March
31,
2006
Dear
Shareholder:
You
are
cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of First Northern
Community Bancorp (the “Company”) on Thursday, April 27, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. The
meeting will be held at First Northern Bank’s Operations Center located at 210
Stratford Avenue in Dixon, California. A reception will follow the
meeting.
At
the
meeting, Shareholders will be asked to elect as directors the nine individuals
nominated by the Board of Directors, to ratify the appointment by the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December
31,
2006, to approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive
Plan
(which will replace the current Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option
Plan and the 2000 Stock Option Plan, each of which are scheduled to terminate
in
February 2007), to approve the amended First Northern Community Bancorp Employee
Stock Purchase Plan (which is currently scheduled to terminate in February
2007), and to approve such other matters as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The following Proxy Statement provides
detailed information about the nominees for director, the independent registered
public accounting firm and other matters regarding the Annual Meeting. Included
with this Proxy Statement is the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005.
The
Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the directors
nominated, “FOR” ratification of the appointment by the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2006, “FOR” the proposal
to approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and
“FOR” the proposal to approve the amended First Northern Community Bancorp
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
It
is
very important that as many shares as possible be represented at the meeting.
Whether
or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we respectfully ask that you
sign
and return the enclosed Proxy in the postage-paid envelope as soon as possible.
So
that
we may provide adequate seating and refreshments, please be sure to indicate
whether or not you plan to attend by completing the bottom portion of the Proxy
form.
We
look
forward to seeing you at the meeting on April 27th.
Sincerely,
Owen
J.
Onsum
President
and Chief Executive Officer
Enclosures
NOTICE
OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
April
27,
2006
To
the
Shareholders of First Northern Community Bancorp:
The
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of First Northern Community Bancorp will be
held
at the First Northern Bank Operations Center, 210 Stratford Avenue, Dixon,
California 95620, on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. to:
1.
|
Elect
the following nine (9) directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting
of
Shareholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified:
|
Lori
J. Aldrete
|
Gregory
DuPratt
|
Foy
S. McNaughton
|
Frank
J. Andrews, Jr.
|
John
F. Hamel
|
Owen
J. Onsum
|
John
M. Carbahal
|
Diane
P. Hamlyn
|
David
W. Schulze
|
2.
|
Ratify
the appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
of Moss
Adams LLP to act as the independent registered public accounting
firm of
First Northern Community Bancorp for the year ending December 31,
2006.
|
3.
|
Approve
the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (which
will
replace the current Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option
Plan
and the 2000 Stock Option Plan, each of which are scheduled to terminate
in February 2007).
|
4.
|
Approve
the amended First Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase
Plan.
|
5.
|
Act
upon such other matters as may properly come before such meeting
or any
adjournment or postponement
thereof.
|
All
of
the above matters are more fully described in the accompanying Proxy
Statement.
Shareholders
of record at the close of business on February 28, 2006, are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment
thereof.
You
are
strongly encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and also to complete, sign,
date and return as promptly as possible, the proxy submitted herewith in the
return envelope provided for your use whether or not you plan to attend the
meeting in person. The giving of such proxy will not affect your right to revoke
such proxy or to vote in person, should you later decide to attend the Annual
Meeting.
BY
ORDER
OF THE
BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS
Frank J. Andrews, Jr. |
Owen J. Onsum |
Chairman of the Board |
President and Chief Executive
Officer |
Dated:
March 31, 2006
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT
YOU
ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN YOUR PROXY
SO THAT
YOUR SHARES MAY BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR
WISHES.
|
Table
of Contents
Annual Meeting of
Shareholders |
1
|
Proposal 1—Nomination and
Election of Directors |
4
|
Committees of the Board of
Directors of FNCBancorp and the Bank |
6
|
Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation |
7
|
Report of Audit
Committee |
7
|
Report
of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on Executive
Compensation |
9
|
Board of Directors
Meetings |
11
|
Compensation of
Directors |
11
|
Executive
Compensation |
13
|
Agreements Between The Bank
and
Executive Officers |
16
|
Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management |
23
|
Section 16(A) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance |
25
|
Stock Performance
Graph |
26
|
Proposal 2—Ratification of the Company’s
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
27
|
Proposal
3—Approval of the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock
Incentive
Plan
|
28
|
Proposal 4—Approval of the amended First
Northern Community Bancorp Employee
Stock Purchase Plan
|
31
|
Information Available to
Shareholders |
34
|
Shareholders
Proposals |
34
|
Other
Matters |
35
|
Appendix A—First Northern
Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan |
|
Appendix B—First Northern Community
Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as
Amended
|
|
Operations
Center Map |
|
FIRST
NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
195
North First Street, Dixon, California 95620
PROXY
STATEMENT
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This
proxy statement (“Proxy Statement”) is furnished to the shareholders of First
Northern Community Bancorp (“FNCBancorp” or the “Company”) in connection with
the solicitation of proxies (each a “Proxy” and collectively, the “Proxies”) to
be used in voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of FNCBancorp to be
held
on April 27, 2006, at First Northern Bank’s Operations Center located at
210 Stratford Avenue, Dixon, California at 7:30 p.m., and at any adjournment
or
postponement thereof (the “Meeting” or “Annual Meeting”). The solicitation of
the Proxy accompanying this Proxy Statement is made by the Board of Directors
of
the Company, and the costs of such solicitation, including the expense of
preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and the
material used in this solicitation of proxies, will be borne by the Company.
It
is contemplated that Proxies will be solicited through the mail, but officers
and staff of the Company may solicit Proxies personally. FNCBancorp may, at
its
discretion, engage the services of a proxy solicitation firm to assist in the
solicitation of proxies. The total expense of this solicitation will be borne
by
FNCBancorp and will include reimbursement paid to brokerage firms and others
for
their expenses in forwarding soliciting material and such expenses as may be
paid to any proxy solicitation firm engaged by FNCBancorp.
It
is
expected that this Proxy Statement and accompanying Notice will be mailed to
shareholders on or about March 30, 2006.
A
Proxy
for the Annual Meeting is enclosed. Any shareholder who executes and delivers
a
Proxy has the right to revoke it at any time before it is voted by filing with
the Corporate Secretary of FNCBancorp an instrument revoking it or a duly
executed Proxy bearing a later date. In addition, a Proxy will be revoked if
the
person executing the Proxy is present at the Annual Meeting and advises the
Chairman of his or her election to vote in person.
The
Proxy
also confers discretionary authority to vote the shares represented thereby
on
any matter that was not known at the time this Proxy Statement was mailed which
may properly be presented for action at the Annual Meeting, including approval
of minutes of the prior Annual Meeting which will not constitute ratification
of
the actions taken at such meeting; action with respect to procedural matters
pertaining to the conduct of the Annual Meeting; and election of any person
to
any office for which a bona fide nominee is named herein, if such nominee is
unable or unwilling to serve.
UNLESS
REVOKED, ALL SHARES REPRESENTED BY A PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXY RECEIVED IN TIME
FOR THE MEETING WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED IN SUCH PROXY OR, IF NOT SPECIFIED,
THEN IN FAVOR OF ELECTION OF NOMINEES
TO THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS, IN FAVOR OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT BY THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE COMPANY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER
31, 2006, IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY
BANCORP 2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE
AMENDED FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN AND IN
THE
DISCRETION OF THE PROXYHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO ALL OTHER PROPOSALS PROPERLY
BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING.
Voting
Rights and Vote Required
Only
shareholders of record at the close of business on February 28, 2006 (the
“Record Date”), will be entitled to vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by
proxy. On the Record Date, there were 7,599,965 shares of common stock of the
Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.
Shareholders
of common stock of FNCBancorp are entitled to one vote for each share held,
except that in the election of Directors, under California law and the bylaws
of
FNCBancorp, each shareholder may be eligible to exercise cumulative voting
rights and may be entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of shares
of common stock of FNCBancorp held by such shareholder multiplied by the number
of directors to be elected, and such shareholder may cast all of such votes
for
a single nominee or may distribute them among two or more nominees. No
shareholder, however, shall be entitled to cumulate votes (in other words,
cast
for any candidate a number of votes greater than the number of shares of common
stock held by such shareholder multiplied by the number of directors to be
elected) unless the name(s) of the candidate(s) has (have) been placed in
nomination prior to voting in accordance with Article III, Section 23
of FNCBancorp’s bylaws (which requires that nominations made other than by the
Board of Directors be made at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to
any meeting of shareholders) and a shareholder has given notice to FNCBancorp
of
an intention to cumulate votes prior to the voting in accordance with
Article II, Section 13 of FNCBancorp’s bylaws. If any shareholder has given
such notice, all shareholders may cumulate their votes for candidates in
nomination, in which event votes represented by Proxies delivered pursuant
to
this Proxy Statement may be cumulated, in the discretion of the Proxyholders,
in
accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors. Discretionary
authority to cumulate votes in such event is, therefore, solicited in this
Proxy
Statement.
The
vote
required to approve each proposal is as follows:
· |
In
the election of directors, the nine nominees receiving the highest
number
of votes will be elected.
|
· |
Ratification
of the appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
of the
independent registered public accounting firm will require the affirmative
vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at the
Meeting.
|
· |
Approval
of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan will require the affirmative vote
of a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the
Meeting.
|
· |
Approval
of the amended First Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase
Plan will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares entitled to vote at the
Meeting.
|
Abstentions
and broker “non-votes” (shares as to which brokerage firms have not received
timely voting instructions from their clients and therefore do not have the
authority to vote at the Meeting) will not count as votes in favor of the
election of directors or any of the other proposals.
Voting
of Proxies--Quorum
The
shares of common stock of FNCBancorp represented by all properly executed
Proxies received in time for the Meeting will be voted in accordance with the
Shareholders’ choices specified therein; provided,
however,
that
where no choices have been specified, the shares will be voted “FOR” the
election of the nine nominees for director recommended by the Board of
Directors, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment by the Audit Committee of
the Board of Directors of Moss Adams LLP as the independent registered public
accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2006, “FOR” the proposal to
approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and
“FOR”
the proposal to approve the amended First Northern Community Bancorp Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, and at the Proxyholder’s discretion, on such other matters,
if any, which may properly come before the Meeting (including any proposal
to
adjourn the Meeting). A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented
either in person or by a properly executed Proxy, will constitute a quorum
at
the Meeting.
Brokers
that have sent proxy soliciting materials to a beneficial owner but have not
received voting instructions from the beneficial owner may nevertheless vote
on
routine matters, including the election of directors and the ratification of
the
appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Moss Adams
LLP
as independent registered public accounting firm, but may not vote on the
proposal to approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive
Plan or the proposal to approve the amended First Northern Community Bancorp
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” are each
included in the determination of the number of shares present and voting for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. A broker “non-vote” occurs
when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not have discretionary
voting power with respect to that item or such item is not routine and has
not
received instructions from the beneficial owner. Abstentions will be included
in
tabulations of the votes cast on proposals presented to the shareholders and
therefore will have the effect of a negative vote. Broker “non-votes” will not
be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast for a proposal,
but will have the effect of a negative vote with respect to the proposal to
approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and
the
proposal to approve the amended First Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock
Purchase Plan.
Revocability
of Proxy
A
Shareholder using the enclosed Proxy may revoke the authority conferred by
the
Proxy at any time before it is exercised by delivering written notice of
revocation to the Secretary of the Company or a duly executed Proxy bearing
a
later date, or by appearing and voting by ballot in person at the Meeting.
In
the event that signed Proxies are returned without voting instructions, shares
represented by such Proxies will be voted “FOR” the election of the directors
nominated, “FOR” ratification of the appointment by the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2006, “FOR” the proposal
to approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and
“FOR” the proposal to approve the amended First Northern Community Bancorp
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and at the Proxyholder’s discretion, on such other
matters, if any, which may properly come before the Meeting (including any
proposal to adjourn the Meeting).
PROPOSAL
1
NOMINATION
AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
FNCBancorp
is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956,
as amended, and is incorporated in the State of California. FNCBancorp’s
principal subsidiary is First Northern Bank of Dixon (the “Bank”), a California
state chartered bank organized under the laws of the State of
California.
At
the
Annual Meeting it will be proposed to elect nine directors of FNCBancorp, each
to hold office until the next annual meeting and until their successors shall
be
elected and qualified. It is the intention of the Proxyholders named in the
enclosed Proxy to vote such Proxies (except those containing contrary
instructions) for the nine nominees named below.
Pursuant
to Article III, Section 23 of the bylaws of FNCBancorp, director
nominations, other than those made by the Board of Directors, shall be made
by
notification in writing delivered or mailed to the President of FNCBancorp
not
less than 30 days or more than 60 days prior to any meeting of
shareholders called for election of directors. The provision also requires
that
the notice contain detailed information necessary to determine if the nominee
is
qualified under Article III, Section 22 of the bylaws. Nominations not
made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article III, Section 23
of FNCBancorp’s bylaws may, in the discretion of the Chairman of the Meeting, be
disregarded, and, upon his instruction, the inspector(s) of election shall
disregard all votes cast for such nominee(s). A copy of Sections 22 and 23
of
Article III of FNCBancorp’s bylaws may be obtained by sending a written request
to: Ms. Lynn Campbell, Corporate Secretary, First Northern Community
Bancorp, 195 North First Street, Dixon, California 95620.
The
Board
of Directors does not anticipate that any of the nominees will be unable to
serve as a director of FNCBancorp, but if that should occur before the Meeting,
the Proxyholders, in their discretion, upon the recommendation of FNCBancorp’s
Board of Directors, reserve the right to substitute as nominee and vote for
another person of their choice in the place and stead of any nominee unable
so
to serve. The Proxyholders reserve the right to cumulate votes for the election
of directors and cast all of such votes for any one or more of the nominees,
to
the exclusion of the others, and in such order of preference as the Proxyholders
may determine in their discretion, based upon the recommendation of the Board
of
Directors.
NOMINEES
The
following table sets forth each of the nominees for election as a director,
their age, their position with FNCBancorp, and the period during which they
have
served as a director of FNCBancorp and the Bank.
Name
|
Age
|
Position
with FNCBancorp
|
Director
of
Bank Since
|
Director
of FNCBancorp
Since
|
Lori
J. Aldrete
|
59
|
Director
|
1995
|
2000
|
Frank
J. Andrews, Jr.
|
57
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
1993
|
2000
|
John
M. Carbahal
|
51
|
Director
|
1996
|
2000
|
Gregory
DuPratt
|
52
|
Director
|
1996
|
2000
|
John
F. Hamel
|
65
|
Director
|
1975
|
2000
|
Diane
P. Hamlyn
|
62
|
Director
|
1985
|
2000
|
Foy
S. McNaughton
|
55
|
Director
|
2000
|
2000
|
Owen
J. Onsum
|
61
|
President,
CEO and Director
|
1996
|
2000
|
David
W. Schulze
|
61
|
Director
|
1978
|
2000
|
Lori
J. Aldrete
is a
principal of ACS Quantum Strategies, LLC (“ACS”), a public affairs, marketing
and communications firm established in July 2001. ACS is headquartered in
Sacramento, California. Ms. Aldrete was Vice President/Corporate Communications
for Catholic Healthcare West from January 2000 to June 2001. Prior to that
time,
Ms. Aldrete was Senior Vice President of the California Association of Hospital
and Health Systems from 1989 to 2000. Ms. Aldrete has worked in the
communications field for more than 30 years and in marketing and public
relations since 1986. She has been a resident of Davis since 1979.
Ms. Aldrete is the Chairman of the Bank’s Marketing Committee and a member
of the Audit and Management Committees.
Frank
J. Andrews, Jr.
is
President of Andrews, Lando & Associates, a real estate development
firm established in 1990, and Manager of Gainsbourgh-Classics LLC since January
1999. Prior to that time, Mr. Andrews was President of Andrews Management
Services for three years and Vice President of Amos & Andrews, Inc.,
for fifteen years. Andrews Management Services and Amos & Andrews, Inc.
are also real estate development companies. Mr. Andrews is a member of the
Bank’s Loan Committee, and is Chairman of the Management Committee.
John
M. Carbahal
is a
Certified Public Accountant and since 1984 has been a principal and shareholder
of Carbahal & Company, Inc., an Accountancy Corporation.
Mr. Carbahal is the Chairman of the Bank’s Audit Committee and a member of
the Asset Management and Trust, and Management Committees.
Gregory
DuPratt
has been
Vice President/General Manager of Ron DuPratt Ford, an automobile dealership
and
family business located in Dixon since 1997. Mr. DuPratt is member of the
Bank’s Audit, Compensation, Information Services, Loan, Marketing, and Profit
Sharing Committees.
John
F. Hamel
served
as the President and Chief Executive Officer of First Northern Bank of Dixon
from 1975 to 1996. Mr. Hamel is presently managing family agricultural
properties. Mr. Hamel is the Chairman of the Bank’s Loan Committee, and a
member of the Bank’s Asset Management and Trust, Director Selection, and Profit
Sharing Committees.
Diane
P. Hamlyn
is the
President and Founder of Davisville Travel, a full service travel agency.
Davisville Travel was established in 1977. Ms. Hamlyn is a member of the
Bank’s Director Selection, Management, Compensation, and Loan
Committees.
Foy
S. McNaughton
is the
President and Chief Executive Officer of McNaughton Newspapers—Davis Enterprise,
Daily Republic, Mountain Democrat (Placerville), Winters Express and Life
Newspapers (El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Cameron Park), a position he has held
since 1985. He has served as the Publisher of the Fairfield Daily Republic
since
1995. Mr. McNaughton has been a resident of Davis since 1973.
Mr. McNaughton is a member of the Bank’s Audit, Compensation, Director
Selection, and Marketing Committees.
Owen
J. Onsum
has been
President and Chief Executive Officer of First Northern Bank of Dixon since
January 1, 1997. He served as Executive Vice President of First Northern
Bank of Dixon from 1982 to 1996. Mr. Onsum has worked for First Northern
Bank of Dixon since 1972 and has lived in Dixon since 1971. Mr. Onsum is a
member of the Bank’s Director Selection, Loan, Management, Marketing, Asset
Management and Trust, and Profit Sharing Committees.
David
W. Schulze
has been
the owner/operator of a family farming operation since 1967. Prior to assuming
that position, Mr. Schulze was involved in property management and
apartment ownership. Mr. Schulze is the Chairman of the Bank’s Compensation
and Asset Management and Trust Committees, and is a member of the Bank’s
Director Selection, Information Services, Loan, and Management
Committees.
None
of
the directors of FNCBancorp were selected pursuant to arrangements or
understandings other than with the directors and shareholders of FNCBancorp
acting within their capacity as such. There are no family relationships between
any of the directors, and none of the directors serve as a director of any
company which has a class of securities registered under, or subject to periodic
reporting requirements of, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
or
any company registered as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
COMMITTEES
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FNCBANCORP AND THE BANK
FNCBancorp
does not have Audit, Nominating or Compensation Committees or committees
performing similar functions. However, the Board of Directors of the Bank has
several standing committees, as discussed below, including Audit, Compensation,
and Director Selection Committees which perform the functions of such committees
for FNCBancorp. The directors of FNCBancorp are also directors of the Bank.
As
such, the Bank committees supervise and review the activities of the Bank,
which
constitute substantially all of the assets of FNCBancorp on a consolidated
basis. Information regarding the committees of the Bank, and the members
thereof, follows.
The
Bank
has a standing Audit Committee composed of Lori J. Aldrete, John M.
Carbahal—Committee Chairman, Gregory DuPratt, and Foy S. McNaughton. The Audit
Committee reviews and oversees the internal audit results for the Bank. The
Audit Committee of the Bank held seven meetings during 2005.
The
Bank
has a standing Management Committee composed of Lori J. Aldrete, Frank J.
