Filed by the
Registrant ☒ Filed by a party other than the
Registrant ☐
SUPPLEMENT TO PROXY STATEMENT - EXPLANATORY NOTE
This supplement to Schedule 14A is being filed to supplement and amend the definitive proxy statement of Citizens Holding Company (the “Company”)
for the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2017, in order to include a proposal for an advisory
(non-binding)
vote on the frequency of the vote on our executive officer compensation (“Proposal No. 6”). To vote on Proposal No. 6, you may return the enclosed revised proxy card with your
vote, regardless of whether or not you already returned the original proxy card, or you can vote in person at the Annual Meeting (if you, rather than your broker, are the record holder of the stock). The receipt of your revised proxy card will
revoke and supersede any proxy card previously submitted.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED, YOUR VOTES WILL BE COUNTED. HOWEVER, WE URGE YOU TO CAST YOUR VOTE
ON PROPOSAL NO. 6 EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE OTHER PROPOSALS DESCRIBED ON OUR NOTICE DATED MARCH 23, 2017.
***
The Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting is supplemented and amended to include the following Proposal No. 6 as an Item
of Business in its Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting to Shareholders:
(6) To determine, in an advisory
(non-binding)
vote, whether a shareholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers should occur every 1, 2 or 3 years.
On pages
1-2,
the answer to the question “
What will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
” is
supplemented to read as follows:
The enclosed proxy provides the opportunity for you to vote on a proposal to determine, in an advisory
(non-binding)
vote, whether a stockholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers should occur every 1, 2 or 3 years. For this proposal, you may vote “1 YEAR,” “2 YEARS”
or “3 YEARS,” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting on the proposal.
On pages
4-5,
the answer to
the question “
How will my proxy be voted, and how are votes counted?
” is supplemented as follows:
When your proxy card is
returned, properly signed and dated, the proxy holders will vote your shares of common stock at the Annual Meeting as you instruct on your proxy card, including any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. If your proxy card is signed,
but no instructions are given, the proxy holders will vote your shares of common stock at the Annual Meeting “
1 YEAR
” for the advisory
(non-binding)
vote as to the frequency of the vote on
executive compensation. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you must provide voting instructions to your broker. If you do not provide instructions to your broker, the shares will not be voted on for any matter on which your broker
does not have discretionary authority to vote, which includes Proposal No. 6.
On page 42, prior to the “SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2018
ANNUAL MEETING” section, a new section is inserted as follows:
PROPOSAL NO. 6 – ADVISORY
(NON-BINDING)
VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE
VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, at least every six years, the Company is required to seek an advisory
(non-binding)
shareholder vote regarding the frequency of the
“say-on-pay”
vote such as Proposal 3. The Dodd-Frank Act
specifies that shareholders be given the opportunity to vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers either every 1 year, every 2 years, or every 3 years. Although this vote is advisory and
non-binding,
our Board of Directors will review voting results and give serious consideration to the outcome of such voting. We have held an annual advisory
(non-binding)
vote on executive compensation
since 2011, the last time the Company held an advisory
(non-binding)
shareholder vote regarding the frequency of the
“say-on-pay”
vote. After careful consideration, our Board of Directors has determined that continuing to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation every “1 YEAR” is the most
appropriate alternative for the Company, and, therefore, our Board of Directors recommends that you vote for a frequency of “1 YEAR” for the advisory
(non-binding)
vote on executive compensation.
Our Board of Directors asks you to consider the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that an advisory
(non-binding)
vote of the Company’s shareholders to approve the
compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall be held at an annual meeting of stockholders, (a) every 1 year,
(b) every 2 years, or (c) every 3 years.
The enclosed proxy card gives you four choices (1 YEAR, 2 YEARS, 3 YEARS or
ABSTAIN) for voting on this item and, therefore, shareholders will not be voting to approve or disapprove the recommendation of the Board of Directors. Thus, the frequency period that receives the most votes will be deemed to be the recommendation
of the shareholders.
Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends the selection of “1 YEAR” as your preference for the
frequency which shareholders are provided an advisory
(non-binding)
vote on executive officer compensation.
The form of the proxy card included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders is amended in its entirety to
include Proposal No. 6.
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
CITIZENS HOLDING COMPANY
April 25, 2017
Please date, sign and mail your proxy card
in the envelope provided as soon as possible.
PROPOSAL NO. 1:
To set the number of directors to serve on our Board of Directors at ten.
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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PROPOSAL NO. 2:
To elect the four Class III directors named herein, each to serve a three-year term.
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☐ FOR ALL NOMINEES
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☐ WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL
NOMINEES
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☐ FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below)
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Nominees:
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Craig Dungan, MD
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( )
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Daniel Adam Mars
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( )
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David P. Webb
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( )
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Amzie T. Williams
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( )
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INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s) for Class III director, mark
“FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold. If you desire to cumulate your votes in Proposal No. 2, please do so in the blanks following each name. Cumulative voting is described in the section
of the Proxy Statement entitled “Voting Your Shares.”
PROPOSAL NO. 3:
To approve, on an advisory
(non-binding)
basis, our executive officer compensation.
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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PROPOSAL NO. 4:
To consider and vote upon the Restated Articles of Incorporation and Restated Bylaws, including
the following separate proposals:
(i) authorize five million shares of preferred stock, with rights and preferences as may be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors;
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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(ii) delete the special shareholder voting requirement for approval of certain takeover transactions;
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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(iii) authorize the Board of Directors to establish the size of the Board within the range specified by the Articles of
Incorporation;
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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(iv) authorize the Board of Directors to fill any vacancies occurring in the Board;
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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(v) delete the affirmative election regarding the Mississippi Control Share Act;
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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(vi) add an exclusive forum provision;
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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(vii) delete cumulative voting and provide for election of directors by majority voting; and
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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(viii) provide for
non-substantive
revisions consistent with current corporate laws.
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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PROPOSAL NO. 5:
To ratify the approval by our Board of Directors of our independent registered public accounting
firm for the 2017 fiscal year.
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☐ FOR
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☐ AGAINST
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☐ ABSTAIN
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PROPOSAL NO. 6:
To determine, in an advisory
(non-binding)
vote,
whether a stockholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers should occur every 1, 2 or 3 years.
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☐ 1 YEAR
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☐ 2 YEARS
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☐ 3 YEARS
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☐ ABSTAIN
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This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned
shareholder. If no specific directions are given, your shares will be voted by the individuals designated on this Proxy “FOR” Proposal Nos. 1, 3, 4(i)-(viii) and 5, “FOR” the nominees for Class III directors on Proposal
2, and “1 YEAR” for Proposal No. 6. If you improperly cumulate your votes for the nominees for Class III directors, the individuals designated on this Proxy will allocate such votes in a manner that they deem in their sole
discretion most accurately reflects your intentions. Such allocations shall be final. The individuals designated on this Proxy will vote in their discretion on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting, subject to the rules and
regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission governing the exercise of discretionary authority by a proxy holder.
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Signature of Shareholder:
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Signature of Shareholder:
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NOTE: Please sign name exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should
sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.”
***
This supplement to Schedule 14A amends the items of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting as specified above and amends such
items solely to reflect the changes described above. There are no other changes to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting.
Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April
25, 2017:
This supplement, as well as the Company’s Proxy Statement, proxy card and annual report are available at www.citizensholdingcompany.com/proxymaterials.