DEF 14A 1 l91763adef14a.txt CITIZENS AND NORTHERN CORP.--DEFINITIVE PROXY SCHEDULE 14A (RULE 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11c or Section 240.14a-12
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Total fee paid: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Filing Party: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Date Filed: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION LOGO] 90-92 Main Street Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2002 TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS: Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the stockholders of Citizens & Northern Corporation (the "Corporation") will be held at the Arcadia Theatre, located at 50 Main Street, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, April 16, 2002, at 2:00 P.M., local time, for the following purposes: 1. To elect five Class III directors to serve for a term of 3 years; 2. To ratify the action of the Board of Directors in the appointment of the firm of Parente Randolph, PC as independent auditors of the Corporation; and 3. To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2002 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. Such stockholders may vote in person or by proxy. ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE, OR FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED FOR VOTING VIA THE INTERNET, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING. If you do attend the meeting, you may, if you wish, withdraw your proxy and vote your shares in person. By Order of the Board of Directors, Kathleen M. Osgood Corporate Secretary March 19, 2002 CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION 90-92 MAIN STREET WELLSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA 16901 PROXY STATEMENT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -- APRIL 16, 2002 This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Citizens & Northern Corporation to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation to be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2002, at 2:00 P.M. at the Arcadia Theatre, located at 50 Main Street, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, and at any adjournment thereof. The approximate date upon which this Proxy Statement and proxy will first be mailed to stockholders is March 19, 2002 . Shares represented by properly completed proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated thereon unless such proxies have previously been revoked. If no direction is indicated, such shares will be voted in favor of the election as directors of the nominees named below, in favor of the ratification of the appointment of the firm of Parente Randolph, PC as the Corporation's independent auditors, and in the discretion of the proxy holder as to any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted by written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. The Corporation will bear the entire cost of soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone, telegram or other electronic means by the Corporation's directors, officers and employees. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the transfer agent and registrar for the Corporation, will assist in the distribution of proxy materials and the solicitation and tabulation of votes. Arrangements may also be made with custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners of stock held of record by such persons, and the Corporation may reimburse such custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 1, 2002 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. On the record date, there were outstanding and entitled to vote 5,291,140 shares of common stock. Common stockholders will be entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be submitted at the meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders entitled to cast at least 50% of the votes that all stockholders are entitled to cast shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. An abstention will be considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, but will not be counted as voting for or against the issue to which it relates. The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation do not permit cumulative voting. No person is known by the Corporation to have beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation as of March 1, 2002. PROPOSAL 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five directors and that within these limits the numbers of directors shall be as established by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has set the number of directors at fourteen. The Articles further provide that the Board shall be classified into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. One class of directors is to be elected annually. Five directors in Class III are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a three-year term. It is the intention of the persons named as proxyholders on the enclosed form of proxy, unless other directions are given, to vote all shares which they represent for the election of management's nominees named in the tabulation below. Any stockholder who wishes to withhold authority from the proxyholders to vote for the election of directors, or to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, may do so by marking the proxy to that effect. Each director elected will continue in office until a successor has been elected. The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the election of the nominees listed below, each of whom has consented to be named as a nominee and to serve if elected. If for any reason any nominee named is not a candidate (which is not expected) when the election occurs, proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee determined by the Board of Directors. 1 The following table sets forth certain information about the director nominees, all of whom except Mrs. Fisher and Ms. Tyler, are presently members of the Board, and about the other directors whose terms of office will continue after the Annual Meeting.