Andrews Jr—Committee Chairman, John M. Carbahal, Diane P. Hamlyn, Owen J. Onsum,
and David W. Schulze. The Management Committee held two meetings during 2005
for
the purpose of considering the Bank’s strategic and personnel issues and
reviewing the annual budget.
The
Bank
has a standing Loan Committee composed of Frank J. Andrews, Jr., Gregory
DuPratt, John F. Hamel—Committee Chairman, Diane P. Hamlyn, Owen J. Onsum and
David W. Schulze. The Loan Committee held 12 meetings during 2005 for the
purpose of approving loans and loan policy.
The
Bank
has a standing Profit Sharing Committee composed of Gregory DuPratt, John F.
Hamel and Owen J. Onsum. The Profit Sharing Committee held two meetings during
2005 for the purpose of considering plan administration and
investments.
The
Bank
has a standing Marketing Committee composed of Lori J. Aldrete—Committee
Chairman, Gregory DuPratt, Foy S. McNaughton, and Owen J. Onsum. The Marketing
Committee held one meeting during 2005 for the purpose of considering the Bank’s
marketing plan.
The
Bank
has a standing Compensation Committee composed of Gregory DuPratt, Diane P.
Hamlyn, Foy S. McNaughton and David W. Schulze—Committee Chairman. The
Compensation Committee held three meetings during 2005 for the purpose of
reviewing and recommending to the Bank’s Board of Directors the Bank’s
compensation objectives and policies and administering FNCBancorp’s stock
plans.
The
Bank
has a standing Information Services Committee composed of Gregory DuPratt and
David W. Schulze. The Information Services Committee held three meetings during
2005 for the purpose of reviewing the Bank’s data processing needs.
The
Bank
has a standing Asset Management and Trust Committee composed of John M.
Carbahal, John F. Hamel, Owen J. Onsum and David W. Schulze—Committee Chairman.
The Asset Management and Trust Committee held four meetings during 2005 for
the
purpose of reviewing the general status of the Bank’s Asset Management and Trust
Department.
The
Bank
has a standing Director Selection Committee composed of John F. Hamel, Diane
P.
Hamlyn, Foy S. McNaughton, Owen J. Onsum, and David W. Schulze. The Director
Selection Committee held two meetings during 2005. The purpose of the committee
is to review and nominate potential candidates for directors of the Bank and
FNCBancorp as needed. This committee fulfills the responsibilities of a director
nominating committee for the Company.
The
Director Selection Committee will consider candidates for directors of the
Bank
and FNCBancorp nominated by the Company’s shareholders, directors, officers and
from other sources. In evaluating candidates, the Director Selection Committee
considers the attributes of the candidate (including skills, experience,
diversity, age and legal and regulatory requirements) and the needs of the
Board
of Directors, and will review all candidates in the same manner, regardless
of
the source of the recommendation. The Director Selection Committee will consider
candidates nominated by the shareholders of the Company if the nomination is
made in writing in accordance with the procedures for nominating directors
of
FNCBancorp, as described above in this Proxy Statement. These nomination
procedures are designed to give the Director Selection Committee advance notice
of competing nominations, if any, and the qualifications of nominees, and may
have the effect of precluding third-party nominations if the nomination
procedures are not followed. The
Director Selection Committee does not have a charter. The Director Selection
Committee of the Bank consists of four “independent directors”, as defined in
Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD’s listing standards. Owen J. Onsum is not an
independent director.
The
Bank
has several other committees that meet on an as needed basis.
If
you
wish to communicate with the Board of Directors you may send correspondence
to
the Corporate Secretary, First Northern Community Bancorp, 195 North First
Street, Dixon, California 95620. The Corporate Secretary will submit your
correspondence to the Board of Directors or the appropriate committee, as
applicable.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank consists of Messrs.
DuPratt, McNaughton and Schulze and Ms. Hamlyn, none of whom is or has been
an
officer or employee of the Bank or FNCBancorp. During 2005, members of the
Compensation Committee had loans or other extensions of credit outstanding
from
the Bank. These loans were made in the ordinary course of business and on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those
prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons. These
loans are exempt from the loan prohibitions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present
other
unfavorable features.
REPORT
OF AUDIT COMMITTEE
The
Audit
Committee oversees relevant accounting, risk assessment, risk management and
regulatory matters. It meets with the Bank’s and the Company’s internal auditors
and its independent registered public accounting firm to review the scope of
their work as well as to review quarterly and annual financial statements and
regulatory and public disclosures with the officers in charge of financial
reporting, control and disclosure functions. After reviewing the independent
registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, partner rotation and
independence, the Audit Committee appoints the independent registered public
accounting firm subject to shareholder ratification, if required or sought.
In
addition, the Audit Committee reviews reports of examination conducted by
regulatory agencies and follows up with management concerning any
recommendations and required corrective action, or to assess the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting.
The
Audit
Committee reports regularly to the Boards of Directors of the Bank and the
Company and has the authority to select, retain, terminate and approve the
fees
and other retention terms of special counsel or other experts or consultants,
as
it deems appropriate and necessary to perform its duties.
In
performing its functions, as outlined in the Audit Committee Charter approved
annually by the Bank’s Board of Directors, the Audit Committee of the Bank acts
only in an oversight capacity and necessarily relies on the work and assurances
of management, which has the primary responsibility for financial statements
and
reports, and of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm,
who, in their report, express an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s
annual financial statements to generally accepted accounting
principles.
In
connection with the December 31, 2005 financial statements of FNCBancorp, the
Audit Committee of the Bank: (1) reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements with management; (2) discussed with the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm the matters required by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, as may be modified or supplemented; and (3) received the
written disclosures and the letter from the Company’s independent registered
accounting firm required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as
may
be modified or supplemented and has discussed with the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm such firm’s independence. Based upon these
reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee of the Bank recommended to the
Board of Directors that the audited financial statements of FNCBancorp be
included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous or future
filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
that might incorporate this Proxy Statement or future filings with the SEC,
in
whole or in part, this report of the Audit Committee of the Bank shall not
be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into any such filings except to the
extent that it is specifically incorporated by reference therein.
The
Audit
Committee of the Bank consists of four “independent directors”, as defined in
Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD’s listing standards: Chairman John M. Carbahal,
Lori J. Aldrete, Gregory DuPratt and Foy S. McNaughton. The Board of Directors
has determined that Mr. Carbahal is an independent director (as defined in
Item
7(d)(e3)(iv) of Schedule 14A) who is considered a financial expert (as defined
in Section 401(h) of Regulation S-K).
|
Respectfully
submitted,
|
|
|
John
M. Carbahal
|
|
|
Lori
J. Aldrete
|
|
|
Gregory
DuPratt
|
|
|
Foy
S. McNaughton
|
|
Audit
and Non-Audit Fees
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for professional services rendered for the
audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 and
the reviews of the financial statement included in the Company’s Forms 10-Q
during such periods were $325,730 and $385,000, respectively.
Audit-Related
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for assurance and related services that are
reasonably related to the performance of the audit and review of the Company’s
quarterly and annual financial statements, including audits of financial
statements of certain employee benefit plans, review of registration statements,
and permitted internal audit outsourcing, for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 were
$11,000 and $13,650, respectively.
Tax
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 were
$33,150 and $26,238 respectively.
All
Other Fees
The
aggregate fees billed for all other fees for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 were
$0.
The
Audit
Committee of the Bank considered whether the provision of the services other
than the audit services is compatible with maintaining KPMG LLP’s independence.
Pre-Approval
Policy for Services Provided by our Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
The
Audit
Committee has adopted a policy for pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit
services by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit
Committee will consider annually and, if appropriate, approve the provision
of
audit services by its independent registered public accounting firm and consider
and, if appropriate, pre-approve the provision of certain defined audit and
non-audit services. The Audit Committee will also consider on a case-by-case
basis and, if appropriate, approve specific engagements that are not otherwise
pre-approved. The Audit Committee approved 100% of the non-audit services
performed by KPMG LLP in 2005.
Any
proposed engagement that does not fit within the definition of a pre-approved
service may be presented to the Audit Committee for consideration at its next
regular meeting or, if earlier consideration is required, to the Audit Committee
or one or more of its members. The member or members to whom such authority
is
delegated shall report any specific approval of services at its next regular
meeting. The Audit Committee will regularly review summary reports detailing
all
services being provided by its independent registered public accounting
firm.
REPORT
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE
BANK ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Role
of the Compensation Committee
The
Compensation Committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors (a) reviews and
recommends compensation objectives and policies to the Bank’s Board of
Directors, (b) administers FNCBancorp’s stock plans, and (c) reviews and
recommends the actual compensation of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer. The
Compensation Committee is assisted by the Bank’s human resources personnel and
by a compensation consulting firm whose statistical analyses and other
compensation information permit the Committee to compare the Bank’s compensation
policies with compensation levels and perquisites of other banking companies
of
similar size in California.
Compensation
Philosophy:
The
Bank
seeks to design compensation programs that are fair and competitive and that
attract, motivate, and retain exceptional employees throughout the Bank, while
maintaining a strong relationship between the overall performance of the Bank
and the level of compensation. Furthermore, the Bank believes that compensation
programs, especially those for top executives, should be designed in a manner
that aligns employee interests with those of the Company’s shareholders. The
executive compensation programs have the following objectives:
· |
Base
salaries will be targeted at the 50th
percentile of base salaries of the Bank’s selected peer
group.
|
· |
Incentive
compensation will be targeted between the 50th
and 75th
percentiles of incentive compensation of the Bank’s selected peer group
and payment of such incentive compensation will be based on individual,
unit, or total Bank performance. At least 50% of an executive’s incentive
compensation will be based on overall Bank
results.
|
· |
Stock
options will be granted under the incentive stock option plan by
the
Committee when appropriate to advance the Bank’s compensation
objectives.
|
Compensation
Components
Base
Salary
The
Chief
Executive Officer’s salary is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee
with reference to several surveys of salaries paid to executives with similar
responsibilities at comparable banking companies. The banking companies against
which the Bank compares its compensation are not necessarily those included
in
the indices used to compare the shareholder return in the Stock Performance
Chart appearing elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. Moreover, the banking
companies selected by the Compensation Committee for the compensation comparison
can vary from year to year based upon market conditions and changes in both
the
Bank’s and the compared banking companies’ businesses over time. The Bank
believes that base salaries targeted at the 50th
percentile of the selected peer group levels are adequate to attract and retain
qualified executives necessary for the successful conduct and growth of the
Bank’s businesses.
Annual
Incentive compensation
The
Compensation Committee annually reviews and recommends an Incentive Compensation
Plan for the employees of the Bank. The Bank’s Incentive Compensation Plan seeks
to motivate executives to work effectively to achieve the Bank’s financial
performance objectives and to reward executives when objectives are met. The
Bank’s Incentive Compensation Plan acknowledges Bank-wide, individual and unit
performance, with targeted incentive compensation levels between the
50th
and
75th
percentile of the selected peer group levels. At least 50% of the executive’s
incentive compensation is tied directly to overall Bank results. Under the
Bank’s Incentive Compensation Plan all employees, including the Chief Executive
Officer and all other executive officers, are eligible to receive annual cash
incentive compensation at the end of each year, if performance targets, set
annually by the Management Committee at the beginning of each year, are
achieved. All of the Chief Executive Officer’s incentive compensation is tied
directly to overall Bank results using return on assets and return on equity
performance targets. The overall incentive compensation pool is created based
on
the maximum percentages of each employee’s base salary that can be earned as
incentive compensation. Each employee is eligible to receive a payout based
on
the achievement of certain Company performance targets established by the
Management Committee for each year.
Each
employee’s incentive payout calculation is adjusted based on performance. For
every 2% variance from targeted performance, the incentive payout changes by
5%.
In 2005, the Bank achieved 112% of the targeted performance targets established
by the Management Committee. As a result, Mr. Onsum, who is eligible to receive
75% of his base salary at 100% of performance target as incentive compensation,
received 95% of his 2005 base salary as annual incentive compensation payable
in
2006.
Option
and Stock Purchase Plans
Under
the
Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan, the Compensation Committee, in its discretion,
may grant key employees options to purchase the common stock of the Company.
The
Chief Executive Officer’s grant is based on overall Bank results. The grants are
intended to recruit, retain and motivate key employees and to align employee
interests with the interests of the shareholders of FNCBancorp. The Compensation
Committee’s decision to grant stock options takes into account such factors
as:
· |
Total
awards received to date by individual
employees;
|
· |
The
total stock award to be made and the employee’s percentage participation
in that award;
|
· |
The
employee’s direct ownership of FNCBancorp common
stock;
|
· |
The
number of the employee’s options that are vested and non-vested;
and
|
· |
The
number of options outstanding as a percentage of total shares
outstanding.
|
The
Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan limits the total number of shares subject to
options that may be granted to any individual participant in any year to a
maximum of 50,000 shares.
The
First
Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan enables eligible
employees, including officers, to purchase shares of FNCBancorp common stock
at
a minimum 15% discount. The shares are purchased at a price of 85% of the
shares’ fair market value on (a) the last trading day before the beginning of
the participation period, or (b) the last trading day before the end of the
participation period, whichever amount is less. Fair market value is determined
by a plan administrator selected by FNCBancorp’s Board. The amount the employee
may purchase in any year may not exceed 10% of the employee’s annual
compensation for such year. The First Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock
Purchase Plan will terminate by its terms in February 2007. This proxy statement
includes a proposal to approve the amended First Northern Community Bancorp
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The amendments to the First Northern Community
Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan will, if approved, extend this termination
date until March 2016 and reduce the number of shares eligible for issuance
under the Plan. Please see Proposal 4 below for a description of this
proposal.
The
2000
Stock Option Plan will terminate by its terms in February 2007. This proxy
statement includes a proposal to approve the First Northern Community Bancorp
2006 Stock Incentive Plan. If approved, the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan will
replace the 2000 Stock Option Plan and the Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory
Stock Option Plan. Please see Proposal 3 below for a description of this
proposal and the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.
Benefits
During
2005, the Bank provided to its executive officers medical and other benefits
that are generally available to the Bank’s other employees.
Internal
Revenue Code Limitations
The
Compensation Committee believes it is in the shareholders’ best interest to
retain as much flexibility as possible in the design and administration of
executive compensation plans. FNCBancorp and the Bank recognize, however, that
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code disallows a tax deduction for
non-exempted compensation exceeding $1,000,000 paid for any fiscal year to
a
corporation’s chief executive officer and the four other most highly compensated
executive officers. However, the statute exempts qualifying performance-based
compensation from the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. The
Compensation Committee currently intends to structure performance-based
compensation to executive officers who may be subject to Section 162(m) in
a
manner that satisfies those requirements. While the tax impact of any
compensation arrangement is one factor to be considered, such impact is
evaluated in light of the
Compensation
Committee’s overall compensation philosophy. From time to time, the Compensation
Committee may award compensation which is not fully tax deductible if the
Compensation Committee determines that such award is consistent with its
philosophy and in the best interests of FNCBancorp and its
shareholders.
|
Respectfully
submitted,
|
|
|
Gregory
DuPratt
|
|
|
Diane
P. Hamlyn
|
|
|
Foy
S. McNaughton
|
|
|
David
W. Schulze
|
|
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
In
2005,
the Board of Directors of the Bank held 12 regularly scheduled meetings, no
special meetings and two joint meetings with the Board of Directors of
FNCBancorp. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of:
(1) the total number of meetings of the Boards of Directors held during the
period for which he or she has been a director; and (2) the total number of
meetings of committees of the Boards of Directors on which he or she served
during the period for which he or she served. The Company has a policy to
encourage directors to attend the Annual Meeting. All directors attended the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2005.
COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS
Director
Fees and Life Insurance
The
Board
of Directors of FNCBancorp and the Bank are comprised of the same nine people.
All cash compensation paid to Directors of FNCBancorp and the Bank is paid
by
the Bank. Each director who is not an officer or employee of FNCBancorp or
the
Bank received $800 for each jointly-held and regularly scheduled meeting of
the
Boards of Directors of FNCBancorp and the Bank attended, $800 for each regularly
scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank attended, $400 per
special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank attended, and $350 per
committee meeting attended, with the exception of the Audit Committee. The
Chairman of the Audit Committee receives $500 per meeting with committee members
receiving $400 per meeting attended. The Bank paid a total of $127,900 in
directors’ fees during 2005. Effective January 1, 2002, split dollar life
insurance was provided to the Board of Directors of the Bank. See “Director
Split Dollar Agreements” below. Mr. Onsum is the only director who is an
employee of the Bank and FNCBancorp, and he receives no compensation for his
services as a director of either company.
Director
Stock Options
Under
FNCBancorp’s Outside Director 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan, directors who
are not officers or employees of the Bank or FNCBancorp are entitled to an
automatic, one-time grant of options to purchase shares at an exercise price
equal to the fair market value of the common stock of FNCBancorp on the date
of
grant. See “Executive Compensation—Stock-Based Plans” below for additional
information. The Outside Director 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan will
terminate by its terms in February 2007. This proxy statement includes a
proposal to approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive
Plan. If approved, the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan will replace the 2000 Stock
Option Plan and the Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan.
Please see Proposal 3 below for a description of this proposal and the 2006
Stock Incentive Plan.
Director
Retirement Agreements
Effective
December 1, 2001, the Bank entered into Director Retirement Agreements with
each
of its non-employee directors (each director other than Director Onsum). The
agreements are intended to encourage existing directors to remain directors
of
the Bank providing the Bank with the benefit of the directors’ experience and
guidance in the years ahead. The Bank believes it is necessary and appropriate
to reward director service with a competitive compensation package, including
board fees and post-retirement benefits. The agreements provide directors with
a
retirement benefit that the Bank considers modest.
For
retirement on or after the normal retirement age of 65, the Director Retirement
Agreements provide a benefit for ten years ranging from $10,000 annually for
a
director with ten years of service to a maximum of $15,000 annually for a
director with 15 or more years of service, including years of service prior
to
the effectiveness of the Director Retirement Agreements. There are three
directors who have served more than 15 years as a director. Benefits under
the
Director Retirement Agreements are payable solely to those directors who have
served for at least ten years, unless the director terminates service because
of
death or disability or unless the director’s service terminates within two years
after a change in control. In the case of early termination of a director’s
service before age 65 for reasons other than death or disability or within
two
years of a change in control, he or she will receive over a period of ten years
aggregate payments equal to the retirement-liability balance accrued by the
Bank
at the end of the year before the year in which the director’s service
terminated. However, early termination benefits will not be payable unless
the
director is at least 55 years of age and has served as a director for at least
ten years, including years of service prior to the effectiveness of the
Agreements. If a director becomes disabled before age 65, the director will
receive a lump-sum payment in an amount equal to the retirement-liability
balance accrued by the Bank at the end of the year before the year in which
disability occurred regardless of whether the director has ten years of service
or has reached age 55. If a change in control occurs and a director’s service
terminates within 24 months after the change in control, the director will
receive a lump-sum payment equal to the retirement-liability balance accrued
by
the Bank at the end of the year before the year in which termination occurred,
regardless of whether the director has ten years of service or has reached
age
55. For this purpose, the term “change in control” means:
· |
A
merger occurs and as a consequence FNCBancorp’s shareholders prior to the
merger own less than 50% of the resulting company’s voting
stock;
|
· |
A
beneficial ownership report is required to be filed under Section
13(d) or
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by a person (or group
of
persons acting in concert) to report ownership of 20% or more of
FNCBancorp’s voting securities; or
|
· |
During
any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constituted
FNCBancorp’s Board of Directors at the beginning of the two-year period
cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board. Directors
elected during the two-year period are treated as if they were directors
at the beginning of the period if they were nominated by at least
two-thirds of the directors in office at the beginning of the
period.
|
No
benefits are payable under the Director Retirement Agreements to a director’s
beneficiaries after the director’s death. A director forfeits all benefits under
the Director Retirement Agreement if his or her director service terminates
because of neglect of duties, commission of a felony or misdemeanor, or acts
of
fraud, disloyalty, or willful violation of significant Bank policies, or if
the
director is removed by order of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC).
