pre14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by
the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Home BancShares, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
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HOME BANCSHARES, INC.
719 Harkrider Street, Suite 100
Conway, Arkansas 72032
(501) 328-4770
Internet Site: www.homebancshares.com
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 23, 2009
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Home BancShares, Inc. (the Company) will be held on
April 23, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) at the Agora Conference Center, located at 705 East Siebenmorgan
Road, Conway, Arkansas, for the following purposes:
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To elect twelve directors for a term of one year. |
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To ratify the appointment of BKD, LLP as the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm for the next fiscal year. |
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To provide an advisory (non-binding) vote approving the Companys executive
compensation. |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournments thereof. |
Only shareholders of record on March 6, 2009, will be entitled to vote at the meeting or any
adjournments thereof. A list of shareholders will be available for inspection at the office of the
Company at 719 Harkrider, Suite 100, Conway, Arkansas, 72032, beginning two business days after the
date of this notice and continuing through the meeting. The stock transfer books will not be
closed.
The 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders is included in this publication.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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C. RANDALL SIMS |
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Secretary |
Conway, Arkansas
March ___, 2009
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE EXECUTE YOUR PROXY WITHOUT DELAY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
HOW TO VOTE IF YOU ARE A SHAREHOLDER OF RECORD
Your vote is important. You can save the Company the expense of a second mailing by voting
promptly. Shareholders of record can vote by telephone, on the Internet, by mail or by attending
the Meeting and voting by ballot as described below. (Please note: if you are a beneficial owner
of shares held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder, please refer to your proxy card or
the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see which options are
available to you.)
The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate shareholders by use
of a control number and to allow you to confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded.
If you vote by telephone or on the Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card. Telephone
and Internet voting facilities for shareholders of record will be available 24 hours a day and will
close at 1:00 a.m. on April 23, 2009.
VOTE BY TELEPHONE
You can vote by calling the toll-free telephone number on your proxy card. Easy-to-follow
voice prompts allow you to vote your shares and confirm that your instructions have been properly
recorded.
VOTE ON THE INTERNET
You also can choose to vote on the Internet. The website for Internet voting is
www.envisionreports.com/HOBA. Easy-to-follow prompts allow you to vote your shares and confirm
that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote on the Internet, you can also
request electronic delivery of future proxy materials.
VOTE BY MAIL
If you choose to vote by mail, simply mark your proxy, date and sign it, and return it to
Computershare in the postage-paid envelope provided. If the envelope is missing, please mail your
completed proxy card to Home BancShares, Inc., c/o Computershare, P. O. Box 43101, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-5067.
VOTING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
The method by which you vote will not limit your right to vote at the Annual Meeting if you
decide to attend in person. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder
of record, you must obtain a legal proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record to be
able to vote at the Meeting.
All shares that have been properly voted and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting.
If you sign and return your proxy card but do not give voting instructions, the shares represented
by that proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors.
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HOME BANCSHARES, INC.
719 Harkrider Street, Suite 100
Conway, Arkansas 72032
(501) 328-4770
Internet Site: www.homebancshares.com
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the Board) of Home BancShares, Inc. (the
Company) for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. This Proxy Statement and the
accompanying proxy card were first mailed to shareholders of the Company on or about March ___,
2009.
This introductory section is a summary of selected information from this Proxy Statement and
may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To better understand the nominees
being solicited for directors and the proposals that are submitted for a vote, you should carefully
read this entire document and other documents to which we refer.
The proxies being solicited by this Proxy Statement are being solicited by the Company. The
expense of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the material
submitted with this Proxy Statement, will be paid by the Company. The Company will also reimburse
brokerage firms, banks, trustees, nominees and other persons for the expense of forwarding proxy
material to beneficial owners of shares held by them of record. Solicitations of proxies may be
made personally or by telephone, electronic communication or facsimile, by directors, officers and
regular employees, who will not receive any additional compensation in respect of such
solicitations.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on April 23, 2009:
The Notice and Proxy Statement and the Annual Report on Form 10-K
are available at www.edocumentview.com/homb.
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ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
When and Where Is the Annual Meeting?
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Date:
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Thursday, April 23, 2009 |
Time:
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6:30 p.m., Central Daylight Time |
Location:
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Agora Conference Center, located at 705 East Siebenmorgan Road, Conway, Arkansas |
What Matters Will Be Voted Upon at the Annual Meeting?
At our Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked to:
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elect twelve directors for a term of one year; |
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ratify the appointment of BKD, LLP as the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm for the next fiscal year; |
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approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the Companys executive
compensation; and |
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transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournments thereof. |
Who Is Entitled to Vote?
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date, March 6, 2009, are
entitled to receive the Notice of Annual Meeting and to vote the shares of common stock that they
held on that date at the Meeting or at any postponement or adjournment of the Meeting. Each
outstanding share entitles its holder to cast one vote on each matter to be voted on.
Who Can Attend the Meeting?
All shareholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the
Meeting, and each may be accompanied by one guest. Seating is limited and will be on a first-come,
first-served basis. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m., and seating will be available at
approximately 6:00 p.m.
No cameras, electronic devices, large bags, briefcases or packages
will be permitted at the Meeting.
Please note that if you hold your shares in street name (that is, through a broker or other
nominee), you will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting your stock ownership as
of the record date and check in at the registration desk at the Meeting.
What Constitutes a Quorum?
The presence at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares
of common stock outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum, permitting the Company to
conduct its business. As of the record date,
shares of common stock of the Company
were outstanding. Proxies received, but marked as abstentions and broker non-votes, will be
included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the Meeting.
Can a Shareholder Nominate a Director?
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors will consider a
candidate properly and timely recommended for directorship by a shareholder or group of
shareholders of the Company. The recommendation must be submitted by one or more shareholders that
have beneficially owned, individually or as a group, 2% or more of the outstanding common stock for
at least one year as of the date the recommendation is submitted. Shareholder recommendations must
be submitted to the Secretary of the Company in writing via certified U.S. mail not less than 120
days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the Proxy Statement relating to the Companys
previous Annual Meeting. Shareholder recommendations for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in
2010 must be received by the Company by November ___, 2009. Recommendations must be addressed as
follows:
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Home BancShares, Inc.
Attn: Corporate Secretary
P.O. Box 966
Conway, Arkansas 72033
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATION
Generally, candidates for a director position should possess:
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relevant business and financial expertise and experience, including an
understanding of fundamental financial statements; |
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the highest character and integrity and a reputation for working constructively
with others; |
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sufficient time to devote to meetings and consultation on Board matters; and |
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freedom from conflicts of interest that would interfere with their performance
as a director. |
The full text of our Policy Regarding Director Recommendations by Stockholders and
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Directorship Guidelines and Selection Policy are
published on our website at www.homebancshares.com and can be found under the caption Investor
Relations/Corporate Profile/Governance Documents.
How Can I Communicate Directly with the Board?
Shareholder communications to the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors,
or any individual director must be sent in writing via certified U.S. mail to the Corporate
Secretary at the following address:
Home BancShares, Inc.
Attn: Corporate Secretary
P.O. Box 966
Conway, Arkansas 72033
Our Stockholder Communications Policy is published on the Companys website at
www.homebancshares.com and can be found under the caption Investor Relations/Corporate
Profile/Governance Documents.
How Do I Vote?
The enclosed proxy card indicates the number of shares you own. There are four ways to vote:
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By Internet at www.envisionreports.com/HOBA; we encourage you to vote this way. |
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By toll-free telephone at the number shown on your proxy card. |
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By completing and mailing your proxy card. |
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By written ballot at the Meeting. |
If you vote by Internet or telephone, your vote must be received by 1:00 a.m. on April 23,
2009. Your shares will be voted as you indicate. If you do not indicate your voting preferences,
C. Randall Sims and Randy Mayor will vote your shares FOR Proposals 1, 2 and 3.
If you Vote by Telephone or on the Internet, You Do NOT Need to Return Your Proxy
Card.
If you complete and properly sign the accompanying proxy card and return it to the Company, or
tender your vote via telephone or the Internet, it will be voted as you direct. If you attend the
Meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person. A proxy duly executed and returned
by a shareholder, and not revoked prior to or at the Meeting, will be voted in accordance with the
shareholders instructions on such proxy.
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If your shares are held in street name, you will need to contact your broker or other
nominee to determine whether you will be able to vote by telephone or Internet.
What Are the Boards Recommendations?
Unless you give other instructions on your proxy card, the persons named as proxy holders on
the proxy card will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. The
Boards recommendation is set forth together with each proposal in this Proxy Statement. In
summary, the Board recommends a vote:
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For the election of the nominated slate of directors (see pages ___-___). |
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For the ratification of the appointment of BKD, LLP as the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm (see pages ___-___). |
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For the approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of the Companys executive
compensation (see page___). |
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no other business that may properly
be, or is likely to be, brought before the Annual Meeting. With respect to any other matter that
properly comes before the Meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by the Board of
Directors or, if no recommendation is given, at their own discretion.
What Vote Is Required to Approve Each Proposal?
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Election of Directors. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast in person
or by proxy at the Meeting is required for the election of directors. A properly executed
proxy marked WITHHOLD AUTHORITY with respect to the election of one or more of the
directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated, although
it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. |
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Other Proposals. For each other proposal, the affirmative vote of a majority of the
votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, assuming a quorum is present, will
be required for approval. A properly executed proxy marked ABSTAIN with respect to any
such matter will not be voted, although it will be counted for purposes of determining
whether there is a quorum. Accordingly, an abstention will have no effect on the outcome
of the vote. |
If you hold shares in street name through a broker or other nominee, your broker or nominee
may not be permitted to exercise voting discretion with respect to some of the matters to be acted
upon. Thus, if you do not give your broker or nominee specific instructions, your shares may not
be voted on those matters and will not be counted in determining the number of shares necessary for
approval. Shares represented by such broker non-votes will, however, be counted in determining
whether there is a quorum.
The authorized common stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000 shares at $0.01 par value.
As of the close of business on March 6, 2009, there were
shares eligible to vote.
Can I Change My Vote After I Return the Proxy Card?
Yes. Even after you have submitted your proxy, you may change your vote at any time before
the proxy is exercised by filing with the Secretary of the Company either a notice of revocation or
a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. The powers of the proxy holders will be suspended if
you attend the Meeting in person and so request, although attendance at the Meeting will not by
itself revoke a previously granted proxy.
How Many Directors Are There?
Our Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that the number of directors shall not be less
than two nor more than fifteen, with the exact number to be fixed by the shareholders or the Board.
Currently, we have twelve directors.
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How Long Do Directors Serve?
Our Bylaws provide that the directors shall serve a term of one year and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. The shareholders of the Company elect successors for
directors whose terms have expired at the Annual Meeting. The Board elects members to fill new
membership positions and vacancies in unexpired terms on the Board.
Do the Shareholders Elect the Executive Officers?
No. Executive officers are elected by the Board and hold office until their successors are
elected and qualified or until the earlier of their death, retirement, resignation or removal.
You Should Carefully Read this Proxy Statement in its Entirety.
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PROPOSAL ONE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that the number of directors shall not be less
than two nor more than fifteen, with the exact number to be fixed by the shareholders or the Board.
The Board of Directors proposes that the nominees for directors described below be re-elected for
a new term of one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. All nominees are
currently serving as directors.
Each of the nominees has consented to serve the term for which he is nominated. If any
nominee becomes unavailable for election, which is not anticipated, the directors proxies will
vote for the election of such other person as the Board may nominate, unless the Board resolves to
reduce the number of directors to serve on the Board and thereby reduce the number of directors to
be elected at the meeting.
The Board of Directors Recommends that Shareholders Vote
FOR
Each of the Nominees Listed Herein
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The names of the Companys directors and executive officers as of March 6, 2009, and their
respective ages and positions are listed in the following table.
During 2008, the Company announced plans to combine the charters of the Companys bank
subsidiaries into a single charter and adopt Centennial Bank as the common name. In December 2008,
we began this combination process by changing the name of First State Bank to Centennial Bank and
combining the charter of Marine Bank into this renamed First State Bank (now Centennial Bank). As
of March 6, 2009, we have two separately chartered banks with the same Centennial Bank name. As
used in the following table and hereinafter in this Proxy Statement, Centennial Bank (formerly
First State Bank) refers to the newly renamed First State Bank (now Centennial Bank) and
Centennial Bank refers to the pre-existing separately chartered Centennial Bank. We anticipate
that our remaining bank charters will be merged into the Centennial Bank (formerly First State
Bank) charter by the middle of 2009.
