c-proxy2008.htm
January
15, 2008
Dear
Fellow Shareholder:
On
behalf
of the Board of Directors and management of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
we
cordially invite you to attend the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders. The
meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. local time, on
February 21, 2008 at the Chippewa Falls branch office of Citizens Community
Federal offices located at 427 West Prairie View Road, Chippewa Falls,
Wisconsin.
The
matters expected to be acted upon at the meeting are described in the attached
proxy statement. In addition, we will report on our progress during the past
year and entertain your questions and comments.
We
encourage you to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not you plan to
attend, however, please read the enclosed proxy statement and then complete,
sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the accompanying postpaid
return envelope provided as promptly as possible. This will save us the
additional expense in soliciting proxies and will ensure that your shares are
represented at the annual meeting.
Your
Board of Directors and management are committed to the continued success of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and the enhancement of your investment. As
President, I want to express my appreciation for your confidence and
support.
Sincerely,
[SIGNATURE
CUT]
James
G.
Cooley
President
and Chief Executive Officer
CITIZENS
COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
2174
EastRidge Center
Eau
Claire, Wisconsin 54701
(715)
836-9994
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
be held on February 21, 2008
Notice
is
hereby given that the annual meeting of shareholders of Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. will be held at the Chippewa Falls branch office of Citizens
Community Federal located at 427 West Prairie View Road, Chippewa Falls,
Wisconsin, on February 21, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. local
time.
A
proxy
card and a proxy statement for the annual meeting are enclosed.
The
annual meeting is for the purpose of considering and voting on the following
proposals:
Proposal
1.
|
Election
of two directors of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. for three-year
terms;
|
Proposal
2.
|
Approval
of the Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan;
and
|
Proposal
3.
|
Ratification
of the appointment of Wipfli LLP as Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.
|
Shareholders
also will transact such other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. As of the date of this
notice, we are not aware of any other business to come before the annual
meeting.
The
Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on January 4, 2008, as the record
date for the annual meeting. This means that shareholders of record at the
close
of business on that date are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the
meeting and any adjournment thereof. To ensure that your shares are represented
at the meeting, please take the time to vote by signing, dating and mailing
the
enclosed proxy card which is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.
The
proxy will not be used if you attend and vote at the annual meeting in person.
Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote is very important. Please
act today.
BY
ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
[SIGNATURE
CUT]
James
G.
Cooley
President
and Chief Executive Officer
Eau
Claire, Wisconsin
January
15, 2008
Important:
The prompt return of proxies will save us the expense of further requests
for
proxies to ensure a quorum at the annual meeting. A pre-addressed envelope
is
enclosed for your convenience. No postage is required if mailed within the
United States.
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.
2174
EastRidge Center
Eau
Claire, Wisconsin 54701
(715)
836-9994
PROXY
STATEMENT
___________________________
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
be
held on February 21, 2008
___________________________
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.'s Board of Directors is using this proxy statement
to
solicit proxies from the holders of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common
stock for use at our annual meeting of shareholders. We are first mailing this
proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy to our shareholders on or about
January 15, 2008. Certain of the information provided herein relates to Citizens
Community Federal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.
Citizens Community Federal may also be referred to from time to time as the
"Bank." References to "Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.", "we", "us" and "our"
refer to Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and, as the context requires, Citizens
Community Federal.
INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Time
and Place of the Annual Meeting.
Our
annual meeting will be held as follows:
Date: February
21,
2008
Time: 4:00
p.m., local
time
Place:
Citizens
Community Federal
office located at
427 West Prairie View Road
Chippewa
Falls, Wisconsin
Matters
to be Considered at the Annual Meeting.
At
the
meeting, shareholders of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. are being asked to
consider and vote upon the following proposals:
Proposal
1.
|
Election
of two directors of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. for three-year
terms;
|
Proposal
2.
|
Approval
of the Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan;
and
|
Proposal
3.
|
Ratification
of the appointment of Wipfli LLP as Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.
|
The
shareholders also will transact any other business that may properly come before
the annual meeting. As of the date of this proxy statement, we are not aware
of
any other business to be presented for consideration at the annual meeting
other
than the matters described in this proxy statement.
Who
is Entitled to Vote?
We
have
fixed the close of business on January 4, 2008, as the record date for
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. annual meeting. Only holders of
record
of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock on that record date are entitled
to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. You are entitled to one vote
for
each share of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock you own. On January
4, 2008, 6,815,989 shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock
were
outstanding and entitled to vote at the annual meeting.
What
if My Shares are Held in "Street Name" by a Broker?
If
you
are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" by a broker, your
broker, as the record holder of the shares, is required to vote the shares
in
accordance with your instructions. If you do not give instructions to your
broker, your broker may nevertheless vote the shares with respect to
"discretionary" items, but will not be permitted to vote your shares with
respect to "non-discretionary" items, pursuant to current industry practice.
In
the case of non-discretionary items, the shares not voted will be treated as
"broker non-votes." The proposals to elect directors and ratify auditors
described in this proxy statement are considered "discretionary" items under
the
Nasdaq Stock Market rules.
How
Will My Shares of Common Stock Held in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan be
Voted?
We
maintain an employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP") which owns 8.35% of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock. Employees of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc. and Citizens Community Federal participate in the ESOP. Each ESOP
participant instructs the trustee of the plan how to vote the shares of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock allocated to his or her account under
the
ESOP. If an ESOP participant properly executes the voting instruction card
distributed by the ESOP trustee, the ESOP trustee will vote the participant's
shares in accordance with the participant's instructions. Shares of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock held in the ESOP, but not allocated to
any
participant's account, and allocated shares for which no voting instructions
are
received from participants, will be voted by the trustee in the same proportion
as shares for which the trustees have received voting instructions.
How
Many Shares Must Be Present to Hold the Meeting?
A
quorum
must be present at the meeting for any business to be conducted. The presence
at
the meeting, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the shares of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock entitled to vote at the annual
meeting as of the record date will constitute a quorum. Proxies received but
marked as abstentions or broker non-votes will be included in the calculation
of
the number of shares considered to be present at the meeting.
What
If a Quorum Is Not Present at the Meeting?
If
a
quorum is not present at the scheduled time of the meeting, a majority of the
shareholders present or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting until
a
quorum is present. The time and place of the adjourned meeting will be announced
at the time the adjournment is taken, and no other notice will be given unless
the adjourned meeting is set to be held after May 14, 2008. An adjournment
will
have no effect on the business that may be conducted at the
meeting.
Vote
Required to Approve Proposal I: Election of Directors.
Directors
are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at the
annual meeting by holders of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock.
Pursuant to our charter, stockholders are not permitted to cumulate their votes
for the election of directors. Votes may be cast for or withheld from each
nominee. Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the election of
each of
management's director nominees.
Vote
Required to Approve Proposal II: Approval of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
2008 Equity Incentive Plan.
Approval
of the Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan requires
the
affirmative vote of the majority of shares cast, in person or by proxy, at
the
annual meeting by holders of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. Common
Stock. Our board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote
"FOR" the proposal to
approve the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan.
Vote
Required to Approve Proposal III: Ratification of the Appointment of Our
Independent Auditors.
Ratification
of the appointment of Wipfli LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal
year
ending September 30, 2008, requires the affirmative vote of the majority of
shares cast, in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting by holders of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock. Our Board of Directors unanimously
recommends that you vote "FOR" the proposal to
ratify
Wipfli LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September
30,
2008.
How
Do I Vote at the Annual Meeting?
Proxies
are solicited to provide all shareholders of record on the voting record date
an
opportunity to vote on matters scheduled for the annual meeting and described
in
these materials. Shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock can
only be voted if the shareholder is present in person at the annual meeting
or
by proxy. To ensure your representation at the annual meeting, we recommend
you
vote by proxy even if you plan to attend the annual meeting. You can always
change your vote at the meeting if you are a shareholder of record.
Voting
instructions are included on your proxy card. Shares of Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. common stock represented by properly executed proxies will be
voted by the individuals named on the proxy card in accordance with the
shareholder's instructions. Where properly executed proxies are returned to
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. with no specific instruction as to how to
vote
at the annual meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares
"FOR" the election of
each of management's director nominees, "FOR"
the proposal to approve
the Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and "FOR" ratification of
the
appointment of Wipfli LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2008. Should any other matters be properly presented at the annual
meeting for action, the persons named in the enclosed proxy and acting
thereunder will have the discretion to vote on these matters in accordance
with
their best judgment. No other matters are currently expected by the Board of
Directors to be properly presented at the annual meeting.
You
may
receive more than one proxy card depending on how your shares are held. For
example, you may hold some of your shares individually, some jointly with your
spouse and some in trust for your children--in which case you will receive
three
separate proxy cards to vote.
May
I Revoke My Proxy?
You
may
revoke your proxy before it is voted by:
·
|
submitting
a new proxy with a later date;
|
·
|
notifying
the Corporate Secretary of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. in writing
before the annual meeting that you have revoked your proxy;
or
|
·
|
voting
in person at the annual meeting.
|
If
you
plan to attend the annual meeting and wish to vote in person, we will give
you a
ballot at the annual meeting. However, if your shares are held in the name
of
your broker, bank or other nominee, you must bring a validly executed proxy
from
the nominee indicating that you have the right to vote your shares.
Proxy
Solicitation Costs.
We
will
pay the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to this mailing, our directors,
officers and employees may also solicit proxies personally, electronically
or by
telephone. We will also reimburse brokers and other nominees for their expenses
in sending these materials to you and obtaining your voting
instructions.
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. has retained Regan & Associates, Inc. as its proxy
solicitor in connection with the annual meeting. The anticipated cost
of this engagement is approximately $6,000.
STOCK
OWNERSHIP OF CITIZENS COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. COMMON STOCK
Stock
Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers and Five-Percent
Owners.
The
following table sets forth, as of the January 4, 2008 voting record date,
information regarding share ownership of:
·
|
those
persons or entities (or groups of affiliated persons or entities)
known by
management to beneficially own more than five percent of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock other than directors and executive
officers;
|
·
|
each
director and director nominee of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.;
|
·
|
each
current executive officer of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. named
in the
Summary Compensation Table appearing under "Executive Compensation"
below;
and
|
·
|
all
current directors and executive officers of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc. as a group.
|
The
address of each of the beneficial owners, except where otherwise indicated,
is
the same address as Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. An asterisk (*) in the
table indicates that an individual beneficially owns less than one percent
of
the outstanding common stock of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). As of the record date, there
were 6,815,989 shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock
outstanding. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person
and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject
to
outstanding options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60
days
after January 4, 2008, are included in the number of shares beneficially owned
by the person and are deemed outstanding for the purpose of calculating the
person's percentage ownership. These shares, however, are not deemed outstanding
for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other
person.
Beneficial
Owners
|
|
Number
of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
|
|
Percent
of
Common
Stock
Outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficial
Owners of More Than Five Percent Other than
Directors
and Named Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.
Employee
Stock Ownership Plan Trust(2)
2174
EastRidge Center, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701
|
|
568,942
|
|
8.35%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
and Named Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors:
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
McHugh(3)
|
|
200,724
|
|
2.94
|
Thomas
C. Kempen(4)
|
|
24,491
|
|
*
|
Brian
R. Schilling(4)
|
|
10,556
|
|
*
|
Donna
E. Talmage(4)
|
|
11,013
|
|
*
|
David
B. Westrate(4)
|
|
108,287
|
|
1.59
|
James
G. Cooley(5)
|
|
173,980
|
|
2.54
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named
Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
John
D. Zettler(6)
|
|
24,670
|
|
*
|
Timothy
J. Cruciani(7)
|
|
48,914
|
|
*
|
Rebecca
M. Johnson(8)
|
|
25,581
|
|
*
|
Directors
and executive officers of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.
as
a group (9 persons)
|
|
628,216
|
|
9.06%
|
_________________
1.
|
Except
as otherwise noted in these footnotes, the nature of beneficial ownership
for shares reported in this table is sole voting and investment power.
Included in the shares beneficially owned by the directors and named
executive officers are currently exercisable options to purchase
shares of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock as
follows:
|
2.
|
Represents
shares held by the ESOP. Of these shares, 67,962 have been allocated
to
accounts of participants. Pursuant to the terms of the ESOP, each
ESOP
participant has the right to direct the voting of shares of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock allocated to his or her
account.
|
3.
|
Includes
34,048 shares held by Mr. McHugh's spouse. Amount also includes 5,696
shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to Citizens Community
Bancorp's 2004 Restricted Stock Plan and 8,544 shares subject to
options
which are exercisable within 60 days of January 4, 2008, granted
pursuant
to Citizens Community Bancorp's 2004 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan.
|
4.
|
Amount
includes 2,277 shares (5,696 shares with respect to Director Westrate)
of
restricted stock granted pursuant to Citizens Community Bancorp's
2004
Restricted Stock Plan and 8,544 shares subject to options which are
exercisable within 60 days of January 4, 2008, granted pursuant to
Citizens Community Bancorp's 2004 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan.
|
5.
|
Amount
includes 19,106 shares held by Mr. Cooley's spouse and 9,553 shares
held
by children living with Mr. Cooley. Amount also includes 22,785 shares
of
restricted stock granted pursuant to Citizens Community Bancorp's
2004
Restricted Stock Plan and 42,717 shares subject to options which
are
exercisable within 60 days of January 4, 2008, granted pursuant to
Citizens Community Bancorp's 2004 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan.
|
6.
|
Amount
includes 3,645 shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to Citizens
Community Bancorp's 2004 Restricted Stock Plan and 6,835 shares subject
to
options which are exercisable within 60 days of January 4, 2008,
granted
pursuant to Citizens Community Bancorp's 2004 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan.
|
7.
|
Amount
includes 10,252 shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to Citizens
Community Bancorp's 2004 Restricted Stock Plan and 15,375 shares
subject
to options which are exercisable within 60 days of January 4, 2008,
granted pursuant to Citizens Community Bancorp's 2004 Stock Option
and
Incentive Plan.
|
8.
|
Amount
includes 4,556 shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to Citizens
Community Bancorp's 2004 Restricted Stock Plan and 6,835 shares subject
to
options which are exercisable within 60 days of January 4, 2008,
granted
pursuant to Citizens Community Bancorp's 2004 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan.
|
*
Less than one percent ownership.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc.'s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more
than
ten percent of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s common stock to report their
initial ownership of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s common stock and any
subsequent changes in that ownership to the SEC. Specific due dates for these
reports have been established by the SEC and Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
is
required to disclose in this proxy statement any late filings or failures to
file.