NAME, AGE AND CERTAIN BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION PERIOD OF SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR ---------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- (Includes service as Director of the Corporation's predecessor, Citizens & Northern Bank) CLASS III - MANAGEMENT'S NOMINEES FOR A 3 YEAR TERM ENDING IN 2005: Dennis F. Beardslee, 51 Director since 1999 Owner of Terrace Lanes Bowling Center Jan E. Fisher, 47 Executive Director for Healthcare Services of Laurel Health System Karl W. Kroeck, 62 Director since 1996 Farmer Craig G. Litchfield, 54 Director since 1996 President & Chief Executive Officer of Citizens & Northern Corporation and Citizens & Northern Bank Ann M. Tyler, 57 Certified Public Accountant in firm of Ann M. Tyler CPA, PC CLASS I - CONTINUING DIRECTORS WITH TERMS EXPIRING IN 2003: R. Robert DeCamp, 61 Director since 1988 President of Patterson Lumber Co., Inc. Edward H. Owlett, III, 47 Director since 1994 President & CEO of Putnam Company, formerly Attorney in law firm of Owlett & Lewis, P.C. F. David Pennypacker, 60 Director since 1993 President of Wellsboro Industrial Park, Inc., formerly Commercial Real Estate Sales Agent for Century 21 Wilkinson-Dunn Co., and Certified Public Accountant in firm of Pennypacker & Gooch, P.C. James E. Towner, 55 Director since 2000 Publisher of The Daily / Sunday Review CLASS II - CONTINUING DIRECTORS WITH TERMS EXPIRING IN 2004: R. Bruce Haner, 54 Director since 1998 Auto Buyer for New Car Dealers, formerly Inventory Control Manager of Williams Auto Group, and Owner of Haner's Auto Sales Susan E. Hartley, 44 Director since 1998 Attorney at Law Leo F. Lambert, 47 Director since 2001 President and General Manager of Fitzpatrick & Lambert, Inc. Edward L. Learn, 54 Director since 1989 Owner of Learn Hardware & Building Supply
2 Leonard Simpson, 53 Director since 1989 Attorney at Law
3 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT The following table shows beneficial ownership of the Corporation's common stock as of February 6, 2002 by (i) each director of the Corporation, (ii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 8 and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group.
Amount and Nature of Percent of Class Name Beneficial Ownership (1) (2) (3) (if 1% or Greater) ---- ----------------------------- ------------------ Dennis F. Beardslee 3,189 -- R. Robert DeCamp 2,327 -- Jan E. Fisher 155 -- R. Bruce Haner 7,766 -- Susan E. Hartley 3,030 -- Karl W. Kroeck 2,950 -- Leo F. Lambert 1,383 -- Edward L. Learn 2,822 -- Craig G. Litchfield 24,865 -- Edward H. Owlett, III 8,465 -- F. David Pennypacker 5,579 -- Leonard Simpson 18,867 (4) -- James E. Towner 3,108 -- Ann M. Tyler 15 -- Brian L. Canfield 11,296 -- Mark A. Hughes 1,691 -- Matthew P. Prosseda 7,587 -- Deborah E. Scott 3,086 -- Directors and Executive Officers as a Group 120,964 2.29%
(1) Pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, an individual is considered to "beneficially own" shares of common stock if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares (a) the power to vote or direct the voting of the shares; or (b) investment power with respect to the shares, which includes the power to dispose of or direct the disposition of the shares. Unless otherwise indicated in a footnote below, each individual holds sole voting and investment authority with respect to the shares listed. (2) In addition, an individual is deemed to be the beneficial owner if he or she has the right to acquire shares within 60 days through the exercise of any option. Therefore, the following stock options that are exercisable within 60 days after February 6, 2002 are included in the shares above: Mr. Beardslee, 910 shares; Mr. DeCamp, 1,110 shares; Mr. Haner, 1,110 shares; Ms. Hartley, 1,110 shares; Mr. Kroeck, 1,310 shares; Mr. Lambert, 510 shares; Mr. Learn, 1,310 shares; Mr. Litchfield, 14,320 shares; Mr. Owlett, 1,310 shares; Mr. Pennypacker, 1,310 shares; Mr. Simpson, 1,310 shares; Mr. Towner, 710 shares; Mr. Canfield, 5,835 shares; Mr. Hughes, 1,077 shares; Mr. Prosseda, 5,577 shares; and Mrs. Scott, 2,127 shares. (3) Includes the following restricted stock awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plans of the Corporation: Mr. Beardslee, 56 shares; Mr. DeCamp, 56 shares; Mr. Haner, 56 shares; Ms. Hartley, 56 shares; Mr. Kroeck, 56 shares; Mr. Lambert, 56 shares; Mr. Learn, 56 shares; Mr. Litchfield, 900 shares; Mr. Owlett, 56 shares; Mr. Pennypacker, 56 shares; Mr. Simpson, 56 shares; Mr. Towner, 56 shares; Mr. Canfield 450 shares; Mr. Hughes, 336 shares; Mr. Prosseda, 336 shares; and Mrs. Scott, 336 shares. Restricted stock awards granted under the Plans vest ratably over a three year period; however, the recipients have the right to vote all awarded shares. (4) Includes 2,068 shares held in an SEP-IRA Plan for the benefit of Mr. Simpson's retirement plan. 4 BOARD OF DIRECTOR COMMITTEES, ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS Both the Corporation's and the Bank's by-laws provide that the Board may create any number of committees of the Board as it deems necessary or appropriate from time to time. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE CORPORATION. The Corporation has an Executive Committee that functions as a nominating committee and an investment committee. It also recommends policies and procedures for the Corporation and would address stockholder proposals, if any. This committee consists of the following seven members of the Board of Directors: F. David Pennypacker, R. Robert DeCamp, R. Bruce Haner, Craig G. Litchfield, Edward H. Owlett, III Leonard Simpson and James E. Towner. During 2001, the Executive Committee held eleven meetings. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Bank has an Executive Committee consisting of seven members of the Board of Directors who are as follows: F. David Pennypacker, R. Robert DeCamp, R. Bruce Haner, Craig G. Litchfield, Edward H. Owlett, III, Leonard Simpson and James E. Towner. The function of this committee is to recommend policy procedures. During 2001, the Executive Committee held thirteen meetings. The Executive Committee also functions as a nominating committee for the Bank. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The Compensation Committee of the Bank, which held eight meetings in 2001, consists of the following six non-employee members of the Board of Directors: R. Robert DeCamp, R. Bruce Haner, Edward H. Owlett, III, F. David Pennypacker, Leonard Simpson and James E. Towner. The committee is charged with reviewing compensation for all officers and employees of the Corporation and the Bank and administering the retirement and benefit plans of the Corporation and Bank. TRUST INVESTMENT COMMITTEE. The Trust Investment Committee of the Bank, which met eleven times in 2001, consists of five members of the Board of Directors; namely, Leonard Simpson, Dennis F. Beardslee, J. Robert Bower, Susan E. Hartley, and Edward L. Learn. Thomas L. Briggs and Deborah E. Scott, each of whom is an Executive Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of the Bank, are also members of this committee, which determines the policy and investments of the Trust Department, the acceptance of all fiduciary relationships and relinquishments of all fiduciary relationships. ASSET LIABILITY COMMITTEE. The Bank also has an Asset Liability Committee, which consists of Board members R. Robert DeCamp, Craig G. Litchfield, Edward H. Owlett, III and F. David Pennypacker, as well as Brian L. Canfield, Senior Executive Vice President of the Bank, and Mark A. Hughes, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank. The Asset Liability Committee met twelve times during 2001. The purpose of the committee is to stabilize and improve profitability by balancing the relationship between risk and return over an extended period of time and function as an investment committee. AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee of the Corporation, which held four meetings in 2001, consists of eight non-employee members of the Board of Directors. The members of the Committee are Edward H. Owlett, III, R. Bruce Haner, Karl W. Kroeck, Leo F. Lambert, Edward L. Learn, Lawrence F. Mase, F. David Pennypacker and James E. Towner. In addition to the four meetings of the Audit Committee, the chairman of the committee met with representatives of Parente Randolph, PC, the Bank's internal audit department and management to discuss the Corporation's quarterly 10-Q filings in May, August and November, 2001. The primary function of the Audit Committee is to review the internal audit program as performed by the internal auditors, recommend to the Board of Directors the independent auditors for the year, and review the examinations and reports from those persons. The Board of Directors of the Corporation has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee All members of the Committee are independent, as defined by the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and Nasdaq listing standards. Audit Fees. Parente Randolph, PC billed the Corporation aggregate fees of $61,400 for the audit of the Corporation's annual financial statements and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Corporation's Forms 10-Q, all for the year ended December 31, 2001. Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees. Parente Randolph, PC did not render services to the Corporation for financial information systems design and implementation, including the 5 types of services described in Paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X for the 2001 fiscal year. Accordingly, Parente Randolph, PC did not bill the Corporation for such services. All Other Fees. For the 2001 fiscal year, Parente Randolph, PC billed $28,100 in fees for all services other than those described above. These fees were for the following services: Audit of management's assertions regarding internal control over financial reporting $12,900 Tax returns 5,900 Tax-related services 600 Audits of employee benefit plans 8,700
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provisions of these other services is compatible with maintaining Parente Randolph, PC's independence. AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements dated December 31, 2001 with management. They have also discussed with Parente Randolph, PC, the independent auditors of the Corporation, the matters for discussion as specified by the AICPA Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61. The Audit Committee has received from Parente Randolph, PC the written communications required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, "Independence Discussions with Audit Committees" and has discussed with Parente Randolph, PC, its independence. Based on their review and discussions referred to above, the Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Corporation's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Members of the Audit Committee, Edward H. Owlett, III, Chairman Leo F. Lambert F. David Pennypacker R. Bruce Haner Edward L. Learn James E. Towner Karl W. Kroeck Lawrence F. Mase
DIRECTORS' ATTENDANCE AND COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors of the Corporation met twelve times and the Board of Directors of the Bank met fourteen times in 2001. All of the directors attended at least 75% or more of the meetings of the Corporation and its committees of which they were members, except Director Pennypacker, who attended 74%. All directors of the Corporation are directors of the Bank. Each director who is not an officer of the Corporation or Bank received an annual retainer of $12,000 and an attendance fee of $100 for each meeting of the Board attended. In addition, each such director received a fee of $100 for attendance at each committee meeting. The aggregate amount of directors' retainers and fees paid during 2001 was $215,800. Effective in 2001, each member of the Corporation's Board of Directors and Advisory Board who receives retainers and fees may elect to receive such retainers and fees in the form of either cash or Corporation common stock, or a combination of cash and Corporation common stock. To the extent such members elect to receive payment of retainers and fees in the form of Corporation common stock, such stock will be purchased through the Corporation's dividend reinvestment plan. 6 CORPORATION'S AND BANK'S EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the current executive officers of the Corporation and the Bank.
