner provided in the Bylaws, but the number thereof shall never be less than nine (9).  Each director shall be elected to serve a term of one year, with each director’s term to expire at the Annual Meeting of shareholders next following the director’s election as a director.  Notwithstanding the expiration of the term of a director, the director shall continue to serve until the director’s successor shall be elected and qualified.  Each nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to such nominee at any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that if, as of the date ten days prior to the scheduled mailing date of the corporation’s definitive Proxy Statement for such meeting, the Secretary of the corporation determines that the number of nominees for directors exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes (up to the number of directors to be elected) shall be elected.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that nominee; provided that neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be deemed to be votes “for” or “against” a nominee’s election.

SECTION 1.02    At a meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose, one or more directors shall be removed, but only upon a showing of cause, by a vote of the majority of the shareholders then entitled to vote at the election of directors.  For purposes of this section, “cause” shall mean the participation by a director in any transaction in which his personal financial interests are in conflict with the financial interests of the corporation or its shareholders; any act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or which is known to a director to be a violation of law; or the participation by a director in any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

SECTION 1.03    Anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary notwithstanding (and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be specified or permitted by law), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any provision of Section 2 of this Article VIII.

If approved by shareholders, this amendment will become effective when the amendment to our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State, which we intend to do promptly after shareholders approve the majority voting proposal.  The new majority voting standard would then be applicable to an uncontested election of directors at the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of shareholders.  The

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Company would also make a conforming change to the Company’s Bylaws to reflect the adoption of the majority voting standard.

Subject to approval of the proposed Amendment by the Company’s shareholders, the Company’s corporate governance guidelines would be revised. Under the revised guidelines, an incumbent director who fails to receive a majority vote in an uncontested election would be required, within five days following the certification of the election results, to tender his or her written resignation to the Chairman of the Board for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would consider such resignation and, within 45 days following certification of the shareholder vote, make a recommendation to the Board concerning the acceptance or rejection of such resignation.  In determining its recommendation to the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would consider all factors deemed relevant by the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Board would take formal action on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation no later than 90 days following certification of the shareholder vote and promptly communicate to shareholders any action taken.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO ADOPT MAJORITY VOTING IN UNCONTESTED DIRECTOR ELECTIONS.

ITEM 5.  APPROVAL OF THE 2015 OMNIBUS EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN AND THE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA TO BE USED UNDER IT

On February 17, 2015, the Board of Directors adopted, subject to approval by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting, the Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the “2015 Plan” or the “Plan”) and the performance criteria to be used under it. The Board of Directors has directed that the proposal to approve the Plan be submitted to shareholders for approval at the Annual Meeting. Shareholder approval is being sought (i) to meet NASDAQ listing requirements, (ii) so that compensation attributable to grants under the Plan may qualify for an exemption from the deduction limit under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”) (see discussion of “Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Plan” below), and (iii) for incentive stock options to meet requirements of the Code.

We currently maintain the Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended (the “2005 Plan”).  The total number of shares remaining available for issuance under the 2005 Plan as of January 31, 2015 is 454,566 shares, but that 2005 Plan expires by its terms on April 26, 2015.  The Board of Directors believes it is advisable to adopt a new comprehensive incentive compensation plan which will serve as the successor incentive compensation plan to the 2005 Plan and provide the Company with an omnibus plan to design and structure grants of stock options, stock units, stock awards, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards for selected individuals in the employ or board service of the Company or the Bank.  The Board of Directors believes that having available for issuance under the 2015 Plan the number of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding grants under the 2005 Plan that may later become available due to expiration, cancellation or forfeiture of 2005 Plan awards, plus the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under but with respect to which no awards were granted under the 2005 Plan as of the date of the Annual Meeting, will ensure that we continue to have a sufficient number of shares available to achieve our current compensation strategy for several years.

In determining not to add to the 2015 Plan any new shares beyond those available under the 2005 Plan, the Board of Directors considered a number of factors including, without limitation, the number of shares remaining available under the 2005 Plan, the prospective dilution level associated with the proposed new share authorization requested under the 2015 Plan, and the Company’s low annual burn rate of approximately 1%.  The Board of Directors believes the interests of the shareholders will be advanced if we can continue to offer employees, particularly those at the senior management level, the opportunity to acquire or increase their proprietary interests in the Company.  In addition, the 2015 Plan will permit awards to be structured to meet the “qualified performance-based compensation” exception under section 162(m) of the Code.

If the 2015 Plan is approved by the shareholders, no further grants will be made under the 2005 Plan, and shares with respect to all grants outstanding under the 2005 Plan will be issued or transferred under the 2015 Plan,

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although awards made under the 2005 Plan will continue to be subject to the terms of that 2005 Plan’s design and the terms of the respective award agreements.

As of January 31, 2015, there were 717,924 options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) with a weighted average value of $5.14 and weighted average remaining term of 4.6 years, along with 107,579 performance stock units (“PSUs”) and 3,920 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) outstanding under all Company plans and 454,666 shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under the 2005 Plan.  For purposes of determining the number of shares that will be available for issuance under the 2015 Plan, if approved by the shareholders, the numbers above will be adjusted for grants, exercises and forfeitures under the 2005 Plan, as applicable, between January 31, 2015 and the date of the Annual Meeting.

If approved by the shareholders, the 2015 Plan will become effective on April 22, 2015.

Material terms of the 2015 Plan are summarized below.  A copy of the full text of the 2015 Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit.  This summary of the 2015 Plan is not intended to be a complete description of the 2015 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the actual text of the 2015 Plan to which reference is made.

Material Features of the Plan

General. The Plan provides that grants may be made in any of the following forms:

·                  Incentive stock options;

·                  Nonqualified stock options;

·                  Stock units;

·                  Stock awards;

·                  Stock appreciation rights;

·                  Dividend equivalents;

·                  Other stock-based awards.