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. believes, based solely on a review of the copies of
reports furnished to us and written representations relative to the filing
of
certain forms, that no late reports occurred during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2007. All Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our
executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners
were complied with.
PROPOSAL
I -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our
Board
of Directors consists of six members. Approximately one-third of the directors
are elected annually to serve for a three-year period or until their respective
successors are elected and qualified. The table below sets forth information
regarding each director of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and each nominee
for
director, including his or her age, position on the board and term of office.
The Board of Directors selects nominees for election as directors. All of our
nominees currently serve as Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. directors or have
been appointed by the Board to serve in such capacity. Each nominee has
consented to being named in this proxy statement and has agreed to serve if
elected. If a nominee is unable to stand for election, the Board of Directors
may either reduce the number of directors to be elected or select a substitute
nominee. If a substitute nominee is selected, the proxy holders will vote your
shares for the substitute nominee, unless you have withheld authority. At this
time, we are not aware of any reason why a nominee might be unable to serve
if
elected. Except as disclosed in this proxy statement, there are no arrangements
or understandings between any nominee and any other person pursuant to which
such nominee was selected. The
Board of Directors recommends you vote "FOR" each of the director
nominees.
Name
|
Age(1)
|
Position(s)
Held with
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. and
Citizens
Community Federal
|
Director
Since(2)
|
Term
to
Expire
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
Nominees
|
Richard
McHugh
|
64
|
Chairman
|
1985
|
2011
|
Thomas
C. Kempen
|
66
|
Vice-Chairman
|
1982
|
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
Continuing
in Office
|
Brian
R. Schilling
|
53
|
Director
|
1987
|
2009
|
David
B. Westrate
|
63
|
Director
|
1991
|
2009
|
Donna
E. Talmage
|
81
|
Director
|
1984
|
2010
|
James
G. Cooley
|
60
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
1993
|
2010
|
___________________
(1) At
September 30, 2007.
(2) Includes
service as a director of Citizens Community Federal and its
predecessors.
Set
forth
below is the principal occupation of each director of Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. and of each of the nominees for director. All directors and
nominees have held their present positions for at least five years unless
otherwise indicated.
Richard
McHugh. Mr. McHugh is the Owner/President of Choice Products,
USA.
Thomas
C.
Kempen. Mr. Kempen is the owner of T. C. Kempen Landscaping Supplies
& Consulting.
Brian
R.
Schilling. Mr. Schilling is the Managing Partner of W.J. Bauman
Associates, LTD, a certified public accounting firm.
David
B.
Westrate. Mr. Westrate currently serves as planning supervisor for
Sterling Education Services, Co., a position he has held for three years. Prior
to that time, he was not employed.
Adonis
E. ("Donna
") Talmage. Ms. Talmage is currently retired. Prior to her retirement,
she was an accountant and data processor for Consumers Co-Op
Association.
James
G.
Cooley. Mr. Cooley is President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens
Community Federal, a position he has held since 1987.
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS, BOARD COMMITTEES
AND
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Meetings
The
Board
of Directors of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. generally meets on a monthly
basis, holding additional special meetings as needed. During fiscal 2007, the
Board of Directors of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. held twelve regular
meetings and two special meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors of
Citizens Community Federal are also generally held on a monthly basis. In 2007,
the Board of Directors of Citizens Community Federal held twelve regular
meetings and one special meeting. No director of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc. or of the Bank attended fewer than 75% of the Board meetings and meetings
of the committees on which they served during the period they were
directors.
Committees
and Charters
The
Board
of Directors of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. has standing Compensation,
Audit and Nominating Committees.
The
Compensation Committee is currently comprised of Directors McHugh and Westrate.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing all issues pertaining
to
executive compensation, reviewing and recommending all changes in employee
benefit plans and making recommendations to the Board regarding director
compensation. This committee met one time in fiscal 2007.
The
Board
of Directors has adopted written charters for its Audit and Nominating
Committees, as well as a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that
applies to all our directors, officers, and employees. You may obtain a copy
of
these documents free of charge by writing to: John D. Zettler, Chief Financial
Officer, Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., 2174 EastRidge Center, Eau Claire,
Wisconsin 54701, or by calling (715) 836-9994. Our Audit Committee and
Nominating Committee charters were attached to the proxy statement filed for
the
Annual Meeting held on February 22, 2007 as Appendices A and B, respectively.
In
addition, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics was filed with the SEC as
Exhibit 14 to Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006.
The
Audit
Committee of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. operates under a written charter
adopted by the full Board of Directors. The Audit Committee currently has three
members, including directors McHugh, Schilling and Westrate, each of whom is
an
"independent director" under the standards established by the SEC for members
of
audit committees as required by the Nasdaq Rules. Mr. Schilling is an "audit
committee financial expert" as defined in the rules of the SEC.
This
committee is responsible for the review of the company's annual audit report
prepared by our independent auditors. The functions of the Audit Committee
include:
·
|
reviewing
significant financial information including all quarterly reports
and
press releases containing financial information for the purpose of
giving
added assurance that the information is accurate and timely and that
it
includes all appropriate financial statement
disclosures;
|
·
|
ascertaining
the existence of effective accounting and internal control systems;
and
|
·
|
overseeing
the entire audit function including reviewing all reports received
from
the independent auditor.
|
In
fiscal
2007, this committee met six times.
During
fiscal 2007, the full Board of Directors acted as a nominating committee for
the
selection of nominees for election as directors and met one time for this
purpose. The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and
recommending director candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. Final
approval of director nominees is determined by the full Board, based on the
recommendations of the Nominating Committee. The nominees for election at the
Meeting identified in this Proxy Statement were recommended to the Board by
the
newly appointed Nominating Committee.
The
Nominating Committee operates under a formal written charter adopted by the
Board, under which the Nominating Committee has the following
responsibilities:
·
|
recommend
to the Board the appropriate size of the Board, and assist in identifying,
interviewing and recruiting candidates for the
Board;
|
·
|
recommend
candidates (including incumbents) for election and appointment to
the
Board of Directors, subject to the provisions set forth in Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.'s charter and bylaws relating to the nomination
or
appointment of directors, based on the following criteria: business
experience, education, integrity and reputation, independence, conflicts
of interest, diversity, age, number of other directorships and commitments
(including charitable organizations), tenure on the Board, attendance
at
Board and committee meetings, stock ownership, specialized knowledge
(such
as an understanding of banking, accounting, marketing, finance, regulation
and public policy) and a commitment to Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.'s
communities and shared values, as well as overall experience in the
context of the needs of the Board as a
whole;
|
·
|
review
nominations submitted by stockholders, which have been addressed
to
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s Secretary, and which comply with
the
requirements of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s charter and bylaws.
Nominations from stockholders will be considered and evaluated using
the
same criteria as all other
nominations;
|
·
|
annually
recommend to the Board committee assignments and committee chairs
on all
committees of the Board, and recommend committee members to fill
vacancies
on committees as necessary; and
|
·
|
perform
any other duties or responsibilities expressly delegated to the Committee
by the Board. Board Member Attendance at Annual Stockholders
Meetings.
|
Although
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. does not have a formal policy regarding
director attendance at annual stockholder meetings, directors are expected
to
attend these meetings absent extenuating circumstances. Every director of the
company attended last year's annual meeting of stockholders.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
following Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall not
be
deemed to be soliciting material or to be incorporated by reference by any
general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
except to the extent Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. specifically incorporates
this Report therein, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such
Acts.
The
Audit
Committee of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. operates under a written charter
adopted by the full Board of Directors. In fulfilling its oversight
responsibility of reviewing the services performed by Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc.'s independent auditors, the Audit Committee carefully reviews
the
policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent auditors. The
Audit Committee also discussed with Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s
independent auditors the overall scope and plans for the audit. The Audit
Committee met with the independent auditors to discuss the results of its audit,
the evaluation of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s internal controls, and
the
overall quality of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s financial reporting.
The
Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with the independent auditors the
fees paid to the independent auditors; these fees are described under the
caption "Relationship with Independent Auditors " below.
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
also reviewed with the Audit Committee the certifications that each such officer
will file with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of Sections 302 and 906
of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Management also reviewed with the Audit
Committee the policies and procedures it has adopted to ensure the accuracy
of
such certifications.
·
|
The
Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc.'s management Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s fiscal
2007
audited financial statements;
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee has discussed with Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s
independent auditors (Wipfli LLP) the matters required to be discussed
by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 and requirements of the
SEC;
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and letter from
the
independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board No.
1 (which
relates to the auditors' independence from Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc. and its related entities) and has discussed with the auditors
their
independence from Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.;
and
|
·
|
Based
on the review and discussions referred to in the three items above,
the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the fiscal
2007
audited financial statements be included in Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September
30,
2007.
|
David
B. Westrate
Brian
R. Schilling
Richard
McHugh
RELATIONSHIP
WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Audit
Fees
For
the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, Wipfli LLP ("Wipfli") provided various
audit and non-audit services to Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. Set forth
below
are the aggregate fees billed for these services:
|
(a)
|
Audit
Fees: Aggregate
fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.'s annual financial statements and review
of
financial statements included in Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q: 2007 - $91,300; 2006 - $92,500; 2005
-
$64,000.
|
|
(b)
|
Audit
Related Fees:
Aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered related
to
consultation on accounting matters: 2007 - $9,600; 2006 -$12,100;
2005 -
$5,600.
|
|
(c)
|
Tax
Fees: Aggregate fees
billed for professional services rendered related to tax compliance,
tax
advice and tax consultations: 2007 - $25,000; 2006 -$12,900; 2005
-$11,450.
|
|
(d)
|
All
other fees:
Aggregate fees billed for retirement plan accounting and consulting
services and compliance examinations: 2007 - $34,800; 2006 - $24,800;
2005
- $27,050. Second step conversion and reorganization: 2007 - $7,800;
2006
- $70,300; 2005 - $0. Merger with Community Plus Savings Bank: 2007
- $0;
2006 - $0; 2005 - $33,000. Total of all other fees: 2007 -
$42,600; 2006 - $95,100; 2005 - $60,050.
|
The
Audit
Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services to be
provided by the independent auditors and the estimated fees for these services.
None of the services provided by Wipfli LLP described in items (b)-(d) above
were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to a waiver of the preapproval
requirements of the SEC's rules and regulations.
Director
Independence
Each
of
our directors other than Mr. Cooley, President and Chief Executive Officer
of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., qualify as "independent" in accordance with
the published listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market. The Nasdaq
independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that
the
director is not an employee of the company and has not engaged in various types
of business dealings with the company. As further required by the Nasdaq rules,
the Board has made a subjective determination as to each independent director
that no relationships exist which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere
with the exercise of his or her independent judgment in carrying out the
responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, the directors
reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. with regard to each director's business and personal
activities as they may relate to Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and its
management.
Stockholder
Communications with Directors
Stockholders
may communicate directly with the Board of Directors by writing to: Richard
McHugh, Independent Director, 2174 EastRidge Center, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
54701.
PROPOSAL
II
APPROVAL
OF CITIZENS COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
2008
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Purpose
The
purpose of the Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan
("Incentive Plan") is to promote the long-term success of Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. and increase shareholder value by:
·
|
attracting
and retaining key employees and
directors;
|
·
|
encouraging
directors and key employees to focus on long-range objectives;
and
|
·
|
further
linking the interests of directors, officers and employees directly
to the
interests of the shareholders.
|
The
Incentive Plan, if approved by shareholders, will provide Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. with an additional tool to attract, motivate and retain the most
qualified management and other personnel and link the interests of directors,
officers and employees with the interests of shareholders. In
furtherance of these objectives, our Board of Directors has adopted the
Incentive Plan, subject to approval by the shareholders at this
meeting.
The
Incentive Plan will allow Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. to grant or award
stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock
units to directors, advisory directors, officers and other employees of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. or Citizens Community Federal. The Incentive
Plan will become effective as of the date it is approved by the
shareholders.
A
summary
of the Incentive Plan is set forth below. This summary is, however,
qualified by and subject to the more complete information set forth in the
Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached to this document as Appendix
A. We believe the Incentive Plan complies with the requirements of
the Office of Thrift Supervision. The Office of Thrift Supervision
does not endorse or approve the Incentive Plan in any manner.
If
this
plan is approved, and awards are granted under the plan, it may have a dilutive
effect on Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s shareholders and will impact
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s net income and shareholders' equity, although
the actual results cannot be determined until the plan is
implemented.
Administration
of the Incentive Plan
The
Incentive Plan will be administered by a committee of the Board of Directors
of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., consisting of at least two members, each
of
whom must be a "Non-Employee Director" and an "Outside Director," as those
terms
are described in the Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan
Committee"). The Incentive Plan Committee will:
·
|
select
persons to receive stock options, stock appreciation rights and
restricted stock awards from among the eligible
participants;
|
·
|
determine
the types of awards and the number of shares to be awarded to
participants;
|
·
|
set
the terms, conditions and provisions of the stock options or stock
appreciation rights and restricted stock awards consistent with the
terms
of the Incentive Plan; and
|
·
|
establish
rules for the administration of the Incentive
Plan.
|
The
Incentive Plan Committee has the power to interpret the Incentive Plan and
to
make all other determinations necessary or advisable for its
administration.