NAME AND POSITION FOR LAST FIVE YEARS AGE Craig G. Litchfield 54 President and C.E.O. of the Corporation and the Bank since January, 1997; President of the Corporation and Bank since 1996 Brian L. Canfield 50 Senior Executive Vice President and Branch System Administrator since April, 1999; formerly Executive Vice President and Branch System Administrator since April, 1997; formerly Vice President of the Bank Dawn A. Besse 50 Executive Vice President and Sales & Service Coordinator since August, 2000; formerly Business Banking Territory Sales Manager for PNC Bank Thomas L. Briggs 51 Executive Vice President and Senior Trust Officer since April, 1997; formerly Vice President and Trust Officer of the Bank Mark A. Hughes 40 Treasurer of the Corporation since November, 2000; Executive Vice President of the Bank since August, 2000; formerly Principal and Manager of Parente Randolph, PC Matthew P. Prosseda 40 Executive Vice President and Commercial Loan Coordinator since April, 1997; formerly Vice President of the Bank Deborah E. Scott 42 Executive Vice President and Senior Trust Officer since September, 1999; formerly Vice President and Trust Officer of the Bank since January, 1998; formerly Vice President and Trust Officer of First Citizens National Bank
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The Compensation Committee ("Committee") of the Board of Directors establishes compensation policies, plans and programs which are intended to accomplish three objectives: to attract and retain highly capable and well qualified executives; to focus executives' efforts on increasing long-term stockholder value; and to reward executives at levels which are competitive with the marketplace for similar positions and commensurate with the performance of each executive and of Citizens & Northern. Each member of the Committee is an independent non-employee director. The Committee establishes the salaries of the other executive officers with input from the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors reviews all decisions relating to the compensation of the executive officers. The key elements in Citizens & Northern's executive compensation program, all determined by individual and corporate performance, are base salary compensation, annual cash bonus incentive compensation, long-term incentive compensation, and equitable retirement benefits. Annual compensation for the Chief Executive Officer is determined in essentially the same way as for other executives, recognizing that the CEO has overall responsibility for the performance of Citizens & Northern. The Committee believes that the CEO compensation should be heavily influenced by the performance of the Corporation. Base salaries and compensation programs are set at levels competitive with peer banking institutions and are adjusted for individual performance. To develop peer groups for Citizens & Northern, Ben S Cole Financial Incorporated (Cole Financial) collected market pay data from surveys covering the banking industry. Cole Financial then 7 analyzed the compensation of Citizens & Northern's executive officers as compared with compensation packages offered by U.S. financial institutions of similar asset or revenue size, as applicable. In establishing his base salary, the Committee reached the following conclusions regarding company performance: Survey comparison of Citizens & Northern established a survey Peer Group of 40 independent banks whose 2000 average asset size equaled C&N's, and further narrowed their Peer Group to a Core Group of 22 banks. According to the survey, Citizens & Northern Corporation's return on average assets (ROA) for 2000 was 1.23%, while the Core Group's ROA was 1.18% and the Peer Group's ROA was 1.46%. Mr. Litchfield's 2000 base salary of $248,000 is 5% below CEO's who receive the same compensation package; however, his total compensation with bonus and incentives falls to 83% of par behind Core Group CEOs. In December 2000, the Committee established the Chief Executive Officer's 2001 base salary at $260,400, representing a 5.0% increase over 2000. The compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and executive officers is reviewed annually by the Committee, except for decisions about awards under the Incentive Award Plan. These incentive opportunities in the Plan apply to meeting the Threshold, Target and Maximum levels of C&N Corporation's Return on Average Assets as compared to peers. The Executive Officer Performance Criteria Weighting for 2001 applied 60% to Corporate performance and 40% for Individual performance. The CEO Performance Criteria Weighting for 2001 applied 80% to Corporate performance and 20% for Individual performance. C&N's Incentive Award Plan target award for 2001 was 35% of base compensation for the CEO. In 2000, the CEO Incentive Award was 36% of base compensation, substantially equal to the cash bonuses awarded to the Peer Group CEOs in 2000. The Corporation approved a non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan effective January 1, 1989. It was designed for the purpose of retaining talented executives and to promote in these executives a strong interest in the long-term, successful operation of the Corporation. Since the Bank's Pension Plan provides a substantially reduced benefit as a percentage of final compensation for the executive officers as compared to non-executives, the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan is intended to increment