Director
Split Dollar Agreements
The
Bank
purchased insurance policies on the lives of the directors who entered into
Director Retirement Agreements, paying the premiums for these insurance policies
with one lump-sum premium payment of approximately $1.76 million. The Bank
expects to recover the premium in full from its portion of the policies’ death
benefits. The Bank purchased the policies as an informal financing mechanism
for
the post-retirement payment obligations under the Director Retirement
Agreements. Although the Bank expects the policies on the directors’ lives to
serve as a source of funds for benefits payable under the Director Retirement
Agreements, the contractual entitlement arising under the Director Retirement
Agreements are not funded and remain contractual liabilities of the Bank,
payable on, or after each director’s termination of service.
Under
the
Bank’s Split Dollar Agreements and Split Dollar Policy Endorsements with the
directors, which were entered into on the same date the Director Retirement
Agreements were executed, the policy interests are divided between the Bank
and
each director. The Split Dollar Agreements provide that a director’s designated
beneficiary(ies) will be entitled to receive at the director’s death life
insurance proceeds in the amount of (a) $120,000 if the director dies before
age
65, (b) $60,000 if the director dies after reaching age 65 but before age 75,
and (c) $30,000 if the director dies thereafter. The director’s beneficiary(ies)
would receive no further benefits under the Director Retirement Agreement,
and
the Bank’s obligations under that agreement would be extinguished. The Bank is
entitled to any insurance policy death benefits remaining after payment to
the
director’s beneficiary(ies).
Director
Elective Deferred Fee Plan
The
Bank
has implemented an elective deferred director fee plan, a nonqualified plan
providing unfunded deferred benefits for participating directors. Under the
Plan, deferred director fees earn interest at a rate determined annually by
the
Bank. Under the Plan, Ms. Aldrete elected to defer $3,600 of her 2005 director
fees. In 2005, her deferred director fees earned interest at 5.84% per annum.
In
addition, Ms. Aldrete has elected to defer 37.5% of her director fees in 2006.
Deferred fees and interest earned will be paid out to Ms. Aldrete at her
retirement. If she dies before her retirement age, her beneficiaries will
receive the deferred fees and interest earned at the time of her death. The
Bank
is entitled to any insurance policy death benefits from an insurance policy
purchased by the Bank with a lump-sum premium payment of $75,000. None of
FNCBancorp’s or the Bank’s other directors elected to defer director fees under
this plan in 2005.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Executive
Officers
Set
forth
below is certain information regarding the executive officers of the Bank,
with
the exception of Mr. Onsum whose information is set forth under “Nominees”
above:
Name
and Position(s)
|
Age
|
Principal
Occupation during the Past Five Years
|
Louise
A. Walker, SEVP/Chief Financial Officer
|
45
|
SVP/CFO/Cashier
|
Donald
J. Fish, EVP/Chief Credit Officer (retired)
|
66
|
SVP/Senior
Credit Officer
|
Robert
M. Walker, EVP/Commercial, Retail, Trust Divisions
|
55
|
SVP/Branch
Administrator
|
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth the aggregate remuneration for the services in all
capacities paid by the Bank in the last three fiscal years to its Chief
Executive Officer and to the three other executive officers of the Bank whose
total annual salary and incentive compensation exceeded $100,000. FNCBancorp
does not pay any cash compensation to executive officers beyond the compensation
paid to them in their capacities as officers of the Bank.
|
|
|
|
Annual
Compensation
|
|
Long-Term
Compensation
|
|
|
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Fiscal
Year
|
|
Salary
($)(1)
|
|
Incentive
Compensation
($)(1)
|
|
Other
Annual
Compensation
($) (2)
|
|
Awards
of Securities Underlying Options(#) (3)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Owen
J. Onsum
President,
Chief Executive Officer, and Director of the Bank and the
Company
|
|
|
2005
2004
2003
|
|
$
$
$
|
248,700
239,666
219,092
|
|
$
$
$
|
121,283
137,436
136,781
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
31,800
33,706
47,634
|
|
$
$
$
|
39,271
31,016
27,135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donald
J. Fish (5)
Executive
Vice President, Senior Credit Officer of the Bank
|
|
|
2005
2004
2003
|
|
$
$
$
|
136.080
130,538
122,600
|
|
$
$
$
|
30,949
34,822
36,474
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
13,478
15,480
|
|
$
$
$
|
32,126
25,636
23,705
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louise
A. Walker
Senior
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and
the
Company
|
|
|
2005
2004
2003
|
|
$
$
$
|
143,040
140,149
131,030
|
|
$
$
$
|
32,556
36,844
38,592
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
13,780
14,606
16,672
|
|
$
$
$
|
33,649
27,224
24,603
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
M. Walker
Executive
Vice President, Commercial/Retail/
Trust
Division of the Bank
|
|
|
2005
2004
2003
|
|
$
$
$
|
120,000
115,151
109,738
|
|
$
$
$
|
27,249
32,340
32,273
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
9,540
10,112
11,910
|
|
$
$
$
|
28,732
23,214
21,338
|
|
__________________________
(1) |
Includes
amounts contributed to the Bank’s Profit Sharing/401(k) plan at the
election of the named executive officers. Also includes salary deferred
by
Mr. Onsum, under the Bank’s Key Executive Elective Deferred Compensation
Plan See“Key
Executive Elective Deferred Compensation Plan and 2001 Executive
Deferral
Plan.”
|
(2) |
Perquisites
and other personal benefits did not exceed the lesser of $50,000
or 10% of
total salary and incentive compensation for any named executive officer.
|
(3) |
Adjusted
to reflect 6% stock dividends issued by the Company on February 28,
2003,
February 28, 2004, and February 28, 2005, and the effect of the
two-for-one stock split effective May 10,
2005.
|
(4) |
Includes
profit sharing contributions by the Bank in 2005 of $35,700 to Mr.
Onsum,
$28,584 to Mr. Fish, $30,294 to Ms. Walker, and $25,160 to Mr. Walker.
Excludes premiums paid by the Bank for policies on the named executives
officers’ lives in connection with the Salary Continuation Agreements or
the Key Executive Elective Deferred Compensation Plan. See“Agreements
Between the Bank and Executive Officers” and See“Key
Executive Elective Deferred Compensation Plan and 2001 Executive
Deferral
Plan.” Also included are amounts for health and insurance premiums in 2005
of $3,571 to Mr. Onsum, $3,542 to Mr. Fish, $3,572 to Mr. Walker
and
$3,355 to Ms. Walker.
|
(5) |
Mr.
Fish retired effective February 28, 2006. It is anticipated that
Mr. Fish
will continue to serve as a consultant to the Company in a non-executive
role.
|
Option
Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The
following table shows options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company
granted in 2005 to the executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation
Table above. All amounts have been adjusted to account for all stock splits
and
stock dividends, including the 6% stock dividend issued by the Company on
February 28, 2005 and the two-for-one stock split effective May 10,
2005.
Name
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Options
Granted (1)
|
Percent
of Total
Options
Granted
to
Employees in
Fiscal
Year (2)
|
Exercise
Price
per
share
($/share)
|
Expiration
Date
(1)
|
Grant
Date
Present
Value
($)
(3)
|
Owen
J. Onsum
|
31,800
|
39%
|
$13.66
|
1/6/15
|
$136,138
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louise
A. Walker
|
13,780
|
17%
|
$13.66
|
1/6/15
|
$59,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
M. Walker
|
9,540
|
12%
|
$13.66
|
1/6/15
|
$40,846
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
__________________________
(1)
|
Options
are incentive stock options, vesting annually in increments of 25%
of the
original grant. All stock options issued during 2005 vest 25% at
the end
of the first year and 25% of each of the three years thereafter.
The
options have a term of 10 years, subject to earlier termination in
certain
events related to termination of employment.
|
(2)
|
Based
on options to purchase an aggregate of 81,320 shares of common stock
of
the Company granted to employees in
2005.
|
(3)
|
The
present value of the options at the date of grant is estimated using
a
variation of the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which includes
the
following assumptions: A weighted average risk-free interest rate
of 3.73%
an expected volatility of 23.04%, a weighted average expected option
life
of 6.00 years, and an expected dividend of $0 per option. The exercise
price of each option is estimated fair market value of FNCBancorp
common
stock on the grant date. The fair market value of FNCBancorp common
stock
is the closing price on the first trading day immediately preceding
the
date on which the fair market value is determined as quoted on the
OTC
Bulletin Board.
|
Aggregated
Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
And
Fiscal Year-End Option Values
The
following
table shows the number of shares of common stock of the Company acquired in
2005
or acquirable upon exercise of options to purchase shares of common stock of
the
Company by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
The
following table also indicates the extent to which such options were exercisable
at December 31, 2005, as well as the approximate value of such options based
on
the estimated value of FNCBancorp common stock on December 31, 2005. All amounts
have been adjusted to account for all stock splits and stock dividends,
including the 6% stock dividend issued by the Company on February 28, 2005
and
the two-for-one stock split effective May 10, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of securities underlying unexercised options
at
fiscal year-end
|
|
Value
of unexercised
in-the-money
options
at fiscal year-end (1)
|
|
Name
|
|
Shares
acquired
on
exercise(#)
|
|
Value
realized
($)
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
Owen
J. Onsum
|
|
|
57,739
|
|
|
864,423
|
|
|
73,183
|
|
|
86,224
|
|
|
1,078,140
|
|
|
1,090,854
|
|
Donald
J. Fish
|
|
|
46,536
|
|
|
321,847
|
|
|
47,824
|
|
|
20,336
|
|
|
823,932
|
|
|
277,484
|
|
Louise
A. Walker
|
|
|
4,158
|
|
|
73,721
|
|
|
110,460
|
|
|
35,946
|
|
|
1,955,466
|
|
|
451,883
|
|
Robert
M. Walker
|
|
|
2,841
|
|
|
46,498
|
|
|
58,874
|
|
|
24,413
|
|
|
1,028,517
|
|
|
306,193
|
|
__________________________
(1) The
value
of unexercised options is the estimated fair market value of a share acquirable
upon exercise of an option at December 31, 2005, less the exercise price,
multiplied by the number of shares of common stock of the Company acquirable
upon exercise of the options. FNCBancorp common stock is quoted on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the symbol “FNRN.” Solely for purposes of the preceding
table and for no other purpose, FNCBancorp has estimated the per share market
value of the common stock at December 31, 2005 as $24.50. The fair market value
of FNCBancorp common stock is the closing price on the first trading day
immediately preceding the date on which the fair market value is determined
as
quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board. This is an estimate only. The estimate does
not necessarily reflect the price shareholders may obtain upon sale of their
stock or the price at which shares of FNCBancorp common stock may be acquired,
nor should it be taken to represent management or the Board’s estimate of the
intrinsic value or appropriate market value of the shares of FNCBancorp common
stock.
AGREEMENTS
BETWEEN THE BANK AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Employment
Agreements
In
July
2001, the Bank entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Owen J. Onsum,
Donald J. Fish, and Robert M. Walker, and with Ms. Louise A. Walker. Except
for
base salaries and potential termination payments, the four employment agreements
are largely identical. The agreements have three-year terms which expired on
December 31, 2003, but the agreements renew automatically for consecutive
three-year terms unless the executive officer of the Bank gives advance notice
that the agreement will not renew. Mr. Donald J. Fish gave notice of his
retirement which has been scheduled for February 28, 2006 and therefore will
not
renew his employment agreement for 2006. None of the executive officers gave
the
Bank advance notice that the employment agreements would not be renewed and
the
terms of such employment agreements were extended to December 31, 2006. The
annual base salaries stated in the employment agreements are $205,020 for Mr.
Onsum, $117,300 for Mr. Fish, $109,500 for Ms. Walker, and $103,260 for Mr.
Walker. The executives’ base annual salaries may be adjusted at the beginning of
each year based on the executive’s performance in the preceding year, as
determined by the Board of Directors in Mr. Onsum’s case or by Mr. Onsum in the
case of the three other executive officers. The executives’ current annual base
salaries are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table.
The
amount of any termination payment due to each executive officer under such
executive’s employment agreement depends upon the circumstances of such
executive’s termination. If termination is a result of the executive’s death,
disability, or voluntary termination, or if the executive is terminated for
cause, the executive’s estate or the executive generally will receive his or her
base salary through the date of termination, along with any incentive
compensation earned but not yet paid. The executive would also retain any rights
he or she may have under stock options previously granted and under the Salary
Continuation and Split Dollar Agreements discussed below. If on the other hand
the executive is involuntarily terminated without cause, or if the executive
terminates employment for “good reason” (as defined in the employment
agreement), the executive’s termination rights under the employment agreement
will consist of:
· |
If
a Change in Control (as defined in the Employment Agreement)
Had
Not
Occurred in the Two Years Before Termination:
the right to a cash payment in an amount equal to 150% of the sum
of the
executive’s base salary at the time of termination (in the case of Mr.
Onsum only), or 100% of the sum of the executive’s base salary at the time
of termination (in the case of Messrs. Fish and Robert Walker and
Ms.
Louise Walker), plus the average annual incentive compensation awarded
in
the three consecutive years before the date of
termination;
|
· |
If
a Change in Control Had
Occurred in the Two Years Before Termination:
the right to a cash payment in an amount equal to 250% of the sum
of the
executive’s base salary at the time of termination (in the case of Mr.
Onsum only), or 200% of the sum of the executive’s base salary at the time
of termination (in the case of Messrs. Fish and Robert Walker and
Ms.
Louise Walker), plus the average annual incentive compensation awarded
in
the three consecutive years before the date of termination. In this
case,
the executive might also be entitled to a “tax gross-up payment”,
discussed below;
|
· |
Earned
but Unpaid Incentive Compensation:
any incentive compensation earned but not yet paid;
and
|
· |
Retained
Rights under Other Benefit Plans and Arrangements:
the executives may have rights to termination-related payments arising
under other benefit plans and arrangements, including the Salary
Continuation and Split Dollar Agreements discussed below. If an executive
is terminated involuntarily without cause, or if the executive terminates
employment for “good reason,” he or she generally would have 90 days to
exercise vested stock options. Under Section 6(e) of the Company’s 2000
Stock Option Plan, all of the unvested stock options held by an executive
become fully vested when a change in control occurs. Otherwise, options
vest in annual increments based on an established vesting schedule.
See
“Stock
Based Plans” below.
|
Accordingly,
an executive’s entitlement to a termination payment depends on whether a “Change
in Control” has occurred and whether the executive’s termination is involuntary
and without cause or the executive’s voluntary termination is for “good reason.”
The employment agreements define a “Change in Control” to include the following
circumstances:
· |
Any
person or group is or becomes the beneficial owner of FNCBancorp
securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power
of the
outstanding securities (excluding acquisition of FNCBancorp securities
by
an employee benefit plan maintained by the Bank of its
employees);
|
· |
FNCBancorp
is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other
reorganization, or a proxy contest, and as a consequence members
of
FNCBancorp’s Board of Directors in office immediately before the
transaction or proxy contest constitute less than a majority of the
Board
of Directors after such event;
|
· |
During
any period of 24 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning
of
the 24-month period constituted FNCBancorp’s Board of Directors cease for
any reason to constitute a majority, but a new director approved
by at
least two-thirds of the directors who were directors at the beginning
of
the 24-month period is considered for this purpose to have also been
a
director at the beginning of the 24-month period;
or
|
· |
A
change in control of FNCBancorp is reported in its proxy
statement.
|
The
employment agreements define “good reason” to mean a material reduction in the
executive’s compensation or benefits, a material reduction in the executive’s
title or responsibilities, a relocation of the executive’s principal office
increasing the executive’s commute by more than 40 miles, or a failure of a
successor to assume and perform the Bank’s obligations under the employee’s
employment agreement.
The
Bank
has also conditionally promised in the employment agreements to make an
additional payment to the executive officers if they are involuntarily
terminated or if they terminate employment for “good reason,” in either case
within two years after a “Change in Control.” But the additional payment,
sometimes referred to as a “tax gross-up payment,” will be payable if and only
if the total benefits or payments to which the executive officer is entitled
are
subject to the “golden parachute” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code
(whether the benefits or payments arise under the employment agreement or under
another compensation plan or arrangement, such as the Salary Continuation
Agreements discussed below). The “golden parachute” provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code include Section 280G, which can eliminate the employer’s
compensation expense deduction for a substantial portion of the change in
control benefits paid to an executive, and Section 4999, which imposes a 20%
excise tax on the executive receiving change in control benefits over a certain
threshold. If an executive’s change in control benefits exceed that threshold,
which is roughly three times the executive’s average annual compensation over
the preceding five years, the executive can be forced by Section 4999 to pay
a
20% excise tax on the portion of the change in control benefits that exceeds
the
multiple of the executive’s five-year average W-2 reported compensation, and
under Section 280G the employer forfeits its compensation expense deduction
for
benefits that are subject to the excise tax. The calculation of total change
in
control benefits is a very complicated one, taking into account all
change-in-control benefits, whether under a severance or employment agreement,
a
salary continuation agreement, a stock option plan or some other arrangement
that provides benefits contingent on a change in control.
The
amount of the additional payment that could be required under the employment
agreements if the “golden parachute” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code
apply is the amount necessary to compensate the executive for his or her excise
taxes as well as for taxes payable on the additional payment itself. The net
amount the executive receives is intended to be the amount the executive would
have received if the “golden parachute” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code
had not applied. The tax gross-up payment would not be deductible by FNCBancorp
or the Bank.
Salary
Continuation and Split Dollar Agreements
FNCBancorp
and the Bank do not have a defined benefit pension plan providing benefits
based
on final compensation and years of service. However, in 2001 the Bank’s Board of
Directors authorized the Bank to enter into Salary Continuation Agreements
effective January 2, 2002 with six officers, including Mr. Onsum and the three
other executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above. The
Salary Continuation Agreements are intended to provide the officers with a
fixed
annual benefit for 10 years subsequent to retirement on or after the normal
retirement age of 65. Although the Salary Continuation Agreements provide for
payment of stated, fixed benefits, the Bank’s Board of Directors has the
discretion to increase benefits payable under the Salary Continuation
Agreements.
The
Salary Continuation Agreements provide for reduced benefits in the case of
early
termination on or after reaching an early retirement threshold age, or in the
case of termination due to disability occurring at any age. Benefits are also
payable under the Salary Continuation Agreements if the officer’s service with
the Bank terminates at any age but within 24 months after a change in control.
The term “Change in Control” is defined in the Salary Continuation Agreements in
the same way it is defined in the Director Retirement Agreements discussed
above
in this proxy statement, but unlike the Director Retirement Agreements, change
in control benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreements are payable if
and
only if the executive (a) is involuntarily terminated without cause within
24
months after a “Change in Control” or (b) terminates employment voluntarily for
“good reason” within 24 months after a “Change in Control.” For this purpose,
“good reason” is defined in the Salary Continuation Agreements to include a
material reduction in the executive’s title or responsibilities, a reduction in
the executive’s base salary or benefits, a relocation of the executive’s
principal office increasing the executive’s commute by more than 40 miles, or
the failure of a successor to assume and perform the Bank’s obligations under
the Salary Continuation Agreements. Like the executives’ employment agreements
discussed elsewhere in this proxy statement, the Salary Continuation Agreements
of Mr. Onsum and the three other officers identified in the Summary Compensation
Table also provide for payment of a tax gross-up benefit if any of these four
officers’ benefits are subject to excise taxes under Sections 280G and 4999 of
the Internal Revenue Code.