In
granting awards under the Incentive Plan, the Incentive Plan Committee will
consider, among other factors, the position and years of service of the
individual, the value of the individual's services to Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries and the added responsibilities of these
individuals as employees, directors and officers of a public
company.
Number
of Shares That May Be Awarded
The
aggregate number of shares of common stock of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
reserved and available for issuance under the Incentive Plan is 597,605, which
represents 8.40% of the total outstanding shares. The fair market
value of such shares is approximately $5.1 million, based on the closing price
of the common stock of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. on January 7,
2008. Only shares actually issued to participants or retained or
surrendered to satisfy tax withholding obligations for awards under the
Incentive Plan count against this total number of shares available under the
Incentive Plan. The 597,605 shares of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc. common stock available under the Incentive Plan are subject to adjustment
in the event of certain business reorganizations.
The
Incentive Plan provides for the use of authorized but unissued shares or
treasury shares to fund awards. Treasury shares are previously issued
shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock that are no longer
outstanding as a result of having been repurchased or otherwise reacquired
by
the company. We intend to fund awards under the Incentive Plan with
treasury shares to the extent available. To the extent we use
authorized but unissued shares, rather than treasury shares, to fund awards
under the plan, the awards will have the effect of diluting the holdings of
persons who own our common stock. Assuming all awards under the
Incentive Plan are awarded and exercised through the use of authorized but
unissued common stock, current shareholders would be diluted by approximately
7.75%.
Under
the
Incentive Plan, the Incentive Plan Committee may grant stock options and stock
appreciation rights that, upon exercise, result in the issuance of 426,860
shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock. This amount
represents 6.00% of the amount of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock
currently outstanding. The Incentive Plan also provides that no
person may be granted stock options and stock appreciation rights with respect
to more than 106,715 shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common
stock. Under the Incentive Plan, the Incentive Plan Committee may
grant restricted stock and restricted stock units for an aggregate of 170,745
shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock. This amount
represents 2.40% of the amount of shares outstanding. The Incentive
Plan also provides that no person may be granted restricted stock or restricted
stock units for more than 42,686 shares of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.
Eligibility
to Receive Awards
The
Incentive Plan Committee may grant awards under the Incentive Plan to directors,
advisory directors, officers and employees of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
and its subsidiaries. The Incentive Plan Committee will select
persons to receive awards among the eligible participants and determine the
number of shares for each award granted. There are approximately 169
individuals who currently are eligible to receive awards under the Incentive
Plan.
Terms
and Conditions of Awards Under the Incentive Plan
Stock
Options. The
Incentive Plan Committee may grant stock options to purchase shares of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock at a price that is not less than the fair
market value of
the
common stock on the date the option is granted. The fair market value
is the last sale price as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market.
Stock
options may not be exercised later than 10 years after the grant
date. Subject to the limitations imposed by the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code, certain of the options granted under the Incentive Plan
to officers and employees may be designated as "incentive stock
options." Incentive stock options may not be exercised later than 10
years after the grant date. Options that are not designated and do
not otherwise qualify as incentive stock options are referred to in this
document as "non-qualified stock options."
The
Incentive Plan Committee will determine the time or times at which a stock
option may be exercised in whole or in part and the method or methods by which,
and the forms in which, payment of the exercise price with respect to the stock
option may be made. Unless otherwise determined by the Incentive Plan
Committee or set forth in the written award agreement evidencing the grant
of
the stock option, upon termination of service of the participant for any reason
other than for cause, all stock options then currently exercisable by the
participant shall remain exercisable for one year for terminations due to death
or disability and three months for other terminations, or until the expiration
of the stock option by its terms if sooner.
Stock
options granted and outstanding will require an expense accrual by Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. each quarter based on the anticipated value of the
options. This valuation is based on a number of factors, including
the vesting period for the options, the exercise price and the fair market
value
of the common stock.
Stock
Appreciation
Rights. The Incentive Plan Committee may grant stock
appreciation rights, which give the recipient of the award the right to receive
the excess of the market value of the shares represented by the stock
appreciation rights on the date exercised over the exercise
price. The exercise price may not be less than the fair market value
of the common stock on the date the right is granted. Upon the
exercise of a stock appreciation right, the holder will receive the amount
due
in shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock. Stock
appreciation rights may be related to stock options ("tandem stock appreciation
rights"), in which case the exercise of one award will reduce to that extent
the
number of shares represented by the other award. Stock appreciation
rights may not be exercised later than 10 years after the grant
date.
Unless
otherwise determined by the Incentive Plan Committee or set forth in the written
award agreement evidencing the grant of the stock appreciation right, upon
termination of service of the participant for any reason other than for cause,
all stock appreciation rights then currently exercisable by the participant
shall remain exercisable for one year for terminations due to death or
disability and three months for other terminations, or until the expiration
of
the stock appreciation right by its terms if sooner.
The
Incentive Plan Committee will determine the time or times at which a stock
appreciation right may be exercised in whole or in part; however, except as
described under "Acceleration of Vesting," all rights granted must vest over
at
least five years.
Stock
appreciation rights will require an expense accrual by Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. each year for the appreciation on the stock appreciation rights
that it anticipates will be exercised. The amount of the accrual is
dependent upon whether, and the extent to which, the stock appreciation rights
are granted and the amount, if any, by which the market value of the stock
appreciation rights exceeds the exercise price.
Restricted
Stock
Awards. The Incentive Plan Committee is authorized to grant
restricted stock, which are shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. common
stock subject to forfeiture and limits on transfer until the shares vest, and
restricted stock units, which are rights to receive shares of Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. common stock subject to similar limits as on restricted
stock.
During
the vesting period the recipient of restricted stock will have all the rights
of
a shareholder, including the power to vote and the right to receive dividends
with respect to those shares. No such rights apply to restricted
stock units, until shares are issued for those units. Shares of
restricted stock and restricted stock units generally may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the participant during the
restricted period.
The
Incentive Plan Committee has the right to determine any other terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the Incentive Plan, upon which a restricted
stock award shall be granted.
Acceleration
of Vesting
Upon
a
change in control of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. or upon the termination
of
the award recipients' service due to death or disability, all unvested awards
under the Incentive Plan vest as of the date of that change in control or
termination.
Subject
to compliance with applicable OTS regulations, the Incentive Plan Committee
also
has the authority, in its discretion, to accelerate the time at which any or
all
of the restrictions will lapse with respect to any awards, or to remove any
or
all of such restrictions, whenever it may determine that this action is
appropriate by reason of changes in applicable tax or other laws or other
changes in circumstances occurring after the grant date.
Forfeiture
of Awards
If
the
holder of an unvested award terminates service other than due to death,
disability or a change in control, the unvested award will be forfeited by
the
holder. Upon any termination of service for cause, all stock options
or stock appreciation rights not previously exercised shall be immediately
forfeited by the holder.
Transferability
of Awards
Stock
options, stock appreciation rights and unvested restricted stock awards may
be
transferred upon the death of the holder to whom it was awarded, by will or
the
laws of inheritance. Stock options and stock appreciation rights may
be transferred during the lifetime of the holder to whom it was awarded only
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order.
Amendment
and Termination of the Incentive Plan
The
Incentive Plan shall continue in effect for a term of 10 years, after which
no
further awards may be granted. The board of directors may at any time amend,
suspend or terminate the Incentive Plan or any portion thereof, except to the
extent shareholder approval is necessary or required for purposes of any
applicable federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange
or automated quotation system on which our common stock may then be listed
or
quoted. Shareholder approval will generally be required with respect to an
amendment to the Incentive Plan that will: (i) increase the aggregate
number of securities that may be issued under the plan, except as specifically
set forth under the plan; (ii) materially increase the benefits accruing to
participants under the Incentive Plan; (iii) materially change the requirements
as to eligibility for participation in the Incentive Plan; or (iv) change the
class of persons eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan. No
amendment, suspension or termination of the Incentive Plan, however, will impair
the rights of any participant, without his or her consent, in any award already
granted.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
Under
current federal tax law, non-qualified stock options granted under the Incentive
Plan will not result in any taxable income to the optionee at the time of grant
or any tax deduction to Citizens
Community
Bancorp, Inc. Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the
excess of the market value of the shares acquired over their cost is taxable
to
the optionee as compensation income and is generally deductible by Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. The optionee's tax basis for the shares is
the market value of the shares at the time of exercise.
Neither
the grant nor the exercise of an incentive stock option under the Incentive
Plan
will result in any federal tax consequences to either the optionee or Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc., although the difference between the market price on
the
date of exercise and the exercise price is an item of adjustment included for
purposes of calculating the optionee's alternative minimum
tax. Except as described below, at the time the optionee sells shares
acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option, the excess
of
the sale price over the exercise price will qualify as a long-term capital
gain
if the applicable holding period is satisfied. If the optionee
disposes of the shares within two years of the date of grant or within one
year
of the date of exercise, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the difference
between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and the
exercise price, or (ii) the difference between the exercise price and the sale
price will be taxed as ordinary income and Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
will
be entitled to a deduction in the same amount. The excess, if any, of
the sale price over the sum of the exercise price and the amount taxed as
ordinary income will qualify as long-term capital gain if the applicable holding
period is satisfied. If the optionee exercises an incentive stock
option more than three months after his or her termination of employment, he or
she generally is deemed to have exercised a non-qualified stock
option. The time frame in which to exercise an incentive stock option
is extended in the event of the death or disability of the
optionee.
The
exercise of a stock appreciation right will result in the recognition of
ordinary income by the recipient on the date of exercise in an amount of cash
and/or the fair market value on that date of the shares acquired pursuant to
the
exercise. Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. will be entitled to a
corresponding deduction.
Recipients
of shares granted under the Incentive Plan will recognize ordinary income on
the
date that the shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture,
in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares on that
date. In certain circumstances, a holder may elect to recognize
ordinary income and determine the fair market value on the date of the grant
of
the restricted stock. Recipients of shares granted under the
Incentive Plan will also recognize ordinary income equal to their dividend
or
dividend equivalent payments when these payments are received.
Proposed
Awards Under the Incentive Plan
No
awards
have been proposed by the Board of Directors as of the date of this proxy
statement.
Vote
Required for Approval
Approval
of the Incentive Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
actually cast, in person or by proxy, on the matter at the annual
meeting.
Your
Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" this proposal.
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The
following table sets forth information as of September 30, 2007, with respect
to
compensation plans under which shares of common stock were issued.
Plan
Category
|
Number
of securities to
be
issued upon exercise
of
outstanding options
warrants
and rights
|
Weighted-average
exercise
price of
outstanding
options
warrants
and rights
|
Number
of Securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance under
equity
compensation plans
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
Compensation Plans Approved By Security Holders
|
190,806
|
$7.04
|
89,413
|
Equity
Compensation Plans Not Approved By Security Holders
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
COMPENSATION
OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
We
provide what we believe is a competitive total compensation package to our
executive management team through a combination of base salary and broad-based
benefits programs.
The
Compensation Committee has full responsibility and discretion to evaluate and
compensate our executive officers within the parameters of our compensation
principles and philosophy. It oversees or administers all Company and
Bank compensation plans and reviews Mr. Cooley's performance on an annual
basis. Though the overall responsibility for setting compensation
belongs to the Compensation Committee, Mr. Cooley assists the Committee in
establishing compensation levels and forms for senior level employees, except
himself. Mr. Cooley reviews all the other executive officers and
provides the Compensation Committee with those reviews and compensation
recommendations for all those other executive officers. Only the
Committee establishes Mr. Cooley's compensation.
This
Compensation Discussion and Analysis explains our compensation philosophy,
policies and practices with respect to our chief executive officer, chief
financial officer and the other four most highly-compensated executive officers,
which are collectively referred to as the named executive officers.
The
Objectives of our Executive Compensation Program
Our
executive compensation programs are designed to achieve the following
objectives:
·
|
Attract
and retain talented and experienced executives in the highly competitive
banking industry;
|
·
|
Motivate
and reward executives whose knowledge, skills and performance are
critical
to our success;
|
·
|
Provide
a competitive compensation package which is weighted heavily towards
pay
for performance, and in which total compensation is primarily determined
by company/team and individual results and, since our public offering,
the
creation of shareholder value;
|
·
|
Ensure
fairness among the executive management team by recognizing the
contributions each executive makes to our
success;
|
·
|
Foster
a shared commitment among executives by coordinating their company/team
and individual goals; and
|
·
|
Compensate
our executives to manage our business to meet our long-range
objectives.
|
·
|
Our
Executive Compensation Programs
|
Overall,
our executive compensation programs are designed to be consistent with the
objectives and principles set forth above. The basic elements of our executive
compensation programs are summarized in the table below, followed by a more
detailed discussion of each compensation program.
Element
|
|
Characteristics
|
|
Purpose
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base
Salary
|
|
Fixed
annual cash compensation; all executives are eligible for periodic
increases in base salary based on performance; targeted at market
pay
levels.
|
|
Keep
our annual compensation competitive with the market for skills and
experience necessary to meet the requirements of the executive's
role with
us.
|
Annual
cash incentive
|
|
Presently,
Citizens does not provide performance incentives for
executives.
|
|
|
Retirement
benefits
|
|
Tax-deferred
401(k) plan in which all employees can choose to defer compensation
for
retirement. We provide a matching contribution to eligible employees
and
employees can vest in Citizens Bank's contributions with each year
of
service with full vesting after 5 years of service. We do not allow
employees to invest these savings in company stock.
|
|
Provide
employees the opportunity to save for their retirement. Account balances
are affected by contributions. Employees may direct the investment
of
their entire account balance, including employer contributions. The
401(k)
Plan is described in more detail on page 22 of this proxy
statement.
|
|
|
In
March 2004, an ESOP feature was added to Citizens Community Federal.
