Guaranty Federal Bancshares Inc 2006 Proxy
United
States
Securities
and Exchange Commission
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. __)
Filed
by
the registrant [X]
Filed
by
a party other than the registrant [ ]
Check
the
appropriate box:
[ ]
Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]
Confidential, for use of the Commission
Only
(as
permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]
Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]
Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]
Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12
Guaranty
Federal Bancshares, Inc.
(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):
[X]
No
fee required
[ ]
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
(1) Title
of
each class of securities to which transaction applies:
______________________________________
(2) Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
______________________________________
(3) 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):
______________________________________
(4) Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
______________________________________
(5) Total
fee
paid:
______________________________________
[ ] Fee
paid
previously with preliminary materials.
______________________________________
[ ] 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.
(1) Amount
previously paid:
______________________________________
(2) Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
______________________________________
(3) Filing
Party:
______________________________________
(4) Date
Filed:
______________________________________
[Guaranty
Federal Bancshares, Inc. Letterhead]
April
21,
2006
Dear
Fellow Stockholder:
On
behalf
of the Board of Directors and management of Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc.,
I
cordially invite you to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
held at the Clarion Hotel, 3333 South Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, Missouri,
on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 6:00 p.m., local time. The attached Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement describe the formal business
to be transacted at the meeting. Following the formal meeting, I will report
on
the operations of the Company. Directors and officers of the Company, as well
as
representatives of BKD, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm,
will be present to respond to any questions that stockholders may
have.
Whether
or not you plan to attend the meeting, please sign and date the enclosed form
of
proxy and return it in the accompanying postage-paid return envelope as soon
as
possible. This will not prevent you from voting in person at the meeting but
will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the
meeting.
Respectfully,
/s/
Shaun
A. Burke
Shaun
A.
Burke
President
and CEO
GUARANTY
FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC.
1341
WEST BATTLEFIELD
SPRINGFIELD,
MO 65807-4181
(417)
520-4333
______________________________________
NOTICE
OF MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held on May 24, 2006
Notice
is
hereby given that an annual meeting of the stockholders (“Meeting”) of Guaranty
Federal Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Clarion Hotel, 3333
South Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, Missouri, on May 24, 2006, at 6:00 p.m.,
local time. Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 4, 2006
are
the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.
A
Proxy
Card and a Proxy Statement for the Meeting are enclosed.
The
Meeting is being held for the purpose of considering and acting
upon:
1. |
The
election of three directors.
|
|
2.
|
The
ratification of BKD, LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
to the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2006.
|
|
3.
|
Such
other matters as may come properly before the Meeting or any adjournments
thereof. Except with respect to procedural matters incident to the
conduct
of the Meeting, the Board of Directors is not aware of any other
business
to come before the Meeting.
|
BY
ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/
Don
M. Gibson
Don
M.
Gibson
Chairman
of the Board
Springfield,
Missouri
April
21,
2006
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD AS SOON
AS
POSSIBLE, EVEN IF YOU CURRENTLY PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL
MEETING.
THIS
WILL NOT PREVENT YOU FROM VOTING IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING IF YOU DESIRE,
AND YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY BY WRITTEN INSTRUMENT AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE
VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
IF
YOU ARE A STOCKHOLDER WHOSE SHARES ARE NOT REGISTERED IN YOUR OWN NAME, YOU
WILL
NEED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM OUR RECORD HOLDER TO VOTE PERSONALLY AT
THE
MEETING.
GUARANTY
FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC.
1341
WEST BATTLEFIELD
SPRINGFIELD,
MISSOURI 65807-4181
_____________________
PROXY
STATEMENT
_____________________
This
proxy statement has been prepared in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by the Board of Directors of Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”)
for use at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 24, 2006 (the
“Annual Meeting”), and at any adjournment(s) thereof. The Annual Meeting will be
held at 6:00 p.m., local time, at the Clarion Hotel, 3333 South Glenstone
Avenue, Springfield, Missouri. It is anticipated that this proxy statement
will
be mailed to stockholders on or about April 21, 2006.
RECORD
DATE--VOTING--VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
All
persons who were stockholders of the Company at the close of business on April
4, 2006, (“Record Date”) will be entitled to cast votes at the Annual Meeting.
Voting may be by proxy or in person. As of the Record Date, the Company had
2,958,147 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share (“Common Stock”),
issued and outstanding.
Holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote,
represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for purposes of
transacting business at the Annual Meeting.
Stockholders
are urged to indicate their vote in the appropriate spaces on the proxy card.
Each proxy solicited hereby, if properly executed, duly returned to the Board
of
Directors of the Company and not revoked prior to the Annual Meeting, will
be
voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions
indicated thereon. Where no instructions are indicated, proxies will be voted
by
those named in the proxies FOR the approval of the specific proposals presented
in this proxy statement and on the proxy card and in their best judgment upon
any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment thereof. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of
stock owned.
A
stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke the proxy at any time before
it is exercised by filing with the Secretary of the Company written instructions
revoking it. A duly executed proxy bearing a later date will be sufficient
to
revoke an earlier proxy. The proxy executed by a stockholder who attends the
Annual Meeting will be revoked only if that stockholder files the proper written
instrument with the Secretary prior to the end of the voting.
To
the
extent necessary to assure sufficient representation at the Annual Meeting,
proxies may be solicited by officers, directors and regular employees of the
Company personally, by telephone or by further correspondence. Officers,
directors and regular employees of the Company will not be compensated for
their
solicitation efforts. The cost of soliciting proxies from stockholders will
be
borne by the Company. The Company will also reimburse brokerage firms and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them
in
sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of Common Stock.
Regardless
of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock owned, it is important
that stockholders be represented by proxy or be present in person at the Annual
Meeting. In order for any proposals considered at the Annual Meeting to be
approved by the Company’s stockholders, a quorum must be present. Stockholders
are requested to vote by completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it
signed and dated in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
Proxies
marked as abstentions will not be counted as votes cast. In addition, shares
held in street name which have been designated by brokers on proxy cards as
not
voted will not be counted as votes cast (“broker non-votes”). Proxies marked as
abstentions or broker non-votes, however, will be treated as shares present
for
purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. Approval of the
ratification of the independent auditor proposal requires the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes cast on such matter. Directors are elected by a
plurality of votes of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Annual
Meeting. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect
on
the election of directors or the proposal to ratify the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm.
VOTING
SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
Persons
and groups owning in excess of 5% of the Common Stock are required to file
certain reports regarding such ownership pursuant to the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company restricts the voting by persons who beneficially own in excess
of
10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. This restriction does not apply
to employee benefit plans of the Company. The following table sets forth, as
of
the Record Date, persons or groups who are known by the Company to own more
than
5% of the Common Stock.
Name
and Address
Of
Beneficial Owner
|
Amount
and Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
Percent
of Class
|
Guaranty
Bank
Employee
Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)
1341
West Battlefield
Springfield,
MO 65807-4181
|
296,029(1)
|
9.72%
|
(1)
|
Reflects
shared investment and voting power with respect to all shares listed.