[Table follows on next page.]
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Positions Held |
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with Bank Subsidiaries |
John W. Allison
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62 |
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Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
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Chairman of the Board,
Centennial Bank
(formerly First State
Bank); Director,
Community Bank, Twin
City Bank, Bank of
Mountain View, and
Centennial Bank |
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Ron W. Strother
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60 |
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President, Chief
Operating Officer, and
Director
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Director, Centennial
Bank (formerly First
State Bank), Community
Bank, Twin City Bank,
Bank of Mountain View,
and Centennial Bank |
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Randy E. Mayor
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Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
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Director, Centennial Bank (formerly
First State Bank) |
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C. Randall Sims
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Director and Secretary
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President, Chief
Executive Officer, and
Director, Centennial
Bank (formerly First
State Bank); Director
Community Bank |
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Brian S. Davis
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Director of Financial
Reporting and Investor
Relations Officer
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Robert H. Adcock, Jr.
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60 |
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Vice Chairman of the Board
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Director, Centennial Bank (formerly
First State Bank) |
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Richard H. Ashley
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Director
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Chairman of the Board,
Twin City Bank;
Director, Centennial
Bank (formerly First
State Bank) and
Community Bank |
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Dale A. Bruns
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Director
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Director, Centennial
Bank (formerly First
State Bank) and Twin
City Bank |
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Richard A. Buckheim
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Director
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Regional Chairman, Centennial Bank
(formerly First State Bank) |
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S. Gene Cauley
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Director
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Director, Centennial Bank |
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Jack E. Engelkes
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Director
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Director, Centennial
Bank (formerly First State Bank) |
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James G. Hinkle
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Director
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Chairman of the Board,
Bank of Mountain View |
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Alex R. Lieblong
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Director
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William G. Thompson
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Director
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Director, Community Bank |
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Robert F. Birch, Jr.
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President, Chief
Executive Officer, and
Director, Twin City Bank |
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Tracy M. French
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President, Chief
Executive Officer, and
Director, Community Bank |
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Robert Hunter Padgett
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Regional President,
Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank) |
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Chris S. Roberts
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40 |
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President, Chief
Executive Officer, and
Director, Centennial
Bank |
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Michael L. Waddington
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66 |
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Chief Executive Officer
and Director, Bank of
Mountain View |
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NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
The twelve director nominees consist of the current twelve members of the Board. Their
experience and qualifications as Board members are as follows:
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John W. Allison
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Director Since 1998 |
John W. Allison is the founder and has been Chairman of the Board of Home BancShares since
1998. He also serves on the Asset Quality Committee and Asset/Liability Committee of Home
BancShares. Mr. Allison has more than 25 years of banking experience, including service as
Chairman of First National Bank of Conway from 1983 until 1998, and as a director of First
Commercial Corporation from 1985 (when First Commercial acquired First National Bank of Conway)
until 1998. At various times during his tenure on First Commercials board, Mr. Allison served as
the Chairman of that companys Executive Committee and as Chairman of its Asset Quality Committee.
Prior to its sale to Regions Financial Corporation in 1998, First Commercial was a publicly traded
company and the largest bank holding company headquartered in Arkansas, with approximately $7.3
billion in assets. In 2008, Mr. Allison became a director of Lodgian, Inc., a publicly traded
owner and operator of hotels.
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Ron W. Strother
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Director Since 2004 |
Ron W. Strother has been President, Chief Operating Officer, and a director of Home BancShares
since 2004. He also serves as Chairman of the Asset Quality Committee and Asset/Liability
Committee of Home BancShares. Mr. Strother has more than 35 years of banking experience, which
includes serving as Regional Chief Executive Officer over Central Arkansas for Arvest Bank Group
(Bentonville) from 2000 to 2004, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Central Bank & Trust
Company (Little Rock) from 1996 to 2000, President and Chief Operating Officer of First Commercial
Bank (Little Rock) from 1991 to 1994, President of First Commercial Mortgage Company from 1984 to
1987, and President of Commercial National Mortgage Company from 1981 to 1984. Mr. Strother began
his career in 1973 with Commercial National Bank (Little Rock), which became First Commercial Bank
in 1983.
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C. Randall Sims
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Director Since 1998 |
C. Randall Sims has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Centennial Bank (formerly
First State Bank) and a director of Home BancShares since 1998. He has served as Secretary of Home
BancShares since 1998. Prior to joining First State Bank, Mr. Sims was an executive vice president
with First National Bank of Conway. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas
at Little Rock School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and business
administration from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He attended the Graduate
School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin and is an honor graduate of the American Bankers
Association National Lending School held at the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Sims currently serves
as a Trustee at the University of Central Arkansas and as Chairman of the Conway Christian School
Board.
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Robert H. Adcock, Jr.
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Director From 1998 to 2003 and Since 2007 |
Robert H. Adcock, Jr. has been a director and Vice Chairman of Home BancShares since July
2007. He also serves on the Asset Quality Committee, Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee of Home BancShares. Mr. Adcock is a co-founder of Home BancShares with Mr.
Allison. He previously served as a director and Vice Chairman of Home BancShares from 1998 to
2003. In June 2003, Mr. Adcock stepped down from the Board of Directors of Home BancShares to
become the Arkansas State Bank Commissioner. He was reappointed as Vice Chairman of Home
BancShares in July 2007 upon completion of his four-year term as Arkansas State Bank Commissioner.
Mr. Adcock retired from the First National Bank of Conway, Arkansas (now Regions Bank), in 1996
after more than 20 years of service. He presently serves as Vice President of Financial Services
for the University of Central Arkansas. He also operates a farming operation in Gould (Lincoln
County), Arkansas, and has many real estate holdings in the Conway, Arkansas, area.
10
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Richard H. Ashley
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Director Since 2004 |
Richard H. Ashley has been a director of Home BancShares since 2004 and served as Vice
Chairman from 2006 to July 2007. He also serves on the Asset Quality Committee, Asset/Liability
Committee and the Compensation Committee of Home BancShares. He has served as a director of Twin
City Bank since 2000 and as Chairman since 2002, and he became a director of Centennial Bank
(formerly First State Bank) in February 2009. Since March 2007, he has been a director of Entergy
Arkansas, Inc., an electric public utility company. Mr. Ashley is President and owner of the
Ashley Company, a privately held company involved in land development and investment in seven
states throughout the United States since 1978.
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Dale A. Bruns
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Director Since 2004 |
Dale A. Bruns has been a director of Home BancShares since 2004 and a director of Centennial
Bank (formerly First State Bank) since 1998. Mr. Bruns has also served as a director of Twin City
Bank since 2000. Mr. Bruns is the chairman of the compensation committees for Home BancShares,
Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank), and Twin City Bank and is a member of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee of Home BancShares. Prior to his service with First State Bank,
he served as a director of the First National Bank of Conway from 1985 to 1998. Mr. Bruns has
owned and operated several McDonalds restaurants located in central Arkansas. He is also the
owner of Central Arkansas Sign Company, Inc. He currently serves on the board of the Arkansas
McDonalds Self Insurance Trust and on the impact committee for the McDonalds Great Southern
Region. He is a past member of the McDonalds National Operator advisory board of directors.
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Richard A. Buckheim
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Director Since 2005 |
Richard A. Buckheim has been a director of Home BancShares since 2005. He also serves on the
Compensation Committee of Home BancShares. From 2000 until December 2008 when the Marine Bank
charter was merged into Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank), he served as Chairman of the
Board of Marine Bank and served on the banks compensation committee. He currently serves as
Regional Chairman of Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank) for the banks Florida region.
Mr. Buckheim formerly owned two restaurants in Key West, Florida. Prior to moving to Key West, he
founded and served as President of Buckheim and Rowland, Inc., a Michigan-based advertising and
marketing company with offices in Ann Arbor, Detroit, New York, New York, and Melbourne, Florida.
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S. Gene Cauley
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Director Since January 2008 |
S. Gene Cauley has been a director of Home BancShares since January 2008. Since December
2004, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Centennial Bank. He also serves on the
Asset Quality Committee and the Asset/Liability Committee of Home BancShares. Mr. Cauley has
substantial jury trial and arbitration experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He
is a recognized authority on class action procedure and often serves as a guest lecturer on the
topic. Mr. Cauley has significant experience in owning and operating commercial real estate. He
is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law and graduated summa cum laude from the
University of Arkansas where he earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration.
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Jack E. Engelkes
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Director Since 2004 |
Jack E. Engelkes has been a director of Home BancShares since 2004 and a director of
Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank) since 1998. He also serves as Chairman of the Audit
Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee of Home BancShares. From 1995 to 1998, he
served as a director of First National Bank of Conway. Since 1990, Mr. Engelkes has served as
managing partner in the accounting firm of Engelkes and Felts, Ltd. He became President of the
Board of Conway Regional Health Foundation in 2006. He has also been a director of the Conway
Regional Medical Center since 2005 and the Conway Development Corporation since 2000. Mr. Engelkes
holds a bachelors degree in Business and Economics from Hendrix College in Conway.
11
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James G. Hinkle
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Director Since 2005 |
James G. Hinkle has been a director of Home BancShares since 2005. Mr. Hinkle currently
serves as Chairman of the Bank of Mountain View and as a member of the Asset/Liability Committee of
Home BancShares. He has over 27 years of banking experience. From 1995 to 2005, he served as
President of Mountain View BancShares, Inc., until the companys merger into Home BancShares. He
served as President of the Bank of Mountain View from 1981 to 2005.
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Alex R. Lieblong
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Director Since 2003 |
Alex R. Lieblong has been a director of Home BancShares since 2003. He has served as an
advisory director of Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank) since 2002, and he served as a
director of First State Bank from 1998 to 2002. He also serves as Chairman of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of Home BancShares. Mr.
Lieblong became a director of Lodgian, Inc., a publicly traded owner and operator of hotels, in
2006. He also currently serves on the board of directors of Ballard Petroleum, a privately held
energy company. Since 1997, Mr. Lieblong has been an owner and general principal in the brokerage
firm of Lieblong & Associates, Inc. Prior to Lieblong & Associates, Inc., he held management
positions with Paine Webber, Merrill Lynch, and E.F. Hutton. Mr. Lieblong was a founder and has
been managing partner of Key Colony Fund, L.P., a hedge fund, since 1998.
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William G. Thompson
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Director Since 2004 |
William G. Thompson has been a director of Home BancShares since 2004 and a director of
Community Bank since 1988. He also serves on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee of Home BancShares. Mr. Thompson has over 27 years of banking experience.
From 2002 to 2004, he served as Chairman of the Board of Community Bank. Mr. Thompson owns several
privately held businesses located in Cabot, Arkansas, including Transloading Service Inc., Thompson
Service Inc., and Thompson Sales Inc.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Duties of the Board
The Board of Directors has the responsibility to serve as the trustee for the shareholders.
It also has the responsibility for establishing broad corporate policies and for the overall
performance of the Company. The Board, however, is not involved in day-to-day operating details.
Members of the Board are kept informed of the Companys business through discussion with the Chief
Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing analyses and reports sent to them quarterly, and
by participating in Board and Committee meetings.
Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies
We believe that good corporate governance helps ensure that the Company is managed for the
long-term benefit of its shareholders. We continue to review our corporate governance policies and
practices, corporate governance rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the SEC), and the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Select Market on which our common stock
is traded. The Board has adopted various corporate governance guidelines and policies to assist
the Board in the exercise of its responsibilities to the Company and its shareholders. The
guidelines and policies address, among other items, director independence and director
qualifications. You can access and print our corporate governance guidelines and policies,
including the charters of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, our Corporate Code of Ethics for Directors, Executive Officers and Employees
and other Company policies and procedures required by applicable law or regulation on our website
at www.homebancshares.com under the caption Investor Relations"/Corporate Profile"/Governance
Documents.
12
Director Independence
NASDAQ rules require that a majority of the directors of NASDAQ-listed companies be
independent. An independent director generally means a person other than an officer or
employee of the listed company or its subsidiaries, or any other individual having a relationship
which, in the opinion of the listed companys board of directors, would interfere with the exercise
of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Certain categories of
persons are deemed not to be independent under the NASDAQ rules, such as persons employed by the
listed company within the last three years, and persons who have received (or whose immediate
family members have received) payments exceeding a specified amount from the listed company within
the last three years, excluding payments that are not of a disqualifying nature (such as
compensation for board service, payments arising solely from investments in the listed companys
securities, and benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan). NASDAQ rules impose somewhat more
stringent independence requirements on persons who serve as members of the audit committee of a
listed company.
