Unassociated Document
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
(Amendment
No. )
Filed by
the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant ¨
Check the
appropriate box:
þ
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting
Material under §240.14a-12
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Park
National Corporation
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ
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No
fee required
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total
fee paid:
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3)
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Filing
Party:
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(4)
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Date
Filed:
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PRELIMINARY
COPY - SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
Dated
February 16, 2011
PARK
NATIONAL CORPORATION
50 North
Third Street
Post
Office Box 3500
Newark,
Ohio 43058-3500
(740)
349-8451
www.parknationalcorp.com
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
Be Held Monday, April 18, 2011
Dear
Fellow Shareholders:
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of
Park National Corporation (“Park”) will be held at the offices of The Park
National Bank, 50 North Third Street, Newark, Ohio 43055, on Monday, April
18, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, for the following
purposes:
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1.
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To
elect five directors, each to serve for a term of three years to expire at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in
2014.
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2.
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To
approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of Park’s
executive officers as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement for
the Annual Meeting.
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3.
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To
consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt an amendment to Article SIXTH
of Park’s Articles of Incorporation in order to provide that Park’s
shareholders do not have preemptive rights, as described in the
accompanying proxy statement for the Annual
Meeting.
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4.
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To
ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the independent registered
public accounting firm of Park for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2011.
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5.
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To
transact any other business which properly comes before the Annual Meeting
or any adjournment thereof. Park’s Board of Directors is not
aware of any other business to come before the Annual
Meeting.
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If you
were a holder of record of common shares of Park at the close of business on
February 25, 2011, you will be entitled to vote in person or by proxy at
the Annual Meeting.
You are
cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Your vote is
important, regardless of the number of common shares you own. Whether
or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, it is important that
your common shares be represented. Please complete,
sign, date and return your proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided as
promptly as possible. Alternatively, refer to the instructions on the
proxy card, or in the e-mail sent to you if you registered for electronic
delivery of the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, for details about
transmitting your voting instructions electronically via the Internet or by
telephone. Returning the proxy card or transmitting your
voting instructions electronically does not deprive you of your right to attend
the 2011 Annual Meeting and to vote your common shares in person in the manner
described in the accompanying proxy statement.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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March
9, 2011
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DAVID
L. TRAUTMAN
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President
and Secretary
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To
obtain directions to attend the 2011 Annual Meeting and vote in person,
please call Leda Rutledge at (740) 322-6828 or Renae Buchanan at (740)
349-0428.
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
GENERAL
INFORMATION
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1
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Availability
of Proxy Materials
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1
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Delivery
of Proxy Materials to Multiple Shareholders Sharing the Same
Address
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1
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VOTING
INFORMATION
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2
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Who
can vote at the Annual Meeting?
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2
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How
do I vote?
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2
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How
will my common shares be voted?
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3
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What
if my common shares are held through the Park National Corporation
Employees Stock Ownership Plan?
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4
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Can
the proxy materials be accessed electronically?
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4
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How
do I change or revoke my proxy?
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If
I vote in advance, can I still attend the Annual Meeting?
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5
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What
constitutes a quorum and what is the vote required with respect to the
proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting?
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5
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Routine
and Non-Routine Proposals
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5
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Vote
Required with Respect to the Proposals
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5
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Who
pays the cost of proxy solicitation?
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6
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Who
should I call if I have questions concerning this proxy solicitation and
the proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting?
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7
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NOTICE
REGARDING INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
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7
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CONSOLIDATION
OF OHIO BANKING OPERATIONS
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7
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PARTICIPATION
IN CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM
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8
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PROPOSAL
1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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8
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Recommendation
and Vote Required
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14
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BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF PARK COMMON SHARES
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14
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Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
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17
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
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18
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Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
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Park
Improvement Line
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Independence
of Directors
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Risk
Management Oversight
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20
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Nominating
Procedures
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20
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Communications
with the Board of Directors
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22
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Transactions
with Related Persons
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22
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Policies
and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions
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22
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Transactions
Involving Subordinated Notes
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23
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Banking
Transactions
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24
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BOARD
OF DIRECTORS STRUCTURE AND MEETINGS
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24
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Meetings
of the Board of Directors and Attendance at Annual Meetings of
Shareholders
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Board
Leadership
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Committees
of the Board
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Audit
Committee
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25
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Compensation
Committee
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27
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Executive
Committee
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29
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Investment
Committee
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29
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Nominating
Committee
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29
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Risk
Committee
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COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
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30
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EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
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PROPOSAL
2 – NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF PARK’S EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
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Recommendation
and Vote Required
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
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Executive
Summary
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Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
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Process
Used to Set Compensation for 2010
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Factors
Influencing Compensation in 2010
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38
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Elements
of Compensation for 2010
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Other
Compensation Policies
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Annual
Bonus Pool for 2010
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Incentive
Compensation Plan for 2010 and 2011
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Conclusion
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Compensation
Committee Report
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Risk
Analysis
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Earnings
Analysis
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Summary
Compensation Table
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Grants
of Plan-Based Awards
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51
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Outstanding
Incentive Stock Options at Fiscal Year-End
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51
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Exercises
of Incentive Stock Options
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51
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Post-Employment
Payments and Benefits
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51
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Pension
and Supplemental Benefits
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51
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Potential
Payouts upon Termination of Employment or Change in
Control
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55
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Supplemental
Executive Retirement Benefits
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Other
Potential Payouts
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DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
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Annual
Retainers and Meeting Fees
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Split-Dollar
Life Insurance Policies
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Change
in Control Payments
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Other
Compensation
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Director
Compensation for 2010
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PROPOSAL
3 – AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE SIXTH OF PARK’S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO
ELIMINATE PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
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62
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Description
of Preemptive Rights and Purpose of the Proposed Amendment
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62
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Proposed
Amendment
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63
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Recommendation
and Vote Required
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PROPOSAL
4 – RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
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64
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Recommendation
and Vote Required
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64
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AUDIT
COMMITTEE MATTERS
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Report
of the Audit Committee for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
2010
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Role
of the Audit Committee, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and
Management
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65
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Management’s
Representations and Audit Committee Recommendation
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66
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Pre-Approval
of Services Performed by Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
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67
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Fees
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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67
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Audit
Fees
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67
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Audit-Related
Fees
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67
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Tax
Fees
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67
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All
Other Fees
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68
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SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR 2012 ANNUAL MEETING
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68
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FUTURE
ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO PROXY MATERIALS AND ANNUAL REPORT
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68
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OTHER
MATTERS
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69
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PRELIMINARY
COPY - SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
Dated
February 16, 2011
PARK
NATIONAL CORPORATION
50
North Third Street
Post
Office Box 3500
Newark,
Ohio 43058-3500
(740)
349-8451
www.parknationalcorp.com
PROXY
STATEMENT
Dated
March 9, 2011
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
Be Held April 18, 2011
GENERAL
INFORMATION
We are
furnishing this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card to you as a
shareholder of Park National Corporation (“Park”) in connection with
the solicitation of proxies by Park’s Board of Directors for use at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Monday,
April 18, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, or at any
adjournment thereof. The Annual Meeting will be held at the offices
of The Park National Bank, 50 North Third Street, Newark, Ohio
43055. This proxy statement summarizes information that you will need
in order to vote.
Availability
of Proxy Materials
On or
about March 9, 2011, this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card were
first mailed or delivered electronically to the shareholders entitled to vote
their common shares at the Annual Meeting. The common shares are the
only shares of Park’s capital stock entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. Park’s 2010 Annual Report was also mailed or delivered to
shareholders with this proxy statement. Audited consolidated
financial statements for Park and our subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2010 (the “2010 fiscal year”) are included in Park’s 2010
Annual Report.
Additional
copies of Park’s 2010 Annual Report and copies of Park’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the 2010 fiscal year may be obtained at www.proxyvote.com or
www.parknationalcorp.com. Or,
you can obtain paper copies, without charge, by sending a written request
to: David L. Trautman, President and Secretary, Park National
Corporation, 50 North Third Street, Post Office Box 3500, Newark, Ohio
43058-3500.
Delivery
of Proxy Materials to Multiple Shareholders Sharing the Same
Address
Periodically,
Park provides each registered holder of common shares at a shared address, not
previously notified, with a separate notice of Park’s intention to household
proxy materials. The record holder notifies beneficial shareholders
(those who hold common shares through a broker, a financial institution or
another record holder) of the householding process. Only one copy of
this proxy statement, the notice of the Annual Meeting and Park’s 2010 Annual
Report is being delivered to previously notified multiple registered holders of
common shares who share an address unless Park has received contrary
instructions from one or more of the registered holders of common
shares. A separate proxy card is being included for each account at
the shared address.
Registered
holders of common shares who share an address and would like to receive a
separate copy of Park’s 2010 Annual Report, a separate notice of the Annual
Meeting and/or a separate proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, or who have
questions regarding the householding process, may contact Park’s transfer agent
and registrar, The Park National Bank, c/o First-Knox National Bank
Division, by calling (800) 837-5266, ext. 5208, or forwarding a written request
addressed to the First-Knox National Bank Division, Attention: Debbie
Daniels, P.O. Box 1270, One South Main Street, Mount Vernon, Ohio
43050-1270. Promptly upon request, a separate copy of Park’s 2010
Annual Report, a separate notice of the Annual Meeting and/or a separate copy of
the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting will be sent. By
contacting the First-Knox National Bank Division, registered holders of common
shares sharing an address can also: (i) notify Park that the
registered shareholders wish to receive separate annual reports to shareholders,
proxy statements and/or Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as
applicable, in the future; or (ii) request delivery of a single copy of annual
reports to shareholders, proxy statements and/or Notices of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable, in the future if they are
receiving multiple copies.
Beneficial
holders of common shares should contact their brokers, financial institutions or
other record holders for specific information about the householding process as
it applies to their accounts.
VOTING
INFORMATION
Who
can vote at the Annual Meeting?
Only
holders of common shares of record at the close of business on February 25, 2011
are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting. At the close of business on February 25, 2011, there were
15,398,931 common shares outstanding and entitled to vote. The common
shares are the only shares of Park’s capital stock entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting.
Each
holder of common shares is entitled to one vote for each common share held on
February 25, 2011. A shareholder wishing to exercise cumulative
voting with respect to the election of directors must notify the President and
Secretary of Park in writing before 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on
April 16, 2011. If cumulative voting is requested and if an
announcement of such request is made upon the convening of the Annual Meeting by
the chairman or the secretary of the meeting or by or on behalf of the
shareholder requesting cumulative voting, you will have votes equal to the
number of directors to be elected, multiplied by the number of common shares you
own, and will be entitled to distribute your votes among the candidates for
election as directors as you see fit.
How
do I vote?
Your
common shares may be voted by one of the following methods:
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by
traditional paper proxy card;
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by
submitting voting instructions via the Web site identified on your proxy
card;
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by
submitting voting instructions via the Web site identified in the e-mail
sent to you if you registered for electronic delivery of proxy materials
for the Annual Meeting;
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by
submitting voting instructions by telephone;
or
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in
person at the Annual Meeting.
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Submitting Voting
Instructions via the Internet or by Telephone. If you are a
shareholder of record (that is, if your common shares are registered with Park
in your own name), you may submit voting instructions via the Internet or by
telephone, by following the instructions stated on your proxy
card. If you have registered for electronic delivery of proxy
materials for the Annual Meeting, you may submit voting instructions via the
Internet by following the instructions stated in the e-mail delivering the proxy
materials to you. If your common shares are registered in the name of
a broker, a financial institution or another nominee (i.e., your hold your
common shares in “street name”), your nominee may be participating in a program
that allows you to submit voting instructions via the Internet or by
telephone. If so, the voting form your nominee sent you will provide
instructions for submitting your voting instructions via the Internet or by
telephone. The last-dated proxy or voting instructions you submit (by
any means) will supersede any previously submitted proxy or voting
instructions. Also, if you submit voting instructions via the
Internet or by telephone and later decide to attend the Annual Meeting, you may
revoke your previously submitted voting instructions and vote in person at the
Annual Meeting.
The
deadline for submitting voting instructions via the Internet or by telephone as
a shareholder of record is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on
April 17, 2011. For shareholders whose common shares are
registered in the name of a broker, a financial institution or another nominee,
please consult the instructions provided by your nominee for information about
the deadline for submitting voting instructions via the Internet or by
telephone.
Voting in
Person. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may deliver your
completed proxy card in person or you may vote by completing a ballot, which
will be available at the Annual Meeting.
If you
hold your common shares in “street name” through a broker, a financial
institution or another nominee, then that nominee is considered the shareholder
of record for voting purposes and will give you instructions for voting your
common shares. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct
that nominee how to vote the common shares held in your account. Your
nominee may only vote the common shares of Park that your nominee holds for you
in accordance with your instructions. If you have instructed a
broker, a financial institution or another nominee to vote your common shares,
the above-described options for revoking your proxy do not apply and instead you
must follow the instructions provided by your nominee to change your
vote.
If you
hold your common shares in “street name” and wish to attend the Annual Meeting
and vote in person, you must bring an account statement or letter from your
broker, financial institution or other nominee authorizing you to vote on behalf
of such nominee. The account statement or letter must show that you
were the direct or indirect beneficial owner of the common shares on
February 25, 2011, the record date for voting at the Annual
Meeting.
How
will my common shares be voted?
Those
common shares represented by a properly executed proxy card that is received
prior to the Annual Meeting or by properly authenticated Internet or telephone
voting instructions that are submitted prior to the deadline for doing so, and
not subsequently revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions by
your proxy. If you submit a valid proxy card prior to the Annual
Meeting, or timely submit your voting instructions via the Internet or by
telephone, but do not complete the voting instructions, your proxy will vote
your common shares as recommended by the Board of Directors, except in the case
of broker non-votes where applicable, as follows:
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“FOR” the election as
Park directors of the nominees identified below under the heading “PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS”;
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“FOR”
the approval, in a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of
Park’s executive officers as disclosed in this proxy
statement;
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“FOR”
the adoption of the amendment to Article SIXTH of Park’s Articles of
Incorporation to eliminate preemptive rights as described in this proxy
statement; and
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“FOR”
the ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as Park’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2011.
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No appraisal or
dissenters’ rights exist for any action proposed to be taken at the Annual
Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented for voting at the
Annual Meeting, the individuals appointed as proxies will vote on those matters,
to the extent permitted by applicable law, in accordance with their best
judgment.
What
if my common shares are held through the Park National Corporation Employees
Stock Ownership Plan?
If you
participate in the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan (the
“Park KSOP”) and common shares have been allocated to your account in the Park
KSOP, you will be entitled to instruct the trustee of the Park KSOP,
confidentially, how to vote those common shares. If you were
automatically enrolled by Park, or elected to enroll, in the electronic delivery
service available to certain participants in the Park KSOP, instead of receiving
paper copies of our 2010 Annual Report, this proxy statement and the proxy card
applicable to the Annual Meeting in the mail, these documents will be made
available via your Park e-mail account at the same time as paper copies are sent
to the other Park shareholders. If you are enrolled in this
electronic delivery service and wish to receive paper copies of our 2010 Annual
Report, this proxy statement and the proxy card applicable to the Annual
Meeting, please contact Park’s transfer agent and registrar, The Park National
Bank, c/o First-Knox National Bank Division, by calling (800) 837-5266, ext.
5208, or forwarding a written request addressed to the First-Knox National Bank
Division, Attention: Debbie Daniels, P.O. Box 1270, One South Main
Street, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050-1270.
If you
are a participant in the Park KSOP and give no voting instructions to the
trustee of the Park KSOP with respect to the matters to be considered at the
Annual Meeting, the trustee will vote the common shares allocated to your Park
KSOP account pro rata in accordance with the instructions received from other
participants in the Park KSOP who have voted.
Can
the proxy materials be accessed electronically?
On or
about March 9, 2011, we sent the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting by
U.S. mail to shareholders who had not registered for electronic delivery of the
proxy materials and by e-mail to the shareholders who had registered for
electronic delivery of the proxy materials. The Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, this proxy statement, a sample of the form of proxy
card sent to shareholders by Park and our 2010 Annual Report are also available
on the Internet as described in the section captioned “NOTICE REGARDING INTERNET
AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS” on page ____.
How
do I change or revoke my proxy?
Shareholders
who submit proxies retain the right to revoke them at any time before they are
exercised. Unless revoked, the common shares represented by such
proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment
thereof. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is actually
exercised at the Annual Meeting by giving notice of revocation to Park in
writing, by accessing the designated Internet Web site prior to the deadline for
transmitting voting instructions electronically, by using the toll-free
telephone number stated on the proxy card prior to the deadline for transmitting
voting instructions electronically, or by attending the Annual Meeting and
giving notice of revocation in person. The last-dated proxy or voting
instructions you submit (by any means) will supersede any previously submitted
proxy or voting instructions. If you hold your common shares in
“street name” and instructed your broker, financial institution or other nominee
to vote your common shares and you would like to revoke or change your vote,
then you must follow the instructions provided by your nominee.
If
I vote in advance, can I still attend the Annual Meeting?
Yes. You
are encouraged to vote promptly, by returning your signed proxy card by mail or
by submitting your voting instructions via the Internet or by telephone, so that
your common shares will be represented at the Annual
Meeting. However, appointing a proxy or submitting voting
instructions does not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting and vote
your common shares in person.
What
constitutes a quorum and what is the vote required with respect to the proposals
to be considered at the Annual Meeting?
Under
Park’s Regulations, a quorum is a majority of the voting shares of Park then
outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The common
shares are the only shares of Park’s capital stock entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting. Common shares may be present in person or represented
by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Both abstentions and broker non-votes
are counted as being present for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum. There were 15,398,931 common shares outstanding and entitled
to vote on February 25, 2011, the record date for the Annual
Meeting. A majority of the outstanding common shares, or 7,699,466
common shares, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a
quorum. A quorum must exist to conduct business at the Annual
Meeting.
Routine
and Non-Routine Proposals
The rules
of NYSE Amex LLC (“NYSE Amex”), the stock exchange on which Park’s common shares
are listed, determine whether proposals presented at shareholder meetings are
routine or non-routine. If a proposal is routine, a broker holding
common shares for a beneficial owner in street name may vote on the proposal
without receiving instructions from the beneficial owner. If a
proposal is non-routine, the broker may vote on the proposal only if the
beneficial owner has provided voting instructions. A broker non-vote
occurs when the broker holder of record is unable to vote on a proposal because
the proposal is non-routine and the beneficial owner does not provide any voting
instructions.
The
ratification of the appointment of Park’s independent registered public
accounting firm is a routine item. Each of (i) the election
of directors, (ii) the non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of Park’s
executive officers and (iii) the adoption of the amendment to Article SIXTH of
Park’s Articles of Incorporation to eliminate preemptive rights is a proposal on
which a broker may vote only if the beneficial owner has provided voting
instructions.
Vote
Required with Respect to the Proposals
|
·
|
Proposal 1 – Election of
Directors
|
Under
Ohio law and Park’s Regulations, the five nominees for election as Park
directors receiving the greatest number of votes “FOR” election will be
elected as directors of Park for a term of three years expiring at the 2014
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Common shares as to which the
authority to vote is withheld and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes
of establishing a quorum for the Annual Meeting but will not affect whether a
nominee has received sufficient votes to be elected.
|
·
|
Proposal 2 – Approval, in
Non-Binding Advisory Vote, of Compensation of Park’s Executive
Officers
|
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the common shares represented at the Annual
Meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal is required
to approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation paid to Park’s
executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. The effect
of an abstention is the same as a vote “AGAINST”
the proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted in determining
whether the proposal has been approved.
|
·
|
Proposal 3 – Adoption of
Amendment to Article SIXTH of Park’s Articles of
Incorporation
|
The
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding common shares is required to
adopt the amendment to Article SIXTH of Park’s Articles of Incorporation to
eliminate preemptive rights as described in this proxy
statement. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect
as votes “AGAINST”
the proposal.
|
·
|
Proposal 4 – Ratification of
Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
|
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the common shares represented at the Annual
Meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal is required
to ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as Park’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2011. The effect of an abstention is the same as a vote “AGAINST”
the proposal.
Park’s
policy is to keep confidential proxy cards, ballots, voting instructions
submitted electronically and voting tabulations that identify individual
shareholders. However, exceptions to this policy may be necessary in some
instances to comply with applicable legal requirements and, in the case of any
contested proxy solicitation, to verify the validity of proxies presented by any
person and the results of the voting. Inspectors of election and any
employees associated with processing proxy cards or ballots, reviewing voting
instructions submitted electronically and tabulating the vote must acknowledge
their responsibility to comply with this policy of confidentiality.
Who
pays the cost of proxy solicitation?
Park will
pay the costs of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing/delivering this
proxy statement, the accompanying proxy card, the 2010 Annual Report and other
related materials and all other costs incurred in connection with the
solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors, other than the
Internet access and telephone usage charges incurred by a shareholder when
voting electronically. Although we are soliciting proxies primarily
by mailing these proxy materials to holders of our common shares, or delivering
these proxy materials by electronic mail to those shareholders registered for
electronic delivery, the directors, officers and employees of Park and our
subsidiaries also may solicit proxies by further mailing, personal contact,
telephone, facsimile or electronic mail without receiving any additional
compensation for such solicitations. Arrangements will also be made
with brokerage firms, financial institutions and other nominees who are record
holders of common shares of Park for the forwarding of solicitation materials to
the beneficial owners of such common shares. Park will reimburse
these brokers, financial institutions and nominees for their reasonable
out-of-pocket costs in connection therewith.
Park has
retained Alliance Advisors, L.L.C., Bloomfield, New Jersey, to aid in the
solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting. Alliance Advisors,
L.L.C. will receive a base fee of $5,000, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket
fees and expenses for its proxy solicitation services.
Who
should I call if I have questions concerning this proxy solicitation and the
proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting?
If you
have any questions concerning this proxy solicitation and the proposals to be
considered at the Annual Meeting, or require any assistance in voting your
common shares, please call Alliance Advisors, L.L.C. at (877)
777-4270. This is a toll-free telephone number.
NOTICE
REGARDING INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Park National Corporation to Be Held on April 18,
2011: Park’s
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this proxy statement, a sample form of
proxy card and Park’s 2010 Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com. Alternatively,
Park’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this proxy statement, a sample
form of proxy card and Park’s 2010 Annual Report are available on Park’s
Internet Web site at www.parknationalcorp.com
by selecting the “Documents/ SEC Filings” section of the “Investor Relations”
page for the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this proxy statement and
the sample form of proxy card and selecting the “Corporate Profile” section of
the “Investor Relations” page for Park’s 2010 Annual Report.
To obtain
directions to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, please call Leda
Rutledge at (740) 322-6828 or Renae Buchanan at (740) 349-0428.
CONSOLIDATION
OF OHIO BANKING OPERATIONS
In 2008,
Park consolidated the banking operations of its then eight subsidiary banks
located in Ohio under one charter – that of The Park National Bank (“Park
National Bank”). Park National Bank now has 11
divisions: (i) the Park National Bank Division headquartered in
Newark, Ohio; (ii) the Fairfield National Division headquartered in
Lancaster, Ohio; (iii) The Park National Bank of Southwest Ohio &
Northern Kentucky Division headquartered in Milford, Ohio; (iv) the Century
National Bank Division headquartered in Zanesville, Ohio; (v) the Second
National Bank Division headquartered in Greenville, Ohio; (vi) the Richland
Bank Division headquartered in Mansfield, Ohio; (vii) the United Bank
Division headquartered in Bucyrus, Ohio; (viii) the First-Knox National
Bank Division headquartered in Mount Vernon, Ohio; (ix) the Farmers &
Savings Bank Division headquartered in Loudonville, Ohio; (x) the Security
National Bank Division headquartered in Springfield, Ohio; and (xi) the
Unity National Bank Division headquartered in Piqua, Ohio.
