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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 Pursuant to ' 240.14a-12
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Century Next Financial Corporation
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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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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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Amount previously paid:
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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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(1)
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To elect three directors for a three-year term, or until their successors are elected and qualified;
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(2)
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To adopt a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers;
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(3)
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To consider an advisory vote on the frequency of the non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers; and
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(4)
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To consider and ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013.
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CENTURY NEXT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
505 North Vienna Street
Ruston, Louisiana 71270
(318) 255-3733
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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TIME
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10:30 a.m., Central Time, Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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PLACE
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Old Central Station
200 East Mississippi Avenue
Ruston, Louisiana
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ITEMS OF BUSINESS
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(1) To elect three directors for a three-year term expiring in 2016 and until
their successors are elected and qualified;
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(2) To adopt a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of our
named executive officers;
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(3) To consider an advisory vote on the frequency of the non-binding
resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers; and
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(4) To ratify the appointment of Heard McElroy & Vestal, LLC as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2013.
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To transact such other business, as may properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment thereof. We are not aware of any other such business. | |
RECORD DATE
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Holders of Century Next Financial Corporation common stock of record at the close of business on March 27, 2013 are entitled to vote at the meeting.
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ANNUAL REPORT
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Our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 is enclosed but is not a part of the proxy solicitation materials.
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PROXY VOTING
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It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. You can vote your shares by completing and returning the proxy card sent to you. Most shareholders whose shares are held in “street” name can also vote their shares over the Internet or by telephone. If Internet or telephone voting is available to you, voting instructions are printed on the voting instruction form you received. You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the meeting by following the instructions in the accompanying proxy statement.
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Ruston, Louisiana
April 17, 2013
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
G. Randall Allison
Corporate Secretary
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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About the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
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1
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Information with Respect to Nominees for Director, Continuing Directors and Executive Officers
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3
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Election of Directors (Proposal One)
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3
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Director Nominees and Members of the Board of Directors Continuing in Office
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4
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Executive Officers Who Are Not Also Directors
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5
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Director Compensation
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5
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Committees and Meetings of the Board of Directors
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6
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Board Leadership Structure
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7
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Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
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7
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Directors’ Attendance at Annual Meetings
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8
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Director Nominations
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8
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Code of Ethics
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8
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Management Compensation
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9
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Summary Compensation Table
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9
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Stock Benefit Plans
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9
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Retirement Benefits
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10
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Related Party Transactions
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11
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Proposal to Adopt a Non-Binding Resolution to Approve the Compensation of Our Named
Executive Officers (Proposal Two)
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11
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Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Non-Binding Resolution to Approve the Compensation
of Our Name Executive Officers (Proposal Three)
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12
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Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
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13
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
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14
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Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal Four)
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15
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Audit Fees
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16
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Report of the Audit Committee
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16
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Shareholder Proposals, Nominations and Communications with the Board of Directors
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17
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Annual Reports
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17
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Other Matters
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18
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ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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·
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First, you may complete and submit a new proxy card. Any earlier proxies will be revoked automatically.
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·
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Second, you may send a written notice to our Corporate Secretary, Mr. G. Randall Allison, Century Next Financial Corporation, 505 North Vienna Street, Ruston, Louisiana 71270, stating that you would like to revoke your proxy.
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·
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Third, you may attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. Any earlier proxy will be revoked. However, attending the Annual Meeting without voting in person will not revoke your proxy.
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INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR, CONTINUING
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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Name
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Age and Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years/Public Directorships
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J. Brandon Ewing
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Director since 2006. Owner of Ewing Timber L.L.C., located in Jonesboro, Louisiana.
Mr. Ewing brings significant business, management and financial expertise to the Board as the owner of a family operated business. Age 44.
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William D. Hogan
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Director since 1996. President of Bank of Ruston since May, 2011 and Executive Vice President of Century Next Financial since September 2010. Previously, Executive Vice President, Business Development of Bank of Ruston from June 2009 to May 2011 and Vice President of Sales and Marketing from January 2008 to May 2009. Prior thereto, Owner and Senior Vice President of Sales at Hogan Hardwoods, located in Ruston, Louisiana from 2001 to 2008.