The
ESOP purchased these shares for the exclusive benefit of plan participants
with funds borrowed from the Company. These shares are held in a
suspense
account and are allocated among ESOP participants annually on the
basis of
compensation as the ESOP debt is repaid. The ESOP Committee, consisting
of
certain non-employee directors of the Company’s Board of Directors,
instructs the ESOP Trustee regarding investment of ESOP plan assets.
The
ESOP Trustee must vote all shares allocated to participant accounts
under
the ESOP as directed by participants. Unallocated shares and shares
for
which no timely voting direction is received are voted by the ESOP
Trustee
as directed by the ESOP Committee.
|
The
following table sets forth certain information as of the Record Date, with
respect to the shares of the Company’s Common Stock owned by each of the
directors, nominees and Named Executive Officers (see section titled “Summary
Compensation Table”) of the Company, and the total shares owned by directors and
executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted, each person has sole
voting and investment power over his shares. Less than 1% stock ownership is
shown below with an asterisk (*).
Name
of Beneficial Owner
|
Total
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
|
Percent
of Total
Outstanding
Common
Shares
|
Jack
L. Barham
|
52,474(2)(3)
|
1.7%
|
Wayne
V. Barnes
|
76,460(2)(4)
|
2.5%
|
Shaun
A. Burke
|
18,094(5)
|
*
|
Don
M. Gibson
|
41,200(2)
|
1.4%
|
Kurt
D. Hellweg
|
28,777(2)
|
*
|
Gary
Lipscomb
|
37,055(2)
|
1.2%
|
Gregory
V. Ostergren
|
39,538(2)(6)
|
1.3%
|
Tim
Rosenbury
|
7,581(2)
|
*
|
James
L. Sivils, III
|
8,145(2)(7)
|
*
|
Total
owned by all directors and executive officers as a group (eleven
persons)
|
400,432(8)
|
13.2%
|
(1)
|
Amounts
may include shares held directly, as well as shares held jointly
with
family members, in retirement accounts, in a fiduciary capacity,
by
certain family members, by certain related entities or by trusts
of which
the directors and executive officers are trustees or substantial
beneficiaries, with respect to which shares the respective director
or
executive officers are trustees or substantial beneficiaries, with
respect
to which shares the respective director or executive officer may
be deemed
to have sole or shared voting and/or investment powers. Due to the
rules
for determining beneficial ownership, the same securities may be
attributed as being beneficially owned by more than one person. The
holders may disclaim beneficial ownership of the included shares
which are
owned by or with family members, trusts or other
entities.
|
(2)
|
Excludes
296,029 shares of Common Stock held under the ESOP and 3,447 shares
held
under a restricted stock plan (the “RSP”) and a recognition and retention
plan (the “RRP”) for which the individual serves as a member of the ESOP,
RRP or RSP Committee or Trustee. Each individual disclaims beneficial
ownership with respect to these shares held in a fiduciary
capacity.
|
(3)
|
Includes
18,902 shares of Common Stock that the individual has the right to
acquire
through the exercise of options within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(4)
|
Includes
23,402 shares of Common Stock that the individual has the right to
acquire
through the exercise of options within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(5)
|
Includes
2,000 shares of Common Stock that the individual has the right to
acquire
through the exercise of options within 60 days of the Record Date.
|
(6)
|
Includes
13,939 shares of Common Stock that the individual has the right to
acquire
through the exercise of options within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(7)
|
Includes
5,000 shares of Common Stock that the individual has the right to
acquire
through the exercise of options within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(8)
|
Includes
88,623 shares of Common Stock that may be acquired within 60 days
of the
Record Date through the exercise of
options.
|
SECTION
16(a)
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s officers and directors, and
persons who own
more
than
ten percent of the Common Stock, to file reports detailing their ownership
and
changes of ownership in the Common Stock with the SEC and to furnish the Company
with copies of all such ownership reports. Based solely on the Company’s review
of the copies of the ownership reports furnished to the Company, and written
representations relative to the filing of certain forms, the Company believes
that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the Common Stock, were
complied with during the 2005 fiscal year.
FIRST
PROPOSAL; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
number of directors constituting the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Board”) is currently nine. The Board is divided into three classes of three
directors. The term of office of one class of directors expires each year in
rotation so that the class up for election at each annual meeting of
stockholders has served for a three-year term. The terms of three of the present
directors (Burke, Hellweg and Lipscomb) are expiring at the Annual Meeting.
One
of these directors, Gary Lipscomb, has elected of his own accord not to seek
election as a director at the Annual Meeting for another term. A new nominee,
James R. Batten was approved at the March Board meeting upon the recommendation
of the Nominating Committee of the Board. The following table sets forth certain
information for each director nominee and continuing director of the Board.
On
behalf
of the management, staff and Board of Directors, we want to express our
heartfelt thanks to Gary Lipscomb for his service to the Company. After 15
years
of dedicated service as a member of our Board of Directors, Gary will retire
at
the expiration of his current term. We sincerely appreciate his valuable advice
and counsel and wish him the very best in his retirement.
The
two
continuing directors (Burke and Hellweg) and the listed nominee (Batten) have
been nominated, upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee of the
Board, by the Board and, upon election at the Annual Meeting by the
stockholders, will hold office for a three-year term expiring in 2009 or until
their successors are elected and qualified. Each nominee has indicated that
he
is willing and able to serve as a director if elected and has consented to
being
named as a nominee in this proxy statement.
Unless
otherwise specified on the proxies received by the Company, it is intended
that
proxies received in response to this solicitation will be voted in favor of
the
election of each person named in the following table to be a director of the
Company for the term as indicated, or until his successor is elected and
qualified. There are no arrangements or understandings between the nominees
or
directors and any other person pursuant to which any such person was or is
selected as a director or nominee.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT
YOU VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES.
Nominees
for Three-Year Terms Expiring 2009
Name |
Age
(1)
|
Director
Since
|
Current
Term Expires
|
Shaun
A. Burke
|
42
|
2004
|
2006
|
Kurt
D. Hellweg
|
48
|
2000
|
2006
|
James
R. Batten
|
43
|
New
nominee
|
New
nominee
|
In
addition to the three nominees proposed to serve on the Board as described
above, the following individuals are also directors of the Company, each serving
for the current term indicated.
Directors
Who Are Not Nominees
Who
Will Continue in Office After the Annual Meeting
Name
|
Age
(1)
|
Director
Since
|
Current
Term Expires
|
Jack
L. Barham
|
72
|
1983
|
2007
|
Don
M. Gibson
|
62
|
2002
|
2007
|
Tim
Rosenbury
|
49
|
2002
|
2007
|
Wayne
V. Barnes
|
74
|
1976
|
2008
|
Gregory
V. Ostergren
|
50
|
1999
|
2008
|
James
L. Sivils, III
|
41
|
2002
|
2008
|
(1) |
As
of the Record Date
|
Biographical
Information
Set
forth
below are brief summaries of the background and business experience, including
principal occupation, of each nominee and director currently serving on the
Board of Directors of the Company.
Shaun
A. Burke
was
appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on March 1,
2005.