References
in this proxy statement to “Century National Bank Division,” “Second National
Bank Division,” “Richland Bank Division,” “United Bank Division,” “First-Knox
National Bank Division” and “Security National Bank Division” encompass both the
subsidiary bank of Park prior to the bank’s merger with and into Park National
Bank in 2008 and the division of Park National Bank following the bank’s merger
with and into Park National Bank. In addition, references in this
proxy statement to the “Board of Directors” in respect of a division of Park
National Bank encompass both the Board of Directors of the subsidiary bank of
Park prior to the bank’s merger with and into Park National Bank and the
Affiliate Board of the division of Park National Bank following the bank’s
merger with and into Park National Bank.
PARTICIPATION
IN CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM
On
December 23, 2008, Park completed the sale to the United States Department
of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”) of $100.0 million of newly-issued Park
non-voting preferred shares as part of the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase
Program (the “Capital Purchase Program” or “CPP”) enacted as part of the
Troubled Assets Relief Program (“TARP”) established by the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”). To finalize Park’s participation
in the Capital Purchase Program, Park and the U.S. Treasury entered into a
Letter Agreement, dated December 23, 2008 (the “Letter Agreement”),
including the related Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms attached
thereto (the “Securities Purchase Agreement” and together with the Letter
Agreement, the “UST Agreement”). Pursuant to the UST Agreement, Park
issued and sold to the U.S. Treasury (i) 100,000 of Park’s Fixed Rate
Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value and
having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the “Series A
Preferred Shares”), and (ii) a warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase 227,376
Park common shares, at an exercise price of $65.97 per share (subject to certain
anti-dilution and other adjustments), for an aggregate purchase price of
$100,000,000 in cash. The Warrant has a ten-year term.
In the
Securities Purchase Agreement, Park adopted the U.S. Treasury’s standards for
executive compensation and corporate governance for the period during which the
U.S. Treasury owns any securities acquired from Park pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement or upon exercise of the Warrant. These standards
generally apply to our executive officers – C. Daniel DeLawder, Park’s
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; David L. Trautman,
Park’s President and Secretary; and John W. Kozak, Park’s Chief Financial
Officer. These standards are set forth in the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) and an interim final rule promulgated by
the U.S. Treasury under 31 CFR Part 30 on June 15, 2009 and amended on
December 7, 2009 (collectively, the “Interim Final Rule”). The
executive compensation and corporate governance standards under ARRA and the
Interim Final Rule remain in effect during the period in which any obligation
arising from financial assistance provided under TARP remains outstanding,
excluding any period during which the U.S. Treasury holds only the Warrant to
purchase Park common shares (the “ARRA Covered Period”).
PROPOSAL
1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
As of the
date of this proxy statement, there were fourteen members of the Board of
Directors – five directors in the class whose terms will expire at the Annual
Meeting, four directors in the class whose terms will expire in 2012 and five
directors in the class whose terms will expire in 2013. Proxies
cannot be voted at the Annual Meeting for more than five nominees.
At the
meeting of the Board of Directors of Park held on February 8, 2011, upon the
unanimous recommendation of the Nominating Committee and as permitted by
Section 2.02(A) of Park’s Regulations, the Board of Directors fixed the
number of directors of Park at fourteen to reflect the number of individuals
currently serving as directors of Park.
The Board
of Directors proposes that each of the five nominees identified below be
re-elected for a new term of three years. Each nominee was
recommended by the Nominating Committee for re-election. Each
individual elected as a director at the Annual Meeting will hold office for a
term to expire at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2014 and
until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier
resignation, removal from office or death. While it is contemplated
that all nominees will stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting, if a nominee
who would otherwise receive the required number of votes is unable to serve or
for good cause will not serve as a candidate for re-election as a director, the
individuals designated as proxies on the proxy card or in the voting
instructions will have full discretion to vote the common shares represented by
the proxies they hold for the election of the remaining nominees and for the
election of any substitute nominee designated by the Board of Directors
following recommendation by the Nominating Committee. The Board of
Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees named below would be unable
or unwilling to serve if elected to the Board.
The
following information, as of the date of this proxy statement, concerning the
age, principal occupation, other affiliations and business experience of each
nominee for re-election as a director of Park has been furnished to Park by each
director. In addition, the following information provides the
evaluation of the Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors regarding
the key attributes, skills and qualifications possessed by each director
nominee.
NOMINEES
FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS
(Term
Expiring in 2014)
C. Daniel
DeLawder, Age 61
Mr.
DeLawder has served as a director of Park since 1994, a member of the Board of
Directors of Park National Bank since 1992, a member of the Board of Directors
of Vision Bank headquartered in Panama City, Florida since March 2007 and a
member of the Board of Directors of the Vision Bank Division of Gulf Shores,
Alabama since March 2007. Mr. DeLawder serves as a member of each of
the Executive Committee (Vice Chair) and the Investment Committee (Chair) of
Park’s Board of Directors. Mr. DeLawder has served as Chairman of the
Board since January 2005 and Chief Executive Officer since January 1999, and
served as President from 1994 to December 2004, of Park. Mr. DeLawder
has served as Chairman of the Board since January 2005 and Chief Executive
Officer since January 1999, and served as President from 1993 to December 2004
and Executive Vice President from 1992 to 1993, of Park National
Bank. Mr. DeLawder served as a member of the Board of Directors from
1985 to March 2006, Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1989 to 2003, and
President from 1985 to 1992, of the Fairfield National Division. Mr.
DeLawder served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richland Bank
Division from 1997 to January 2006. Mr. DeLawder served as a member
of the Board of Directors of the Second National Bank Division from 2000 to
March 2006. Mr. DeLawder has served as a director of the Federal
Reserve Bank of Cleveland since January 2007. Mr. DeLawder also
served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Ohio University, Athens, Ohio,
from 2000 to 2009, and for the last two of those years, as Chairman of the Board
of Trustees. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors
believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. DeLawder has
developed through more than 12 years as the Chief Executive Officer of Park and
more than 39 years of service with Park in some capacity as well as his service
as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland allow him to provide
banking and general financial expertise and comprehensive knowledge regarding
Park and the markets within which its subsidiary banks (and their divisions)
operate to the Board of Directors and have recommended his nomination for
re-election as a Park director.
Harry O.
Egger, Age 71
Mr. Egger
has served as a director of Park since 2001 and as a member of the Board of
Directors of the Security National Division since
1977. Mr. Egger serves as a member of each of the Executive Committee
and the Investment Committee of Park’s Board of Directors. Mr. Egger
has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Park since March
2001. Mr. Egger has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors
since 1977, and served as Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to March 2003 and
President from 1981 to 1997, of the Security National Bank
Division. Mr. Egger served as Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Security Banc Corporation, an Ohio bank holding
company (“Security”), from 1997 to March 2001. In connection with the
merger of Security into Park effective March 31, 2001, Mr. Egger became
Vice Chairman of the Board and a director of Park as contemplated under the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 20, 2000, between
Security and Park. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of
Directors believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. Egger has
developed through more than 17 years of leading a high performing bank and more
than 50 years in the banking industry allow him to provide a valued perspective
on macro and micro issues alike to the Board of Directors and have recommended
his re-election as a Park director.
F. William
Englefield IV, Age 56
Mr.
Englefield has served as a director of Park since 2005 and as a member of the
Board of Directors of Park National Bank since 1993. Mr. Englefield
serves as a member of each of the Compensation Committee (Chair), the Executive
Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Risk Committee of Park’s Board of
Directors. Mr. Englefield has served as President of Englefield,
Inc., a company engaged in the sale of petroleum products (at retail and
wholesale) and convenience stores and restaurants, since 1989. A son
of Mr. Englefield is married to a daughter of John W. Kozak, Chief
Financial Officer of Park. The Nominating Committee and the full
Board of Directors believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr.
Englefield has developed through more than 21 years of leading a growing
privately-held business, with responsibility for all segments of company
operations and financial areas, allow him to provide an important retail
perspective and structured operational experience to the Board of Directors and
have recommended his re-election as a Park director.
Stephen J.
Kambeitz, Age 52
Mr.
Kambeitz has served as a director of Park since the close of business on
December 31, 2009 and as a member of the Board of Directors of Park
National Bank since that time as well. On December 11, 2009, the
Executive Committee of the Park Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of
the Nominating Committee, elected Mr. Kambeitz to join the class of directors
whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Kambeitz had been
recommended to the Nominating Committee by Mr.
DeLawder. Mr. Kambeitz serves as a member of the Audit Committee
(Chair) of Park’s Board of Directors. Mr. Kambeitz has served as
President since 2008, and Chief Financial Officer since 2001, of R.C. Olmstead,
Inc., Dublin, Ohio, a company which provides data processing and services for
the financial services industry. Mr. Kambeitz served as Chief
Financial Officer from 1999 to 2001 of Lighthouse Financial Services, Inc., a
diversified financial services holding company. Previously, Mr.
Kambeitz served as Senior Vice President of Consumer Lending of Fifth Third
Bank, Columbus, Ohio, from 1998 to 1999 and as Chief Financial Officer of State
Savings Company, Columbus, Ohio, a savings and loan holding company, from 1985
to 1998 and Executive Vice President, Office of the President, of State Savings
Bank, the primary savings association subsidiary of State Savings Company, from
1997 to 1998. Mr. Kambeitz also served as Controller of Calibre
Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, a fast food franchisee, from 1983 to 1985, and as
an accountant with Worthington Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a diversified
metal processing company, from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Kambeitz began his
career in the Columbus, Ohio office of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company, a
predecessor to KPMG. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of
Directors believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. Kambeitz
has developed through more than 26 years of working in the financial services
industry, including working through the savings and loan challenges in the
1980s, allow him to provide a valuable perspective on operating a financial
services institution to the Board of Directors and have recommended his
re-election as a Park director.
John J.
O’Neill, Age 90
Mr.
O’Neill has served as a director of Park since 1987 and as a member of the Board
of Directors of Park National Bank since 1964. Mr. O’Neill serves as
a member of each of the Compensation Committee, the Executive Committee and the
Investment Committee of Park’s Board of Directors. Mr. O’Neill also
served as a member and Chair of the Nominating Committee of Park’s Board of
Directors from April 4, 2004 to February 8, 2011. Mr. O’Neill
has served as Chairman/Director of Southgate Corporation, Newark, Ohio, a real
estate development and management company, for more than 60
years. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors
believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. O’Neill has developed
through more than 60 years of operating a successful real estate development
company allow him to provide development, negotiating and underwriting expertise
to the Board of Directors in connection with the loan activities of Park’s
subsidiary banks (and their divisions) and have recommended his re-election as a
Park director.
The
following information, as of the date of this proxy statement, concerning the
age, principal occupation, other affiliations and business experience of each of
the continuing directors of Park has been furnished to Park by each
director. In addition, the following information provides the
evaluation of the Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors regarding
the key attributes, skills and qualifications possessed by each continuing
director.
DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE
(Term
to Expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders)
James J.
Cullers, Age 80
Mr.
Cullers has served as a director of Park since 1997 and as a member of the Board
of Directors of the First-Knox National Bank Division since 1977. Mr.
Cullers serves as a member of the Risk Committee of Park’s Board of
Directors. Mr. Cullers is an Attorney-at-Law and has been Principal
of James J. Cullers, Mediation and Arbitration Services, a firm providing
mediator and arbitrator services, since January 2005. Mr. Cullers
served as Of Counsel from 2001 to January 2005 and prior thereto as Senior
Partner, of Zelkowitz, Barry & Cullers, Attorneys-at-Law, Mount Vernon,
Ohio. Mr. Cullers also served for 18 years on the Board of Ohio Bar
Title Insurance Company. The Nominating Committee and the full Board
of Directors believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. Cullers
has developed through more than 50 years of providing legal services for
businesses and banks and serving in leadership roles with numerous community and
statewide organizations allow him to provide practical legal expertise and
community awareness to the Board of Directors and he should continue to serve as
a Park director.
William T.
McConnell, Age 77
Mr.
McConnell has served as a director of Park since 1986 and as a member of the
Board of Directors of Park National Bank since 1977. Mr. McConnell
serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Park’s Board of
Directors. Mr. McConnell has served as Chairman of the Executive
Committee since 1996, and served as Chairman of the Board from 1994 to December
2004, Chief Executive Officer from 1986 to 1999 and President from 1986 to 1994,
of Park. Mr. McConnell has served as Chairman of the Executive
Committee since 1996, and served as Chairman of the Board from 1993 to December
2004, Chief Executive Officer from 1983 to 1999 and President from 1979 to 1993,
of Park National Bank. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of
Directors believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. McConnell
has developed through more than 25 years of leading a high performance banking
organization and more than 50 years in the banking industry allow him to
provide judgment, wisdom and perspective to the Board of Directors and he should
continue to serve as a Park director.
William A.
Phillips, Age 78
Mr.
Phillips has served as a director of Park since 1990 and as a member of the
Board of Directors of the Century National Bank Division since
1971. Mr. Phillips does not currently serve on any committees of
Park’s Board of Directors. Mr. Phillips has served as Chairman of the
Board of Directors since 1986, and served as Chief Executive Officer from 1986
to 1998, of the Century National Bank Division. The Nominating
Committee and the full Board of Directors believe that the attributes, skills
and qualifications Mr. Phillips has developed through more than 50 years in the
banking industry allow him to provide practical advice on customer service and
community support to the Board of Directors and he should continue to serve as a
Park director.
David
L. Trautman, Age 49
Mr.
Trautman has served as a director of Park since 2005 and as a member of the
Board of Directors of Park National Bank since
2002. Mr. Trautman serves as a member of the Investment
Committee and as Secretary to the Executive Committee of Park’s Board of
Directors. Mr. Trautman has served as President since January 2005
and Secretary since July 2002 of Park. Mr. Trautman has served as
President of Park National Bank since January 2005. Mr. Trautman
served as Chairman of the Board from March 2001 to March 2006, a member of the
Board of Directors from May 1997 to March 2006, and President and Chief
Executive Officer from May 1997 to February 2002, of the First-Knox National
Bank Division. Mr. Trautman served as Executive Vice President from
February 2002 to December 2004 and Vice President from July 1993 to June 1997 of
Park National Bank. Mr. Trautman served as a member of the Board of
Directors of United Bank Division from 2000 to March 2006. The
Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors believe that the
attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. Trautman has developed through more
than 26 years of experience in banking allow him to provide technical banking
knowledge, community perspective and financial leadership to the Board of
Directors and he should continue to serve as a Park director.
DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE
(Term
to Expire at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders)
Maureen
Buchwald, Age 79
Ms.
Buchwald has served as a director of Park since 1997 and as a member of the
Board of Directors of the First-Knox National Bank Division since
1988. Ms. Buchwald serves as a member of the Audit Committee of
Park’s Board of Directors. Ms. Buchwald has been the owner and
operator of Glen Hill Orchards, Ltd., Mount Vernon, Ohio, commercial fruit
growers, since 1976. Ms. Buchwald served as Vice President of
Administration and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Ariel Corporation, a
company manufacturing reciprocating compressors, for more than 20 years prior to
her retirement in 1997. In her capacity as Vice President of
Administration, she oversaw the accounting, human resources and office services
functions. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors
believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Ms. Buchwald has
developed through establishing and running multiple businesses allow her to
provide accounting, financial and administrative expertise to the Board of
Directors and she should continue to serve as a Park director.
Timothy S.
McLain, Age 49
Mr.
McLain has served as a director of Park since the close of business on
December 31, 2009 and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Century
National Bank Division since April 2007. Mr. McLain serves as a
member of the Audit Committee of Park’s Board of Directors. Mr.
McLain has served as Vice President of McLain, Hill, Rugg & Associates,
Inc., a firm which provides tax and accounting services, since 1991 and has been
associated with that firm since 1979. Mr. McLain has been a Certified
Public Accountant since 1985. The Nominating Committee and the full
Board of Directors believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr.
McLain has developed through more than 26 years as a Certified Public Accountant
in public practice allow him to provide tax, accounting and financial expertise
to the Board of Directors and he should continue to serve as a Park
director.
Rick R.
Taylor, Age 63
Mr.
Taylor has served as a director of Park since 1998 and as a member of the Board
of Directors of the Richland Bank Division since 1995. Mr. Taylor
serves as a member of the Investment Committee of Park’s Board of
Directors. Mr. Taylor has served as President of Jay Industries,
Inc., Mansfield, Ohio, a plastic and metal parts manufacturer, since
1989. Mr. Taylor has also served as a director of The Gorman-Rupp
Company, a manufacturer of pumps and related equipment, since
2003. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors
believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. Taylor has developed
through more than 40 years in the manufacturing business allow him to provide a
valuable customer perspective and highly developed business acumen and
leadership skills to the Board of Directors and he should continue to serve as a
Park director.
Sarah
Reese Wallace, Age 56
Ms.
Wallace has served as a director of Park since April 2009 and as a member
of the Board of Directors of Park National Bank since October
2008. Ms. Wallace has served as a member and Chair of the Nominating
Committee of Park’s Board of Directors since February 8,
2011. Ms. Wallace has served as Chairman of the Board since 1999 and
as a director since 1982, of First Federal Savings and Loan Association, Newark,
Ohio, a savings association. She served as President of First Federal
Savings and Loan Association from 1982 to 1999. The Nominating
Committee and the full Board of Directors believe that the attributes, skills
and qualifications Ms. Wallace has developed through more than 30 years of
service in the banking industry allow her to provide technical expertise in all
operational areas of banking (including compliance, audit, marketing, retail
banking and mortgage lending) and financial leadership to the Board of Directors
and she should continue to serve as a Park director.
Leon
Zazworsky, Age 62
Mr.
Zazworsky has served as a director of Park since 2003 and as a member of the
Board of Directors of Park National Bank since 1991. Mr. Zazworsky
serves as a member of each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee,
the Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Risk Committee (Chair)
of Park’s Board of Directors. Mr. Zazworsky has served as President
of Mid State Systems, Inc., Hebron, Ohio, a transportation and distribution
company, since 1979. Mr. Zazworsky has served as President of Mid
State Warehouses, Inc., Newark, Ohio, a warehousing and distribution company,
since 1989. The Nominating Committee and the full Board of Directors
believe that the attributes, skills and qualifications Mr. Zazworsky has
developed through nearly 40 years of successful private business ownership —
managing people, budgets and finances through varying economic conditions and
overseeing compliance with applicable state and federal regulations — allow him
to provide leadership experience and business expertise to the Board of
Directors and he should continue to serve as a Park director.
Recommendation
and Vote Required
YOUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RE-ELECTION OF ALL
OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.
Under
Ohio law and Park’s Regulations, the five nominees for election as Park
directors receiving the greatest number of votes “FOR”
election will be elected as directors of Park for a term of three years expiring
at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Except in the case of
broker non-votes, common shares represented by properly executed and returned
proxy cards, or properly authenticated Internet and telephone voting
instructions that are submitted prior to the deadline for doing so, will be
voted “FOR” the
election of the Board of Directors’ nominees named above unless authority to
vote for one or more nominees is withheld. Shareholders may withhold
authority to vote for the entire slate as nominated or, by writing the number
associated with a nominee on the line provided on the proxy card or following
the instructions provided when voting electronically, withhold the authority to
vote for one or more nominees. Common shares as to which the
authority to vote is withheld and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes
of establishing a quorum for the Annual Meeting but will not be counted toward
the election of directors, or toward the election of the individual nominees
specified on the proxy card and in the voting instructions.
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF PARK COMMON SHARES
The
following table furnishes information regarding the beneficial ownership of Park
common shares, as of February 25, 2011, for each of Park’s current
directors, each of the nominees for re-election as a Park director, each of the
individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table for 2010 on page ___,
all current directors and executive officers as a group and each person known by
Park to beneficially own more than 5% of Park’s outstanding common
shares:
[NOTE:
Numbers in table will be updated to reflect
ownership
as of February 25, 2011.]
Name of Beneficial Owner
or Number of Persons in Group (1)
|
|
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership (1)
|
|
|
Percent of Class (2)
|
|
Trust
departments of bank subsidiaries of Park
c/o The Park National Bank Trust
Department
50
North Third Street
Newark,
OH 43055 (3)
|
|
|
1,912,183 |
(3) |
|
|
12.42 |
% |
Maureen
Buchwald
|
|
|
8,323 |
(5) |
|
|
|
(4) |
James
J. Cullers
|
|
|
8,971 |
(6) |
|
|
|
(4) |
C.
Daniel DeLawder (7)
|
|
|
119,878 |
(8) |
|
|
|
(4) |
Harry
O. Egger
|
|
|
41,462 |
(9) |
|
|
|
(4) |
F.
William Englefield IV
|
|
|
3,664 |
(10) |
|
|
|
(4) |
Stephen
J. Kambeitz
|
|
|
548 |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
William
T. McConnell
|
|
|
123,847 |
(11) |
|
|
|
(4) |
Timothy
S. McLain
|
|
|
1,820 |
(12) |
|
|
|
(4) |
John
J. O’Neill
|
|
|
176,080 |
(13) |
|
|
|
(4) |
William
A. Phillips
|
|
|
12,380 |
(14) |
|
|
|
(4) |
Rick
R. Taylor
|
|
|
4,099 |
(15) |
|
|
|
(4) |
David
L. Trautman (7)
|
|
|
49,679 |
(16) |
|
|
|
(4) |
Sarah
Reese Wallace
|
|
|
6,678 |
(17) |
|
|
|
(4) |
Leon
Zazworsky
|
|
|
33,354 |
(18) |
|
|
|
(4) |
John
W. Kozak (7)
|
|
|
29,829 |
(19) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
current executive officers and directors as a group (15
persons)
|
|
|
620,612 |
(20) |
|
|
4.03 |
% |
(1) Unless
otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, each beneficial owner has
sole voting and investment power with respect to all of the common shares
reflected in the table for such beneficial owner. All fractional
common shares have been rounded to the nearest whole common
share. The mailing address of each of the current executive officers
and directors of Park is 50 North Third Street, Post Office Box 3500,
Newark, Ohio 43058-3500.
(2) The
“Percent of Class” computation is based upon 15,398,931 common shares
outstanding on February 25, 2011.
(3) The
trust departments of Park’s subsidiary banks (and their divisions), as the
fiduciaries of various agency, trust and estate accounts, beneficially own an
aggregate of 1,912,183 common shares. The trust department of Park
National Bank (and its divisions) beneficially owns 1,908,043 common shares
(12.39% of the outstanding common shares), with voting power but no investment
power for all of the 1,908,043 common shares. The trust department of
Vision Bank (and its divisions) beneficially owns 4,135 common shares (0.03% of
the outstanding common shares), with voting but no investment power for all of
the 4,135 common shares. The officers and directors of each
subsidiary bank (and its divisions) and of Park disclaim beneficial ownership of
the common shares beneficially owned by the trust department of each subsidiary
bank (and its divisions). The number shown does not include 1,509,534
common shares held of record by the trust department of Park National Bank (and
its divisions) as to which the trust department has no voting or investment
power.
