Check
the appropriate box:
|
||
o
|
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
|
|
o
|
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|
|
þ
|
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
|
o
|
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
|
o
|
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
|
HIGHLANDS
BANKSHARES, INC.
|
||
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its
Charter)
|
|
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
|
þ
|
No
fee required.
|
|||
o
|
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
|
|||
(1)
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
|||
|
||||
(2)
|
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
|||
|
||||
(3)
|
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):
|
|||
(4)
|
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
|||
(5)
|
Total
fee paid:
|
|||
o
|
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
|
|||
o
|
Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
|
|||
(1)
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
|
|||
(2)
|
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
|||
|
||||
(3)
|
Filing
Party:
|
|||
(4)
|
Date
Filed:
|
|||
Sincerely,
|
/s/
John G. Van Meter
|
John
G. Van Meter
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
|
1.
|
Election
of three Class C directors to serve until the annual meeting of
shareholders in 2013.
|
|
2.
|
Ratification
of the appointment of Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC as
independent registered public accountants for
2010.
|
|
3.
|
Transaction
of other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any
adjournments thereof.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
/s/
Alan L. Brill
|
|
Alan
L. Brill
|
|
Corporate
Secretary
|
|
Page
|
||
Outstanding
Shares and Voting Rights
|
1
|
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
|
2
|
|
*-Election
of Directors
|
4
|
|
Information
Concerning Directors and Nominees
|
6
|
|
Board
Meetings and Compensation
|
9
|
|
Board
Committees
|
10
|
|
Executive
Compensation
|
11
|
|
Audit
Committee Report
|
14
|
|
Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act
|
15
|
|
Certain
Related Transactions
|
15
|
|
*-Ratification
of Appointment of Independent Registered Certified Public
Accountants
|
16
|
|
Fees
of Independent Registered Certified Public Accountants
|
16
|
|
Shareholder
Proposals
|
16
|
|
Exhibits
|
17
|
|
*-Matters
to be voted on
|
HIGHLANDS
BANKSHARES, INC.
|
P.O.
Box 929 * Petersburg WV 26847 * (304) 257-4111
|
PROXY
STATEMENT
|
|
·
|
Notifying
Highlands in person,
|
|
·
|
Giving
written notice to Highlands of the revocation of the
proxy,
|
|
·
|
Submitting
to Highlands a subsequently dated proxy,
or
|
|
·
|
Attending
the meeting and withdrawing the proxy before it is voted at the
meeting.
|
Name
|
Position
with Company
|
Amount
Beneficially
Owned
|
Percent
of
Class
|
Leslie
A. Barr
|
Director
|
6,876
|
*
|
Clarence
E. Porter
|
Director;
President
& Chief
Executive
Officer;
Treasurer
|
2,235
|
*
|
Morris
M. Homan, Jr.
|
Director
|
1,890
|
*
|
Gerald
W. Smith
|
Director
|
3,282
|
*
|
John
G. Van Meter
|
Director
|
56,313
|
4.2%
|
Jack
H. Walters
|
Director
|
10,824
|
*
|
L.
Keith Wolfe
|
Director
|
8,580
|
*
|
Kathy
G. Kimble
|
Director
|
4,596
|
*
|
Alan
L. Brill
|
Director;
Secretary
|
2,820
|
*
|
Steven
C. Judy
|
Director
|
5,205
|
*
|
All
of the directors, director nominees and executive
|
|||
officers
of the Company, as a group
|
102,621
|
7.7%
|
|
Mr.
Barr’s beneficial ownership includes 2,820 shares owned directly, 3,300
shares owned jointly with his wife and 756 shares held by his wife over
which he holds no voting or dispositive powers.
|
Mr.
Porter’s beneficial ownership includes 300 shares owned directly, 50
shares held by his wife over which he holds no voting or dispositive
powers and 15 shares held by his wife as custodian for each of three minor
grandchildren and 1,840 shares held on Mr. Porter’s behalf through the
Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Program.
|
Mr.
Homan’s beneficial ownership includes 1,890 shares owned
directly.
|
Mr.
Smith’s beneficial ownership includes 540 shares owned directly and 2,742
shares owned jointly with his wife.
|
Mr.