Of the twelve persons who currently serve on our Board of Directors, we believe that nine are
independent for purposes of NASDAQ rules. Messrs. Allison, Strother, and Sims are not considered
independent because they are officers of Home BancShares. The Board has also determined that no
member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee or Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee has any material relationship with the Company (either directly or indirectly as a
partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) and
that all members of these committees meet the criteria for independence under the NASDAQ listing
standards.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers, and
employees. We believe our Code of Ethics is reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote
honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of conflicts of interest, full, fair and
accurate disclosure in filings and other public communications made by us, compliance with
applicable laws, prompt internal reporting of ethics violations, and accountability for adherence
to the Code of Ethics. This Code of Ethics is published in its entirety on our website at
www.homebancshares.com under the caption Investor Relations"/Corporate Profile"/Governance
Documents. We will post on our website any amendment to this code and any waivers of any
provision of this code made for the benefit of any of our senior executive officers or directors.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The business of the Company is managed under the direction of the Board of Directors, who meet
on a regularly scheduled basis during the calendar year to review significant developments
affecting the Company and to act on matters that require Board approval. Special meetings are also
held when Board action is required on matters arising between regularly scheduled meetings.
Written consents to action without a meeting may be obtained if the Company deems it more
appropriate.
All members of the Board are strongly encouraged to attend each meeting of the Board and
meetings of the Board Committees on which they serve, as well as the Annual Meeting. The Board of
Directors held four regularly scheduled meetings and one special meeting during calendar year 2008.
During this period all current members of the Board participated in at least 80% of the Board and
committee meetings. Our Director Attendance Policy is published on our website at
www.homebancshares.com under the caption Investor Relations"/Corporate Profile"/Governance
Documents.
Our Board of Directors has five standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation
Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Asset/Liability Committee and the
Asset Quality Committee. Committee members are elected annually by the Board and serve until their
successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.
The following table discloses the Board members who serve on each of the Boards committees
and the number of meetings held by each committee during calendar year 2008.
13
Committees of the Board
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Nominating |
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and Corporate |
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Asset |
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Audit |
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Compensation |
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Governance |
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Asset/Liability |
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Quality |
Robert H. Adcock, Jr. |
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X |
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X |
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John W. Allison |
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X |
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X |
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Richard H. Ashley |
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X |
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X |
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X |
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Dale A. Bruns |
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Chair |
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X |
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Richard A. Buckheim |
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X |
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S. Gene Cauley |
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X |
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Jack E. Engelkes |
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Chair |
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X |
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James G. Hinkle |
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X |
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Alex R. Lieblong |
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X |
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Chair |
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Ron W. Strother |
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Chair |
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Chair |
William G. Thompson |
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X |
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X |
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Number of Meetings |
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5 |
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7 |
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1 |
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4 |
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4 |
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Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to
the integrity of our accounting and financial reporting processes and our financial statements, our
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditors qualifications and
independence, and the performance of our internal audit function and our independent auditors. In
fulfilling its duties, the Audit Committee, among other things:
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prepares the Audit Committee report for inclusion in the annual proxy statement; |
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appoints, compensates, retains and oversees the independent auditors; |
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pre-approves all auditing and appropriate non-auditing services performed by the
independent auditor; |
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discusses with the internal and independent auditors the scope and plans for
their respective audits; |
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reviews the results of each quarterly review and annual audit by the independent
auditors; |
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reviews the Companys financial statements and related disclosures in the
Companys quarterly and annual reports prior to filing with the SEC; |
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reviews the Companys policies with respect to risk assessment and risk
management; |
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reviews the Companys internal controls, the results of the internal audit
program, and the Companys disclosure controls and procedures and quarterly
assessment of such controls and procedures; |
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establishes procedures for handling complaints regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls, and auditing matters, including procedures for confidential,
anonymous submission of concerns by employees regarding such matters; and |
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reviews the Companys legal and regulatory compliance programs. |
14
The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee that meets the
applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is published on
our website at www.homebancshares.com under the caption Investor Relations"/Corporate
Profile"/Governance Documents.
The Audit Committee is comprised of Jack E. Engelkes, Chairman, Robert H. Adcock, Jr., Alex R.
Lieblong and William G. Thompson. The Board has determined that each member of the Committee
satisfies the independence requirements of the NASDAQ listing standards, that each member of the
Committee is financially literate, knowledgeable and qualified to review financial statements, and
that Mr. Engelkes has the attributes of an audit committee financial expert as defined by the
regulations of the SEC.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee aids the Board in discharging its responsibility with respect to
the compensation of our executive officers and directors. The Compensation Committee is
responsible for evaluating and approving the Companys compensation plans and policies and for
communicating the Companys compensation policies to shareholders in our annual proxy statement.
In fulfilling its duties, the Compensation Committee, among other things:
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reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation
of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO); |
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evaluates the performance and determines the annual compensation of the CEO and
COO in accordance with these goals and objectives; |
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reviews and approves the amounts and terms of the annual compensation for our
other executive officers; |
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reviews and approves employment agreements, severance agreements or
arrangements, retirement arrangements, change in control agreements/provisions and
special or supplemental benefits for the executive officers; |
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reviews and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to incentive based
compensation plans and equity based plans, and establishes criteria for and grants
awards to participants under such plans; |
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reviews and recommends to the Board the compensation for our directors; and |
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reviews and recommends to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in the annual proxy statement and Form 10-K annual report. |
The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee that meets
the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ. The Compensation Committee Charter is published on
our website at www.homebancshares.com under the caption Investor Relations"/Corporate
Profile"/Governance Documents.
The Compensation Committee is comprised of Dale A. Bruns, Chairman, Richard H. Ashley, Richard
A. Buckheim and Jack E. Engelkes. The Board has determined that each member of the Committee
satisfies independence requirements of the NASDAQ listing standards and Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Compensation Committee charter authorizes the Committee to delegate to subcommittees of
the Committee any responsibility the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. The Committee shall
not, however, delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by any law, regulation or
listing standard to be exercised by the Committee as a whole. The Committee did not utilize the
services of a subcommittee in 2008.
The CEO provides recommendations to the Committee regarding the form and amount of
compensation paid to executive officers who report directly to him. Additionally, the CEO and our
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) regularly attend Committee meetings, other than executive sessions.
Traditionally, management has provided to the Committee historical and prospective breakdowns of
primary compensation components for each executive officer, including internal pay equity analyses.
15
Historically, the Committee meets subsequent to year end to finalize discussion regarding the
Companys performance goals for the previous and current year with respect to performance-based
compensation to be paid to executive officers and to approve its report for the annual proxy
statement. These goals are approved within 90 days of the beginning of the year. Each year in
December and/or January, the Committee generally discusses any new compensation issues, the
compensation, bonus and incentive plan award analyses and the engagement of a compensation
consultant for annual executive and director compensation. The Committee also meets in December
and/or January to:
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review and discuss the recommendations made by the CEO; |
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review the performance of the Company and the individual officers; |
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review the level to which the Companys performance goals were attained
and approve short-term cash bonus and long-term incentive awards; and |
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determine the executive officers base salaries for the following year. |
Management also advises the full Board, including the Committee members, throughout the year
of new issues and developments regarding executive compensation.
Compensation Committee Interlocks And Insider Participation
During 2008, Messrs. Bruns, Ashley, Buckheim and Engelkes served as members of the
Compensation Committee. None of these four directors during 2008 or at any previous time served as
an officer or employee of Home BancShares or any of our bank subsidiaries. During 2008, none of
our executive officers served as a director or member of the compensation committee (or group
performing equivalent functions) of any other entity for which any of our independent directors
served as an executive officer. See CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS for
information concerning transactions during 2008 involving Mr. Ashley.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee develops and maintains the corporate
governance policies of the Company. The Committees responsibilities include, among other things:
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developing and maintaining the Companys corporate governance policies; |
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identifying, screening and recruiting qualified individuals to become Board
members; |
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determining the composition of the Board and its committees; |
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assisting the Board in assessing the Boards effectiveness; |
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assisting management in preparing the disclosures regarding the Committees
operation to be included in the Companys annual proxy statement; and |
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reviewing and approving all related party transactions. |
The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee that meets the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee Charter is published on our website at www.homebancshares.com under
the caption Investor Relations"/Corporate Profile"/Governance Documents.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of Alex R. Lieblong, Chairman,
Robert H. Adcock, Jr., Dale A. Bruns and William G. Thompson. The Board has determined that all
members of the Committee satisfy independence requirements of the NASDAQ listing standards. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met on January 16, 2009 to select director nominees
to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
16
Director Candidate Qualifications
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Directorship Guidelines and Selection Policy
outlines the qualifications the Committee looks for in a director nominee. Generally, the
candidate should possess:
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relevant business and financial expertise and experience, including an
understanding of fundamental financial statements; |
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the highest character and integrity and a reputation for working constructively
with others; |
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sufficient time to devote to meetings and consultation on Board matters; and |
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freedom from conflicts of interest that would interfere with performance as a
director. |
More specifically, the Nominating Committee seeks candidates who possess various
qualifications or skills, including leadership experience in business or other relevant fields,
knowledge of the Company and the financial services industry, experience in serving as a director
of another financial institution or public company generally, wisdom, integrity, analytical
ability, familiarity with and participation in the communities served by the Company and its
subsidiaries, commitment to and availability for services as a director, and any other factors the
Committee deems relevant.
Director Nominations Process
After assessing and considering prevailing business conditions of the Company, legal and
listing standard requirements for Board composition, the size and composition of the current Board,
and the skills and experience of current Board members, any of the Chairman, the Nominating
Committee or any Board member may identify the need to add a Board member or to fill a vacancy on
the Board. The Committee identifies qualified director nominees from among persons known to the
members of the Committee, by reputation or otherwise, and through referrals from trusted sources,
including senior management, existing Board members, shareholders and independent consultants hired
for such purpose. The Committee may request that senior officers of the Company assist the
Committee in identifying and assessing prospective candidates who meet the criteria established by
the Board.
The Nominating Committee evaluates candidates based upon the candidates qualifications,
recommendations, or other relevant information, including a personal interview. The Committee
meets to consider and approve the candidates to be presented to the Board. The Committee then
presents its proposed nominees to the full Board. The Board considers the recommendations of the
Committee and approves candidates for nomination.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Directorship Guidelines and Selection Policy
is published on our website at www.homebancshares.com under the caption Investor
Relations"/Corporate Profile"/Governance Documents.
Asset/Liability Committee
Our Asset/Liability Committee consists of John W. Allison, Richard H. Ashley, S. Gene Cauley,
James G. Hinkle, and Ron W. Strother. Mr. Strother serves as Chairman of the Asset/Liability
Committee. The Asset/Liability Committee meets quarterly, and is primarily responsible for:
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development and control over the implementation of liquidity risk and
market risk management policies; |
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review of interest rate movements, forecasts, and the development of
the Companys strategy under specific market conditions; and |
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continued monitoring of the overall asset/liability structure of our
bank subsidiaries to minimize interest rate sensitivity and liquidity risk. |
17
Asset Quality Committee
Our Asset Quality Committee consists of Robert H. Adcock, Jr., John W. Allison, Richard H.
Ashley, S. Gene Cauley and Ron W. Strother. Mr. Strother serves as Chairman of the Asset Quality
Committee. The Asset Quality Committee meets quarterly, and is primarily responsible for:
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development and control over the implementation of credit risk
policies. |
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evaluation of the impact of changing market conditions as its relates
to the corresponding changes to the value of real estate used as collateral. |
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review of problem loans such as: past due loans, special mention loans
and classified loans (accruing and non-accruing). |
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monitoring of the overall asset quality of our bank subsidiaries to
minimize exposure to losses in the loan portfolio. |
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with its written charter, which was re-approved in its current form by the Board
of Directors on January 16, 2009, the Audit Committee assists the Board in, among other things,
oversight of our accounting and financial reporting processes, our compliance with legal regulatory
requirements, the qualifications and independence of the independent auditors and the performance
of the internal and independent auditors. A copy of the Audit Committee charter is published on
the Companys website at www.homebancshares.com under the caption Investor Relation"/Corporate
Profile"/Governance Documents.