Shares of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. stock are allocated
to all eligible employees with full vesting after 5 years of
service.
|
|
To
reward employees for the success of Citizens Community Federal and
to
create ownership among the employee population, aiding in recruitment
and
retention of employees. The ESOP is described in more detail on pages
22
and 23 of this proxy statement.
|
|
|
The
Deferred Compensation Plan is a nonqualified voluntary deferral program
that allows the named executive officers to defer a portion of their
annual compensation. Deferred amounts and earnings are
unfunded.
|
|
Provides
a tax-deferred retirement savings alternative. The Deferred Compensation
Plan is described in more detail on page 21 of this proxy
statement.
|
|
|
The
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) is an unfunded,
non-contributory program. The SERP applies only to certain key
employees.
|
|
The
SERP supplements the total retirement benefits for certain key employees.
The SERP is described in more detail on pages 22 and 25 of this proxy
statement.
|
Health
& welfare benefits
|
|
Fixed
component. The same/comparable health and welfare benefits (medical,
dental, vision, disability insurance and life insurance) are available
for
all full-time employees.
|
|
Provides
benefits to meet the health and welfare needs of employees and their
families
|
|
|
Continuation
of health and welfare benefits may occur as part of severance upon
certain
terminations of employment.
|
|
|
Change
in Control and Termination Benefits
|
|
We
have an employment agreement with the CEO and certain officers, including
our named executive officers. The employment agreements provide for
certain payments over a two to three year period in the event of
a
termination other than for cause, death or disability.
|
|
The
employment agreements are designed to retain executives and provide
continuity of management in the event of an actual or threatened
change in
control. The employment agreements are described in more detail on
pages
21 and 22 of this proxy statement.
|
We
consider market pay practices and practices of peer companies in determining
the
amounts to be paid. Compensation opportunities for our executive officers,
including our named executive officers, are designed to be competitive with
peer
companies.
Determination
of Appropriate Pay Levels
Pay
Philosophy and Competitive Standing
We
strive
to provide a total compensation package that is competitive with total
compensation provided by industry peer groups in order to attract and retain
executives with the ability and the experience necessary to lead us and deliver
strong performance to Citizens Community Federal.
We
target
base salaries to be within a range established for each position according
to
demand for the position in the marketplace, needs of our organization,
experience and relationship to competitive market data surveys. We
believe our executive compensation packages are reasonable when considering
our
business strategy, our compensation philosophy and the competitive market pay
data.
With
the
assistance of the American Community Banker's Salary survey, we collected and
analyzed competitive market data. We compare compensation paid to our
named executive officers with compensation paid to executive officers in
comparable positions at similar companies (or "Comparison Group"). The
Comparison Group includes companies from the banking and financial services
industry in which we compete, particularly financial institutions and financial
institution holding companies of similar size to Citizens Community Federal.
This information is used to determine our competitive position among similar
companies in the marketplace, and to assist us in setting our targeted pay
at
the desired range relative to our peers. All of our named
executive officers' base salaries fall within the American Community Banker's
compensation guidelines.
2007
Base Salary
Our
base
salary levels reflect a combination of factors, including competitive pay levels
relative to peer groups discussed above, the executive's experience and tenure,
our overall annual budget, the executive's individual performance, and changes
in responsibility. We review salary levels annually to recognize these factors.
We do not target base salary at any particular percent of total
compensation.
As
noted
above, our compensation philosophy targets base salaries that are consistent
with the market for comparable positions. The base salaries of our named
executive officers compared to competitive benchmarking reflect our philosophy.
Base salary increases are consistent with marketplace data and practice. Base
pay increases granted to Ms. Johnson, Mr. Cruciani and Mr. Cooley for 2007
ranged from 3.0% to 9.0% and were established after considering job performance,
internal pay alignment, and marketplace competitiveness.
Factors
Considered in Decisions to Increase or Decrease Compensation
Materially
In
determining whether to increase or decrease compensation to our executive
officers, including our named executive officers, annually we take into account
the changes (if any) in the market pay levels based on our survey information,
the contributions made by the executive officer, the performance of the
executive officer, the increases or decreases in responsibilities and role
of
the executive officer. In addition, we consider the executive officers' current
base salary in relation to the roles and responsibilities of their positions
compared to market as identified through market data.
Impact
of Accounting and Tax Treatments of Compensation
The
accounting and tax treatment of compensation generally has not been a factor
in
determining the amounts of compensation for our executive officers. However,
the
Compensation Committee and management have considered the accounting and tax
impact of various program designs to balance the potential cost of the Company
with the benefit value to the executive.
With
regard to Code Section 162(m), it is the Compensation Committee's intent to
maximize deductibility of executive compensation while retaining some discretion
needed to compensate executives in a manner commensurate with performance and
the competitive landscape for executive talent. The
2008
Equity Incentive Plan is being submitted for approval by shareholders in this
proxy statement, and permits the award of stock options, SARs and other equity
awards that are fully deductible under Code Section 162(m).
With
the
adoption of FAS 123R, we do not expect accounting treatment of differing forms
of equity awards to vary significantly and, therefore, accounting treatment
is
not expected to have a material effect on the selection of forms of equity
compensation in the future.
Role
of Executive Officers in Determining Compensation
The
compensation committee meets outside the presence of all our executive officers,
including the named executive officers, to consider appropriate compensation
for
our chief executive officer. For all other named executive officers, the
committee meets outside the presence of all executive officers, except our
chief
executive officer. Mr. Cooley, our chief executive officer, or CEO, annually
reviews each other named executive officer's performance with the committee
and
makes recommendations to the compensation committee with respect to the
appropriate base salary. Based in part on these recommendations from our CEO
and
other considerations already discussed, the compensation committee approves
the
annual compensation package of our executive officers other than our CEO. The
compensation committee also annually analyzes our CEO's performance and
determines his base salary on its assessment of his performance along with
guidance from the American Community Banker's Salary survey. The annual
performance review discussion of our executive officers held with the CEO are
considered by the compensation committee when making decisions on setting base
salaries.
2007
Summary Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned in
2007 by: (i) our principal executive officer and principal financial officer;
and (ii) the four other most highly compensated executive officers whose salary
and bonus during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, exceeded
$100,000. We will use the term "named executive officers" in this
proxy statement to refer to the officers listed in the table. There
were no bonuses paid to the named executive officers during the fiscal
year.
Name
and Principal
Position
|
Fiscal
Year
|
Salary
|
Change
in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(1)
|
All
Other
Compen-
sation(2)
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
G. Cooley (3)
President
and
Chief
Executive Officer
|
2007
|
$241,725
|
$97,545
|
$32,217
|
$371,487
|
John
Zettler (4)
Chief
Financial Officer
|
2007
|
115,009
|
8,120
|
15,010
|
141,584
|
Timothy
Cruciani (5)
Executive
Vice President
|
2007
|
116,417
|
9,704
|
15,881
|
142,002
|
Rebecca
Johnson (6)
Senior
Vice President MIC
and
Accounting
|
2007
|
98,132
|
6,060
|
12,942
|
117,134
|
Johnny
W. Thompson (7)
Chief
Administrative Officer
|
2007
|
121,220
|
16,668
|
13,413
|
151,301
|
Brian
P. Ashley (8)
Senior
Vice President
|
2007
|
173,466
|
28,716
|
14,313
|
187,779
|
______________
1.
|
Amount
reported reflects the aggregate change from fiscal 2006 to fiscal
2007 in
the actuarial present value of the named executive officer’s accumulated
benefit under the Bank’s supplemental executive retirement
plan.
|
2.
|
The
Bank's contributions under its 401(k) plan, term life insurance premiums
paid by the Bank on behalf of the officers, ESOP allocations and
dividends
on unvested restricted stock. This amount does not include
personal benefits or perquisites, because none of the named executive
officers received more than $10,000 worth of such benefits in the
aggregate.
|
3.
|
The
amount includes $7,278 in contributions by the Bank under its 401(k)
plan,
$926 in term life insurance premiums paid by the Bank on behalf of
Mr.
Cooley, $20,077 in ESOP allocations and $3,935 in dividends on unvested
restricted stock.
|
4.
|
The
amount includes $3,450 in contributions by the Bank under its 401(k)
plan,
$442 in term life insurance premiums paid by the Bank on behalf of
Mr.
Zettler, $10,488 in ESOP allocations and $630 in dividends on unvested
restricted stock.
|
5.
|
The
amount includes $3,493 in contributions by the Bank under its 401(k)
plan,
$446 in term life insurance premiums paid by the Bank on behalf of
Mr.
Cruciani, $10,219 in ESOP allocations and $1,724 in dividends
on unvested restricted stock.
|
6.
|
The
amount includes $2,944 in contributions by the Bank under its 401(k)
plan,
$377 in term life insurance premiums paid by the Bank on behalf of
Ms.
Johnson, $8,855 in ESOP allocations and $766 in dividends on
unvested restricted stock.
|
7.
|
The
amount includes $1,260 in contributions by the Bank under its 401(k)
plan,
$194 in term life insurance premiums paid by the Bank on behalf of
Mr.
Thompson, $11,430 in ESOP allocations and $529 in dividends on unvested
restricted stock. On December 22, 2006, Mr. Thompson signed a
Transition Employment Agreement and Release in which he agreed that
his
employment with the Bank would terminate on February 5,
2007. The amounts shown in the table reflect his payout under
the Agreement.
|
8.
|
The
amount includes $1,005 in contributions by the Bank under its 401(k)
plan,
$186 in term life insurance premiums paid by the Bank on behalf of
Mr.
Ashley and $13,122 in ESOP allocations. On December 18, 2006,
Mr. Ashley entered into a Separation Agreement with the Bank, under
which
his position with the Bank was terminated on January 1,
2007. In connection with his termination, Mr. Ashley received
the amounts shown in the table.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at September 30, 2007
The
following table sets forth for each named executive officer information
concerning stock options, restricted stock and other equity incentive plan
awards that have not vested or been earned at September 30, 2007.
|
|
Options
Awards
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Number
of
Shares
or
Units of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
|
|
Market
Value
of
Shares
or
Units
of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested(1)
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
G. Cooley
|
|
|
42,717
|
|
|
28,478
|
|
|
7.04
|
|
|
2/14/15
|
|
|
11,392
|
|
|
$107,654
|
John
Zettler
|
|
|
6,835
|
|
|
4,557
|
|
|
7.04
|
|
|
2/14/15
|
|
|
2,733
|
|
|
25,827
|
Timothy
Cruciani
|
|
|
15,375
|
|
|
10,250
|
|
|
7.04
|
|
|
2/14/15
|
|
|
6,151
|
|
|
58,126
|
Rebecca
Johnson
|
|
|
6,835
|
|
|
4,557
|
|
|
7.04
|
|
|
2/14/15
|
|
|
2,733
|
|
|
25,827
|
Johnny
W. Thompson
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
Brian
P. Ashley
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
___________________
1.
|
Value
is based on the $9.45 closing price of a share of the Company’s stock on
September 30, 2007.
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested in 2007
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the exercise
of
stock options and vesting of restricted stock for each named executive officer
during the year ended September 30, 2007.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise
|
|
Value
Realized
on
Exercise(1)
|
|
Number
of
Shares
Acquired
on
Vesting
|
|
Value
Realized
on
Vesting(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
G. Cooley
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
$ ---
|
|
|
5,695
|
|
|
$54,843
|
John
Zettler
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
911
|
|
|
8,773
|
Timothy
Cruciani
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
2,050
|
|
|
19,742
|
Rebecca
Johnson
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
911
|
|
|
8,773
|
Johnny
W. Thompson
|
|
|
4,556
|
|
|
10,297
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
Brian
P. Ashley
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
---
|
_____________
1.
|
Value
realized on exercise represents the excess of the fair market value
of the
shares acquired at exercise over the exercise price of the
option.
|
2.
|
Value
realized on vesting represents the fair market value of the shares
on
vesting date.
|
Non-qualified
Deferred Compensation
Deferred
Compensation Plan. As a result of the Bank's acquisition of
Community Plus Savings Bank, the Bank maintains a deferred compensation plan
that allows selected management and highly compensated employees to defer a
portion of their current base salary into the plan until his or her termination
of service, disability or a change in control. There is no limit
regarding how much of a participants’ compensation may be
deferred. The plan earns money by adding 2% to cost of funds at the
end of the calendar year. Currently, Mr. Ashley is the only
participant in the plan.
Name
|
Name
of Plan
|
Executive
Contributions
in
2007
|
Company
Contributions
in
2007
|
Aggregate
Earnings
in
2007
|
Aggregate
Balance at 9/30/2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
G. Cooley
|
Deferred
Compensation
|
$ ---
|
$ ---
|
$ ---
|
$ ---
|
John
Zettler
|
Deferred
Compensation
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
Timothy
Cruciani
|
Deferred
Compensation
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
Rebecca
Johnson
|
Deferred
Compensation
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
Johnny
W. Thompson
|
Deferred
Compensation
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
Brian
P. Ashley
|
Deferred
Compensation
|
9,924
|
---
|
12,336
|
242,930
|
Potential
Termination and Change in Control Payments
In
addition to the payments and
benefits provided to the named executive officers upon their regular retirement,
disability or death or upon the termination of their employment by the
Bank
for cause or by the officer voluntarily, which are described in this proxy
statement, the named executive officers are entitled to additional benefits
or
accelerated vesting under our compensation plans upon a termination by the
Bank
without cause, a constructive termination, or a termination in connection with
a
change in control by the Company or the Bank.
Employment
Agreements with Named Executives. Citizens Community Federal
currently has rolling three-year employment agreements with Mr. Cooley, Mr.
Zettler, Mr. Cruciani, and Ms. Johnson. Under these employment
agreements, the salary levels for fiscal 2007 were $241,725, $115,009, $116,417
and $98,132, respectively. The agreements also provide for equitable
participation by officers in Citizens Community Federal's employee benefit
plans.