Mr. Burke has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Bank,
the
Company’s wholly owned subsidiary (the “Bank”), since March 9, 2004. In May
1997, Mr. Burke joined, and assisted with the start up of, Signature Bank in
Springfield, Missouri. During his tenure at Signature Bank, he held the
positions of Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer and was a member
of the bank’s board of directors. From 1983 to 1997, Mr. Burke was with Bank of
America and its predecessors in Springfield, Missouri, with his last position
being Vice President of Commercial Lending. Mr. Burke is active in many civic
organizations and is a past member of the United Way Allocations and Agency
Relations Executive Committee, Salvation Army Board of Directors and Big
Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks Board of Directors.
Kurt
D. Hellweg is
President and Chief Executive Officer of International Dehydrated Foods, Inc.
(“IDF”) and American Dehydrated Foods, Inc. (“ADF”). IDF and ADF are privately
held companies that manufacture and market ingredients for both the food and
feed industries. Mr. Hellweg has previously served as Vice President of Sales,
Senior Vice President of Operations, and President/COO of ADF. Prior to joining
ADF, Mr. Hellweg was an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1980 to 1987. During
that
time, he served tours as a helicopter pilot in the Atlantic Fleet and as an
instructor pilot. Mr. Hellweg holds a BS degree in Engineering from the
University of Nebraska. He is a past Member of the Board of the Springfield
Area
Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Area Arts Council, and the Springfield
Symphony.
James
R. Batten,
CPA, is
the Executive Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
of O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. Mr. Batten's primary areas of responsibility
are Accounting and Finance. His O'Reilly career started as Finance Manager
in January 1993 where he served until being promoted to Chief Financial Officer
in March 1994. Prior to joining O’Reilly, Mr. Batten was employed by the
accounting firms of Whitlock, Selim & Keehn, from 1986 to 1993 and Deloitte,
Haskins & Sells from 1984 until 1986. Mr. Batten is a Member of the Board
and Treasurer of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Board
of New Covenant Academy, and Trustee of Hope Community Church. Mr. Batten served
as a member of NASDAQ Issue Affairs Committee until 2005. He has also served
as
a Member of the Board, and previous President and Secretary, of the Big Brothers
Big Sisters of the Ozarks. Mr. Batten has also served on a number of other
professional and civic boards.
Jack
L. Barham
worked
at Guaranty Federal Savings Bank, the predecessor savings bank to the Bank,
for
24 years and retired in 1995. He served in various positions of responsibility
and was a Realtor and appraiser. In 1983, he was elected to the Company’s Board
of Directors. In 1990, he was elected Vice President and Chairman of the Board,
and has continued to serve as Chairman of the Board until he relinquished such
position in March 2005. The Board approved Mr. Barham as Vice Chairman of the
Company in March 2005. He served in the US Navy, is a deacon at Ridgecrest
Baptist Church and has been a member of various civic
organizations.
Don
M. Gibson
was
elected as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in
January 2002 and served in such capacities until his retirement at the end
of February 2005. Mr. Gibson also served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Bank from January 2002 until the appointment of Shaun A. Burke
on
March 9, 2004 to serve in such capacity. Mr. Gibson has served as Chairman
of
the Board for the Company and the Bank since March 2005. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Gibson was a retired banking executive. From March 2000
to July 2000 Mr. Gibson was President of Sinclair National Bank,
Gravette, Arkansas. Prior to that, Mr. Gibson was at Great Southern Bank, a
subsidiary of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., Springfield, Missouri, holding
various positions since September 1975 with his last being Vice
Chairman.
Tim
Rosenbury,
AIA, is
Executive Vice President and Chairman of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, Inc.,
a 60-person architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm in
Springfield, Missouri, and he has held these positions since 1997.
Mr. Rosenbury joined the firm in 1984 after practicing in Memphis,
Tennessee. He graduated with a B.Arch. from Mississippi State University in
1980, which awarded him the designation of Alumni Fellow in 1999. He is
Corporate Secretary of Ozark Mailing Service, Inc., a privately held company,
and is a member of a number of professional and civic organizations, many of
which he has held leadership positions.
Wayne
V. Barnes
previously owned Sunnyland Stages, Inc., a company that provided regular route
schedule bus service, for approximately thirty-five years, until it was sold
in
1998. He was the Vice-President and co-owner, with his wife, Barbara, of
Sunnyland Tours, Inc., Springfield, Missouri, a company which provided package
tour services for individuals and private groups domestically and overseas,
until it was sold in January 2006. Mr. Barnes attended the University of
Missouri and Drury College, and served in the US Navy. He is active in many
civic organizations. Thereafter he is retired.
Gregory
V. Ostergren
is the
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American National Property
and Casualty Insurance Companies (“ANPAC”), Springfield, Missouri, and Chairman
of the Farm Family Insurance Group, Albany, New York (“Farm Family”). Mr.
Ostergren joined ANPAC in October of 1990 as President and CEO. In 2000, he
took
on the additional role as Chairman of ANPAC and in 2001, following the
acquisition of Farm Family, which he led, Mr. Ostergren was voted Chairman
of
Farm Family. He is a Member of the Board of the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety, Washington, DC. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in
1977, Mr. Ostergren held various positions at Allstate Insurance Company in
Chicago, Illinois, and Mutual Service Insurance Company in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, an Associate of the
Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the academic business honor society
Beta Gamma Sigma. He is past Chairman of the College of Natural and Applied
Sciences Advisory Board for Southwest Missouri State University. He has also
served as a Member of the Board of the Springfield Public School Foundation,
as
a Member of the Board and Treasurer of the United Way of the Ozarks, and has
served on a number of other professional and civic boards of
directors.
James
L. Sivils, III,
JD, is
a partner in Morelock-Ross Companies, a group of several privately held
companies involved in both commercial and residential construction and in real
estate development and management in Springfield, Missouri. Mr. Sivils has
been with Morelock-Ross since 1997. Prior to joining Morelock-Ross,
Mr. Sivils worked as an attorney from 1990 to 1993 and as a real estate
broker and developer from 1993 to 1997. Mr. Sivils holds a JD degree from
the University of Missouri - Kansas City Law School and a B.A. degree
from the University of Missouri - Columbia. Mr. Sivils is a past
Member of the Board of the Springfield Apartment Housing Association and the
Lakes Country Rehabilitation Center.
Director
Independence
The
Board
of Directors of the Company has determined that all of the directors, except
for
Director Burke who is an executive officer of the Company and Director Gibson
who served as an executive officer of the Company until February 2005, are
“independent directors” as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the
Marketplace Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(“NASD”). These directors constitute a majority of the Board.
Meetings
and Committees of the Board of Directors
The
business of the Company is conducted at regular and special meetings of the
full
Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and its standing committees. The
standing committees consist of the Executive, Audit, Compensation, Nominating,
ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), and Option Committees. During the twelve
months ended December 31, 2005, the Board held twelve regular meetings and
two
special meetings. No director attended less than 75% of those meetings and
the
meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he
served.
Although
the Company does not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at
the
Company’s annual stockholders meeting, all directors are expected to attend
these annual meetings absent extenuating circumstances. All current directors,
except Kurt D. Hellweg, attended the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders
held on May 25, 2005.