The
Bank
has also agreed to pay legal fees incurred by the officers associated with
the
interpretation, enforcement, or defense of their rights under the Salary
Continuation Agreements in the event of a “Change in Control,” up to a maximum
of $500,000 for Mr. Onsum and $250,000 for each of the three other officers
identified in the Summary Compensation Table.
On
September 30, 2001, the Bank purchased insurance policies on six officers’
lives, including Mr. Onsum and the three other executive officers named in
the
Summary Compensation Table above, making a single premium payment aggregating
$3.5 million, of which $2.6 million is attributable to insurance purchased
on
the lives of the four executives named in the Summary Compensation Table. The
premium amounts are not reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. If the
executive dies before the normal retirement age of 65 but in active service
to
the Bank, his or her beneficiaries will receive a life insurance death benefit
in a fixed amount. The Bank is entitled to any insurance policy death benefits
remaining after payment to the executive’s beneficiary(ies). If the executive
dies after retirement, his or her beneficiaries will not be entitled to a death
benefit and the Bank shall continue to pay to Executive’s beneficiary(ies) the
benefit payable to Executive until the entire benefit due to Executive (assuming
the Executive had not died prior to full payment of benefits) is paid by the
Bank. The Bank expects to recover the premium in full from its portion of the
policies’ death benefits. The Bank purchased the policies as a source of funds
for the Salary Continuation Agreement obligations arising out of executives’
death before retirement, as well as an investment to fund post-retirement
payment obligations. Although the Bank expects the policies to serve as a source
of funds for death benefits payable under the Salary Continuation Agreements,
the executives’ contractual entitlements under the Salary Continuation
Agreements are not funded. These contractual entitlements remain contractual
liabilities of the Bank, payable after the executives’ termination of
employment.
The
following table shows benefits payable under the Salary Continuation Agreements
to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, assuming
certain events.
Named
executive officer
|
|
Early
termination
occurring
on
12/31/05
(1)
|
|
Disability
occurring
on
12/31/05
(1)
|
|
Annual
benefit
payable
for 10 years
at
normal retirement
age
of 65 (or
12/31/05
if later) (2)
|
|
Lump
sum payable
for
termination on
12/31/05
within 24
months
after a
change
in control (3)
|
|
Life
insurance
death
benefit if
the
executive
dies
while in
service
on
12/31/05
(4)
|
|
Owen
J. Onsum
|
|
$
|
48,362
|
|
$
|
48,362
|
|
$
|
125,000
|
|
$
|
741,531
|
|
$
|
1,000,000
|
|
Donald
J. Fish
|
|
$
|
54,000
|
|
$
|
54,000
|
|
$
|
54,000
|
|
$
|
373,369
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
Louise
A. Walker
|
|
|
0
|
|
$
|
3,595
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
307,770
|
|
$
|
800,000
|
|
Robert
M. Walker
|
|
$
|
12,872
|
|
$
|
12,872
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
456,815
|
|
$
|
800,000
|
|
__________________________
(1) |
Benefits
generally are not payable if employment terminates before the early
retirement age, which is the latter of age 55 or the age at which
the
executive will have had 10 years of service. Mr. Onsum and Mr. Walker
are
the only executive officers eligible for early termination benefits.
Mr.
Fish's benefit shown is his Normal Retirement Benefit as he is currently
past his Normal Retirement Date. If, however, termination of service
is
due to disability or if it follows within 24 months after a change
in
control, benefits are payable under the Salary Continuation Agreements
regardless of whether the executive has 10 years of service or has
reached
age 55.
|
(2) |
For
each year of service after reaching the early retirement age, the
early
termination benefit increases in amount until normal retirement age.
Mr.
Onsum and Mr. Walker are currently eligible to receive early termination
benefits, but Ms. Walker will not become eligible to receive an early
termination benefits until 2015. As explained in note (1), Mr. Fish
is
currently eligible for normal retirement benefits. Mr. Onsum will
reach
the normal retirement age of 65 in 2009, Ms. Louise Walker in 2025,
and
Mr. Robert Walker in 2015.
|
(3) |
Payable
within three days after the executive’s termination, the change in control
lump sum payable under the Salary Continuation Agreements is the
executive’s aggregate normal retirement benefit discounted by the 10-year
Treasury Note rate at the end of the year preceding the year in which
termination of employment occurred. The amount shown assumes a change
in
control benefit is payable on 12/31/2005 following termination of
the
executive (a) involuntarily and without cause or (b) voluntarily
but with
“good reason.” The change in control benefit shown is calculated using a
4.24% discount rate, the 10-year Treasury Note rate at December 31,
2004
(the rate effective at the end of the plan year ending immediately
before
the date on which termination of employment occurs). The named executives’
employment agreements and Salary Continuation Agreements also provide
for
an additional tax gross-up payment if the total payments and benefits
due
to them as a result of a change in control exceed the limits under
Section
280G of the Internal Revenue Code. The gross-up feature is discussed
above
in “Employment Agreements.” The figures in the table above do not include
any tax gross-up payments.
|
(4) |
No
life insurance death benefits are payable following termination of
service.
|
Profit
Sharing Plan
The
First
Northern Bank of Dixon Profit Sharing/401(k) Plan and Trust Agreement has
existed since 1955. Employees of the Bank who have worked at the Bank at least
1,000 hours during a calendar year are eligible to participate in the Profit
Sharing Plan. The Bank generally contributes annually to the Profit Sharing
Plan
an amount equal to the lesser of (a) 10% of the Bank’s net income before taxes,
net of loan loss experience or (b) 15% of the total annual compensation of
all
Profit Sharing Plan participants. The Bank’s contribution is allocated to each
Plan participant’s account according to the ratio each participant’s annual
compensation bears to the total annual compensation of all participants.
Contributions to a participant’s account vest after five years. Distribution of
vested amounts occurs when the participant terminates employment, retires,
becomes disabled, or dies. The Bank added a 401(k) contribution feature to
the
Profit Sharing Plan in 1997, allowing employees to make contributions. The
Bank’s contribution to the Profit Sharing Plan in 2005 was $1,568,622.63.
Stock-Based
Plans
First
Northern Community Bancorp has three stock-based benefit plans. Under the
FNCBancorp Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan, options to
purchase common stock may be awarded to directors of FNCBancorp who are not
employees of FNCBancorp or the Bank. Under the separate FNCBancorp 2000 Stock
Option Plan, options to purchase common stock may be awarded to employees of
FNCBancorp or the Bank. Finally, the First Northern Community Bancorp Employee
Stock Purchase Plan allows eligible employees to contribute a percentage of
their compensation to the plan. The contributed compensation is then applied
toward the purchase of FNCBancorp common stock at a discounted
price.
These
three plans are successor plans to the Employee Stock Option Plan, the Outside
Director Stock Option Plan, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan adopted by
the
Bank in 1997. No additional awards or rights may be granted under the Bank’s
original 1997 stock plans, and rights to the Bank common stock and options
to
acquire the Bank common stock became rights to acquire FNCBancorp common stock
and options to purchase FNCBancorp common stock when the holding company
reorganization of the Bank was completed on May 19, 2000. Like the plans
originally adopted in 1997, these three successor plans terminate on February
27, 2007.
By
providing for the grant of stock options accruing value to the holder as the
value of the stock acquirable by exercise of the option also increases in value,
the 2000 Stock Option Plan and the Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock
Option Plan more closely align the financial interests of employees and
directors with those of the Company’s shareholders. The purpose of the plans is
to promote the long-term success of FNCBancorp and the creation of shareholder
value by:
· |
Encouraging
key personnel to focus on critical long range
objectives;
|
· |
Increasing
the ability of the Bank to attract and retain employees and directors
who
can contribute to the Bank’s and FNCBancorp’s long-term success;
and
|
· |
Promoting
shareholder interests by ensuring that key employees and directors
have
interests as shareholders in FNCBancorp’s
success.
|
The
2000
Stock Option Plan and the Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option
Plan
are administered by a committee designated by FNCBancorp’s Board. The Board
designated the Compensation Committee of the Bank to administer the plans.
The
Compensation Committee generally determines the vesting schedule of stock
options, but all stock options granted through 2003 vest and become exercisable
in annual 20% increments, the first 20% vesting and becoming exercisable on
the
date of grant. Beginning in 2004, options granted became exercisable one year
after the date of grant and in annual 25% increments. However, all unvested
stock options become fully vested and exercisable if a change in control occurs.
According to Section 2(b) of each of the stock option plans, a “change in
control” means any of the following events occur:
· |
The
shareholders of FNCBancorp approve a merger or consolidation having
the
result that (a) FNCBancorp is not the surviving entity, or (b)
shareholders of FNCBancorp immediately before the merger or consolidation
own less than 50% of the voting power of FNCBancorp after the merger
or
consolidation;
|
· |
The
composition of FNCBancorp’s Board changes, with the result that less than
one half of the incumbent directors (a) are directors who were directors
24 months before the change, or (b) were more recently appointed
or
elected, but were approved by a majority of the directors who were
directors 24 months before the change and who were still in office
at the
time of the new director’s election or nomination;
or
|
· |
A
person or firm becomes the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the
combined
voting power of FNCBancorp’s outstanding common
stock.
|
Unvested
options expire when an employee’s or director’s service terminates. Options that
are vested and exercisable when an employee’s or director’s service terminates
may be exercised at any time within 90 days after termination of his or her
service, except in the case of the option holder’s death or termination because
of disability, in which case they expire after one year. If the option holder’s
service is terminated for cause, all of his or her options expire immediately.
Options granted under the plans are not transferable except by will or the
laws
of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during the option grantee’s
lifetime by the option grantee only. If an option under either plan expires,
is
canceled or forfeited, or terminates without having been fully exercised, the
unpurchased shares subject to that option again become available for the grant
of additional options under the plans.
First
Northern Community Bancorp 2000 Stock Option Plan
The
2000
Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of options to acquire a maximum of
1,563,912 shares of common stock (as adjusted for all stock splits and stock
dividends, including the 6% stock dividend on February 28, 2005). Options to
acquire 568,602 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2005.
Options can be either incentive stock options, sometimes known as “ISOs,” or
nonqualified stock options, sometimes known as “NQSOs.” An ISO is an option that
satisfies the terms of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Provided the
rules of Section 422 are complied with, an option holder is not taxed when
he or
she exercises an ISO; however, the option holder may be subject to paying
alternative minimum tax. The holder is ultimately taxed at capital gains rates
when he or she sells shares acquired by exercise of an ISO after a one-year
holding period. The employer is not entitled to a compensation deduction if
the
one-year holding period is met. If an ISO is granted pursuant to which the
aggregate fair market value of shares with respect to which it first becomes
exercisable in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the portion of such option,
which is in excess of the $100,000, shall be treated as an NQSO pursuant to
Section 422 (d) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code. The holder of an NQSO may
be
taxed at ordinary income rates when he or she exercises an NQSO, and the
employer is entitled to a compensation expense deduction for the amount by
which
the fair market value of the stock acquired by exercise of the NQSO exceeds
the
exercise price. The majority of options granted to officers and employees under
the plan to date are ISOs. The exercise price of options is determined by the
Compensation Committee, but the exercise price of ISOs may not be less than
the
fair market value of the shares on the date the option was granted (or 110%
of
fair market value in the case of any ISO granted to a holder of more than 10%
of
FNCBancorp common stock). No employee may be granted in any year an option
or
options to acquire more than 25,000 shares. All options have 10-year terms,
but
the committee may fix a longer or shorter term for NQSOs granted in the
future.
First
Northern Community Bancorp Outside Directors
2000
Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
The
Outside Directors Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of
options to acquire a maximum of 469,166 shares of common stock (as adjusted
for
all stock splits and stock dividends, including the 6% stock dividend on
February 28, 2005). There were no option shares issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2005. Unlike the 2000 Stock Option Plan for employees, all options
granted under the Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan are NQSOs, and all of the
options granted to date have five-year terms. Under the Nonstatutory Stock
Option Plan, each non-employee director receives an automatic, one-time grant
of
options to purchase 18,764 shares (as adjusted for all stock splits and stock
dividends, including the 6% stock dividend issued by the Company on February
28,
2005) at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock
on
the date of grant.
Employee
Stock Purchase Plan
Like
the
stock option plans, the First Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase
Plan is intended to promote shareholder interests by encouraging employees
to
acquire a proprietary interest in the success of FNCBancorp. Intended to qualify
under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, the plan allows eligible
employees to purchase shares of FNCBancorp common stock through payroll
deductions. An employee may elect to have up to 10% of his or her compensation
withheld for the purchase of common stock. Every employee with at least 90
days
of service (excluding executive officers of the Bank or FNCBancorp) is eligible
to participate in the First Northern Community Bancorp Employees Stock Purchase
Plan, but a person is ineligible to participate if (a) he or she owns 5% or
more
of FNCBancorp stock, or (b) he or she would be able to purchase common stock
having an aggregate fair market value exceeding $25,000 in each calendar year.
Using accumulated funds from payroll deductions, shares of FNCBancorp are
purchased directly from FNCBancorp at the end of each participation period.
Under the plan, each participation period can be up to 27 months in duration.
The current participation period began on November 24, 2005 and ends on November
23, 2006. The shares are purchased at a price of 85% of the shares’ fair market
value on (a) the last trading day before the beginning of the participation
period, or (b) the last trading day before the end of the participation period,
whichever amount is less. Fair market value is determined by a plan
administrator selected by FNCBancorp’s Board. A total of 1,563,912 shares (as
adjusted for all stock splits and stock dividends, including the 6% stock
dividend paid on February 28, 2005) are available for purchase under the First
Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 19,069 shares have
been purchased in the current participation period as of December 31,
2005.
This
proxy statement includes a proposal to approve the amended First Northern
Community Bancorp Exployee Stock Purchase Plan. The amendments to the First
Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan will, if approved,
extend this termination date until March 2016 and reduce the number of shares
eligible for issuance under the Plan. Please see Proposal 4 below for a
description of this proposal.
2006
Stock Incentive Plan
The
2000
Stock Option Plan and Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
will
terminate by their terms in February 2007. This proxy statement includes a
proposal to approve the First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive
Plan. If approved, the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan will replace the 2000 Stock
Option Plan and the Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan.
Please see Proposal 3 below for a description of this proposal and the 2006
Stock Incentive Plan.
Key
Executive elective Deferred Compensation plan
And
2001 Executive Deferral Plan
Internal
Revenue Code limitations on benefits payable under tax-qualified plans, such
as
401(k) plans, work to the disadvantage of senior executives whose compensation
exceeds compensation paid to more junior officers and employees. Because of
tax
law limitations on benefit levels under qualified plans, senior executives
are
forced to take a greater percentage of their compensation as taxable income,
without the ability to make elective deferrals under qualified plans on a basis
comparable to junior officers’ and employees’ elective deferral rates. To offset
the effect of tax law limitations on benefits under tax-qualified plans, the
Bank replaced the previous executive elective deferred compensation plan called
the “1995 Executive Deferral Plan” with the “2001 Executive Deferral Plan.” The
plan is a nonqualified plan providing key executives with an unfunded, deferred
compensation program. Under the plan, eligible executives may elect to defer
a
portion of their current compensation. Deferred amounts earn interest at an
annual rate determined by the Bank’s Board. In 2004, Mr. Onsum elected to defer
2005 compensation under this plan, which became effective January 1, 2003.
In
2005, Mr. Onsum deferred $60,642, of compensation and earned interest at 5.84%
per annum. Mr. Onsum and Mr. Walker elected to defer 2006 compensation in
December 2005. Deferred compensation and interest earned will be paid out to
the
participating executive at or following his or her retirement. If the executive
dies before retirement age, the Bank will receive the death benefits of an
insurance policy purchased by the Bank on the executive’s life. In December
2001, the Bank purchased single-premium life insurance policies on the lives
of
Mr. Onsum and Ms. Walker in connection with the Executive Deferral Plan, with
a
single premium of $1,000,000 for the policy on Mr. Onsum’s life and a premium of
$425,000 for the policy on Ms. Walker’s life. The premium amounts are not
reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. The Bank is the beneficiary and
owner of the policies.
Indebtedness
of Management, Indebtedness of Certain Directors and
Transactions
with Management
Certain
directors and executive officers of the Bank and FNCBancorp and corporations
and
other organizations associated with them and members of their immediate families
were customers of and engaged in banking transactions, including loans, with
the
Bank in the ordinary course of business in 2005. Such loans were made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, asthose
prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons. These
loans did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present
other unfavorable features.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
To
the
best of FNCBancorp’s knowledge, as of the Record Date, other than as described
below, no person or entity was the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the
Company’s common stock. Mr. Onsum filed a Schedule 13D with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on January 8, 2003 reporting ownership in the aggregate
of
6.5% of FNCBancorp common stock; however, with respect to 108,941 shares
(approximately 3.1% of the outstanding FNCBancorp common stock) included in
such
report, Mr. Onsum is a successor trustee of The Lowell H. Morris and Muriel
M.
Morris Revocable Trust, a private trust formed under the laws of the State
of
California (the “Trust”) of which he is not a named beneficiary and in which he
has no pecuniary interest. Mr. Onsum, Ms. Walker, and Mr. Walker are trustees
of
65,018 shares of common stock held in First Northern Bank of Dixon Profit
Sharing Plan and share voting and investment power with respect to the named
shares. These shares represent 0.8% of FNCBancorp common stock and each trustee
disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Profit Sharing Plan
which were not allocated to such trustee pursuant to the terms of the Profit
Sharing Plan. The table on the following page reflects the beneficial ownership
of FNCBancorp common stock by each director, by each executive officer named
in
the Summary Compensation Table, and by all directors and executive officers
as a
group. The figures in the table are based on beneficial ownership as of February
28, 2006, and have been adjusted for the 6% stock dividend issued by the Company
on February 28, 2006. Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, shares
are
considered to be “beneficially” owned by a person if he or she has or shares the
power to vote or direct the voting of the shares, the power to dispose of or
direct the disposition of the shares, or the right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days. Except as indicated by footnotes and subject to
community property laws, where applicable, the persons named in the table have
sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock
shown as beneficially owned by them. The address of all individuals named in
the
table below is c/o First Northern Community Bancorp, 195 North First Street,
Dixon, California 95620.
Directors,
nominees and named executive officers
|
Shares
beneficially
owned
|
Shares
acquirable
within
60 days by
exercise
of
options
|
Percent
of
stock
|
Lori
J. Aldrete (1)
|
18,990
|
0
|
*
|
Frank
J. Andrews, Jr.
|
29,260
|
0
|
*
|
John
M. Carbahal (2)
|
37,991
|
0
|
*
|
Gregory
DuPratt (3)
|
19,952
|
0
|
*
|
Donald
J. Fish (4)
|
102,615
|
0
|
1.2%
|
John
F. Hamel (5)
|
97,158
|
0
|
1.2%
|
Diane
P. Hamlyn (6)
|
76,404
|
0
|
*
|
Foy
S. McNaughton (7)
|
22,901
|
0
|
*
|
Owen
J. Onsum (8)
|
391,180
|
115,734
|
6.2%
|
David
W. Schulze (9)
|
181,656
|
0
|
2.2%
|
Louise
A. Walker (10)
|
88,125
|
132,961
|
2.7%
|
Robert
M. Walker (11)
|
67,963
|
72,816
|
1.7%
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (12 people)
|
1,134,195
|
321,511
|
18.1%
|
__________________________
* Does
not
exceed 1%.