The
agreements may be terminated by Citizens Community Federal at any time or by
the
executive if he or she is assigned duties inconsistent with their title, duties,
responsibilities and status. In
the
event
that the officer's employment is terminated without cause or constructively
terminated, Citizen Community Federal would be required to honor the terms
of
the agreement through the expiration of the contract, including payment of
the
then-current cash compensation.
The
employment agreements include an agreement not to compete with Citizens
Community Federal with regard to the delivery of financial services for a period
of 12 months following termination of employment. The value of compensation
and
benefits payable under the agreements is capped so as to prevent imposition
of
the golden parachute sanctions under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code.
Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan. Our Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan ("SERP"), which provides benefits to our directors, also
provides benefits to certain key employees selected by the Compensation
Committee upon retirement. This plan is an unfunded, non-contributory
defined benefit under which we will pay supplemental pension benefits to certain
key employees upon retirement. Benefits are based on a formula that
includes participants’ past and future earnings and years of
service. All executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table are
participants in this plan. For a detailed description of the SERP,
see the description on page 25 under "Non-Employee Director
Compensation."
401(k)
Plan. We offer our employees a 401(k) plan, which is a
qualified, tax-exempt savings plan with a cash or deferred feature qualifying
under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. All employees who
have attained age 21 and completed twelve months of continuous employment,
during which they worked at least 1,000 hours, are eligible to
participate.
Participants
are permitted to make salary reduction contributions to the 401(k) Plan of
up to
100% of their salary, up to a maximum of $15,000 ($20,000 for employees over
50
years of age). We match each contribution in an amount equal to 150%
of the participant’s 401 (k) deferrals for the year up to 3% of their
salary. All contributions made by participants are before-tax
contributions. All participant contributions and earnings are fully
and immediately vested. All matching contributions are vested at a
rate of 20% per year after a two year period over a five-year period commencing
after one year of employment with us. However, in the
event of retirement at age 65 or older, permanent disability or death, a
participant will automatically become 100% vested in the value of all matching
contributions and earnings thereon, regardless of the number of years of
employment.
Participants
may invest amounts contributed to their 401(k) plan accounts in one or more
investment options available under the 401(k) plan. Changes in
investment directions among the funds are permitted on a periodic basis pursuant
to procedures established by the plan administrator. Each participant receives
a
quarterly statement that provides information regarding, among other things,
the
market value of all investments and contributions made to the 401(k) plan on
the
participant’s behalf. All named executive officers in the Summary
Compensation Table received 3% contributions during our last fiscal
year.
Employee
Stock
Ownership Plan. Citizens Community Federal established an
employee stock ownership plan in 2004 for employees of Citizens Community
Federal. The plan was continued during the second step conversion
process in October of 2006 and now owns over 8% of the shares of common stock
of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
The
employee stock ownership plan borrowed funds from the CCBI to purchase shares
of
common stock of this entity. The interest rate payable on these loans
is fixed at the prime rate of interest at the time the loans were made, and
that
stock purchases with loan proceeds serves as collateral for this
loan. Shares purchased by the employee stock ownership plan with the
proceeds of the loan are held in a suspense account. As Citizens
Community Federal repays those loans over a ten-year period, shares are released
to participants' accounts.
In
any
plan year, we may make additional discretionary contributions for the benefit
of
plan participants in either cash or shares of common stock, which may be
acquired through the purchase of outstanding shares in the market or from
individual stockholders, upon the original issuance of additional shares by
us
or upon the sale of our treasury shares. These purchases, if made,
would be funded through additional borrowings by the employee stock ownership
plan or additional contributions by Citizens Community Federal. The
timing, amount and manner of future contributions to the employee stock
ownership plan will be affected by various factors, including prevailing
regulatory policies, the requirements of applicable laws and regulations and
market conditions.
Shares
released from the employee stock ownership plan are allocated to each eligible
participant's employee stock ownership plan account based on the ratio of each
such participant's compensation to the total compensation of all eligible
employee stock ownership plan participants. Forfeitures are
reallocated among remaining participating employees and may reduce any amount
we
might otherwise have contributed to the employee stock ownership
plan. The account balances of participants within the employee
stock ownership plan become 100% vested after five years of
service. Credit for eligibility and vesting is given for years of
service prior to adoption of the employee stock ownership plan. In
the case of a "change in control," as defined in the employee stock ownership
plan, which triggers a termination of the employee stock ownership plan,
participants will become immediately fully vested in their account
balances. Benefits are payable upon retirement or other separation
from service. Our contributions to the employee stock ownership plan
are not fixed, so benefits payable under the employee stock ownership plan
cannot be estimated.
First
Bankers Trust Company of Quincy, Illinois, serves as trustee of the employee
stock ownership plan. Under the employee stock ownership plan, the
trustee must vote all allocated shares held in the employee stock ownership
plan
in accordance with the instructions of the participating employees, and
unallocated shares are voted in the same ratio on any matter as those allocated
shares for which instructions are given.
GAAP
requires that any third party borrowing by the employee stock ownership plan
be
reflected as a liability on Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s balance
sheet. Since the employee stock ownership plan borrows from Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc., such obligations are not treated as a liability, but
are excluded from stockholders' equity until repaid. If the employee
stock ownership plan purchases newly issued shares, total stockholders' equity
would neither increase nor decrease, but per share stockholders' equity and
per
share net earnings would decrease as the newly issued shares are allocated
to
the employee stock ownership plan participants.
The
employee stock ownership plan is subject to the requirements of ERISA and the
regulations of the IRS and the Department of Labor thereunder. The
IRS has provided a favorable determination that the employee stock ownership
plan is a tax-qualified plan.
Other
Stock
Benefit Plans. On February 4, 2005, our executive officers
were awarded options to purchase shares of common stock of Citizens Community
Bancorp under Citizens Community Bancorp's 2004 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan,
at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the
date of grant. These options are exercisable at a rate of 20%
annually during continued service as an employee. Upon disability,
death, or a change in control, these awards become 100%
exercisable. On that same date, our executive officers were awarded
restricted stock under the 2004 Recognition and Retention Plan. The
restricted stock vests at a rate of 20% annually during continued service as
an
employee. Upon death, disability or a change in control, these awards
become 100% exercisable. We have adopted, subject to shareholder
approval, an equity incentive plan for the benefit of selected directors,
officers and employees. See "Proposal II - Approval of the Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan" in this proxy statement for a detailed
description of the plan.
The
following table summarizes the additional or accelerated payments, benefits
or
vesting for named executive officers in the event of that person’s termination
by the Bank without cause, a constructive termination or a termination in
connection with a change in control of the Company or the Bank, assuming it
had
occurred on September 30, 2007.
Name
|
|
Name
of Compensation
Component
or Plan
|
|
Termination
Without
Cause or
Constructive
Termination(3)
|
|
Change
in
Control
With
No
Termination
|
|
Termination
in Connection With or Following a
Change
in Control
|
|
James
G. Cooley
|
|
Employment
Agreement
|
(1)
|
$241,725
|
|
---
|
|
$ 241,725
|
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
164,591
|
|
---
|
|
1,555,336
|
|
|
|
Restricted
stock plan
|
(2)
|
107,654
|
|
---
|
|
107,654
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Zettler
|
|
Employment
Agreement
|
(1)
|
$115,009
|
|
---
|
|
$ 115,009
|
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
26,001
|
|
---
|
|
189,472
|
|
|
|
Restricted
stock plan
|
(2)
|
25,827
|
|
---
|
|
25,827
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Timothy
Cruciani
|
|
Employment
Agreement
|
(1)
|
$116,417
|
|
---
|
|
$ 116,417
|
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
23,337
|
|
---
|
|
170,059
|
|
|
|
Restricted
stock plan
|
(2)
|
58,126
|
|
---
|
|
58,126
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rebecca
Johnson
|
|
Employment
Agreement
|
(1)
|
$ 98,132
|
|
---
|
|
$ 98,132
|
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
19,804
|
|
---
|
|
144,314
|
|
|
|
Restricted
stock plan
|
(2)
|
25,827
|
|
---
|
|
25,827
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Johnny
Thompson
|
|
Employment
Agreement
|
(1)
|
$ ---
|
|
---
|
|
$ ---
|
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
Restricted
stock plan
|
(2)
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian
Ashley
|
|
Employment
Agreement
|
(1)
|
$ ---
|
|
---
|
|
$ ---
|
|
|
|
SERP
|
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
Restricted
stock plan
|
(2)
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
---
|
|
_____________________
1.
|
Presumes
that the employment agreement has a full three-year term on September
30,
2007 termination date and that the payout is based on the 2007
compensation levels. The executive will be entitled to receive
the amount shown annually for the term of the
agreement.
|
2.
|
Amount
represents the value of the executive’s unvested shares of restricted
stock based on the $9.45 closing price of a share of the Company’s stock
on September 30, 2007.
|
3.
|
Amount
under SERP represents annual payment for a period of 15 years for
Mr.
Cooley and 10 years for Messrs. Zettler and Cruciani and Ms.
Johnson.
|
COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS
Non-Employee
Director Compensation
The
following table provides compensation information for each member of our board
of directors during the year ended September 30, 2007 (except for Mr. Cooley,
whose compensation is reported as a named executive officer). No
stock options were awarded to directors during 2007.
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned
or
Paid
in
Cash
|
|
Change
in
Pension
Value
and
Non Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
|
|
All
Other
Compensation(1)
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
McHugh
|
|
|
$18,000
|
|
|
$7,076
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
$25,076
|
|
Thomas
C. Kempen
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
(638)
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
7,362
|
|
Brian
R. Schilling
|
|
|
7,333
|
|
|
1,688
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
9,021
|
|
Donna
E. Talmage
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
(638)
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
7,362
|
|
David
B. Westrate
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
4,419
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
2,419
|
|
_____________
1.
|
No
director received personal benefits or perquisites exceeding $10,000
in
the aggregate. The earnings on each director’s deferred compensation
account, excluding the above-market earnings reported in the preceding
column, are reported in the footnotes below.
|
Each
director, except the Chairman, receives a fee of $666.66 per month for services
on the boards of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc, and Citizens Community
Federal. The Chairman is paid $1,500 per month for board and board
committee service. Total fees paid to directors of CCBI and Citizens
Community Federal during fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 were
$49,333.
Citizens
Community Federal maintains a Supplemental Executive and Director's Retirement
Plan, which is an unfunded, non-contributory defined benefit plan providing
for
supplemental pension benefits for certain key employees and
directors. Benefits are based on a formula that includes
participants' past and future earnings and years of service with Citizens
Community Federal. This retirement plan is administered by the
Compensation Committee, which selects participants in the
plan. Director McHugh is credited with one month of service under the
plan for each month served since August 1, 2002. The remaining
directors are credited with one month of service under the plan for every two
months of service since August 1, 2002. The benefits under the plan
are monthly payments for the lesser of 120 months or actual months of service
under the plan, rounded up to the next full quarter end. All of the
non-employee directors are participants in the plan. Director McHugh
has quarterly benefits of $4,500 per quarter, and the remaining non-officer
directors have quarterly benefits of $2,000 per quarter. Unless a vesting
schedule is included in a participant's plan agreement, each participating
director is fully vested in the benefits under the plan upon executing the
plan
agreement. The benefits under the plan are unfunded and unsecured and
are merely promised by Citizens Community Federal. We are under no
obligation to fund the plan in advance; however, if we chose to do so, such
funded amounts would be automatically expensed at the time of
funding. We accrue for the new liability based on a present valuation
calculation. Benefits are expensed on a straight line basis over the
remaining months until eligible retirement.
Business
Relationships and Transactions with Executive Officers, Directors and Related
Persons
The
Company and the Bank may engage in a transaction or series of transactions
with
our directors, executive officers and certain persons related to
them. Except for loans by the Bank, which are governed by a separate
policy, these transactions that qualify as “related party” transactions under
applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are subject
to
the review and approval of the Audit/Compliance Committee and ratification
by
the Board of Directors. All other transactions with executive
officers, directors and related persons are approved by the Board of
Directors. There were
no
transactions or series of transactions of this nature during 2007, the amount
of
which exceeded $120,000.
The
Bank
has a written policy of granting loans to officers and directors, which fully
complies with all applicable federal regulations. Loans to directors
and executive officers are made in the ordinary course of business and on
substantially the same terms and conditions, including interest rates and
collateral, as those of comparable transactions with non-insiders prevailing
at
the time, in accordance with the Bank’s underwriting guidelines, and do not
involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable
features. These loans to directors and executive officers are not
made at preferential rates. No director, executive officer or any of
their affiliates had aggregate indebtedness to the Bank at below market interest
rate loans exceeding $120,000 in the aggregate at September 30,
2007. Loans to all directors and executive officers and their
associates totaled approximately $26,589 at September 30, 2007, which was
approximately 0.03% of the Company’s consolidated stockholders’ equity at that
date. All loans to directors and executive officers were performing
in accordance with their terms at September 30, 2007.
REPORT
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The
Compensation Committee has submitted the following report for inclusion in
this
proxy statement:
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis, or CD&A, contained in this proxy statement with management.
Based on the Compensation Committee's review of and discussion with management
with respect to the CD&A, the Compensation Committee recommended to the
Board of Directors of the Company that the CD&A be included in this proxy
statement and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2007 for filing with the SEC.
The
foregoing report is provided by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors:
Richard
McHugh
David
Westrate
PROPOSAL
III
RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT
OF
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The
Audit
Committee has appointed Wipfli LLP as the independent public accounting firm
to
audit Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s financial statements for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2007. In making its determination to appoint Wipfli
LLP as Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s independent auditors for the 2008
fiscal year, the Audit Committee considered whether the providing of services
(and the aggregate fees billed for those services) by Wipfli LLP, other than
audit services, is compatible with maintaining the independence of the outside
accountants. Our shareholders are asked to ratify this appointment at the annual
meeting. If the appointment of Wipfli LLP is not ratified by the shareholders,
the Audit Committee may appoint other independent auditors or may decide to
maintain its appointment of Wipfli LLP.