Mr. Hogan brings financial and business expertise to the Board as our Executive Vice President, Business Development. Mr. Hogan has gained financial expertise though his service on our Board since 1996 and his prior term as an officer of a hardwoods and architectural building products supplier. Mr. Hogan owned and managed Builders Supply of Ruston from 1991 to 2001. Age 49.
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Neal Walpole
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Director since 2003. President of Walpole Tire Service, located in Ruston, Louisiana for over 30 years.
Mr. Walpole brings significant business and management expertise and knowledge of the local business community from his years of service as President of a local service company. Age 60.
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Name
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Age and Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years/Public Directorships
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Benjamin L. Denny
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Director since 1992. President and Chief Executive Officer of Century Next Financial since September 2010. Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Ruston since 1992 and President of Bank of Ruston from March 1992 to May 2011.
As President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Denny brings to the Board significant knowledge of Bank of Ruston’s operations. Mr. Denny also has gained valuable banking and institutional knowledge from his 42 years of service in the financial institutions industry and his long-standing ties to the local business and legal community in the Ruston area. Age 64.
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Dan E. O’Neal, III
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Director since 2011. Owner of Ruston Exterminating, Inc., located in Ruston, Louisiana since 1993.
Mr. O’Neal brings to the Board significant business and management expertise as well as knowledge of the local real estate market as a developer of numerous housing subdivisions and the owner of a local service company. Age 57.
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Name
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Age and Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years/Public Directorships
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Dr. Daniel D. Reneau
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Director since 1982. President of Louisiana Tech University, located in Ruston, Louisiana, since July 1987.
Dr. Reneau brings significant leadership and management expertise to the Board as the President of a major Louisiana research university. Age 72.
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Thomas W. Rogers, Esq.
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Chairman of the Board since February 2005 and member of the Board since 1996. Partner with Napper, Madden & Rogers, located in Ruston, Louisiana since January 1979.
Mr. Rogers brings significant knowledge of the local legal community and operations of Bank of Ruston having served as legal counsel. Age 60.
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Scott R. Thompson
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Director since 2005. Owner of STC, LLC, located in Ruston, Louisiana.
Mr. Thompson brings to the Board significant business and management expertise as well as knowledge of the local real estate market as the owner of a local construction company. Age 55.
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Name
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Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
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Stock
Awards (2)
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Option
Awards (2)
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All Other Compensation(3)
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Total
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J. Brandon Ewing
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$ | 10,500 | (1) | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 34 | $ | 10,534 | |||||||||
Dr. Daniel D. Reneau
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10,600 | -- | -- | 3,482 | 14,082 | |||||||||||||||
Thomas W. Rogers, Esq.
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11,200 | (1) | -- | -- | 123 | 11,323 | ||||||||||||||
Scott R. Thompson
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10,950 | (1) | -- | -- | 94 | 11,044 | ||||||||||||||
Neal Walpole
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11,550 | (1) | -- | -- | 88 | 11,638 | ||||||||||||||
Dan E. O’Neal, III
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11,100 | -- | -- | 22 | 11,122 |
(1)
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Includes amounts deferred at the election of the director pursuant to the Directors' Deferral Income Plan.
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(2)
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As of December 31, 2012, each of our non-employee directors, other than Mr. O’Neal, had 1,693 and 5,290 shares of our common stock subject to outstanding restricted stock awards and option grants, respectively. Mr. O’Neal had 2,645 shares subject to option grants as of December 31, 2012.
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(3)
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Includes for Dr. Reneau, annual retirement benefits paid pursuant to the Indexed Deferred Compensation Benefit Plan and for Messrs. Ewing, Rogers, Thompson and Walpole and Dr. Reneau, the dollar value of life insurance premiums.
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Name
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Audit Committee
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Compensation Committee
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
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J. Brandon Ewing
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* | |||||||||||
Dan E. O’Neal, III
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Dr. Daniel D. Reneau
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* | |||||||||||
Thomas W. Rogers, Esq.