(1)
|
Includes
16,366 shares held jointly with Ms. Aldrete’s
spouse.
|
(2)
|
Includes
12,001 shares held jointly with Mr. Carbahal’s spouse, 23,786 shares held
by the Carbahal & Company Annual Accumulation, an accountancy
corporation of which Mr. Carbahal is a principal and shareholder,
and
1,102 shares held separately by Mr. Carbahal’s
spouse.
|
(3)
|
Includes
8,399 shares held separately by Mr. DuPratt’s
spouse.
|
(4)
|
Includes
76 shares held by The Fish Family Trust, of which Mr. Fish is a co-trustee
and shares voting and investment power with respect to such shares,
and
102,539 shares held jointly with Mr. Fish’s
spouse.
|
(5)
|
Includes
71,194 shares held by the R/J Hamel Family Trust, of which Mr. Hamel
is a
co-trustee and shares voting and investment power with respect to
such
shares.
|
(6)
|
Includes
144 shares held by Ms. Hamlyn as custodian for Catherine S. Lindley,
89
shares held by Ms. Hamlyn as custodian for Stephen A. Lindley, 28,785
shares held separately in the name of Ms. Hamlyn’s spouse, 22,366 shares
held jointly with Ms. Hamlyn’s spouse, 1,719 shares held separately in the
name of Janet Diane Hamlyn, 5,836 shares held by the Davisville Travel
Profit Sharing Plan of which Ms. Hamlyn is trustee and shares voting
and
investment power with respect to such
shares.
|
(7)
|
Includes
3,020 shares held by The McNaughton Family Trust of which Mr. McNaughton
is a co-trustee and shares voting and investment power with respect
to
such shares.
|
(8)
|
Includes
81,351 shares held jointly with Mr. Onsum’s spouse, 65,018 shares held by
the First Northern Bank of Dixon Profit Sharing Plan, of which Mr.
Onsum
is a trustee and shares voting and investment power with respect
to such
shares of which beneficial ownership of 61,638 shares is disclaimed
by Mr.
Onsum, and 244,811 shares held by a Trust, of which beneficial ownership
is disclaimed by Mr. Onsum.
|
(9)
|
Includes
181,656 shares held by The Schulze Family Trust, of which Mr. Schulze
is a
co-trustee and shares voting and investment power with respect to
such
shares.
|
(10)
|
Includes
22,830 shares held jointly with Mrs. Walker’s spouse, and 144 shares held
by Ms. Walker as custodian for Jonathan Walker, 106 shares held by
Ms.
Walker as custodian for Steven Walker, 27 shares held by Ms. Walker
as
custodian for James R. Robinson, and 65,018 shares held by the First
Northern Bank of Dixon Profit Sharing Plan, of which Ms. Walker is
a
trustee and shares voting and investment power with respect to such
shares
of which beneficial ownership of 63,523 shares is disclaimed by Ms.
Walker.
|
(11)
|
Includes
1,411 shares held by The Walker Family Trust, of which Mr. Walker
is a
co-trustee and shares voting and investment power with respect to
such
shares, and 1,534 shares held jointly with Mr. Walker’s spouse, and 65,018
shares held by the First Northern Bank of Dixon Profit Sharing Plan,
of
which Mr. Walker is a trustee and shares voting and investment power
of
which beneficial ownership of 63,198 shares is disclaimed by Mr.
Walker.
|
SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act, as administered by the SEC requires FNCBancorp’s
directors and executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent
of a
registered class of FNCBancorp equity securities to file with the SEC initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock of
FNCBancorp. Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent
shareholders are required by the SEC to furnish FNCBancorp with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of such reports,
FNCBancorp believes that all reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act to be filed by its executive officers and directors during the last fiscal
year were filed on a timely basis.
STOCK
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The
graph
below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on First Northern
Community Bancorp (First Northern Bank of Dixon prior to May 19, 2000) common
stock to the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000, and SNL >$500M
OTC-BB and Pink Sheets Banks as prepared by SNL Financial LC, which uses the
cumulative total or the OTC Bulletin Board, an electronic, screen-based market
maintained by the NASD, Inc.’s subsidiary, or the Pink Sheets. The following
comparison covers the period December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2005. The graph
assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2000 and that all dividends
were
reinvested.
Stock
Performance Chart (1)
(1) |
Assumes
$100 invested on December 31, 1999 in the Bank’s Common Stock, the Russell
2000 composite stock index and the SNL >$500 OTC-BB and Pink Sheets
Banks index of 77 bank stocks, with reinvestment of dividends.
|
|
12/31/00
|
12/31/01
|
12/31/02
|
12/31/03
|
12/31/04
|
12/31/05
|
FNCBancorp
|
$100.00
|
$164.54
|
$157.64
|
$184.87
|
$214.81
|
$391.48
|
Russell
2000
|
$100.00
|
$102.49
|
$
81.49
|
$120.00
|
$142.00
|
$148.46
|
SNL
> $500 OTC-BB and Pink Sheets Banks
|
$100.00
|
$
86.44
|
$121.20
|
$168.92
|
$197.58
|
$210.28
|
FNCBancorp
is not among the approximately 2,000 companies included in the Russell 2000.
FNCBancorp is among the 77 commercial banks and bank holding companies included
in the SNL >$500M OTC-BB and Pink Sheets Banks whose stocks trade on either
the OTC Bulletin Board or Pink Sheets.
PROPOSAL
2
RATIFICATION
OF THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
On
March
28, 2006, the Audit Committee of First Northern Community Bancorp (“Company”)
and First Northern Bank of Dixon, its subsidiary, dismissed KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as
the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
The
decision to change independent registered public accountants was recommended
and
approved by the Audit Committee of the Company.
The
audit
reports of KPMG LLP on the consolidated financial statements of First Northern
Community Bancorp and subsidiary as of and for the years ended December 31,
2005
and 2004 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were
not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles. The audit reports of KPMG LLP on management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 and 2004
did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During
the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period
through March 28, 2006, there were no disagreements with KPMG on any matter
of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction
of
KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreement in connection with its report.
During
the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period
through March 28, 2006, there have been no reportable events of the type
required to be disclosed by Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
On
March
28, 2006, the Company engaged Moss Adams LLP as its new independent registered
public accounting firm. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years prior
to the engagement of Moss Adams, and through the date of the engagement, the
Company did not consult with such firm regarding any of the matters described
in
Item 304(a)(2)(i) or (ii) of Regulation S-K.
At
the
Annual Meeting a vote will be taken on a proposal to ratify the appointment
of
Moss Adams LLP by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors to act as the
independent registered public accounting firm of the Bank and FNCBancorp for
the
year ending December 31, 2006. Although the appointment of independent public
accountants is not required to be approved by shareholders, the Audit Committee
believes shareholders should participate in such selection through ratification.
KPMG LLP acted as the independent registered public accounting firm of the
Bank
and FNCBancorp for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
It
is
anticipated that a representative of KPMG LLP and Moss Adams LLP will be present
at the Meeting, and will have the opportunity to make a statement if he or
she
desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Ratification
of the appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the
independent registered public accounting firm will require the affirmative
vote
of a majority of the shares represented and voting at the Meeting.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF
MOSS ADAMS LLP BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS THE BANK’S
AND FNCBANCORP’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2006.
PROPOSAL
3
APPROVAL
OF THE FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
2006
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The
Company is seeking shareholder approval of the new First Northern Community
Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the
regulations of the California Department of Corporations and the Amended
Articles of Incorporation of the Company. The Plan will replace the current
2000
Stock Option Plan and Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan,
which will terminate by their terms in February 2007. There were 762,230 shares
remaining for issuance under the 2000 Stock Option Plan and Outside Directors
2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan. These shares will be available for issuance
under the new First Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive
Plan.
The
Plan
was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 16, 2006, and will be effective
on February 27, 2007 or such earlier date when the Board of Directors has
terminated both the First Northern Community Bancorp 2000 Stock Option Plan
and
the First Northern Community Bancorp Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock
Option Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of
the
Company and the creation of shareholder value by (a) encouraging employees
and
non-employee directors to focus on critical long-range objectives, (b)
encouraging the attraction and retention of employees and non-employee directors
with exceptional qualifications, and (c) linking employees and non-employee
directors directly to shareholder interests through increased stock ownership.
Set
forth
below is a summary of the Plan, which is qualified in its entirety by the
specific language of the Plan. A copy of the Plan presented for shareholder
approval is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix
A.
Shareholders are urged to read the complete text of the Plan.
Background
of the Plan
The
Plan
is administered by the Compensation Committee. Subject to the requirements
of
applicable law, the Compensation Committee may designate persons other than
its
members to carry out its responsibilities under the Plan (including the
selection of and the granting of awards under the Plan to participants), except
that the Compensation Committee may not delegate its authority with regard
to
the selection for participation of or the granting of awards under the Plan
to
persons subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Plan
provides for the grant of options to purchase shares of common stock, restricted
stock, stock appreciation rights and stock units. Employees and non-employee
directors are eligible for the grant of restricted stock, stock units,
nonstatutory options and stock appreciation rights under the Plan. Only
employees of the Company, a parent or a subsidiary are eligible for the grant
of
incentive stock options. As of March 22, 2006, 49 employees and 8 non-employee
directors were eligible to be considered for the grant of awards under the
Plan.
The Board can amend or modify the Plan at any time, with shareholder approval
if
required. The Plan terminates on March 15, 2016, unless earlier terminated
by
the Board.
Shares
Subject to the Plan
Under
the
Plan, 762,230 shares of common stock have been authorized for issuance. This
number of shares represents the number of shares remaining for issuance under
the 2000 Stock Option Plan and Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option
Plan. No participant in the Plan can receive option grants, stock appreciation
rights, restricted stock or stock units for more than 25,000 shares total in
any
calendar year. With respect to awards granted to non-employee directors under
the Plan during the term of the Plan, the total number of shares of common
stock
which may be issued upon exercise or settlement of such awards is 100,000 shares
and no outside director can receive option grants, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock or stock units for more than 3,000 shares total in any calendar
year. Awards granted to non-employee directors under the Plan will be vested
as
to all the shares of common stock subject such awards in the event a change
in
control takes place with respect to the Company. The closing price for the
common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board as of March 22, 2006, was $28.00 per
share.
Plan
Features
The
Plan
provides for various awards, which are described below:
Stock
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
A
stock
option is the right to purchase a certain number of shares of stock, at a
certain exercise price, in the future. A stock appreciation right is the right
to receive the net of the market price of a share of stock and the exercise
price of the right, either in cash or in stock, in the future.
The
exercise price of incentive stock options is set by the Compensation Committee
but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock
as of
the date of grant (110% of the fair market value if the grant is to an employee
who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
the
Company’s capital stock). The Internal Revenue Code currently limits to $100,000
the aggregate value of common stock for which incentive stock options may first
become exercisable in any calendar year under the Plan or any other option
plan
adopted by the Company. The exercise price of a nonstatutory stock option is
set
by the Compensation Committee. The exercise price of a stock appreciation right
is set by the Compensation Committee.
Subject
to the terms of the Plan, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to
establish the terms of any specific award granted under the Plan, including
any
vesting arrangement and exercise period. In general, options granted to
optionees will be vested one year after grant and annually thereafter. The
shares under this option will vest annually at a rate of 25 percent (25%) per
year. All of the shares shall be fully vested on the fourth anniversary of
the
vesting start date. However, options will be vested as to all the shares subject
to the option in the event a change in control takes place with respect to
the
Company.
In
no
event may options granted under the Plan be exercised more than 10 years after
the date of grant (five years after the date of grant if the grant is an
incentive stock option to an employee who owns more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s capital stock).
Restricted
Share Awards and Restricted Stock Units
Restricted
stock is a share award that may be conditioned upon continued service, the
achievement of performance objectives or the satisfaction of any other condition
as specified in a restricted stock agreement. Subject to the terms of the Plan,
the Compensation Committee will determine the terms and conditions of any
restricted stock award, including any vesting arrangement, which will be set
forth in a restricted stock agreement to be entered into between the Company
and
each grantee. Shares may be awarded under the Plan for such consideration as
the
Compensation Committee may determine, including without limitation cash, cash
equivalents, full-recourse promissory notes, future services, or services
rendered prior to the award, without a cash payment by the grantee.
Under
the
Plan, the Compensation Committee may also grant restricted stock units that
give
recipients the right to acquire a specified number of shares of stock, or in
the
Compensation Committee’s discretion, the equivalent value in cash, at a future
date upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including any vesting
arrangement, established by the Compensation Committee and as set forth in
a
stock unit agreement. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Compensation
Committee will determine the terms and conditions of any stock unit award,
which
will be set forth in a stock unit agreement to be entered into between the
Company and each grantee. Restricted stock units may be granted in consideration
of a reduction in the recipient’s other compensation, but no cash consideration
is required of the recipient. Recipients of restricted stock units do not have
voting or dividend rights, but may be credited with dividend equivalent
compensation.
Recapitalizations,
Stock Splits or Similar Capital Transactions
In
the
event of a recapitalization, stock split or similar capital transaction,
appropriate adjustment will be made to the number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Plan, including the limitation regarding the total number
of
shares underlying awards given to an individual participant in any calendar
year, and other adjustments in order to preserve the benefits of outstanding
awards under the Plan.
Mergers
Generally,
if the Company is a party to a merger or other reorganization, unless
outstanding awards are assumed by the surviving entity or its parent or
continued by the Company (if the Company is a surviving entity), the
Compensation Committee may settle the full value of the outstanding awards
in
cash or cash equivalents followed by cancellation of such awards, in all cases
without the participant’s consent.
New
Plan Benefits
Because
grants under the Plan are subject to the discretion of the plan administrator,
awards that may be granted under the Plan are undeterminable. Future exercise
prices for options granted under the Plan are also undeterminable because they
will be based upon the fair market value of the common stock on the date of
grant. Restricted stock units are settled on or after the vesting date in shares
of common stock or, in the Company’s sole discretion, in cash.
Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Optionees
receiving incentive stock options granted under the Plan will not recognize
income upon grant or exercise of the option under the Internal Revenue Code
unless the alternative minimum tax rules apply. Upon an optionee’s sale of the
shares (assuming that the sale occurs more than two years after grant of the
option and more than one year after exercise of the option), any gain will
be
taxed to the optionee as long-term capital gain. If the optionee disposes of
the
shares prior to the expiration of either of the above holding periods, then
the
optionee will recognize ordinary income in an amount generally measured as
the
difference between the exercise price and the lower of the fair market value
of
the shares at the exercise date or the sale price of the shares. Any gain
recognized on such a premature sale of the shares in excess of the amount
treated as ordinary income will be characterized as capital gain.
Optionees
receiving nonstatutory stock options under the Plan will not recognize any
taxable income at the time of grant of the option. However, upon exercise of
the
nonstatutory stock option, the optionee will recognize ordinary income for
federal income tax purposes in an amount generally measured as the excess of
the
then fair market value of each share over its exercise price. Upon an optionee’s
resale of such shares, any difference between the sale price and the fair market
value of such shares on the date of exercise will be treated as capital gain
or
loss and will generally qualify for long-term capital gain or loss treatment
if
the shares have been held for more than one year. The Internal Revenue Code
provides for reduced tax rates for long-term capital gains based on the
taxpayer’s income and the length of the taxpayer’s holding period.
The
recipient of a restricted share award will generally recognize ordinary
compensation income when such shares are no longer subject to a substantial
risk
of forfeiture, based on the excess of the value of the shares at that time
over
the price, if any, paid for such shares. However, if the recipient makes a
timely election under the Internal Revenue Code to be subject to tax upon the
receipt of the shares, the recipient will recognize ordinary compensation income
at that time equal to the fair market value of the shares over the price paid,
if any, and no further ordinary compensation income will be recognized when
the
shares vest.
In
the
case of an exercise of a stock appreciation right or an award of restricted
stock units, the recipient will generally recognize ordinary income in an amount
equal to any cash received and the fair market value of any shares received
on
the date of payment or delivery.
Subject
to certain limitations, the Company is entitled to a deduction for Federal
income tax purposes equal to the amount of ordinary compensation income
recognized by the recipient of an award at the time such income is recognized.
However, the deduction of compensation paid to certain executives may be subject
to a $1,000,000 annual limit under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Any
deferrals made under the Plan, including awards granted under the Plan that
are
considered to be deferred compensation, must satisfy the requirements of Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code to avoid adverse tax consequences to
participating employees. These requirements include limitations on election
timing, acceleration of payments, and distributions. The Company intends to
structure any deferrals and awards under the Plan to meet the applicable tax
law
requirements.
The
foregoing does not purport to be a complete summary of the federal income tax
considerations that may be relevant to holders of options, restricted shares,
stock appreciation rights or restricted stock units, or to the Company. It
also
does not reflect provisions of the income tax laws of any municipality, state
or
foreign country in which a holder may reside, nor does it reflect the tax
consequences of a holder’s death.
Required
Vote
The
affirmative vote of a majority of shares of the Company’s common stock entitled
to vote at the Meeting is needed to approve the Plan. In the event approval
is
not obtained, the Plan will not become effective.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE
THE 2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
PROPOSAL
4
APPROVAL
OF THE AMENDED FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
The
Employee Stock Purchase Plan was initially approved by the Bank’s shareholders
in 1997 and assumed by the Company in May 2000 as the First Northern Community
Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The First Northern Community Bancorp
Employee Stock Purchase Plan terminates by its terms in February 2007. The
Company is seeking shareholder approval, in accordance with the regulations
of
the California Department of Corporations and the Amended Articles of
Incorporation of the Company, of the amended First Northern Community Bancorp
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The amendments to the First Northern Community
Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan will extend this termination date until
March 2016 and reduce the number of shares eligible for issuance under the
Plan
to 250,000. A copy of the First Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, as amended by the Board of Directors on March 16, 2006, is
attached to this proxy statement as Appendix
B.
Purpose
of the Plan
The
purpose of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is to provide eligible employees
with an opportunity to acquire shares of common stock at a price below their
market value and to pay for the purchases through payroll deductions, thereby
enabling such employees to increase their proprietary interest in the success
of
the Company.
Summary
of the Amendments
The
proposed amendments would extend the termination date of the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan to March 15, 2016 and reduce the number of shares available for
issuance under the plan from 1,563,912 shares (of which approximately 1,387,353
shares remain available for issuance) to 250,000 shares. In all other respects,
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan would continue unchanged.
Background
of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The
Employee Stock Purchase Plan is administered by a plan administrator appointed
by the Board of Directors. The interpretation and construction by the plan
administrator of any provision of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan or of any
right to purchase stock qualified under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan will
be
conclusive and binding on all participants.
Shares
Subject to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
A
total
of 1,563,912 shares of common stock were initially reserved for issuance under
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and as of March 22, 2006, approximately
1,387,353 shares remain available for issuance. If approved, this proposal
will
reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan to 250,000.
No
employee is eligible to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan if,
immediately after electing to participate, the employee would own stock of
the
Company (including stock such employee may purchase under outstanding options)
representing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all
classes of stock of the Company. In addition, no employee is permitted to
continue to participate under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and all similar
purchase plans of the Company or its subsidiaries, if such rights would exceed
$25,000 of the fair market value of such stock (determined at the time the
right
is granted) for each calendar year.
Plan
Features
Eligibility;
Price of Shares
Each
regular full-time and part-time employee of the Company, First Northern Bank
of
Dixon and subsidiaries designated by the Board of Directors who has been
continually employed for at least 90 days prior to, and is an employee on,
the
commencement of a “participation period” may elect to participate in the
Employee Stock Purchase Plan for such participation period. However, certain
highly compensated officers may be excluded from participation in the Employee
Stock Purchase Plan. The approximate number of eligible employees is
undeterminable since eligibility depends in part on employment on the
commencement of any participation period.
The
Employee Stock Purchase Plan is implemented by one or more participation periods
of not more than 27 months each. The Board of Directors, or a committee thereof,
determines the commencement date and duration of each participation
period.