(4) Represents
beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding common
shares.
(5) The
number shown includes 3,300 common shares held jointly by Ms. Buchwald and
her husband as to which she shares voting and investment power.
(6) The
number shown includes: (i) 4,000 common shares held in an individual
retirement account for which the trust department of Park National Bank
(First-Knox National Division) serves as trustee and as to which common shares
the trust department has voting power and Mr. Cullers has investment power;
(ii) 175 common shares held by Mr. Cullers as custodian for his
grandchildren; (iii) 983 common shares held by Mr. Cullers’ wife in an
individual retirement account as to which she has sole voting and investment
power and Mr. Cullers disclaims beneficial ownership; and (iv) 144 common
shares held by Mr. Cullers’ wife as custodian for their grandchildren as to
which she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. Cullers disclaims
beneficial ownership.
(7) Individual
named in Summary Compensation Table for 2010. Messrs. DeLawder and
Trautman also serve as directors of Park.
(8) The
number shown includes: (i) 14,366 common shares held for the account of
Mr. DeLawder in the Park KSOP; and (ii) 50,232 common shares held by
the wife of Mr. DeLawder as to which she has sole voting and investment
power and Mr. DeLawder disclaims beneficial ownership. As of February
25, 2011, 55,280 common shares held by Mr. DeLawder and 50,148 common shares
held by the wife of Mr. DeLawder had been pledged as security to a
financial institution, which is not affiliated with Park, in connection with a
personal loan.
(9) The
number shown includes: (i) 5,715 common shares held for the account of
Mr. Egger in the Park KSOP; (ii) 17,502 common shares held by the wife
of Mr. Egger as to which she has sole voting and investment power and Mr.
Egger disclaims beneficial ownership; (iii) 769 common shares held by Mr.
Egger’s wife in an individual retirement account as to which she has sole voting
and investment power and Mr. Egger disclaims beneficial ownership; (iv) 400
common shares held by Mr. Egger’s wife as custodian for their grandchildren as
to which she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. Egger disclaims
beneficial ownership; and (v) 1,000 common shares held by Mr. Egger’s
wife in a brokerage account as to which she has sole voting and investment power
and Mr. Egger disclaims beneficial ownership.
(10) The
number shown includes: (i) 1,801 common shares held in a managing agency
account with the trust department of Park National Bank as to which common
shares the trust department of Park National Bank has voting power and
Mr. Englefield has investment power; (ii) 273 common shares held by
Mr. Englefield in an individual retirement account with a brokerage firm; and
(iii) 1,590 common shares held in a cash management account by a brokerage
firm as custodian for Mr. Englefield.
(11) The
number shown includes: (i) 16,978 common shares held in an inter vivos
irrevocable trust established by Mr. McConnell for which Park National
Bank’s trust department serves as trustee and as to which common shares the
trust department has voting power and Mr. McConnell has investment power;
and (ii) 6,190 common shares held for the account of Mr. McConnell in the
Park KSOP.
(12) The
number shown includes 1,820 common shares held jointly by Mr. McLain and his
wife as to which he shares voting and investment power.
(13) The
number shown includes 176,080 common shares held in two custodial agency
accounts with the trust department of Park National Bank as to which the trust
department serves as custodial agent. Mr. O’Neill serves as
trustee for these two custodial accounts and has voting and investment power
with respect to these 176,080 common shares.
(14) The
number shown includes: (i) 3,080 common shares held for the account of
Mr. Phillips in the Park KSOP; (ii) 1,491 common shares held in an
individual retirement account for which the trust department of Park National
Bank (Century National Bank Division) serves as trustee and as to which common
shares the trust department has voting power and Mr. Phillips has
investment power; (iii) 417 held by Mr. Phillips in a brokerage
account as to which he has sole voting and investment power; and (iv) 3,858
common shares held by the wife of Mr. Phillips as to which she has sole voting
and investment power and Mr. Phillips disclaims beneficial
ownership.
(15) The
number shown includes 4,099 common shares held in a managing agency account with
the trust department of Park National Bank (Richland Trust Division) as to which
common shares the trust department has voting power and Mr. Taylor has
investment power.
(16) The
number shown includes: (i) 7,762 common shares held for the account of
Mr. Trautman in the Park KSOP; (ii) 13,230 common shares held by the
wife of Mr. Trautman as to which she has sole voting and investment power
and Mr. Trautman disclaims beneficial ownership; and (iii) 822 common
shares held in a rollover plan as to which the wife of Mr. Trautman has
sole voting and investment power and Mr. Trautman disclaims beneficial
ownership. As of February 25, 2011, 27,865 common shares held by
Mr. Trautman and 13,230 common shares held by the wife of Mr. Trautman had
been pledged as security to a financial institution which is not affiliated with
Park, in connection with a personal loan.
(17) The
number shown includes 2,349 common shares held in a grantor trust with the trust
department of Park National Bank as to which common shares the trust department
has voting power and Ms. Wallace has investment power. The number
shown also includes an aggregate of 3,675 common shares held in managing
agency accounts with Park National Bank for which Ms. Wallace serves as trustee
or custodian and as to which common shares the trust department of Park National
Bank has voting power and Ms. Wallace has investment
power.
(18) The
number shown includes 100 common shares held by the wife of Mr. Zazworsky
in a brokerage account as to which she has sole voting and investment power and
Mr. Zazworsky disclaims beneficial ownership.
(19) The
number shown includes 5,543 common shares held for the account of Mr. Kozak in
the Park KSOP. As of February 25, 2011, 24,286 common shares held by
Mr. Kozak had been pledged as security to a financial institution which is
not affiliated with Park, in connection with a personal line of
credit.
(20) See
Notes (5), (6) and (8) through (19) above.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),
requires that Park’s directors and officers, and any persons beneficially
holding more than 10 percent of Park’s outstanding common shares, file
statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) reporting
their initial beneficial ownership of common shares and any subsequent changes
in their beneficial ownership. Park is required to disclose in this
proxy statement any late statements, if any statements are not filed within the
time periods mandated by the SEC. Based solely upon Park’s review of
(i) Section 16(a) statements filed on behalf of these persons for their
transactions during Park’s 2010 fiscal year and (ii) written representations
received from these persons that no other Section 16(a) statements were required
to be filed by them for transactions during Park’s 2010 fiscal year, Park
believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to Park’s
officers and directors, and persons holding more than 10 percent of Park’s
outstanding common shares, were complied with; except
that: (a) one late Form 4 was filed on behalf of Harry O.
Egger, a director of Park, on May 4, 2010 reporting one transaction which
occurred on April 28, 2010; and (b) an amended Form 5 was filed on
behalf of Sarah Reese Wallace, a director of Park, reporting common shares held
by three managing agency accounts for which she serves as trustee which had
inadvertently been omitted in the original Form 3, two subsequent
Forms 4 and two subsequent Forms 5 filed on her
behalf.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
In
accordance with the applicable sections of the NYSE Amex Company Guide (the
“NYSE Amex Rules”) and applicable SEC rules, the Board of Directors has adopted
the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to the directors, officers
and employees of Park and our subsidiaries. The Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics is intended to set forth Park’s expectations for the conduct
of ethical business practices by the officers, directors, employees and agents
of Park and our subsidiaries, to promote advance disclosure and review of
potential conflicts of interest and similar matters, to protect and encourage
the reporting of questionable behavior, to foster an atmosphere of
self-awareness and prudent conduct and to discipline appropriately those who
engage in improper conduct. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
is posted on the “Governance Documents” section of the “Investor Relations” page
of Park’s Internet Web site at www.parknationalcorp.com.
Park
Improvement Line
Park has
implemented a “whistleblower” hotline called the “Park Improvement
Line.” Calls that relate to accounting, internal accounting controls
or auditing matters or that relate to possible wrongdoing by employees of Park
or one of our subsidiaries can be made anonymously through this
hotline. The calls are received by an independent third-party service
and the information received is forwarded directly to the Chair of the Audit
Committee and the Head of Park’s Internal Audit Department. The Park
Improvement Line number is (800) 418-6423, Ext. PRK (775).
Independence
of Directors
Applicable
NYSE Amex Rules require that a majority of the members of Park’s Board of
Directors be independent directors. The definition of independence
for purposes of the NYSE Amex Rules includes a series of objective tests, which
Park has used in determining whether the members of the Park Board of Directors
are independent. In addition, a member of Park’s Audit Committee will
not be considered to be independent under the applicable NYSE Amex Rules if he
or she (i) does not satisfy the independence standards in Rule 10A-3 under the
Exchange Act or (ii) has participated in the preparation of the financial
statements of Park or any of our current subsidiaries at any time during the
past three years.
As
required by the NYSE Amex Rules, the Board of Directors has affirmatively
determined that each independent director has no relationship with Park or any
of our subsidiaries that would interfere with the exercise of independent
judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In
making determinations as to the independence of Park’s directors consistent with
the definition of “independent directors” in the applicable NYSE Amex Rules, the
Board of Directors reviewed, considered and discussed:
|
·
|
the
relationships (including employment, commercial, industrial, banking,
consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and family relationships) of
each director of Park (and the immediate family members of each director)
with Park and/or any of our subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner,
manager, director, trustee, controlling shareholder, officer, employee or
member of any organization that has or had any such relationship) since
January 1, 2008;
|
|
·
|
the
compensation and other payments (including payments made in the ordinary
course of providing business services) each director of Park (and the
immediate family members of each
director):
|
|
·
|
has
received from or made to Park and/or any of our subsidiaries (either
directly or as a partner, manager, director, trustee, controlling
shareholder, officer, employee or member of an organization which has
received compensation or payments from or made payments to Park and/or any
of our subsidiaries) since January 1, 2008;
and
|
|
·
|
presently
expects to receive from or make to Park and/or any of our subsidiaries
(either directly or as a partner, manager, director, trustee, controlling
shareholder, officer, employee or member of an organization which expects
to receive compensation or payments from or make payments to Park and/or
any of our subsidiaries);
|
|
·
|
the
relationship, if any, between each director of Park (and the immediate
family members of each director) and the independent registered public
accounting firm which has served as the outside auditor for Park and/or
any of our subsidiaries at any time since January 1,
2008;
|
|
·
|
whether
any director of Park (or any immediate family member of any director) is
employed as an executive officer of another entity where, at any time
since January 1, 2008, any of Park’s executive officers served or
presently serves on the compensation committee of such other entity;
and
|
|
·
|
whether
any director of Park has participated in the preparation of the financial
statements of Park or any of our current subsidiaries at any time since
January 1, 2008.
|
Based
upon that review, consideration and discussion and the unanimous recommendation
of the Nominating Committee, the full Board of Directors has determined that at
least a majority of its members qualify as independent directors. The
Board of Directors has determined that each of Maureen Buchwald, James J.
Cullers, F. William Englefield IV, Stephen J. Kambeitz, Timothy S. McLain,
John J. O’Neill, Rick R. Taylor, Sarah Reese Wallace and Leon
Zazworsky qualifies as an independent director because the individual has no
financial or personal ties, either directly or indirectly, with Park or our
subsidiaries other than: (i) compensation received in the
individual’s capacity as a director of Park and a director of Park National Bank
(or a member of the board of directors of one of the divisions of Park National
Bank); (ii) non-preferential payments made or received in the ordinary
course of providing business services (in the nature of payments of interest or
proceeds relating to banking services or loans by one or more of Park National
Bank and/or its divisions); (iii) ownership of common shares of Park; (iv)
in the case of Ms. Buchwald, Ms. Wallace and Mr. Zazworsky, ownership of 10%
Subordinated Notes due December 23, 2019 issued by Park to them or related
trusts; (v) in the case of Mr. Cullers, fees for services rendered to one
or more of our subsidiaries paid to the law firm with which he had been
associated in an amount which represented less than $50,000 of such law firm’s
consolidated gross revenues in each of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 fiscal years;
(vi) in the case of Mr. O’Neill, compensation received by
Mr. O’Neill’s son in his capacity as a director of Park National Bank;
(vii) in the case of Mr. Englefield, the fact that a son of his is
married to a daughter of John W. Kozak, Park’s Chief Financial Officer; and
(viii) in the case of Ms. Wallace, the fact that her father J. Gilbert
Reese served as a director of each of Park and Park National Bank until
April 20, 2009 and was named Director Emeritus of Park National Bank,
effective April 20, 2009. In making the determination that Mr.
McLain qualifies as an independent director, the Board of Directors also
reviewed, considered and discussed the fact that Mr. McLain’s firm has provided
miscellaneous tax services to fiduciary customers of Park National Bank and its
divisions in an amount not exceeding $50,000 in each of the 2008, 2009 and 2010
fiscal years and continues to do so and that such services are not provided
directly or indirectly to or for the benefit of Park, Park National Bank or any
division of Park National Bank.
C. Daniel
DeLawder and David L. Trautman do not qualify as independent directors because
they currently serve as executive officers of Park and Park National
Bank. William T. McConnell does not qualify as an independent
director because he is employed in a non-executive officer capacity by Park
National Bank and was formerly an executive officer of Park and Park National
Bank. William A. Phillips does not qualify as an independent
director because he is employed in a non-executive officer capacity by the
Century National Division and was formerly an executive officer of the Century
National Division. Harry O. Egger does not qualify as an
independent director because he is employed in a non-executive officer capacity
by the Security National Division and was formerly an executive officer of Park
and of the Security National Division.
Risk
Management Oversight
The role
of the Board of Directors is to provide oversight to ensure an effective
enterprise risk management program is in place, including an appropriate
enterprise risk management framework and related governance
structure. Certain committees of Park’s Board of Directors administer
various aspects of the Board’s risk oversight function. The Risk
Committee assists the Board of Directors in overseeing Park’s enterprise-wide
risks, including credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk,
legal risk and reputational risk. The Risk Committee’s role and its
interaction with the full Board of Directors and other Board committees
regarding the Risk Committee’s risk oversight responsibilities are more fully
described under the heading “BOARD OF DIRECTORS STRUCTURE AND
MEETINGS — Committees of
the Board — Risk
Committee” beginning on page ___. The Compensation
Committee evaluates with Park’s senior risk officer all risks posed by Park’s
compensation programs and makes all reasonable efforts required to limit any
unnecessary risks these programs pose to Park and ensures that the programs do
not encourage senior executive officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks
that threaten the value of Park. The Compensation Committee’s role
and its interaction with the full Board of Directors and other Board committees
regarding compensation risk are more fully described under the heading “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION — Compensation
Committee Report” beginning on page ___. The Audit
Committee discusses Park’s systems to monitor and manage business risk with
management and Park’s Internal Audit Department. The Audit Committee
assists the Board of Directors in overseeing audit risk, financial reporting
risk, compliance risk and litigation risk. The Audit Committee’s role
and its interaction with the full Board of Directors regarding the Audit
Committee’s risk oversight responsibilities are more fully described under the
heading “BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STRUCTURE AND MEETINGS — Committees of the Board — Audit
Committee” beginning on page ___.
Nominating
Procedures
The
Nominating Committee recommended the nominees identified in “PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS” for re-election as directors of Park at the Annual
Meeting. As detailed in the Nominating Committee’s charter, the
Nominating Committee has the responsibility to identify and recommend to the
full Board of Directors individuals qualified to become directors of
Park. Directors must be shareholders of Park.
The
Nominating Committee takes into account many factors when considering candidates
for the Board of Directors to ensure that the Board is comprised of directors
with a variety of experiences and backgrounds, each of whom has high-level
managerial experience and represents the interests of Park’s shareholders as a
whole rather than those of special interest groups. The Nominating
Committee utilizes its pool of existing directors of Park National Bank (and its
divisions) as well as the significant network of business contacts of Park’s
existing directors and executive officers as the primary source from which
director candidates are identified. When evaluating individual
director candidates, the Nominating Committee may consider those factors it
deems appropriate, including judgment, skill, diversity, strength of character,
experience with businesses and organizations comparable in size and scope to
Park, experience as an executive of or adviser to a publicly-traded or private
company, experience and skill relative to other Board members and any additional
specialized knowledge or experience. Depending on the current needs
of Park’s Board of Directors, certain factors may be weighed more or less
heavily by the Nominating Committee. Diversity is considered by the
Nominating Committee when evaluating potential nominees because the Board of
Directors believes that Board membership should reflect not only the diversity
of the markets served by Park and Park’s subsidiaries, but also diversity in the
Board’s overall experience in business, government, education, technology and
other areas relevant to the operations of Park and Park’s subsidiaries and
diversity in the Board’s composition in terms of age, skills and other factors
relevant to the business of Park and Park’s subsidiaries.
In
considering candidates for the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee
evaluates the entirety of each candidate’s credentials. Other than
the requirement that a candidate be a Park shareholder, there are no specific
minimum qualifications that must be met by a Nominating Committee-recommended
nominee. However, the Nominating Committee does believe that all
members of the Board of Directors should have the highest character and
integrity, a reputation for working constructively with others, sufficient time
to devote to Board matters and no conflict of interest that would interfere with
performance as a director.
The
Nominating Committee will consider candidates for the Board of Directors from
any reasonable source, including shareholder recommendations. The
Nominating Committee does not evaluate candidates differently based on who has
made the recommendation. The Nominating Committee has the authority
under its charter to hire and pay a fee to consultants or search firms to assist
in the process of identifying and evaluating candidates. No such
consultants or search firms have been used by the Nominating Committee or the
full Board of Directors to date.
Shareholders
may recommend director candidates for consideration by the Nominating Committee
by writing to David L. Trautman, Park’s President and Secretary, at our
executive offices located at 50 North Third Street, Post Office
Box 3500, Newark, Ohio 43058-3500. The recommendation must give
the candidate’s name, age, business address, residence address, principal
occupation and number of Park common shares beneficially owned. The
recommendation must also describe the qualifications, attributes, skills or
other qualities of the recommended director candidate. A written
statement from the candidate consenting to be named as a director candidate and,
if nominated and elected, to serve as a director must accompany any such
recommendation.
Any
shareholder who wishes to nominate an individual for election as a director at
an annual meeting of the shareholders of Park must comply with the provisions of
Park’s Regulations related to shareholder nominations. Shareholder
nominations must be made in writing and delivered or mailed to Park’s President
not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders
called for the election of directors. However, if less than 21 days’
notice of the meeting is given to the shareholders, the nomination must be
mailed or delivered to Park’s President not later than the close of business on
the seventh day following the day on which the notice of the meeting was mailed
to the shareholders. Nominations for the 2011 Annual Meeting must be
received by April 4, 2011. Each shareholder nomination must
contain the following information to the extent known by the nominating
shareholder:
|
·
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the
name and address of each proposed
nominee;
|
|
·
|
the
principal occupation of each proposed
nominee;
|
|
·
|
the
total number of Park common shares that will be voted for each proposed
nominee;
|
|
·
|
the
name and residence address of the nominating shareholder;
and
|
|
·
|
the
number of Park common shares beneficially owned by the nominating
shareholder.
|
Nominations
which do not comply with the above requirements and Park’s Regulations will be
disregarded.
Communications
with the Board of Directors
Although
Park has not to date developed formal processes by which shareholders may
communicate directly with directors, Park believes that the informal process, in
which any communication sent to the Board of Directors, either generally or in
care of the Chief Executive Officer, the President and Secretary or another
officer of Park, is forwarded to all members of the Board of Directors or
specified individual directors, if applicable, has served the needs of the Board
of Directors and Park’s shareholders. There is no screening process
in respect of shareholder communications. All shareholder
communications received by an officer of Park for the attention of the Board of
Directors or specified individual directors are forwarded to the appropriate
members of the Board.
Park’s
Board of Directors, or one of the Board committees, may consider the development
of more specific procedures related to shareholder communications with the
Board. Until other procedures are developed and posted on the
“Governance Documents” section of the “Investor Relations” page of Park’s
website at www.parknationalcorp.com,
any communication to the Board of Directors or to individual directors may be
sent to the Board or one or more individual directors, in care of David L.
Trautman, Park’s President and Secretary, at our executive offices located at
50 North Third Street, Post Office Box 3500, Newark, Ohio
43058-3500. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation
indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Shareholder-Board Communication” or
“Shareholder-Director Communication,” as appropriate. All shareholder
communications must identify the author as a shareholder of Park and clearly
state whether the correspondence is directed to all members of the Board of
Directors or to certain specified individual directors. All
shareholder communications will be copied and circulated to the appropriate
director or directors without any screening. Correspondence marked
“personal and confidential” will be delivered to the intended recipient(s)
without opening.
Transactions
with Related Persons
Policies
and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions
On an
annual basis, each director and each executive officer of Park must complete a
Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaire which requires disclosure of any
transaction, arrangement or relationship with Park and/or any of our
subsidiaries since the beginning of the last fiscal year in which the director
or executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, has or had a
direct or indirect interest. In addition, officers of Park and our
subsidiaries must provide personal financial information annually as well as
periodic information regarding the incurrence of indebtedness over
$10,000. Park’s Retail Loan Department also reviews information
quarterly for any outstanding loans with Park and/or one of our subsidiaries in
which the director or executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate
family, has a direct or indirect material interest. As a part of its
review process, Park’s Retail Loan Department compares information on a
quarterly basis to track originations of any new loans for a director or an
executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, and reconciles
all then current account information to ensure the data has been gathered and
recorded accurately.
The Audit
Committee of Park’s Board of Directors is responsible, under the terms of that
Committee’s charter, for reviewing and overseeing procedures designed to
identify related person transactions that are material to Park’s consolidated
financial statements or otherwise require disclosure under applicable NYSE Amex
Rules or applicable rules adopted by the SEC, including those transactions
required to be disclosed under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K, or the rules of
any other appropriate regulatory agency or body. All such
transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee. Further, under
the terms of Park’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the Audit Committee is
responsible for reviewing and overseeing all actions and transactions which
involve the personal interest of a director or executive officer of Park and
determining in advance whether any such action or transaction represents a
potential conflict of interest. In addition, under the terms of
Park’s Commercial Loan Policy, all loans made to directors of Park or one of our
subsidiaries in excess of $500,000 must be approved by the full Board of
Directors of Park or the applicable Park bank subsidiary. To the
extent any transaction represents an ongoing business relationship with Park or
any of our subsidiaries, such transaction must be reviewed annually and be on
terms no more favorable than those which would be usual and customary in similar
transactions between unrelated persons dealing at arms’ length.
Transactions
Involving Subordinated Notes
On
December 23, 2009, Park entered into a Subordinated Note Purchase
Agreement, dated December 23, 2009 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”), with 38
purchasers who qualified as “accredited investors” (each, a “Subordinated Note
Purchaser”). Under the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement, the
Subordinated Note Purchasers purchased from Park an aggregate principal amount
of $35,250,000 of 10% Subordinated Notes due December 23, 2019 (each, a
“Subordinated Note”). The Subordinated Notes are intended to qualify
as Tier 2 Capital under applicable rules and regulations of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve
Board”). Each Subordinated Note was purchased at a purchase price of
100% of the principal amount thereof.
The
Subordinated Notes mature on December 23, 2019 and are not secured by any
assets of Park or any other collateral. The Subordinated Notes may
not be prepaid by Park prior to December 23, 2014. From and
after December 23, 2014, Park may prepay all, or from time to time, any
part of the Subordinated Notes at 100% of the principal amount (plus accrued
interest) without penalty, subject to any requirement under the applicable
Federal Reserve Board regulations to obtain prior approval before making any
prepayments.