Our Board of Directors has determined that all four members of the Committee are independent
based upon the independence requirements of the SEC and NASDAQ, and that our Chairman, Mr.
Engelkes, satisfies the criteria of an audit committee financial expert as defined by the
regulations of the SEC.
Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of our financial
statements, for the appropriateness of our accounting principles and reporting policies and for
implementing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting. Our independent auditors
are responsible for auditing the financial statements and internal controls over financial
reporting and for reviewing our unaudited interim financial statements. The Audit Committees
responsibility is to monitor and review these processes and procedures. Except for our Chairman,
Mr. Engelkes, the members of the Audit Committee are not engaged in the practice of accounting or
auditing and are not professionals in those fields. The Audit Committee relies, without
independent verification, on the information provided to us and on the representations made by
management that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and on
the representations of management and the opinion of the independent auditors that such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States.
During 2008, the Audit Committee had five regularly scheduled meetings and no telephonic
meetings. The Audit Committees regular meetings were conducted in order to encourage
communication among the members of the Audit Committee, management, the internal auditors, and our
independent auditors, BKD, LLP. Among other things, the Audit Committee discussed with our
internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The
Audit Committee separately met with each of the internal and independent auditors, with and without
management, to discuss the results of their examinations and their observations and recommendations
regarding our internal controls. The Audit Committee also discussed with our independent auditors
all matters required by generally accepted auditing standards, including those described in
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, Communication with Audit Committees.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed our audited consolidated financial statements as of
and for the year ended December 31, 2008, with management, the internal auditors, and our
independent auditors. Managements discussions with the Audit Committee included a review of
critical accounting policies.
18
The Audit Committee obtained from the independent auditors a formal written statement
describing all relationships between us and our auditors that might bear on the auditors
independence consistent with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526, Communication
with Audit Committees Concerning Independence. The Audit Committee discussed with the auditors
any relationships that may have an impact on their objectivity and independence and satisfied
itself as to the auditors independence. The Audit Committee has reviewed and approved the amount
of fees paid to BKD, LLP for audit and non-audit services. The Audit Committee concluded that the
provision of services by BKD, LLP is compatible with the maintenance of BKDs independence.
Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions with management, the internal auditors,
and the independent auditors, and subject to the limitations on our role and responsibilities
described above and in the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors that our audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008, for filing with the SEC.
Home BancShares, Inc.
Audit Committee Members
Jack E. Engelkes, Chairman
Robert H. Adcock, Jr.
Alex R. Lieblong
William G. Thompson
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Program
The Compensation Committee, composed entirely of independent directors, administers the
Companys executive compensation program. The role of the Committee is to oversee the Companys
compensation and benefit plans and policies, administer its stock plans, and review and approve
annually all compensation decisions related to the named executive officers, the board members,
and the CEO and CFO. Our named executive officers are our CEO, our CFO and our three other most
highly-compensated executive officers, as listed in the Summary Compensation Table of this Proxy
Statement. The Committee submits its decision with regard to the CEO and CFO to the independent
directors for their ratification.
The Committee recognizes the importance of compensation and performance and seeks to reward
performance with cost-effective compensation that aligns employee efforts with the business
strategy of the Company and with the interest of the shareholders. The Committee also recognizes
that the compensation should assist the Company in attracting and retaining key executives critical
to its long-term success.
The following principles guide the Committee:
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Compensation levels should be sufficiently competitive to attract and retain key
management for the banks and holding company. The Company hires experienced bank
executives that have a track record in the market. Competition is strong for these
talented and experienced people. The compensation package must be strong and
competitive in that market. |
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Compensation should relate directly to performance and responsibility.
Compensation should vary with the performance and responsibility of the individual.
It should always be proportional to the contribution to the Companys success. |
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Short-term incentive compensation should motivate high performance. The Company
uses the cash bonus plan to motivate individuals with roles and responsibilities
that give them the ability to directly impact the Companys performance and
strategic direction. The incentive compensation should not cause the individual to
take excessive and unnecessary risks that would threaten the institution. |
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The Companys Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan should align management with
shareholders interests. Awards of stock options or other forms of long-term
compensation should encourage management to focus on the long-term growth and
success of the Company. It should provide management with a meaningful stake in
the Company and the prospects of a long-term career. |
The Committee in the past has compared total compensation levels for the executive officers to
the compensation paid to executives of a peer group comprised of similar bank holding companies of
comparable size. The Committee did not perform a peer review in 2008. The Committee will review
this decision on an annual basis and perform peer reviews as the Committee deems necessary. For
2008, the Committee evaluated and considered the overall performance of the Company and, for our
bank presidents, the performance of each bank, as well as the individuals performance and
recommendations by the CEO.
The Company did not use the services of an independent compensation consultant to advise on
compensation issues in 2008. The Committee will review this decision on an annual basis and employ
such a consultant when the Committee determines that it would be helpful.
Executive Compensation Limitations Related to Capital Purchase Program
On January 16, 2009, the Company sold $50 million of senior preferred shares to the U.S.
Department of the Treasury (the Treasury) under the Capital Purchase Program (CPP) of the
Treasurys Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The Board of Directors viewed the CPP as a
voluntary opportunity to raise additional low cost capital to bolster the Companys already
adequate sources of liquidity and well-capitalized position to support existing operations as well
as anticipated future growth. As a result of the Companys participation in the CPP, the Company
became subject to certain executive compensation requirements under section 111(b) of the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), the rules and guidelines promulgated by the Treasury
thereunder, and the contract pursuant to which we sold the senior preferred shares.
On February 17, 2009, the President signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA amended in its entirety Section 111 of the EESA. In doing so, the ARRA
continues all the same compensation and governance restrictions and adds substantially to the
restrictions in several areas. The ARRA implements many, but not all, of the restrictions in the
Treasury guidelines and in several instances goes beyond the Treasury guidelines. These
restrictions apply to all participants that have received or will receive financial assistance
under the TARP, and therefore, these additional restrictions apply to us.
The compensation requirements imposed by the EESA and ARRA and our contractual agreement with
the Treasury apply to what the Treasury refers to as our senior executive officers (SEOs) and,
in certain instances, additional officers or employees of the Company. Presently, our SEOs are the
same five officers who are our named executive officers. These requirements are:
Prohibition on Incentive Compensation that Provides an Incentive to Take Unnecessary and
Excessive Risks. The EESA prohibits us from providing incentive compensation arrangements that
encourage our SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the financial
institution.
Risk Review. The Compensation Committee is required within 90 days after the sale of the
senior preferred shares by the Company to the Treasury to review the incentive compensation of the
SEOs with the Companys senior risk officer(s), or other personnel acting in a similar capacity, to
ensure that the SEO incentive compensation arrangements do not encourage SEOs to take unnecessary
and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company. The Committee must thereafter meet at
least annually with the senior risk officer(s), or individual(s) acting in a similar capacity, to
discuss and review the relationship between the Companys risk management policies and practices
and the SEO incentive compensation arrangements. The Committee has met with the Companys risk
officer to review and discuss the SEO incentive compensation arrangements and determined that such
arrangements do not encourage the SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that could threaten
the value of the Company. See REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
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Clawback. In order to comply with the EESA and the ARRA, the Company must require that any
bonus, retention award, and incentive compensation paid to an SEO or the next 20 most highly
compensated employees during the period that the Treasury holds an equity or debt position in the
Company acquired under the CPP are subject to recovery or clawback by the Company if it is
determined that the payments were based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other
materially inaccurate performance metric criteria.
Golden Parachutes. Under the EESA and the ARRA, the Company must prohibit any golden
parachute payment to an SEO or the next five most highly compensated employees during the period
that the Treasury holds an equity or debt position in the Company acquired pursuant to the CPP.
For purposes of this requirement, golden parachute payment means any payment to an SEO for
departure for any reason, except for payments for services performed or benefits accrued.
Prohibition on Bonuses and Similar Payments. The Company is prohibited by the ARRA from
paying or accruing any bonus, retention award, or incentive compensation during the period in which
any obligation to the Treasury remains outstanding. There is an exception for long-term restricted
stock meeting certain criteria. The prohibition applies only to the SEOs.
Limit on Tax Deduction. In connection with its sale of the senior preferred shares, the
Company agreed not to claim, during any taxable year in which the Treasury holds an equity or debt
position with the Company, any deduction for federal income tax purposes for compensation that
would not be deductible if section 162(m)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code were to apply to the
Company. Section 162(m)(5) limits the aggregate amount of compensation, including
performance-based compensation, that may be deducted annually by an applicable institution for each
of its five most highly compensated executive officers to $500,000 during any applicable taxable
year. Section 162(m)(5) applies to any financial institution that has sold an aggregate of $300
million of troubled assets to the Treasury under a program established pursuant to the EESA.
Because the Companys sale of preferred stock to the Treasury occurred on January 16, 2009, the
Company will be subject to this $500,000 deduction limitation beginning with the 2009 taxable year
and during any future taxable year in which the Treasury holds an equity or debt position with the
Company.
Binding SEO Agreements. Prior to the Companys sale of senior preferred shares to the
Treasury, each of the Companys SEOs entered into a letter agreement with the Company through which
the SEO agreed to certain actions as described below in connection with the Companys compliance
with the executive compensation restrictions under the CPP. Specifically, each SEO agreed to the
following:
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Prohibition by the Company of any golden parachute payment to the SEO during any
period during which he is a senior executive officer and the Treasury holds an equity
or debt position acquired from the Company in the CPP (the CPP Covered Period); |
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Any bonus and incentive compensation paid to the CEO during a CPP Covered Period
being subject to recovery or clawback by the Company if the payments were based on
materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate
performance metric criteria; |
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Amendment by the Company to the extent necessary to give effect to the agreed upon
limitations described above of each of the Companys compensation, bonus, incentive and
other benefit plans, arrangements and agreements (including golden parachute, severance
and employment agreements) (collectively, Benefit Plans) with respect to the SEO, and |
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Review by the Company of its Benefit Plans to ensure that they do not encourage SEOs
to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company and, to
the extent any such review requires revisions to any Benefit Plan with respect to the
SEO, the SEO and the Company agree to negotiate such changes promptly and in good
faith. |
Shareholder Say-on-Pay Vote Required. Under the ARRA, we are required to permit a
non-binding shareholder vote to approve the compensation of executives as disclosed in the
Companys proxy statement. The ARRA directs the SEC to adopt regulations within one year to
implement this say-on-pay requirement. The Company has included in this Proxy Statement a
proposal providing for an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our executives. See
PROPOSAL THREE ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
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Prohibition on Compensation Plans that Encourage Earnings Manipulation. The Company is
prohibited from implementing any compensation plan that would encourage manipulation of the
reported earnings of the Company in order to enhance the compensation of any of its employees. The
Company does not believe it has any compensation plan that would encourage manipulation of the
reported earnings of the Company.
Semiannual Compensation Plan Evaluation Required. The ARRA requires the Companys
Compensation Committee to meet at least semiannually to discuss and evaluate employee compensation
plans in light of an assessment of any risk to the Company posed by such plans.
CEO and CFO Certification Requirements. The ARRA requires our CEO and CFO to provide a
written certification of compliance with the executive compensation restrictions in the ARRA in our
annual filings with the SEC (presumably our annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement).
Policy on Luxury Expenditures. The ARRA requires us to implement a company-wide policy
regarding excessive or luxury expenditures, including excessive expenditures on entertainment or
events, office and facility renovations, aviation or other transportation services.
Treasury Review of Prior Payments. The ARRA directs the Treasury to review bonuses, retention
awards, and other compensation paid to our SEOs and the next 20 most highly-compensated employees
of the Company and to seek to negotiate with the Company and affected employees for reimbursement
if it finds any such payments were inconsistent with CPP or otherwise in conflict with the public
interest.
Many aspects of the foregoing restrictions will not be clear until the Treasury and the SEC
publish new rules. At the present time, Treasury has not announced whether it intends to publish
rules to implement the aspects of its current guidelines that were not addressed by the ARRA. The
Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors will continue to monitor the future rules,
regulations, guidelines and law changes regarding executive compensation for CPP participants and
will promptly make appropriate changes to the Companys executive compensation program as needed.