On
the
last day of the participation period, the Company will apply the amount
contributed by the participant during that period to purchase shares of common
stock for him or her. The purchase price will be equal to 85% of the lower
of
(a) the fair market value of the common stock on the last trading day before
the
first day of the applicable participation period or (b) the fair market value
of
the common stock on the last trading day of the participation period. By
enrolling in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, a participant will be deemed
to
have elected to purchase the maximum number of whole shares of common stock
which can be purchased with the total amount contributed by the participant
during the participation period. In the event that the aggregate number of
shares which all participants elect to purchase during a participation period
exceeds the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, then each participant will be entitled to purchase a
pro-rata share of the number of shares remaining available for issuance under
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Participation;
Payroll Deductions; Purchase of Shares
Eligible
employees become participants in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan by executing
a
participation agreement authorizing payroll deductions and filing it with the
plan administrator no later than the deadline stated in the participation
agreement, and if none is stated, then no later than the first day of the
participation period. The employee designates on the participation agreement
the
amount of his or her base compensation which he or she elects to have withheld;
provided that the amount may not exceed 10% of the employee’s base compensation.
A participant may purchase shares of common stock under the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan solely by means of payroll deductions. Once enrolled, a
participant will continue to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
for
each succeeding participation period until he or she terminates participation
in
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan or ceases to qualify as an eligible employee.
Payroll
deductions commence with the first paycheck issued during the participation
period. A participant may increase or decrease the rate of payroll withholding
in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan.
Participants
are notified by statements of account as soon as practicable following the
end
of each purchase period as to the amount of payroll deductions, the number
of
shares purchased, the purchase price and the remaining cash balance of their
accounts. Certificates representing the number of shares of common stock
purchased will be delivered to the plan administrator pursuant to the
participation agreement and subject to the conditions described in the
participation agreement which may include a requirement that shares of common
stock be held and not sold for certain time periods.
Withdrawal
From the Employee Stock Purchase Plan; Termination of Employment
Participants
may withdraw from the Employee Stock Purchase Plan at any time up to the last
day of a participation period by filing the prescribed form with the plan
administrator. As soon as practicable after withdrawal, payroll deductions
cease
and all amounts credited to the participant’s account are refunded in cash,
without interest. A participant who has withdrawn from the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan cannot be a participant in future participation periods unless
he
or she re-enrolls pursuant to the provisions of the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan.
Termination
of a participant’s status as an eligible employee is treated as an automatic
withdrawal from the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. A participant may designate
in
writing a beneficiary who is to receive shares and cash in the event of the
participant’s death subsequent to the purchase of shares, but prior to delivery.
A participant may also designate a beneficiary to receive cash in his or her
account in the event of such participant’s death prior to the last day of a
participation period. Any other attempted assignment, except by will, and the
laws of descent and distribution, may be treated as a withdrawal.
Amendment
and Termination of Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The
Employee Stock Purchase Plan may be amended or terminated at any time by the
Board of Directors, subject to applicable laws.
Effect
of Certain Corporate Events
The
number of shares authorized under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the
number and price of shares which may be purchased in any participation period
will be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number
of
issued shares of common stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation
of
shares or any other capital adjustment, the payment of a stock dividend, or
other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company.
In
the
event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a merger or
consolidation to which the Company is a constituent corporation, the Employee
Stock Purchase Plan will terminate, unless the plan of merger, consolidation
or
reorganization provides otherwise, and all amounts credited to the participant’s
account will be refunded in cash, without interest.
New
Plan Benefits
No
current directors or executive officers will receive any benefit under the
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The benefits that will be received under the
Employee Stock Purchase Plan by the Company’s eligible employees are not
currently determinable since the number of shares of common stock to be
purchased for any eligible employee during a participation period will depend
upon the total amount contributed by such employee during such participation
period.
Required
Vote
The
affirmative vote of a majority of shares of the Company’s common stock entitled
to vote at the Meeting is needed to approve the amended First Northern Community
Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE
THE AMENDED FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE
PLAN.
INFORMATION
AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS
A
copy of First Northern Community Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2005 as filed with The Securities and Exchange
Commission is included with this mailing. Any additional copies will be
furnished without charge to Shareholders upon written request to: Lynn Campbell,
Corporate Secretary, First Northern Community Bancorp, 195 North First Street,
Dixon, California 95620.
First
Northern Community Bancorp is required to file periodic reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and rules there under. Copies of the public portions of
reports to the SEC may be inspected and copied at the headquarters of the SEC,
450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. Certain information is available
electronically at the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. You can also
obtain a copy of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and other periodic
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission through the First Northern
Bank website. The Company web address is http://www.thatsmybank.com.
The
link to the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings is on the
Investor Relations page of the Company’s website.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Under
the
rules of the SEC, if a shareholder wants to include a proposal in FNCBancorp’s
proxy statement and form of proxy for presentation at the 2007 annual meeting
of
shareholders, the proposal must be received by FNCBancorp at its principal
executive offices by November 29, 2006.
Under
FNCBancorp’s bylaws, certain procedures are provided which a shareholder must
follow to nominate persons for election as directors or to introduce an item
of
business at an annual meeting of shareholders.
Nomination
of directors must be made by notification in writing delivered or mailed to
the
President of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices not less
than 30 days or more than 60 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called
for election of directors and must contain certain information about the
director nominee. FNCBancorp’s annual meeting of shareholders is generally held
on the fourth Thursday of April. If FNCBancorp’s 2007 annual meeting of
shareholders is held on schedule, FNCBancorp must receive notice of any
nomination no earlier than February 28, 2007, and no later than March 29, 2007.
The Chairman of the meeting may disregard the nomination of any person not
made
in compliance with the foregoing procedures.
Notice
of
any business item proposed to be brought before an annual meeting by a
shareholder must be received by the Secretary of FNCBancorp not less than 70
days or more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s
annual meeting unless the date of the 2007 annual meeting is advanced by more
than 20 days or delayed by more than 70 days in which case notice must be
received not more than 90 days and not less than the later of 70 days prior
to
the meeting or 10 days after the public announcement of the meeting date.
Assuming no such advance or delay, FNCBancorp must receive notice of any
proposed business item no earlier than January 27, 2007, and no later than
February 16, 2007. If FNCBancorp does not receive timely notice, FNCBancorp’s
bylaws preclude consideration of the business item at the annual meeting. With
respect to notice of a proposed item of business, the bylaws provide that the
notice must include a brief description of the business desired to be brought
before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting
and
certain information regarding the shareholder giving the notice.
A
copy of
FNCBancorp’s bylaws may be obtained upon written request to the Secretary of
FNCBancorp at the Company’s principal executive offices.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
management of the Company is not aware of any other matters to be presented
for
consideration at the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
If
any other matters should properly come before the Meeting, it is intended that
the persons named in the enclosed Proxy will vote the shares represented thereby
in accordance with their best business judgment, pursuant to the discretionary
authority granted therein.
By
Order
of the Board of Directors
Owen
J.
Onsum
President
and
Chief
Executive Officer
Appendix
A
First
Northern Community Bancorp 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
(Adopted
by the Board on March 16, 2006)
Table
of
Contents
|
Page
|
|
|
SECTION
1. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
|
1
|
SECTION
2. DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
(a)
|
“Affiliate”
|
1
|
|
(b)
|
“Award”
|
1
|
|
(c)
|
“Award
Agreement”
|
1
|
|
(d)
|
“Board
of Directors”
|
1
|
|
(e)
|
“Change
in Control”
|
1
|
|
(f)
|
“Code”
|
2
|
|
(g)
|
“Committee”
|
2
|
|
(h)
|
“Company”
|
2
|
|
(i)
|
“Consultant”
|
2
|
|
(j)
|
“Employee”
|
2
|
|
(k)
|
“Exchange
Act”
|
2
|
|
(l)
|
“Exercise
Price”
|
2
|
|
(m)
|
“Fair
Market Value”
|
2
|
|
(n)
|
“ISO”
|
3
|
|
(o)
|
“Nonstatutory
Option” or “NSO”
|
3
|
|
(p)
|
“Offeree”
|
3
|
|
(q)
|
“Option”
|
3
|
|
(r)
|
“Optionee”
|
3
|
|
(s)
|
“Outside
Director”
|
3
|
|
(t)
|
“Parent”
|
3
|
|
(u)
|
“Participant”
|
3
|
|
(v)
|
“Plan”
|
3
|
|
(w)
|
“Purchase
Price”
|
3
|
|
(x)
|
“Restricted
Share”
|
3
|
|
(y)
|
“Restricted
Share Agreement”
|
3
|
|
(z)
|
“SAR”
|
3
|
|
(aa)
|
“SAR
Agreement”
|
3
|
|
(bb)
|
“Service”
|
3
|
|
(cc)
|
“Share”
|
4
|
|
(dd)
|
“Stock”
|
4
|
|
(ee)
|
“Stock
Option Agreement”
|
4
|
|
(ff)
|
“Stock
Unit”
|
4
|
|
(gg)
|
“Stock
Unit Agreement”
|
4
|
|
(hh)
|
“Subsidiary”
|
4
|
SECTION
3. ADMINISTRATION
|
4
|
|
(a)
|
Committee
Composition
|
4
|
|
(b)
|
Committee
for Non-Officer Grants
|
4
|
|
(c)
|
Committee
Procedures
|
4
|
|
(d)
|
Committee
Responsibilities
|
4
|
SECTION
4. ELIGIBILITY
|
6
|
|
(a)
|
General
Rule
|
6
|
|
(b)
|
Ten-Percent
Stockholders
|
6
|
|
(c)
|
Attribution
Rules
|
6
|
|
(d)
|
Outstanding
Stock
|
6
|
SECTION
5. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN
|
6
|
|
(a)
|
Basic
Limitation
|
6
|
|
(b)
|
Director
Grants
|
6
|
|
(c)
|
Award
Limitations
|
7
|
|
(d)
|
Additional
Shares
|
7
|
SECTION
6. RESTRICTED SHARES
|
7
|
|
(a)
|
Restricted
Stock Agreement
|
7
|
|
(b)
|
Payment
for Awards
|
7
|
|
(c)
|
Vesting
|
7
|
|
(d)
|
Voting
and Dividend Rights
|
7
|
|
(e)
|
Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares
|
7
|
SECTION
7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
|
8
|
|
(a)
|
Stock
Option Agreement
|
8
|
|
(b)
|
Number
of Shares
|
8
|
|
(c)
|
Exercise
Price
|
8
|
|
(d)
|
Withholding
Taxes
|
8
|
|
(e)
|
Exercisability
and Term
|
8
|
|
(f)
|
Exercise
of Options
|
8
|
|
(g)
|
Effect
of Change in Control
|
8
|
|
(h)
|
No
Rights as a Shareholder
|
8
|
|
(i)
|
Modification,
Extension and Renewal of Options
|
9
|
|
(j)
|
Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares
|
9
|
|
(k)
|
Buyout
Provisions
|
9
|
SECTION
8. PAYMENT FOR SHARES
|
9
|
|
(a)
|
General
Rule
|
9
|
|
(b)
|
Surrender
of Stock
|
9
|
|
(c)
|
Services
Rendered
|
9
|
|
(d)
|
Cashless
Exercise
|
9
|
|
(e)
|
Exercise/Pledge
|
9
|
|
(f)
|
Other
Forms of Payment
|
10
|
|
(g)
|
Limitations
under Applicable Law
|
10
|
SECTION
9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
|
10
|
|
(a)
|
SAR
Agreement
|
10
|
|
(b)
|
Number
of Shares
|
10
|
|
(c)
|
Exercise
Price
|
10
|
|
(d)
|
Exercisability
and Term
|
10
|
|
(e)
|
Effect
of Change in Control
|
10
|
|
(f)
|
Exercise
of SARs
|
10
|
|
(g)
|
Modification
or Assumption of SARs
|
10
|
|
(h)
|
Buyout
Provisions
|
11
|
SECTION
10. STOCK UNITS
|
11
|
|
(a)
|
Stock
Unit Agreement
|
11
|
|
(b)
|
Payment
for Awards
|
11
|
|
(c)
|
Vesting
Conditions
|
11
|
|
(d)
|
Voting
and Dividend Rights
|
11
|
|
(e)
|
Form
and Time of Settlement of Stock Units
|
11
|
|
(f)
|
Death
of Recipient
|
11
|
|
(g)
|
Creditors’
Rights
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
11. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES
|
12
|
|
(a)
|
Adjustments
|
12
|
|
(b)
|
Dissolution
or Liquidation
|
12
|
|
(c)
|
Reorganizations
|
12
|
|
(d)
|
Reservation
of Rights
|
12
|
SECTION
12. DEFERRAL OF AWARDS
|
13
|
|
(a)
|
Committee
Powers
|
13
|
|
(b)
|
General
Rules
|
13
|
SECTION
13. AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS
|
13
|
SECTION
14. PAYMENT OF DIRECTOR’S FEES IN SECURITIES
|
13
|
|
(a)
|
Effective
Date
|
13
|
|
(b)
|
Elections
to Receive NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units
|
13
|
|
(c)
|
Number
and Terms of NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units
|
14
|
SECTION
15. LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
|
14
|
SECTION
16. WITHHOLDING TAXES
|
14
|
|
(a)
|
General
|
14
|
|
(b)
|
Share
Withholding
|
14
|
SECTION
17. OTHER PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
|
14
|
|
(a)
|
Transferability
|
14
|
|
(b)
|
Qualifying
Performance Criteria
|
15
|
SECTION
18. NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
|
15
|
SECTION
19. DURATION AND AMENDMENTS
|
15
|
|
(a)
|
Term
of the Plan
|
15
|
|
(b)
|
Right
to Amend or Terminate the Plan
|
15
|
|
(c)
|
Effect
of Termination
|
15
|
SECTION
20. EXECUTION
|
16
|
FIRST
NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
2006
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION
1: ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.
The
Plan
was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 16, 2006, and shall be effective
on February 27, 2007 or such earlier date when the Board of Directors has
terminated both the First Northern Community Bancorp 2000 Stock Option Plan
and
the First Northern Community Bancorp Outside Directors 2000 Nonstatutory Stock
Option Plan, subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders (the
“Effective Date”). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success
of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (a) encouraging
Employees and Outside Directors to focus on critical long-range objectives,
(b)
encouraging the attraction and retention of Employees and Outside Directors
with
exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Employees and Outside Directors
directly to stockholder interests through increased stock ownership. The Plan
seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of restricted
shares, stock units, options (which may constitute incentive stock options
or
nonstatutory stock options) or stock appreciation rights.
SECTION
2: DEFINITIONS.
(a) “Affiliate” shall
mean any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more
Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.
(b) “Award”
shall
mean any award of an Option, a SAR, a Restricted Share or a Stock Unit under
the
Plan.
(c) “Award
Agreement”
shall
mean a Stock Option Agreement, SAR Agreement, Restricted Share Agreement or
Stock Unit Agreement.
(d) “Board
of
Directors”
shall
mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to
time.
(e) “Change
in Control”
shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) Approval
by the stockholders of the Company of a merger or consolidation of the Company
with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if
either:
(A) The
Company is not the continuing or surviving entity; or
(B) More
than
50% of the combined voting power of the Company's securities outstanding
immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned
by
persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such
merger, consolidation or other reorganization;
(ii) A
change
in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than
one-half of the incumbent directors are directors who either:
(A) Had
been
directors of the Company 24 months prior to such change; or
(B) Were
elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the
affirmative votes of at least a majority of the directors who had been directors
of the Company 24 months prior to such change and who were still in office
at
the time of the election or nomination;
(iii) Any
"person" (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange
Act)
by the acquisition or aggregation of securities is or becomes the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25%
or
more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having
the right to vote at elections of directors (the "Base Capital Stock"); except
that any change in the relative beneficial ownership of the Company's securities
by any person resulting solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of
outstanding shares of Base Capital Stock, and any decrease thereafter in such
person's ownership of securities, shall be disregarded until such person
increases in any manner, directly or indirectly, such person's beneficial
ownership of any securities of the Company; or
(iv) The
sale,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets.
(f) “Code” shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g) “Committee”
shall
mean the Compensation Committee as designated by the Board of Directors, which
is authorized to administer the Plan, as described in Section 3 hereof.
(h) “Company”
shall
mean First Northern Community Bancorp, a California corporation.
(i) “Consultant”
shall mean a consultant or advisor who provides bona fide services to the
Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an independent contractor
(not including service as a member of the Board of Directors) or a member of
the
board of directors of a Parent or a Subsidiary, in each case who is not an
Employee.
(j) “Employee”
shall
mean any individual who is a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent,
a
Subsidiary or an Affiliate.
(k) “Exchange
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(l) “Exercise
Price”
shall
mean, in the case of an Option, the amount for which one Share may be purchased
upon exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option
Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, shall mean an amount, as
specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair
Market Value of one Share in determining the amount payable upon exercise of
such SAR.
(m) “Fair
Market Value”
shall
mean:
(i) the
closing price of a Share on the principal exchange which the Shares are trading,
on the first trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Fair Market
Value is determined,
(ii) if
the
Shares are not traded on an exchange but are quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market (or a successor quotation system), the closing price on the first trading
day immediately preceding the date on which the Fair Market Value is determined,
(iii) if
the
Shares are not traded on an exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market
(or
a successor quotation system) but are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or
a
successor quotation system), the closing price on the first trading day
immediately preceding the date on which the Fair Market Value is determined,
or
(iv) if
the
Shares are not traded on an exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market
(or
a successor quotation system ) or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or a
successor quotation system), the fair market value of a Share, as determined
by
the Committee in good faith. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding
on all persons.
(n) “ISO”
shall
mean an employee incentive stock option described in Section 422 of the Code.
(o) “Nonstatutory
Option” or “NSO”
shall
mean an employee stock option that is not an ISO.
(p) “Offeree”
shall
mean an individual to whom the Committee has offered the right to acquire Shares
under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option).
(q) “Option”
shall
mean an ISO or Nonstatutory Option granted under the Plan and entitling the
holder to purchase Shares.
(r) “Optionee”
shall
mean an individual or estate who holds an Option or SAR.
(s) “Outside
Director”
shall
mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not a common-law employee of,
or
paid consultant to, the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.
(t) “Parent”
shall
mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of
corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than
the
Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power
of
all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A
corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption
of
the Plan shall be a Parent commencing as of such date.
(u) “Participant”
shall
mean an individual or estate
who
holds an Award.
(v) “Plan”
shall
mean this 2006 Stock Incentive Plan of First Northern Community Bancorp, as
amended from time to time.
(w) “Purchase
Price”
shall
mean the consideration for which one Share may be acquired under the Plan (other
than upon exercise of an Option), as specified by the Committee.
(x) “Restricted
Share”
shall
mean a Share awarded under the Plan.
(y) “Restricted
Share Agreement”
shall
mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Share
which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such
Restricted Shares.
(z) “SAR”
shall
mean a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan.
(aa)
“SAR
Agreement”
shall
mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee which contains the terms,
conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or her SAR.
(bb) “Service”
shall
mean service as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director, subject to such
further limitations as may be set forth in the Plan or the applicable Stock
Option Agreement, SAR Agreement, Restricted Share Agreement or Stock Unit
Agreement. The Company determines which leaves of absence count toward
Service, and when Service terminates for all purposes under the
Plan.
(cc) “Share”
shall
mean one share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 11 (if
applicable).
(dd) “Stock”
shall
mean the Common Stock of the Company.
(ee) “Stock
Option Agreement”
shall
mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms,
conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Option.
(ff) “Stock
Unit”
shall
mean a bookkeeping entry representing the Company’s obligation to deliver one
Share (or distribute cash) on a future date in accordance with the provisions
of
a Stock Unit Agreement.
(gg) “Stock
Unit Agreement”
shall
mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Stock Unit which
contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Stock Unit.
(hh) “Subsidiary”
shall
mean any corporation, if the Company and/or one or more other Subsidiaries
own
not less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
outstanding stock of such corporation. A corporation that attains the status
of
a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a
Subsidiary commencing as of such date.