Stockholder
Communications with Directors
Stockholders
and other interested persons who wish to communicate with the board of directors
of the Company, or any individual director, should send their written
correspondence by mail to: Don M. Gibson, Chairman of the Board, Guaranty
Federal Bancshares, Inc., 1341 West Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri
65807.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit
Committee of the Board is composed of the independent, non-employee directors
of
the Company and currently consists of seven directors: Messrs. Lipscomb, Barnes,
Rosenbury, Sivils, Barham, Ostergren and Hellweg. This standing committee,
among
other things, (i) regularly meets with the internal auditor to review audit
programs and the results of audits of specific areas as well as other regulatory
compliance issues, (ii) meets at least annually in executive session with the
Company’s independent auditors to review the results of the annual audit and
other related matters, and (iii) meets quarterly with management and the
independent auditors to review the Company’s financial statements and
significant findings based on the independent auditor’s review. The Audit
Committee is responsible for hiring, retaining, compensating and terminating
the
Company’s independent auditors. For a further description of the Audit
Committee’s purposes and responsibilities, refer to the copy of the Audit
Committee Charter included as Appendix B to the proxy statement prepared in
connection with the annual meeting of stockholders held on May 19, 2004 (the
“2004 Proxy Statement”).
During
the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, the Audit Committee met thirteen
times (See “Report of the Audit Committee”).
Nominating
Committee
The
Nominating Committee of the Board is composed of three or more directors as
appointed by the Board, each of whom are required to be an “independent
director” as defined under the NASD listing standards. Currently, the Nominating
Committee consists of seven directors, Messrs. Ostergren, Barnes, Sivils,
Hellweg, Lipscomb, Rosenbury and Barham, each of whom is an “independent
director.” During the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, the Nominating
Committee met two times. The Nominating Committee operates under a formal
written charter adopted by the Board. A copy of the Nominating Committee’s
charter was included as Appendix C to the 2004 Proxy Statement.
The
Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to
serve as members of the Board and recommending to the Board the director
nominees for election and appointment to the Board, as well as director nominees
for each of the committees of the Board. In accordance with its charter, the
Nominating Committee recommends candidates (including incumbent nominees) based
on the following criteria: business experience, education, integrity and
reputation, independence, conflicts of interest, diversity, age, number of
other
directorships and commitments (including charitable obligations), tenure on
the
Board, attendance at Board and committee meetings, stock ownership, specialized
knowledge (such as an understanding of banking, accounting, marketing, finance,
regulation and public policy) and a commitment to the Company’s communities and
shared values, as well as overall experience in the context of the needs of
the
Board as a whole. The Committee monitors the mix of skills and experience of
its
directors and committee members in order to assess whether the Board has the
appropriate tools to perform its oversight function effectively.
With
respect to nominating existing directors, the Nominating Committee reviews
relevant information available to it and assesses their continued ability and
willingness to serve as a director. The Nominating Committee will also assess
such person’s contribution in light of the mix of skills and experience the
Nominating Committee has deemed appropriate for the Board as a whole. With
respect to nominations of new directors, the Nominating Committee will conduct
a
thorough search to identify candidates based upon criteria the Nominating
Committee deems appropriate and considering the mix of skills and experience
necessary to complement existing members of the Board. The Nominating Committee
will then review selected candidates and make its recommendation to the Board.
See the copy of the Nominating Committee Charter in Appendix C to the 2004
Proxy
Statement for a further description of the nomination process utilized by the
Nominating Committee.
Nominations
by a stockholder will be considered by the Nominating Committee if such
nomination is written and delivered or mailed by first class United States
mail,
postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company between 30 and 60 days prior
to
the meeting at which such nominee may be considered. However, if less than
31
days’ notice of the meeting is given to stockholders, written notice of the
stockholder nomination must be given to the Secretary of the Company as provided
above no later than the tenth day after notice of the meeting was mailed to
stockholders. A nomination must set forth, with respect to the nominee, (i)
name, age, and addresses, (ii) principal occupation or employment, (iii) Common
Stock beneficially owned, and (iv) other information that would be required
in a
proxy statement. The stockholder giving notice must list his or her name and
address, as they appear on the Company’s books, and the amount of Common Stock
beneficially owned by him or her. In addition, the stockholder making such
nomination must promptly provide to the Company any other information reasonably
requested by the Company. Nominations from stockholders will be considered
and
evaluated using the same criteria as all other nominations.
Compensation
Committee
The
Board
of Directors of the Company and the Board of Directors of the Bank are comprised
of the same persons. The Compensation Committee of the Bank’s Board of
Directors, which consists solely of the non-employee directors of the Bank,
is
comprised of Messrs. Lipscomb, Barnes, Rosenbury, Sivils, Barham, Ostergren
and
Hellweg. As indicated above, each of these committee members is an “independent
director” as defined under the NASD listing standards. The Company has no full
time employees and relies on employees of the Bank for the limited services
received by the Company. All compensation paid to officers of the Company and
the Bank and to employees of the Bank is paid by the Bank.
The
Compensation Committee, together with the full Board, is responsible for
designing and determining the compensation and benefit plans for all employees,
executive officers and directors of the Company and the Bank, including the
Chief Executive Officer, based on its review, among other things, of
performance, industry salary surveys and the recommendations of management
concerning compensation (See “Compensation Committee Report on Executive
Compensation”). During the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, the
Compensation Committee met nine times.
Directors’
Compensation
Each
member of the Board receives a yearly fee of $15,600, payable monthly, which
is
composed of $7,800 from the Company and $7,800 from the Bank. Directors do
not
receive fees for attendance at committee meetings.
Directors
can participate in the Company’s Restricted Stock Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan,
2000 Stock Compensation Plan, 2001 Stock Compensation Plan and the 2004 Stock
Option Plan. In February and August 2005, Director Ostergren received a stock
award of 1,425 shares of Common Stock valued at $28,073 and 311 shares of Common
Stock valued at $5,987, respectively. In August 2005, Director Hellweg received
a stock award of 1,736 shares of Common Stock valued at $33,418. Grants of
stock
awards and options vest at the rate of 20% one year after the date of award
or
grant and 20% annually thereafter and become immediately 100% vested upon death,
disability, or termination of service following a change in control as defined
in the respective plan. See section captioned “Option Grants During the 2005
Fiscal Year” of this Proxy Statement for information related to stock option
grants to Shaun Burke during 2005.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Since
August 2002, the Compensation Committee of the Board has consisted of all
non-employee directors of the Bank. During the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005, Mr. Jack L. Barham served on the Compensation Committee, and for many
years until his retirement in 1995, he had been an officer of the Bank. Mr.
Barham is the only member of the Compensation Committee during 2005 who was
formerly an officer of the Company or the Bank. Prior to March 2005, Mr. Don
M.
Gibson served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and
the Bank, but during 2005 he was not a member of the Compensation Committee.
In
addition, Shaun Burke, the current President and Chief Executive Officer of
the
Company and the Bank, did not serve as a member of the Compensation Committee
during 2005.
Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The
Compensation Committee, together with the full Board, has designed the
compensation and benefit plans for all employees, executive officers and
directors in order to attract and retain individuals who have the skills,
experience and work ethic to provide a coordinated work force that will
effectively and efficiently carry out the policies adopted by the Board and
to
manage the Company and the Bank to meet the Company’s mission, goals and
objectives.