Components of Compensation
The key elements of the Companys executive compensation program are:
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Base salary |
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Short-term incentives (bonuses) |
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Long-term incentives compensation (options) |
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Retirement and insurance benefit plans |
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Certain defined perquisites |
The Company tries to determine the proper mix of base, short-term and long-term incentive
compensation. In our markets there are a number of national, regional and community banks. The
competition for experienced executives in banking is strong. The Committee understands that being
a public company that can offer equity incentives, a community banking philosophy, and an above
average base pay puts the Company in a competitive position for strong management. The public
market for the stock and its easily accessible value is a positive factor in aligning the
managements interest with that of the shareholders and making them meaningful stakeholders.
Base Salary
Base salaries have been targeted at the upper levels for the peer group of companies and
adjusted to recognize varying levels of responsibility, individual performance, individual bank
performance if appropriate and internal equity issues. The Committee reviews the base salaries of
the executive officers annually. This base salary provides the foundation for a total compensation
package that is required to attract, retain and motivate the officers. Generally, base salaries
are not directly related to specific measures of performance, but are determined by experience, the
scope and complexity of the position, current job responsibilities, and salaries of competing
banks. The Company does not use benchmarking.
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Short-term Incentives
An annual cash bonus plan is intended to reward individual performance for that year. The
Compensation Committee reviews the individual performance of the officer, and if they are in charge
of a subsidiary bank, the performance of that bank. In evaluating a bank president, the Committee
reviews the goals for that subsidiary bank, including return on assets, growth in assets, asset
quality, return on equity, gross margin, net income, operating income, net cash flow and regulatory
examination results. In evaluating an executive officer of the parent, the Committee reviews the
goals of the parent company including shareholder return, earnings per share, and the other
criteria noted above. The final consideration is the overall profitability of the Company. The
Committee then determines the amount of the awards.
Long-term Incentives
Consistent with the Companys philosophy that favors compensation based upon performance,
long-term incentives comprise a significant component of total compensation. In 2006, the Board of
Directors adopted and the shareholders approved the 2006 Stock Option and Performance Incentive
Plan (the Plan). The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain highly qualified officers,
directors, and key employees, and to encourage those employees to improve our business results.
The Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the
Committee may select participants to receive awards, determine the types, terms and conditions of
awards and interpret provisions of the Plan.
It is the policy of the Committee to award grants with an exercise price set at the fair
market value on the date of the grant. The Company does not have a practice of timing option
grants to coordinate with the release of material non-public information. The Committee evaluates
opportunities under the Plan along with the annual setting of salaries and awarding bonuses. The
Committee will also consider awards under the Plan if appropriate in recruiting a new employee.
The Committee uses one or more of the following business criteria, on a consolidated basis
and/or with respect to specified subsidiaries (except with respect to the total shareholder return
and earnings per share criteria), in establishing performance goals for awards intended to comply
with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code granted to covered employees:
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shareholder return; |
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return on assets; |
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growth in assets; |
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return on equity; |
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earnings per share; |
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net income; and |
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operating income. |
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the compensation
that publicly held corporations may deduct in any one year with respect to each of its five most
highly paid executive officers. There is an exception to the $1,000,000 limitation for
performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements. Annual cash incentive compensation
and stock option awards are generally performance-based meeting those requirements and, as such,
are deductible. We did not have any executive officer with compensation of $1,000,000 during 2008,
and the Compensation Committee has not adopted a policy with regard to this issue.
However, as described above, financial institutions such as the Company that have sold
securities to the Treasury under the CPP are subject to Section 162(m)(5), enacted as part of the
EESA, which limits the aggregate amount of compensation, including performance-based compensation,
that may be deducted annually by an applicable institution for each of its five most highly
compensated executive officers to $500,000 during the period that the Treasury holds an equity or
debt position in the institution. Because the Company sold senior preferred shares to the Treasury
on January 16, 2009, we will be subject to this $500,000 deduction limitation beginning with the
2009 taxable year and during any future taxable year in which the Treasury holds an equity or debt
position with the Company. See Executive Compensation Limitations Related to Capital Purchase
Program.
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The Company has both regular and performance-based nonqualified stock options. The Committee
has set a cliff-vesting date of January 1, 2010, for the issued performance-based options, and has
tied the eligibility for those options to annual or cumulative performance goals for the Company
and for individual banks. If the annual goals are met, then a percentage of the options are
eligible for exercise at the end of the cliff-vesting period. If annual goals are not met, but the
Company meets its five-year cumulative goals, participants in the Plan may still become eligible
for 100% of the options originally awarded to them. The Committee does not have a policy of
adjusting awards if performance goals are not met.
The Committee believes that these performance-based options that are based in part on the
results of the subsidiary bank under the direction of the officer and the cliff vesting of all the
options provide annual incentives. The stock option awards granted in 2006 and 2007 thus far have
achieved their objectives with respect to retaining our officers and improving the results of our
subsidiary banks in consideration of the difficult current market conditions, but the Committee
will continue to evaluate the need for additional awards.
Retirement and Insurance Benefits
Post-Termination Benefits. We do not have any employment, salary continuation, or
severance agreements currently in effect for any of our executive officers.
Chairmans Retirement Plan. In 2007, our Board of Directors, based on a
recommendation by the Compensation Committee, approved a Chairmans Retirement Plan for our
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John W. Allison. The Chairmans Retirement Plan provides a
supplemental retirement benefit to Mr. Allison of $250,000 per year for 10 consecutive years or
until Mr. Allisons death, whichever occurs later.
The benefits under the plan vest based on Mr. Allisons age according to the following
schedule: age 61 7.5%, age 62 35.0%, age 63 60.0%, age 64 82.0% and age 65 100.0%.
These benefits will become 100% vested if any of the following events occur before Mr. Allison
reaches the age of 65: his death, disability or involuntary termination from the Company without
cause, or a change in control of the Company. The vested benefits are payable over 10 years or Mr.
Allisons life, whichever is greater, and commence on the earlier of Mr. Allison reaching age 65 or
termination of his employment with the Company for any reason other than death.
If Mr. Allison dies before the benefits commence, his beneficiary is entitled to receive the
benefits for 10 years. If he dies during the 10 year guaranteed benefit period, his beneficiary
will receive the remaining payments due during the guaranteed period. If he dies after the
guaranteed benefit period, no further benefits will be paid. The annual benefit will be paid in
monthly installments.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Prior to our acquisition of Community Bank,
the bank purchased life insurance policies on its President and Chief Executive Officer, Tracy M.
French. The policies offset benefit expenses associated with a supplemental annual retirement
benefit that grows on a tax-deferred basis. A portion of the benefit is determined by an indexed
formula. The balance of the benefit is determined by crediting interest on the accrued balances.
The calculation for the benefit expense accrual is: insurance policy income minus opportunity cost
plus interest. The opportunity cost is determined by the bank and is equal to the one year
Treasury Bill rate. Community Bank retains the opportunity cost. Prior to Mr. Frenchs
retirement, any earnings in excess of the opportunity costs are accrued to a liability reserve
account for his benefit. In addition, that liability account is credited with interest at a rate
of 8.0%. At retirement, this liability reserve account is amortized with interest and paid out
over a period of 15 years. Subsequent to the liability account being paid out in full, Mr. French
will begin receiving an index retirement benefit payable for life. If Mr. French dies while
there is a balance in his account, this balance will be paid in a lump sum to Mr. Frenchs
beneficiaries.
The life insurance benefit for Mr. French is being provided by an endorsement split dollar
life plan. Should the executive die while employed by the bank, this death benefit is equal to 70%
of the net at risk life insurance portion (total benefit less cash value) of the policies insuring
the life of Mr. French. Community Bank has all ownership rights in the death benefits and
surrender values of the insurance policy on Mr. French. Its obligations under the retirement
benefit portion of this policy are unfunded; however, the bank has purchased life insurance
policies on Mr. French that are actuarially designed to offset the annual expenses associated with
the benefit portion of the policy and will, given reasonable actuarial assumptions, offset all of
the cost during Mr. Frenchs lifetime and provide a complete recovery of costs at death.
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401(k) Plan. All our full- and part-time employees over the age of 21 are eligible to
participate in our 401(k) Plan immediately. We contribute a matching contribution equal to 50% of
the participants first 6% of deferred compensation contribution. In addition, we may make a
discretionary contribution of up to 3% of total compensation. No discretionary contributions were
made during 2008.
Health and Insurance Benefits. Our full-time officers and employees are provided
hospitalization and major medical insurance. We pay a substantial part of the premiums for these
coverages. All insurance coverage under these plans is provided under group plans on generally the
same basis to all of our full-time employees. Also, we provide other basic insurance coverage
including dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.
In 2004, First State Bank adopted an endorsement split dollar life insurance plan which
provides for the purchase of life insurance policies insuring the life of Mr. Allison. Both the
bank and Mr. Allison have an interest in each of the policies, and therefore, this is classified as
an endorsement split-dollar plan. Mr. Allisons beneficiaries will be entitled to an amount equal
to 50% of the net-at-risk insurance portion of the total proceeds. The net-at-risk portion is the
total proceeds less the cash value of the policy. Mr. Allison recognizes the economic value of
this death benefit each year on his individual income tax return. The beneficiaries of the
policies are named by Mr. Allison and the bank will receive the remainder of the death benefit.
The bank has all ownership rights in the death benefits and surrender values of the policies. The
premium paid on June 4, 2004, for the policies was $4.8 million. Effective December 22, 2006, the
death benefits payable under these policies split between the bank and Mr. Allisons beneficiaries.
If the death benefit were paid in 2009, approximately $8.0 million would be paid to the bank and
approximately $2.3 million would be paid to Mr. Allisons beneficiaries.
Perquisites
The Company provided certain perquisites to executive management in 2008. These perquisites
included:
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Country club dues |
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Gasoline for personal car |
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401(k) contributions |
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Use of company owned car |
The Company does not own its own airplane, but does use an airplane owned by Mr. Allisons
company, Capital Buyers. An employee of the Company is a pilot and flies the airplane. Mr.
Allison also uses the pilot for personal travel which may or may not occur during working hours.
When the Company uses the plane, Capital Buyers charges the Company for out of pocket expenses
only.
Compensation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
On October 17, 2008, based on a recommendation by the Compensation Committee, the Board of
Directors granted Mr. Allison an annual base salary of $275,000 beginning on November 1, 2008, and
made him eligible for an annual discretionary cash bonus. Any cash bonus will be based upon the
goals of the Company including shareholder return, earnings per share and other criteria. However,
as long as the Company has an obligation outstanding under the CPP, Mr. Allison will not be
eligible for a cash bonus. Mr. Allison has not previously received any salary from the Company for
his services. The Committee based its decision to provide a salary to Mr. Allison on the Companys
performance under his leadership over the past 10 years. As of December 31, 2008, Mr. Allison
received $31,731 as salary from the Company. Mr. Allison did not receive an annual bonus for 2008.
On March 13, 2006, Mr. Allison received 62,400 performance based stock options at the then
fair market value of $13.18 per share. He surrendered SARS of approximately the same value. As
adjusted for an 8% common stock dividend paid to the Companys common shareholders on August 27,
2008, these stock options currently represent 67,392 shares of common stock with an exercise price
of $12.20 per share. The stock options vest on January 1, 2010, if the Company meets stated
performance goals. Twenty percent of the options become eligible for exercise every year if the
Company meets the annual performance goals. If the annual performance goals are not met, that 20%
of the options would only become eligible if before January 1, 2010, the Company had met the
cumulative goals. The Company met its goals in 2006 and 2007. However, due to the difficult
market conditions,
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particularly in our Florida market, the Company did not meet its annual performance goals in
2008. A total of 26,957 options (stock dividend adjusted) are currently eligible for exercise by
Mr. Allison on January 1, 2010, if he is still holding office with the Company at that time. The
additional 13,478 options that would have become eligible had the Company met its performance goals
for 2008 will become eligible for exercise by Mr. Allison on January 1, 2010, only if the Company
meets its cumulative goals before such date.
On January 10, 2008, in connection with the grant of stock options to all non-employee
directors of the Company, Mr. Allison received 2,000 stock options with an exercise price of $20.44
per share, the fair market value on date of grant. As adjusted for the 8% common stock dividend
paid to the Companys common shareholders in August 2008, these stock options currently represent
2,160 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $18.93 per share. These stock options will
vest in five equal annual installments beginning on January 10, 2009.