The
purchases of Subordinated Notes were reviewed in accordance with the policies
described above under the heading “Policies and
Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions”.
Interest
on the Subordinated Notes is payable quarterly, at a fixed rate of 10% per
annum.
Subordinated
Notes were purchased by Maureen Buchwald, C. Daniel DeLawder and his
spouse, Harry O. Egger, John J. O’Neill (through a related trust),
William T. McConnell, David L. Trautman and Leon
Zazworsky. In addition, Sarah Reese Wallace and related trusts
purchased a total of eight Subordinated Notes. The following table
sets forth certain information regarding the Subordinated Notes issued to Park
directors and related trusts.
Name
|
|
Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
Subordinated
Notes Purchased
|
|
|
Amount
Outstanding at
March 9, 2011
|
|
|
Interest Paid
during 2010
Fiscal Year
|
|
Maureen
Buchwald
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder and his spouse
|
|
$ |
750,000 |
|
|
$ |
750,000 |
|
|
$ |
75,000 |
|
Harry
O. Egger
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
John
J. O’Neill (through a related trust)
|
|
$ |
2,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
William
T. McConnell
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
David
L. Trautman
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
Sarah
Reese Wallace and related trusts
|
|
$ |
7,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
7,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
700,000 |
|
Leon
Zazworsky
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
Banking
Transactions
During
Park’s 2010 fiscal year, executive officers and directors of Park, members of
their immediate families and firms, corporations or other entities with which
they are affiliated, were customers of and had banking transactions (including
loans and loan commitments) with Park National Bank and/or one or more of the
divisions of Park National Bank in the ordinary course of their respective
businesses and in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and
regulations. It is expected that similar banking transactions will be
entered into in the future. Loans to these persons have been made on
substantially the same terms, including the interest rate charged and collateral
required, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with
persons not affiliated with Park or one of our subsidiaries. These
loans have been, and are presently, subject to no more than a normal risk of
uncollectibility and present no other unfavorable features. At the
close of business on December 31, 2010, the aggregate principal balance of loans
to the fifteen individuals then serving as directors and executive officers of
Park and their respective associates as a group was approximately $49
million. As of the date of this proxy statement, each of the loans
described in this paragraph was performing in accordance with its original
terms. Each of the loans described in this paragraph was subject to
our written policies, procedures and standard underwriting criteria applicable
to loans generally as well as made in accordance with the requirements of
Regulation O promulgated by Federal Reserve Board governing prior approval of
the loan by the Board of Directors of Park National Bank (or the division of
Park National Bank) making the loan.
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS STRUCTURE AND MEETINGS
Meetings
of the Board of Directors and Attendance at Annual Meetings of
Shareholders
The Board
of Directors held six meetings during the 2010 fiscal year. Each
incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of
meetings held by the full Board of Directors and the total number of meetings
held by the Board committees on which he or she served, in each case during the
period of his or her service. In accordance with applicable NYSE Amex
Rules, the independent directors meet in executive session (without the presence
of management and non-independent directors) immediately following each regular
meeting of the full Board of Directors and at such other times as the
independent directors deem necessary.
Park
encourages all incumbent directors and director nominees to attend each annual
meeting of shareholders. All of the fourteen then incumbent directors
attended Park’s last annual meeting of shareholders held on April 19,
2010.
Board
Leadership
C. Daniel
DeLawder serves as both Park’s Chairman of the Board and Park’s Chief Executive
Officer. The independent members of Park’s Board of Directors have
determined that the most effective Board leadership structure for Park at the
present time is for its Chief Executive Officer to also serve as its Chairman of
the Board, a structure that has served Park well for many years, through strong
and weak economic conditions. Park does not have a lead independent
director. The Board of Directors retains the authority to modify this
structure to best address Park’s unique circumstances as and when the Board
deems appropriate. The Board of Directors believes that its current
leadership structure is efficient and effective for Park for the following
reasons:
|
·
|
The
Chief Executive Officer’s day-to-day management and operation of Park and
execution of Park’s strategy provides the Chief Executive Officer with a
comprehensive understanding of Park’s performance and strategic
priorities, which is crucial for leading discussions by the Board of
Directors and executing strategy.
|
|
·
|
The
combined role of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
promotes strategy development and execution and facilitates the flow of
information between management and the Board of Directors, which are
essential to effective corporate
governance.
|
|
·
|
Combining
the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board positions fosters
clear accountability, effective decision-making and alignment on corporate
strategy.
|
|
·
|
Park’s
existing corporate governance practices – which provide for strong
independent leadership, independent discussion among directors and
independent evaluation of, and candid communication with, many members of
senior management – achieve independent oversight or management
accountability, which is the goal that many seek to achieve by separating
the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer.
|
The role
of the Board of Directors and its committees in the oversight of risk affirms
the current Board leadership structure. That is, the current
leadership structure supports measured risks, yet measures, monitors and
controls them to the benefit of all shareholders.
Committees
of the Board
During
the 2010 fiscal year, the Board of Directors had six standing committees which
held regularly scheduled meetings – the Audit Committee, the
Compensation Committee, the Executive Committee, the Investment Committee, the
Nominating Committee and the Risk Committee.
Audit
Committee
The Board
of Directors has an Audit Committee which was established in accordance with
Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and is currently comprised of
Stephen J. Kambeitz (Chair), Maureen Buchwald, Timothy S. McLain and Leon
Zazworsky. Ms. Buchwald and Messrs. Kambeitz, McLain and Zazworsky
also served as members of the Audit Committee during the entire 2010 fiscal
year. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board
of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee qualifies as
an independent director under the applicable NYSE Amex Rules and under SEC
Rule 10A-3.
Upon the
recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has also
determined that each of Ms. Buchwald, Mr. Kambeitz and Mr. McLain qualifies as
an “audit committee financial expert” for purposes of Item 407(d)(5) of SEC
Regulation S-K and satisfies the financial sophistication requirement of the
NYSE Amex Rules. Ms. Buchwald served as Vice President of
Administration and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Ariel Corporation for
more than 20 years prior to her retirement in 1997. In her capacity
as Vice President of Administration, Ms. Buchwald oversaw the accounting
functions of Ariel Corporation. Mr. Kambeitz has served as President
since 2008 and Chief Financial Officer since 2001 of R.C. Olmstead, Inc. and
prior to thereto, served as Chief Financial Officer from 1999 to 2001 of
Lighthouse Financial Services, Inc. Mr. Kambeitz’s past professional
experience includes service in financial or accounting roles with Fifth Third
Bank; State Savings Company, where he served as Chief Financial Officer; Calibre
Corporation; Worthington Industries, Inc.; and Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and
Company. Mr. McLain is a Certified Public Accountant who has been
associated with the firm McLain, Hill, Rugg & Associates, Inc. since
1979, serving as Vice President since 1991. In addition to the
qualification of each of Ms. Buchwald, Mr. Kambeitz and Mr. McLain as an “audit
committee financial expert,” Park’s Board of Directors strongly believes that
each of the members of the Audit Committee is highly qualified to discharge the
member’s duties on behalf of Park and our subsidiaries and satisfies the
financial literacy requirement of the NYSE Amex Rules.
The Audit
Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee Charter”). A copy of the
Audit Committee Charter is posted on the “Governance Documents” section of the
“Investor Relations” page of Park’s Internet Web site at www.parknationalcorp.com. At
least annually, the Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the
Audit Committee Charter and recommends changes to the full Board of Directors as
necessary.
The Audit
Committee is responsible, among other things, for:
|
·
|
overseeing
the accounting and financial reporting processes of Park and our
subsidiaries;
|
|
·
|
overseeing
the audits of the consolidated financial statements of
Park;
|
|
·
|
appointing,
compensating and overseeing the work of the independent registered public
accounting firm engaged by Park for the purpose of preparing or issuing an
audit report or performing related work for Park or any of our
subsidiaries;
|
|
·
|
determining
hiring policies for employees or former employees of Park’s independent
registered public accounting firm;
|
|
·
|
appointing
and determining the compensation for the Chief Auditor (the Head of the
Internal Audit Department), reviewing and approving the Internal Audit
Department budget, determining the compensation for all of the staff
auditors, reviewing and approving the Internal Audit Procedures Manual and
overseeing the work of the Internal Audit
Department;
|
|
·
|
instituting
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received
by Park regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters, which procedures are outlined in Park’s Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
and approving transactions with Park and/or any of our subsidiaries in
which a director or executive officer of Park, or any member of his or her
immediate family, has a direct or indirect
interest;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
all significant regulatory examination findings requiring corrective
action;
|
|
·
|
assisting
the Board of Directors in the oversight
of:
|
|
·
|
the
integrity of Park’s consolidated financial statements and the
effectiveness of Park’s internal control over financial
reporting;
|
|
·
|
the
performance of Park’s independent registered public accounting firm and
Park’s Internal Audit Department;
|
|
·
|
the
independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and
independence; and
|
|
·
|
the
legal compliance and ethics programs established by Park’s management and
the full Board of Directors, including the Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics.
|
In
addition, the Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves all audit services and
permitted non-audit services provided by the independent registered public
accounting firm to Park or any of our subsidiaries and ensures that the
independent registered public accounting firm is not engaged to perform the
specific non-audit services prohibited by law, rule or
regulation. The Audit Committee will also carry out any other
responsibilities delegated to the Audit Committee by the full Board of
Directors.
The Audit
Committee met ten times during the 2010 fiscal year. The Audit
Committee’s report relating to the 2010 fiscal year begins at
page ___.
Compensation
Committee
The Board
of Directors has a Compensation Committee which is currently comprised of F.
William Englefield IV (Chair), John J. O’Neill and Leon
Zazworsky. Messrs. Englefield, O’Neill and Zazworsky also served
as members of the Compensation Committee during the entire 2010 fiscal
year. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board
of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee
qualifies as an independent director under the applicable NYSE Amex
Rules. In addition, each current Compensation Committee member
qualifies as an outside director for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and as a
non-employee director for purposes of SEC Exchange Act Rule 16b-3.
The
executive compensation standards under ARRA and the Interim Final Rule require
that, during the ARRA Covered Period, Park establish and maintain a compensation
committee consisting solely of independent directors for the purpose of
reviewing employee compensation plans. The Compensation Committee is
a “compensation committee” for purposes of ARRA and the Interim Final
Rule. ARRA and the Interim Final Rule require that the Compensation
Committee meet at least every six months and take the following
actions:
|
·
|
Discuss,
evaluate and review all “SEO Compensation Plans” (as defined in the
Interim Final Rule) with Park’s senior risk officer to ensure that the SEO
Compensation Plans do not include incentives for our “Senior Executive
Officers” (as defined in the Interim Final Rule) to take unnecessary and
excessive risks that could threaten Park’s
value.
|
|
·
|
Discuss,
evaluate and review all “Employee Compensation Plans” (as defined in the
Interim Final Rule) with Park’s senior risk officer in light of the risks
(including the short-term and long-term risks) posed to Park by such
Employee Compensation Plans and how to limit such
risks.
|
|
·
|
Discuss,
evaluate and review all Employee Compensation Plans and identify and
eliminate features in the Employee Compensation Plans that could encourage
the manipulation of reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any
employee.
|
The
Compensation Committee is required to both disclose the results, and certify
completion, of the reviews described above in the Compensation Committee
Report. The disclosure and certifications in the form required by the
Interim Final Rule issued by the U.S. Treasury are included in the section
captioned “EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION — Compensation Committee Report” beginning on page
___.
The
Compensation Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a
written charter adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee
Charter”). A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is posted on
the “Governance Documents” section of the “Investor Relations” page of Park’s
Internet Web site at www.parknationalcorp.com.
The Compensation Committee periodically reviews and reassesses the adequacy of
the Compensation Committee Charter and recommends changes to the full Board of
Directors as necessary.
The
Compensation Committee’s primary responsibilities include:
|
·
|
reviewing
with Park’s management and approving the general compensation policy for
the executive officers of Park and those other employees of Park and our
subsidiaries whom the full Board of Directors
directs;
|
|
·
|
evaluating
the performance of Park’s executive officers in light of goals and
objectives approved by the Compensation Committee and determining those
executive officers’ compensation based on that
evaluation;
|
|
·
|
administering
Park’s equity-based plans and any other plans requiring Compensation
Committee administration and approving awards as required to comply with
applicable laws, rules and
regulations;
|
|
·
|
overseeing
the preparation of the compensation discussion and analysis and
recommending to the full Board of Directors the inclusion of such
compensation discussion and analysis in the annual proxy statement of Park
in accordance with applicable NYSE Amex Rules and applicable SEC
rules;
|
|
·
|
recommending
to the Board of Directors the compensation for directors;
and
|
|
·
|
reviewing
and making recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect to
incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans in accordance with
applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
|
The
Compensation Committee reviews Park’s organizational structure and succession
plans for Park’s executive officers with the full Board of Directors as
needed. The Compensation Committee also carries out any other
responsibilities delegated to the Compensation Committee by the full Board of
Directors.
The
Compensation Committee has the authority to retain one or more compensation
consultants to assist in the evaluation of director and executive officer
compensation. The Compensation Committee has sole authority to retain
and terminate any such compensation consultants, including sole authority to
approve the consultants’ fees and other retention terms.
In 2010,
the Compensation Committee retained Towers Watson to assist the Compensation
Committee in structuring the compensation program for Park’s executive officers
in light of the executive compensation limitations imposed by the Interim Final
Rule as a result of Park’s participation in the Capital Purchase
Program. Please see the discussion under the heading “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION – Compensation
Discussion and Analysis – Process Used to
Set Compensation for 2010 – Role of Outside Advisers”
beginning on page ___ for a detailed explanation of the services rendered
by Towers Watson.
The
Compensation Committee met four times during the 2010 fiscal
year. The compensation discussion and analysis regarding executive
compensation for the 2010 fiscal year begins at page ___ and the
Compensation Committee Report for the 2010 fiscal year begins on
page ___.
Executive
Committee
The Board
of Directors has an Executive Committee which is currently comprised of William
T. McConnell (Chair), C. Daniel DeLawder (Vice Chair), Harry O. Egger,
F. William Englefield IV, John J. O’Neill and Leon
Zazworsky. Each member of the Executive Committee also served during
the entire 2010 fiscal year. David L. Trautman serves as a
non-member Secretary to the Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee may exercise, to the fullest extent permitted by law and not delegated
to another committee of the Board of Directors, all of the powers and authority
granted to the Board. The Executive Committee assists the Board of
Directors in overseeing the staff employees who perform independent loan review
functions at the subsidiaries of Park and determines the compensation of these
staff employees. The Executive Committee met eleven times during the
2010 fiscal year.
Investment
Committee
The Board
of Directors has an Investment Committee which is currently comprised of C.
Daniel DeLawder (Chair), Harry O. Egger, William T. McConnell,
John J. O’Neill, Rick R. Taylor and David L.
Trautman. Each member of the Investment Committee also served during
the entire 2010 fiscal year. The Investment Committee reviews the activity in
the investment portfolio of Park and our subsidiary banks, monitors compliance
with Park’s investment policy and assists management with the development of
investment strategies. The Investment Committee met four times during
the 2010 fiscal year.
Nominating
Committee
The Board
of Directors has a Nominating Committee which is currently comprised of Sarah
Reese Wallace (Chair), F. William Englefield IV and Leon
Zazworsky. Ms. Wallace was appointed as a member and Chair of the
Nominating Committee on February 8, 2011. Messrs. Englefield and
Zazworsky served as members of the Nominating Committee during the entire 2010
fiscal year. John J. O’Neill served as a member and Chair of the
Nominating Committee during the entire 2010 fiscal year and until
February 8, 2011. The Board of Directors has determined that
each current member of the Nominating Committee qualifies as an independent
director under the applicable NYSE Amex Rules and that Mr. O’Neill qualified as
an independent director during his period of service on the Nominating
Committee.
The
Nominating Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a
written charter adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Nominating Committee
Charter”). A copy of the Nominating Committee Charter is posted on
the “Governance Documents” section of the “Investor Relations” page of Park’s
Internet Web site at www.parknationalcorp.com. The
Nominating Committee periodically reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the
Nominating Committee Charter and recommends changes to the full Board of
Directors as necessary.
The
primary purpose of the Nominating Committee is to identify qualified candidates
for election, nomination or appointment to the Board of Directors and to
recommend to the full Board a slate of director nominees for each annual meeting
of the shareholders of Park or as vacancies occur between annual meetings of the
shareholders. In addition, the Nominating Committee provides
oversight on matters surrounding the composition and operation of the Board of
Directors, including the evaluation of Board performance and processes, and
makes recommendations to the full Board in the areas of Board committee
selection, including Board committee chairpersons and committee rotation
practices. The Nominating Committee also carries out any other
responsibilities delegated to the Nominating Committee by the full Board of
Directors.
The
Nominating Committee met twice during the 2010 fiscal year.
Risk
Committee
The Board
of Directors has a Risk Committee which is currently comprised of Leon Zazworsky
(Chair), James J. Cullers and F. William Englefield IV. Each member
of the Risk Committee also served during the entire 2010 fiscal
year. The Risk Committee assists the Board of Directors in monitoring
management’s implementation and enforcement of Park’s risk management
framework. The Risk Committee’s primary duty and responsibility is to
ensure that Park has in place an appropriate enterprise-wide process to
identify, assess, monitor and control Park’s credit, market, liquidity,
operational, legal and reputation risks (specifically excluding audit, financial
reporting, compliance and litigation risks which are the primary
responsibilities of the Audit Committee). The Risk Committee reviews
and assesses the Park Risk Management Policy annually and recommends changes to
the full Board of Directors as necessary. The Risk Committee reviews
and approves Park’s risk management framework, monitors the level and trend of
key risks, and monitors management’s compliance with risk tolerances established
by the Board of Directors and Park’s policies. Park’s senior risk
officer meets with the Risk Committee at least quarterly, including in executive
session, and provides reports to the Risk Committee regarding Park’s risk
assessment and risk profile. The Risk Committee met five times during
the 2010 fiscal year. At the July 19, 2010 Board of Directors
meeting, Park’s senior risk officer provided an update of Park’s enterprise risk
management. On February 8, 2011, the Risk Committee met, along
with Park’s senior risk officer and the Compensation Committee to conduct the
discussion, evaluation and review of Park’s compensation plans required by ARRA
and the Interim Final Rule.
The Risk
Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Risk Committee Charter”). A
copy of the Risk Committee Charter is posted on the “Governance Documents”
section of the “Investor Relations” page of Park’s Internet Web site at www.parknationalcorp.com. At
least annually, the Risk Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the
Risk Committee Charter and recommends changes to the full Board of Directors as
necessary.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The
Compensation Committee of Park’s Board of Directors is currently comprised of F.
William Englefield IV (Chair), John J. O’Neill and Leon
Zazworsky. Messrs. Englefield, O’Neill and Zazworsky also served as
members of the Compensation Committee during the entire 2010 fiscal
year. All of the members of the Compensation Committee are
independent directors and none of them is a present or past employee or officer
of Park or any of our subsidiaries. During the 2010 fiscal year, none
of Park’s executive officers served on the board of directors or compensation
committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other
entity, one of whose executive officers served on Park’s Board of Directors or
Compensation Committee.
Each of
Messrs. Englefield, O’Neill and Zazworsky as well as members of their immediate
families and firms, corporations or other entities with which they are
affiliated were customers of and had banking transactions (including loans and
loan commitments) with Park National Bank, in the ordinary course of their
respective businesses and in compliance with applicable federal and state laws
and regulations. The loans to these persons were made on
substantially the same terms, including the interest rate charged and collateral
required, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with
persons not affiliated with Park or one of our subsidiaries. In
addition, the loans to these persons have been, and are presently, subject to no
more than a normal risk of uncollectibility and present no other unfavorable
features.
On
December 23, 2009, under the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement,
John J. O’Neill (through a related trust) purchased a Subordinated Note in
the principal amount of $2,000,000 and Leon Zazworsky purchased a Subordinated
Note in the principal amount of $1,000,000. Each Subordinated Note
was purchased at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount
thereof. The Subordinated Notes mature on December 23,
2019. Interest on the Subordinated Notes is payable quarterly, at a
fixed rate of 10% per annum. During the period from January 1,
2010 through March 9, 2011, Mr. O’Neill (through the related trust) was
paid interest in the amount of $200,000 ($200,000 during the 2010 fiscal year)
and Mr. Zazworsky was paid interest in the amount of $100,000 ($100,000 during
the 2010 fiscal year).
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
The
following are the executive officers of Park, all of whom are elected annually
and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of Park. This
table lists each executive officer’s age as of the date of this proxy statement
as well as the positions presently held by each executive officer with Park and
our principal subsidiaries and his individual business experience.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Positions Held with Park and Our
Principal Subsidiaries and Principal Occupation
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder
|
|
61
|
|
Chairman
of the Board since January 2005, Chief Executive Officer since January
1999, a member of the Board of Directors since April 1994 and President
from 1994 to December 2004, of Park; Chairman of the Board since January
2005, Chief Executive Officer since January 1999, President from 1993 to
December 2004, Executive Vice President from 1992 to 1993, and a member of
the Board of Directors since 1992, of Park National Bank; a member of the
Board of Directors of Vision Bank headquartered in Panama City, Florida
since March 2007 and a member of the Board of Directors of the Vision Bank
Division of Gulf Shores, Alabama since March 2007; a member of the Board
of Directors from 1985 to March 2006, Chairman of the Board of Directors
from 1989 to 2003, and President from 1985 to 1992, of the Fairfield
National Division; a member of the Board of Directors of the Richland Bank
Division from 1997 to January 2006; a member of the Board of Directors of
the Second National Bank Division from 2000 to March 2006; a director of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland since January 2007; a member of the
Board of Trustees of Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, from 2000 to 2009 (for
the last two years, also served as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees)
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
L. Trautman
|
|
49
|
|
President
since January 2005, Secretary since July 2002 and a member of the Board of
Directors since January 2005, of Park; President since January 2005 and a
member of the Board of Directors since 2002 of Park National Bank;
Chairman of the Board from March 2001 to March 2006, a member of the Board
of Directors from May 1997 to March 2006, and President and Chief
Executive Officer from May 1997 to February 2002, of the First-Knox
National Bank Division; Executive Vice President from February 2002 to
December 2004 and Vice President from July 1993 to June 1997 of Park
National Bank; a member of the Board of Directors of the United Bank
Division from 2000 to March 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
W. Kozak
|
|
55
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer of Park since April 1998; Senior Vice President since
January 1999, Chief Financial Officer since April 1998, a member of the
Board of Directors since December 2006, and Vice President from 1991
to 1998, of Park National Bank; Chief Financial Officer from 1980 to 1991,
and a member of the Board of Directors from 1988 to May 2006 of the
Century National Bank Division; a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank
of Cincinnati from 2003 to
2005 (1)
|
(1) A
daughter of Mr. Kozak is married to a son of F. William Englefield IV, a
director of Park.
PROPOSAL 2 –
NON-BINDING ADVISORY
VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF PARK’S EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
ARRA was
signed into law on February 17, 2009. In addition to a wide variety
of programs intended to stimulate the economy, ARRA imposes significant
requirements for and restrictions relating to the compensation arrangements of
financial institutions that received government funds through TARP, including
institutions like Park that participated in the Capital Purchase Program prior
to the enactment of ARRA. These requirements and restrictions apply
throughout the ARRA Covered Period.