the total retirement benefit package of the covered executives. The Plan is an unfunded plan and is subject to the general creditors of the Corporation. The Corporation approved a Stock Incentive Plan effective January 1, 1995. The Stock Incentive Plan is designed to advance the development, growth and financial condition of the Corporation while attracting, retaining and rewarding executives. The Committee believes that the concepts discussed above further the stockholders' interests since a significant part of executive compensation is based on obtaining results for the stockholders. The Committee bases its review on experience of its own members, on information requested from management and information compiled by various independent compensation consultants. The Committee believes that the program encourages responsible management of the Corporation.
Members of the Compensation Committee, R. Robert DeCamp, Chairman F. David Pennypacker Leonard Simpson R. Bruce Haner Edward H. Owlett, III James E. Towner
8 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The following table contains information with respect to annual compensation for services in all capacities to the Corporation and Bank for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 of those persons who were, at December 31, 2001, (i) the Chief Executive Officer and (ii) the four (4) other most highly compensated executives to the extent such persons' total salary and bonus exceeded $100,000: SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION Awards Payouts Restricted All Other Stock Options Compen- Name and Salary Bonus Awards(1) Awards(1) sation(2) Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) (#) ($) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRAIG G. LITCHFIELD 2001 260,400 116,378 0 0 29,382 Chairman, President and 2000 248,000 89,317 6,260 2,870 27,299 CEO 1999 231,000 57,750 0 5,000 23,784 BRIAN L. CANFIELD 2001 119,610 47,801 0 0 17,053 Senior Executive Vice 2000 113,620 35,074 3,140 1,435 14,026 President and Branch 1999 102,550 25,638 0 2,000 14,556 System Administrator MARK A. HUGHES 2001 125,000 40,725 0 0 14,272 Executive Vice President 2000 50,769 13,962 2,390 1,077 0 And Chief Financial Officer MATTHEW P. PROSSEDA 2001 111,020 36,615 0 0 13,181 Executive Vice President 2000 105,735 27,200 2,360 1,077 11,431 and Commercial Loan 1999 100,700 25,175 0 1,750 11,639 Coordinator DEBORAH E. SCOTT 2001 106,964 35,458 0 0 12,743 Executive Vice President 2000 101,764 27,985 2,390 1,077 9,923 And Senior Trust Officer
(1) No restricted shares of Corporation common stock or stock options were granted in 2001. The following awards were, however, granted on January 2, 2002 based on performance for the year ended December 31, 2001: Mr. Litchfield, 690 restricted shares and 6,270 stock options; Mr. Canfield, 345 restricted shares and 3,135 stock options; Mr. Hughes, 258 restricted shares and 2,352 stock options; Mr. Prosseda, 258 restricted shares and 2,352 stock options; and Mrs. Scott, 258 restricted shares and 2,352 stock options. The restrictions on the restricted shares lapse in three equal annual increments on the anniversaries of the awards and dividends are payable on the awarded shares. (2) Includes 2001 (a) contributions to the following accounts under the Bank's Savings & Retirement Plan (401k): Mr. Litchfield, $13,600; Mr. Canfield, $12,404; Mr. Hughes $11,066; Mr. Prosseda, $11,075; and Mrs. Scott, $10,700, and (b) allocations to the following Non-Qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan accounts: Mr. Litchfield, $15,782; Mr. Hughes $3,206; Mr. Canfield $4,649; Mr. Prosseda $2,106; and Mrs. Scott, $2,043 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN In 1995, the Corporation's Board of Directors adopted and the stockholders approved the Citizens & Northern Corporation Stock Incentive Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the development, growth and financial condition of the Corporation by providing incentives through participation in the appreciation of the capital stock in order to secure, retain and motivate personnel responsible for the operation and management of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. 9 No qualified stock options were granted by the Board of Directors for key officers of the Bank in 2001. However, the Board of Directors granted 35,769 qualified stock options in January 2002. Shares granted under option in 2000 and 1999, were 16,015 and 22,750, respectively. The period of the options shall be ten (10) years, commencing from the date of the grant, and are exercisable six (6) months from the Grant Date. Once the options are exercisable, all or a portion of the available exercisable options may be exercised at any time within the ten (10) year period from the Grant Date. If employment with the Bank terminates, except in the event of death or disability, the optionee has three (3) months from the date of termination to exercise any exercisable options outstanding as of the date of cessation of employment. In the event of an optionee's death or disability, the optionee or their legal representative may exercise any options to which the optionee was entitled as of the date of cessation of employment. The Board of Directors did not grant shares of restricted stock under the Stock Incentive Plan in 2001. However, in January 2002, the Board of Directors granted 4,053 shares of restricted stock. Restricted stock awards require