On January 18, 2008, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Allison an additional 15,000 stock
options with an exercise price of $20.28 per share, the fair market value on date of grant. As
adjusted for the 8% stock dividend, these stock options currently represent 16,200 shares of common
stock with an exercise price of $18.78 per share. These stock options will vest in five equal
annual installments beginning on January 18, 2009. The Committee based the award on its conclusion
that, through Mr. Allisons leadership, the Company completed a very successful year in 2007, which
included record earnings for the Company and the acquisition of an additional bank subsidiary in
the Central Arkansas market area.
In April 2007, our Board of Directors, based on a recommendation by the Compensation
Committee, approved a Chairmans Retirement Plan for Mr. Allison, which provides him a supplemental
retirement benefit of $250,000 per year for 10 consecutive years or until Mr. Allisons death,
whichever occurs later. The benefits under the plan vest based on Mr. Allisons age beginning at
age 61 and fully vest when Mr. Allison reaches age 65. The benefits will also become 100% vested
if, before Mr. Allison reaches the age of 65, he dies, becomes disabled, is involuntarily
terminated from the Company without cause, or there is a change in control of the Company. The
vested benefits will be paid in monthly installments. The benefit payments will begin on the
earlier of Mr. Allison reaching age 65 or the termination of his employment with the Company for
any reason other than death. If Mr. Allison dies before the benefits commence or during the 10
year guaranteed benefit period, his beneficiary will receive any remaining payments due. If he
dies after the guaranteed benefit period, no further benefits will be paid. See COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Components of Compensation for more information on the Chairmans
Retirement Plan.
Mr. Allison receives a fee for his service as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Company. The fee for his service as Chairman of the Board is set by the Board of Directors. In
addition, Mr. Allison serves on the board of directors of each of the Companys subsidiary banks
and each regional board of directors of Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank). As a member
of the board(s) of directors of each subsidiary bank, he receives a fee for his service on each
subsidiary bank board. The fees for his service on each board are set by the respective boards of
directors of each subsidiary bank.
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REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with its written charter, which was re-adopted in its current form by the Board
of Directors on January 16, 2009, the Compensation Committee evaluates and approves the plans and
policies related to the compensation of the Companys executive officers and directors. A copy of
the Compensation Committee charter is published on the Companys website at www.homebancshares.com
under the caption Investor Relation/Corporate Profile/Governance Documents.
The Committee met seven times in 2008 to discuss, among other items, the salaries, bonuses and
other compensation of the senior executive officers and other key employees of the Company,
including the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee did not act by unanimous written consent at
any time in 2008.
In determining the compensation of the executive officers for 2009, the Committee, among other
things, evaluated the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers
in light of corporate goals and objectives and reviewed the Chief Executive Officers compensation
recommendations. The Committee also set the annual cash bonuses of the executive officers for
2008.
The Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed with management the information provided in
the preceding Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. Based on its
review and discussions with management, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that
the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008, for filing with the SEC.
Finally, the Compensation Committee certifies that it has reviewed with the Companys senior
risk officer(s) the incentive compensation arrangements of its senior executive officers and has
made reasonable efforts to ensure that such arrangements do not encourage the senior executive
officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company.
Home BancShares, Inc.
Compensation Committee Members
Dale A. Bruns, Chairman
Richard H. Ashley
Richard A. Buckheim
Jack E. Engelkes
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth various elements of compensation awarded to or paid by us for
services rendered in all capacities by our CEO, our CFO and our three other most highly-compensated
executive officers, our named executive officers, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
The amounts in the table for Other Compensation for each of the named executive officers for 2008
include an extra pay period during 2008 that is not reflected in the respective named executive
officers salaries. Because the Company issues paychecks biweekly on Thursdays, the first pay date
for 2009 fell on January 1, 2009. The Company issued paychecks for this pay date on December 31,
2008 due to the holiday, which resulted in the Company having 27 pay periods during 2008 instead of
the normal 26 pay periods.
[Table follows on next page.]
27
Summary Compensation Table
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Change in |
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pension value |
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and non- |
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qualified |
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Non-equity |
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deferred |
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Name and |
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Stock |
|
Option |
|
incentive plan |
|
compensation |
|
All other |
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|
principal position |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
awards |
|
awards |
|
compensation |
|
earnings |
|
compensation |
|
Total |
John W. Allison, |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
$ |
31,731 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
113,462 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
679,792 |
(1) |
|
$ |
824,985 |
|
Chairman and Chief |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,228 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
521,164 |
|
|
|
626,392 |
|
Executive Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,781 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93,070 |
|
|
|
143,851 |
|
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|
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Randy E. Mayor, |
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|
2008 |
|
|
|
196,266 |
|
|
$ |
45,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,810 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
291,247 |
(2) |
|
|
561,323 |
|
Chief Financial |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
190,550 |
|
|
|
82,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,829 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,907 |
|
|
|
308,286 |
|
Officer and
Treasurer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
185,000 |
|
|
|
83,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,829 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,677 |
|
|
|
308,756 |
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Ron W. Strother, |
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2008 |
|
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|
267,500 |
|
|
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40,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,578 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,627 |
(3) |
|
|
390,705 |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
267,500 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,520 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,354 |
|
|
|
400,374 |
|
Operating Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
267,500 |
|
|
|
26,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,520 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,686 |
|
|
|
378,456 |
|
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Tracy M. French, |
|
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2008 |
|
|
|
206,000 |
|
|
|
82,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,205 |
|
|
|
17,766 |
(4) |
|
|
377,479 |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
197,837 |
|
|
|
93,862 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,803 |
|
|
|
10,518 |
|
|
|
370,044 |
|
Executive Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
197,836 |
|
|
|
82,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,024 |
|
|
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|
|
40,437 |
|
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|
11,087 |
|
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|
355,634 |
|
of Community Bank |
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C. Randall Sims, |
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2008 |
|
|
|
206,000 |
|
|
|
87,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,810 |
|
|
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|
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|
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|
|
201,712 |
(5) |
|
|
524,072 |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
206,000 |
|
|
|
103,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,829 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,581 |
|
|
|
349,410 |
|
Executive Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,829 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,196 |
|
|
|
332,025 |
|
of Centennial Bank
(Former First State
Bank) |
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(1) |
|
Mr. Allison used a pilot employed by the Company for personal trips in an airplane owned by
Capital Buyers, a company owned by Mr. Allison. The incremental cost of those services were
determined to be $17,500, using $500 per trip, current rate for a commercial pilot, times 35
trips of personal travel. Other Compensation also includes Company Board of Directors fees,
$12,000; subsidiary bank director fees, $60,226; committee fees, $11,030; supplemental
retirement plan, $535,044; auto allowance, $18,000; gasoline for personal car, $4,905; country
club dues, $5,075; Company-owned life insurance ownership, $5,435; and an extra pay period,
$10,577. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes country club dues, $2,080; 401(k) contribution, $6,000; an extra pay period, $7,549;
and income realized from the exercise of stock options, $275,618. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes personal use of Company car, $4,154; 401(k) contribution, $3,185; and an extra pay
period, $10,288. The incremental cost of the car was determined by multiplying the percentage
of personal miles times the annual lease value of the car. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes gasoline for personal car, $378; personal use of Company car, $3,225; 401(k)
contribution, $6,240; and an extra pay period, $7,923. The personal use of the car was
determined the same as disclosed in Note 3 above. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes gasoline for personal car, $202; personal use of Company car, $2,820; country club
dues, $2,686; 401(k) contribution, $2,910; an extra pay period, $7,923; and income realized
from the exercise of stock options, $185,171. The personal use of the car was determined the
same as disclosed in Note 3 above. |
28
Employment Agreements
We currently do not have any employment, salary continuation or severance agreements in effect
with any of our executive officers.
Stock Awards and Stock Option Grants
The number of shares authorized for issuance under the Home BancShares 2006 Stock Option and
Performance Incentive Plan, as amended by the Companys shareholders in 2007 and adjusted for the
8% common stock dividend paid to the Companys shareholders in August 2008, is 1,620,000. In 2008,
options to purchase an aggregate of 50,514 shares of common stock were granted pursuant to the
Plan, and options to purchase 59,603 shares were exercised. Options to purchase 1,067,238 shares
remained outstanding under the Plan as of February 15, 2009, and options to purchase 398,612 shares
of common stock remained available for future grant under the Plan. See COMPENSATION DISCUSSION
AND ANALYSIS Components of Compensation for more information on the 2006 Stock Option and
Performance Incentive Plan.
The following table contains information (stock dividend adjusted) about awards granted
pursuant to the Plan to each of our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2008:
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
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All other |
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option |
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All other |
|
awards: |
|
Exercise |
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stock |
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number |
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or base |
|
Grant |
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awards: |
|
of |
|
price of |
|
date fair |
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
number |
|
securities |
|
option |
|
value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated future payouts under |
|
Estimated future payouts under |
|
of shares |
|
under- |
|
awards |
|
stock and |
|
|
Grant |
|
non-equity incentive plan awards |
|
equity incentive plan awards |
|
of stock |
|
lying |
|
(per |
|
option |
Name |
|
Date |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
or units |
|
options |
|
share) |
|
awards |
John W. Allison |
|
|
1/10/08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,160 |
|
|
$ |
18.93 |
|
|
$ |
5,810 |
|
|
|
|
1/18/08 |
|
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|
|
16,200 |
|
|
|
18.78 |
|
|
|
38,232 |
|
Randy E. Mayor |
|
|
N/A |
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Ron W. Strother |
|
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N/A |
|
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|
Tracy M. French |
|
|
N/A |
|
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|
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|
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|
C. Randall Sims |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
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|
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|
The stock options granted to Mr. Allison on January 10, 2008, vest in five equal annual
installments beginning on January 10, 2009. The stock options granted to Mr. Allison on January
18, 2008, vest in five equal annual installments beginning on January 18, 2009.
The Company does not currently have a policy regarding repricing of stock options.
The following table contains information about unexercised stock options previously granted to
each of our named executive officers that are outstanding as of December 31, 2008. The numbers of
securities underlying the options and the option exercise price amounts have been adjusted for the
8% stock dividend paid to the Companys shareholders in August 2008. The Company has not issued
any stock awards; therefore, the table does not include any information related to stock awards:
[Table follows on next page.]
29
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
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Option Awards |
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|
Equity |
|
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|
incentive plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
awards: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
securities |
|
securities |
|
securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
underlying |
|
underlying |
|
underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
unexercised |
|
unexercised |
|
unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
options |
|
options |
|
unearned |
|
Option |
|
Option |
Name |
|
exercisable |
|
unexercisable |
|
options |
|
exercise price |
|
expiration date |
John W. Allison |
|
|
1,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2010 |
|
|
|
|
1,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
1,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2012 |
|
|
|
|
1,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2013 |
|
|
|
|
1,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2014 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.71 |
|
|
|
12/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.71 |
|
|
|
12/31/2012 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.71 |
|
|
|
12/31/2013 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.71 |
|
|
|
12/31/2014 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.71 |
|
|
|
12/31/2015 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.64 |
|
|
|
12/31/2012 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.64 |
|
|
|
12/31/2013 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.64 |
|
|
|
12/31/2014 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.64 |
|
|
|
12/31/2015 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.64 |
|
|
|
12/31/2016 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.26 |
|
|
|
12/31/2013 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.26 |
|
|
|
12/31/2014 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.26 |
|
|
|
12/31/2015 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.26 |
|
|
|
12/31/2016 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.26 |
|
|
|
12/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.81 |
|
|
|
12/31/2014 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.81 |
|
|
|
12/31/2015 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.81 |
|
|
|
12/31/2016 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.81 |
|
|
|
12/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.81 |
|
|
|
12/31/2018 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
12/31/2015 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
12/31/2016 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
12/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
12/31/2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
12/31/2019 |
|
|
|
|
81,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
7/27/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67,392 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.20 |
|
|
|
3/13/2016 |
|
|
|
|
2,090 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.69 |
|
|
|
12/31/2009 |
|
|
|
|
836 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.69 |
|
|
|
3/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
146 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.69 |
|
|
|
3/20/2012 |
|
|
|
|
1,309 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.50 |
|
|
|
12/31/2013 |
|
|
|
|
1,309 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.50 |
|
|
|
12/31/2014 |
|
|
|
|
3,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.50 |
|
|
|
1/1/2015 |
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
incentive plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
awards: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
securities |
|
securities |
|
securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
underlying |
|
underlying |
|
underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
unexercised |
|
unexercised |
|
unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
options |
|
options |
|
unearned |
|
Option |
|
Option |
Name |
|
exercisable |
|
unexercisable |
|
options |
|
exercise price |
|
expiration date |
John W. Allison (contd.) |
|
|
262 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10.50 |
|
|
|
12/31/2014 |
|
|
|
|
1,047 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.50 |
|
|
|
1/1/2015 |
|
|
|
|
1,309 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.50 |
|
|
|
1/1/2015 |
|
|
|
|
10,800 |
|
|
|
10,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.36 |
|
|
|
1/18/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18.93 |
|
|
|
1/9/2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18.78 |
|
|
|
1/17/2018 |
|
Randy E. Mayor |
|
|
13,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2010 |
|
|
|
|
13,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
13,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2012 |
|
|
|
|
13,254 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.20 |
|
|
|
3/13/2016 |
|
Ron W. Strother |
|
|
25,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
5/25/2016 |
|
|
|
|
25,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
5/25/2017 |
|
|
|
|
25,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
5/25/2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.73 |
|
|
|
5/25/2019 |
|
Tracy M. French |
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,696 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.20 |
|
|
|
3/13/2016 |
|
C. Randall Sims |
|
|
4,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2009 |
|
|
|
|
13,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2010 |
|
|
|
|
13,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
13,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2012 |
|
|
|
|
13,254 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.79 |
|
|
|
12/31/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.20 |
|
|
|
3/13/2016 |
|
Option Exercises and Stock Awards Vested in 2008
The following table contains information about stock options exercised by each of our named
executive officers during 2008. All of the options were exercised after the 8% stock dividend paid
to our shareholders in August 2008, and therefore, no adjustments have been made to the number of
shares acquired or the value realized. Our named executive officers did not acquire any common
shares on vesting of stock awards during 2008.