The Plan authorizes a number of shares of Common Stock for issuance equal to the sum of the following: the number of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding grants under the 2005 Plan (some of which may expire, be cancelled or forfeited in the future and again be available for grant, as discussed below), plus the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under the 2005 Plan but not subject to an outstanding award, in each case as of the date of the Annual Meeting.  No more than 300,000 of these reserved shares may be used for incentive stock options under the 2015 Plan.

The Plan provides limits on the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which grants may be made during any calendar year is as follows:

·         For non-employee directors, 3,000 shares via options and SARs and 2,500 via stock awards or stock units; and

·         For any other participant, 75,000 total shares with no more than 40,000 shares via options and SARs and 35,000 via stock awards or stock units.

The number of shares available under the 2015 Plan and the individual limits on annual awards are both subject to adjustment for stock splits, etc. as described below.

If and to the extent options and SARs granted under the 2005 or 2015 Plan terminate, expire or are cancelled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without being exercised or if any stock awards, stock units, or other stock-based awards under those plans are forfeited, terminated, or otherwise not paid in full, the shares subject to such grants will become available again for purposes of the Plan.  Shares otherwise issuable under the Plan that are withheld or surrendered in payment of the exercise price of an option, and shares withheld or surrendered for payment of taxes will not be available again for issuance or transfer under the Plan.  If any grants are paid in cash, and not in shares of Common Stock, any shares of Common Stock related to such grants will also be available for future grants.  Upon the exercise of a SAR, then both for purposes of calculating the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under the Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for exercise under the SAR, the number of such shares will be reduced by the net number of shares for which the SAR is exercised, and without regard to any cash settlement of a SAR.

Administration.  The Plan will be administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”).  Ministerial functions may be performed by an administrative committee of the employees appointed

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by the Committee.  The Committee has the authority to (i) determine individuals to whom grants will be made under the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size, terms and conditions of grants, (iii) determine when grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including criteria for exercisability and acceleration of exercisability, (iv) amend terms and conditions of any previously issued grant, subject to limitations described below and (v) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.  The Committee presently consists of Charles R. Edinger, III, Richard A. Lechleiter, and Norman Tasman, each of whom is a non-employee member of the Board of Directors.

Eligibility for Participation.  Designated employees and non-employee directors of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive grants under the Plan. As of March 1, 2015, approximately 140 persons are eligible as employees and non-employee directors to receive grants under the Plan.  The Committee is authorized to select persons to receive grants from among those eligible and will determine the number of shares of Common Stock that are subject to each grant.

Vesting.  The Committee determines the vesting of awards granted under the Plan provided that all awards will have a minimum of one year (cliff or incremental) vesting, which may be accelerated only in the events of death, disability, retirement or change in control.

Types of Awards.

Stock Options

The Committee may grant options intended to qualify as incentive stock options (“ISOs”) within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or nonqualified stock options (“NQSOs”) that are not intended to so qualify or any combination of ISOs and NQSOs. Anyone eligible to participate in the Plan may receive a grant of NQSOs. Only employees may receive a grant of ISOs.

The Committee will fix the exercise price per share of options on the date of grant.  The exercise price of options granted under the Plan will not be less than the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of grant.  However, if the grantee of an ISO is a person who holds more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the outstanding stock, the exercise price per share of an ISO granted to such person must be at least 110% of the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of grant.

The Committee will determine the term of each option which will not exceed 10 years from date of grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the grantee of an ISO is a person who holds more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of the outstanding stock, the term of the ISO may not exceed five years from the date of grant.  To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of shares of Common Stock, determined on the date of grant, with respect to which ISOs become exercisable for the first time by a grantee during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such ISOs will be treated as NQSOs.  The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which ISOs may be granted under the Plan is 300,000, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

The Committee will determine terms and conditions of options, including when they become exercisable.  The Committee may accelerate exercisability of any options, subject to the Plan’s one-year vesting minimum.  Except as provided in the grant instrument or as otherwise determined by the Committee, an option may only be exercised while a grantee is employed by or providing service as a non-employee director.

A grantee may exercise an option by delivering notice of exercise to the Company.  The grantee will pay the exercise price and any withholding taxes for the option in cash, if permitted by the Committee, by the surrender of already-owned shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value on the date the option is exercised equal to the exercise price, by payment through a broker in accordance with the procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, or, if permitted by the Committee, by surrender or withholding of shares that would otherwise have been issuable upon exercise with a fair market value at the time of exercise equal to the exercise price, or by another method approved by the Committee.  Tax withholding arrangements acceptable to the Committee must also be made upon exercise of a NQSO.

If allowed by the Committee, a participant may elect to exercise an option before it is vested, but if this is permitted, the shares issued on exercise will be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company at their exercise value (or then fair market value, if less) until the option would have been vested.

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Stock Units

The Committee may grant stock units to anyone eligible to participate in the Plan.  Each stock unit provides the grantee with the right to receive a share of Common Stock or an amount based on the value of a share of Common Stock at a future date.  The Committee will determine the number of stock units that will be granted, whether stock units will become payable based on achievement of performance goals or other conditions, and the other terms and conditions applicable to stock units.

Stock units may be paid at the end of a specified period or deferred to a date authorized by the Committee.  If a stock unit becomes payable, it will be paid to the grantee in cash, in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Committee.  All unvested stock units are forfeited if the grantee’s employment or service is terminated for any reason, unless the Committee determines otherwise.

The Committee may grant dividend equivalents in connection with grants of stock units made under the Plan.  Dividend equivalents entitle the grantee to receive amounts equal to ordinary dividends that are paid on the shares underlying a grant while the grant is outstanding.  The Committee will determine whether dividend equivalents will be paid currently or credited to a bookkeeping account as a dollar amount or in the form of stock units and then only paid at vesting of the underlying stock unit.  The terms and conditions of dividend equivalents will be determined by the Committee.