Van Meter’s beneficial ownership includes 29,183 shares owned directly and
27,130 shares held by his wife over which he holds no voting or
dispositive powers. Mr. Van Meter disclaims beneficial ownership of the
shares held by his wife.
|
Mr.
Walters’ beneficial ownership includes 10,524 shares owned directly and
150 shares held as co-guardian for each of his two children. Mr. Walters
disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held as co-guardian for each
of his children.
|
Mr.
Wolfe’s beneficial ownership includes 7,830 shares owned directly, 300
shares held jointly with each of his two children and 150 shares held by
his wife over which he holds no voting or dispositive
powers.
|
Ms.
Kimble’s beneficial ownership includes 3,651 shares owned directly and 945
shares held jointly with her husband.
|
Mr.
Brill’s beneficial ownership includes 363 shares owned directly and 1,104
shares owned jointly with his wife and 1,353 shares held in Mr. Brill’s
behalf through the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership
Program.
|
Mr.
Judy’s beneficial ownership includes 5,205 shares owned
directly.
|
|
·
|
Directors should be of the
highest ethical character.
|
|
·
|
Directors should have
excellent personal and professional reputations in Highlands’ market
area.
|
|
·
|
Directors should be
accomplished in their professions or
careers.
|
|
·
|
Directors should be able to
read and understand financial statements and either have knowledge of, or
the ability and willingness to learn, financial institution
law.
|
|
·
|
Directors should have relevant
experience and expertise to evaluate financial data and provide direction
and advice to the chief executive officer and the ability to exercise
sound business judgment.
|
|
·
|
Directors must be willing and
able to expend the time to attend meetings of the Board of Directors of
Highlands and Highlands’ subsidiary banks and to serve on board
committees.
|
|
·
|
The Board of Directors will
consider whether a nominee is independent, as legally
defined. In addition, directors should avoid the appearance of
any conflict and should be independent of any particular constituency and
be able to serve all shareholders of
Highlands.
|
|
·
|
Because the directors of
Highlands also may serve as directors of either or both of the subsidiary
banks, a majority of directors must be residents of West Virginia, as
required by state banking
law.
|
|
·
|
Directors must be acceptable
to Highlands and the subsidiary banks’ regulatory agencies, including the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the West Virginia Division of
Banking and must not be under any legal disability which prevents them
from serving on the Board of Directors or participating in the affairs of
a financial institution.
|
|
·
|
Directors must own or acquire
sufficient capital stock to satisfy the requirements of West Virginia law
and the bylaws of each of the subsidiary
banks.
|
|
·
|
Directors must be at least 21
years of age.
|
|
·
|
As
to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as
director:
|
|
§
|
All
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest
or is otherwise required pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
and
|
|
§
|
Such
person’s written consent to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee
and to serving as such as a director if elected;
and
|
|
·
|
As
to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on
whose behalf the nomination is
made:
|
|
§
|
The
name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Company’s
books and of such beneficial owner;
|
|
§
|
The
class and number of shares of the Company’s common stock that are owned
beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial
owner;
|
|
§
|
A
description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder
and each nominee and any other persons (naming them) pursuant to which the
nominations are to be made by the
shareholder;
|
|
§
|
A
representation that such shareholder is a holder of record of the
Company’s stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in
person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination;
and
|
|
§
|
Any
other information relating to such shareholder that would be required to
be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in
connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange
Act.
|
Name
|
Position
with the
Company
|
Age
|
Director
Since
|
Principal
Occupation During the Last
Five
Years
|
DIRECTOR
NOMINEES
Class
C Directors to serve until the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
|
||||
Steven
C. Judy
|
Director
|
57
|
June
2002
|
Pharmacist
President
of JSG Foods, Inc.