Option Exercises and Stock Awards Vested Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
shares |
|
|
|
|
|
shares |
|
|
|
|
acquired on |
|
Value realized |
|
acquired on |
|
Value realized |
Name |
|
exercise |
|
on exercise |
|
vesting |
|
on vesting |
John W. Allison |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randy E. Mayor |
|
|
13,255 |
|
|
$ |
275,618 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ron W. Strother |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tracy M. French |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Randall Sims |
|
|
9,100 |
|
|
|
185,171 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31
Pension and Other Benefits
The following table contains information about the actuarial present value of the accumulated
benefit to each of our named executive officers under each plan in which the named executive
officer participates that provides for the payment of specified retirement benefits or benefits
that will be paid primarily following retirement:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
value of |
|
Payments |
|
|
|
|
years credited |
|
accumulated |
|
during last |
Name |
|
Plan Name |
|
service |
|
benefit |
|
fiscal year |
John W. Allison
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randy E. Mayor
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ron W. Strother
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tracy M. French
|
|
Flexible Premium Adjustable Life
Insurance Policy
(Strategic Life
Exec)
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
$ |
1,169,470 |
|
|
|
C. Randall Sims
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We do not currently have in effect any defined contribution or other plan that provides for
the deferral of compensation to any of our executive officers on a basis that is not tax-qualified.
Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control
We do not currently have in effect any compensatory plan or other arrangement that provides
for payments or the provision of benefits to any of our executive officers, other than as provided
in the Chairmans Retirement Plan, upon their termination of employment with the Company or upon a
change in control of the Company or a change in the officers responsibilities. See COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Components of Compensation for more information on the Chairmans
Retirement Plan.
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth various elements of compensation awarded to or paid by us to
our directors, other than our named executive officers, during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pension value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
earned |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-equity |
|
nonqualified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
or paid |
|
Stock |
|
Option |
|
incentive plan |
|
compensation |
|
All other |
|
|
Name |
|
in cash(1) |
|
awards |
|
awards |
|
compensation |
|
earnings |
|
compensation |
|
Total |
Robert H. Adcock, Jr. |
|
$ |
29,795 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
581 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
30,376 |
|
Richard H. Ashley |
|
|
37,695 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
581 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,276 |
|
Dale A. Bruns |
|
|
36,823 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,448 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,271 |
|
Richard A. Buckheim |
|
|
66,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
581 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67,481 |
|
S. Gene Cauley |
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
Jack E. Engelkes |
|
|
31,874 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,029 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,903 |
|
James G. Hinkle |
|
|
30,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
581 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,081 |
|
Alex R. Lieblong |
|
|
5,293 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,029 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,322 |
|
William G. Thompson |
|
|
11,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
581 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,731 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes Company Board of Directors and committee fees, subsidiary bank director fees and
subsidiary bank committee fees. |
32
During 2008, our non-employee directors received $1,500 ($3,000 for the chairman) for each
meeting of the board attended. Directors serving on the Audit or Compensation Committees received
$400 ($800 for the chairman) for each meeting attended of those committees, and directors serving
on other board committees received $250 ($500 for the chairman) for each meeting attended of those
other committees. The fees for 2009 for attendance at board meetings and committee meetings will
be the same as for 2008.
On January 10, 2008, each of our non-employee directors listed in the table above (except for
S. Gene Cauley, who was not yet a director on that date) received 1,000 stock options with an
exercise price of $20.44 per share (pre-stock dividend), the fair market value of our common stock
on the date of grant. As adjusted for the August 2008 stock dividend, each of these stock options
currently represents 1,080 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $18.93 per share.
These stock options will vest in five equal annual installments beginning on January 10, 2009.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
33
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Banking Transactions. Most of our directors and officers, as well as the firms and businesses
with which they or members of their immediate families are associated, are customers of our bank
subsidiaries. Our bank subsidiaries have engaged in a variety of loan transactions in the ordinary
course of business with these individuals and their families and businesses, and it is anticipated
that such transactions will occur in the future. In the case of all such related party
transactions, each transaction was approved by either the Audit Committee, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors or the bank subsidiarys board of directors.
In addition, these loans were made on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral
requirements, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions of others. In the
opinion of our management, those loan transactions do not involve more than a normal risk of
collectability or present other unfavorable features.
As of December 31, 2008, the loans made by our bank subsidiaries to their respective directors
and officers and to directors and officers of the Company, either directly or as guarantors,
amounted to $158.6 million. We believe that all such extensions of credit were made in conformity
with the requirements of Federal Reserve Board Regulation O.
Real Estate Transactions. We lease certain of our properties from persons who are affiliated
with us. The property used by our Marketing and Sales Department in Conway, Arkansas, is leased
from First Real Estate LTD Partnership LLLP, which includes one of our directors, Robert H. Adcock,
Jr. Prior to November 13, 2008, we leased the property for the First State Bank branch located on
Hogan Lane in Conway, Arkansas, from Allison, Adcock & Rankin, LLC, a limited liability company
owned in part by John W. Allison and Robert H. Adcock, Jr. Mr. Allison is our Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. On November 13, 2008, we purchased the Hogan Lane property, which includes a
commercial shopping center, from Allison, Adcock & Rankin, LLC for a purchase price of $3.4 million
based on an appraisal obtained for the purpose of the transaction. Additionally, we lease the land
for Twin City Banks principal office in Lakewood Village Shopping Center from Conservative
Development Company, a corporation controlled, through common ownership, by Richard H. Ashley, who
is one of our directors. During 2008, the aggregate payments we made, directly or indirectly, to
the named persons for the various leases described above were less than $120,000.
We also lease the property for the
Centennial Bank office located at Pavilion in the Park in Little Rock, Arkansas, from a Company owned by S. Gene Cauley, who is one of our directors.
During 2008, we paid rent payments of an aggregate of approximately $230,000 in connection with this lease.
We believe the terms of each of the agreements and the purchase of the Hogan Lane property
described above are no less favorable to us than we could have obtained from an unaffiliated third
party. We expect we will continue to engage in similar banking and business transactions in the
ordinary course of business with our directors, executive officers, principal shareholders and
their associates. All proposed related party transactions are presented to the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors for
consideration and approval. The Committee approved each of the
transactions described above. The
Committee does not currently have any formal policies or procedures with respect to its review,
approval, or ratification of related party transactions, but considers each related party
transaction or proposed related party transaction on a case-by-case basis. According to its
charter, the Committee follows the definition of related party transaction provided in the SECs
regulations under the Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires each director,
officer, and any individual beneficially owning more than 10 percent of the Companys common stock
to file reports on Forms 3, 4, and 5 disclosing beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial
ownership of the common stock of the Company with the SEC within specified time frames. These
specified time frames require the Form 3s to be filed on or before the effective date of the
issuers registration statement. Changes in ownership must be filed on Form 4 within two business
days of the transaction. Based solely on information provided to the Company by individual
directors and officers, we believe that all our Section 16 filers complied with the filing
requirements during the fiscal year, except as follows: Robert H. Adcock, Jr., C. Randall Sims,
and William G. Thompson each failed to timely file a Form 4 disclosing, in each case, a disposition
of shares of the Companys common stock. S. Gene Cauley failed to timely file three Form 4 reports
disclosing three acquisitions of shares of the Companys common stock and five Form 4 reports
disclosing five dispositions of shares of the Companys common stock. Additionally, an otherwise
timely filed Form 4 for Mr. Cauley stated an incorrect amount of an acquisition of shares of the
Companys common stock. An amended Form 4 stating the correct share amount was filed upon
discovery of the error.
34
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
The authorized common stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000 shares at $0.01 par value.
As of the close of business on March 6, 2009, there were
shares outstanding held by
approximately registered and beneficial shareholders.
The following table sets forth certain information as of January 31, 2009, concerning the
number and percentage of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by our directors, our named
executive officers, and all of our directors and executive officers as a group, and by each person
known to us who beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
Information in this table is based upon beneficial ownership concepts described in the rules
issued under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a
beneficial owner of any shares of our common stock if that person has or shares voting power,
which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of the shares, or investment power, which
includes the right to dispose or direct the disposition of the shares. Thus, under the rules, more
than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same shares. A person is also deemed
to be a beneficial owner of any shares as to which that person has the right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days from January 31, 2009.
Except as otherwise indicated, all shares are owned directly, and the named person possesses
sole voting and investment power with respect to his shares. The address for each of our directors
and named executive officers is c/o Home BancShares, Inc., 719 Harkrider, Suite 100, Conway,
Arkansas 72032.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and Nature |
|
|
|
|
of Beneficial |
|
Percent of Shares |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Ownership |
|
Outstanding (1) |
5% or greater holders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (2) |
|
|
1,391,219 |
|
|
|
7.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and executive officers: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert H. Adcock, Jr. (3)(4) |
|
|
716,286 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
John W. Allison (3)(5) |
|
|
2,817,701 |
|
|
|
14.2 |
% |
Richard H. Ashley (6) |
|
|
1,184,559 |
|
|
|
6.0 |
% |
Dale A. Bruns (3) |
|
|
129,378 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Richard A. Buckheim (3) |
|
|
45,538 |
|
|
|
* |
|
S. Gene Cauley |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Jack E. Engelkes (3)(7) |
|
|
74,518 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Tracy M. French (8) |
|
|
24,846 |
|
|
|
* |
|
James G. Hinkle (9) |
|
|
183,333 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Alex R. Lieblong (3)(10) |
|
|
550,742 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
% |
Randy E. Mayor (3)(11) |
|
|
120,225 |
|
|
|
* |
|
C. Randall Sims (3)(12) |
|
|
138,910 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Ron W. Strother (3)(13) |
|
|
113,253 |
|
|
|
* |
|
William G. Thompson (14) |
|
|
80,536 |
|
|
|
* |
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (19 persons) (3) |
|
|
6,334,450 |
|
|
|
31.9 |
% |
35
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The percentage of our common stock beneficially owned was calculated based on 19,861,251
shares of our common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2009. The percentage assumes that
the person in each row has exercised all options that are exercisable by that person or group
within 60 days of January 31, 2009. |
|
(2) |
|
Based on information as of December 31, 2008, obtained from a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC
on or about February 13, 2009, by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates). The
foregoing information has been included solely in reliance upon, and without independent
investigation of, the disclosures contained in Price Associates Schedule 13G. These
securities are owned by various individual and institutional investors for which Price
Associates serves as investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power to
vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities; however,
Price Associates expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such
securities. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes shares that may be issued upon the exercise of vested common stock options, as
follows: Mr. Allison, 132,762 shares; Mr. Ashley, 216 shares; Mr. Bruns, 3,132 shares; Mr.