Stock Awards

The Committee may grant stock awards to anyone eligible to participate in the Plan.  The Committee may require that grantees pay consideration for stock awards and may impose restrictions on stock awards.  If restrictions are imposed on stock awards, the Committee will determine whether they will lapse over a period of time or according to such other criteria, including achievement of specific performance goals, as the Committee determines.

The Committee will determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the grant of stock awards and the other terms and conditions of the grant including whether the grantee will have the right to vote shares of Common Stock and to receive dividends paid on such shares during the restriction period.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, all unvested stock awards are forfeited if the grantee’s employment or service is terminated for any reason.

Stock Appreciation Rights

The Committee may grant SARs to anyone eligible to participate in the Plan.  SARs may be granted in connection with, or independently of, any option granted under the Plan.  Upon exercise of an SAR, the grantee will be paid an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the base amount of the SAR which base amount will be no less than the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date the SAR is granted.  Such payment to the grantee will be in cash, in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Committee.  The Committee will determine the term of each SAR, which will not exceed 10 years from the date of grant.

The base amount of each SAR will be determined by the Committee and will be equal to the per-share exercise price of the related option or, if there is no related option, an amount that is equal to or greater than the fair market value of Common Stock on the date the SAR is granted.  The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of SARs, including when they become exercisable.  The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any SARs.

Other Stock-Based Awards

The Committee may grant other stock-based awards, which are grants other than options, SARs, stock units, and stock awards.  The Committee may grant other stock-based awards to anyone eligible to participate in the Plan. These grants will be based on or measured by shares of Common Stock, and will be payable in cash, in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock.  The terms and conditions for other stock-based awards will be determined by the Committee.

Qualified Performance-Based Compensation. The Plan permits the Committee to impose objective performance goals that must be met with respect to grants of stock units, stock awards, other stock-based awards or dividend equivalents granted to employees under the Plan, for the grants to be considered qualified performance-based compensation for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code (see “Federal Income Tax Consequences of the

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Plan” below).  Prior to, or soon after the beginning of, the performance period, the Committee will establish in writing performance goals that must be met, the applicable performance period, amounts to be paid if the performance goals are met, and any other conditions.  Following the performance period, the Committee will certify the performance results and determine the amount, if any, to be paid or shares to be issued in connection with any performance-based award.

Performance goals, to the extent an award is designed to meet the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code, will be based on one or more of the following measures, all as determined by the Committee.

·                  Earnings or earnings per share (whether on a pre-tax, after-tax, operational or other basis, diluted or undiluted, and before or after adjustments for extraordinary items and business combination acquisition and restructuring costs);

·                  Return on equity;

·                  Return on assets;

·                  Net or gross revenues or revenue growth over prior year or as compared to budget;

·                  Expenses or expense levels;

·                  One or more operating ratios;

·                  Stock price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return);

·                  Stockholder return;

·                  The accomplishment of mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, public offerings or similar extraordinary business transactions;

·                  Economic value added; and/or

·                  Net or gross income or income growth over prior year or as compared to budget, which, if determined for a department or business unit, may be determined solely with reference to direct costs of that department or business unit.

Deferrals.  The Committee may permit or require grantees to defer receipt of payment of cash or delivery of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to the grantee in connection with any stock units or other stock-based awards under the Plan.  The Committee will establish rules and procedures applicable to any such deferrals and may provide for interest or other earnings to be paid on such deferrals.

Adjustment Provisions.  In connection with stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and certain other events affecting Common Stock, the Committee will make adjustments as it deems appropriate in the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance as grants, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that any individual participating in the Plan may be granted in any year, the number and kind of shares covered by outstanding grants, the kind of shares that may be issued or transferred under the Plan, and the price per share or market value of any outstanding grants.  Any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment will be eliminated.  In addition, in the event of a change of control, the provisions applicable to a change in control will apply.  Any adjustments to outstanding grants will be consistent with section 409A or 422 of the Code, to the extent applicable.

Change of Control.  Upon a change of control, and unless otherwise provided in a grant agreement, all outstanding options and SARs held by persons whose employment ends within 24 months thereafter (with exception for cause, as defined by the Committee in a grant agreement) will accelerate and become fully exercisable and any restrictions of conditions on outstanding stock awards, stock units or dividend equivalents will lapse (so-called “double-trigger” vesting).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a change of control, the Committee may also take any of the following actions with respect to any or all outstanding grants under the Plan.

·                  Require that grantees surrender their options and SARs in exchange for payment by us, in cash or shares of Common Stock as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to the amount by which the then fair market value of the shares subject to the grantees’ unexercised options and SARs exceeds the exercise price of the options or the base amount of the SARs, as applicable;

·                  After giving grantees the opportunity to exercise their options and SARs, terminate any or all unexercised options and SARs at such time as the Committee deems appropriate; or

·                  Determine that outstanding options and SARs that are not exercised will be assumed by, or replaced with comparable options or rights by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), and other outstanding grants that remain in effect after the change of control

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will be converted to similar grants of the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation).

In general terms, a change of control under the Plan occurs:

·                  If a person, entity or affiliated group (with certain exceptions) acquires more than 20% of the then outstanding voting securities;

·                  If the Company consummates a merger into another entity, unless the holders of the voting shares immediately prior to the merger have at least 80% of the combined voting power of the securities in the merged entity or its parent;

·                  If shareholders approve a plan to liquidate or dissolve the Company;

·                  If the Company consummates an agreement to sell or dispose of the Company or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or

·                  If there is turnover in majority of Board seats over a two year period, other than with replacements that were approved by 2/3rd of the Board members in office before their election.