President
of Judy’s Drug Store, Inc.
|
Leslie
A. Barr
|
Director
|
72
|
July
1987
|
Retired
President & Chief Executive
Officer
of Highlands
|
Jack
H. Walters
|
Director
|
62
|
July
1987
|
Attorney
at Law
Partner,
Walters, Krauskopf & Baker
|
DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE
|
||||
Class
A Directors to serve until the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
|
||||
Alan
L. Brill
|
Director;
Secretary
|
55
|
April
2001
|
President
& Chief Executive Officer of
Capon
Valley Bank since 2001
|
Kathy
G. Kimble
|
Director
|
64
|
April
2001
|
Retired
Retail Business Owner
|
Morris
M. Homan, Jr.
|
Director
|
57
|
May
2008
|
Self
Employed Veterinarian
|
John
G. Van Meter
|
Director;
Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
72
|
May
1985
|
Attorney
at Law
Van
Meter & Van Meter
|
DIRECTORS
CONTINUING IN OFFICE
|
||||
Class
B Directors to serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
|
||||
Gerald
W. Smith
|
Director
|
66
|
May
2009
|
Self
employed
Envirco
Inc.
Specialty
Security Services, LLC
|
Clarence
E. Porter
|
Director;
President & Chief Executive Officer
|
61
|
April
1992
|
President
& Chief Executive Officer of
Highlands since 2004; President & Chief Executive Officer of The Grant County Bank since 1991 |
L.
Keith Wolfe
|
Director
|
83
|
May
1985
|
Retired
owner of Petersburg Motor Company
|
Name
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
|
All
Other
Compensation
|
Total
|
Leslie
A. Barr
|
$ 36,018
|
$
|
$
36,018
|
Jack
H. Walters
|
21,825
|
47,748
|
69,573
|
Alan
L. Brill
|
22,050
|
22,050
|
|
Morris
M. Homan, Jr.
|
27,200
|
27,200
|
|
C.
E. Porter
|
23,425
|
23,425
|
|
John
G. Van Meter
|
22,475
|
14,000
|
36,475
|
Kathy
G. Kimble
|
24,325
|
24,325
|
|
Steven
C. Judy
|
25,075
|
25,075
|
|
L.
Keith Wolfe
|
21,550
|
21,550
|
|
Gerald
W. Smith
|
9,713
|
9,713
|
Director
|
Nominating
Committee
(Full
Board)
|
Compensation
Committee
|
Audit
Committee
|
Leslie
A. Barr
|
X*
|
X
|
X
|
Clarence
E. Porter
|
X
|
||
Morris
M. Homan, Jr.
|
X*
|
X
|
X
|
John
G. Van Meter
|
X
|
X
|
|
Jack
H. Walters
|
X
|
X
|
|
L.
Keith Wolfe
|
X*
|
X
|
|
Kathy
G. Kimble
|
X*
|
X
|
X
|
Alan
L. Brill
|
X
|
||
Steven
C. Judy
|
X*
|
X
|
X
|
Gerald
W. Smith
|
X*
|
X
|
X
|
*=Independent
Director.
|
Name and Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Non
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)(1)
|
Change
in
Pension
Value
and
Nonqualified
and
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(2)
|
All
Other
Compen-
sation
(3)
|
Total
|
C.E.
Porter
|
2009
|
$ 273,525
|
--
|
$
220,878
|
$
28,789
|
$
523,192
|
Principal
Executive Officer
|
2008
|
273,525
|
$
7,623
|
169,714
|
27,374
|
478,236
|
Alan
L. Brill
|
2009
|
$ 171,150
|
--
|
$ 55,111
|
$ 24,639
|
$
250,900
|
President,
Capon Valley Bank
|
2008
|
171,150
|
$
4,655
|
61,165
|
23,224
|
260,194
|
Gerald
Sites
|
2009
|
$
108,000
|
--
|
$ 11,092
|
--
|
$
119,092
|
Sr.
Vice President, The Grant County Bank
|
2008
|
108,000
|
--
|
79,132
|
--
|
187,132
|
|
·
|
Mr.
Brill and Mr. Porter did not receive incentive pay under the Company’s
INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN FOR SUBSIDIARY BANK PRESIDENTS for 2009 results.
Under this Plan, Mr. Porter’s maximum incentive pay for reaching 2009
targets would have been $7,623 and Mr. Brill’s maximum incentive pay for
reaching 2009 targets would have been $6,846. Further details
relating to this Plan can be found on Page
15.
|
|
·
|
Mr.
Porter’s Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified and Deferred
Compensation Earnings is comprised of the increase in value of Mr.