Buckheim, 3,288 shares; Mr. Engelkes, 3,456 shares; Mr. Hinkle, 216 shares; Mr. Lieblong,
10,422 shares; Mr. Mayor, 53,019 shares; Mr. Sims, 57,174 shares; Mr. Strother, 77,760 shares;
Mr. Thompson, 216 shares; and all directors and executive officers as a group, 429,583 shares. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 15,493 shares held in Mr. Adcocks IRA, 370,539 shares owned by the Robert H. Adcock
Trust, 24,467 shares owned by the Hillary Adcock GST Trust, 97,488 shares owned by the Hillary
Adcock Nonexempt Trust, 85,250 shares owned by the Carol Adcock Trust, 24,468 shares owned by
the Ashton Adcock Trust, and 98,581 shares owned by the Ashton Adcock Nonexempt Trust. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 386,978 shares owned by Mr. Allisons spouse, either individually or as custodian
for their children, 3,699 shares held in Mr. Allisons IRA and 15,302 shares owned by Capital
Buyers, a company that is owned by Mr. Allison. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 3,126 shares held in Mr. Ashleys IRA, 4,241 shares owned by Mr. Ashleys spouse,
1,668 shares owned by the IRA of Mr. Ashleys spouse, 373,446 shares owned by Conservative
Development Company, a corporation of which Mr. Ashley is president, 214,169 shares owned by
RHA Investments, a company of which Mr. Ashley is a partner, and 248 shares for which Mr.
Ashley is custodian for his children. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes 40,112 shares owned by Mr. Engelkes spouse, 9,865 shares for which Mr. Engelkes is
custodian for his children, and 880 shares held in Mr. Engelkes Simple IRA. |
|
(8) |
|
Includes 6,074 shares owned by Mr. Frenchs 401(k) plan, 6,046 shares held in Mr. Frenchs
IRA, 2,182 shares owned by the Daniel French Trust, and 1,445 shares owned by the Daniel
French Irrevocable Trust. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes 181,184 shares owned by the James G. Hinkle Revocable Trust. |
|
(10) |
|
Includes 370,332 shares that are owned by Key Colony Fund L.P., a hedge fund of which Mr.
Lieblong is the managing partner. |
|
(11) |
|
Includes 4,932 shares owned by Mr. Mayors 401(k) plan and 13,723 shares held in Mr. Mayors
IRA. |
|
(12) |
|
Includes two shares owned by Mr. Sims son, 26,209 shares held in Mr. Sims IRA and 4,226
shares owned by Mr. Sims 401(k) plan. |
|
(13) |
|
Includes 5,349 shares owned by Mr. Strothers 401(k) plan. |
|
(14) |
|
Includes 2,859 shares owned by Mr. Thompsons IRA, 3,340 shares owned by the IRA of Mr.
Thompsons spouse, 43,611 shares owned by Thompson Brothers LLC, a company of which Mr.
Thompson is a partner, and 328 shares owned by B and L Thompson Investments LLC, a company
owned by Mr. Thompson. |
36
PROPOSAL TWO RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008,
were audited by BKD, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. In 2008, the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors and our shareholders approved the engagement of BKD, LLP to be
our independent registered accounting firm for fiscal year 2008. The Audit Committee intends to
approve the re-engagement of BKD, LLP to be our independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, subject to the ratification of the appointment by our
shareholders at the Annual Meeting and our formal acceptance of an engagement letter from BKD, LLP
after the Annual Meeting.
Shareholders ratification of the selection of BKD, LLP to be our independent registered
public accounting firm for fiscal year 2009 is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise. However,
the Board is submitting the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm to the
shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to
ratify the selection of BKD, LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain that
firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may, at its discretion, direct the
appointment of a different independent registered accounting firm at any time during the year if it
determines that such change is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.
Representatives of BKD, LLP are expected to attend the Annual Meeting, will have an
opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
The Board of Directors Recommends that Shareholders Vote
FOR
the Ratification of the Appointment of BKD, LLP
as the Companys Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
for the 2009 Calendar Year
AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT FEES
The following table represents aggregate fees billed for professional audit services rendered
by BKD, LLP to provide the audit of our annual financial statements for the years ended December
31, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
Audit fees(1) |
|
$ |
487,286 |
|
|
$ |
642,662 |
|
Audit-related fees(2) |
|
|
61,099 |
|
|
|
57,542 |
|
Tax fees(3) |
|
|
48,867 |
|
|
|
50,243 |
|
All other fees(4) |
|
|
31,834 |
|
|
|
34,585 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Audit fees consisted of audit work performed in the preparation of financial statements, as
well as work generally only the independent auditor can reasonably be expected to provide,
such as statutory audits. |
|
(2) |
|
Audit related fees included SAS70 review of the Companys data processing subsidiary and
research and conferences regarding various matters. |
|
(3) |
|
Tax fees for 2008 primarily related to preparation of the Companys income tax returns. |
|
(4) |
|
Other fees related to fees paid by the Company on behalf of the Companys retirement plan for
third-party administration of the Companys defined contribution plan. |
37
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent
Auditor
The Audit Committee has the responsibility of appointing, setting compensation for and
overseeing the work of the independent auditor, and has established a policy to pre-approve all
audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent auditor.
Prior to engagement of the independent auditor for next years audit, management will submit
an aggregate of services expected to be rendered during that year for each of four categories of
services to the Audit Committee for approval.
|
(1) |
|
Audit services include audit work performed in the preparation of financial
statements, as well as work that generally only the independent auditor can reasonably
be expected to provide, including comfort letters, statutory audits, and attest
services, and consultation regarding financial accounting and/or reporting standards. |
|
|
(2) |
|
Audit-related services are for assurance and related services that are
traditionally performed by the independent auditor, including due diligence related to
mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit plan audits, and special procedures required
to meet certain regulatory requirements. |
|
|
(3) |
|
Tax services include all services performed by the independent auditors tax
personnel except those services specifically related to the audit of the financial
statements, and includes fees in the areas of tax compliance, tax planning and tax
advice. |
|
|
(4) |
|
Other fees are those associated with services not captured in the other
categories. We generally do not request such services from the independent auditor. |
Prior to the engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves these services by category of
service. The fees are budgeted and the Audit Committee requires the independent auditor and
management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of
service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the
independent auditor for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval. In
those instances, the Audit Committee requires specific pre-approval before engaging the independent
auditor.
The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The
members to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, the
pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
38
PROPOSAL THREE ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE
APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the ARRA) was
enacted. The ARRA imposes a number of requirements on financial institutions that received an
investment under the Capital Purchase Program of the United States Department of the Treasurys
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). One of the requirements is that at each annual meeting of
shareholders during the period in which any obligation arising from TARP financial assistance
remains outstanding TARP recipients shall permit a separate non-binding say-on-pay shareholder
vote to approve the compensation of executives. Accordingly, the Company presents the resolution
set forth below for approval by the shareholders.
We believe that our compensation policies and procedures are competitive, are focused on pay
for performance principles and are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our
shareholders. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised entirely of independent directors,
oversees our executive compensation program and monitors our policies to ensure they continue to
emphasize programs that reward executives for results that are consistent with shareholder
interests.
The following resolution gives you as a shareholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse
the compensation we pay to our named executive officers by voting to approve or not approve such
compensation as described in this Proxy Statement:
RESOLVED, that the shareholders of Home BancShares, Inc. (the Company) approve the
compensation of the Companys executives named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Companys
Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, including the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis, the Executive Compensation tables and the related disclosure contained in the Proxy
Statement.
The ARRA provides that because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board of
Directors and may not be construed as overruling any decision by the Board. However, the
Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, take into account the outcome of the vote when
considering future executive compensation arrangements.
Our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee believe that our commitment to
responsible compensation practices as described in this Proxy Statement justifies a vote by
shareholders FOR the resolution approving the compensation of our executives as disclosed in this
Proxy Statement.
We encourage you to closely review our Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the tabular
disclosure which follows it, including the footnotes and narratives which accompany each table, as
they describe our compensation policies and procedures and the components and amounts comprising
the compensation paid to our named executive officers.
The Board of Directors Recommends that Shareholders Vote
FOR
the Advisory (Non-binding) Resolution Approving
the Companys Executive Compensation
39
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
In order for a proposal by a shareholder to be presented at an annual meeting of our
shareholders, the proposal must be included in the related proxy statement and proxy form.
Proposals by shareholders intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2010
must be received by the Company no later than November ___, 2009, for possible inclusion in the
proxy statement relating to that meeting.
For a shareholder proposal to be included in the proxy statement and proxy form for an annual
meeting of the Companys shareholders, the proposal must: (1) concern a matter that may be
properly considered and acted upon at the annual meeting in accordance with applicable laws,
including our Bylaws and Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Act; and (2) be received by the Company at
its home office, 719 Harkrider Street, Suite 100, Conway, Arkansas 72032, Attention: C. Randall
Sims, Secretary, not less than 120 calendar days before the anniversary of the date of the previous
years proxy statement, or November ___, 2009, in the case of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in
2010. If no annual meeting was held the previous year and in any year in which the date of the
annual meeting is moved by more than 30 days from the date of the previous years annual meeting,
the proposal will be considered timely if received within a reasonable time before the Company
begins to print and mail its proxy materials.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy
these reports, proxy statements, and other information concerning the Company at the SECs public
reference room at 450 Fifth Street N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. You may also view and print
reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file
electronically with the SEC, including the Company, from the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE
MEETING ARE URGED TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE,
MAIL OR INTERNET.
IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET,
DO NOT RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD
By Order of the Board of Directors
C. RANDALL SIMS
Secretary
40
000004 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext MR A
SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext ADD 1 Electronic Voting
Instructions ADD 2 ADD 3 You can vote by Internet or telephone! ADD 4 Available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week! ADD 5 Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting ADD 6
methods outlined below to vote your proxy. VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.
Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 AM, Central Standard Time,
on April 23, 2009. C123456789 Vote by Internet Log on to the Internet and go to
www.envisionreports.com/HOBA Follow the steps outlined on the secured website. Vote by telephone
· Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico any time on a
touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call. Follow the instructions provided by
the recorded message. Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example.
Please do not write outside the designated areas. Annual Meeting Proxy Card 123456 C0123456789
12345 3 IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND
RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. 3 A Proposals The Board of Directors
recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposal 2. 1. Election of Directors: For
Withhold For Withhold For Withhold 01 John W. Allison 02 Ron W. Strother 03 C. Randall Sims
04 Robert H. Adcock, Jr. 05 Richard H. Ashley 06 Dale A. Bruns 07 Richard A. Buckheim 08 -
S. Gene Cauley 09 Jack E. Engelkes 10 James G. Hinkle 11 Alex R. Lieblong 12 William G.
Thompson For Against Abstain 2. Ratification of appointment of BKD, LLP as the Companys
independent 4. Transact such other business as may properly come before registered public
accounting firm for the next fiscal year. the meeting or any adjournments thereof. 3. Advisory
(non-binding) vote approving the Companys executive compensation. B Non-Voting Items Change of
Address Please print new address below. C Authorized Signatures This section must be
completed for your vote to be counted. Date and Sign Below Please sign exactly as name(s)
appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
Please print date below. Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 Please
keep signature within the box. C 1234567890 J N T MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE
140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND 1 U
P X 0 2 1 1 3 1 1 MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE
INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. 3 |
Proxy HOME BANCSHARES, INC. 719 Harkrider Street, Suite 100 Conway, Arkansas 72032 (501)
328-4770 www.homebancshares.com NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS To Be Held on April 23,
2009 The undersigned constitutes and appoints C. Randall Sims and Randy E. Mayor or either of them,
proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to represent the undersigned and to
vote all of the shares of common stock of Home BancShares, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting of shareholders of the company to be held on April 23, 2009, at 6:30
p.m. (CDT) at the Agora Conference Center, located at 705 East Siebenmorgan Road, Conway, Arkansas,
for the purposes stated on the reverse side. Only shareholders of record on March 6, 2009, will be
entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof. A list of shareholders will be
available for inspection at the office of the Company at 719 Harkrider, Suite 100, Conway,
Arkansas, 72032, beginning two business days after the date of this notice and continuing through
the meeting. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT PLEASE EXECUTE YOUR PROXY WITHOUT DELAY |