A
representative of Wipfli LLP is expected to attend the meeting to respond to
appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he
or
she so desires.
The
Board
of Directors of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. unanimously recommends that
you
vote "FOR" the
ratification of the appointment of Wipfli LLP as independent auditors for
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2008.
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.'s annual report to shareholders, including financial
statements, has been mailed to all shareholders of record as of the close of
business on the record date. Any shareholder who has not received a copy of
the
annual report may obtain a copy by writing to the Secretary of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. The annual report is not to be treated as part of the
proxy solicitation material or as having been incorporated herein by
reference.
In
addition, a copy of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s annual report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, is available to each record
and beneficial owner of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s common stock without
charge upon written request to the Corporate Secretary, Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc. 2174 EastRidge Center, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
In
order
to be eligible for inclusion in Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s proxy
materials for next year's annual meeting of shareholders, any shareholder
proposal to take action at such meeting must be received at Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc.'s main office at 2174 EastRidge Center, Eau Claire, Wisconsin,
no
later than September 17, 2008. Any such proposals
shall
be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as with any shareholder proposal
(regardless of whether included in Citizen Community Bancorp's proxy materials),
Citizen Community Bancorp's Charter and Bylaws.
To
be
considered for presentation at next year's annual meeting, although not included
in the proxy materials for that meeting, any shareholder proposal must be
received at Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s executive office at least five
days prior to next year's annual meeting.
ANNUAL
REPORTS
A
copy of
the Form 10-K as filed with the SEC will be furnished without charge upon
written request to John D. Zettler, Chief Financial Officer, Citizens Community
Bancorp, Inc., 2174 EastRidge Center, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701.
OTHER
MATTERS
We
are
not aware of any business to come before the annual meeting other than those
matters described in this proxy statement. However, if any other matter should
properly come before the meeting, it is intended that holders of the proxies
will act in accordance with their best judgment.
APPENDIX
A
CITIZENS
COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
2008
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I
PURPOSE 1
Section
1.1 General
Purpose of the
Plan.
1
ARTICLE
II
DEFINITIONS 1
ARTICLE
III AVAILABLE
SHARES 4
Section
3.1 Shares
Available Under the
Plan. 4
Section
3.2 Shares
Available for Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights. 4
Section
3.3 Shares
Available for Restricted Stock
Awards. 4
Section
3.4 Computation of
Shares
Issued. 4
ARTICLE
IV
ADMINISTRATION 4
Section
4.1 Committee. 4
Section
4.2 Committee
Powers. 4
ARTICLE
V
STOCK
OPTIONS 5
Section
5.1 Grant of
Options. 5
Section
5.2 Size of
Option.
5
Section
5.3 Exercise
Price.
5
Section
5.4 Exercise
Period. 5
Section
5.5 Vesting
Date.
6
Section
5.6 Additional
Restrictions on Incentive Stock
Options. 6
Section
5.7 Method of
Exercise.
6
Section
5.8 Limitations
on
Options.
7
Section
5.9 Prohibition
Against Option
Repricing. 8
ARTICLE
VI STOCK APPRECIATION
RIGHTS 8
Section
6.1 Grant of Stock
Appreciation
Rights. 8
Section
6.2 Size of Stock
Appreciation
Right. 8
Section
6.3 Exercise
Price. 8
Section
6.4 Exercise
Period.
9
Section
6.5 Vesting
Date.
9
Section
6.6 Method of
Exercise.
9
Section
6.7 Limitations on Stock
Appreciation
Rights. 10
Section
6.8 Prohibition Against Stock
Appreciation Right
Repricing. 10
ARTICLE
VII RESTRICTED STOCK
AWARDS
10
Section
7.1 In
General.
10
Section
7.2 Vesting
Date.
11
Section
7.3 Dividend
Rights.
12
Section
7.4 Voting
Rights.
12
Section
7.5 Designation of
Beneficiary.
12
Section
7.6 Manner of Distribution
of
Awards. 12
ARTICLE
VIII SPECIAL TAX
PROVISION
12
Section
8.1 Tax Withholding
Rights.
12
ARTICLE
IX AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION
12
Section
9.1 Termination
12
Section
9.2 Amendment.
13
Section
9.3 Adjustments in the Event of
Business
Reorganization. 13
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
13
Section
10.1 Status as an Employee Benefit
Plan. 13
Section
10.2 No Right to Continued
Employment. 13
Section
10.3 Construction of
Language.
13
Section
10.4 Governing
Law.
14
Section
10.5 Headings.
14
Section
10.6 Non-Alienation of
Benefits.
14
Section
10.7 Notices. 14
Section
10.8 Approval of
Shareholders.
14
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.
2008
Equity Incentive Plan
ARTICLE
I
PURPOSE
Section
1.1
General Purpose of the Plan.
The
purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., to provide directors, advisory directors,
officers and employees of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and its affiliates
with an incentive to achieve corporate objectives, to attract and retain
individuals of outstanding competence and to provide such individuals with
an
equity interest in Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.
ARTICLE
II
DEFINITIONS
The
following definitions shall apply for the purposes of this Plan, unless a
different meaning is plainly indicated by the context:
Affiliate
means any "parent
corporation" or "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as those terms are
defined in Section 424(e) and (f) respectively, of the Code.
Award
means the grant by the
Committee of an Incentive Stock Option, a Non-Qualified Stock Option, a Stock
Appreciation Right, a Restricted Stock Award or any other benefit under this
Plan.
Award
Agreement means a
written instrument evidencing an Award under the Plan and establishing the
terms
and conditions thereof.
Beneficiary
means the Person
designated by a Participant to receive any Shares subject to a Restricted Stock
Award made to such Participant that become distributable, or to have the right
to exercise any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted to such Participant
that are exercisable, following the Participant's death.
Board
means the Board of
Directors of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and any successor
thereto.
Change
in Control means any of
the following events:
any
third
person, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, becomes the beneficial owner of shares of the Company
with
respect to which 25% or more of the total number of votes for the election
of
the Board may be cast;
as
a
result of, or in connection with, any cash tender offer, merger or other
business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or combination
of
the foregoing, the persons who were directors of the Company shall cease to
constitute a majority of the Board;
the
stockholders of the Company approve an agreement providing either for a
transaction in which the Company will cease to be an independent publicly owned
corporation or for a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
the
assets of the Company; or
a
tender
offer or exchange offer for 25% or more of the total outstanding Shares of
the
Company is commenced (other than such an offer by the Company).
Code
means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Committee
means the Committee
described in Article IV.
Company
means Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc., a Federal corporation, and any successor
thereto.
Disability
means a condition
of incapacity of a Participant which renders that person unable to engage in
the
performance of his or her duties by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment which
can
be
expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last
for a
continuous period of not less than twelve (12)
months. Notwithstanding the above, the term Disability in connection
with Incentive Stock Options shall have the meaning specified in Section
22(e)(3) of the Code.
Effective
Date means the date
on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.
Exchange
Act means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exercise
Period means the
period during which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be
exercised.
Exercise
Price means the price
per Share at which Shares subject to an Option may be purchased upon exercise
of
the Option and on the basis of which the Shares due upon exercise of a Stock
Appreciation Right is computed.
Fair
Market Value means, with
respect to a Share on a specified date:
If
the
Shares are listed on any established stock exchange, the closing sales price
for
such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the
Composite Tape or other comparable reporting system for the exchange on the
applicable date, or if the applicable date is not a trading day, on the trading
day immediately preceding the applicable date;
If
the
Shares are not traded on a national securities exchange but are traded on the
over-the-counter market, if sales prices are not regularly reported for the
Shares for the trading day referred to in clause (a), and if bid and asked
prices for the Shares are regularly reported, the mean between the bid and
the
asked price for the Shares at the close of trading in the over-the-counter
market on the applicable date, or if the applicable date is not a trading day,
on the trading day immediately preceding the applicable date; and
In
the
absence of such markets for the Shares, the Fair Market Value shall be
determined in good faith by the Committee.
Family
Member means with
respect to any Participant:
the
lineal ascendants and lineal descendants of such Participant or his spouse,
or
any one or more of them, or
an
entity
wholly owned by, including, but not limited to, a trust the exclusive
beneficiaries of which are, one or more of the lineal ascendants or lineal
descendants of such Participant or his spouse, or wholly owned jointly by one
or
more of them and the Participant.
Incentive
Stock Option means a
right to purchase Shares that is granted to an employee of the Company or any
Affiliate that is designated by the Committee to be an Incentive Stock Option
and that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code.
Non-Qualified
Stock Option
means a right to purchase Shares that is not intended to qualify as an Incentive
Stock Option or does not satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code.
Option
means either an
Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
Option
Holder means, at any
relevant time with respect to an Option, the person having the right to exercise
the Option.
Participant
means any
director, advisory director, officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate
who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award.
Permitted
Transferee means,
with respect to any Participant, a Family Member of the Participant to whom
an
Award has been transferred as permitted hereunder.
Person
means an individual, a
corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a
joint-stock company, a trust, an estate, an unincorporated organization and
any
other business organization or institution.
Plan
means the Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to
time.
Qualified
Domestic Relations
Order means a Domestic Relations Order that:
clearly
specifies:
The
name
and last known mailing address of the Option Holder and of each person given
rights under such Domestic Relations Order;
the
amount or percentage of the Option Holder's benefits under this Plan to be
paid
to each person covered by such Domestic Relations Order;
the
number of payments or the period to which such Domestic Relations Order applies;
and
the
name
of this Plan; and
does
not
require the payment of a benefit in a form or amount that is:
not
otherwise provided for under the Plan; or
inconsistent
with a previous Qualified Domestic Relations Order.
For
the
purposes of this Plan, a "Domestic Relations Order" means a judgment, decree
or
order, including the approval of a property settlement that is made pursuant
to
a state domestic relations or community property law and relates to the
provision of child support, alimony payments or marital property rights to
a
spouse, child or other dependent of a Participant.
Restricted
Stock Award means
an award of Shares or Share Units pursuant to Article VII.
Service
means, unless the
Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, service in any capacity
as a
director, advisory director, officer or employee of the Company or any
Affiliate.
Share
means a share of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, of Citizens Community Bancorp,
Inc.
Share
Unit means the right to
receive a Share at a specified future date.
Stock
Appreciation Right means
the right to receive a payment in Shares measured by the increase in the Fair
Market Value of a Share over the Exercise Price of that Stock Appreciation
Right.
Stock
Appreciation Right
Holder means, at any relevant time with respect to a Stock Appreciation
Right, the person having the right to exercise the Stock Appreciation
Right.
Termination
for Cause means
termination upon an intentional failure to perform stated duties, a breach
of a
fiduciary duty involving personal dishonesty which results in material loss
to
the Company or one of its Affiliates or a willful violation of any law, rule
or
regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or a final
cease-and-desist order which results in material loss to the Company or one
of
its Affiliates. Notwithstanding the above, if a Participant is
subject to a different definition of termination for cause in an employment
or
severance or similar agreement with the Company or any Affiliate, such other
definition shall control.
Vesting
Date means the date or
dates on which the grant of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is eligible
to
be exercised or the date or dates on which a Restricted Stock Award ceases
to be
forfeitable.
ARTICLE
III
AVAILABLE
SHARES
Section
3.1
Shares Available Under the Plan.
Subject
to adjustment under Article IX, the maximum aggregate number of Shares
representing Awards shall not exceed 597,605 Shares. Shares
representing tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall for such purpose only be
counted as either Shares representing Options outstanding or Stock Appreciation
Rights outstanding, but not as both.
Section
3.2
Shares Available for Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
Subject
to adjustment under Article IX and the limitations under Section 3.4 below,
the
maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of Options
and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be 426,860 Shares, and the maximum aggregate
number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights to any one individual in any calendar year shall be 106,715
Shares.
Section
3.3
Shares Available for Restricted Stock Awards.
Subject
to adjustment under Article IX and the limitations under Section 3.4 below,
the
maximum number of Shares which may be issued upon award or vesting of Restricted
Stock Awards under the Plan shall be 170,745 Shares and the maximum aggregate
number of Shares which may be issued upon award or vesting of Restricted Stock
Awards to any one individual in any calendar year shall be 42,686.
Section
3.4
Computation of Shares Issued.
For
purposes of this Article III, Shares shall be considered issued pursuant to
the
Plan only if actually issued upon the exercise of an Option or Stock
Appreciation Right or in connection with a Restricted Stock
Award. Any Award subsequently forfeited, in whole or in part, shall
not be considered issued.
ARTICLE
IV
ADMINISTRATION
Section
4.1
Committee.
(a)
The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board for that
purpose and consisting of not less than two (2) members of the Board. Each
member of the Committee shall be an "Outside Director" within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code or a successor rule or regulation, a "Non-Employee
Director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) under the Exchange Act
or a
successor rule or regulation and an "Independent Director" under the corporate
governance rules and regulations imposing independence standards on committees
performing similar functions promulgated by any national securities exchange
or
quotation system on which Shares are listed.
(b)
The act of a majority of the members present at a meeting duly called and held
shall be the act of the Committee. Any decision or determination reduced to
writing and signed by all members shall be as fully effective as if made by
unanimous vote at a meeting duly called and held.
(c)
The Committee's decisions and determinations under the Plan need not be uniform
and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants
are similarly situated.
Section
4.2
Committee Powers.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan and such limitations as may be imposed
by the Board, the Committee shall be responsible for the overall management
and
administration of the Plan and shall have such authority as shall be necessary
or appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities, including, without
limitation, the authority:
to
interpret and construe the Plan, and to determine all questions that may arise
under the Plan as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, the number
of
Shares subject to Awards to be issued or granted, and the terms and conditions
thereof;
with
the
consent of the Participant, to the extent deemed necessary by the Committee,
amend or modify the terms of any outstanding Award or accelerate or defer the
Vesting Date thereof;
to
adopt
rules and regulations and to prescribe forms for the operation and
administration of the Plan; and
to
take
any other action not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan that it may
deem necessary or appropriate.