no payment from the selected officers and vest ratably over three (3) years. At December 31, 2001, there were 86,509 shares reserved for future grants. After the awards granted in January 2002, there are 66,261 shares reserved for future grants. OPTION GRANTS No stock options were granted to the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table in 2001. Options were granted in January 2002, based on 2001 performance. (See note 1 to the Summary Compensation Table on page 8.) AGGREGATED STOCK OPTIONS EXERCISED DURING 2001 AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES The following table sets forth information concerning the exercise during 2001 of options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan by the five most highly compensated executives of the Corporation named in the Summary Compensation Table:
Number Number of Securities of Value Underlying Unexercised Value of Unexercised Shares Realized Options at In-the-Money Options on Acquired on Shares December 31, 2001 December 31, 2001 (2) Name On Exercise Acquired (1) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craig G. Litchfield 0 0 14,320 5,300 $29,321 $ 0.00 Brian L. Canfield 0 0 6,335 2,100 $15,267 $ 0.00 Mark A. Hughes 0 0 1,077 0 $ 6,354 $ 0.00 Matthew P. Prosseda 0 0 5,577 1,950 $11,309 $ 0.00 Deborah E. Scott 0 0 2,127 1,200 $ 6,354 $ 0.00
(1) Represents the difference between the market value on the date of exercise of the shares acquired and the option price of those shares. (2) Represents the difference between the aggregate market value at December 31, 2001 of the shares subject to the options and the aggregate option price of those shares. 10 PERFORMANCE GRAPH Set forth below is a chart comparing the Corporation's cumulative return to stockholders against the cumulative return of the S&P 500 Index and a Peer Group Index of similar banking organizations selected by the Corporation for the five year period commencing December 31, 1996 and ending December 31, 2001. The index values are market-weighted dividend-reinvestment numbers which measure the total return for investing $100.00 five years ago. This meets Securities & Exchange Commission requirements for showing dividend reinvestment share performance over a five year period and measures the return to an investor for placing $100.00 into a group of bank stocks and reinvesting any and all dividends into the purchase of more of the same stock for which dividends were paid. COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN [PLOT POINTS FOR CUMULATIVE RETURN]
PERIOD ENDED AS OF 12/31/96 12/31/97 12/31/98 12/31/99 12/31/00 12/31/01 C & N 100.00 137.99 148.70 117.68 91.97 125.99 Peer Group 100.00 142.10 179.82 153.69 117.67 161.11 S & P 500 Index 100.00 133.37 171.44 207.52 188.62 166.22
All ten institutions in the peer group selected by the Corporation are headquartered in Pennsylvania, have total assets of $300 to $1.7 Billion and market capitalization of at least $25 Million. This peer group consists of ACNB Corporation, Gettysburg; CNB Financial Corporation, Clearfield; Community Banks, Inc., Millersburg; Drovers Bancshares Corporation, York; First Chester County Corporation, West Chester; Franklin Financial Services Corporation, Chambersburg; Penseco Financial Services Corporation, Scranton; Penn Rock Financial Services Corporation, Blue Ball; Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc., Jersey Shore; and Sterling Financial Corporation, Lancaster. The same peer group was used in 2001. The data for this graph was obtained from SNL Financial L.C. PENSION PLAN The Citizens & Northern Bank Pension Plan (the "Plan") is a qualified defined benefit plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is intended to provide a defined retirement benefit to participants without regard to the profits of the Bank. Employees are neither required nor permitted to contribute to the Plan. Annual contributions by the Bank are determined actuarially. To participate in the Plan, an employee must be 21 years of age and have completed one year of service. A participant's retirement benefit, which becomes fully vested after 5 years of service, is based on compensation and credited service with the Bank. For purposes of determining a retirement benefit, the term "compensation" is defined to include an employee's total remuneration received from the Bank, including base salary, bonus and overtime. Benefits are a percentage of the average compensation for the five consecutive years of highest compensation preceding retirement, multiplied by the number of years of completed service, up to 25 years. The Bank's Trust and Financial Services Department serves as Trustee under the Plan. The following table indicates, for purposes of illustration, the approximate amounts of annual retirement income which would be payable under the terms of the Plan, in the form of a straight life annuity, to a participant who retired as of December 31, 2001, at age 65, under various assumptions as to compensation and years of credited 11 service. For any plan year beginning after December 31, 1993, the Pension Plan benefits are determined on only the first $170,000, as indexed, in compensation as determined by the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and as prescribed by law. PENSION PLAN TABLE
Years of Credited Service Average Annual Compensation 15 20 25 (or more) ---------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ $ 75,000 $13,809 $18,412 $23,016 $100,000 $19,622 $26,162 $32,703 $125,000 $25,434 $33,912 $42,391 $150,000 $31,247 $41,662 $52,078 $170,000 and over $35,897 $47,862 $59,828