For any grants of awards subject to 409A (discussed below), the payment timing of which is triggered upon a change in control, the transaction constituting a change of control must also constitute a change of control for purposes of Section 409A.

Transferability of Grants.  Only the grantee may exercise rights under a grant during the grantee’s lifetime.  A grantee may not transfer those rights except by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that a grantee may transfer a grant other than an ISO pursuant to a domestic relations order.  The Committee may also provide in a grant agreement, that a grantee may transfer NQSOs to his or her family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for benefit of or owned by such family members, consistent with applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Committee may determine.

Repricing of Options.  Except in relation to transactions that trigger appropriate adjustments in awards (see below), neither the Board nor the Committee can amend the price of outstanding options or SARs under the Plan to reduce the exercise price or cancel such options or SARs in exchange for cash or other awards of options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original options or SARs, without prior shareholder approval.

Clawback Policy.  All grants made under the Plan are subject to any compensation, clawback or recoupment policy that may be applicable to employees of the Company; as such policy may be in effect from time to time, whether or not approved before or after the effective date of the Plan.

Amendment and Termination of the Plan.  The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required under any applicable laws or stock exchange requirements.

Shareholder Approval for Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.  If stock awards, stock units, other stock-based awards or dividend equivalents are granted as qualified performance-based compensation under section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan must be re-approved by the shareholders no later than the first shareholders meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the shareholders previously approved the Plan.

New Plan Benefits.  Grants under the 2015 Plan are discretionary, so it is currently not possible to predict the number of shares of Common Stock that will be granted or who will receive grants under the 2015 Plan after the Annual Meeting.

Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Plan

The federal income tax consequences of grants under the Plan will depend on the type of grant.  The following description provides only a general description of the application of federal income tax laws to grants under the Plan.  This discussion is intended for the information of shareholders considering how to vote at the Annual Meeting and not as tax guidance to grantees, as consequences may vary with the types of grants made, identity of grantees, and method of payment or settlement.  The summary does not address effects of other federal taxes (including possible “golden parachute” excise taxes) or taxes imposed under state, local, or foreign tax laws.

From the grantees’ standpoint, as a general rule, ordinary income will be recognized at the time of delivery of shares of Common Stock or payment of cash under the Plan.  Future appreciation on shares of Common Stock held beyond the ordinary income recognition event will be taxable as capital gain when shares of Common Stock are

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sold.  The tax rate applicable to capital gain will depend upon how long the grantee holds the shares.  The Company, as a general rule, for all awards other than ISOs, will be entitled to a tax deduction that corresponds in time and amount to the ordinary income recognized by the grantee, and the Company will not be entitled to any tax deduction with respect to capital gain income recognized by the grantee.

Exceptions to these general rules arise under the following circumstances:

(i) If shares of Common Stock, when delivered, are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture by reason of any employment or performance-related condition, ordinary income taxation and the tax deduction will be delayed until the risk of forfeiture lapses, unless the grantee makes a special election to accelerate taxation under section 83(b) of the Code.

(ii) If an employee exercises a stock option that qualifies as an ISO, no ordinary income will be recognized, and the Company will not be entitled to any tax deduction, if shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the stock option are held until the later of one year from the date of exercise and two years from the date of grant.  However, if the employee disposes of the shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO before satisfying both holding period requirements, the employee will recognize ordinary income at the time of the disposition equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise (or the amount realized on the disposition, if less) and the exercise price, and the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in that amount.  The gain, if any, in excess of the amount recognized as ordinary income will be long-term or short-term capital gain, depending upon the length of time the employee held the shares before the disposition.

(iii) A grant may be subject to a 20% tax, in addition to ordinary income tax, at the time the grant becomes vested, plus interest, if the grant constitutes deferred compensation under section 409A of the Code and the requirements of section 409A of the Code are not satisfied.

Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a publicly held corporation’s tax deduction for compensation paid to its chief executive officer or certain other officers in excess of $1 million in any year.  Qualified performance-based compensation is excluded from the $1 million deductibility limit, and therefore remains fully deductible by the corporation that pays it.  The Company intends that options and SARs granted under the Plan will be qualified performance-based compensation. Stock units, stock awards, dividend equivalents, and other stock-based awards granted under the Plan may be structured to meet the qualified performance-based compensation exception under section 162(m) of the Code if the Committee determines to condition such grants on the achievement of specific performance goals in accordance with the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code.

The Company has the right to require that grantees pay an amount necessary to satisfy the federal, state or local tax withholding obligations with respect to grants or exercises of awards.  The Company may withhold from other amounts payable to a grantee an amount necessary to satisfy these obligations.  The Committee may permit a grantee to satisfy the withholding obligation with respect to grants paid in shares of Common Stock by having shares withheld, at the time grants become taxable, provided that the number of shares withheld does not exceed the individual’s minimum applicable withholding tax rate for federal, state and local tax liabilities.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE 2015 OMNIBUS EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN AND THE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA TO BE USED UNDER IT.

ITEM 6:  ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

We are asking our shareholders to provide an advisory vote on the compensation of the named executive officers disclosed in the REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION section of this Proxy Statement.  We have included this proposal among the items to be considered at the Annual Meeting pursuant to the requirements of Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  While this vote is non-binding on our Company and the Board of Directors, it will provide the Compensation Committee with information regarding investor sentiment about our executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices which the Committee will be able to consider when determining future executive compensation arrangements.  Following is a summary of some of the key points of our 2014 executive compensation program.  See the REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION section of this Proxy Statement for more information.