SECTION
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Committee
Composition
The Plan
shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall consist of two
or
more directors of the Company, who shall be appointed by the Board. In addition,
the composition of the Committee shall satisfy (i) such requirements as the
Securities and Exchange Commission may establish for administrators acting
under
plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor)
under the Exchange Act; and (ii) such requirements as the Internal Revenue
Service may establish for outside directors acting under plans intended to
qualify for exemption under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
(b) Committee
for Non-Officer Grants
The
Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board, each
composed of two or more directors of the Company who need not satisfy the
requirements of Section 3(a), who may administer the Plan with respect to
Employees who are not considered officers or directors of the Company under
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, may grant Awards under the Plan to such
Employees and may determine all terms of such grants. Within the limitations
of
the preceding sentence, any reference in the Plan to the Committee shall include
such committee or committees appointed pursuant to the preceding sentence.
(c) Committee
Procedures
The
Board of Directors shall designate one of the members of the Committee as
chairman. The Committee may hold meetings at such times and places as it shall
determine. The acts of a majority of the Committee members present at meetings
at which a quorum exists, or acts reduced to or approved in writing by all
Committee members, shall be valid acts of the Committee.
(d) Committee
Responsibilities
Subject
to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority and
discretion to take the following actions:
(i) To
interpret the Plan and to apply its provisions;
(ii) To
adopt,
amend or rescind rules, procedures and forms relating to the Plan;
(iii) To
adopt,
amend or terminate sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying
applicable foreign laws including qualifying for preferred tax treatment under
applicable foreign tax laws;
(iv) To
authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument
required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;
(v) To
determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan;
(vi) To
select
the Offerees and Optionees;
(vii) To
determine the number of Shares to be made subject to each Award;
(viii) To
prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including (without limitation)
the Exercise Price and Purchase Price, and the vesting or duration of the Award
(including accelerating the vesting of Awards, either at the time of the Award
or thereafter, without the consent of the Participant), to determine whether
an
Option is to be classified as an ISO or as a Nonstatutory Option, and to specify
the provisions of the agreement relating to such Award;
(ix) To
amend
any outstanding Award Agreement, subject to applicable legal restrictions and
to
the consent of the Participant if the Participant’s rights or obligations would
be materially impaired;
(x) To
prescribe the consideration for the grant of each Award or other right under
the
Plan and to determine the sufficiency of such consideration;
(xi) To
determine the disposition of each Award or other right under the Plan in the
event of a Participant’s divorce or dissolution of marriage;
(xii) To
determine whether Awards under the Plan will be granted in replacement of other
grants under an incentive or other compensation plan of an acquired business;
(xiii) To
correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in
the
Plan or any Award Agreement;
(xiv) To
establish or verify the extent of satisfaction of any performance goals or
other
conditions applicable to the grant, issuance, exercisability, vesting and/or
ability to retain any Award; and
(xv) To
take
any other actions deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the
Plan.
Subject
to the requirements of applicable law, the Committee may designate persons
other
than members of the Committee to carry out its responsibilities and may
prescribe such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate, except
that the Committee may not delegate its authority with regard to the selection
for participation of or the granting of Options or other rights under the Plan
to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. All decisions,
interpretations and other actions of the Committee shall be final and binding
on
all Offerees, all Optionees, and all persons deriving their rights from an
Offeree or Optionee. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action
that he has taken or has failed to take in good faith with respect to the Plan,
any Option, or any right to acquire Shares under the Plan.
SECTION
4. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) General
Rule
Employees and Outside Directors shall be eligible for the grant of Restricted
Shares, Stock Units, Nonstatutory Options and SARs under the Plan. Only
employees of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the
grant of ISOs.
(b) Ten-Percent
Stockholders
An
Employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of outstanding stock of the Company, a Parent or Subsidiary shall not
be
eligible for the grant of an ISO unless such grant satisfies the requirements
of
Section 422(c)(5) of the Code.
(c) Attribution
Rules
For
purposes of Section 4(b) above, in determining stock ownership, an Employee
shall be deemed to own the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such
Employee’s brothers, sisters, spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants. Stock
owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate
or
trust shall be deemed to be owned proportionately by or for its stockholders,
partners or beneficiaries.
(d) Outstanding
Stock
For
purposes of Section 4(b) above, “outstanding stock” shall include all stock
actually issued and outstanding immediately after the grant. “Outstanding stock”
shall not include shares authorized for issuance under outstanding options
held
by the Employee or by any other person.
SECTION
5. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.
(a) Basic
Limitation
Shares
offered under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares. The aggregate
number of Shares authorized for issuance as Awards under the Plan shall not
exceed seven hundred sixty two thousand two hundred thirty (762,230) shares.
The
limitations of this Section 5(a) shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 11. The number of Shares that are subject to Options or other Awards
outstanding at any time under the Plan shall not exceed the number of Shares
which then remain available for issuance under the Plan. The Company, during
the
term of the Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available sufficient
Shares to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. To the extent required both
by
Section 260.140.45 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations and as
a
condition to the qualification of the grant of Options or other Awards under
the
Plan pursuant to the California Corporations Code, the number of Shares which
are subject to Options or other Awards under the Plan and the number of Shares
to be made available under any similar stock plan of the Company shall not
exceed a number of Shares equal to 30% of the then outstanding Shares of the
Company, unless a higher percentage is approved by a at least two-thirds of
the
outstanding Shares entitled to vote.
(b) Director
Grants
With
respect to Awards granted to Outside Directors, the aggregate number of Shares
which may be issued upon exercise or settlement of such Awards under the Plan
shall be one-hundred thousand (100,000) shares. Any Awards granted to Outside
Directors under the Plan may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall
occur, if at all, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of conditions
specified in the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that all Shares
subject to such an Award shall become fully vested in the event that a Change
in
Control takes place with respect to the Company.
(c) Award
Limitation
Subject
to the provisions of Section 11, no Participant may receive Options, SARs,
Restricted Shares or Stock Units under the Plan in any calendar year that relate
to more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) Shares; provided however, that no
outside director may receive Options, SARs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units
under the Plan in any calendar year that relate to more than three thousand
(3,000) Shares..
(d) Additional
Shares .
If
Restricted Shares or Shares issued upon the exercise of Options are forfeited,
then such Shares shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. If
Stock Units, Options or SARs are forfeited or terminate for any other reason
before being exercised, then the corresponding Shares shall again become
available for Awards under the Plan. If Stock Units are settled, then only
the
number of Shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of such Stock Units
shall reduce the number available under Section 5(a) and the balance shall
again
become available for Awards under the Plan. If SARs are exercised, then only
the
number of Shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of such SARs shall
reduce the number available in Section 5(a) and the balance shall again become
available for Awards under the Plan.
SECTION
6. RESTRICTED SHARES.
(a) Restricted
Stock Agreement
Each
grant of Restricted Shares under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted
Stock Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Shares
shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to
any
other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the
various Restricted Stock Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be
identical.
(b) Payment
for Awards
Restricted Shares may be sold or awarded under the Plan for such consideration
as the Committee may determine, including (without limitation) cash, cash
equivalents, past services and future services.
(c) Vesting
Each
Award of Restricted Shares may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall
occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified
in the Restricted Stock Agreement. A Restricted Stock Agreement may provide
for
accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death, disability or
retirement or other events. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting
Restricted Shares of thereafter, that all or part of such Restricted Shares
shall become vested in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect
to
the Company.
(d) Voting
and Dividend Rights
The
holders of Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting,
dividend and other rights as the Company’s other stockholders. A Restricted
Stock Agreement, however, may require that the holders of Restricted Shares
invest any cash dividends received in additional Restricted Shares. Such
additional Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same conditions and
restrictions as the Award with respect to which the dividends were paid.
(e) Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares
Restricted Shares shall be subject to such rights of repurchase, rights of
first
refusal or other restrictions as the Committee may determine. Such restrictions
shall be set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement and shall apply
in addition to any general restrictions that may apply to all holders of Shares.
SECTION
7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
(a) Stock
Option Agreement
Each
grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement
between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all
applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other
terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the
Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement. The
Stock
Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option is an ISO or an NSO. The
provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan
need not be identical. Options may be granted in consideration of a reduction
in
the Optionee’s other compensation.
(b) Number
of Shares
Each
Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject
to
the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance
with Section 11.
(c) Exercise
Price
Each
Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price
of
an ISO shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
date of grant, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b). Subject to the
foregoing in this Section 7(c), the Exercise Price under any Option shall be
determined by the Committee at its sole discretion. The Exercise Price shall
be
payable in one of the forms described in Section 8.
(d) Withholding
Taxes
As a
condition to the exercise of an Option, the Optionee shall make such
arrangements as the Committee may require for the satisfaction of any federal,
state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection
with such exercise. The Optionee shall also make such arrangements as the
Committee may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or
foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the
disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.
(e) Exercisability
and Term
Each
Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of
the
Option is to become exercisable. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify
the term of the Option; provided that the term of an ISO shall in no event
exceed 10 years from the date of grant (five years for Employees described
in
Section 4(b)). A Stock Option Agreement may provide for accelerated
exercisability in the event of the Optionee’s death, disability, or retirement
or other events and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term
in
the event of the termination of the Optionee’s Service. Options may be awarded
in combination with SARs, and such an Award may provide that the Options will
not be exercisable unless the related SARs are forfeited. Subject to the
foregoing in this Section 7(e) and Section 7(g), the Committee at its sole
discretion shall determine when all or any installment of an Option is to become
exercisable and when an Option is to expire.
(f) Exercise
of Options
Each
Stock Option Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Optionee shall
have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Optionee’s
Service with the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the right to exercise the
Option of any executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or any person
who has acquired such Option(s) directly from the Optionee by bequest or
inheritance. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of
the
Committee, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan,
and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.
(g) Effect
of Change in Control
Options
shall become fully exercisable as to all Shares subject to such Option in the
event that a Change in Control takes place with respect to the Company.
(h) No
Rights as a Stockholder
An
Optionee, or a transferee of an Optionee, shall have no rights as a stockholder
with respect to any Shares covered by his Option until the date of the issuance
of a stock certificate for such Shares. No adjustments shall be made, except
as
provided in Section 11.
(i) Modification,
Extension and Renewal of Options
Within
the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or renew
outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options (to
the extent not previously exercised), whether or not granted hereunder, in
return for the grant of new Options for the same or a different number of Shares
and at the same or a different exercise price, or in return for the grant of
the
same or a different number of Shares. The foregoing notwithstanding, no
modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, materially
impair his or her rights or obligations under such Option.
(j) Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares
Any
Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be subject to such special
forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other
transfer restrictions as the Committee may determine. Such restrictions shall
be
set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and shall apply in addition
to any general restrictions that may apply to all holders of Shares.
(k) Buyout
Provisions
The
Committee may at any time (a) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash
equivalents an Option previously granted or (b) authorize an Optionee to elect
to cash out an Option previously granted, in either case at such time and based
upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.
SECTION
8. PAYMENT FOR SHARES.
(a) General
Rule
The
entire Exercise Price or Purchase Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall
be
payable in lawful money of the United States of America at the time when such
Shares are purchased, except as provided in Section 8(b) through Section 8(g)
below.
(b) Surrender
of Stock
To the
extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or
in
part by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares which have
already been owned by the Optionee or his representative. Such Shares shall
be
valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the new Shares are purchased
under the Plan. The Optionee shall not surrender, or attest to the ownership
of,
Shares in payment of the Exercise Price if such action would cause the Company
to recognize compensation expense (or additional compensation expense) with
respect to the Option for financial reporting purposes.
(c) Services
Rendered
At the
discretion of the Committee, Shares may be awarded under the Plan in
consideration of services rendered to the Company or a Subsidiary prior to
the
award. If Shares are awarded without the payment of a Purchase Price in cash,
the Committee shall make a determination (at the time of the award) of the
value
of the services rendered by the Offeree and the sufficiency of the consideration
to meet the requirements of Section 6(b).
(d)
Cashless
Exercise
To the
extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or
in
part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable
direction to a securities broker to sell Shares and to deliver all or part
of
the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.
(e) Exercise/Pledge
To the
extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or
in
part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable
direction to a securities broker or lender to pledge Shares, as security for
a
loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Company in payment
of the aggregate Exercise Price.
(f) Other
Forms of Payment
To the
extent that a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement so provides,
payment may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws,
regulations and rules.
(g) Limitations
under Applicable Law
Notwithstanding anything herein or in a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted
Stock Agreement to the contrary, payment may not be made in any form that is
unlawful, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
SECTION
9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
(a) SAR
Agreement
Each
grant of a SAR under the Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between
the
Optionee and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all applicable terms
of
the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with
the Plan. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered into under the
Plan need not be identical. SARs may be granted in consideration of a reduction
in the Optionee’s other compensation.
(b) Number
of Shares
Each SAR
Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains and
shall
provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 11.
(c) Exercise
Price
Each SAR
Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. A SAR Agreement may specify an
Exercise Price that varies in accordance with a predetermined formula while
the
SAR is outstanding.
(d) Exercisability
and Term
Each SAR
Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the SAR is
to
become exercisable. The SAR Agreement shall also specify the term of the SAR.
A
SAR Agreement may provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the
Optionee’s death, disability or retirement or other events and may provide for
expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of
the
Optionee’s service. SARs may be awarded in combination with Options, and such an
Award may provide that the SARs will not be exercisable unless the related
Options are forfeited. A SAR may be included in an ISO only at the time of
grant
but may be included in an NSO at the time of grant or thereafter. A SAR granted
under the Plan may provide that it will be exercisable only in the event of
a
Change in Control.
(e) Effect
of Change in Control
The
Committee may determine, at the time of granting a SAR or thereafter, that
such
SAR shall become fully exercisable as to all Common Shares subject to such
SAR
in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(f) Exercise
of SARs
Upon
exercise of a SAR, the Optionee (or any person having the right to exercise
the
SAR after his or her death) shall receive from the Company (a) Shares, (b)
cash
or (c) a combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee shall determine.
The
amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of Shares received upon exercise
of
SARs shall, in the aggregate, be equal to the amount by which the Fair Market
Value (on the date of surrender) of the Shares subject to the SARs exceeds
the
Exercise Price.
(g) Modification
or Assumption of SARs
Within
the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or assume
outstanding SARs or may accept the cancellation of outstanding SARs (whether
granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new
SARs
for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different
exercise price. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of a SAR shall,
without the consent of the holder, materially impair his or her rights or
obligations under such SAR.
(h) Buyout
Provisions
The
Committee may at any time (a) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash
equivalents a SAR previously granted, or (b) authorize an Optionee to elect
to
cash out a SAR previously granted, in either case at such time and based upon
such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.
SECTION
10. STOCK UNITS.
(a) Stock
Unit Agreement
Each
grant of Stock Units under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Unit Agreement
between the recipient and the Company. Such Stock Units shall be subject to
all
applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are
not
inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Stock Unit Agreements
entered into under the Plan need not be identical. Stock Units may be granted
in
consideration of a reduction in the recipient’s other compensation.
(b) Payment
for
Awards
To the
extent that an Award is granted in the form of Stock Units, no cash
consideration shall be required of the Award recipients.
(c) Vesting
Conditions
Each
Award of Stock Units may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur,
in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in
the
Stock Unit Agreement. A Stock Unit Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting
in the event of the Participant’s death, disability or retirement or other
events. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting Stock Units or
thereafter, that all or part of such Stock Units shall become vested in the
event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(d) Voting
and Dividend Rights
The
holders of Stock Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or
forfeiture, any Stock Unit awarded under the Plan may, at the Committees’
discretion, carry with it a right to dividend equivalents. Such right entitles
the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on
one
Share while the Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted
into additional Stock Units. Settlement of dividend equivalents may be made
in
the form of cash, in the form of Shares, or in a combination of both. Prior
to
distribution, any dividend equivalents which are not paid shall be subject
to
the same conditions and restrictions (including without limitation, any
forfeiture conditions) as the Stock Units to which they attach.
(e) Form
and Time of Settlement of Stock Units
Settlement of vested Stock Units may be made in the form of (a) cash, (b) Shares
or (c) any combination of both, as determined by the Committee. The actual
number of Stock Units eligible for settlement may be larger or smaller than
the
number included in the original Award, based on predetermined performance
factors. Methods of converting Stock Units into cash may include (without
limitation) a method based on the average Fair Market Value of Shares over
a
series of trading days. Vested Stock Units may be settled in a lump sum or
in
installments. The distribution may occur or commence when all vesting conditions
applicable to the Stock Units have been satisfied or have lapsed, or it may
be
deferred to any later date. The amount of a deferred distribution may be
increased by an interest factor or by dividend equivalents. Until an Award
of
Stock Units is settled, the number of such Stock Units shall be subject to
adjustment pursuant to Section 11.
(f) Death
of Recipient
Any
Stock Units Award that becomes payable after the recipient’s death shall be
distributed to the recipient’s beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each recipient of a
Stock Units Award under the Plan shall designate one or more beneficiaries
for
this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary
designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at
any
time before the Award recipient’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if
no designated beneficiary survives the Award recipient, then any Stock Units
Award that becomes payable after the recipient’s death shall be distributed to
the recipient’s estate.
(g) Creditors’
Rights
A holder
of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor
of
the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of
the
Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Stock Unit
Agreement.
SECTION
11. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.
(a) Adjustments
In the
event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock, a declaration of a dividend
payable in Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than
Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Shares, a
combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock (by reclassification
or
otherwise) into a lesser number of Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or
a
similar occurrence, the Committee shall make such adjustments as it, in its
sole
discretion, deems appropriate in one or more of:
(i) The
number of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares and Stock Units available for future
Awards under Section 5;
(ii) The
limitations set forth in Sections 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c);
(iii) The
number of Shares covered by each outstanding Option and SAR;
(iv) The
Exercise Price under each outstanding Option and SAR; or
(v) The
number of Stock Units included in any prior Award which has not yet been
settled.
Except
as
provided in this Section 11, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of
any
issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock
of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class,
the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the
number of shares of stock of any class.
(b) Dissolution
or Liquidation
To the
extent not previously exercised or settled, Options, SARs and Stock Units shall
terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.
(d) Reservation
of Rights
Except
as provided in this Section 11, an Optionee or Offeree shall have no rights
by
reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class,
the
payment of any dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of
shares of stock of any class. Any issue by the Company of shares of stock of
any
class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall not
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the
number or Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Option. The grant of an Option
pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the
Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes
of
its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve,
liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
SECTION
12. DEFERRAL OF AWARDS.
(a) Committee
Powers
The
Committee (in its sole discretion) may permit or require a Participant to:
(i) Have
cash
that otherwise would be paid to such Participant as a result of the exercise
of
a SAR or the settlement of Stock Units credited to a deferred compensation
account established for such Participant by the Committee as an entry on the
Company’s books;
(ii) Have
Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result of
the
exercise of an Option or SAR converted into an equal number of Stock Units;
or
(iii) Have
Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result of
the
exercise of an Option or SAR or the settlement of Stock Units converted into
amounts credited to a deferred compensation account established for such
Participant by the Committee as an entry on the Company’s books. Such amounts
shall be determined by reference to the Fair Market Value of such Shares as
of
the date when they otherwise would have been delivered
to such Participant.
(b) General
Rules
A
deferred compensation account established under this Section 12 may be credited
with interest or other forms of investment return, as determined by the
Committee. A Participant for whom such an account is established shall have
no
rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Such an account
shall represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company and shall
be
subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement between such
Participant and the Company. If the deferral or conversion of Awards is
permitted or required, the Committee (in its sole discretion) may establish
rules, procedures and forms pertaining to such Awards, including (without
limitation) the settlement of deferred compensation accounts established under
this Section 12.