One of
the requirements under EESA, as amended by ARRA, is that for any meeting of
Park’s shareholders held during the ARRA Covered Period for which proxies will
be solicited for the election of directors, Park must provide a separate
shareholder vote to approve the compensation of Park’s
executive officers, as disclosed in Park’s proxy statement pursuant to Item 402
of SEC Regulation S-K. This is commonly referred to as a “say on pay”
vote.
As a
shareholder of Park, you are being provided with the opportunity to endorse or
not endorse our executive compensation program and policies through the
following resolution:
“RESOLVED,
that the compensation paid to Park’s executive officers, as disclosed pursuant
to Item 402 of SEC Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis, the tabular disclosure regarding executive officer compensation and
the accompanying narrative disclosure, contained on pages ___ through ___
in this proxy statement, is hereby APPROVED.”
Because
your vote is advisory, it will not: (i) be binding upon Park’s Board
of Directors or the Compensation Committee; (ii) overrule any decision made by
Park’s Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee; or (iii) create or
imply any additional fiduciary duty by Park’s Board of Directors or the
Compensation Committee. However,
the Compensation Committee will review the outcome of the advisory vote when
considering future executive compensation arrangements.
As
discussed in the sections captioned “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION —
Compensation Discussion
and Analysis — Executive
Summary” beginning on page ___
and “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION —
Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Conclusion” beginning on page ___, the
Compensation Committee has determined that Park’s compensation program and
policies, and the compensation paid to Park’s executive officers for the 2010
fiscal year, are reasonable and not excessive when evaluated in comparison both
to our peer bank holding companies and to Park’s performance during the 2010 fiscal
year. The Compensation Committee also believes that Park’s
compensation program strongly aligns with the interests of our shareholders in
the long-term value of Park as well as the components that drive long-term
value. Shareholders are encouraged to read the section of this proxy
statement captioned “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis” beginning on page ____ as well as the tabular disclosure
regarding executive officer compensation, together with the accompanying
narrative disclosure, beginning on page ____.
Recommendation
and Vote Required
YOUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS OF PARK VOTE
“FOR” APPROVAL, IN A
NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE, OF THE COMPENSATION PAID TO PARK’S EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED PURSUANT TO ITEM 402 OF SEC REGULATION S-K, IN THE
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, THE TABULAR DISCLOSURE REGARDING EXECUTIVE
OFFICER COMPENSATION AND THE ACCOMPANYING NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE.
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the common shares represented at the Annual
Meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal is required
to approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation paid to Park’s
executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. The effect
of an abstention is the same as a vote “AGAINST”
the proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted in determining
whether the proposal has been approved.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Executive
Summary
Our
executive compensation program is managed by the Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee oversees our executive
compensation plans and policies, administers our equity-based compensation plans
and annually reviews and makes decisions regarding the compensation of Park’s
executive officers and those other employees of Park and our subsidiaries whom
the full Board of Directors directs. In particular, the Compensation
Committee determines the compensation of Park’s named executive officers
(“NEOs”):
|
·
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder, Chairman/CEO
|
|
·
|
David
L. Trautman, President
|
Overall,
we believe the NEOs have been paid conservatively as their compensation has only
approximated the median levels of compensation paid by our peer bank holding
companies despite financial performance that has been vastly superior to that of
the median of our peer groups. In addition, when considering the
effectiveness of our compensation program for NEOs in 2010 and their support of
our executive compensation program, shareholders should consider
that:
|
·
|
Park’s
performance in 2010 and 2009 continued to exceed the median results of all
other bank holding companies in the United States with assets of $3
billion to $10 billion. There are 86 bank holding companies in this peer
group (the “$3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group”), a list of which can be
obtained by contacting Park’s Chief Financial Officer, at Park National
Corporation, 50 North Third Street, Newark, Ohio 43055,
Attention: John W.
Kozak.
|
|
·
|
Park
did not offer NEOs annual or long-term cash incentive compensation awards
in 2010 in order to comply with the limitations on executive compensation
imposed by the Interim Final Rule as a result of Park’s participation in
the CPP.
|
|
·
|
Consistent
with Park’s recent practices, Park did not offer executive officers equity
awards under Park’s 2005 Incentive Stock Option Plan, its only
equity-based compensation plan in which employees, including NEOs, are
eligible to participate.
|
|
·
|
Total
annual cash compensation for NEOs in 2010 did not increase, remaining at
the levels reported in 2009 and 2008. In 2009 and 2008, the
NEOs were paid annual incentive compensation awards for the twelve-month
periods ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007. Due to the
limitations on executive compensation imposed by the Interim Final Rule,
the Compensation Committee increased the base salary of each of the
NEOs. See the table included under the caption “Elements of
Compensation for 2010 – Base Salary”
below.
|
|
·
|
Cash
compensation for the NEOs for 2010 approximated the median levels of 19
Midwest regional bank holding companies with assets between $3 billion and
$17 billion (the “Midwest Regional Peer Group”), despite financial results
for Park in both 2010 and 2009 that significantly exceeded the performance
results of this group. See the summary financial results table in the
section below captioned “Factors
Influencing Compensation in 2010 – Park’s Performance in
2010”.
|
|
·
|
NEOs
receive the same fringe benefits as other employees, except that Park
maintains a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) and
an individual SERP agreement with each NEO, which are intended to make up
for regulatory limits that apply to Park’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan
(the “Park Pension Plan”) and the Park KSOP and provide total retirement
benefits similar to those available to other
employees.
|
|
·
|
Park
provides a modest annual car allowance of $8,940 to the Chairman/CEO and
the President, which serves a legitimate business need and is consistent
with the competitive practices of other bank holding
companies.
|
|
·
|
Park
does not offer employment contracts, change-in-control agreements or
termination benefits to NEOs.
|
|
·
|
The
Compensation Committee reviewed Park’s compensation programs for all
employees as required by the Interim Final Rule and concluded that these
programs do not encourage excessive and unnecessary risk taking or create
incentives for employees to manipulate Park’s reported earnings to enhance
the compensation of any employee.
|
The
discussion that follows summarizes each of these factors and examines (a) Park’s
compensation philosophy and objectives, (b) the process used to set executive
compensation for 2010, (c) the factors influencing compensation in 2010, (d) the
elements of compensation awarded and (e) other policies affecting Park’s
compensation program.
Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
Park’s
success depends largely on the contributions of motivated, focused and energized
executives all working to achieve our strategic objectives. The
Compensation Committee and senior management develop compensation programs for
executives intended to provide a total compensation package that:
|
·
|
Attracts,
rewards and retains NEOs and other highly qualified
employees.
|
|
·
|
Motivates
NEOs as well as other employees to achieve Park’s annual, long-term and
strategic goals.
|
|
·
|
Rewards
individual effort and performance with the primary objective of improving
return on average common equity.
|
|
·
|
Encourages
stock ownership by NEOs and other executives to foster an ownership
culture.
|
Process
Used to Set Compensation for 2010
The
following three groups worked together to establish Park’s compensation program
for 2010:
Role
of Compensation Committee
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing Park’s current executive
compensation programs and approving any modifications to these programs, subject
to any required approval by Park’s shareholders. The Compensation
Committee may request information from senior management regarding Park’s
performance, compensation practices and programs to assist the Compensation
Committee in its deliberations. The Compensation Committee retains
the right to hire outside advisors as needed to assist it in reviewing and
revising Park’s compensation programs and providing information regarding
competitive compensation levels, practices and policies in light of current
trends.
The
Compensation Committee annually assesses the performance of Park and the
Chairman/CEO. Based on this evaluation, the Compensation Committee
determines the Chairman/CEO’s compensation for the year. The
Compensation Committee also reviews the Chairman/CEO’s compensation
recommendations for both the President and the CFO, seeks appropriate input and
approves final compensation levels. Finally, the Compensation
Committee provides guidance to the Chairman/CEO and the President to determine
the compensation of other key executives of Park’s subsidiaries.
Role
of Senior Management
Park’s
senior management serves in an advisory or support capacity to the Compensation
Committee. Typically, the Chairman/CEO, the President and the Senior
Vice President - Human Resources and Marketing participate in meetings of the
Compensation Committee. The CFO will participate as necessary or at
the Compensation Committee’s request. These individuals provide the
Compensation Committee with information regarding Park’s performance and that of
executives who participate in Park’s various compensation programs, such as
historical compensation and benefit levels, plan costs, context for how
compensation programs have changed over time and input regarding particular
management issues that need to be addressed. Senior management
normally furnishes similar information to the Compensation Committee’s outside
advisors.
Senior
management provides input regarding the compensation recommendations made by
outside advisors or the Compensation Committee. Senior management
also presents alternatives to these compensation recommendations for the
Compensation Committee’s consideration. Senior management implements,
communicates and administers the programs approved by the Compensation Committee
and reports any questions, concerns or issues.
The
Chairman/CEO annually evaluates the performance of Park and the other executive
officers. Based on this evaluation, the Chairman/CEO recommends the
compensation for both the President and the CFO for consideration, input and
approval by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee
authorizes the Chairman/CEO and the President to establish the pay for the
Senior Vice Presidents and the Division Presidents of Park’s subsidiary
banks. Members of senior management present at Compensation Committee
meetings excuse themselves from discussions regarding their individual
compensation.
Role
of Outside Advisors
Over the
last several years, the Compensation Committee periodically has engaged and
relied on input from Towers Watson (created by the merger of Towers Perrin and
Watson Wyatt) regarding Park’s compensation programs. The
Compensation Committee has the right to retain Towers Watson or seek the opinion
of other outside advisors. Towers Watson’s lead consultant reports
directly to the Compensation Committee Chair, who approves Towers Watson’s work,
and interacts with management as needed to complete the work requested by the
Compensation Committee. Towers Watson provides no services to Park
other than those provided to the Compensation Committee.
In 2010,
Towers Watson assisted the Compensation Committee in structuring the
compensation program for NEOs in light of the executive compensation limitations
imposed by the Interim Final Rule. Towers Watson provided information
regarding how other bank holding companies subject to the Interim Final Rule
structured their compensation programs. In addition, Towers Watson
analyzed Park’s compensation and return on common equity results relative to the
Midwest Regional Peer Group to establish reasonable and defensible compensation
levels. The Midwest Regional Peer Group consists of the following
regional bank holding companies:
1st
Source Corporation
|
|
Fulton
Financial Corporation
|
Capitol
Bancorp Ltd.
|
|
Harleysville
National Corporation
|
Chemical
Financial Corporation.
|
|
Independent
Bank Corp.
|
Citizens
Republic Bancorp, Inc.
|
|
Integra
Bank Corp.
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F.N.B.
Corporation
|
|
National
Penn Bancshares Inc.
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First
Commonwealth Financial Corporation
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|
Old
National Bancorp.
|
First
Financial Bancorp.
|
|
Susquehanna
Bancshares, Inc.
|
First
Merchants Corporation
|
|
United
Bankshares, Inc.
|
FirstMerit
Corporation
|
|
WesBanco,
Inc.
|
Flagstar
Bancorp, Inc.
|
|
|
Based on
this information, Towers Watson developed and recommended a compensation program
for the NEOs for 2010 to the Compensation Committee. In 2010, Towers
Watson also reviewed Park’s proxy statement for the Compensation Committee,
providing appropriate comments and input consistent with its
involvement.
In
addition to Towers Watson, the Compensation Committee relies on legal advice
from Park’s outside counsel, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP, whose
attorneys participate in meetings of the Compensation Committee as
requested.
Park
believes this approach is consistent with the practices for other bank holding
companies of its size, reflects best practices regarding the governance of
executive compensation programs and supports the compensation program’s
objectives of delivering reasonable and appropriate compensation aligned with
shareholders’ interests.
As a
participant in the CPP, at each meeting of Park’s shareholders for which proxies
are solicited in connection with the election of directors, Park must provide a
separate, non-binding, shareholder advisory vote to approve the compensation of
Park’s executive officers, as disclosed in Park’s proxy statement for that
meeting. At the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Park’s
shareholders approved Park’s executive compensation as disclosed in the proxy
statement for that Annual Meeting, with the holders of 11,567,114 common shares,
or approximately 95.5% of the common shares represented at that Annual Meeting
and approximately 77.7% of the then outstanding common shares, voting for such
approval. While Park and the Compensation Committee reviewed the
results of this advisory vote, the vote was not a significant factor in
determining Park’s executive compensation decisions and policies for
2010. As discussed below, the factors influencing Park’s executive
compensation decisions and policies for 2010 and continuing into 2011
include: (i) Park’s financial performance; (ii) Park’s performance in
comparison to the Midwest Regional Peer Group and the $3 billion to $10 billion
Peer Group; and (iii) the limitations on executive compensation imposed by the
Interim Final Rule.
Factors
Influencing Compensation in 2010
The
following three factors influenced Park’s compensation program for
2010:
|
·
|
Park’s
financial performance in 2009, which was 8% better than in 2008 (after
excluding the impact of the goodwill impairment charge in 2008). Net
income in 2009 was $74.2 million, compared to $68.7 million in 2008
(excluding the goodwill impairment
charge).
|
|
·
|
Park’s
performance in comparison to both the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group
and the Midwest Regional Peer
Group.
|
|
·
|
The
executive compensation limitations imposed by the Interim Final
Rule.
|
Park’s
Performance in 2010
Internally,
management’s efforts in 2010 produced results that were consistent with 2009
despite challenging economic conditions:
|
·
|
Total
assets at the end of 2010 increased by $258.0 million, or 3.7% compared to
the end of 2009. In addition, total loans increased by $92.3
million, or 2% compared to the end of
2009.
|
|
·
|
Net
income was $74.2 million for both 2010 and 2009 and Park’s return on
average assets was 0.97% for both 2010 and
2009.
|
|
·
|
Park’s
return on common equity was 10.53% for 2010 compared to 11.81% in 2009.
While this represents a 10.8% decline due to the issuance of 509,184
common shares during 2010, these results far exceed the median results of
both the Midwest Regional Peer Group and the $3 billion to $10 billion
Peer Group in each of 2009 and
2010.
|
These
results produced tangible benefits for shareholders as the price of Park’s
common shares increased by approximately 23% from its closing price at the end
of 2009 and Park was able to continue to pay dividends on its common shares at
historic levels.
Externally,
Park’s performance in 2010 continued to significantly exceed the median results
of the Midwest Regional Peer Group and the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group
as shown below:
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
Park
|
|
|
Midwest
Regional
Peer
Group
Median
|
|
|
$3 billion
to $10
billion Peer
Group
Median *
|
|
|
Park
|
|
|
Midwest
Regional
Peer
Group
Median
|
|
|
$3
billion to
$10
billion
Peer
Group
Median
|
|
Return
on Average Assets
|
|
|
0.97 |
% |
|
|
0.42 |
% |
|
|
0.45 |
% |
|
|
0.97 |
% |
|
|
0.09 |
% |
|
|
-0.18 |
% |
Return
on Average Common Equity
|
|
|
10.53 |
% |
|
|
3.82 |
% |
|
|
2.98 |
% |
|
|
11.81 |
% |
|
|
-0.24 |
% |
|
|
-2.42 |
% |
Net
Interest Margin
|
|
|
4.26 |
% |
|
|
3.66 |
% |
|
|
3.73 |
% |
|
|
4.22 |
% |
|
|
3.52 |
% |
|
|
3.57 |
% |
Other
Fee Income/Average Assets
|
|
|
0.93 |
% |
|
|
1.13 |
% |
|
|
1.12 |
% |
|
|
1.05 |
% |
|
|
1.16 |
% |
|
|
1.20 |
% |
Other
Expenses/Average Assets
|
|
|
2.66 |
% |
|
|
3.05 |
% |
|
|
2.91 |
% |
|
|
2.68 |
% |
|
|
3.27 |
% |
|
|
3.04 |
% |
Efficiency
Ratio
|
|
|
54.75 |
% |
|
|
63.11 |
% |
|
|
66.81 |
% |
|
|
54.01 |
% |
|
|
65.28 |
% |
|
|
70.95 |
% |
*The 2010
financial data for the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group is for the nine
months ended September 30, 2010.
Overall,
Park’s performance supports pay levels for NEOs which are higher than the median
levels paid to similarly-situated executives at other bank holding companies of
similar size.
Limitations
on Park’s Compensation Program
Park’s
executive compensation program in 2010 needed to comply with the executive
compensation limitations imposed by the Interim Final Rule, which:
|
·
|
Prohibit
Park from paying or accruing any bonus, retention award or incentive
compensation to or on behalf of the NEOs, except in limited
circumstances. Park eliminated annual incentive compensation
for NEOs in 2010, which historically had constituted the largest part of
the NEOs’ compensation. Historically, Park has not made retention
awards.
|
|
·
|
Prohibit
Park from paying any “golden parachute compensation” or providing tax
gross-ups to the NEOs and other select employees. Park
historically has never offered these arrangements to its
NEOs.
|
|
·
|
Prohibit
the NEOs and certain other employees from receiving the benefit of certain
“excessive or luxury expenditures”. Historically, Park has not offered
these types of benefits to its
NEOs.
|
|
·
|
Disclosing
the amount, nature and justification for offering any perquisite to
certain employees with an aggregate value in excess of
$25,000. Each of Park’s Chairman/CEO and its President receive
a car allowance of $745 per month, unchanged since 2008. These
benefits are not excessive relative to the perquisites provided by other
bank holding companies of similar size and provide these two key
executives with the funds to purchase a car intended primarily to be used
for business purposes, such as visiting subsidiary banks and meeting key
customers. The aggregate value of this car allowance, which was
$8,940 in 2010, was below the threshold requiring disclosure under the
Interim Final Rule.
|
|
·
|
Establish
a policy to recover (or “clawback”) bonuses or incentive compensation paid
to the NEOs and other employees on the basis of materially inaccurate
financial statements or materially inaccurate performance metric
criteria. Because the NEOs are prohibited from participation in
Park’s annual incentive compensation plan, such a policy is not relevant
for them. However, each NEO has entered into a letter agreement
with Park incorporating the clawback policies required by the Interim
Final Rule. In addition, under the terms of the respective
plans, Park can recover SERP benefits and common shares received upon the
exercise of incentive stock options in the event of an NEO’s
malfeasance.
|
|
·
|
Prohibit
Park from maintaining any compensation plan that creates incentives to
manipulate Park’s reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any
employee. The Compensation Committee discussed, reviewed and
evaluated each compensation plan with Park’s senior risk officer and
concluded that these plans do not create such
incentives.
|
|
·
|
Limit
features in compensation plans that encourage management to take excessive
and unnecessary risks that threaten the value of Park. The
Compensation Committee discussed, reviewed and evaluated all compensation
plans with Park’s senior risk officer and concluded that these plans do
not encourage excessive and unnecessary risk
taking.
|
As a
result of complying with these limitations, the Compensation Committee focused
on base salaries and potential increases to base salaries to provide the NEOs
with compensation that reflects Park’s superior performance as compared to the
$3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group and the Midwest Regional Peer
Group.
Elements
of Compensation for 2010
Prior to
2010, Park’s compensation philosophy and objectives were satisfied through the
payment of several types of incentive compensation, including annual incentive
compensation tied to Park’s consolidated return on equity and long-term
incentive compensation in the form of stock option grants. The annual
incentive compensation made up the largest part of each NEO’s annual
compensation. Park has not awarded equity compensation to the
NEOs since 2005 and in 2010 eliminated annual incentive compensation as part of
the NEO compensation program in order to comply with the executive compensation
limitations imposed by the Interim Final Rule. Park historically
provided other compensation in the form of benefit and retirement
plans. These other forms of compensation remain
unchanged.
Park’s
compensation program for 2010 relied on only two elements:
|
·
|
Base
salary, which rewards an executive’s skills, competencies, experience and
individual performance. Base salary can vary based on the
achievement of individual goals, the executive’s duties and Park’s overall
performance which influences its ability to pay or increase base
salaries.
|
|
·
|
Other
benefits which address basic life and income security needs as well as
recognize an individual’s contributions to Park and our subsidiaries over
a career. For NEOs, these benefits are comparable with those
received by other employees, except for participation in the SERP and the
receipt of an annual car allowance by the Chairman/ CEO and the
President.
|
Excluding
other benefits, 100% of the NEOs’ direct compensation (consisting of base
salary, annual incentive compensation and the estimated value of stock options)
in 2010 was delivered in the form of base salary. By comparison, base
salary accounted for roughly 52% to 62% of NEOs’ direct cash compensation for
the two prior years.
Base
Salary
Base
salary is the guaranteed part of an executive’s pay. Park pays base
salary to recognize the skills, competencies, experience and individual
performance an executive brings to his or her role. As a result,
changes in base salary result primarily from changes in the executive’s
responsibilities, an assessment of his or her annual performance and Park’s
financial ability to pay base salaries and provide increases to
them.
In
determining base salaries for the NEOs for 2010, the Compensation Committee and
senior management considered the following factors:
|
·
|
The
executive compensation limitations imposed by the Interim Final
Rule.
|
|
·
|
The
structure of the compensation programs of other bank holding companies
subject to the executive compensation limitations imposed by Interim Final
Rule, which consisted of significant increases in base salary, base
salaries that were slightly more than the prior year’s target cash
compensation (consisting of both salary and target bonus), delivery of pay
in a mix of cash and “salary stock” and restricted stock grants up to the
limits allowed under the Interim Final
Rule.
|
|
·
|
The
inability of Park to grant “salary stock” or restricted stock under its
equity-based compensation plan.
|
|
·
|
Return
on common equity that exceeded the median of other bank holding companies
of similar size and was actually in the $3 to $10 billion Peer Group’s top
quintile.
|
|
·
|
Park’s
results for 2009. Positive results included a slight decrease
in the provision for loan losses, an increase in net income and earnings
per common share, maintenance of Park’s positive returns on average assets
and average common equity compared to the negative results for the median
of the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group and capital raising activities
that strengthened Park’s balance sheet. Negative results
included a significant increase in nonperforming assets and the decline in
Park’s stock price at the end of
2009.
|
Based on
these factors, the Compensation Committee agreed to maintain the NEOs’ total
cash compensation at the levels of the prior two years. While the
results of this decision resulted in significant base salary increases for the
NEOs, it did not increase their total cash compensation, as seen in the
following table:
|
|
Year
|
|
Base
Salary
|
|
|
Annual
Incentive
Compensation
|
|
|
Total Cash
Compensation
|
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder
|
|
2010
|
|
$ |
773,525 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
773,525 |
|
Chairman/CEO
|
|
2009
|
|
|
473,525 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
773,525 |
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
473,525 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
773,525 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
L. Trautman
|
|
2010
|
|
$ |
563,250 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
563,250 |
|
President
|
|
2009
|
|
|
313,250 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
563,250 |
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
313,250 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
563,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
W. Kozak
|
|
2010
|
|
$ |
414,455 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
414,455 |
|
CFO
|
|
2009
|
|
|
214,455 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
414,455 |
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
214,455 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
414,455 |
|
Total
cash compensation levels for 2010 were positioned slightly below the median of
the Midwest Regional Peer Group for the Chairman/CEO and slightly above such
median for the President and the CFO. In comparison, Park’s return on
common equity for 2010 and 2009 remained significantly better than the median of
both the Midwest Regional Peer Group and the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer
Group. From these perspectives, the Compensation Committee believes
that the NEOs are conservatively paid.