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The pay-for-performance compensation philosophy of the Compensation Committee supports Stock Yards Bancorp’s primary objective of creating value for its shareholders.  The Committee strives to ensure that compensation of Stock Yards Bancorp’s executive officers is market-competitive to attract and retain talented individuals to lead Stock Yards Bancorp and the Bank to growth and higher profitability while maintaining stability and capital strength.  Our executive compensation program has been designed to align managements’ interests with those of our shareholders.  In addition, the program seeks to mitigate risks related to compensation. In designing the 2014 compensation program, the Compensation Committee used key performance measurements to motivate our executive officers to achieve short-term and long-term business goals after reviewing peer and market data and the Company’s business expectations for 2014.

We believe that the information provided regarding executive compensation in this Proxy Statement demonstrates that our executive compensation program was designed appropriately and is working to maximize shareholder return while mitigating risk and aligning managements’ interests with our shareholders.  Accordingly, the Board of Directors recommends that shareholders approve the following advisory resolution:

RESOLVED, that the shareholders of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. 2015 Proxy Statement pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other executive compensation tables and related narratives.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Set forth in the following table is the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of January 31, 2015 for each person or entity known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock; all our directors and executive officers as a group; and directors, executive officers and employees as a group.  “Executive officer” means the chairman, president, any vice president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function, or other officer who performs a policy making function or any other person who performs similar policy making functions and is so designated by the Board of Directors.  For a description of the voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the nominees for election as directors and named executive officers of Stock Yards Bancorp, see the tables below.

(1)                     Shares of Stock Yards Bancorp Common Stock subject to stock options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or may become exercisable within the following 60 days under Stock Yards Bancorp’s Stock Incentive Plans are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of Stock Yards Bancorp Common Stock beneficially owned by the person and group holding such options and stock appreciation rights but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of Stock Yards Bancorp Common Stock beneficially owned by any other person or group.

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(2)                     Based upon Schedule 13G filed with the SEC as of December 31, 2014.

(3)                     Includes 344,715 shares held by directors and executive officers subject to outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or may become exercisable within the following 60 days and 86,604 shares held in KSOP accounts.

(4)                     The shares held by the group include 256,493 shares held by non-executive officers and employees of the Bank.  In addition, includes 245,703 shares subject to stock options and stock appreciation rights that are currently exercisable or may become exercisable within the following 60 days held by non-executive officers of the Bank and 399,820 shares held by non-executive officers and employees of the Bank in their KSOP accounts, with sole voting power and investment power.  Stock Yards Bancorp has not undertaken the expense and effort of compiling the number of shares other officers and employees of the Bank may hold other than directly in their own name.

The following table shows the beneficial ownership of Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.’s Common Stock as of December 31, 2014 by each nominee for election as directors and each named executive officer.

(1)                     Includes, where noted, shares in which members of the nominee’s or executive officer’s immediate family have a beneficial interest.  The column does not, however, include the interest of certain of the listed nominees or executive officer in shares held by other non-dependent family members in their own right.  In each case, the principal disclaims beneficial ownership of any such shares, and declares that the listing in this Proxy Statement should not be construed as an admission that the principal is the beneficial owner of any such securities.

(2)                     Includes shares subject to outstanding stock options and SARs that are currently exercisable or may become exercisable within the following 60 days and unvested restricted shares issued under Stock Yards Bancorp’s Stock Incentive Plan(s) as follows.

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(3)                     Includes shares held in Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan as follows:

(4)                     Includes shares held in the Company’s KSOP as follows:

(5)                     Less than one percent of outstanding Stock Yards Bancorp Common Stock.

(6)                     Includes 63,586 shares owned by Mr. Edinger’s wife.

(7)                     Includes 4,041 shares owned by Mr. Heintzman’s wife.

(8)                     Includes 17,170 shares held jointly by Mr. Hillebrand and his wife, 7,756 shares owned by Mr. Hillebrand’s wife and 391 shares held as custodian for children.

(9)                     Includes 600 shares held as custodian for children.

(10)              Includes 8,961 shares held jointly by Mr. Madison and his wife and 1,935 shares owned by Mr. Madison’s wife.

(11)              Includes 37,805 shares held by Publishers Printing Company LLC, of which Mr. Simon is President and Chief Executive Officer.

(12)              Includes 46,551 shares owned by Mr. Tasman’s mother for which Mr. Tasman shares voting control but from which he derives no economic benefit; 59,359 shares held jointly by Mr. Tasman and his wife; 4,685 shares

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held as custodian for their son, and 69,825 shares owned by his mother’s trust of which Mr. Tasman is a beneficiary.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our executive officers, our directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of Stock Yards Bancorp’s Common Stock to file initial reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and the NASDAQ.  Such executive officers, Directors and shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.  Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to us and written representations from the applicable executive officers and our directors, all persons subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) filed the required reports on a timely basis for the year ended December 31, 2014 with the exception of Mr. Lechleiter who sold 378 shares on January 31, 2014, and the transaction was reported on February 12, 2014.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

This Compensation Discussion & Analysis (“CD&A”) reflects our 2014 executive compensation program with respect to the named executive officers (“NEOs”) whose compensation is detailed in the compensation tables that follow the CD&A.  In this discussion, we explain our compensation philosophy and program, factors considered by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) in making compensation decisions and additional details of our practices.

The NEOs are:

·                  David P. Heintzman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO);

·                  Nancy B. Davis, Chief Financial Officer (CFO);

·                  James A. Hillebrand, President;

·                  Kathy C. Thompson, Senior Executive Vice President and Manager of the Investment Management and Trust (“IM&T”) department; and

·                  Phillip S. Poindexter, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer.

Executive Summary

2014 Business Highlights

·                  Fourth consecutive year of record earnings per share (“EPS”), highlighted by a nearly 25% increase in EPS in 2014;

·                  A net increase in the loan portfolio of 8.6% for 2014, with record loan production for the year;

·                  Continuing credit quality improvements with non-performing loans at 0.64% of total loans;

·                  12% growth in revenue from investment management and trust services;

·                  A generally stable net interest margin; and

·                  Significantly higher returns on average equity and assets.