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** | |||||||||||
Scott R. Thompson
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* | * | ||||||||||
Neal Walpole
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** | * | * |
MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
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Name and
Principal Position
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Year | Salary | Bonus |
Stock
Awards
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Option
Awards
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All Other
Compensation
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Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Benjamin L. Denny
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2012
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$ | 136,000 | $ | 2,040 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 24,297 | $ | 162,337 | |||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer
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2011
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136,000 | 2,380 | 169,280 | 76,226 | 24,577 | 408,463 | |||||||||||||||||||
William D. Hogan
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2012
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$ | 123,000 | $ | 1,845 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 20,741 | $ | 145,586 | |||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, Business Development
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2011
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125,000 | 2,153 | 70,080 | 76,226 | 20,798 | 294,257 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mark A. Taylor
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2012
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$ | 130,000 | $ | 1,950 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 6,636 | $ | 138,586 | |||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
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2011
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36,458 | 638 | -- | 17,105 | 138 | 54,339 |
(1)
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These amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards and option grants in the year in which the award or grant was made in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used for calculating the grant date fair value are set forth in Note 15 of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was filed with the SEC on March 26, 2013. These amounts do not represent actual amounts paid to or realized by our executive officers for these awards during fiscal year 2011.
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(2)
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Includes directors' fees of $11,000 for Mr. Denny and $11,050 for Mr. Hogan, the fair market value of the shares of Century Next Financial common stock allocated to the employee stock ownership plan accounts of Messrs. Denny, Hogan and Taylor during fiscal 2012 based on a closing price of $13.00 on December 31, 2012, life insurance premiums and matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan. All other compensation does not include amounts attributable to other miscellaneous benefits. The costs to Bank of Ruston of providing such benefits did not exceed $10,000.
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Option Awards
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Stock Awards
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Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options(1)
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Option Exercise
Price
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Option
Expiration
Date
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Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock That Have Not Vested
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Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(2)
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Name |
Exercisable
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Unexercisable
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Benjamin L. Denny
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3,800 | 15,200 | $ | 15.00 |
8/3/2021
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8,464 | $ | 110,032 | |||||||||||||
William D. Hogan
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3,800 | 15,200 | 15.00 |
8/3/2021
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3,504 | 45,552 | |||||||||||||||
Mark A. Taylor, CPA
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930 | 3,720 | 14.50 |
9/20/2021
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-- | -- |
PROPOSAL TO ADOPT A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE
COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (Proposal Two)
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ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE NON-BINDING RESOLUTION
TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(Proposal Three)
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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Name of Beneficial Owner or Number of Persons in Group
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Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership as of March 27, 2013(1)
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Percent of Common Stock
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5% Shareholders:
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Bank of Ruston Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust
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66,704 | (2) | 6.3 | % | ||||
505 North Vienna Street
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Ruston, Louisiana 71270
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Frank M. Cordaro
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74,034 | (3) | 7.0 | |||||
Appraisal Services of North Louisiana, L.L.C.
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408 West Mississippi Avenue
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Ruston, Louisiana 71270
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Name of Beneficial Owner or Number of Persons in Group
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Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership as of
March 27, 2013(1)(4)
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Recognition and
Retention Plan(5)
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Percent of
Common Stock
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Directors:
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Benjamin L. Denny
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25,132 | (6) | 8,464 | 3.2 | % | |||||||
J. Brandon Ewing
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21,481 | 1,693 | 2.2 | |||||||||
William D. Hogan
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40,729 | (7) | 3,504 | 4.2 | ||||||||
Dan E. O’Neal, III
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20,529 | (8) | -- | 1.9 | ||||||||
Dr. Daniel D. Reneau
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11,481 | (9) | 1,693 | 1.2 | ||||||||
Thomas W. Rogers, Esq.
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46,876 | (10) | 1,693 | 4.6 | ||||||||
Scott R. Thompson
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24,081 | (11) | 1,693 | 2.4 | ||||||||
Neal Walpole
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18,981 | (12) | 1,693 | 2.0 | ||||||||
Other Named Executive Officer:
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Mark A. Taylor, CPA
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2,013 | (13) | -- | 0.2 | ||||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers
as a Group (12 persons)
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239,674 | (14) | 28,813 | 25.4 | % |
(1)
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Based upon filings made pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information furnished by the respective individuals. Under regulations promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, shares of common stock are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the shares, or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the named beneficial owner has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares and none of the shares are pledged. Under applicable regulations, a person is deemed to have beneficial ownership of any shares of common stock which may be acquired within 60 days of the record date pursuant to the exercise of outstanding stock options. Shares of common stock which are subject to stock options are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding common stock owned by such person or group but not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of common stock owned by any other person or group.