All
decisions, determinations and other actions of the Committee made or taken
in
accordance with the terms of the Plan shall be final and conclusive and binding
upon all parties having an interest therein.
ARTICLE
V
STOCK
OPTIONS
Section
5.1
Grant of Options.
(a)
Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion,
grant to a Participant an Option to purchase Shares. An Option must be
designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option
and, if not designated as either, shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Only
employees of the Company or its Affiliates may receive Incentive Stock
Options.
(b)
Any Option granted shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which
shall:
specify
the number of Shares covered by the Option;
specify
the Exercise Price;
specify
the Exercise Period;
specify
the Vesting Date; and
contain
such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee
may, in its discretion, prescribe.
Section
5.2
Size of Option.
Subject
to the restrictions of the Plan, the number of Shares as to which a Participant
may be granted Options shall be determined by the Committee, in its
discretion.
Section
5.3
Exercise Price.
The
price
per Share at which an Option may be exercised shall be determined by the
Committee, in its discretion, provided, however, that the
Exercise Price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
date on which the Option is granted.
Section
5.4
Exercise Period.
The
Exercise Period during which an Option may be exercised shall commence on the
Vesting Date. It shall expire on the earliest of:
the
date
specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement;
the
last
day of the three-month period commencing on the date of the Participant's
termination of Service, other than on account of death, Disability or a
Termination for Cause;
the
last
day of the one-year period commencing on the date of the Participant's
termination of Service due to death or Disability;
as
of the
time and on the date of the Participant's termination of Service due to a
Termination for Cause; or
the
last
day of the ten-year period commencing on the date on which the Option was
granted.
An
Option
that remains unexercised at the close of business on the last day of the
Exercise Period shall be canceled without consideration at the close of business
on that date.
Section
5.5
Vesting Date.
(a)
The Vesting Date for each Option Award shall be determined by the Committee
and
specified in the Award Agreement.
(b)
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and specified in the Award
Agreement:
if
the
Participant of an Option Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date
for
any reason other than death or Disability, any unvested Option shall be
forfeited without consideration;
if
the
Participant of an Option Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting Date
on
account of death or Disability, the Vesting Date shall be accelerated to the
date of the Participant's termination of Service; and
if
a
Change in Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date of an Option Award that
is
outstanding on the date of the Change in Control, the Vesting Date shall be
accelerated to the earliest date of the Change in Control.
Section
5.6
Additional Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options.
An
Option
designated by the Committee to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject
to
the following provisions:
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, no Participant may receive
an
Incentive Stock Option under the Plan if such Participant, at the time the
award
is granted, owns (after application of the rules contained in Section 424(d)
of
the Code) stock possessing more than ten (10) percent of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its Affiliates, unless
(i) the option price for such Incentive Stock Option is at least 110 percent
of
the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Incentive Stock Option
on
the date of grant and (ii) such Option is not exercisable after the date five
(5) years from the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted.
Each
Participant who receives Shares upon exercise of an Option that is an Incentive
Stock Option shall give the Company prompt notice of any sale of Shares prior
to
a date which is two years from the date the Option was granted or one year
from
the date the Option was exercised. Such sale shall disqualify the
Option as an Incentive Stock Option.
The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each Incentive Stock
Option at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with
respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time
by a
Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or any other plan of
the
Company or an Affiliate) shall not exceed $100,000.
Any
Option under this Plan which is designated by the Committee as an Incentive
Stock Option but fails, for any reason, to meet the foregoing requirements
shall
be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
Section
5.7
Method of Exercise.
(a)
Subject to the limitations of the Plan and the Award Agreement, an Option Holder
may, at any time on or after the Vesting Date and during the Exercise Period,
exercise his or her right to purchase all or any part of the Shares to which
the
Option relates; provided,
however, that the minimum number of Shares which may be purchased at any
time shall be 100, or, if less, the total number of Shares relating to the
Option which remain un-purchased. An Option Holder shall exercise an
Option to purchase Shares by:
giving
written notice to the Committee, in such form and manner as the Committee may
prescribe, of his or her intent to exercise the Option;
delivering
to the Committee full payment for the Shares as to which the Option is to be
exercised; and
satisfying
such other conditions as may be prescribed in the Award Agreement.
(b)
The Exercise Price of Shares to be purchased upon exercise of any Option shall
be paid in full:
in
cash
(by certified or bank check or such other instrument as the Company may accept);
or
if
and to
the extent permitted by the Committee, in the form of Shares already owned
by
the Option Holder for a period of more than six (6) months as of the exercise
date and having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date the Option is
exercised equal to the aggregate Exercise Price to be paid; or
by
a
combination thereof.
Payment
for any Shares to be purchased upon exercise of an Option may also be made
by
delivering a properly executed exercise notice to the Company, together with
a
copy of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company
the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the purchase price and applicable
tax
withholding amounts (if any), in which event the Shares acquired shall be
delivered to the broker promptly following receipt of payment.
(c)
When the requirements of this Section have been satisfied, the Committee shall
take such action as is necessary to cause the issuance of a stock certificate
evidencing the Option Holder's ownership of such Shares. The Person exercising
the Option shall have no right to vote or to receive dividends, nor have any
other rights with respect to the Shares, prior to the date the Shares are
transferred to such Person on the stock transfer records of the Company, and
no
adjustments shall be made for any dividends or other rights for which the record
date is prior to the date as of which the transfer is effected.
Section
5.8
Limitations on Options.
(a)
An Option by its terms shall not be transferable by the Option Holder other
than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to the terms of
a
Qualified Domestic Relations Order, and shall be exercisable, during the life
of
the Option Holder, only by the Option Holder or an alternate payee designated
pursuant to such a Qualified Domestic Relations Order; provided, however, that a
Participant may, at any time at or after the grant of a Non-Qualified Stock
Option under the Plan, apply to the Committee for approval to transfer all
or
any portion of such Non-Qualified Stock Option which is then unexercised to
such
Participant's Family Member. The Committee may approve or withhold approval
of
such transfer in its sole and absolute discretion. If such transfer is approved,
it shall be effected by written notice to the Company given in such form and
manner as the Committee may prescribe and actually received by the Company
prior
to the death of the person giving it. Thereafter, the transferee shall have,
with respect to such Non-Qualified Stock Option, all of the rights, privileges
and obligations which would attach thereunder to the Participant. If a privilege
of the Option depends on the life, Service or other status of the Participant,
such privilege of the Option for the transferee shall continue to depend upon
the life, Service or other status of the Participant. The Committee shall have
full and exclusive authority to interpret and apply the provisions of the Plan
to transferees to the extent not specifically addressed herein.
(b)
The Company's obligation to deliver Shares with respect to an Option shall,
if
the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt of a representation
as to the investment intention of the Option Holder to whom such Shares are
to
be delivered, in such form as the Committee shall determine to be necessary
or
advisable to comply with the provisions of applicable federal, state or
local law. It may be provided that any such representation shall become
inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or upon the occurrence of any
other event eliminating the necessity of such representation. The Company
shall
not be required to deliver any Shares under the Plan prior to:
the
admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange or trading on any
automated quotation system on which Shares may then be listed or traded;
or
the
completion of such registration or other qualification under any state or
federal law, rule or regulation as the Committee shall determine to be necessary
or advisable.
(c)
An Option Holder may designate a Beneficiary to receive any Options that may
be
exercised after his death. Such designation and any change or revocation of
such
designation shall be made in writing in the form and manner prescribed by the
Committee. In the event that the designated Beneficiary dies prior to the Option
Holder, or in the event that no Beneficiary has been designated, any Options
that may be exercised following the Option Holder's death shall be transferred
to the Option Holder's estate. If the Option Holder and his or her Beneficiary
shall die in circumstances that cause the Committee, in its discretion, to
be
uncertain which shall have been the first to die, the Option Holder shall be
deemed to have survived the Beneficiary.
Section
5.9
Prohibition Against Option Repricing.
Except
as
provided in Section 9.3, neither the Committee nor the Board shall have the
right or authority following the grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan to
amend or modify the Exercise Price of any such Option, or to cancel the Option
at a time when the Exercise Price is less than the Fair Market Value of the
Shares, in exchange for another Option or Award.
ARTICLE
VI
STOCK
APPRECIATION RIGHTS
Section
6.1
Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a)
Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion,
grant to a Participant a Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right
must be designated as either a tandem Stock Appreciation Right or a stand-alone
Stock Appreciation Right and, if not so designated, shall be deemed to be a
stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right. A tandem Stock Appreciation Right may
only
be granted at the same time as the Option to which it relates. The exercise
of a
tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall cancel the related Option for a like
number of Shares and the exercise of a related Option shall cancel a tandem
Stock Appreciation Right for a like number of Shares.
(b)
Any Stock Appreciation Right granted shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement
which shall:
specify
the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right;
specify
the Exercise Price;
specify
the Exercise Period;
specify
the Vesting Date;
specify
that the Stock Appreciation Right shall be settled in Shares; and
contain
such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee
may, in its discretion, prescribe.
Section
6.2
Size of Stock Appreciation Right.
Subject
to the restrictions of the Plan, the number of Shares as to which a Participant
may be granted Stock Appreciation Rights shall be determined by the Committee,
in its discretion.
Section
6.3
Exercise Price.
The
price
per Share at which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised shall be
determined by the Committee, in its discretion, provided, however, that the
Exercise Price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
date on which the Stock Appreciation Right is granted.
Section
6.4
Exercise Period.
The
Exercise Period during which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised shall
commence on the Vesting Date. It shall expire on the earliest
of:
the
date
specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement;
the
last
day of the three-month period commencing on the date of the Participant's
termination of Service, other than on account of death, Disability or a
Termination for Cause;
the
last
day of the one-year period commencing on the date of the Participant's
termination of Service due to death or Disability;
as
of the
time and on the date of the Participant's termination of Service due to a
Termination for Cause; or
the
last
day of the ten-year period commencing on the date on which the Stock
Appreciation Right was granted.
A
Stock
Appreciation Right that remains unexercised at the close of business on the
last
day of the Exercise Period shall be canceled without consideration at the close
of business on that date.
Section
6.5
Vesting Date.
(a)
The Vesting Date for each Stock Appreciation Right Award shall be determined
by
the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement.
(b)
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and specified in the Award
Agreement:
if
the
Participant of a Stock Appreciation Right Award terminates Service prior to
the
Vesting Date for any reason other than death or Disability, any unvested Award
shall be forfeited without consideration;
if
the
Participant of a Stock Appreciation Right Award terminates Service prior to
the
Vesting Date on account of death or Disability, the Vesting Date shall be
accelerated to the date of the Participant's termination of Service;
and
if
a
Change in Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date of a Stock Appreciation
Right
Award that is outstanding on the date of the Change in Control, the Vesting
Date
shall be accelerated to the earliest date of the Change in Control.
Section
6.6
Method of Exercise.
(a)
Subject to the limitations of the Plan and the Award Agreement, a Participant
may, at any time on or after the Vesting Date and during the Exercise Period,
exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right as to all or any part of the Shares
to which the Stock Appreciation Right relates; provided, however, that the
minimum number of Shares as to which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised
shall be 100, or, if less, the total number of Shares relating to the Stock
Appreciation Right which remain unexercised. A Stock Appreciation Right Holder
shall exercise a Stock Appreciation Right by:
giving
written notice to the Committee, in such form and manner as the Committee may
prescribe, of his or her intent to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right;
and
satisfying
such other conditions as may be prescribed in the Award Agreement.
(b)
When the requirements of this Section have been satisfied, the Committee shall
take such action as is necessary to cause the remittance to the Stock
Appreciation Right Holder (or, in the event of his or her death, his or her
Beneficiary) of a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal
to
the excess (if any) of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of
exercise over (ii) the Exercise Price per Share, times the number of Stock
Appreciation Rights exercised. The Person exercising the Stock Appreciation
Right shall have no right to vote or to receive dividends, nor have any other
rights with respect to the Shares, prior to the date the Shares are transferred
to such Person on the stock transfer records of the Company, and no adjustments
shall be made for any dividends or other rights for which the record date is
prior to the date as of which the transfer is effected.
Section
6.7
Limitations on Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a)
A Stock Appreciation Right by its terms shall not be transferable by the Stock
Appreciation Right Holder other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, or pursuant to the terms of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order,
and shall be exercisable, during the life of the Stock Appreciation Right
Holder, only by the Stock Appreciation Right Holder or an alternate payee
designated pursuant to such a Qualified Domestic Relations Order; provided, however, that a
Participant may, at any time at or after the grant of a Stock Appreciation
Right
under the Plan, apply to the Committee for approval to transfer all or any
portion of such Stock Appreciation Right which is then unexercised to such
Participant's Family Member. The Committee may approve or withhold approval
of
such transfer in its sole and absolute discretion. If such transfer is approved,
it shall be effected by written notice to the Company given in such form and
manner as the Committee may prescribe and actually received by the Company
prior
to the death of the person giving it. Thereafter, the transferee shall have,
with respect to such Stock Appreciation Right, all of the rights, privileges
and
obligations which would attach thereunder to the Participant. If a privilege
of
the Stock Appreciation Right depends on the life, Service or other status of
the
Participant, such privilege of the Stock Appreciation Right for the transferee
shall continue to depend upon the life, Service or other status of the
Participant. The Committee shall have full and exclusive authority to interpret
and apply the provisions of the Plan to transferees to the extent not
specifically addressed herein.
(b)
The Company's obligation to deliver Shares with respect to a Stock Appreciation
Right shall, if the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt
of a
representation as to the investment intention of the Stock Appreciation Right
Holder to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the Committee
shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the provisions
of
applicable federal, state or local law. It may be provided that any such
representation shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or
upon the occurrence of any other event eliminating the necessity of such
representation. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares under
the Plan prior to:
the
admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange or trading on any
automated quotation system on which Shares may then be listed or traded;
or
the
completion of such registration or other qualification under any state or
federal law, rule or regulation as the Committee shall determine to be necessary
or advisable.