Porter’s defined benefit pension plan, Mr. Porter’s portion of
contributions by the Company and by The Grant County Bank to the bank’s
profit sharing plan, the dollar value of the economic benefit under The
Grant County Bank’s split dollar life insurance plan (BOLI), and
contributions to the Company’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) on
behalf of Mr. Porter.
|
|
·
|
Mr.
Brill’s Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified and Deferred Compensation
Earnings is comprised of contributions by Capon Valley Bank on Mr. Brill’s
behalf to the bank’s 401(k) plan, the dollar value of the economic benefit
under Capon Valley Bank’s split dollar life insurance plan (BOLI), and
contributions to the Company’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) on
behalf of Mr. Brill.
|
|
·
|
Mr.
Site’s Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified and Deferred Compensation
Earnings is comprised of the increase in value of Mr. Sites’ defined
benefit pension plan, Mr. Sites’s portion of contributions by The Grant
County Bank to the bank’s profit sharing plan, the dollar value of the
economic benefit under The Grant County Bank’s split dollar life insurance
plan (BOLI), and contributions to the Company’s employee stock ownership
plan (ESOP) on behalf of Mr. Sites.
|
|
·
|
Mr.
Porter’s Other Compensation is comprised of directors fees paid to Mr.
Porter by the Company and by The Grant County Bank and the economic
benefit of use of an automobile.
|
|
·
|
Mr.
Brill’s Other Compensation is comprised of directors fees paid to Mr.
Brill by the Company and by Capon Valley Bank and the economic benefit of
use of an automobile.
|
Name
|
Number
of Years of
Credited
Service
|
Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit
|
C.
E. Porter
|
21.33
|
$
718,015
|
Gerald
Sites
|
46.33
|
472,465
|
Growth
and Net Income
|
(25%)
|
Return
on Average Assets
|
(25%)
|
Return
on Average Equity
|
(25%)
|
Efficiency
Ratio
|
(25%)
|
Growth
in Net Income
|
$24,300
x 25% x 75%
|
equals
|
$ | 4,556 | ||
Return
on Average Assets
|
$24,300
x 25% x 25%
|
equals
|
1,519 | |||
Return
on Average Equity
|
$24,300
x 25% x 100%
|
equals
|
6,075 | |||
Efficiency
Ratio
|
$24,300
x 25% x 0%
|
equals
|
0 | |||
Total
Based on Corporate Performance
|
12,150 | |||||
Individual
Performance
|
$ 2,700
x 95%
|
equals
|
2,565 | |||
Total
Bonus
|
$ | 14,715 |
|
·
|
The Committee
is charged with monitoring the preparation of quarterly and annual
financial reports prepared by the Company’s management, including
discussion with management and the Company’s outside auditors about
financial statements, key accounting practices, and
reporting.
|
|
·
|
The Committee is responsible
for matters concerning the relationship between the Company and its
outside auditors, including recommending their appointment or removal,
reviewing the scope of their audit services and related fees, as well as
any other services being provided to the Company, also determining if the
outside auditors are independent (based in part on the annual letter
provided to the Company pursuant to Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1).
|
|
·
|
The Committee oversees
management’s implementation of effective systems of internal controls,
including review of policies relating to legal and regulatory compliance,
ethics and conflicts of interest; and review of the activities and
recommendations of the Company’s internal auditing
program.
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Audit
Fees
|
$ | 75,525 | $ | 72,855 | ||||
All Other
Fees
|
0 | 0 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 75,525 | $ | 72,855 |
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
/s/
Alan L. Brill
|
|
Alan
L. Brill
|
|
Corporate
Secretary
|
EXHIBIT
A
|
EXHIBIT
B
|
|
I.
|
Statement
of Policy
|
|
II.
|
Committee
Composition and Meetings
|
|
III.
|
Committee
Duties, Responsibilities and
Process
|
|
(8)
|
Discharge
any other duties and responsibilities delegated to the Committee from time
to time.
|
|
IV.
|
Investigations
and Studies; Outside Advisers
|
2.
|
PROPOSAL
TWO:
|
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF SMITH ELLIOTT KEARNS & COMPANY,
LLC AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS
|
|
|