To
determine the compensation and benefit plans of employees, executive officers
and directors, the Compensation Committee reviews industry compensation
statistics based on our asset size, makes cost of living adjustments, and
establishes salary ranges for each senior officer, and fees for the Board.
Management then determines, and is responsible to the Compensation Committee
for, salary ranges for junior level officers and staff. The Compensation
Committee then reviews (i) the financial performance of the Bank over the most
recently completed fiscal year (including ROA, ROE, G & A expense, CAMELS
rating, quality of assets, risk exposure and compliance rating) compared to
results at comparable companies within the industry, and (ii) the
responsibilities and performance of each senior officer and the salary
compensation levels of each officer compared to like positions at comparable
companies within the industry. The Compensation Committee evaluates all factors
subjectively in the sense that they do not attempt to tie any factors to a
specific level of compensation.
All
employees and officers may participate on an equal, non-discriminatory basis
in
the Bank’s medical insurance plan, long-term disability plan and group life
insurance plan. The Bank also provides all employees and officers with the
opportunity to participate in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”), and a
contributory 401 (k) tax-deferred savings plan. The Compensation Committee
of
the Bank recommends all compensation and benefit plans to the full Board for
approval annually.
Stock
Option and Restricted Stock Award Plans.
The
1998 Stock Option Plan (“SOP”) and the Restricted Stock Plan (“RSP”) are
designed to reward Board members and senior officers for the future long-term
performance of the Company, based on the responsibilities of the Board members
and senior officers to manage the Bank and the Company. The 2000 Stock
Compensation Plan, the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan, and the 2004 Stock Option
Plan were adopted in February 2000, March 2001, and May 2004, respectively,
and
are also designed to reward Board members and senior officers for the future
long-term performance of the Company, based on the responsibilities of the
Board
members and senior officers to manage the Bank and the Company.
Report
of Chief Executive Officer Compensation.
The
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) is determined by the
Compensation Committee, without the CEO participating in any discussions
relating to such compensation, and is based on the same factors as those applied
to other officers and employees of the Bank; however, more emphasis is placed
on
the general health and financial performance of the Bank and the Company. The
CEO’s compensation package reflects a range based on like-sized, like-position
comparables within the industry and the geographical region, tempered by the
performance of the individual and the Company. Stock awards and option grants
under the stock option and restricted stock award plans described above provide
incentive, but should not replace, or override, maintenance of the compensation
range established from the comparables.
Mr.
Don
Gibson served as the President and CEO of the Company until his retirement
effective February 28, 2005, and he received a base salary of $200,000 during
this period, which is proportionately equal to the salary he received during
calendar year 2004 for such period. In addition to serving as the President
and
CEO of the Bank since March 2004, Mr. Shaun Burke became the President and
CEO
of the Company on February 28, 2005 following Mr. Gibson’s retirement. As of
March 9, 2004, the Bank entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Burke
pursuant to which Mr. Burke agreed to serve as the Bank’s President and CEO at
an annual base salary of $225,000, which the Bank’s Board may increase from time
to time on an annual basis. During calendar year 2005, Mr. Burke’s annual base
salary remained at $225,000. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement,
Mr. Burke also received a bonus of $75,000 (the maximum amount of such bonus)
during 2005 as a result of achieving certain earnings per share benchmarks
during 2005. He also received options to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock
during 2005. See the section titled “Employment Agreements” of this Proxy
Statement for more detail of the employment agreement with Mr. Burke and the
section titled “Option Grants During the 2005 Fiscal Year” for more detail
regarding the stock options granted to Mr. Burke.
THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Jack
L. Barham
|
Gregory
V. Ostergren
|
Wayne
V. Barnes
|
Tim
Rosenbury
|
Kurt
D. Hellweg
|
James
L. Sivils, III
|
Gary
Lipscomb
|
|
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information with respect to the annual compensation
received for the periods indicated for services rendered in all capacities
to
the Company and the Bank by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and
the
former Chief Executive Officer of the Company who served in such capacity until
February 28, 2005 (the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”). During the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2005, no other person served as the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and no executive officer of either the Bank or the
Company received an annual salary and bonus during fiscal year ended December
31, 2005 that exceeded $100,000 for services rendered in all capacities to
the
Bank or the Company.
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
(10)
|
Annual
Compensation
|
Long
Term Compensation
|
|
Salary
|
Bonus
|
Other
Annual
Compensation
|
Awards
|
|
Restricted
Stock
Awards
|
Securities
Underlying
Options
|
All
Other
Compensation
|
Shaun
A. Burke, President and CEO(4)
|
2005
2004
Dec/03
2003
|
$240,600(1)
$195,452(1)
----
----
|
$75,000
----
----
----
|
----
----
----
----
|
----
----
----
----
|
20,000(2)
25,000(3)
----
----
|
$30,552(5)
----
----
----
|
Don
M. Gibson
Former
President and CEO(6)
|
2005
2004
Dec/03
2003
|
$45,218(1)
215,600(1)
107,250(1)
209,000(1)
|
----
----
----
----
|
----
----
----
----
|
----
----
----
----
|
----
----
----
10,000(7)
|
----
$43,885(8)
15,111(9)
----
|
______________________
(1)
|
Includes
director fees for Mr. Burke of $15,600 for fiscal 2005 and $13,000
for
fiscal 2004; and for Mr. Gibson of $15,600, $15,600, $7,250, and
$9,000
for fiscal 2005, for fiscal 2004, six month transition period ended
December 31, 2003, and fiscal period ended June 30, 2003,
respectively.
|
(2)
|
Consists
of a grant on March 17, 2005 of options to acquire 10,000 shares
of Common
Stock and a grant on December 16, 2005 of options to acquire 10,000
shares
of Common Stock. Such options vest at 20% per year beginning March
17,
2006 and December 16, 2006, respectively, are exercisable at $23.20
per
share and $28.12 per share, respectively, and have a ten year
term.
|
(3)
|
Consists
of a grant on March 9, 2004 of options to acquire 25,000 shares of
Common
Stock. Such options vest at 20% per year beginning March 9, 2005,
are
exercisable at $19.62 per share and have a ten year
term.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Burke was appointed Senior Executive Vice President of the Company
and
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank in March 2004.
Prior to
such appointment, Mr. Burke was not an officer or employee of the
Company.
Effective February 28, 2005, Mr. Burke was appointed President and
CEO of
the Company.
|
(5)
|
Consists
of 1,094 shares of Common Stock allocated under the ESOP at a per
share
price issuance of $27.90.
|
(6)
|
Mr.