The credited years of service under the Plan as of December 31, 2001 was 29 years for Mr. Litchfield, 24 years for Mr. Canfield, 1 year for Mr. Hughes, 8 years for Mr. Prosseda, and 4 years for Mrs. Scott. In December 1989, the Bank established a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan for certain key executive employees ("Executive Plan"). The Executive Plan provides a retirement benefit for executives who retire after attaining age 55 and 5 years of plan service in an amount determined annually by the Directors. The Board of Directors may terminate the Executive Plan at any time. In 2001, the amounts accrued pursuant to the Executive Plan for the accounts of the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth herein, is included as "All Other Compensation". Future estimated benefits do not take compensation into consideration. SAVINGS PLAN The Citizens & Northern Savings and Retirement Plan ("Savings Plan") is qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. It allows a participant to authorize the deposit into the Plan of before tax earnings of from 1% to 15% of his compensation. Under the Tax Reform Act, the maximum amount of elective contributions that could be made by a participant during 2001 was Ten Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($10,500.00), also subject to a $170,000 compensation limit. All officers and employees of Citizens & Northern Bank, including the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth herein, are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. A participant may also make voluntary contributions to the Plan from after tax savings of up to 10% of his compensation. The Bank is required to contribute a basic employer contribution equal to 2% of each eligible participant's compensation; in addition, the Bank may make a discretionary basic contribution. The total actual basic employer contribution for 2001 was equal to 4%. In addition, the Bank makes matching contributions equal to 100% of a participant's before tax contributions up to 3% of compensation and equal to 50% of such contributions between 3% and 5% of compensation. The Bank's basic employer contributions are invested in the common stock of the Corporation. All participants' contributions and the Bank's matching contributions, at the participants' election, are invested in a choice of eight investment funds maintained by the Bank as Trustee. In 2001, the Bank's contribution to the Savings Plan for the accounts of the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth herein is included as "All Other Compensation". Substantially all officers and employees of the Bank are eligible to participate in the Savings Plan. INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN The Board of Directors has adopted an Incentive Award Plan for certain members of the management group of the Bank in order to promote a superior level of performance regarding the Bank's financial goals and to attract and retain competent management. Under the Incentive Award Plan, if predetermined performance goals are realized by the Bank in a given fiscal year, the participants will receive awards based upon the target or maximum levels of payout as determined by the Plan. Under the Incentive Award Plan, immediately before the beginning of each year the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank will designate the participants in the Plan and set a minimum and maximum level of awards for each class of participants and the individual performance and financial goals of the Bank or appropriate unit to be achieved. The Compensation Committee, at its discretion, may adjust award payments under the Incentive Award Plan based on extraordinary circumstances, conflicts with long-term financial 12 and development objectives, or below standard individual participant performance. All awards under the Incentive Award Plan will be paid in cash and are paid as soon as practical after the end of a plan year. CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS Certain directors and officers of the Corporation and Bank and their associates (including corporations of which such persons are officers or 10% beneficial owners) were customers of, and had transactions with the Bank in the ordinary course of business during the year ended December 31, 2001. Similar transactions may be expected to take place in the future. Such transactions included the purchase of certificates of deposit and extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and did not involve more than the normal risks of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. The Bank expects that any other transactions with directors and officers and their associates in the future will be conducted on the same basis. The law firm of Owlett & Lewis, P.C., of which Director Owlett was an employee and in which he had an interest during 2001, acts as legal counsel for the Corporation and the Bank. PROPOSAL 2 -- RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Parente Randolph, PC, formerly Parente, Randolph, Orlando, Carey & Associates, has been the independent public accounting firm appointed by the Bank since 1981, and has been selected by the Board as the independent public accounting firm for the Corporation and the Bank for 2002. No member of the firm or any of