Other
Benefits
Park
provides the NEOs with medical, dental, long-term disability and life insurance
benefits under the same programs used to provide these benefits to all other
employees. NEO benefits are not tied to individual or corporate
performance, which is the same approach used for other
employees. Moreover, changes to our NEOs’ benefits reflect the
changes to the benefits provided to other employees.
The NEOs
are also eligible to participate in several retirement
programs. These programs recognize contributions made by individuals
over their respective careers and benefits normally are paid at
retirement. As a result, they can serve as a tool in retaining NEOs
and other employees.
|
·
|
The
NEOs may participate in the Park Pension Plan on the same terms and
conditions as other employees. The Park Pension Plan provides
all participants, including the NEOs, a benefit based on the same formula
of years of service and pay. The Park Pension Plan is discussed under the
caption “Post-Employment
Payments and Benefits – Pension and
Supplemental Benefits – Park Pension Plan”
beginning on page ___.
|
|
·
|
The
NEOs and other employees are eligible to participate in the Park
KSOP. Under the Park KSOP, eligible employees can defer a
portion of their cash compensation (salary and bonus) and receive matching
contributions by Park. Historically, this match equaled 50% of
the first 12% of cash compensation, up to annual limits imposed under the
Internal Revenue Code and U.S. Treasury regulations, contributed by an
employee in order to encourage employee savings. However, Park
suspended this matching contribution in the second half of 2009 for all
officers including the NEOs, consistent with the practice of many other
companies reflecting the uncertain economic environment. Park
re-established its matching contributions in 2010 but at the rate of 25%
of the first 12% of cash compensation contributed by an employee, up to
annual limits imposed under the Internal Revenue Code and U.S. Treasury
regulations, in order to balance the cost of the Park KSOP with a desire
to encourage employees to save for retirement. While Park
contributions are made in the form of Park common shares to help build
stock ownership, participants have the ability to diversify their
investments into other investments, including mutual funds and a “bank
savings account” held at Park National
Bank.
|
|
·
|
The
NEOs receive benefits under the SERP, which is a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan that permits the NEOs to accumulate retirement income in
excess of the limitations imposed by the Park Pension Plan and the Park
KSOP, which prevent the NEOs from accruing retirement benefits comparable
to other employees solely by virtue of their relatively higher
compensation.
|
SERP
benefits are forfeited if an NEO terminates employment with Park prior to age
62. As a result, the SERP helps enhance the retention and recruitment
of highly qualified executives.
In
addition, the SERP provides several important protections to Park. An
NEO must repay any SERP benefits received and forfeit any right to future SERP
benefits if, following the NEO’s termination, Park later determines that “cause”
existed to terminate the NEO prior to receipt of such benefits. An
NEO also forfeits any SERP benefits if, within twelve months of the NEO’s
separation of service, the NEO violates the noncompetition and non-solicitation
provisions of the SERP.
Park
maintains split-dollar life insurance policies on behalf of each of the NEOs
under which Park will receive proceeds in an amount equal to the premiums paid
up to the date of death of the NEO plus earnings accrued in respect of the
policy since the inception of the policy. Each NEO has the right to designate a
beneficiary to whom the NEO’s share of the proceeds under the policy
(approximately two times the NEO’s highest annual total compensation during the
NEO’s employment with Park) is to be paid. Each policy remains in effect
following the NEO’s retirement as long as the NEO is fully vested in the Park
Pension Plan, has reached age 62, has not been employed by another financial
services firm and was not terminated for cause. If Mr. DeLawder’s
share of the proceeds under his policy were computed as of December 31,
2010, his share would have been $1,911,980. If Mr. Trautman’s share of the
proceeds under his policy were computed as of December 31, 2010, his share
would have been $1,270,880. If Mr. Kozak’s share of the proceeds
under his policy were computed as of December 31, 2010, his share would
have been $857,820.
Historically,
Park has provided the NEOs with few perquisites in comparison to other bank
holding companies of similar size. Currently, Park only provides the
Chairman/CEO and the President a modest car allowance of $745 per month or
$8,940 annually, which has not changed since 2008.
Park has
not historically entered into employment or change-in-control agreements with
executive officers as part of its compensation program.
Other
Compensation Policies
|
·
|
Accounting: As
a participant in the CPP, Park is prohibited from claiming an income tax
deduction for any compensation to an NEO that exceeds
$500,000. Nonetheless, Park does not have a policy that
requires all compensation paid to its NEOs in 2010 to be tax
deductible. While the Compensation Committee carefully
considers the net cost and value to Park of maintaining the deductibility
of all compensation, it also desires the flexibility to reward NEOs and
other executives in a manner that enhances Park’s ability to attract and
retain individuals as well as to create longer term value for
shareholders. Thus, income tax deductibility is only one of
several factors the Compensation Committee considers in making decisions
regarding Park’s compensation program. Moreover, the
Compensation Committee believes the incremental cost of the lost deduction
is relatively modest.
|
|
·
|
Clawbacks: Park
has several policies to recover compensation or benefits in certain
events. As discussed above, Park can recover SERP payments
received by an NEO if Park determines that the NEO could have been
terminated for cause prior to the receipt of benefits. In
addition, Park can recover any common shares received upon exercise of an
option six months before or five years after an NEO’s (or any other
employee’s) termination and the violation of certain provisions (e.g.,
works for a competitor, engages in activity that causes substantial harm,
solicits employees, discloses confidential information or engages in
conduct that would have given rise to termination if it had been
discovered prior to the executive’s termination). These
policies provide Park with additional protections and help mitigate the
possibility of the NEOs taking unwarranted risks. In addition,
Park entered into a letter agreement with each NEO incorporating the
clawback policies required by the Interim Final
Rule.
|
|
·
|
Stock
Ownership Guidelines: While Park’s compensation program
aims to encourage and build stock ownership, Park has not adopted stock
ownership guidelines that are common at other companies. The
reason is quite simple. Park’s NEOs and directors have personal
stock holdings that are significantly greater than the typical stock
ownership requirements.
|
Individual
or Group
|
|
Value of
Stock
Holdings
(YE 2010)
|
|
|
2009 Cash
Compensation
or Total
Director
Compensation
|
|
|
Stock
Holdings/Cash
Compensation
or Total
Director
Compensation
|
|
|
2010 Base
Salary or
Total Director
Compensation
|
|
|
Stock
Holdings/
Cash
Compensation
or Total
Director
Compensation
|
|
Typical
Practice for
Individual
Holding Same
Position
|
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder
|
|
$ |
8,711,534 |
|
|
$ |
773,525 |
|
|
|
11.3 |
x |
|
$ |
773,525 |
|
|
|
11.3 |
x |
5xSalary
|
|
David
L. Trautman
|
|
$ |
3,610,173 |
|
|
$ |
563,250 |
|
|
|
6.4 |
x |
|
$ |
563,250 |
|
|
|
6.4 |
x |
3-4xSalary
|
|
John
W. Kozak
|
|
$ |
2,167,673 |
|
|
$ |
414,455 |
|
|
|
5.2 |
x |
|
$ |
414,445 |
|
|
|
5.2 |
x |
3xSalary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
for Non-Employee Directors(1)
|
|
$ |
1,949,445 |
|
|
$ |
32,675 |
|
|
|
59.7 |
x |
|
$ |
32,686 |
|
|
|
59.6 |
x |
3xRetainer
|
|
(1)
|
Does
not include C. Daniel DeLawder, Harry O. Egger, William T. McConnell,
William A. Phillips or David L.
Trautman.
|
|
·
|
Hedging: Park’s
Insider Trading Policy prohibits NEOs and other employees from hedging the
economic risk associated with their ownership of Park common
shares.
|
Annual
Bonus Pool for 2010
For the
reasons discussed above, Park could not offer annual incentive compensation
opportunities to the NEOs in 2010. However, Park’s Chairman/CEO
recommended that an incentive compensation pool of $5.3 million for 2010 be
created and paid to other Park affiliate officers. This pool was based on
results for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to
the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group. Park had a return on common
equity of 10.03% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the
$3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group median of 5.4%. Park’s
performance results represented the 80.7 percentile
compared to the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group.
The $5.3
million incentive compensation pool, determined in the manner described under
the caption “Incentive
Compensation Plan for 2010 and 2011” below, compares to $6.0 million for
the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2009 and $9.4 million for the
twelve-month period ended September 30, 2008. These funds were distributed to
the officers of Park’s subsidiaries and their divisions (other than the NEOs and
other employees subject to the limitations on the payment or accrual of bonus
compensation imposed by the Interim Final Rule) based on the assessment
conducted by the Chairman/CEO and the President of the performance of the
officers’ respective banking division or department and their individual
performances.
Incentive
Compensation Plan for 2010 and 2011
Park
began transitioning to a new incentive compensation plan in 2010 and is still
transitioning to the new methodology for 2011. The new plan structure
incorporates Park’s desire to have a compensation plan that reflects Park’s
performance as compared to its peers. Officers will continue to have a base
salary consistent with their duties, responsibilities, performance and
experience. Additionally, officers are eligible to receive incentive
compensation, based on a percentage of their salary. Higher levels of incentive
compensation will be paid to officers as they accept more responsibilities
within the Park organization. Incentive compensation eligibility will
be determined based on Park’s return on common equity relative to that of Park’s
$3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group, with the goal being that officers’ total
compensation will be proportionate to Park’s performance compared to this Peer
Group (e.g., if Park performs in the 80th
percentile of the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group, total cash compensation
will also be approximately at the 80th
percentile). Finally, Park’s officers will only be eligible to
receive incentive compensation if Park’s net income, after accruing for
incentive compensation, exceeds the aggregate amount of dividends declared and
paid on common shares and Series A Preferred Shares for the year in question by
10% or more.
If the
new incentive compensation methodology had been fully adopted for 2010, the pool
would need to have been approximately $7.4 million for 2010, in order to pay
officers at the 75th percentile of the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer Group
reflecting the relative performance of Park. The Compensation Committee, with
the recommendation of the Chairman /CEO, felt that it was reasonable to have a
more modest incentive compensation pool for 2010 and work to fully transition to
the new methodology in coming years.
Conclusion
The
compensation program in 2010 for Park’s NEOs reflects Park’s compensation
philosophy, complies with the limits on executive compensation imposed by the
Interim Final Rule, mirrors the practices of other bank holding companies
subject to similar limitations, produced compensation levels comparable to those
from 2009 and equal to the medians of peer bank holding companies (the Midwest
Regional Peer Group) despite financial results that were well above the median
performance of both the Midwest Regional Peer Group and the $3 billion to $10
billion Peer Group. In addition, the compensation program excludes a
number of problematic compensation practices (e.g., excessive perks, retention
awards, employment contracts and change-in-control agreements). We
believe it has represented shareholders’ interests in a responsible and
reasonable fashion.
Compensation
Committee Report
The
Compensation Committee of Park’s Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed
the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of SEC
Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the
Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy
statement.
The Compensation Committee of Park’s
Board of Directors certifies that it has:
|
·
|
Reviewed
with Park’s senior risk officer the SEO Compensation Plans, each as
defined in the regulations and guidance established under Section 111 of
EESA, and has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that these plans do
not encourage Senior Executive Officers, as defined in the regulations and
guidance established under Section 111 of EESA, to take unnecessary and
excessive risks that threaten the value of
Park.
|
|
·
|
Reviewed
with Park’s senior risk officer the Employee Compensation Plans, as
defined in the regulations and guidance established under Section 111 of
EESA, and has made all reasonable efforts to limit any unnecessary risks
these plans pose to Park.
|
|
·
|
Reviewed
the Employee Compensation Plans to eliminate any features of these plans
that would encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of Park to
enhance the compensation of any
employee.
|
On
February 8, 2011, the Compensation Committee met, along with Park’s senior risk
officer and the Risk Committee, and conducted the discussion, evaluation and
review of Park’s SEO Compensation Plans and Employee Compensation Plans required
by ARRA and the Interim Final Rule. As a result of this discussion,
evaluation and review, the Compensation Committee concluded that the existing
structure and operation of the SEO Compensation Plans and the Employee
Compensation Plans did not require that any changes be made to these plans in
order to comply with the requirements of ARRA and the Interim Final
Rule.
Risk
Analysis
The
Compensation Committee reviewed each SEO Compensation Plan to determine whether
the plan contained incentives for Senior Executive Officers or other employees
to take unnecessary or excessive risks that threaten the value of
Park. The Compensation Committee also reviewed each Employee
Compensation Plan using this standard, which is more stringent than required by
ARRA or the Interim Final Rule.
The
specific SEO Compensation Plans and Employee Compensation Plans reviewed by the
Compensation Committee were: (i) the annual incentive plan, which
provides for annual incentive compensation based on Park’s return on common
equity as compared to that of a peer group (the $3 billion to $10 billion Peer
Group); (ii) the 2005 Incentive Stock Option Plan, pursuant to which Park may
grant incentive stock options; (iii) miscellaneous incentive plans, which are
informal arrangements that allow Park employees to earn small amounts of
incentive compensation; (iv) the SERP Agreements, pursuant to which Senior
Executive Officers and other executives may receive supplemental pension
benefits; (v) the split-dollar life insurance policies, which provide Senior
Executive Officers and other executives with death benefits; (vi) a deferred
compensation plan, which allows employees of the Security National Division to
voluntarily defer a portion of their compensation; and (vii) certain “Salary
Continuation Plans” and “Change in Control Agreements” entered into with
employees of Vision Bank, all of which provide for severance-type
benefits.
The
Compensation Committee concluded that: (i) the annual incentive plan
does not create incentives for Senior Executive Officers or other employees to
take unnecessary and excessive risks because the amount of any payments is both
discretionary and based on comparative performance, factors over which employees
have little control; (ii) the 2005 Incentive Stock Option Plan does not create
incentives for Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary
and excessive risks because incentive stock options are intended to create a
link to long-term value creation and the common shares of Park acquired upon
exercise of an incentive stock option are generally required to be held for five
years; (iii) the miscellaneous incentive plans do not create incentives for
Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary and excessive
risks because the amounts payable under these informal arrangements are not a
material element of compensation; and (iv) none of the other plans create
incentives for Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary
and excessive risks because the amounts payable under these plans are not
contingent on Park’s financial or other performance.
Earnings
Analysis
The
Compensation Committee reviewed each Employee Compensation Plan to determine
whether the Employee Compensation Plan includes features that would encourage
the manipulation of Park’s reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any
employee. The Compensation Committee limited its review to Park’s
annual incentive plan and miscellaneous incentive plans, which are the only
Employee Compensation Plans under which the amount payable is based, directly or
indirectly, on Park’s reported earnings.
The
Compensation Committee concluded that: (i) the annual incentive plan
does not contain features that would encourage the manipulation of Park’s
reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any employees because the
amount of any payments is discretionary and based on comparative performance,
factors over which employees have little control; and (ii) the miscellaneous
incentive plans do not contain features that would encourage the manipulation of
Park’s reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any employees because
the amounts payable under these informal arrangements are not a material element
of compensation.
|
Submitted
by the members of the Compensation
|
|
Committee:
|
|
|
|
F.
William Englefield (Chair)
|
|
John
J. O’Neill
|
|
Leon
Zazworsky
|
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table summarizes the total compensation awarded or paid to, or earned
by, each of the NEOs for each of the 2010 fiscal year, the 2009 fiscal year and
the 2008 fiscal year. Dollar amounts have been rounded up to the
nearest whole dollar. Park has not entered into an employment
agreement with any of its executive officers. No option awards or
stock awards were made to the NEOs for the 2010 fiscal year, the 2009 fiscal
year or the 2008 fiscal year.
In the
2010 fiscal year, base salary represented approximately 73%, 82% and 82% of the
total compensation for Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Trautman and Mr. Kozak,
respectively. In the 2009 fiscal year, base salary represented
approximately 68%, 78% and 80% of the total compensation for Mr. DeLawder,
Mr. Trautman and Mr. Kozak, respectively. Under the provisions
of ARRA and the Interim Final Rule, Park was prohibited from paying or accruing
any bonus, retention award or incentive compensation to Messrs. DeLawder,
Trautman and Kozak in respect of each of the 2010 fiscal year and the 2009
fiscal year.
In the
2008 fiscal year, base salary represented approximately 46%, 47% and 43% of the
total compensation for Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Trautman and Mr. Kozak, respectively,
and the bonus (under Park’s incentive compensation plan) was approximately 29%,
38% and 40% of the total compensation for Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Trautman and Mr.
Kozak, respectively.
Summary
Compensation Table for 2010
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($) (1)
|
|
|
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(2)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder
|
|
2010
|
|
$ |
773,525 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
272,913 |
|
|
$ |
20,289 |
(4) |
|
$ |
1,066,727 |
|
Chairman
of the Board and
|
|
2009
|
|
$ |
473,525 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
207,694 |
|
|
$ |
15,369 |
(5) |
|
$ |
696,588 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer of Park and Park National Bank
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
473,525 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
(3) |
|
$ |
238,593 |
|
|
$ |
20,776 |
(6) |
|
$ |
1,032,884 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
L. Trautman
|
|
2010
|
|
$ |
563,250 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
115,777 |
|
|
$ |
10,271 |
(7) |
|
$ |
689,298 |
|
President
and Secretary of
|
|
2009
|
|
$ |
313,250 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
77,372 |
|
|
$ |
11,009 |
(8) |
|
$ |
401,631 |
|
Park
and President of Park National Bank
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
313,250 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
(3) |
|
$ |
85,612 |
|
|
$ |
17,506 |
(9) |
|
$ |
666,368 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
W. Kozak
|
|
2010
|
|
$ |
414,455 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
85,645 |
|
|
$ |
5,177 |
(10) |
|
$ |
505,277 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer of
|
|
2009
|
|
$ |
214,455 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
45,957 |
|
|
$ |
6,902 |
(11) |
|
$ |
267,314 |
|
Park
and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Park National
Bank
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
214,455 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
(3) |
|
$ |
75,834 |
|
|
$ |
6,904 |
(12) |
|
$ |
497,193 |
|
(1) The
amounts shown for the 2008 fiscal year reflect the amounts earned in respect of
performance for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2008 under Park’s
incentive compensation plan.
(2) The
amounts shown reflect the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the
NEO’s accumulated benefits under the Park Pension Plan and the SERP (and each
individual’s SERP Agreement as in effect during the applicable fiscal year),
determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with
those used in Park’s consolidated financial statements. The benefits
to be provided under the Park Pension Plan and the SERP (and the related SERP
Agreements) are more fully described under the heading “Post-Employment Payments and
Benefits” beginning on page ___.
(3) On
January 23, 2009, the Compensation Committee determined that the amounts
earned by Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak under Park’s incentive
compensation plan in respect of performance for the twelve-month period ended
September 30, 2008, should remain the same as for the twelve-month period
ended September 30, 2007. Under the terms of ARRA prohibiting,
except in limited circumstances, the payment or accrual of any bonus, retention
award or incentive compensation with respect to Park’s five most
highly-compensated employees (the “Incentive Compensation Payment Prohibition”),
it was unclear whether Park would be permitted to pay the incentive compensation
awards to Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak for the twelve-month period ended
September 30, 2008. The Interim Final Rule clarified the “valid
employment contract” exception to the Incentive Compensation Payment Prohibition
such that the specific circumstances underlying the computation and
determination, and subsequent payment to Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak,
of the incentive compensation awards for the twelve-month period ended
September 30, 2008 fall within the scope of the “valid employment contract”
exception. Accordingly, on July 20, 2009, the Compensation
Committee took action to authorize the payment of the incentive compensation
awards for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2008 to Messrs.
DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak as shown in this column for 2008.
|
(4)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$3,881,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy
maintained on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$4,125,
representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. DeLawder’s behalf to
match his 2010 pre-tax elective deferral
contributions;
|
|
·
|
$3,343,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy which
funds his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect
during the 2010 fiscal year); and
|
|
·
|
$8,940,
representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile
allowance received by Mr. DeLawder during the 2010 fiscal
year.
|
|
(5)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$3,518,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy
maintained on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$2,911,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy which
funds his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect
during the 2009 fiscal year); and
|
|
·
|
$8,940,
representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile
allowance received by Mr. DeLawder during the 2009 fiscal
year.
|
|
(6)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$3,174,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy
maintained on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$5,990,
representing the final contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. DeLawder’s
behalf to match his 2008 pre-tax elective deferral
contributions. Of the $7,078 matching contribution which had
been reported in the Summary Compensation Table for 2008 included in
Park’s proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on
April 20, 2009 (“Park’s 2009 Proxy Statement”), $1,088 was forfeited
in 2009 in conjunction with the partial refund of Mr. DeLawder’s pre-tax
elective deferral contribution as required to satisfy compliance tests
applicable to the Park KSOP;
|
|
·
|
$2,662,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy which
funds his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect
during the 2008 fiscal year); and
|
|
·
|
$8,940,
representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile
allowance received by Mr. DeLawder during the 2008 fiscal
year.
|
|
(7)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$851,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy
maintained on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$480,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy which
funds his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect
during the 2010 fiscal year); and
|
|
·
|
$8,940,
representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile allowance
received by Mr. Trautman during the 2010 fiscal
year.
|
|
(8)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$775,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy
maintained on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$1,294,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect during the
2009 fiscal year); and
|
|
·
|
$8,940,
representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile
allowance received by Mr. Trautman during the 2009 fiscal
year.
|
|
(9)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$712,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy
maintained on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$6,662,
representing the final contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Trautman’s
behalf to match his 2008 pre-tax elective deferral
contributions. Of the $7,750 matching contribution which had
been reported in the Summary Compensation Table for 2008 included in
Park’s 2009 Proxy Statement, $1,088 was forfeited in 2009 in conjunction
with the partial refund of Mr. Trautman’s pre-tax elective deferral
contribution as required to satisfy compliance tests applicable to the
Park KSOP;
|
|
·
|
$1,192,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect during the
2008 fiscal year); and
|
|
·
|
$8,940,
representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile
allowance received by Mr. Trautman during the 2008 fiscal
year.
|
|
(10)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$1,012,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$4,125,
representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Kozak’s behalf
to match his 2010 pre-tax elective deferral contributions;
and
|
|
·
|
$40,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect during the
2010 fiscal year).
|
|
(11)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$944,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$5,923,
representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Kozak’s behalf
to match his 2009 pre-tax elective deferral contributions;
and
|
|
·
|
$35,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect during the
2009 fiscal year).
|
|
(12)
|
The
amount shown reflects:
|
|
·
|
$884,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National
Bank;
|
|
·
|
$5,990,
representing the final contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Kozak’s
behalf to match his 2008 pre-tax elective deferral
contributions. Of the $7,078 matching contribution which had
been reported in the Summary Compensation Table for 2008 included in
Park’s 2009 Proxy Statement, $1,088 was forfeited in 2009 in conjunction
with the partial refund of Mr. Kozak’s pre-tax elective deferral
contribution as required to satisfy compliance tests applicable to the
Park KSOP; and
|
|
·
|
$30,
representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on behalf
of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his SERP Agreement as in effect during the
2008 fiscal year).
|
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards
No
incentive stock options were granted to any of the NEOs during the 2010 fiscal
year.
Park does
not maintain any non-equity incentive plans or equity incentive plans as those
terms are defined under Item 402(a)(6) of SEC Regulation S-K.
Outstanding
Incentive Stock Options at Fiscal Year-End
None of
the NEOs held unexercised incentive stock options at the end of the 2010 fiscal
year. Park has never granted any other form of equity-based award to
the NEOs.