Gibson retired as President and CEO of the Company on February 28,
2005.
|
(7)
|
Consists
of a grant of options to acquire 10,000 shares of Common Stock during
fiscal year ended June 30, 2003. Such options vest at 20% per year
beginning February 20, 2004, are exercisable at $15.31 per share
and have
a ten year term.
|
(8)
|
Consists
of 1,824 shares of Common Stock allocated under the ESOP at a per
share
price issuance of $24.06.
|
(9)
|
Consists
of 785 shares of Common Stock allocated under the ESOP at a per share
price on issuance of $19.25.
|
(10)
|
The
compensation reported for the NEOs in the top two rows represents
compensation paid during the calendar year 2005 and calendar year
2004,
respectively. The Company elected to convert from a June 30 fiscal
year
end to a December 31 calendar year end in 2003. The compensation
reported
in the third row, if applicable, represents the compensation paid
to NEOs
during the six-month transition period ended December 31, 2003. The
compensation reported in the fourth row, if applicable, represents
compensation paid to the NEOs during the Company’s previous fiscal period
ended June 30, 2003.
|
Employment
Agreements
As
to the
Named Executive Officers in the Summary Compensation Table above, the Bank
has
entered into a written employment agreement with Mr. Shaun Burke dated as of
March 9, 2004. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Burke will serve as the Bank’s
President and CEO (and other duties assigned to him by the Bank’s Board of
Directors (the “Bank’s Board”) for a term of three (3) years and additional one
year extensions as provided in such agreement. During the term of this
agreement, Mr. Burke shall receive a base salary of $225,000, which will be
reviewed annually, and may be increased, by the Bank’s Board at its discretion.
Mr. Burke may also receive a bonus during each year of the agreement based
on
the achievement of certain annual loan production quotas during the first year
of this agreement and certain earnings per share benchmarks during the second
and third years of this agreement (up to a maximum of $75,000 per year).
If
Mr.
Burke’s employment is terminated by the Bank without “Cause” or by Mr. Burke for
“Good Reason” (as such terms are defined in the agreement), Mr. Burke will
receive the base salary for the remaining term of this agreement when such
amounts become due. Upon a “Change of Control” (as defined in the agreement),
and if Mr. Burke’s employment is terminated for any reason (other than his death
or the expiration of the term of this agreement) at any time within the greater
of twelve months or the then remaining term of this agreement after the Change
of Control is consummated, Mr. Burke will receive a lump sum payment equal
to
2.99 times his base salary and bonus. If Mr. Burke voluntarily terminates his
employment in connection with, or within 12 months after, a Change of Control
and such Change of Control was at any time opposed by the Bank’s Board, then Mr.
Burke will be entitled to receive the compensation described in the previous
two
sentences.
Option
Grants During the 2005 Fiscal Year
The
following table sets forth options to acquire shares of Common Stock which
were
granted during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 to the Named Executive
Officers. No stock appreciation rights were granted during the last fiscal
year.
Individual
Grants (1)
|
Potential
Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation
for
Option
Term (10 years)(3)
|
Name
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Options Granted
(#)
|
Percent
of Total Options Granted to Employees in Fiscal
Year
|
Exercise
or Base Price ($/Share)(2)
|
Expiration
Date
|
5%($)
|
10%($)
|
Shaun
A. Burke
|
10,000
|
24%
|
$23.20
|
03/17/15
|
$145,906
|
$369,748
|
|
10,000
|
24%
|
$28.12
|
12/22/15
|
$176,845
|
$448,160
|
(1)
|
Options
vest at 20% annually beginning the first year after the date of grant
(March 17, 2005 and December 22, 2005, respectively, for the two
grants
listed above) and have a ten year term. However, the options will
terminate earlier if the optionee ceases service with the Company
and the
Bank.
|
(2)
|
The
exercise price for all stock option grants is the fair market value
of the
Common Stock on the date of grant.
|
(3)
|
The
assumed 5% and 10% rates of stock price appreciation are provided
in
accordance with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
do not
represent the Company’s estimate or projection of its Common Stock price.
Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are dependent on
the
future performance of the Common Stock, overall market conditions
and the
option holders’ continued employment through the vesting period. Unless
the market price of its Common Stock appreciates over the option
term, no
value will be realized from the option grants made to this executive
officer. The potential realizable values shown in the table are calculated
by assuming that the estimated fair market value of the Common Stock
on
the date of grant increases by 5% and 10%, respectively, during each
year
of the option term.
|
Aggregated
Option Exercises In The Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option
Values
The
following table presents (i) the shares of Common Stock exercised by each NEO
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and the value realized from
such
exercise, (ii) the unexercised stock options for Common Stock of the Company
held by each Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2005, and (iii) the
value of such unexercised stock options as of December 31, 2005.
Name
|
Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise(#)
|
Value
Realized($)(1)
|
Number
of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options/SARs
at FY-End
(#)
Exercisable /
Unexercisable
|
Value
of Unexercised in-the-
Money
Options/SARs at FY-
End
($) Exercisable /
Unexercisable(2)
|
Shaun
A. Burke
|
5,000
|
$31,900
|
0/40,000
|
$0/$210,400
|
Don
M. Gibson
|
5,000
|
$43,960
|
0/12,000
|
$0/$334,800
|
(1) |
Calculated
based on the difference between the option exercise price and the
closing
price of the Common Stock on the date of exercise multiplied by the
number
of shares to which the exercise
relates.
|
(2) |
Calculated
by multiplying the closing price of $27.90 for the Common Stock on
December 31, 2005 (as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System),
less
the option exercise price, by the total number of shares under
option.
|
Indebtedness
of Management and Directors and Transactions with Certain Related
Persons
Loans
made to a director or executive officer in excess of the greater of $25,000
or
5% of the Company’s capital and surplus (up to a maximum of $500,000) must be
approved in advance by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board
of
Directors. The Bank, like other financial institutions, provides loans to its
officers, directors, and employees to purchase or refinance personal residences
as well as consumer loans. At the May 20, 2004 Board meeting, the Board approved
a new employee mortgage loan program (the “New Loan Program”) as an additional
benefit to eligible Bank directors and employees. The New Loan Program provides
mortgage loans at favorable interest rates, namely a one-year adjustable rate
mortgage priced at one percent over the bank’s cost of funds. The purpose of the
loan must be to purchase or refinance a primary residence (i.e., no investment
properties). All full-time employees that have completed the 90-day probation
period are eligible to participate in this loan program. Underwriting includes
standard application and financial disclosures, which must qualify to standard
secondary market requirements. Borrower is responsible for all third party
closing costs. Payments must be automatically deducted from an account
maintained at the Bank and tax and insurance escrows required. The index rate
is
the Bank’s all-in cost of funds plus a margin of 1%. The index will be the last
month-end calculation within 45 days prior to closing. The maximum adjustment
per year is 2% with a 6% lifetime maximum. Each loan has up to a 30-year
note/amortization. If borrower’s employment is terminated for any reason, the
rate and term converts immediately to the Bank’s current secondary market
one-year ARM product. Other than the interest rate with respect to the New
Loan
Program, all loans provided under the New Loan Program and any other loans
provided to directors and executive officers have been made in the ordinary
course of business, on substantially the same terms and collateral as those
of
comparable transactions prevailing at the time, and, in the opinion of
management of the Company, do not involve more that the normal risk of
collectibility or present other unfavorable features.
No
directors, executive officers or their affiliates had aggregate indebtedness
to
the Company or the Bank on below market rate loans exceeding $60,000 at any
time
since January 1, 2005 except as noted in the following table.
