ISS/Risk Metrics, a Leading Independent Proxy Advisory Firm, Recommends that Sierra Bancorp Shareholders Vote for all Board's Di
May 13 2008 - 6:41AM
PR Newswire (US)
PORTERVILLE, Calif., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sierra
Bancorp (NASDAQ:BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra, today
announced that ISS Governance Services (ISS) recommends that Sierra
Bancorp shareholders vote FOR ALL of the Board of Directors'
nominees at the company's upcoming Annual Meeting on May 21, 2008.
ISS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RiskMetrics Group, Inc., is a
leading independent U.S. proxy advisory firm and its voting
analyses and recommendations are relied upon by hundreds of major
institutional investment funds, mutual funds and fiduciaries
throughout the country. ISS joins Glass, Lewis & Co., another
leading independent proxy voting advisory firm, in supporting the
Board of Directors' nominees. "We are gratified that ISS supports
our Board's nominees and recognizes Sierra Bancorp's track record
of delivering shareholder returns," said Sierra Bancorp's Chairman
Morris Tharp. "In recommending that shareholders vote for all of
our director nominees, ISS believes that our Board and management
team are committed to making decisions that are in the best
interests of our shareholders. We look forward to continuing to
execute our long-term business strategy and further enhancing the
value of our company." In its analysis, ISS noted: "The company has
a strong track record of success, outperforming its peers and
creating value for its shareholders.... [W]e do not believe that
the dissident has demonstrated that change is needed at Sierra
[Bancorp]. Moreover, Ms. Childress has not presented a plan for
improvement at Sierra [Bancorp], and it is unclear what skills she
brings to the board or how her presence would add value for
shareholders." Sierra Bancorp strongly recommends that its
shareholders vote FOR each of the Company's directors on the YELLOW
proxy card. We encourage shareholders to vote electronically using
the simple procedures to vote by telephone or Internet contained on
their proxy cards. It will only take a few moments to ensure that
their votes are received in time to be counted at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Pacific
Time on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. Only the latest dated proxy that
is received by the deadline will be counted. Please dispose of any
White proxy cards received from Patricia Childress or her agents.
Shareholders who have questions or need assistance in voting their
shares should contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc. by calling toll-free
(800) 322-2885 or collect (212) 929-5500, or by email at . About
Sierra Bancorp Sierra Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of
the Sierra (http://www.bankofthesierra.com/), which is in its 31st
year of operations and is the largest independent bank
headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. The Company has over
$1.2 billion in total assets and currently maintains 21 branch
offices, an agricultural credit center, an SBA center, and an
online "virtual" branch. In January 2008, Sierra Bancorp was
recognized as the 2nd best performing mid-tier bank in the nation
and the 6th bank overall by U.S. Banker magazine, based on return
on equity. Important Information Sierra Bancorp filed a definitive
proxy statement in connection with its 2008 annual meeting of
shareholders with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") on April 28, 2008 (the "Proxy Statement"). Sierra Bancorp
shareholders are urged to read the Proxy Statement carefully as it
contains important information. The Proxy Statement and other
relevant documents filed with the SEC by Sierra Bancorp are also
available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/, or on Sierra
Bancorp's website at http://www.sierrabancorp.com/. These documents
may also be obtained free of charge from Sierra Bancorp by
contacting Ken Taylor, EVP/CFO, at (559) 782-4900 or (888)
454-BANK. Shareholders may also contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
with questions or requests for additional copies of the proxy
materials by calling toll-free (800) 322-2885 or collect (212)
929-5500, or by email at . The statements contained in this release
that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based
on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future
developments and their potential effects on the Company. Readers
are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward-looking statements.
Actual results may differ from those projected. These
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
including but not limited to the health of the national and
California economies, the Company's ability to attract and retain
skilled employees, customers' service expectations, the Company's
ability to successfully deploy new technology and gain efficiencies
there from, the success of branch expansion, changes in interest
rates, loan portfolio performance, the Company's ability to secure
buyers for foreclosed properties, and other factors detailed in the
Company's SEC filings. DATASOURCE: Sierra Bancorp CONTACT: Jim
Holly, President-CEO, or Ken Taylor, EVP-CFO, both of Sierra
Bancorp, +1-559-782-4900, or 1-888-454-BANK Web site:
http://www.bankofthesierra.com/ http://www.sierrabancorp.com/
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