SECTION
13. AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS.
The
Company may grant awards under other plans or programs. Such awards may be
settled in the form of Shares issued under this Plan. Such Shares shall be
treated for all purposes under the Plan like Shares issued in settlement of
Stock Units and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Shares available under
Section 5.
SECTION
14. PAYMENT OF DIRECTOR’S FEES IN SECURITIES.
(a) Effective
Date
No
provision of this Section 14 shall be effective unless and until the Board
has
determined to implement such provision.
(b) Elections
to Receive NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units
An
Outside Director may elect to receive his or her annual retainer payments and/or
meeting fees from the Company or any Subsidiary in the form of cash, NSOs,
Restricted Shares or Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by
the
Board. Such NSOs, Restricted Shares and Stock Units shall be issued under the
Plan. An election under this Section 14 shall be filed with the Company on
the
prescribed form.
(
c) Number
and Terms of NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units
The
number of NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units to be granted to Outside
Directors in lieu of annual retainers and meeting fees that would otherwise
be
paid in cash shall be calculated in a manner determined by the Board. The terms
of such NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units shall also be determined by
the
Board.
SECTION
15. LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Shares
shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such
Shares complies with (or is exempt from) all applicable requirements of law,
including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations
and the regulations of any stock exchange on which the Company’s securities may
then be listed, and the Company has obtained the approval or favorable ruling
from any governmental agency which the Company determines is necessary or
advisable. The Company shall not be liable to a Participant or other persons
as
to: (a) the non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has been
unable to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority
deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale
of any Shares under the Plan; and (b) any tax consequences expected, but not
realized, by any Participant or other person due to the receipt, exercise or
settlement of any Award granted under the Plan.
SECTION
16. WITHHOLDING TAXES.
(a) General
To the
extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a
Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to
the
Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise
in
connection with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares
or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.
(b) Share
Withholding
The
Committee may permit a Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her
withholding or income tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or
a
portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her or by
surrendering all or a portion of any Shares that he or she previously acquired.
Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when taxes
otherwise would be withheld in cash. In no event may a Participant have Shares
withheld that would otherwise be issued to him or her in excess of the number
necessary to satisfy the legally required minimum tax withholding.
SECTION
17. OTHER PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS.
(a) Transferability
Unless
the agreement evidencing an Award (or an amendment thereto authorized by the
Committee) expressly provides otherwise, no Award granted under this Plan,
nor
any interest in such Award, may be sold, assigned, conveyed, gifted, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise transferred in any manner (prior to the vesting and
lapse of any and all restrictions applicable to Shares issued under such Award),
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however,
that an ISO may be transferred or assigned only to the extent consistent with
Section 422 of the Code. Any purported assignment, transfer or encumbrance
in
violation of this Section 17(a) shall be void and unenforceable against the
Company.
(b) Qualifying
Performance Criteria The
number of Shares or other benefits granted, issued, retainable and/or vested
under an Award may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals for
a
specified period of time relating to one or more of the following performance
criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied
to
either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or Subsidiary, either
individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually
or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to
a
pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison
group or index, in each case as specified by the Committee in the Award: (a)
cash flow, (b) earnings per share, (c) earnings before interest, taxes and
amortization, (d) return on equity, (e) total stockholder return, (f) share
price performance, (g) return on capital, (h) return on assets or net assets,
(i) revenue, (j) income or net income, (k) operating income or net operating
income, (l) operating profit or net operating profit, (m) operating margin
or
profit margin, (n) return on operating revenue, (o) return on invested capital,
or (p) market segment shares (“Qualifying Performance Criteria”). The Committee
may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Qualifying
Performance Criteria to exclude any of the following events that occurs during
a
performance period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments
or
settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles
or
other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for
reorganization and restructuring programs and (v) any extraordinary nonrecurring
items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in
managements’ discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the
applicable year. If applicable, the Committee shall determine the Qualifying
Performance Criteria not later than the 90th
day of
the performance period, and shall determine and certify, for each Participant,
the extent to which the Qualifying Performance Criteria have been met. The
Committee may not in any event increase the amount of compensation payable
under
the Plan upon the attainment of a Qualifying Performance Goal to a Participant
who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
SECTION
18. NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.
No
provision of the Plan, nor any right or Option granted under the Plan, shall
be
construed to give any person any right to become, to be treated as, or to remain
an Employee. The Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the right to terminate
any
person’s Service at any time and for any reason, with or without notice.
SECTION
19. DURATION AND AMENDMENTS.
(a) Term
of
the Plan
The
Plan, as set forth herein, shall terminate automatically on March 15, 2016
and
may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to Subsection (b) below.
(b) Right
to Amend or Terminate the Plan
The
Board of Directors may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time
to
time. Rights and obligations under any Award granted before amendment of the
Plan shall not be materially impaired by such amendment, except with consent
of
the Participant. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval
of
the Company’s stockholders only to the extent required by applicable laws,
regulations or rules.
(c) Effect
of Termination
No
Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination thereof. The
termination of the Plan shall not affect Awards previously granted under the
Plan.
SECTION
20. EXECUTION.
To
record
the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors, the Company has caused
its
authorized officer to execute the same.
First
Northern Community Bancorp
|
|
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By
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/s/Louise
A.
Walker
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Name
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Louise
A.
Walker
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Title
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SEVP/CFO
|
Appendix
B
First
Northern Community Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as
Amended
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
Page
|
Section 1. |
Establishment of the Plan |
2
|
Section 2. |
Definitions |
2
|
Section 3. |
Duration; Shares Authorized |
3
|
Section 4. |
Administration |
3 |
Section 5. |
Eligibility and Participation
|
3 |
Section 6. |
Participation Periods |
4 |
Section 7. |
Purchase Price |
4 |
Section 8. |
Employee Contributions |
4 |
Section 9. |
Plan Accounts; Purchase of
Shares |
4 |
Section 10. |
Withdrawal From the Plan |
5 |
Section 11. |
Effect of Termination of Employment
or
Death |
5 |
Section 12. |
Rights
Not Transferable |
5 |
Section 13. |
Recapitalization, Etc. |
6 |
Section 14. |
Limitation on Stock Ownership |
6 |
Section 15. |
No Rights as an Employee |
6 |
Section 16. |
Rights as a Stockholder |
6 |
Section 17. |
Use of Funds |
7 |
Section 18. |
Amendment or Termination of the
Plan |
7 |
Section 19. |
Governing Law |
7 |
FIRST
NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
2000
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN,
AS AMENDED
SECTION
1. Establishment
of the Plan.
This
Plan
was first established by First Northern Bank of Dixon (the “Bank”). Pursuant to
an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, as of May 19, 2000, the Bank became
a
wholly owned subsidiary of First Northern Community Bancorp (the “Company”) and
the Company assumed sponsorship of the Plan to provide Eligible Employees with
an opportunity to purchase the Company's common stock so that they may increase
their proprietary interest in the success of the Company. The Plan was amended
by the Board on March 16, 2006, subject to shareholder approval at the Company’s
2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Plan, which provides for the purchase
of stock through payroll withholding, is intended to qualify under
Section 423 of the Code.
SECTION
2. Definitions.
(a) "Board
of
Directors" or "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) "Code"
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(
c) "Company"
means First Northern Community Bancorp, a California corporation.
(d) "Compensation"
means the base compensation paid to a Participant during a Participation Period
in cash or in kind including overtime, commissions and shift differential.
Incentive compensation, other bonuses and other forms of compensation for work
outside the regular work schedule are excluded.
(e) "Date
of
Participation" means the first day of a Participation Period.
(f) "Eligible
Employee" means any Employee of a Participating Company (i) who has been
continually employed for at least ninety (90) days prior to the commencement
of
a Participation Period, and (ii) who is an Employee at the commencement of
a Participation Period. In addition, an Employee who is an officer and who
is a
highly compensated employee within the meaning of section 414(q) of the Code
may
be excluded from participation in the Plan.
(g) "Employee"
means any common-law employee of a Participating Company.
(h) "Fair
Market Value" shall mean (i) the closing price of a share of Stock on the
principal exchange which the shares are trading on the first trading day
immediately preceding the date on which the Fair Market Value is determined,
or
(ii) if the shares are not traded on an exchange but are quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market or a successor quotation system, the closing price on
the
Nasdaq National Market or such successor quotation system on the first trading
day immediately preceding the date on which the Fair Market Value is determined,
or (iii) if the shares are not traded on an exchange or quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market or a successor quotation system, the fair market value
of
a share as determined by the Plan Administrator in good faith. Such
determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
(i) "Participant"
means an Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan, as provided
in
Section 5 hereof.
(j) "Participating
Company" means the Company, First Northern Bank of Dixon and such present or
future Subsidiaries of the Company as the Board of Directors shall from time
to
time designate.
(k) "Participation
Period" means a period during which contributions may be made toward the
purchase of Stock under the Plan, as determined pursuant to
Section 6.
(l) "Plan
Account" means the account established for each Participant pursuant to
Section 9(a).
(m) "Purchase
Price" means the price at which Participants may purchase Stock under
Section 5 of the Plan, as determined pursuant to
Section 7.
(n) "Stock"
means the common stock of the Company.
(o) "Subsidiary"
means a subsidiary corporation as defined in Section 424 of the
Code.
SECTION
3 Duration;
Shares Authorized.
The
Plan
shall terminate automatically on March 15, 2016 and may be terminated on any
earlier date pursuant to Section 18 below. The maximum aggregate number of
shares which may be offered under the Plan shall be two hundred fifty thousand
(250,000) shares of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13
hereof. To the extent required by Section 260.140.45 of Title 10 of the
California Code of Regulations and to the extent that Stock is sold in reliance
upon the exemption available under Section 25102(o) of the California
Corporations Code, the number of shares of Stock that may be purchased under
the
Plan and the number of shares to be made available under any similar stock
plan
of the Company shall not exceed a number of shares of Stock equal to 30% of
the
then outstanding shares of the Company, unless a higher percentage is approved
by at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
SECTION
4 Administration.
(a) The
Plan
shall be administered by a Plan Administrator appointed by the Board of
Directors. The interpretation and construction by the Plan Administrator of
any
provision of the Plan or of any right to purchase stock qualified hereunder
shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
(b) No
member
of the Board or the Plan Administrator shall be liable for any action or
determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the right to
purchase Stock hereunder. The Plan Administrator shall be indemnified by the
Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees actually
and
necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which he or she may
be
a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection
with the Plan or any stock purchased thereunder, and against all amounts paid
by
him or her in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by
independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by him or her in
satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in
relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or
proceeding that the Plan Administrator is liable for negligence or misconduct
in
the performance of his or her duties; provided that within sixty (60) days
after
institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, the Plan Administrator
shall
in writing offer the Company the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle
and
defend the same.
(c) All
costs
and expenses incurred in administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
The Board or the Plan Administrator may request advice for assistance or employ
such other persons as are necessary for proper administration of the
Plan.
SECTION
5 Eligibility
and Participation.
(a) Any
person who qualifies or will qualify as an Eligible Employee on the Date of
Participation with respect to a Participation Period may elect to participate
in
the Plan for such Participation Period. An Eligible Employee may elect to
participate by executing the participation agreement prescribed for such purpose
by the Plan Administrator. The participation agreement shall be filed with
the
Plan Administrator no later than the deadline stated on the participation
agreement, and if none is stated, then no later than the first day of the
Participation Period. The Eligible Employee shall designate on the participation
agreement the amount, of his or her Compensation which he or she elects to
have
withheld for the purchase of Stock in the manner specified by the Plan
Administrator; provided that the amount may not be greater than ten percent
(10%) of the Participant's Compensation.
(b) By
enrolling in the Plan, a Participant shall be deemed to have elected to purchase
the maximum number of whole shares of Stock which can be purchased with the
amount of the Participant's Compensation which is withheld during the
Participation Period
(c) Once
enrolled, a Participant will continue to participate in the Plan for each
succeeding Participation Period until he or she terminates participation or
ceases to qualify as an Eligible Employee. A Participant who withdraws from
the
Plan in accordance with Section 10 may again become a Participant, if he or
she then is an Eligible Employee, by following the procedure described in
Section 5(a).
SECTION
6 Participation
Periods.
The
Plan
shall be implemented by one or more Participation Periods of not more than
twenty-seven (27) months each. The Board of Directors, or a committee to which
the Board has delegated its authority, shall determine the commencement date
and
duration of each Participation Period.
SECTION
7 Purchase
Price.
The
Purchase Price for each share of Stock shall be the lesser of
(i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of such share on the
last trading day before the Date of Participation or (ii) eighty-five
percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of such share on the last trading day
during the Participation Period.
SECTION
8 Employee
Contributions.
A
Participant may purchase shares of Stock solely by means of payroll deductions.
Payroll deductions, as designated by the Participant pursuant to
Section 5(a), shall commence with the first paycheck issued during the
Participation Period and shall be deducted from each paycheck throughout the
Participation Period. If a Participant desires to decrease the rate of payroll
withholding during the Participation Period, he or she may do so, if permitted
by the Plan Administrator, one time during a Participation Period by filing
a
new participation agreement with the Plan Administrator. Such decrease will
be
effective as of the first day of the second payroll period which begins
following the receipt of the new participation agreement. If a Participant
desires to increase the rate of payroll withholding, he or she may do so
effective for the next Participation Period by filing a new participation
agreement with the Plan Administrator on or before the date specified by the
Plan Administrator, and if none is stated, then no later than the first day
of
the Participation Period for which such change is to be effective.
SECTION
9. Plan Accounts; Purchase of Shares.
(a) The
Company will maintain a Plan Account on its books in the name of each
Participant. At the close of each pay period, the amount deducted from the
Participant's Compensation will be credited to the Participant's Plan
Account.
(b) As
of the
last day of each Participation Period, the amount then in the Participant's
Plan
Account will be divided by the Purchase Price, and the number of whole shares
which results (subject to the limitations described in Sections 5(b), 9(c)
and
14) shall be purchased from the Company with the funds in the Participant's
Plan
Account. Share certificates representing the number of shares of Stock so
purchased shall be delivered to the Plan Administrator pursuant to a
participation agreement between each Participant and the Company and subject
to
the conditions described therein which may include a requirement that shares
of
Stock be held and not sold for certain time periods.
(c) In
the
event that the aggregate number of shares which all Participants elect to
purchase during a Participation Period shall exceed the number of shares
remaining available for issuance under the Plan, then the number of shares
to
which each Participant shall become entitled shall be determined by multiplying
the number of shares available for issuance by a fraction the numerator of
which
is the sum of the number of shares the Participant has elected to purchase
pursuant to Section 5, and the denominator of which is the sum of the
number of shares which all employees have elected to purchase pursuant to
Section 5. Any cash amount remaining in the Participant's Plan Account
under these circumstances shall be refunded to the Participant.
(d) Any
amount remaining in the Participant's Plan Account caused by a surplus due
to
fractional shares after deducting the amount of the Purchase Price for the
number of whole shares issued to the Participant shall be carried over in the
Participant's Plan Account for the succeeding Participation Period, without
interest. Any amount remaining in the Participant's Plan Account caused by
anything other than a surplus due to fractional shares shall be refunded to
the
Participant in cash, without interest.
(e) As
soon
as practicable following the end of each Participation Period, the Company
shall
deliver to each Participant a Plan Account statement setting forth the amount
of
payroll deductions, the purchase price, the number of shares purchased and
the
remaining cash balance, if any.
SECTION
10. Withdrawal
From the Plan.
A
Participant may elect to withdraw from participation under the Plan at any
time
up to the last day of a Participation Period by filing the prescribed form
with
the Plan Administrator. As soon as practicable after a withdrawal, payroll
deductions shall cease and all amounts credited to the Participant's Plan
Account will be refunded in cash, without interest. A Participant who has
withdrawn from the Plan shall not be a Participant in future Participation
Periods, unless he or she again enrolls in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.
SECTION
11. Effect
of Termination of Employment or Death.
(a) Termination
of employment as an Eligible Employee for any reason, including death, shall
be
treated as an automatic withdrawal from the Plan under Section 10. A
transfer from one Participating Company to another shall not be treated as
a
termination of employment.
(b) A
Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive
any shares and cash, if any, from the Participant's Account under the Plan
in
the event of such Participant's death subsequent to the purchase of shares
but
prior to delivery to him of such shares and cash. In addition, a Participant
may
file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from
the
Participant's Account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death
prior to the last day of a Participation Period.
(c) Such
designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by
written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant in the absence of
a
valid designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of such
Participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the
executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant; or if no such
executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company),
the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the
spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant; or
if
no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other
person as the Company may designate.
SECTION
12. Rights
Not Transferable.
The
rights or interests of any Participant in the Plan, or in any Stock or moneys
to
which he or she may be entitled under the Plan, shall not be transferable by
voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of law, or by any other
manner other than as permitted by the Code or by will or the laws of descent
and
distribution. If a Participant in any manner attempts to transfer, assign or
otherwise encumber his or her rights or interest under the Plan, other than
as
permitted by the Code or by will or the laws of descent and distribution, such
act shall be treated as an automatic withdrawal under
Section 10.
SECTION
13. Recapitalization,
Etc.
(a) The
aggregate number of shares of Stock offered under the Plan, the number and
price
of shares which any Participant has elected to purchase pursuant to
Section 5 and the maximum number of shares which a Participant may elect to
purchase under the Plan in any Participation Period shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock
resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares or any other capital
adjustment, the payment of a stock dividend, or other increase or decrease
in
such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company.
(b) In
the
event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a merger or
consolidation to which the Company is a constituent corporation, this Plan
shall
terminate, unless the plan of merger, consolidation or reorganization provides
otherwise, and all amounts which each Participant has paid towards the Purchase
Price of Stock hereunder shall be refunded, without interest.
(c) The
Plan
shall in no event be construed to restrict in any way the Company's right to
undertake a dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization.
SECTION
14. Limitation
on Stock Ownership.
Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, no Participant shall be permitted to
elect
to participate in the Plan (i) if such Participant, immediately after his
or her election to participate, would own stock possessing five percent (5%)
or
more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of
the
Company or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) if under the
terms of the Plan the rights of the Employee to purchase Stock under this Plan
and all other qualified employee stock purchase plans of the Company or its
Subsidiaries would accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000) of the Fair Market Value of such Stock (determined at the time such
right is granted) for each calendar year for which such right is outstanding
at
any time. For purposes of this Section 14, ownership of stock shall be
determined by the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code, and
Participants shall be considered to own any stock which they have a right to
purchase under this or any other stock plan.
SECTION
15. No
Rights as an Employee.
Nothing
in the Plan shall be construed to give any person the right to remain in the
employ of a Participating Company. Each Participating Company reserves the
right
to terminate the employment of any person at any time and for any
reason.
SECTION
16. Rights
as a Stockholder.
A
Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares
he
or she may have a right to purchase under the Plan until the date of purchase
of
such shares of stock pursuant to Section 9(b), subject to the stockholders
approval of the adoption of the Plan.
SECTION
17. Use
of
Funds.
All
payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used
by
the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated
to
segregate such payroll deductions in separate accounts.
SECTION
18. Amendment
or Termination of the Plan.
The
Board
of Directors shall have the right to amend, modify or terminate the Plan at
any
time without notice. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to stockholder
approval only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or
rules.
SECTION
19 Governing
Law.
The
Plan
shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the
laws
of the State of California.
To
record
the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors, effective as of March 16,
2006, and subject to stockholder approval, the Company has caused its authorized
officer to execute the same on March 16, 2006.
First
Northern Community Bancorp
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By
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/s/Louise
A.
Walker
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Name
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Louise
A.
Walker
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Title
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SEVP/CFO
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Operations
Center Map