Name
|
Position
|
Date
of
Loan
|
Largest
Amount
Outstanding
Since
01/01/05
|
Balance
as
of
12/31/05
|
Interest
Rate
at
12/31/05
|
Type
|
Shaun
A. Burke
|
CEO
and President
|
09/28/04
|
$473,436
|
$464,036
|
3.875%
|
Home
Mortgage
|
James
L. Sivils, III
|
Director
|
09/28/04
|
474,433
|
465,013
|
3.875%
|
Home
Mortgage
|
Bruce
Winston
|
Senior
Vice President and CFO
|
12/27/04
|
123,193
|
119,525
|
4.00%
|
Home
Mortgage
|
Stock
Performance Graph
Set
forth
below is a stock performance graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder
return on the Common Stock with (a) the cumulative total stockholder return
on
stocks included in The Nasdaq - Total U.S. Index and (b) the cumulative total
stockholder return on stocks included in The Nasdaq Bank Index. All three
investment comparisons assume the investment of $100 as of the close of business
on December 31, 2000 and the hypothetical value of that investment as of the
Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005,
assuming that all dividends were reinvested. The graph reflects the historical
performance of the Common Stock, and, as a result, may not be indicative of
possible future performance of the Common Stock. The data used to compile this
graph was obtained from NASDAQ.
[Missing
Graphic Reference]
|
|
Period
Ending
|
|
|
|
Index
|
12/31/00
|
12/31/01
|
12/31/02
|
12/31/03
|
12/31/04
|
12/31/05
|
Guaranty
Federal Bancshares, Inc.
|
100.00
|
118.88
|
145.23
|
185.20
|
238.81
|
276.92
|
NASDAQ
- Total US
|
100.00
|
79.32
|
54.84
|
81.99
|
89.23
|
91.12
|
NASDAQ
Bank Index
|
100.00
|
108.27
|
110.87
|
142.62
|
163.22
|
159.40
|
The
following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2005 with respect
to
compensation plans under which shares of our Common Stock may be
issued:
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
Plan
Category
|
(a)
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
|
(b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants
and rights
|
(c)
Number
of securities remaining available
for
future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities
reflected
in column (a))
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
|
305,001
|
15.56
|
230,000
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
34,875
|
16.50
|
1,498
|
Totals
|
339,876
|
15.66
|
231,498
|
Description
of Stock Plans Not Approved by Stockholders
2000
Stock Compensation Plan.
During
the year ended June 30, 2000, the directors of the Company established the
2000
Stock Compensation Plan (the “2000 SCP”) with both a stock award component and a
stock option component. A
committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors comprised solely of independent
directors (the “Committee”), administers this plan and the 2001 SCP (discussed
below). Stock
options awarded under the plan are considered non-qualified for federal income
tax purposes. Officers, directors and employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries are eligible under the plan. Stock
awards and stock options vest at the rate of 20% per year over a five-year
period,
become
fully vested in the event of a “change in control” as defined in the plan, and
expire no later than ten years from the date of grant.
In
addition, the price of the stock options may not be less than the market value
of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant.
Under
the stock award component of this plan, the Committee awarded 7,125 restricted
shares of the Company’s Common Stock. As of December 31, 2005,
there
are 1,425 restricted shares in this plan that are not vested. There have
been
17,875
options granted under this
plan at
an
exercise price of $10.50
per share. The
maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock permitted to be awarded
under this plan (25,000) have been awarded. Previously issued awards or options
which expire, become unexercisable, or are forfeited prior to their exercise
may
be granted as new awards or options under the plan for the number of shares
which were subject to such expired or forfeited awards or options.
2001
Stock Compensation Plan.
During
the year ended June 30, 2001, the directors of the Company established the
2001
Stock Compensation Plan (the “2001 SCP”) with both a stock award component and a
stock option component. Stock options awarded under the plan are considered
non-qualified for federal income tax purposes. Officers, directors and employees
of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible under the plan. Stock
awards and stock options vest at the rate of 20% per year over a five year
period,
become
fully vested in the event of a “change in control” as defined in the plan, and
expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. In
addition, the price of the stock options may not be less than the market value
of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant, and the stock options expire
no later than ten years from the date of grant. Under
the
stock award component of this plan, the Committee awarded 10,239
restricted shares
of
the Company’s Common Stock. As of December 31, 2005, 4,094 of the
shares
in this plan are not vested, and
no
options
have
been
granted
under
this
plan.
The
maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock permitted to be awarded
under this plan is 25,000 shares.
Previously issued awards or options which expire, become exercisable, or are
forfeited prior to their exercise may be granted as new awards or options under
the plan for the number of shares which were subject to such expired or
forfeited awards or options.
2003
Stock Option Agreement. During the
period ended December 31, 2003, the independent directors of the Company
authorized the issuance of 5,000 stock options as an employment inducement
to a
new officer of the Bank pursuant to a stock option agreement. Stock
options awarded under this agreement are considered non-qualified for
federal income tax purposes, vest at the rate of 20% per year over a five year
period, become fully vested in the event of a “change in control” as defined in
the agreement and expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. In
addition, pursuant to the term of the stock option agreement which requires
that
the price of the stock options granted thereunder may not be less than the
market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, all of these
options were granted at an exercise price of $17.20 per share.
2004
Stock Option Agreement.
Pursuant
to the authorization of the independent directors of the Company, 25,000 stock
options were issued by the Company on March 9, 2004 as an employment inducement
to a new officer (Shaun Burke) of the Bank and the Company under an individual
stock option agreement. Stock options awarded under this agreement are
considered non qualified for federal income tax purposes, vest at the rate
of
20% per year over a five year period, become fully vested in the event of a
“change in control” as defined in the agreement and expire no later than ten
years from the date of grant. In addition, pursuant to the term of the stock
option agreement which requires that the price of the stock options granted
thereunder may not be less than the market value of the Company’s Common Stock
on the date of grant, all of these options were granted at an exercise price
of
$19.62 per share.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The
Audit
Committee of the Board is composed of seven directors. The Board has determined
that each of these directors is independent under the Marketplace Rules of
NASD.
In particular, each of these directors is independent as defined under Rule
4200(a)(15) and Rule 4350(d)(2)(A)(ii). The Board has also determined that
Mr.
Lipscomb qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert as defined by the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Only
this paragraph of the Report of the Audit Committee shall be incorporated by
reference into the Company’s Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the SEC under
the Exchange Act, notwithstanding the incorporation by reference of this Report
of the Audit Committee into such filing.
The
Audit
Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Company’s Board of
Directors. A copy of the charter is included as Appendix B to the Prior Year
Proxy Statement.
The
primary duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to (i) monitor
the Company’s financial reporting process and systems of internal control, (ii)
monitor the independence and performance of the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm and outsourced internal auditors, and (iii) assure that
management, the board of directors, the outsourced internal auditors and the
independent auditors have the opportunity to communicate with one
another.
The
Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial
statements with management and has discussed with the independent registered
public accounting firm matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees).
The
Audit
Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from BKD,
LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with
Audit
Committees). The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered
public accounting firm that firm’s independence. The Audit Committee has
considered whether the provision of non-audit services is compatible with
maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting
firm.