Exercises
of Incentive Stock Options
None of
the NEOs exercised any incentive stock options during the 2010 fiscal
year. Park has never granted any other form of equity-based award to
the NEOs.
Post-Employment
Payments and Benefits
Pension
and Supplemental Benefits
Park
Pension Plan
The Park
Pension Plan covers employees of Park’s subsidiaries who have attained age 21
and completed one year of service. Under the Park Pension Plan,
annual benefits are paid in monthly installments for life with 120 months of
payments guaranteed. For purposes of the Park Pension Plan, an
employee’s “normal retirement date” is the earlier of the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the employee reaching age 70 1/2 or the
employee reaching age 65 and completing five years of service.
The
amount of annual “normal retirement benefit” to be paid in monthly installments
to an eligible employee is the greater of:
|
·
|
29%
of the average monthly compensation of the employee reduced for expected
years of service at normal retirement less than 25;
or
|
|
·
|
29%
of the average monthly compensation plus 16% of the average monthly
compensation in excess of one-twelfth of covered compensation reduced for
expected years of service at normal retirement less than
35.
|
The
average monthly compensation of an employee is calculated by averaging the
highest five consecutive calendar years of compensation as reported on the
employee’s Forms W-2 during the ten calendar years preceding the date of
determination. Base salary and incentive compensation, including
elective deferral contributions, are included in calculating an employee’s
monthly compensation for purposes of the Park Pension Plan.
In
addition, the employees of certain of our subsidiary banks (and their respective
divisions) participated in pension plans maintained for their benefit prior to
the bank’s being acquired by Park and the merger of the bank’s pension plan into
the Park Pension Plan. Benefits under the Park Pension Plan cannot be
less than the sum of the benefit provided under the merged pension plan and the
Park Pension Plan based on years of service since the date of merger of the two
plans.
Applicable
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code currently limit the amount of annual
compensation used to determine plan benefits under a defined benefit pension
plan, such as the Park Pension Plan, and the amount of plan benefits payable
annually under such a plan. Total compensation in excess of the limit
will not be taken into account for benefit calculation purposes. The
average of the maximum annual total compensation which may be used in
determining plan benefits under qualified defined benefit plans for the past
five years is $233,000. The 2010 monthly rate of total compensation
used to determine benefits was limited to $20,417 per month, which is the
equivalent of an annual total compensation of $245,000.
If an
employee elects to retire after completing ten years of service and reaching 55
years of age, the employee may receive a monthly benefit for life with 120
months of payments guaranteed beginning at his or her normal retirement date
equal to the “accrued benefit” at the early retirement
date. Payments to the employee may begin immediately, with the
benefit being reduced one fifteenth (1/15th) for the first five years and one
thirtieth (1/30th) for the next five years. For purposes of the
Park Pension Plan, the “accrued benefit” at any time prior to an employee’s
normal retirement date is the normal retirement benefit as described above
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the employee’s total years
of service as of the date of determination and the denominator of which is the
employee’s expected years of service at normal retirement.
An
employee may continue employment with Park and/or one of our subsidiaries after
his or her normal retirement date. In such an event, the employee
will receive the benefit he or she would have received on his or her normal
retirement date actuarially increased to reflect delayed
payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the benefit received by such
an employee will not be less than the benefit accrued at delayed retirement
reflecting service and compensation to such date.
Upon the
termination of employment after five or more years, an employee has a vested
interest in his or her accrued benefit which will be payable on the normal
retirement date. An employee will have no vested interest if he or
she terminates employment after less than five years of service with Park and/or
one of our subsidiaries. An employee who terminates employment with
ten or more years of service with Park and/or one of our subsidiaries may elect
to receive his or her vested interest as early as age 55.
If an
employee becomes totally and permanently disabled prior to his or her normal
retirement date and retires after being determined to be disabled by the
Compensation Committee for at least six months, he or she will receive a
disability retirement benefit equal to his or her “accrued benefit” at
disability reduced actuarially for payment preceding normal
retirement.
In the
event of a married employee’s death after the completion of five years of
service, but prior to meeting the eligibility requirements for early retirement,
the participant will be assumed to have terminated employment the day before his
or her death, survived to his or her early retirement date, elected a joint and
one-half survivor benefit, and passed away the following day. If an
unmarried employee dies prior to the early retirement age, the survivor annuity
will be 50% of the 10-year certain and life annuity payable to such employee if
such employee had terminated employment one day prior to his or her
death.
In the
event of a married employee’s death after meeting the requirements for early
retirement, his or her surviving spouse will receive one-half of the joint and
one-half survivor benefit calculated on the day before his or her
death. If an unmarried employee or unmarried “inactive” employee dies
on or after the early retirement age, the survivor annuity will be computed as
if he or she started receiving a 10-year certain and life annuity on the day
before his or her death.
For a
vested terminated employee, death benefits are calculated the same as for active
employees, but based on the employee’s accrued benefit at his or her termination
date.
An
eligible employee of Park and/or one of our subsidiaries may opt to receive his
or her benefits pursuant to the following methods of settlement that are
actuarially equivalent to the normal form of annuity:
|
·
|
a
benefit to be paid during the employee’s lifetime with one-half of the
benefit to be continued to be paid to the employee’s spouse for his or her
lifetime after the employee’s
death;
|
|
·
|
a
benefit to be paid during the employee’s lifetime with three-fourths of
the benefit to be continued to be paid to the employee’s spouse for his or
her lifetime after the employee’s
death;
|
|
·
|
a
benefit to be paid during the employee’s lifetime with a percentage of the
benefit or the same benefit to be continued to be paid to the employee’s
spouse for his or her lifetime after the employee’s
death;
|
|
·
|
a
benefit payable in equal installments during the employee’s
lifetime;
|
|
·
|
a
benefit to be paid for 120 months certain and thereafter for life;
or
|
|
·
|
an
unlimited lump-sum settlement for retirees and a lump-sum settlement under
$5,000 for vested employees who have not yet retained retirement
age.
|
It is not
possible for an employee’s years of service under the Park Pension Plan to
exceed the employee’s actual years of service with Park and/or our
subsidiaries.
Supplemental
Executive Retirement Benefits
The NEOs
receive additional benefits under the SERP arrangements generally to the degree
their projected benefits from the Park Pension Plan and Park’s contributions
under the Park KSOP and Social Security benefits are less than 40% of their
projected annual compensation (salary and bonus) at age 62.
Park or
one of our subsidiaries purchased split dollar life insurance policies in order
to fund the obligations under the SERP arrangements. Generally, these
policies provide a benefit equal to the benefit a SERP participant would have
been paid if the SERP participant had not died before age 84. Thus,
the policies provide no additional benefit to the NEOs but help Park and our
subsidiaries meet their commitments to them.
Executives
with SERP arrangements forfeit their benefits if they terminate their employment
with Park prior to age 62, strengthening the retention aspects of this
program. However, an individual can receive a partial benefit if his
or her termination is related to a substantial disability or a full benefit if
there is a change in control of Park.
The SERP
arrangements have demanding repayment and forfeiture provisions associated with
them. Park can recoup SERP benefits that have already been paid if
Park determines there was cause to terminate a SERP participant prior to the
SERP participant receiving benefits. Moreover, a SERP participant
would forfeit the right to future benefits in such a situation. In
addition, SERP participants forfeit their rights to future benefits if they
violate certain non-competition, non-solicitation of customers and
non-solicitation of employees covenants during a period of 12 months following
their separation from service with Park and our subsidiaries. As a
result, while the SERP arrangements provide NEOs with additional retirement
benefits, they also offer important protections to Park, which the Compensation
Committee sees as reasonable.
The
Interim Final Rule prohibits Park from making any golden parachute payments to
Park’s Senior Executive Officers. For purposes of the Interim Final
Rule, SERP payments to Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak would be considered
payments for services performed or benefits accrued and not golden parachute
payments. Under the Interim Final Rule, a payment is considered to be
for services performed or benefits accrued, which includes payments from a
benefit plan or deferred compensation plan, if: (i) the plan was in effect for
at least one year prior to the employee’s departure; (ii) payment is made
pursuant to the plan as in effect no later than one year before the departure
and in accordance with any amendments during this one-year period that do not
increase the benefits payable; (iii) the employee had a vested right to payment
at the time of the departure or the change in control; (iv) benefits were
accrued each period only for current or prior services rendered; (v) payment was
not based on any discretionary acceleration of vesting or accrual of benefits
occurring later than one year before the departure or the change in control
event; and (vi) Park has recognized a compensation expense and accrued a
liability for benefit payments according to United States generally accepted
accounting principles or segregated or otherwise set aside assets in a trust for
payment of benefits. In this case, any payments made under the SERP
in 2010 would have satisfied these requirements and, accordingly, would not be
subject to the prohibition on golden parachute payments. Park and each of the
NEOs entered into a letter agreement in which the NEO agreed to amend the
compensation and benefit plans of Park in which the NEO participates, including
the SERP, to the extent necessary to give effect to the prohibition on golden
parachute payments.
Pension
Benefits for 2010
The
following table shows the actuarial present value of each NEO’s accumulated
benefit, including the number of years of service credited to each NEO, under
each of the Park Pension Plan and the SERP (and each NEO’s SERP Agreement as in
effect during the 2010 fiscal year), determined using interest rate and
mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in Park’s consolidated
financial statements and summarized in Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements located on pages ___ and ___ of Park’s 2010 Annual
Report.
Pension
Benefits for 2010
Name
|
|
Plan Name
|
|
Number of
Years Credited
Service
(#)
|
|
|
Present Value
of Accumulated
Benefit
($)
|
|
|
Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year
($)
|
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder
|
|
Park
Pension Plan (1)
|
|
40
|
|
|
$ |
784,780 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
14
|
|
|
$ |
1,137,851 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
L. Trautman
|
|
Park
Pension Plan
|
|
27
|
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
3
|
|
|
$ |
149,607 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
W. Kozak
|
|
Park
Pension Plan (2)
|
|
31
|
|
|
$ |
433,899 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
14
|
|
|
$ |
18,429 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
(1) Mr.
DeLawder is eligible for early retirement under the Park Pension
Plan. The present value of his early retirement benefit was $797,284
at December 31, 2010. This value increased by $130,916 during the
2010 fiscal year.
(2) Mr. Kozak
is eligible for early retirement under the Park Pension Plan. The
present value of his early retirement benefit was $465,983 at December 31,
2010. Mr. Kozak was not eligible for early retirement prior to
the 2010 fiscal year.
Potential
Payouts upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control
Supplemental
Executive Retirement Benefits
The
provisions of the SERP arrangements addressing the impact of a change of control
and the subsequent termination of an individual covered thereby are described
under the heading “Post-Employment Payments and Benefits
– Pension and
Supplemental Benefits –
Supplemental Retirement
Benefits” beginning on page ___.
Other
Potential Payouts
Regardless
of the manner in which an NEO’s employment terminates, he is entitled to receive
amounts earned during his term of employment. Such amounts would
include:
|
·
|
the
balance of the NEO’s account under the Park
KSOP;
|
|
·
|
unused
vacation pay; and
|
|
·
|
amounts
accrued and vested under the Park Pension Plan paid in accordance with the
terms of the Park Pension Plan, as discussed in more detail beginning on
page ___ under the heading “Post-Employment Payments and
Benefits — Pension and
Supplemental Benefits — Park Pension
Plan.”
|
If an NEO
retires after reaching age 55, in addition to the items identified in the
preceding paragraph, the NEO will be entitled to receive a lump-sum payment of
the present value of the benefit to which he would have been entitled under the
Park Pension Plan, as discussed in more detail beginning on page ___ under
the heading “Post-Employment Payments and Benefits
— Pension and
Supplemental Benefits — Park Pension
Plan.”
If an NEO
retires after reaching age 62, in addition to the items identified in the
preceding paragraphs, the NEO will receive:
|
·
|
the
supplemental executive retirement benefits discussed beginning on
page ___ under the heading “Post-Employment Payments and
Benefits – Pension and
Supplemental Benefits – Supplemental Retirement
Benefits”;
and
|
|
·
|
continued
coverage under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on his
behalf by Park National Bank, as discussed in more detail beginning on
page ___ under the heading “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis – Elements of
Compensation for 2010 – Other
Benefits”.
|
In the
event of the death or disability of an NEO, in addition to the benefits
identified in the preceding paragraph(s), the NEO or his beneficiary, as
appropriate, will receive:
|
·
|
benefits
under Park’s disability insurance plan;
and
|
|
·
|
his
share of the proceeds under the split-dollar life insurance policy
maintained on his behalf by Park National Bank, as discussed in more
detail beginning on page ___ under the heading “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis – Elements of
Compensation for 2010 – Other
Benefits”.
|
The
following table summarizes payments which would have been made to the NEOs if a
retirement or termination event had occurred on December 31,
2010. Actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the
time of an NEO’s actual separation from service with Park.
|
|
Voluntary
Termination
on
12/31/10
|
|
|
Early
Retirement
on
12/31/10
|
|
|
Normal
Retirement
on
12/31/10
|
|
|
Involuntary Not
for Cause
Termination
on
12/31/10
|
|
|
For Cause
Termination
on
12/31/10
|
|
|
Disability
on
12/31/10
|
|
|
Death
on
12/31/10
|
|
C.
Daniel DeLawder
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Park
KSOP
|
|
$ |
1,043,967 |
|
|
$ |
1,043,967 |
|
|
$ |
1,043,967 |
|
|
$ |
1,043,967 |
|
|
$ |
1,043,967 |
|
|
$ |
1,043,967 |
|
|
$ |
1,043,967 |
|
Park
Pension Plan (1)
|
|
$ |
797,284 |
|
|
$ |
797,284 |
|
|
$ |
797,284 |
|
|
$ |
797,284 |
|
|
$ |
797,284 |
|
|
$ |
797,284 |
|
|
$ |
797,284 |
|
SERP
- Life Insurance
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
2,422,714 |
|
Split-Dollar
Life Insurance
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
1,911,980 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
1,841,251 |
|
|
$ |
1,841,251 |
|
|
$ |
1,841,251 |
|
|
$ |
1,841,251 |
|
|
$ |
1,841,251 |
|
|
$ |
1,841,251 |
|
|
$ |
6,175,945 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
L. Trautman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Park
KSOP
|
|
$ |
564,049 |
|
|
$ |
564,049 |
|
|
$ |
564,049 |
|
|
$ |
564,049 |
|
|
$ |
564,049 |
|
|
$ |
564,049 |
|
|
$ |
564,049 |
|
Park
Pension Plan (1)
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
|
$ |
278,645 |
|
SERP
– Life Insurance
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
1,342,000 |
|
Split-Dollar
Life Insurance
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
1,270,880 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
842,694 |
|
|
$ |
842,694 |
|
|
$ |
842,694 |
|
|
$ |
842,694 |
|
|
$ |
842,694 |
|
|
$ |
842,694 |
|
|
$ |
3,455,574 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
W. Kozak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Park
KSOP
|
|
$ |
402,834 |
|
|
$ |
402,834 |
|
|
$ |
402,834 |
|
|
$ |
402,834 |
|
|
$ |
402,834 |
|
|
$ |
402,834 |
|
|
$ |
402,834 |
|
Park
Pension Plan (1)
|
|
$ |
465,983 |
|
|
$ |
465,983 |
|
|
$ |
465,983 |
|
|
$ |
465,983 |
|
|
$ |
465,983 |
|
|
$ |
465,983 |
|
|
$ |
465,983 |
|
SERP
– Life Insurance
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
40,702 |
|
Split-Dollar
Life Insurance
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
$ |
857,820 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
868,817 |
|
|
$ |
868,817 |
|
|
$ |
868,817 |
|
|
$ |
868,817 |
|
|
$ |
868,817 |
|
|
$ |
868,817 |
|
|
$ |
1,767,339 |
|
(1) Reflects
the estimated lump-sum present value of the benefits to which the NEO would be
entitled under the Park Pension Plan.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
Park uses
a combination of cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain
qualified candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. To align the
interests of Park’s directors and shareholders, Park’s Regulations require that
all directors of Park be shareholders. Park does not have a
requirement which addresses the number of common shares that need to be retained
by directors.
Annual
Retainers and Meeting Fees
Each
director of Park who is not an employee of Park or one of our subsidiaries (a
“non-employee director”) currently receives, on the date of the regular meeting
of the Park Board of Directors held during the fourth fiscal quarter, an annual
retainer in the form of 120 common shares awarded under the Park National
Corporation Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Park National Corporation
and Subsidiaries (the “Directors’ Stock Plan”). Each non-employee
director receives $1,000 for each meeting of the Park Board of Directors
attended and $400 for each meeting of a committee of the Park Board of Directors
attended. If the date of a meeting of the full Board of Directors is
changed from that provided for by resolution of the Board and a non-employee
director is not able to attend the rescheduled meeting, he or she receives the
meeting fee as though he or she attended the meeting. In addition,
each member of the Executive Committee of the Park Board of Directors receives a
$2,500 annual cash retainer and each member of the Audit Committee of the Park
Board of Directors (other than the Chair) receives a $2,000 annual cash
retainer. The Chair of the Audit Committee receives a $5,000 annual
cash retainer.
Each
non-employee director of Park also serves on the board of directors of either
Park National Bank or one of the divisions of Park National Bank, and receives,
on the date of the regular meeting of the Park Board of Directors held during
the fourth fiscal quarter, an annual retainer in the form of 60 common shares of
Park awarded under the Directors’ Stock Plan and, in some cases, a specified
amount of cash for such service as well as fees for attendance at meetings of
the board of directors of Park National Bank or the applicable division of Park
National Bank (and committees of the respective boards).
In
addition to the annual retainers and meeting fees discussed above, non-employee
directors also receive reimbursement of all reasonable travel and other expenses
of attending board and committee meetings.
C. Daniel
DeLawder, Harry O. Egger, William T. McConnell, William A.
Phillips and David L. Trautman receive no compensation
for: (i) serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Park;
(ii) serving as a member of Park National Bank or one of its divisions; or
(iii) serving as a member of any committee of the respective
boards.
Split-Dollar
Life Insurance Policies
Effective
as of December 28, 2007, Maureen Buchwald, James J. Cullers, F.
William Englefield IV, John J. O’Neill, J. Gilbert Reese, Rick R. Taylor and
Leon Zazworsky entered into split-dollar agreements (the “Split-Dollar
Agreements”) which amended and restated the split-dollar agreements to which
they had been parties. The Split-Dollar Agreements are intended to
comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code.
Under the
terms of each Split-Dollar Agreement, Park National Bank owns the life insurance
policy to which the Split-Dollar Agreement relates. Each individual party to a
Split-Dollar Agreement has the right to designate the beneficiary(ies) to whom a
portion of the death proceeds of the policy are to be paid in accordance with
the terms of the Split-Dollar Agreement. Upon the death of the individual, his
or her beneficiary(ies) will be entitled to an amount equal to the lesser of (i)
$100,000 or (ii) 100% of the difference between the total death proceeds
under the policy and the cash surrender value of the policy (such difference
being referred to as the “Net at Risk Amount”). In no event will the amount
payable to an individual’s beneficiary(ies) exceed the Net at Risk Amount in the
policy as of the date of the individual’s death. Park National Bank will be
entitled to any death proceeds payable under the policy remaining after payment
to the individual’s beneficiary(ies).
Park
National Bank maintains split-dollar life insurance policies on behalf of
C. Daniel DeLawder, William T. McConnell and David L. Trautman,
in their respective capacities as executive officers (and, in the case of Mr.
McConnell, a former executive officer) of Park National Bank. Park
National Bank also maintains a split-dollar life insurance policy on behalf of
William A. Phillips in his capacity as a former executive officer of the
Century National Bank Division. Park National Bank will receive
proceeds under each policy in an amount equal to the premiums paid up to the
date of death plus earnings accrued in respect of the policy since the inception
of the policy. Each of Messrs. DeLawder, McConnell, Phillips and
Trautman has the right to designate the beneficiary to whom his share of the
proceeds under the policy (approximately two times his highest annual total
compensation during his employment with Park National Bank or the Century
National Bank Division, as appropriate) is to be paid. Each policy
remains in effect following the covered individual’s retirement as long as the
covered individual is fully vested in the Park Pension Plan, has reached age 62,
has not been employed by another financial services firm and was not terminated
for cause. If Mr. DeLawder’s share of the proceeds under his
policy were computed as of December 31, 2010, his share would have been
$1,911,980. If Mr. McConnell’s share of the proceeds under his
policy were computed as of December 31, 2010, his share would have been
$1,455,000. If Mr. Phillips’ share of the proceeds under his
policy were computed as of December 31, 2010, his share would have been
$304,301. If Mr. Trautman’s share of the proceeds under his
policy were computed as of December 31, 2010, his share would have been
$1,270,880.
Park
National Bank maintains a split-dollar life insurance policy on behalf of
Mr. Egger, in his capacity as a former executive officer of the Security
National Bank Division. Park National Bank will receive proceeds
under the policy in an amount equal to the premiums paid up to the date of death
plus earnings accrued in respect of the policy since the inception of the
policy. Mr. Egger has the right to designate the beneficiary to
whom his share of the proceeds under the policy (approximately three and
one-half times his highest annual total compensation during his employment with
the Security National Bank Division or $1,597,341) is to be
paid. Mr. Egger’s policy remained in effect following his
retirement as an executive officer of the Security National Bank Division on
March 31, 2003.
Change
in Control Payments
None of
the current directors of Park is entitled to payment of any benefits upon a
change in control of Park.
Other
Compensation
C. Daniel
DeLawder and David L. Trautman
C. Daniel
DeLawder and David L. Trautman currently serve as executive officers of
Park and of Park National Bank. Please see the discussion of their
compensation as executive officers under the heading “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION”
beginning on page ___.
William T.
McConnell and William A. Phillips
William
T. McConnell is employed by Park National Bank in a non-executive officer
capacity. In such capacity, he received the amount of $33,000 during
the 2010 fiscal year. William A. Phillips is employed by the
Century National Bank Division in a non-executive officer
capacity. In such capacity, he received the amount of $33,000 during
the 2010 fiscal year. Each of Messrs. McConnell and Phillips is
eligible to participate in the employee benefit programs maintained by Park and
Park National Bank (and its divisions), including medical, dental and disability
insurance plans, on the same terms as all other employees of Park and Park
National Bank (and its divisions). Messrs. McConnell and Phillips no
longer participate in the Park Pension Plan. In 1998, each received a
lump sum distribution in respect of the benefits payable to him in accordance
with the terms of the Park Pension Plan, after reaching age 65. Mr.
McConnell has participated in the SERP and has been receiving an annual targeted
benefit of $53,200. Mr. Phillips does not participate in the
SERP. Each of Messrs. McConnell and Phillips continues to participate
in the Park KSOP.
Harry O.
Egger
Since
July 1, 2009, Harry O. Egger has been employed by the Security
National Bank Division in a non-executive officer capacity. In such
capacity, he received the amount of $33,000 during the 2010 fiscal
year. Mr. Egger is eligible to participate in the employee
benefit programs maintained by Park and Park National Bank (and its divisions),
including medical, dental and disability insurance plans, on the same terms as
all other employees of Park and Park National Bank (and its
divisions). Although Mr. Egger is also eligible to participate
in the Park KSOP, he made no elective deferral contributions during the 2010
fiscal year.