(c)
A Stock Appreciation Right Holder may designate a Beneficiary to receive any
Stock Appreciation Right that may be exercised after his death. Such designation
and any change or revocation of such designation shall be made in writing in
the
form and manner prescribed by the Committee. In the event that the designated
Beneficiary dies prior to the Stock Appreciation Right Holder, or in the event
that no Beneficiary has been designated, any Stock Appreciation Rights that
may
be exercised following the Stock Appreciation Right Holder's death shall be
transferred to the Stock Appreciation Right Holder's estate. If the Stock
Appreciation Right Holder and his or her Beneficiary shall die in circumstances
that cause the Committee, in its discretion, to be uncertain which shall have
been the first to die, the Stock Appreciation Right Holder shall be deemed
to
have survived the Beneficiary.
Section
6.8
Prohibition Against Stock Appreciation Right Repricing.
Except
as
provided in Section 9.3, neither the Committee nor the Board shall have the
right or authority following the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right pursuant
to
the Plan to amend or modify the Exercise Price of any
such
Stock Appreciation Right or to cancel the Stock Appreciation Right at a time
when the Exercise Price is less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares, in
exchange for another Stock Appreciation Right or Award.
ARTICLE
VII
RESTRICTED
STOCK AWARDS
Section
7.1
In General.
(a)
Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which
shall
specify:
the
number of Shares or Share Units covered by the Restricted Stock
Award;
the
amount, if any, which the Participant shall be required to pay to the Company
in
consideration for the issuance of such Shares or Share Units;
the
date
of grant of the Restricted Stock Award;
the
Vesting Date for the Restricted Stock Award;
as
to
Restricted Stock Awards awarding Shares, the rights of the Participant with
respect to dividends, voting rights and other rights and preferences associated
with such Shares; and
as
to
Restricted Stock Awards awarding Share Units, the rights of the Participant
with
respect to attributes of the Share Units which are the equivalent of dividends
and other rights and preferences associated with Shares and the circumstances,
if any, prior to the Vesting Date pursuant to which Share Units shall be
converted to Shares;
and
contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the
Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe.
(b)
All Restricted Stock Awards consisting of Shares shall be in the form of issued
and outstanding Shares that shall be registered in the name of the Participant
and held by the Committee, together with an irrevocable stock power executed
by
the Participant in favor of the Committee or its designee, pending the vesting
or forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Award. The certificates evidencing the
Shares shall at all times prior to the applicable Vesting Date bear the
following legend:
The
common stock evidenced hereby is subject to the terms of an Award Agreement
between Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and [Name of Participant] dated [Award
Date] made pursuant to the terms of the Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008
Equity Incentive Plan, copies of which are on file at the executive offices
of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and may not be sold, encumbered, hypothecated
or otherwise transferred, except in accordance with the terms of such Plan
and
Award Agreement.
or
such
other restrictive legend as the Committee, in its discretion, may
specify.
(c)
Unless otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, a Restricted Stock Award
by
its terms shall not be transferable by the Participant other than by will or
by
the laws of descent and distribution, and the Shares distributed pursuant to
such Award shall be distributable, during the lifetime of the Participant,
only
to the Participant.
Section
7.2
Vesting Date.
(a)
The Vesting Date for each Restricted Stock Award shall be determined by the
Committee and specified in the Award Agreement.
(b)
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and specified in the Award
Agreement:
if
the Participant of a Restricted Stock Award terminates Service prior to the
Vesting Date for any reason other than death or Disability, any unvested Shares
or Share Units shall be forfeited without consideration;
if
the
Participant of a Restricted Stock Award terminates Service prior to the Vesting
Date on account of death or Disability, the Vesting Date shall be accelerated
to
the date of termination of the Participant's Service with the Company;
and
if
a
Change in Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date of a Restricted Stock Award
that is outstanding on the date of the Change in Control, the Vesting Date
shall
be accelerated to the earliest date of the Change in Control.
Section
7.3
Dividend Rights.
Unless
otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, any dividends or distributions
declared and paid with respect to Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award,
whether or not in cash, or an equivalent amount in the case of a Restricted
Stock Award awarding Share Units, shall be paid to the Participant at the same
time they are paid to all other shareholders of the Company.
Section
7.4
Voting Rights.
Unless
otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, voting rights appurtenant to the
Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award shall be exercised by the
Participant.
Section
7.5
Designation of Beneficiary.
A
Participant who has received a Restricted Stock Award may designate a
Beneficiary to receive any unvested Shares or Shares distributed in satisfaction
of any unvested Share Units that become vested on the date of the Participant's
death. Such designation (and any change or revocation of such
designation) shall be made in writing in the form and manner prescribed by
the
Committee. In the event that the Beneficiary designated by a
Participant dies prior to the Participant, or in the event that no Beneficiary
has been designated, any vested Shares that become available for distribution
on
the Participant's death shall be paid to the executor or administrator of the
Participant's estate.
Section
7.6
Manner of Distribution of Awards.
The
Company's obligation to deliver Shares with respect to a Restricted Stock Award
shall, if the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt of a
representation as to the investment intention of the Participant or Beneficiary
to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the Committee shall
determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the provisions of
applicable federal, state or local law. It may be provided that any such
representation shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or
upon the occurrence of any other event eliminating the necessity of such
representation. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares under
the Plan prior to (i) the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock
exchange or trading on any automated quotation system on which Shares may then
be listed or traded, or (ii) the completion of such registration or other
qualification under any state or federal law, rule or regulation as the
Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
ARTICLE
VIII
SPECIAL
TAX PROVISION
Section
8.1
Tax Withholding Rights.
Where
any
Person is entitled to receive Shares, the Company shall have the right to
require such Person to pay to the Company the amount of any tax which the
Company is required to withhold with respect to such Shares, or, in lieu
thereof, to retain, or to sell without notice, a sufficient number of Shares
to
cover the minimum amount required to be withheld.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION
Section
9.1
Termination
The
Board
may suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part at any time prior to
the
tenth anniversary of the Effective Date by giving written notice of such
suspension or termination to the Committee. Unless sooner terminated,
the Plan shall terminate automatically on the tenth anniversary of the Effective
Date. In the event of any suspension or termination of the Plan, all
Awards previously granted under the Plan that are outstanding on the date of
such suspension or termination of the Plan shall remain outstanding and
exercisable for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in the
Award Agreements evidencing such Awards.
Section
9.2
Amendment.
The
Board
may amend or revise the Plan in whole or in part at any time; provided, however,
that, to the extent required to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or the
corporate governance standards imposed under the listing or trading requirements
imposed by any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on
which the Company lists or seeks to list or trade Shares, no such amendment
or
revision shall be effective if it amends a material term of the Plan unless
approved by the holders of a majority of the votes cast on a proposal to approve
such amendment or revision. To the extent OTS regulations are changed
subsequent to the Effective Date, the Board shall have the right but not the
obligation, to amend or revise the Plan without shareholder approval to conform
to the revised regulations.
Section
9.3
Adjustments in the Event of Business Reorganization.
In
the
event any recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination, exchange of Shares or other securities,
stock dividend or other special and nonrecurring dividend or distribution
(whether in the form of cash, securities or other property), liquidation,
dissolution, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Shares
such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan, then the Committee
shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all
of:
the
number and kind of securities deemed to be available thereafter for grants
of
Awards in the aggregate to all Participants;
the
number and kind of securities that may be delivered or deliverable in respect
of
outstanding Awards; and
the
Exercise Price of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
In
addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including, without
limitation, cancellation of Awards in exchange for the in-the-money value,
if
any, of the vested portion thereof, or substitution of Awards using stock of
a
successor or other entity) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events
(including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence)
affecting the Company or any Affiliate or the financial statements of the
Company or any Affiliate, or in response to changes in applicable laws,
regulations, or accounting principles.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
10.1
Status as an Employee Benefit Plan.
This
Plan
is not intended to satisfy the requirements for qualification under Section
401(a) of the Code or to satisfy the definitional requirements for an "employee
benefit plan" under Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act
of 1974, as amended. It is intended to be a non-qualified incentive compensation
program that is exempt from the regulatory requirements of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Plan shall be construed
and administered so as to effectuate this intent.
Section
10.2
No Right to Continued Employment.
Neither
the establishment of the Plan nor any provisions of the Plan nor any action
of
the Board or Committee with respect to the Plan shall be held or construed
to
confer upon any Participant any right to a continuation of his or her position
as a director, advisory director or employee of the Company. The
Company reserves the right to remove any participating member of the Board
or
dismiss any Participant or otherwise deal with any Participant to the same
extent as though the Plan had not been adopted.
Section
10.3
Construction of Language.
Whenever
appropriate in the Plan, words used in the singular may be read in the plural,
words used in the plural may be read in the singular, and words importing the
masculine gender may be read as referring equally to the feminine or the neuter.
Any reference to an Article or Section number shall refer to an Article or
Section of this Plan unless otherwise indicated.
Section
10.4
Governing Law.
The
Plan
shall be construed, administered and enforced according to the laws of the
State
of Wisconsin without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof,
except to the extent that such laws are preempted by federal law. The federal
and state courts located in the County or contiguous counties in which the
Company's headquarters are located shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any
claim, action, complaint or lawsuit brought under the terms of the Plan. By
accepting any Award granted under this Plan, the Participant, and any other
person claiming any rights under the Plan, agrees to submit himself, and any
such legal action as he shall bring under the Plan, to the sole jurisdiction
of
such courts for the adjudication and resolution of any such
disputes.
Section
10.5
Headings.
The
headings of Articles and Sections are included solely for convenience of
reference. If there is any conflict between such headings and the
text of the Plan, the text shall control.
Section
10.6
Non-Alienation of Benefits.
The
right
to receive a benefit under the Plan shall not be subject in any manner to
anticipation, alienation or assignment, nor shall such right be liable for
or
subject to debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts.
Section
10.7
Notices.
Any
communication required or permitted to be given under the Plan, including any
notice, direction, designation, comment, instruction, objection or waiver,
shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given at such time as it is
delivered personally or three (3) days after mailing if mailed, postage prepaid,
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to such
party at the address listed below, or at such other address as one such party
may by written notice specify to the other party:
(a)
If to the Committee:
Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc.
2174
EastRidge Center
Eau
Claire,
Wisconsin 54701
Attention: Corporate
Secretary
(b)
If to a Participant, to such person's address as shown in the Company's
records.
Section
10.8
Approval of Shareholders.
The
Plan
shall be subject to approval by the Company's shareholders within twelve (12)
months before or after the date the Board adopts the Plan.
REVOCABLE
PROXY
CITIZENS
COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
February
21, 2008
The
undersigned hereby appoints James G. Cooley and Richard McHugh as the official
Proxy Committee of the Board of Directors with full powers of substitution,
as
attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, to vote all shares of common stock
of
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., which the undersigned is entitled to vote
at
the annual meeting of shareholders ("Meeting"), to be held at the Chippewa
Falls
branch office of Citizens Community Federal located at 427 West Prairie View
Road, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on Thursday, February 21, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.,
local time, and at any and all adjournments thereof. The Board of
Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the listed
proposals.
This
proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein
by
the undersigned shareholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy will be
voted FOR each of the proposals set forth herein.
Should
a
director nominee be unable to serve as a director, an event that Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. does not currently anticipate, the persons named in
this
proxy reserve the right, in their discretion, to vote for a substitute nominee
designated by the Board of Directors.
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VOTE
FOR
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VOTE
WITTHELD
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1.
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The
election as directors of all nominees listed below
(except
as marked to the contrary below).
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G
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Richard
McHugh
Thomas C. Kempen
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Instructions:To
vote for all nominees, mark
the box "FOR" with an "X". To withhold your vote for an individual
nominee, mark the box "FOR" with an "X" and write the name of the
nominee
on the line provided below for whom you wish your vote withheld.
To
withhold your vote as to all nominees, mark the box "VOTE WITHHELD"
with
an "X".
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VOTE
FOR
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VOTE
AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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2.
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The
approval of the Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive
Plan.
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G
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G
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G
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VOTE
FOR
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VOTE
AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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3.
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The
ratification of the appointment of Wipfli, LLP as auditors of the
Corporation for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.
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G
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G
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G
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4.
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Such
other matters that may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournments thereof.
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THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS
ARE
SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS
STATED.
IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT SUCH MEETING, THIS
PROXY
WILL BE VOTED BY THOSE NAMED IN THIS PROXY IN THEIR BEST
JUDGMENT.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOWS
OF
NO
OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
(Back
of Card)
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This
proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted by delivering to the
Secretary of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., on or before the taking of the
vote at the annual meeting, a written notice of revocation bearing a later
date
than the proxy or a later dated proxy relating to the same shares of Citizens
Community Bancorp, Inc. common stock, or by attending the annual meeting and
voting in person. Attendance at the annual meeting will not in itself constitute
the revocation of a proxy. If this proxy is properly revoked as described above,
then the power of such attorneys and proxies shall be deemed terminated and
of
no further force and effect.
The
undersigned acknowledges receipt from Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., prior
to
the execution of this proxy, the Notice of Annual Meeting, a Proxy Statement
and
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc.'s 2007 Annual Report to
Shareholders.
Dated:
_____________________, 2008
_______________________________ _______________________________
PRINT
NAME OF
SHAREHOLDER
PRINT NAME OF SHAREHOLDER
______________________________ _______________________________
SIGNATURE
OF
SHAREHOLDER
SIGNATURE OF SHAREHOLDER
Please
sign exactly as your name
appears on this proxy card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give
your
full
title. If shares are held jointly, only one signature is required.
PLEASE
COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY
PROMPTLY
IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE -PREPAID
ENVELOPE.