its associates has a financial interest in the Corporation. Parente Randolph, PC provides, in addition to audit services, non-audit professional services such as preparation of income tax returns, consultations, and various other services. Non-audit services are considered to have no effect on the independence of accountants. A representative of Parente Randolph, PC is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to answer appropriate questions from stockholders and will be afforded an opportunity to make any statement that the firm desires. The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" ratification of the appointment of Parente Randolph, PC as independent auditors of the Corporation. SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Corporation's officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the Corporation's common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish the Corporation with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto furnished to the Corporation during 2001 and Forms 5 and amendments thereto furnished to the Corporation with respect to 2001, no director, officer or ten percent stockholder or any other person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, failed to make on a timely basis during 2001 or prior fiscal years any reports required to be filed by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS The Corporation's 2003 Annual Meeting of stockholders is scheduled to be held in April 2003. Any stockholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2003 Annual Meeting and who wishes to have the proposal included in the Corporations proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting must deliver the proposal to the Corporation's executive offices, 90-92 Main Street, P.O. Box 58, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901, by December 16, 2002. Citizens & Northern must receive notice of all other stockholder proposals for the 2003 annual meeting delivered or mailed no less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to the Annual Meeting; provided, however, that if less than twenty-one days notice of the annual meeting is given to stockholders then the Corporation must receive notice not less than seven days following the date on which notice of the annual meeting was mailed. If notice is not received by the Corporation within this time frame, the Corporation will consider such notice untimely. The 13 Corporation reserves the right to vote in its discretion all of the shares of common stock for which it has received proxies for the 2003 annual meeting with respect to any untimely shareholder proposals. OTHER MATTERS The management of the Corporation does not intend to bring any other matters before the Annual Meeting and is not presently informed of any other business which others may bring before such meeting. However, if any other matters should properly come before such meeting or any adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters as they, in their discretion, determine. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 2001, including financial statements as certified by Parente Randolph, PC, was mailed with this Proxy Statement on or about March 19, 2002, to the stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 2002. AN ADDITIONAL COPY OF THE CORPORATION'S 2001 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES THERETO, WILL BE FURNISHED FREE OF CHARGE TO STOCKHOLDERS. WRITTEN REQUEST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE TREASURER, CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION, 90-92 MAIN STREET, WELLSBORO, PA, 16901, OR BY PHONE AT 570-724-3411. By Order of the Board of Directors, Kathleen M. Osgood Corporate Secretary Dated: March 19, 2002 14 CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD APRIL 16, 2002 The undersigned hereby appoints R. Robert DeCamp and Edward L. Learn, and each or either of them, as the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each, to vote all shares of the common stock of Citizens & Northern Corporation which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2002, at 2:00 P.M. (local time), at the Arcadia Theatre, 50 Main Street, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901, and at any adjournments thereof, and to vote as follows: 1. ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS. Nominees: Dennis F. Beardslee, Jan E. Fisher, Karl W. Kroeck, Craig G. Litchfield and Ann M. Tyler. [ ] VOTE FOR all nominees listed above [ ] VOTE WITHHELD (except as marked to the contrary below) from all nominees listed above.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee's name on the space provided above.) 2. APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRM OF PARENTE RANDOLPH, PC AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. [ ] VOTE FOR [ ] VOTE AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. OTHER MATTERS. In their discretion, to vote with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof. WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE STOCKHOLDER. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2. PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS HEREON. When shares are held as joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. Dated: , 2002 --------------------- ---------------------------------- Signature ---------------------------------- Signature PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.