Based
upon the Audit Committee’s discussions and review described above, the Audit
Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited
consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 for filing with the SEC.
THE
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Jack
L.
Barham
Gary
Lipscomb
Wayne
V.
Barnes
James
L.
Sivils, III
Kurt
D.
Hellweg
Gregory
V. Ostergren
Tim
Rosenbury
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
During
the calendar year ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, BKD, LLP,
the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm during
these periods, provided various audit, audit related and non-audit services,
including tax, to the Company. Set forth below are the aggregate fees billed
for
these services during these periods and a brief description of such
services:
(a) |
Audit
fees:
Aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for the
audits of
the Company’s financial statements and reviews of financial statements
included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q were $84,874 for
calendar year ended December 31, 2005 and $73,862 for the calendar
year
ended December 31, 2004.
|
(b) |
Audit-related
fees:
Aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered related
to audits
of employee benefit plans and consultation on accounting matters
were
$12,449 for the calendar year ended December 31, 2005 and $8,865
for the
calendar year ended December 31,
2004.
|
(c) |
Tax
fees:
Aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered related
to tax
compliance, tax advice and tax consultations were $10,350 for the
calendar
year ended December 31, 2005 and $9,280 for the calendar year ended
December 31, 2004.
|
(d) |
All
other fees:
Aggregate fees billed for all other professional services, including
compliance work, and ESOP and 401(k) plan administration, were $12,225
for
the calendar year ended December 31, 2005, and $14,735 for the calendar
year ended December 31, 2004.
|
The
Audit
Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services to be
provided by BKD, LLP and the estimated fees for these services.
SECOND
PROPOSAL: RATIFICATION OF BKD, LLP AS
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
independent registered public accounting firm for the period ended December
31,
2005 for the Company and its subsidiary, the Bank, were BKD, LLP. In accordance
with its charter, the Audit Committee has selected and appointed BKD, LLP to
continue as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company
for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. As part of good corporate practice,
the Audit Committee and the Company’s Board of Directors are requesting that its
stockholders ratify such appointment. The Audit Committee is not required to
take any action as a result of the outcome of the vote on this proposal. If
the
stockholders do not ratify the appointment, however, the Audit Committee may
investigate the reasons for stockholder rejection and may consider whether
to
retain BKD, LLP or to appoint another independent registered public accounting
firm.
The
Board
of Directors of the Company unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote
FOR the ratification of the appointment of BKD, LLP as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2006.
A
representative of BKD, LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting. The
representative will have an opportunity to make a statement, if so desired,
and
will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
MISCELLANEOUS
The
Board
of Directors is not aware of any business to come before the Annual Meeting
other than those matters described above in this proxy statement. However,
if
any other matters should properly come before the meeting, it is intended that
proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in respect thereof in accordance
with the judgment of the persons named in the accompanying proxy. If the Company
did not have notice of a matter on or before April 24, 2006, it is expected
that
the persons named in the accompanying proxy will exercise discretionary
authority when voting on that matter.
It
is
anticipated that the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the period
ended December 31, 2005, including financial statements, will be mailed on
April
21, 2006, together with this proxy statement, to all stockholders of record
as
of the Record Date. Any stockholder who has not received a copy of the annual
report may obtain a copy by writing to the Secretary of the Company at the
Company’s address as provided at the end of the next section of this proxy
statement.
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS
In
order
to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for next year’s
annual meeting of stockholders, any stockholder proposal to take action at
such
meeting must be received at the Company’s executive offices at 1341 W.
Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri 65807-4181, no later than December 22,
2006.
In
the
event the Company receives notice of a stockholder proposal to take action
at
next year’s annual meeting of stockholders that is not submitted for inclusion
in the Company’s proxy material, or is submitted for inclusion but is properly
excluded from the proxy material, the persons named in the proxy sent by the
Company to its stockholders intend to exercise their discretion to vote on
the
stockholder proposal in accordance with their best judgment if notice of such
proposal is received at the Company’s main office between 60 days and 30 days
prior to the meeting. If next year’s annual meeting is also held on May 24,
2007, then stockholder proposals would have to be delivered to the Company
between March 24, 2007 and April 24, 2007. The Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation provides that if notice of a stockholder proposal to take action
at next year’s annual meeting is not received at the Company’s main office
between 60 days and 30 days prior to the meeting, the proposal will not be
eligible for presentation at that meeting. However, if less than 31 days’ notice
of the annual meeting is provided, a stockholder’s proposal would have to be
received no later than 10 days after notice was mailed to the stockholders
by
the Company for that meeting.
A
COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER
31, 2005, AS FILED WITH THE SEC, WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO
STOCKHOLDERS AS OF THE RECORD DATE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO E. LORENE THOMAS,
SECRETARY, GUARANTY FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC., 1341 WEST BATTLEFIELD,
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI 65807-4181.
Dated:
April 21, 2006
[FORM
OF PROXY]
|X|
PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
PROXY
GUARANTY
FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC.
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May
24, 2006
The
undersigned hereby appoints the Board of Directors of Guaranty Federal
Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), or its designee, with full powers of
substitution, to act as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, to vote
all
shares of Common Stock of the Company which the undersigned is entitled to
vote
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”), to be held at the Clarion
Hotel, 3333 South Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, Missouri, on Wednesday, May
24,
2006, at 6:00 p.m., local time and at any and all adjournments thereof, in
the
following manner: (Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy below. All joint
holders should sign.)
Date_________
Stockholder
Signature ____________________________
Stockholder
Co-holder (if any) ______________________
1. The
election as directors of all nominees listed and the terms indicated (except
as
marked to the contrary below):
Three
Year Terms: Shaun
A.
Burke
Kurt
D.
Hellweg
James
R.
Batten
FOR
[ ] WITHHOLD [ ] FOR
ALL
EXCEPT [ ]
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except”
and write the name(s) in the space provided below.
2. The
ratification of the appointment of BKD, LLP as the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
FOR
[ ] AGAINST
[ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
In
their
discretion, such attorneys and proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
The
Board
of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” all of the above listed nominees and
proposition 2.
THIS
SIGNED PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED,
THIS SIGNED PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSITIONS STATED. IF ANY
OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT SUCH MEETING, THIS SIGNED PROXY WILL BE VOTED
BY
THOSE NAMED IN THIS PROXY IN THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS KNOWS OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE
MEETING.
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Detach
above card, sign, date and mail in postage paid envelope provided.
GUARANTY
FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC.
Should
the above signed be present and elect to vote at the Meeting, or at any
adjournments thereof, and after written notification to the Secretary of the
Company at the Meeting of the stockholder’s decision to terminate this Proxy,
the power of said attorneys and proxies shall be deemed terminated and of no
further force and effect. The undersigned may also revoke this Proxy by filing
a
subsequently dated Proxy or by written notification to the Secretary of the
Company of the stockholder’s decision to terminate this Proxy. The above signed
acknowledges receipt from the Company prior to the execution of this proxy
of a
Notice of Meeting of Stockholders, a Proxy Statement dated April 21, 2006,
and
an Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended December 31,
2005.
Please
sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or any other representative
capacity, please give full title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should
sign.
PLEASE
COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.