The Company’s 2014 ROAA compared to its compensation peer group (1) or to a broader peer group is staggering.  Below illustrates the Company ROAA against its compensation peer percentiles.

The difference between performing at the 50th percentile and the Company’s actual performance in terms of net income would be over $12 million higher based on our performance being over 50% higher than median.

(1)         See page 30 for compensation peer group.

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Additionally, the graphs below illustrate several other positive long-term trends for the Company:

2014 Compensation Highlights

·            Base salaries for our NEOs increased 1.9% to 4.3%, an average of 2.9%, in recognition of our strong performance in 2013 and general market salary movement;

·            Our 2014 short-term cash incentive program was based on our EPS compared to budgeted expectations, as well as individual line-of-business results for certain executives.  Based on our strong performance as shown on page 32, our EPS objective was achieved at maximum, and incentive awards for Mr. Heintzman, Ms. Davis and Mr. Hillebrand were paid at maximum under the plan.  Performance for the lines of business under the purview of Ms. Thompson and Mr. Poindexter was also outstanding, and when combined with strong corporate performance, resulted in cash incentive payouts near maximum for Ms. Thompson and between target and maximum for Mr. Poindexter; and

·            We reconsidered our approach to equity compensation for 2014, with the goal of increasing the performance-sensitivity of the equity awarded to our NEOs.  Following these changes, performance-vesting awards comprise 60% of the total award value, with the remaining 40% of the award value granted in time-vesting stock appreciation rights (“SARs”).  We no longer award time-vested restricted stock to our executives, as had been our historical practice.

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Mix of Pay

We believe that our executive compensation program strikes an appropriate balance between fixed and variable pay as well as short and long-term pay.  The charts below present the mix of 2014 direct compensation at Target and Maximum performance.

2014 Target Compensation

As demonstrated above, variable pay at Target for the CEO is at 50% of direct compensation.  However, when the Bank performs at Maximum, payouts for variable pay significantly increase.  Short-term cash compensation can maximize at 100% of base salary and long-term equity awards maximize at 80% of base salary for the CEO.  At Maximum, base salary, or fixed pay, represents 36% of direct compensation for the CEO, while variable, or at-risk pay, represents 64% of direct compensation, clearly rewarding superior performance which drives shareholder value.

Say On Pay Results

At the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders 97.7% of the votes were cast in favor of the advisory vote to approve executive compensation, commonly known as “Say on Pay”.  This represents a substantial positive move from the 2013 approval of 68%.  The Committee believes it accomplished its goals to strengthen the Company’s compensation practices and views the voting results as evidence that shareholders support the Company’s compensation policies and practices.  Below is a summary of key changes implemented.

·                  Adopted clawback policy;

·                  Added double-trigger change in control provisions;

·                  Eliminated tax gross-ups from change in control agreements; and

·                  Enhanced performance-based equity awards.

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Connecting Pay and Performance

Stock Yards Bancorp (“Bancorp”) continues to be one of the top-performing banks in the country. Our shareholders have been rewarded with superior results as evidenced below. The Committee judges management financial performance over the long term, and over the long term, Bancorp’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) has been stellar. The Committee believes the 10-year TSR to be a better measure of performance than TSR over shorter periods. The 10-year TSR benchmarks all banks from before the crisis, tracks them through the crisis, and measures how well they have recovered post-crisis. As the table below indicates, our shareholders have earned superior returns over the longer term.

The Committee believes stock price follows earnings growth over the long term, and management should be given the incentive with respect to controllable performance measures.  Over the short term, stock price is not controllable by management and should not be a tool to judge management’s performance.  Often, price-to-earnings ratios expand or contract and price-to-tangible book ratios do the same based on economic and broad market conditions, and the entire financial services sector is impacted to some degree.  We believe our earnings per share growth, shown below, aligns management’s interests with shareholders and drives TSR over the long term.

Additionally, the Committee believes that in goal setting for both short-term and long-term incentives, it uses aggressive targets.  For example, under the Company’s performance share goals, executives need to outperform 75% of the universe (Banks with $1-3 billion in assets) to be at target performance.  This is further reasoning for why the Committee benchmarks executives from the 50th to the 75th percentile.  The Bancorp’s financial results must far exceed peer median for target level awards.

Committee’s Equity Award Philosophy

The Committee and its compensation consultant reviewed trends in equity compensation, and as a result of those discussions recommended adoption of the 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and the possible performance criteria to be used under it.  The Committee and the Board of Directors is pleased to provide a proposed Plan to shareholders for approval. The proposed Plan, upon approval by shareholders, would replace the existing Plan and the shares available in the prior Plan would become available in the new Plan. The approval does not include a request for additional shares as we feel the shares remaining in the current Plan are sufficient for several years of awards under the proposed Plan.

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The proposed Plan is aligned with shareholders in the following ways.

·                  No additional cost to shareholders as no new shares are being requested;

·                  Includes a double-trigger to accelerate vesting upon a change in control;

·                  Includes a clawback policy;

·                  Requires a minimum vesting period of one year;

·                  Excludes liberal share recycling; and

·                  Prohibits repricing of SAR or options or buy out of underwater awards without shareholder approval.

In addition, our grant practices demonstrate a commitment to performance-based compensation tied to long term shareholder value.

·                  Committee will generally require a minimum holding period of one year in grant agreement for executive officers (net of a portion which may be sold to cover taxes);

·                  Executives receive stock appreciation rights which gain value only through stock price appreciation;

·                  Annual performance unit grants to executives vest based on three-year earnings per share and three-year return on assets relative to peers, measures which should result in shareholder value;

·                  Annual performance unit grants for executives vest over three years, while stock appreciation rights vest over five years; and

·                  No dividends are accrued or paid on performance unit grants until earned.

More information on the proposed Plan and the use of equity at the Company is available on page 13.