Since
March 31, 2003, Mr. Egger has received and will continue to receive a
monthly pension benefit under the Park Pension Plan of $6,318.86. In
addition, under the provisions of his employment agreement with Security
National Bank Division (the term of which ended March 31, 2003),
Mr. Egger receives an annual supplemental retirement benefit in the amount
of $153,320, which he will be paid for the remainder of his life.
Director
Compensation for 2010
The
following table summarizes the compensation paid by Park to each individual who
served as a non-executive officer director of Park during the 2010 fiscal year
for service on the Board of Directors of Park and the board of directors of Park
National Bank or a division of Park National Bank. Dollar amounts
have been rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.
Director
Compensation for 2010
Name (1)
|
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock Awards
($) (2)
|
|
|
Change in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Maureen
Buchwald
|
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,849 |
(3) |
|
|
29,380 |
|
James
J. Cullers
|
|
|
14,350 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,095 |
(3) |
|
|
27,976 |
|
Harry
O. Egger
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,892 |
(4) |
|
|
40,124 |
(5) |
|
|
47,016 |
|
F.
William Englefield IV
|
|
|
26,300 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
175 |
(3) |
|
|
38,006 |
|
Stephen
J. Kambeitz
|
|
|
19,600 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
31,131 |
|
William
T. McConnell
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
51,541 |
(6) |
|
|
51,541 |
|
Timothy
S. McLain
|
|
|
18,500 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
30,031 |
|
John
J. O’Neill
|
|
|
21,300 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
14,430 |
(3) |
|
|
47,261 |
|
William
A. Phillips
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
39,417 |
(7) |
|
|
39,417 |
|
Rick
R. Taylor
|
|
|
11,600 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
314 |
(3) |
|
|
23,445 |
|
Sarah
Reese Wallace
|
|
|
10,600 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
22,131 |
|
Leon
Zazworsky
|
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
284 |
(3) |
|
|
44,815 |
|
(1) C.
Daniel DeLawder, Park’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and
David L. Trautman, Park’s President and Secretary, are not included in this
table as they are executive officers of Park and Park National Bank and thus
receive no compensation for their services as directors. The
compensation received by Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman as executive officers of
Park and Park National Bank is shown in the Summary Compensation Table for 2010
on page ___.
(2) Represents
the closing price of Park’s common shares on NYSE Amex on October 18, 2010
($64.06) times the number of common shares granted on that date in the form of
an annual retainer under the Directors’ Stock Plan. This amount also
represents the grant date fair value of the common shares awarded computed in
accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The following individuals
received 180 common shares of Park as an annual retainer: Maureen
Buchwald; James J. Cullers; F. William Englefield IV; Stephen J. Kambeitz;
Timothy S. McLain; John J. O’Neill; Rick R. Taylor; Sarah Reese Wallace; and
Leon Zazworsky.
(3) Reflects
the amount of premium deemed to have been paid on behalf of the named individual
under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on his or her
behalf.
(4) During
the 2010 fiscal year, earnings in the amount of $6,892 were accrued in respect
of the cumulative amount which has been deferred for Mr. Egger’s account under
the Security National Bank and Trust Co. Second Amended and Restated 1988
Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Security Deferred Compensation
Plan”). The proceeds of Mr. Egger’s deferred compensation account
will be distributed to him in cash upon the termination of his service on the
Board of Directors of the Security National Bank Division. As of
December 31, 2010, the cumulative amount accrued for Mr. Egger’s account under
the Security Deferred Compensation Plan was $817,716.
The
aggregate change in the actuarial present value of Mr. Egger’s accumulated
benefits under the Park Pension Plan and the terms of his employment agreement
providing for an annual supplemental retirement benefit, determined using
interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those in Park’s
consolidated financial statements, increased by $11,641 during the 2010 fiscal
year. During the 2010 fiscal year, Mr. Egger received pension
benefits under the Park Pension Plan in the aggregate amount of $75,826 and a
supplemental retirement benefit under the terms of his employment agreement in
the amount of $153,320, which amounts are not included in the amounts shown in
this table since these benefits were earned in his capacity as an employee of
the Security National Bank Division.
(5) Represents
the sum of: (i) $7,124, reflecting the amount of premium deemed to
have been paid on behalf of Mr. Egger under the split-dollar life insurance
policy maintained on his behalf by the Security National Bank Division; and (ii)
$33,000, reflecting the amount he received in his capacity as a non-executive
officer employee of the Security National Bank Division during the 2010 fiscal
year.
(6) Represents
the sum of: (i) $11,902, reflecting the amount of premium deemed to
have been paid on behalf of Mr. McConnell under the split-dollar life insurance
policy maintained on his behalf by Park National Bank; (ii) $4,576, reflecting
the amount of premium deemed to have been paid on behalf of Mr. McConnell under
the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds his account under the SERP
(and his SERP Agreement); (iii) $33,000, reflecting the amount he received in
his capacity as a non-executive officer employee of Park National Bank during
the 2010 fiscal year; and (iv) $2,063, representing the contribution to the
Park KSOP on Mr. McConnell’s behalf to match his 2010 pre-tax elective deferral
contributions. During the 2010 fiscal year, Mr. McConnell received an
annual targeted benefit under his SERP Agreement of $53,200, which amount is not
included in the amounts shown in this table since this benefit was earned in his
capacity as executive officer and employee of Park and Park National Bank prior
to reaching age 62.
(7) Represents
the sum of: (i) $5,180, reflecting the amount of premium deemed to
have been paid on behalf of Mr. Phillips under the split-dollar life insurance
policy maintained on his behalf by Park National Bank; (ii) $33,000, reflecting
the amount he received in his capacity as a non-executive officer employee of
the Century National Bank Division during the 2010 fiscal year; and (iii)
$1,237, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Phillip’s behalf
to match his 2010 pre-tax elective deferral contributions.
PROPOSAL
3 – AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE SIXTH OF PARK’S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO
ELIMINATE PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
On
February 8, 2011, the Board of Directors adopted resolutions declaring it
advisable and in the best interests of Park and its shareholders that Article
SIXTH of Park’s Articles of Incorporation be amended in order to eliminate
preemptive rights and unanimously proposing and recommending to Park’s
shareholders that the proposed amendment be adopted. The proposed
amendment to Article SIXTH (the “Proposed Amendment”) is set forth below under
the caption “Proposed
Amendment”.
Description
of Preemptive Rights and Purpose of the Proposed Amendment
The Board
of Directors is recommending that shareholders vote “FOR” the
adoption of the proposed amendment because the Board believes that eliminating
preemptive rights will enable Park to raise capital more efficiently and with
fewer costs. At the same time, the Board of Directors believes that
the historical protection that preemptive rights offered to shareholders is not
necessary to protect the shareholders of a public company, such as Park, against
dilution of their voting power.
Under
Article SIXTH of Park’s Articles of Incorporation as currently in effect, the
holders of any class of Park shares have the preemptive right, upon the offering
or sale of any shares of the same class, to purchase such shares pro rata based
on their existing holdings at the price fixed for the sale of the shares, with
limited exemptions. Holders of Series A Preferred Shares do not,
however, have preemptive rights pursuant to the provisions included in
Annex A to Section I of Article FOURTH of Park’s Articles of
Incorporation. Holders of Park common shares do have preemptive
rights unless the common shares that are offered or sold are:
|
·
|
issued
as a share dividend or
distribution;
|
|
·
|
offered
or sold in connection with any merger or consolidation to which Park is a
party or any acquisition of, or investment in, another corporation,
partnership, proprietorship or other business entity or its assets by
Park, whether directly or indirectly, by any
means;
|
|
·
|
offered
or sold pursuant to the terms of a stock option plan or employee benefit,
compensation or incentive plan that has been approved by the holders of
three-fourths of the issued and outstanding shares of Park having the
authority to vote thereon; or
|
|
·
|
released
from preemptive rights by the affirmative vote or written consent of
holders of two-thirds of the shares entitled to preemptive
rights.
|
The Board
of Directors believes it is important to maintain maximum flexibility to raise
capital from any appropriate source. The primary effect of current
Article SIXTH is to restrict Park’s ability to utilize the most effective means
to raise equity capital in a timely and efficient manner. Park was
able to rely upon the exception from preemptive rights for the offering and sale
of treasury shares when it sold common shares in its capital raising activities
in 2009 and 2010. In each case, Park’s Board of Directors or the
Executive Committee of the Board approved the terms and conditions under which
the common shares were sold. As of February 25, 2011, the number of
common shares held by Park as treasury shares which are not already reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants or employee stock options was
__________.
The
elimination of preemptive rights will give Park greater flexibility in raising
additional capital if necessary and an enhanced ability to negotiate the most
favorable terms in light of the then prevailing circumstances and market
conditions. Park’s Board of Directors or the Executive Committee of
the Board must approve the terms and conditions under which any common shares
are sold by Park. However, it can be costly and time consuming to
notify each shareholder of the shareholder’s preemptive rights, and the process
can cause expensive delay in any stock issuance. Similarly, there
would be costs and delays associated with holding a meeting of the shareholders
for the purpose of releasing preemptive rights in respect of a proposed stock
issuance Given the size of Park’s shareholder base and the fact that
its common shares are publicly traded, the Board of Directors believes that
having preemptive rights in Park’s Articles of Incorporation prevents Park from
taking full advantage of the public trading markets and restricts Park’s ability
to raise capital in an efficient manner.
Preemptive
rights were originally developed in the United States during the 19th
century. However, during the 20th century, many public companies
abandoned these rights. In fact, in 2000, Section 1701.15 of the Ohio
General Corporation Law was amended to provide that shareholders of an Ohio
corporation do not have preemptive rights unless such rights are expressly
granted in the corporation’s articles of incorporation. However, Ohio
corporations formed prior to March 16, 2000, such as Park, would continue
to have preemptive rights, unless the shareholders amend (or had previously
amended) the articles of incorporation to eliminate preemptive
rights.
The
original purpose of preemptive rights was to prevent a corporation or a majority
of shareholders of the corporation from diluting a minority shareholder’s
interest. Although these rights may be beneficial in the context of a
small, privately-held company, they present a cumbersome restriction on the
ability of a public company to issue and sell shares for corporate
purposes. Moreover, unlike a minority shareholder in a private
company, a shareholder of a public company can prevent dilution of the
shareholder’s voting power simply by purchasing more shares on the open
market.
Few
public companies which have a shareholder base the size of Park’s still provide
preemptive rights to their shareholders. The Board of Directors has
been advised that preemptive rights are rare among similarly-sized public
companies because the related loss of flexibility in raising capital is widely
recognized as undesirable. Thus, the Board of Directors believes that
eliminating preemptive rights will enhance shareholder value by enhancing Park’s
access to the capital markets.
Proposed
Amendment
If
adopted by the shareholders, Article SIXTH of Park’s Articles of Incorporation
would be amended to read as follows:
SIXTH: No
holder of any share or shares of any class issued by the Corporation shall be
entitled as such, as a matter of right, at any time, to subscribe for or
purchase (A) shares of any class issued by the Corporation, now or hereafter
authorized, (B) securities of the Corporation convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of any class issued by the Corporation, now or hereafter authorized,
or (C) securities of the Corporation to which shall be attached or appertain any
rights or options, whether by the terms of such securities or in the contracts,
warrants or other instruments (whether transferable or non-transferable or
separable or inseparable from such securities) evidencing such rights or
options, entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of
any class issued by the Corporation, now or hereafter authorized; except such
rights to subscribe for or purchase, at such prices and according to such terms
and conditions as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may, from time to
time, approve and authorize in its discretion.
If the
proposed amendment to Article SIXTH is adopted by Park’s shareholders at the
Annual Meeting, Park will file with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio,
as soon as reasonably practicable after the Annual Meeting, a certificate of
amendment evidencing such adoption, and the amendment will be effective as of
the date of such filing.
Recommendation
and Vote Required
YOUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS OF PARK VOTE
“FOR” ADOPTION OF THE
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE SIXTH OF PARK’S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO ELIMINATE
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS.
The
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding common shares is required to
adopt the amendment to Article SIXTH of Park’s Articles of Incorporation to
eliminate preemptive rights. Abstentions and broker non-votes will
have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST”
the proposal.
PROPOSAL
4 – RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
Crowe
Horwath LLP, together with its predecessor Crowe Chizek and Company LLC (“Crowe
Horwath”), has served as Park’s independent registered public accounting firm
since March 15, 2006. Crowe Horwath audited Park’s consolidated
financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and
the effectiveness of Park’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2010. Representatives of Crowe Horwath are expected to
be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement
if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions.
The
appointment of Park’s independent registered public accounting firm is made
annually by the Audit Committee. Park has determined to submit the
appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm to the
shareholders for ratification because of such firm’s role in reviewing the
quality and integrity of Park’s consolidated financial statements and internal
control over financial reporting. Before appointing Crowe Horwath,
the Audit Committee carefully considered that firm’s qualifications as the
independent registered public accounting firm for Park and the audit
scope.
Recommendation
and Vote Required
THE
AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT THE
SHAREHOLDERS OF PARK VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF CROWE HORWATH.
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the common shares represented at the Annual
Meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal, is
required to ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath as Park’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2011. The effect of an abstention is the same as a vote “AGAINST”. Even if the
appointment of Crowe Horwath is ratified by the shareholders, the Audit
Committee, in its discretion, could decide to terminate the engagement of Crowe
Horwath and to engage another firm if the Audit Committee determines such action
is necessary or desirable. If the appointment of Crowe Horwath is not
ratified, the Audit Committee will reconsider (but may decide to maintain) the
appointment.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE MATTERS
Report
of the Audit Committee for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2010
Role
of the Audit Committee, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and
Management
The Audit
Committee consists of four directors, each of whom qualifies as an independent
director under the applicable NYSE Amex Rules and SEC
Rule 10A-3. The Audit Committee operates under the Audit
Committee Charter adopted by Park’s Board of Directors. The Audit
Committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in the oversight
of the accounting and financial reporting processes of Park and Park’s
subsidiaries. In particular, the Audit Committee assists the Board of
Directors in overseeing: (i) the integrity of Park’s
consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of Park’s internal
control over financial reporting; (ii) the legal compliance and ethics
programs established by Park’s management and the Board of Directors;
(iii) the qualifications and independence of Park’s independent registered
public accounting firm; (iv) the performance of Park’s independent
registered public accounting firm and Park’s Internal Audit Department; and
(v) the annual independent audit of Park’s consolidated financial
statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment,
compensation and oversight of the work of Park’s independent registered public
accounting firm. Crowe Horwath was appointed to serve as Park’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the 2010 fiscal
year.
During
the 2010 fiscal year, the Audit Committee met ten times, and the Audit Committee
discussed the interim financial and other information contained in each
quarterly earnings announcement and periodic filings with the SEC with Park’s
management and Crowe Horwath prior to public release.
Park’s
management has the primary responsibility for the preparation, presentation and
integrity of Park’s consolidated financial statements, for the appropriateness
of the accounting principles and reporting policies that are used by Park and
Park’s subsidiaries and for the accounting and financial reporting processes,
including the establishment and maintenance of adequate systems of disclosure
controls and procedures and internal control over financial
reporting. Management also has the responsibility for the preparation
of an annual report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of Park’s
internal control over financial reporting. Park’s independent
registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of
Park’s annual consolidated financial statements and Park’s internal control over
financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and issuing its report thereon based
on such audit and for reviewing Park’s unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to provide
independent, objective oversight of these processes.
In
discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee regularly met
with Park’s management, Crowe Horwath and Park’s internal auditors throughout
the year. The Audit Committee often met with each of these groups in
executive session. Throughout the relevant period, the Audit
Committee had full access to management as well as to Crowe Horwath and Park’s
internal auditors. To fulfill its responsibilities, the Audit
Committee did, among other things, the following:
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reviewed
the work performed by Park’s Internal Audit
Department;
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monitored
the progress and results of the testing of internal control over financial
reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and
other applicable regulatory requirements, reviewed a report from
management and Park’s Internal Audit Department regarding the design,
operation and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
and reviewed an audit report from Crowe Horwath regarding Park’s internal
control over financial reporting;
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reviewed
the audit plan and scope of the audit with Crowe Horwath and discussed
with Crowe Horwath the matters required to be discussed by auditing
standards generally accepted in the United States, including those
described in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as
amended;
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reviewed
and discussed with management and Crowe Horwath the consolidated financial
statements of Park for the 2010 fiscal
year;
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reviewed
management’s representations that those consolidated financial statements
were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States and fairly present the consolidated results of
operations and financial position of Park and Park’s
subsidiaries;
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received
the written disclosures and the letter from Crowe Horwath required by
applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
regarding Crowe Horwath’s communications with the Audit Committee
concerning independence, and has discussed with Crowe Horwath that firm’s
independence;
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reviewed
all audit and non-audit services performed for Park and Park’s
subsidiaries by Crowe Horwath and considered whether the provision of
non-audit services was compatible with maintaining that firm’s
independence from Park and Park’s subsidiaries;
and
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discussed
with management and Park’s Internal Audit Department Park’s systems to
monitor and manage business risk, and Park’s legal and ethical compliance
programs.
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Management’s
Representations and Audit Committee Recommendation
Park’s
management has represented to the Audit Committee that Park’s audited
consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2010, were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and
discussed those audited consolidated financial statements with management and
Crowe Horwath.
Based on
the Audit Committee’s discussions with Park’s management and Crowe Horwath and
the Audit Committee’s review of the report of Crowe Horwath to the Audit
Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the full Board of Directors that
Park’s audited consolidated financial statements be included in Park’s 2010
Annual Report and incorporated therefrom into Park’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, for filing with the
SEC.
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Submitted
by the members of the Audit
Committee:
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Stephen
J. Kambeitz (Chair)
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Maureen
Buchwald
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Timothy
S. McLain
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Leon
Zazworsky
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Pre-Approval
of Services Performed by Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
Under
applicable SEC rules, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit
and non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accounting
firm employed by Park in order to ensure that those services do not impair that
firm’s independence from Park. The SEC rules specify the types of
non-audit services that an independent registered public accounting firm may not
provide to its client and establish the Audit Committee’s responsibility for
administration of the engagement of the independent registered public accounting
firm.
Consistent
with the SEC rules, the Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit
Committee review and pre-approve all audit services and permitted non-audit
services provided by Park’s independent registered public accounting firm to
Park or any of Park’s subsidiaries. The Audit Committee may delegate
pre-approval authority to a member of the Audit Committee and, if it does, the
decisions of that member must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its
next scheduled meeting.
All
requests or applications for services to be provided by the independent
registered public accounting firm must be submitted to the Audit Committee by
both the independent registered public accounting firm and Park’s Chief
Financial Officer, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their
view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC rules governing the
independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate audit fees billed by Crowe Horwath for the 2010 fiscal year and the
2009 fiscal year were approximately $548,500 and $550,000,
respectively. These amounts include fees for professional services
rendered by Crowe Horwath in connection with the audit of Park’s consolidated
financial statements and internal control over financial reporting and reviews
of the consolidated financial statements included in Park’s Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q.
Audit-Related
Fees
The
aggregate fees for audit-related services rendered by Crowe Horwath for the 2010
fiscal year were approximately $36,300. This amount includes fees for
audits of the Park Pension Plan and the Park KSOP for the 2010 fiscal year,
audits of escrow accounts maintained by the title agency subsidiary of Park, and
services related to performing accounting due diligence and providing the
required consent in connection with a securities offering by Park during the
2010 fiscal year pursuant to an already effective shelf registration
statement.
The
aggregate fees for audit-related services rendered by Crowe Horwath for the 2009
fiscal year were approximately $108,470. This amount includes fees
for audits of the Park Pension Plan and the Park KSOP for the 2009 fiscal year,
audits of escrow accounts maintained by the title agency subsidiary of Park, and
services related to performing accounting due diligence and providing required
consents and comfort letters in connection with securities offerings pursuant to
two automatic shelf registration statements filed by Park during the 2009 fiscal
year.
Tax
Fees
The
aggregate fees for tax services rendered by Crowe Horwath for the 2010 fiscal
year and 2009 fiscal year were approximately $76,900 and $77,100, respectively,
and primarily pertain to the preparation of federal and state tax returns for
Park and Park’s subsidiary banks in each year.
All
Other Fees
The fees
pertaining to other services rendered by Crowe Horwath for the 2009 fiscal year
totaled approximately $12,647. These fees were for internal controls
software, risk management software and consulting services provided by Crowe
Horwath. For the 2010 fiscal year, Crowe Horwath rendered no services
other than those described under the captions “Audit
Fees,” “Audit Related
Fees” and “Tax
Fees”.
All of
the services rendered to Park and Park’s subsidiaries by Crowe Horwath for the
2010 fiscal year and the 2009 fiscal year had been pre-approved by the Audit
Committee.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR 2012 ANNUAL MEETING
Proposals
by shareholders intended to be presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must be received by the Secretary of Park no later than November 9,
2011, to be eligible for inclusion in Park’s proxy, notice of meeting, proxy
statement and Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials relating to the
2012 Annual Meeting. Park will not be required to include in its
proxy, notice of meeting, proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability of
Proxy Materials, a shareholder proposal that is received after that date or that
otherwise fails to meet the requirements for shareholder proposals established
by the applicable SEC rules.
The SEC
has promulgated rules relating to the exercise of discretionary voting authority
under proxies solicited by the Board of Directors. If a shareholder
intends to present a proposal at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders without
inclusion of that proposal in Park’s proxy materials and written notice of the
proposal is not received by the Secretary of Park by January 23, 2012, or
if Park meets other requirements of the applicable SEC rules, the proxies
solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the 2012 Annual Meeting will
confer discretionary authority to vote on the proposal should it then be raised
at the 2012 Annual Meeting.
In each
case, written notice must be given to Park’s Secretary, whose name and address
are:
David L.
Trautman
Secretary
Park
National Corporation
50 North
Third Street
Post
Office Box 3500
Newark,
Ohio 43058-3500
Shareholders
desiring to nominate candidates for election as directors at the 2012 Annual
Meeting must follow the procedures described under the heading “Nominating Procedures”
beginning on page ___.
FUTURE
ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO PROXY MATERIALS AND ANNUAL REPORT
Registered
shareholders can reduce the costs incurred by Park in mailing proxy materials by
consenting to receive all future proxy statements, proxy cards, annual reports
to shareholders and Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
electronically via electronic mail or the Internet. To register for
electronic delivery of future proxy materials, log onto www.parknationalcorp.com
and follow the instructions for “Electronic Delivery of Proxy
Materials.” You will be responsible for any fees or charges you would
typically pay for access to the Internet.
OTHER
MATTERS
As of the
date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors knows of no matter that
will be presented for action by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting other
than those matters discussed in this proxy statement. However, if any
other matter requiring a vote of the shareholders properly comes before the
Annual Meeting, the individuals acting under the proxies solicited by the Board
of Directors will vote and act according to their best judgments in light of the
conditions then prevailing, to the extent permitted under applicable
law.
It is
important that your proxy card be completed, signed, dated and returned
promptly. If you do not expect to attend the Annual Meeting in
person, please complete, sign, date and return your proxy card in the
postage-prepaid envelope provided as promptly as
possible. Alternatively, refer to the instructions on the proxy card,
or in the e-mail sent to you if you registered for electronic delivery of the
proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, for details about transmitting your
voting instructions via the Internet or by telephone.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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March
9, 2011
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DAVID
L. TRAUTMAN
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President
and Secretary
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Preliminary copy - Subject to Completion,
February 16, 2011
Preliminary copy - Subject to Completion,
February 16, 2011