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(2)
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As of March 27, 2013, 7,504 shares were allocated to participants in the Bank of Ruston Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) and 59,200 shares were unallocated and held in the ESOP trust for future allocation to the accounts of participating employees. Amounts held by Mr. Denny, as a plan trustee, exclude the shares held in the ESOP trust other than those shares specifically allocated to his account. Under the terms of the ESOP, the plan trustees vote all allocated shares in accordance with the instructions of the participating employees. Any unallocated shares are generally required to be voted by the plan trustees in the same manner that the majority of the allocated shares have voted.
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(3)
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Based on information provided to Century Next Financial, Mr. Cordaro beneficially owns 54,034 shares and Appraisal Services of North Louisiana, L.L.C., of which Mr. Cordaro is the managing member, beneficially owns 20,000 shares.
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(4)
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Includes stock options which have been granted to the directors and officers under the Company’s 2011 Stock Option Plan and which are exercisable within 60 days of the voting record date.
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Name
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Stock Options
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Benjamin L. Denny
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3,800 | ||||
J. Brandon Ewing
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1,058 | ||||
William D. Hogan
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3,800 | ||||
Dan E. O’Neal, III
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529 | ||||
Dr. David D. Reneau
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1,058 | ||||
Thomas W. Rogers, Esq.
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1,058 | ||||
Scott R. Thompson
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1,058 | ||||
Neal Walpole
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1,058 | ||||
Mark A. Taylor, CPA
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930 | ||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)
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15,879 |
(5)
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Reflects unvested shares awarded pursuant to the 2011 Recognition and Retention Plan to executive officers and directors which vest at a rate of 20% per year, but over which the directors and executive officers do not have current voting or investment power.
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(6)
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Includes 7,500 shares held in Mr. Denny’s individual retirement account, 723 shares allocated to Mr. Denny’s account in the employee stock ownership plan and 11,711 units in the Bank of Ruston 401(k) Plan; however for purposes of voting authority, Mr. Denny had voting power over 11,001 shares in the 401(k) Plan.
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(7)
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Includes 6,000 shares held by Kelly’s Fashion of Ruston owned by Mr. Hogan’s spouse over which he disclaims beneficial ownership, 642 shares allocated to Mr. Hogan’s account in the employee stock ownership plan and 12,000 units in the Bank of Ruston 401(k) Plan; however for purposes of voting authority, Mr. Hogan had voting power over 11,273 shares in the 401(k) Plan. Includes 17,750 shares pledged to secure a loan.
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(8)
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Includes 20,000 shares are held by Mr. O’Neal’s corporation, Westwind Property, LLC.
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(9)
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Includes 10,423 shares are held jointly with Dr. Reneau’s spouse.
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(10)
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Includes 20,000 shares held jointly with Mr. Rogers’s spouse, 440 shares held in his individual retirement account and 460 shares held by his spouse in her individual retirement account.
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(11)
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Includes 22,600 shares held in Mr. Thompson’s individual retirement account.
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(12)
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Includes 17,500 shares held jointly with Mr. Walpole’s spouse.
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(13)
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Includes 74 shares allocated to Mr. Taylor’s account in the employee stock ownership plan and 1,009 units in the Bank of Ruston 401(k) Plan; however for purposes of voting authority, Mr. Taylor had voting power over 948 shares in the 401(k) Plan.
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(14)
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Includes an aggregate of 43,573 units in the Bank of Ruston 401(k) Plan and 2,645 shares allocated to the accounts of all executive officers as a group in the employee stock ownership plan.
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RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (Proposal Four)
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Year Ended December 31,
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2012
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2011
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Audit fees (1)
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$ | 66,400 | $ | 60,025 | ||||
Audit-related fees
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-- | -- | ||||||
Tax fees (2)
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6,500 | 5,800 | ||||||
All other fees
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-- | -- | ||||||
Total
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$ | 72,900 | $ | 65,825 |
(1)
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Audit fees consist of fees incurred in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements, the review of the interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as work generally only the independent auditor can reasonably be expected to provide, such as statutory audits, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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(2)
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Tax fees consist primarily of fees paid in connection with preparing federal and state income tax returns and other tax related services.
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS, NOMINATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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ANNUAL REPORTS
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OTHER MATTERS
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To:
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Participants in Bank of Ruston’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”)
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