Compensation Philosophy and Process

Objective of the Company’s Compensation Program

Our compensation program is designed to achieve the following objectives.

·                  To attract, retain, and motivate top executive talent;

·                  To link overall compensation to company performance;

·                  To align executive interests with shareholder interests;

·                  To place at risk a significant portion of total compensation, making it contingent on Company performance but consistent with our risk management policies; and

·                  To support the Company’s objective of creating shareholder value without taking unnecessary risk.

The Committee has determined that Bancorp’s pay policies and practices do not create risks reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Role of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee assists our Board in establishing the compensation of our executive officers.  The Compensation Committee is responsible for annually assessing the performance of our NEOs and for determining both their annual salary and incentive (short- and long-term) compensation goals.  Each of the three members of our Compensation Committee is independent as is defined under NASDAQ listing standards.  The Compensation Committee retains an independent executive compensation consultant to assist in evaluating the compensation practices at the Company and to provide advice and ongoing recommendations regarding executive compensation consistent with our business goals and pay philosophy.

Beginning in 2010, the Compensation Committee engaged Mercer LLC (“Mercer”) to provide executive compensation consulting services and Mercer continued to provide these services to the Committee as the Committee established our 2014 compensation programs and pay levels.  The scope of Mercer’s executive compensation consulting assignment included the establishment and evaluation of the peer group of banks, and a comparison of management’s levels of base salary, annual cash incentive awards and equity-based compensation to

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those paid by the banks in the peer bank group (detailed below).  The Compensation Committee used data developed by Mercer in its determination of overall competitive pay practices.

Mercer performed services solely on behalf of the Compensation Committee and has no other relationship with Bancorp or its management.  The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Mercer and concluded that Mercer’s work did not raise any conflicts of interest.

Compensation Committee Actions

The Compensation Committee held nine meetings during 2014 and its actions included finalizing all aspects of 2014 executive compensation based on recommendations made by an outside compensation consultant and recommending such compensation to the Board for approval.  In addition, the Committee reviewed its compensation philosophy with its outside consultant, reviewed compliance with the Committee charter, reviewed the company-wide retirement plan programs, reviewed the 2015 Bancorp operating budget and its effect on incentive compensation programs for 2015 including setting the EPS benchmarks for short term compensation payouts, discussed executive succession planning and received education on compensation matters.

Role of Executives in Compensation Committee Deliberations

The Compensation Committee works closely with the CEO who provides administrative support to the Compensation Committee, as requested.  These executives attend Compensation Committee meetings to discuss Bancorp and individual performance or to provide pertinent financial, tax, accounting, or operational information.  The Committee excuses from the meetings all executives for discussions on the CEO compensation.  Executives in attendance may provide their insights and suggestions, but only Compensation Committee members may vote on decisions regarding executive compensation.

For each executive officer other than himself, the CEO makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding compensation.  The Compensation Committee reviews recommendations made by the CEO and information from the executive compensation consultant review.  The Committee’s decisions are based on a variety of factors, including short- and long-term Company performance, the officer’s level of responsibility, an assessment of individual performance and competitive market data.

Peer Selection Process

Each year the Compensation Committee re-evaluates and updates the peer group, with the consultant’s guidance, to ensure ongoing relevance.  The Compensation Committee uses this information for making compensation decisions, such as changes to base salaries, annual cash incentive awards and long-term equity awards.

For 2014, the Compensation Committee continued to use the same peer group as the prior year with the exception of Bank of Kentucky which was eliminated in that it participated in the U.S. government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”).  Beginning with publically-traded banks, the compensation consultant used the following criteria to select peer banks.

·                  Total assets ranging from half the size of Bancorp to two times the size of Bancorp;

·                  Employee base between 225 and 1,000 full-time equivalent employees.  (Bancorp has approximately 550 employees.);

·                  Location in a metropolitan area with a population of 200,000 or more.  Bancorp competes against money center, regional, and community banks in its three primary markets.  Competition for talented executives is greater in larger markets than in smaller communities, which often drives higher levels of compensation in those larger markets;

·                  Insider ownership less than 45% with no single holder owning more than 15%.  Certain banks comparable in size to Bancorp are controlled by a family or other group and pay for top executives may not be indicative of market conditions if the executive is also a substantial owner;

·                  Non-interest income greater than $10 million.  Bancorp has a large portion of non-interest income earned by its investment management and trust business; and

·                  Market capitalization of the peer’s stock greater than $90 million.

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The table below lists the peer banks approved by the Compensation Committee for 2014.

The asset size, net income and market capitalization of the Peer Group as of December 31, 2014 compared to our asset size, total revenue, and market capitalization is set forth in the table below:

On a total asset basis, Bancorp approximates the 50th percentile of the peer group; however, net income is at the 75th percentile.  On a ROAA and ROAE basis, it ranks well above the 90th percentile of the peer group.  For 2014 and consistently for many years, Bancorp performs at or near the 90th percentile of not only this peer group but the broader peer group of similar sized banks.  The Compensation Committee has been comfortable with targeting compensation around the 75th percentile for certain executives because performance consistently is at the 90th percentile.

(1)   Excludes two banks in the peer group:  OmniAmerican Bancorp, Inc. merged with Southside Bancshares in December 2014; and Provident New York Bancorp merged with Sterling Bancorp in November 2013.

(2)   Dollars in millions

(3)   Excludes Stock Yards Bancorp

Benchmarking 2014 Compensation

Each executive officer’s pay is determined in part by evaluating the most recent comparative peer data relative to similar roles and responsibilities.  For positions not specifically matched to peers, the officer’s level of responsibility is compared to positions deemed equivalent.  The Committee has set the 75th percentile of our peer group as a guiding principle for Mr. Heintzman’s compensation, even though Bancorp’s financial performance over the long term is well above the 75th percentile, as discussed above.  The Committee believes it is appropriate to target the 75th percentile for Mr. Heintzman as we expect that the rigorous performance goals included in our

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incentive plans will require Bancorp to perform at the 75th percentile or above compared to our peers in order to actually achieve 75th percentile CEO compensation.  For 2014, the Committee established a range between the 50th and 75th percentile relative to peers for other NEOs.  The Committee does not view benchmark data for our executives as prescriptive in establishing pay levels, but instead weighs qualitative and quantitative performance of each NEO to determine that the executive is at the appropriate position within the 50th to 75th percentile.

Compensation Components

Base Salary

We provide a base salary as the fundamental element of executive compensation.  In support of our focus to attract and retain top talent, our philosophy is to pay base salaries that are within a competitive range of market practice.  Individual pay will vary within the range depending on each executive’s position, performance, experience, and contribution.  Salaries are the basis from which incentives and other select benefits are derived.

Short-Term Cash Incentives

The objective of annual cash incentive compensation is to deliver variable compensation that is conditioned on the attainment of certain financial, departmental and/or operating results of Bancorp.  Therefore, the Committee established an incentive program based upon the achievement of certain earnings per share goals as well as line of business goals applicable to specific officers’ duties.  For 2014, the determination as to whether cash incentives would be paid to Mr. Heintzman and two non-line of business executive officers, Ms. Davis and Mr. Hillebrand, was based solely upon the achievement of diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) objectives as set forth below.

The Committee strongly supports the use of EPS exclusively in the determination of the short-term cash incentive for certain executives without specific line of business oversight.  The Committee believes that EPS, over the long-term, drives TSR.  Many companies use several short-term incentive goals as their respective boards seek

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to focus management on specific operational objectives while also balancing credit quality and other risks.  However, the success or failure of management’s execution of the goals is ultimately reflected in EPS.

With virtually all areas of the bank operating at a high performing level, growth in EPS should be, and is, the primary focus of management.  Choosing the correct mix of revenue growth, expense control measures, risk profile and other various tactics ultimately leads to improved EPS while not doing so can lower EPS.  Therefore, the Committee believes aligning pay with EPS growth gives management the correct incentive to make the best decisions.

The 2014 executive short-term incentive compensation goals were primarily based on achieving the budgeted diluted EPS levels for the year.  The target performance level represented a 13% increase in diluted EPS as compared to 2013.

The annual cash incentive formula includes increasingly higher payout percentages for corresponding higher EPS levels, further reinforcing the Committee’s pay-for-performance philosophy.  EPS targets and corresponding bonus percentages for 2014 were as follows.

Mr. Heintzman, Ms. Davis and Mr. Hillebrand

For 2014, the Company earned $2.36 per diluted share, and accordingly, the following incentive payments were made:

Ms. Thompson

Ms. Thompson’s short-term incentive includes three components: departmental gross revenues, income before overhead allocations, and consolidated EPS of the Company.  The IM&T department ranks in the top 125 bank-owned trust departments in the country based on revenues and contributes approximately 40% of the Bank’s total non-interest income and nearly 20% of the Company’s net income, distinguishing the Company from many of its peers.  The IM&T department’s return on assets on both a gross and net basis are continually more than double that of the median for peer banks with $1-10 billion in IM&T assets.  Growth in departmental profitability directly affects the profitability of Bancorp and significantly enhances shareholder value.  Ms. Thompson has both line of business and overall bank performance components to her short-term incentive plan.  Her incentive is weighted 75% around her line of business results and 25% toward overall results.  Not only is the IM&T department a significant contributor to EPS, but the business referrals from this department to other lines of business are significant; therefore, the Committee believes Ms. Thompson should share in the overall success of the Company.  Ms. Thompson’s incentive is weighted 75% for her line of business and 25% for overall Company performance.  The respective targets and corresponding bonus percentages for Ms. Thompson’s line of business components are as follows.

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Line of Business Component

EPS Component

For 2014, combined achievement levels of the three incentive components for Ms. Thompson resulted in a bonus of 67.375% of base salary, or $238,508.

Mr. Poindexter

The Committee believes its incentive matrix plan for Mr. Poindexter drives achievement of the Company’s annual performance goals to support its strategic business objectives and promote the attainment of specific financial goals while encouraging teamwork, policy compliance and risk avoidance.  Mr. Poindexter’s incentive is weighted 75% for his line of business and 25% for overall Company performance.  Having a bank wide goal encourages referrals across department lines which ultimately return a higher EPS to the Bancorp.

Line of Business Component

Mr. Poindexter’s line of business bonus consists of a matrix of all areas of his responsibility including:  Commercial Banking, Private Banking, Business Banking, Treasury Management, International, and Correspondent Banking.  The Commercial Banking, Private Banking, and Business Banking areas are the source of significant loan and deposit growth.  Net interest income comprises approximately two-thirds of the Company’s consolidated revenues.  Growth in these areas significantly impacts the profitably of the Company.  Mr. Poindexter’s matrix assigns various weights to several categories including:  net loan and deposit growth, growth of loan fees and service charges, charge-offs and overall management.  The program requires attainment of a minimum of 50 points in aggregate for any incentive bonus to be paid.  Additionally, certain point deductions are considered to promote asset quality including deductions for excessive charge-offs and non-compliance with established customer service standards.  Conversely, better than expected credit quality provides additional points to certain other categories.  The matrix used to compute the incentive award, shown below, is structured such that achievement of target performance

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 in all categories results in a cash incentive equal to 22.50% of base salary.  Goals are considered aggressive and difficult to achieve.

In 2014, the Company achieved record loan production of approximately $536 million which translated into record net loan growth of $147 million, or 8.6% growth over 2013.

The following is a summary of Mr. Poindexter’s performance under the short-term incentive plan: