<PAGE>
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:
X Preliminary Proxy Statement
- ----
Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by
- ---- Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
Definitive Proxy Statement
- ----
Definitive Additional Materials
- ----
Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12
- ----
SJNB Financial Corp.
--------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
--------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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 the 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:
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<PAGE>
Proxy Statement of
SJNB Financial Corp.
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 26, 1999
<PAGE>
April 14, 1999
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
SJNB Financial Corp. to be held on May 26, 1999 at 10:00 a.m., in the Main
Dining Room at The San Jose Country Club, 15571 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose,
California.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT
YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND
RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED. THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE PROPOSALS DESCRIBED IN THE
ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT AND ON THE PROXY.
Sincerely yours,
Robert A. Archer James R. Kenny
Chairman of the Board President & Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
SJNB FINANCIAL CORP.
One North Market Street
San Jose, California 95113
(408) 947-7562
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be Held on May 26, 1999
To the Shareholders of SJNB Financial Corp.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of SJNB Financial
Corp. will be held in the Main Dining Room at The San Jose Country Club, 15571
Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, California on May 26, 1999 at 10:00 a.m., for the
following purposes:
1. To elect the following eleven directors of the Corporation to serve
until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their
respective successors shall be elected and qualified:
Ray S. Akamine Arthur K. Lund
Robert A. Archer Louis Oneal
Albert V. Bruno Diane P. Rubino
Rod Diridon Douglas L. Shen
F. Jack Gorry Gary S. Vandeweghe
James R. Kenny
2. To approve an amendment to the Corporation's Restated Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws to provide for the classification of the
Board of Directors into three classes.
3. To approve an amendment to the Corporation's Restated Articles of
Incorporation to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock.
4. To approve an amendment to the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option Plan to
authorize the issuance of an additional 150,000 options to purchase
common stock.
5. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Corporation's independent
public accountants for the year ending December 31, 1999.
6. To consider and transact such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting.
The close of business on April 12, 1999 is the record date for the determination
of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any
postponements or adjournments thereof.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote by
completing, signing and returning the enclosed proxy promptly. Any shareholder
present at the Annual Meeting may vote personally on all matters brought before
the Annual Meeting, in which event your proxy will not be used.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Robert A. Archer James R. Kenny
Chairman of the Board President & Chief Executive Officer
April 14, 1999
(Approximate mailing date of proxy materials)
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
GENERAL INFORMATION 1
Revocability of Proxies 1
Solicitation of Proxies 1
Outstanding Securities and Voting Rights 1
Proposals of Shareholders 3
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 3
Nominees to the Board of Directors 3
Nominations for Directors 5
Designation of Classes if Proposal No. 2 is Approved 5
Certain Committees of the Board of Directors 5
Compensation of Directors 6
Meetings of the Board of Directors 6
Executive Officers 6
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT 7
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS 8
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS 9
Summary Compensation Table 9
Compensation Committee Report 9
Stock Performance Chart 12
Stock Option Plans 13
Employment Agreements 13
Transactions with Directors and Officers 14
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance 14
PROPOSAL NO. 2: CLASSIFICATION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS 14
Introduction 14
Effect of Classification of Board 15
Other Effects 16
Required Approval 17
Recommendation of Management 17
PROPOSAL NO. 3: AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK 17
Introduction 17
Reasons for the Amendment 18
Other Effects 18
Required Approval 19
Recommendation of Management 19
PROPOSAL NO. 4: APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN 19
Summary of the 1996 Stock Option Plan 19
Proposed Amendment 19
Federal Income Tax Consequences 20
Amended Plan Benefits 20
Required Approval 20
Recommendation of Management 20
PROPOSAL NO. 5: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 20
Ratification of KPMG LLP 20
Required Approval 21
Recommendation of Management 21
OTHER MATTERS 21
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K 21
ANNEX A A-1
<PAGE>
PROXY STATEMENT
OF
SJNB FINANCIAL CORP.
One North Market Street
San Jose, California 95113
(408) 947-7562
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 26, 1999
INTRODUCTION
These proxy materials are furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of SJNB Financial Corp. (the "Corporation"), a
California corporation, for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
on May 26, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. in the Main Dining Room at The San Jose Country
Club, 15571 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, California, and any postponements or
adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"). These proxy materials were mailed to
shareholders on or about April 14, 1999.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Revocability of Proxies
A proxy for voting your shares at the Meeting is enclosed. Any shareholder
giving the enclosed proxy has the right to revoke it at any time before it is
exercised by filing with the Corporation's Secretary, James R. Kenny, a written
notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. A
shareholder may also revoke a proxy by attending the Meeting and advising the
Chairman of his or her election to vote in person.
Solicitation of Proxies
This proxy solicitation is made by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and
the cost of the solicitation is being borne by the Corporation. Solicitation is
being made by this Proxy Statement and may also be made by employees or agents
of the Corporation who may communicate with shareholders or their
representatives in person, by telephone or by additional mailings. The
Corporation may, at its discretion, engage the services of a proxy solicitation
firm to assist in the solicitation of proxies. The total expense of this
solicitation will be borne by the Corporation and will include reimbursement
paid to brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding soliciting
material and such expenses as may be paid to any proxy solicitation firm engaged
by the Corporation.
Outstanding Securities and Voting Rights
Only those shareholders of record of the Corporation's common stock ("Common
Stock") as of the record date, April 12, 1999, will be entitled to notice of and
to vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment
thereof, unless a new record date is set for a postponed or adjourned meeting.
As of April __, 1999, the Corporation had one class of securities issued and
outstanding, consisting of 2,408,731 shares of Common Stock. Such shares are
held by approximately 1,800 shareholders. All of the shares are voting shares
and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to
one vote at the Meeting.
In the election of directors, the eleven (11) candidates receiving the highest
number of votes will be elected. Approval of Proposal Nos. 2 and 3 (to amend the
Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
1
<PAGE>
to provide for classification of the Corporation's Board of Directors into three
classes and to amend the Restated Articles of Incorporation to authorize the
issuance of Preferred Stock) requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock. Approval of each of the other proposals
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock
represented at the Meeting and entitled to vote with respect to each such
matter. However, with respect to Proposal Nos. 2 and 3, which require approval
by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation's
Common Stock, broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote against such
proposals. If, by the time scheduled for the Meeting, a quorum of shareholders
of the Corporation is not present or if a quorum is present but sufficient votes
in favor of any of the proposals have not been received, the Meeting may be held
for purposes of voting on those proposals for which sufficient votes have been
received, and the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments
of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to any of
the proposals for which sufficient votes have not been received.
A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented either in person or by a
properly executed proxy, will constitute a quorum at the Meeting. If a
shareholder withholds authority to vote for directors on the enclosed proxy, or
attends the Meeting, elects to vote in person, but abstains from voting in the
election of directors, that shareholder's shares will not be counted in
determining the candidates receiving the highest number of votes. For shares
present at the Meeting in person or by proxy, an abstention with respect to
Proposal Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 is treated the same as a vote against such matter.
Generally broker non-votes (shares as to which brokerage firms have not received
voting instructions from their clients and therefore do not have the authority
to vote the shares at the Meeting) will be considered in determining if a quorum
is present at the Meeting but will be disregarded in determining votes cast.
However, with respect to Proposal Nos. 2 and 3, which require approval by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation's Common
Stock, broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote against such proposals.
If, by the time scheduled for the Meeting, a quorum of shareholders of the
Corporation is not present or if a quorum is present but sufficient votes in
favor of any of the proposals have not been received, the Meeting may be held
for purposes of voting on those proposals for which sufficient votes have been
received, and the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments
of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to any of
the proposals for which sufficient votes have not been received.
If the enclosed proxy is completed in the appropriate spaces, signed, dated and
returned, the proxy will be voted as specified in the proxy. If no specification
is made on an executed proxy, it will be voted FOR the election of directors
nominated by the Board, FOR approval of the amendment to the Restated Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws to provide for classification of the Board of
Directors into three classes, FOR approval of the amendment to the Restated
Articles of Incorporation to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock, FOR
approval of the amendment to the 1996 Stock Option Plan and FOR the ratification
of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Corporation's independent public
accountants.
The proxy also confers discretionary authority to vote the shares represented
thereby on any matter that was not known at the time this Proxy Statement was
mailed which may properly be presented for action at the Meeting and may
include: approval of minutes of the prior annual meeting which will not
constitute ratification of the actions taken at such meeting; action with
respect to procedural matters pertaining to the conduct of the Meeting; and
election of any person to any office for which a bona fide nominee is named
herein if such nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve.
Management of the Corporation is not aware of any other matters to come before
the Meeting. If, however, any other matters of which the Board is not now aware
are properly presented for action, it is the intention of the proxy holders
named in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy on such matters in accordance
with their best business judgment.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the election of
the directors nominated by the Board, FOR approval of the amendment to the
Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to provide for classification of
the Board of Directors into three classes, FOR approval of the amendment to the
Restated Articles of Incorporation to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock,
FOR approval of the amendment to the 1996 Stock Option Plan and FOR the
ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Corporation's independent
public accountants.
2
<PAGE>
Proposals of Shareholders
Under certain circumstances, shareholders are entitled to present proposals at
shareholder meetings. For any such proposal to be considered for inclusion in
the proxy statement prepared for next year's Annual Meeting, the proposal must
be received at the Corporation's executive offices at One North Market Street,
San Jose, California 95113 prior to December 18, 1999. Any such proposal
received by the Corporation's principal executive offices after such date will
be considered untimely and may be excluded from the proxy statement and form of
proxy. The deadline for submission of stockholder proposals to be presented at
next year's Annual Meeting, but which will not be included in the proxy
statement and form of proxy relating to such meeting, is March 4, 2000. Any such
proposal received by the Corporation's principal executive offices after such
date will be considered untimely and the persons named in the proxy for such
meeting may exercise their discretionary voting power with respect to such
proposal.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees to the Board of Directors
The Bylaws of the Corporation provide that the number of directors of the
Corporation shall be no less than nine and no more than seventeen, with the
exact number within such range to be fixed by amendment of the Bylaws adopted by
the shareholders or by the Board of Directors. The number of directors is
presently fixed at eleven.
The persons named below, all of whom are currently members of the Corporation's
Board of Directors, have been nominated for election as directors to serve until
the next Annual Meeting and until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. If any nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve as a
director, the proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee as shall be
designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors presently has no
knowledge that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve. The
eleven nominees receiving the highest number of votes at the Meeting shall be
elected.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to those persons
nominated by the Board of Directors for election as directors, which information
is based on data furnished by each such nominee. Each member of the
Corporation's Board of Directors also serves as a director of San Jose National
Bank ("SJNB" or the "Bank").
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
First Elected Principal Business Experience
Name a Director(1) Age During the Past Five Years
---- ------------- --- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Ray S. Akamine 1994 52 Chief Financial Officer of Hill View Packing Company
in San Jose since April 1998. Prior to that time, he
served as Chief Financial Officer of Consolidated Factors
in Monterey, California from November 1995 to March 1998.
Prior to that time, he served as Vice President of Finance for
Mariani Packing Company, a food processing company located in
San Jose, from June 1984 to November 1995.
Robert A. Archer 1982 65 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation
and SJNB since 1993. President and a principal
stockholder of Coast Counties Truck and Equipment
Company, a heavy duty truck dealership and service
facility in San Jose, which he has owned and operated
for more than 30 years.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
First Elected Principal Business Experience
Name a Director(1) Age During the Past Five Years
---- ------------- --- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Albert V. Bruno 1994 54 Professor of Marketing at Santa Clara University,
where he is also Associate Dean of the Leavey School
of Business. He has been at Santa Clara University
since 1971 where he has served as chairman of the
Marketing Department and Acting Dean.
Rod Diridon 1994 60 Executive Director of the Norman Y. Mineta
International Institute for Surface Transportation
Policy Studies at the College of Business at San Jose
State University since 1994. Prior to that time, he
served as the Supervisor of the 4th District of the
County of Santa Clara, to which he was elected in
1974.
F. Jack Gorry 1988 65 Private consultant since September 1992.
James R. Kenny 1991 54 President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of
the Corporation and SJNB since September 1991.
Arthur K. Lund 1982 65 A practicing attorney at law and a member of
Rosenblum, Parish & Isaacs in San Jose since 1993.
Prior to that, he was a member of Rankin, Center,
Luckhardt & Lund. Mr. Lund was the Chairman of the
Board of the Corporation from 1983 through 1992.
Louis Oneal 1982 66 A practicing attorney at law and a member of The Law
Offices of Louis Oneal in San Jose.
Diane P. Rubino 1987 50 President of Hill View Packing Company since 1993.
Previously she was a partner of Valley View Packing
since 1977.
Douglas L. Shen 1994 60 A self employed dentist since 1966. His office is
located in San Jose, California.
Gary S. Vandeweghe 1982 60 A practicing attorney at law with Olimpia, Whalen &
Lively since April 1996. From December 1995 to April
1996, he was a member of the Law Offices of Gary S.
Vandeweghe. Prior to that time, he was a member of
Rankin, Luckhardt, Vandeweghe, Landsness & Lahde in
San Jose.
<FN>
- -------------------
(1) Includes service as a director of SJNB prior to the organization of
SJNB Financial Corp. Directors Akamine, Bruno, Diridon and Shen were
directors of Business Bancorp and California Business Bank prior to the
merger.
</FN>
</TABLE>
There is no family relationship among any of the Corporation's executive
officers, directors or nominees for director.
4
<PAGE>
Nominations for Directors
The Corporation's Bylaws provide that nominations for a director may be made by
shareholders, provided that certain informational requirements concerning the
identities of the nominating shareholder and the
nominee are complied with in advance of the meeting. This provision is intended
to provide advance notice to management of any attempt to effect an election
contest or a change in control of the Board of Directors, and may have the
effect of precluding third party nominations if not followed. Specifically, the
Bylaws provide that nominations for directors, other than those made by or on
behalf of existing management, must be made in writing and mailed or delivered
to the President of the Corporation, no less than 14 nor more than 50 days prior
to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors, except that
if less than 21 days' notice of the meeting is given, such nomination must be
mailed or delivered to the President by the close of business on the seventh day
following the date on which the notice was mailed. The written nomination must
include the following information, to the extent known by the nominating
shareholder: (a) the name and address of each proposed nominee; (b) the
principal occupation of each proposed nominee; (c) the total number of shares of
common stock of the Corporation that will be voted for each proposed nominee;
(d) the name and residence address of the nominating shareholder; and (e) the
number of shares of common stock of the Corporation owned by the nominating
shareholder.
The Bylaws provide that nominations not made in accordance with the above
procedure may, at his discretion, be disregarded by the Chairman of the Meeting
and, upon his instructions, the inspectors of election shall disregard all votes
cast for each such nominee.
Designation of Classes if Proposal No. 2 is Approved
If Proposal No. 2 is approved and the Board of Directors is classified into
three classes with staggered three-year terms (see "Proposal No. 2:
Classification of Board of Directors"), Class I Directors will be elected for an
initial one-year term, Class II Directors will be elected for an initial
two-year term and Class III Directors will be elected for an initial three-year
term. Votes by the Corporation's proxy holders will be cast in such a way as to
effect the election of all nominees.
Class I Directors Class II Directors Class III Directors
- ----------------- ------------------ -------------------
Albert V. Bruno Ray S. Akamine Robert A. Archer
F. Jack Gorry Rod Diridon James R. Kenny
Louis Oneal Arthur K. Lund Diane P. Rubino
Douglas L. Shen Gary S. Vandeweghe
If one or more persons other than management's nominees are nominated and
receive sufficient votes to be elected and Proposal No. 2 is approved, such
person or persons will be deemed elected to the class of directors for which
management's nominee who was not elected was proposed. If two or more of
management's nominees are not elected, the other persons elected shall be
entitled to select, in order of the number of votes cast in their favor, the
class to which they are elected from the classes to which fewer than all of
management's nominees were elected. Accordingly, a person other than a nominee
of management may receive more votes than any of management's nominees for a
particular class, e.g., Class III, but if all of management's nominees for Class
III are among the eleven candidates receiving the greatest number of votes, such
nominees will be elected as Class III Directors and the other person elected to
the Board must select from a class to which fewer than all of management's
nominees were elected.
Certain Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Corporation has a standing Audit Committee and
Compensation Committee. The Audit Committee of the Corporation is chaired by Rod
Diridon and the members are Ray S. Akamine, F. Jack Gorry, Diane P. Rubino,
Douglas L. Shen and Gary S. Vandeweghe. The Audit Committee met four times in
1998 for the purpose of reviewing the scope of and planning for the annual
audit, and reviewing the results of internal operations audits of the Bank and
the Bank's compliance with consumer laws, regulatory agency reports and
securities reports.
5
<PAGE>
The Compensation Committee is chaired by Albert V. Bruno and the members are
Robert A. Archer, F. Jack Gorry, Arthur K. Lund, Louis Oneal, Douglas L. Shen
and Gary S. Vandeweghe. The Compensation Committee met three times in 1998 for
the purpose of setting compensation levels of senior officers and directors,
reviewing and approving bonus plans and payments, and reviewing and approving
employee benefit plans, including stock option, insurance and retirement plans.
In addition, the Committee reviews and approves the Corporation's Compensation
Policy.
The Corporation does not have a standing nominating committee. The Board of
Directors of the Corporation performs the functions of such committee.
Nominations by shareholders can be made only by complying with the Corporation's
Bylaws and the notice provisions discussed above.
Compensation of Directors
In 1998, the outside directors of the Corporation were paid an annual retainer
of $12,000 through July 1998. In August 1998 this amount was increased to
$15,000. In addition, each director was paid $250 through July 1998 and $500
from August 1998 for attendance at each meeting of standing committees of the
Corporation of which he or she is a member. Directors of the Corporation do not
now receive additional fees for attendance at the Corporation's Board meetings.
In addition, the 1996 Stock Option Plan provides for automatic annual grants to
each non-employee director on March 1 of each year of options to purchase 5,000
shares of Common Stock.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Corporation's Board of Directors held a total of 11 regular meetings in
1998. Every director attended at least 75% of: (i) the Corporation's 11 Board
meetings; and (ii) all of the meetings of any committee of the Corporation's
Board on which such director served, except for Messrs. Diridon and Lund who
attended 73% and 71% of such meetings, respectively.
Executive Officers
The executive officers of the Corporation and SJNB include James R. Kenny,
President and Chief Executive Officer, about whom information is provided above,
and the following persons:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Occupation
Name and Position(s) Age During the Past Five Years
-------------------- --- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Eugene E. Blakeslee 53 Executive Vice President and Chief
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and
Financial Officer of the Corporation SJNB since September 1991.
and SJNB
Frederic H. Charpiot 52 Senior Vice President and Chief Credit
Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of SJNB since October 1991.
Officer of SJNB
Margo F. Culcasi 51 Senior Vice President/Liability Management
Senior Vice President/Liability of SJNB since February 1993.
Management of SJNB
Judith Doering-Nielsen 53 Senior Vice President and Senior Lending
Senior Vice President and Senior Officer of SJNB since October 1991.
Lending Officer of SJNB
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as of April __, 1999 pertaining to
beneficial ownership of the Corporation's Common Stock by each current director
of the Corporation, each nominee to be elected to the Board of Directors, the
Chief Executive Officer, the four other most highly compensated executive
officers and all directors and officers(1) of the Corporation and SJNB as a
group. The information contained herein has been obtained from the Corporation's
records, from information furnished directly by the individual to the
Corporation, or from various filings made by the named individuals with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
The table should be read with the understanding that more than one person may be
the beneficial owner or possess certain attributes of beneficial ownership with
respect to the same securities. Therefore, careful attention should be given to
the footnote references set forth in the column "Amount and Nature of Beneficial
Ownership." In addition, shares issuable pursuant to options which may be
exercised within 60 days of April 12, 1999 are deemed to be issued and
outstanding and have been treated as outstanding in calculating the percentage
ownership of those individuals possessing such interest, but not for any other
individuals. Thus, the total number of shares considered to be outstanding for
the purposes of this table may vary depending upon the individual's particular
circumstance.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount and Nature Percent of
Name and Address of of Beneficial Outstanding
Beneficial Owner(2) Ownership(3) Common Stock
------------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Ray S. Akamine 13,000(4) *
Robert A. Archer 56,584(4)(5) 2.34%
Albert V. Bruno 19,165(4) *
Rod Diridon 7,699(4) *
F. Jack Gorry 13,000(4) *
James R. Kenny 131,014(6)(7) 5.40%
Arthur K. Lund 70,778(4)(8)(9) 2.93%
Louis Oneal 71,004(4)(8) 2.94%
Diane P. Rubino 18,337(10) *
Douglas L. Shen 70,860(4)(11) 2.94%
Gary S. Vandeweghe 40,503(4) *
Eugene E. Blakeslee 102,004(6)(12) 4.21%
Frederic H. Charpiot 71,790(6)(13) 2.97%
Margo F. Culcasi 13,959(14) *
Judith Doering-Nielsen 25,031(15) 1.04%
Directors and Executive Officers as 571,481(16) 22.48%
a group (15 persons)
<FN>
* Less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock.
</FN>
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) As used throughout this Proxy Statement, the terms "officer" and
"executive officer" refer to the Corporation and SJNB's President and
Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer, and SJNB's Chief Credit Officer, Senior Lending
Officer and Senior Vice President/Liability Management.
(2) The address for all persons is c/o the SJNB Financial Corp., One North
Market Street, San Jose, California 95113.
(3) Includes shares beneficially owned, directly and indirectly,
together with associates. Subject to applicable community
property laws and shared voting or investment power with a spouse, the
persons listed have sole voting and investment power with respect to
such shares unless otherwise noted.
(4) Includes 7,000 shares underlying stock options.
(5) Includes 3,720 shares owned of record by a trust of which Mr. Archer is
a trustee and beneficiary.
7
<PAGE>
(6) Includes 52,764 shares held in the SJNB Cash or Deferred Profit
Sharing Plan (the "401(k)") of which Messrs. Kenny, Blakeslee and
Charpiot are trustees and beneficiaries and with regard to which
shares Messrs. Kenny, Blakeslee and Charpiot have sole or shared
voting power. Messrs. Kenny, Blakeslee and Charpiot disclaim
beneficial ownership of the 401(k) shares, other than such shares
allocated to their respective personal accounts in the 401(k); 3,085,
2,020 and 2,145, respectively.
(7) Includes 20,000 shares underlying stock options.
(8) Includes 51,884 shares owned of record by a trust of which Messrs.
Lund and Oneal are trustees, as to which shares they
disclaim beneficial ownership.
(9) Includes 3,782 shares owned of record by a trust of which Mr. Lund is
the trustee and beneficiary.
(10) Includes 4,000 shares underlying stock options.
(11) Includes 30,816 shares owned of record by a trust of which Dr. Shen is
a trustee and beneficiary.
(12) Includes 16,000 shares underlying stock options.
(13) Includes 12,560 shares underlying stock options.
(14) Includes 9,600 shares underlying stock options.
(15) Includes 8,000 shares underlying stock options.
(16) Includes 133,160 shares underlying stock options.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Information herein regarding ownership of the Corporation's Common Stock by
entities or persons known by the Corporation to be the beneficial owner of more
than 5% of the Corporation's Common Stock is based solely on copies of Schedules
provided to the Corporation by such entities or persons which have also been
filed with the SEC.
According to a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on February 13, 1998, Banc Fund
III L.P., Banc Fund III Trust, Banc Fund IV L.P. and Banc Fund IV Trust, 208 S.
LaSalle Street, Chicago IL, 60604, collectively reported beneficial ownership of
170,833 shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, or 7.09% of shares outstanding
as of April __, 1999. Each of such entities reported that it had sole voting and
investment power with respect to the following shares of Corporation Common
Stock: Banc Fund III L.P., 19,234 shares; Banc Fund III Trust, 58,957 shares;
Banc Fund IV L.P., 21,233 shares; and Banc Fund IV Trust, 71,409 shares.
Pine Capital Management, Inc., 353 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94111,
provided a copy of a Schedule 13G dated February 16, 1999, reporting their
beneficial ownership of 162,515 shares of the Corporation's common stock, or
6.75% of shares outstanding as of April __, 1999. Pine Capital Management, Inc.
is an investment advisor and has received power of attorney for investment
purposes from their clients.
Other than the above described entities and Mr. James R. Kenny, whose ownership
of shares is described in the table under "Security Ownership of Directors and
Management", the Corporation knows of no other person who beneficially owned
more than five percent of the Corporation's Common Stock as of April __, 1999.
8
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the cash compensation paid to or allocated for
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and the four other most highly
compensated executive officers for services rendered in all capacities to the
Corporation and SJNB during 1998, 1997 and 1996.
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-term
Annual Compensation Compensation-
------------------- Securities All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Salary(1) Bonus Underlying Options(2) Compensation(3)
- --------------------------- ---- --------- ----- ------------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James R. Kenny 1998 $193,333 $130,000 24,000 $6,426
President, Chief Executive Officer 1997 $160,000 $145,000 0 $6,176
and Secretary of the Corporation 1996 $160,000 $125,000 0 $6,176
and SJNB
Eugene E. Blakeslee 1998 $142,833 $95,000 12,000 $5,000
Executive Vice President and 1997 $107,000 $105,000 0 $4,750
Chief Financial Officer 1996 $107,000 $90,000 0 $4,750
of the Corporation and SJNB
Frederic H. Charpiot 1998 $113,333 $72,000 10,000 $5,000
Senior Vice President and Chief 1997 $80,000 $80,000 0 $4,750
Credit Officer of SJNB 1996 $80,000 $70,000 0 $4,750
Margo F. Culcasi 1998 $112,500 $72,000 10,000 $5,000
Senior Vice President/ 1997 $75,000 $80,000 0 $4,750
Liability Management of SJNB 1996 $75,000 $62,525 0 $4,750
Judith Doering-Nielsen 1998 $114,167 $72,000 10,000 $5,000
Senior Vice President and Senior 1997 $85,000 $80,000 0 $4,750
Lending Officer of SJNB 1996 $85,000 $70,000 0 $4,750
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1) The executive officers received perquisites in addition to their
salaries. The value of such perquisites did not exceed the lesser of
$50,000 or 10% of the total annual salary and bonus reported for each
such executive officer. Salary amounts include compensation deferred at
the election of the executive in the year earned.
(2) On March 25, 1998, the following options were granted to the named
executive officers at an exercise price equal to the market price of
the Common Stock on the date of such grant: Mr. Kenny, 12,000;
Mr. Blakeslee, 6,000; Mr. Charpiot, 5,000; Ms. Culcasi, 5,000; and
Ms. Doering-Nielsen, 5,000. All of such options were cancelled on
October 23, 1998 and reissued at an exercise price equal to the
market price of the Common Stock on such date. See "-Compensation
Committee Report" and "-Stock Option Plans" below.
(3) Consists of the Bank's contributions to vested and unvested defined
contribution plans. Mr. Kenny's total also includes a
life insurance premium of $1,426 paid by the Bank each year.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Compensation Committee Report
The Corporation's compensation program and policies applicable to its executive
officers are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors. The Compensation Committee is made up entirely of non-employee
directors. The programs and policies are designed to enhance shareholder value
by aligning the financial interests of the executive officers of the Corporation
with those of its shareholders.
9
<PAGE>
It is the Corporation's policy generally to qualify compensation paid to
executive officers for deductibility under section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code. Section 162(m) generally prohibits the Corporation from deducting
the compensation of executive officers that exceeds $1,000,000 unless that
compensation is based on the satisfaction of objective performance goals. At the
1996 Annual Meeting, the Corporation obtained shareholder approval of the 1996
Stock Option Plan of SJNB Financial Corp. which contains limitations necessary
to qualify awards under such plan as performance-based compensation and to
maximize the tax deductibility of such awards. However, the Corporation reserves
the discretion to pay compensation to its executive officers that may not be
deductible.
There are three primary components of executive compensation: Base Salary,
Bonuses and Stock Options.
Base Salary
Base salaries for fiscal 1998 reported herein were determined by the
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews salaries recommended
by the Chief Executive Officer for executive officers other than the Chief
Executive Officer. In conducting its review, the Compensation Committee takes
into consideration the overall performance of the Company and the Chief
Executive Officer's evaluation of individual executive officer performance.
Final decisions on base salary adjustments for executives other than the Chief
Executive Officer are made in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer. The
Compensation Committee independently determines the base salary for the Chief
Executive Officer by: (a) examining the Corporation's performance against its
preset goals, (b) examining the Corporation's performance within the banking
industry, (c) evaluating the overall performance of the Chief Executive Officer
and (d) comparing the base salary of the Chief Executive Officer to that of
other chief executive officers in the banking industry. Based upon the data and
performance, the Chief Executive Officer's base salary was increased to $200,000
annually as of March 1, 1998.
Bonuses
The Incentive Bonus Plan is a cash-based incentive bonus program. The Incentive
Bonus Plan provides for payment to each named executive officer of an incentive
cash bonus that is related to a percentage of the Corporation's pre-tax net
earnings provided that such net earnings bear a certain relationship to the
Corporation's assets. Under the Incentive Bonus Plan, the Chief Executive
Officer was awarded a bonus of $130,000 in 1999 for performance in 1998.
Stock Options and Repricing of Stock Options
The Compensation Committee annually grants options under the 1996 Stock Option
Plan with an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value on
the date of grant. The grants are intended to retain and motivate key executives
and to provide a direct link with the interests of the shareholders of the
Corporation. The Compensation Committee, in making its determination as to grant
levels, takes into consideration: (i) prior award levels, (ii) total awards
received to date by the individual executive, (iii) the total stock award to be
made and the executive's percentage participation in the award, (iv) the
executive's direct ownership of the Corporation's shares, (v) the number of
options vested and nonvested, and (vi) the options outstanding as a percentage
of total shares outstanding. The 1996 Stock Option Plan limits the total number
of shares subject to options that may be granted to a participant in any year to
not more than 100,000 shares. In March 1998 Mr. Kenny was awarded options to
purchase 12,000 shares of Common Stock. As discussed below, such options were
cancelled on October 23, 1998 and reissued at an exercise price equal to the
market price of the Common Stock on such date.
The Compensation Committee believes that stock options are a critical component
of the compensation offered by the Corporation to promote the long-term
retention of its employees, motivate high levels of performance and recognize
employee contributions to the success of the Corporation. In light of a
substantial decline in the market price of the Corporation's Common Stock, the
Compensation Committee concluded that outstanding stock options with an exercise
price in excess of the actual market value of the Common Stock were no longer an
effective tool to retain and motivate the Corporation's employees. As a result,
on October 23, 1998, the Compensation Committee approved a repricing of
outstanding stock options with exercise prices above $26.69. Under this
repricing program, employees, including executive officers, could elect to
cancel existing stock options and substitute new stock options with an exercise
price of
10
<PAGE>
$26.69 (the market price of the Corporation's Common Stock on such date). These
new stock options expire ten years from the date of the repricing.
Otherwise, the terms of the stock options were not changed.
The following table provides certain information concerning options granted to
the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table in the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1998 and repriced during such year:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ten-Year Option Repricings(1)
Length of
Number of Market Original
Securities Price of Exercise Option Term
Underlying Stock at Price at New Remaining at
Options Time of Time of Exercise Date of
Name Date Repriced Repricing Repricing Price Repricing
- ---- ---- -------- --------- --------- ----- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James R. Kenny 10/23/98 12,000 $26.69 $35.47 $26.69 9.42 years
Eugene E. Blakeslee 10/23/98 6,000 26.69 35.47 26.69 9.42 years
Frederic H. Charpiot 10/23/98 5,000 26.69 35.47 26.69 9.42 years
Margo A. Culcasi 10/23/98 5,000 26.69 35.47 26.69 9.42 years
Judith Doering-Nielsen 10/23/98 5,000 26.69 35.47 26.69 9.42 years
<FN>
- -------
(1) In each case, the options that were cancelled and repriced had an expiration date of March 25, 2008.
See "Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year" table below.
</FN>
</TABLE>
The foregoing report has been furnished by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of SJNB Financial Corp.:
Robert A. Archer
Albert V. Bruno (Chair)
F. Jack Gorry
Arthur K. Lund
Louis Oneal
Douglas L. Shen
Gary S. Vandeweghe
11
<PAGE>
Stock Performance Chart(1)
[The following descriptive data is supplied in accordance with Rule 304(d) of
Regulation S-T:]
Index
Date SJNB Nasdaq-Total U.S.(2) Nasdaq-Banks(2)
---- ---- -------------------- ---------------
Dec-93 100 100 100
Jan-94 103.125 103.0348 101.6426
Feb-94 104.6875 102.0727 100.3648
Mar-94 106.25 95.79726 98.79018
Apr-94 98.4375 94.55337 101.9843
May-94 100 94.78510 106.6341
Jun-94 97.875 91.31837 106.6390
Jul-94 113.6612 93.19261 108.1192
Aug-94 113.6612 99.13471 110.8821
Sep-94 111.2996 98.88137 107.8211
Oct-94 102.6108 100.8240 104.5813
Nov-94 91.56048 97.47939 100.2155
Dec-94 98.875 97.75195 99.63597
Jan-95 95.68548 98.30986 102.9822
Feb-95 98.875 103.5091 108.0180
Mar-95 103.6592 106.5784 109.0840
Apr-95 105.2540 109.9363 112.1069
May-95 114.8225 112.7719 115.5236
Jun-95 117.5423 121.9109 120.4350
Jul-95 119.1525 130.8731 126.1089
Aug-95 138.4745 133.5258 132.8782
Sep-95 144.9152 136.5955 135.9363
Oct-95 183.5592 135.8067 138.1586
Nov-95 173.8982 138.9956 145.2442
Dec-95 173.7880 138.2560 148.3832
Jan-96 175.4122 138.9356 148.7294
Feb-96 178.6606 144.2237 150.7722
Mar-96 185.1573 144.6988 154.2279
Apr-96 191.6541 156.7003 153.4430
May-96 211.1444 163.8959 156.0190
Jun-96 219.5161 156.5078 156.7881
Jul-96 235.8979 142.5508 154.8353
Aug-96 249.0033 150.5376 165.5603
Sep-96 253.9179 162.0517 173.4901
Oct-96 258.8324 160.2611 181.1719
Nov-96 253.9179 170.1682 194.7137
Dec-96 249.6152 170.0149 195.9082
Jan-97 267.7991 182.0980 206.8045
Feb-97 317.3915 172.0260 218.4744
Mar-97 307.4730 160.7930 210.6047
Apr-97 317.3915 165.8197 215.3420
May-97 324.0038 184.6130 228.7881
Jun-97 346.4658 190.2661 245.0684
Jul-97 334.8059 210.3485 263.8778
Aug-97 354.7943 210.0275 261.7314
Sep-97 429.7508 222.4396 289.0291
Oct-97 533.0243 210.9240 290.1978
Nov-97 486.3847 211.9794 301.5083
Dec-97 449.4078 208.5795 328.0178
Jan-98 482.9457 215.1584 313.6197
Feb-98 469.5306 235.3596 330.9300
Mar-98 471.2806 244.0524 346.7613
Apr-98 528.5075 248.1959 351.2270
May-98 548.7053 234.5732 339.4385
Jun-98 523.5249 251.1192 340.1359
Jul-98 564.0559 248.4669 329.8628
Aug-98 445.8406 199.7518 268.9663
Sep-98 373.2838 227.3408 286.8702
Oct-98 364.8001 236.6315 307.3401
Nov-98 390.2513 259.9425 317.2061
Dec-98 381.8208 293.2090 324.9020
- -------------------
(1) Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1993 in the Corporation's Common
Stock, the NASDAQ-Total U.S. index and the NASDAQ-Banks index, with
reinvestment of dividends.
(2) Source: Nasdaq Amex
12
<PAGE>
STOCK OPTION PLANS
The following table provides certain information concerning options granted to
the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table in the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1998:
<TABLE>
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year(1)
<CAPTION>
Percent of Potential Realizable Value
Total Number at Assumed Annual Rates of
Number of of Options Stock Price Appreciation for
Securities Granted to Option Term
Underlying Employees Exercise Expiration -------------------------
Name Options in 1998 Price Date 5% 10%
- ---- ------- ------- ----- --------- -- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James R. Kenny 12,000 4.9% $35.47 03/25/08 $203,280 $578,040
12,000 4.9 26.69 10/23/08 201,360 510,480
Eugene E. Blakeslee 6,000 2.4 35.47 03/25/08 101,640 289,020
6,000 2.4 26.69 10/23/08 100,680 255,240
Frederic H. Charpiot 5,000 2.0 35.47 03/25/08 84,700 240,850
5,000 2.0 26.69 10/23/08 83,900 212,700
Margo F. Culcasi 5,000 2.0 35.47 03/25/08 84,700 240,850
5,000 2.0 26.69 10/23/08 83,900 212,700
Judith Doering-Nielsen 5,000 2.0 35.47 03/25/08 84,700 240,850
5,000 2.0 26.69 10/23/08 83,900 212,700
<FN>
___________________
(1) Options granted on March 25, 1998 at an exercise price of $35.47 were cancelled on October 23,
1998 and reissued with an exercise price of $26.69. See "-Compensation Committee Report" above.
</FN>
</TABLE>
The following table sets forth the stock options exercised in 1998 and the
December 31, 1998 unexercised value of both vested and unvested stock options
for the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly
compensated executive officers:
<TABLE>
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and
Fiscal Year-end Option Values
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Shares Underlying Unexercised In-the-Money Options
Shares Options at 12/31/98 at 12/31/98(1)
Acquired Value -----------------------------------------------------
Name on Exercise Realized ($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- ---- ------------ ------------ ------------ --------------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James R. Kenny 0 - 20,000 17,000 $373,800 $93,450
Eugene E. Blakeslee 0 - 12,000 8,000 $299,040 $82,620
Frederic H. Charpiot 0 - 10,560 4,000 $252,667 $43,930
Margo F. Culcasi 600 $13,107 8,000 6,000 $112,140 $142,720
Judith Doering-Nielsen 0 - 6,000 4,000 $149,520 $43,930
<FN>
___________________
(1) Fair market value of the Corporation's Common Stock on December 31, 1998 was $28.00.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Employment Agreements
Mr. Kenny is employed by the Corporation and SJNB pursuant to an employment
agreement dated March 27, 1996 which provides for a current annual salary of
$200,000. The term of the agreement is three years, with annual one year
extensions each year thereafter. In addition, Mr. Kenny is to receive an
incentive bonus of 1.5% of the Corporation's pre-tax, pre-bonus net earnings
before extraordinary items, provided that SJNB's net earnings before
extraordinary items in any year during the term of the Agreement are equal to or
exceed 1% of average assets. Mr. Kenny may also receive stock options. Pursuant
to the Agreement, the Corporation provides an automobile for Mr. Kenny, as well
as public liability and property damage insurance. Mr. Kenny also receives
$250,000 in term life insurance coverage. In the event that Mr. Kenny
13
<PAGE>
is involuntarily terminated for reasons other than dishonesty or malfeasance, he
is entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to twenty-four months' salary
(plus incentive or bonus payments accrued, if any). In the event of a "change in
control", Mr. Kenny will receive a lump sum payment in an amount equal to two
times his average annual compensation for the five years immediately preceding
the change in control (plus incentive or bonus payments accrued, if any).
Mr. Blakeslee is employed by the Corporation and SJNB pursuant to an employment
agreement dated March 27, 1996 which provides for a current annual salary of
$150,000. The term of the agreement is one year, with automatic extensions each
year thereafter. In addition, Mr. Blakeslee is entitled to participate in the
Corporation's bonus plan, stock option plan or other arrangements authorized and
approved by the Board of Directors. Mr. Blakeslee's agreement also requires that
the Corporation provide an automobile for Mr. Blakeslee, as well as public
liability and property damage insurance. In the event that Mr. Blakeslee is
involuntarily terminated for reasons other than dishonesty or malfeasance, he is
entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to twelve months' salary (plus
incentive or bonus payments accrued, if any). In the event of a "change in
control", Mr. Blakeslee will receive severance pay in an amount equal to one
times his average annual compensation for the five years immediately preceding
the change in control (plus incentive or bonus payments accrued, if any).
Transactions with Directors and Officers
SJNB has had in the ordinary course of business, and expects to have in the
future, banking transactions with directors, officers, shareholders and their
associates, including transactions with corporations of which such persons are
directors, officers or controlling shareholders. In the opinion of management of
SJNB, all loans and commitments to lend included in such transactions have been
and will be entered into with such persons 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 of
similar creditworthiness, and on terms not involving more than a normal risk of
collectibility or presenting other unfavorable features.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act") requires the Corporation's directors, executive officers and any persons
beneficially owning ten percent or more of the Corporation's common stock to
timely file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in that
ownership with the SEC and the Nasdaq National Market. Such persons are required
by SEC regulation to send copies of such reports to the Corporation. Based
solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Corporation
and written representations that no other reports were required, during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 the Corporation believes all such filing
requirements applicable to its directors, executive officers and ten percent
shareholders were met.
PROPOSAL NO. 2:
CLASSIFICATION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Introduction
On February 24, 1999 the Board adopted an amendment to the Corporation's
Restated Articles of Incorporation ("Articles") and Bylaws which provided that
the Board of Directors be divided into three classes of directors, each
consisting of a number of directors equal as nearly as practicable to one-third
the total number of directors, for so long as the Board consists of at least ten
authorized directors and, in the event that the total number of authorized
directors on the Board is at least six but less than nine, for classification of
the Board of Directors into two classes, each consisting of a number of
directors equal as nearly as practicable to one-half the total number of
directors. After initial implementation at the Meeting, each class of directors
would be subject to election every third year and would serve for a three-year
term for so long as the Board remained classified into three classes, or would
be subject to election every second year and would serve for a two-year term in
the event the Board were classified into two classes. Currently, all of the
Corporation's directors are elected each year to serve a one-year term.
14
<PAGE>
If the proposal is approved by the shareholders, the Board of Directors will,
for purposes of initial implementation, designate three classes of directors for
election at the Meeting. Class I will be elected initially for a one-year term
expiring at the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Class II will be elected
initially for a two-year term expiring at the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders; and Class III will be elected for a three-year term expiring at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in the year 2002; and, in each
case, until their successors are duly elected and qualified. At each Annual
Meeting after the 1999 Annual Meeting, only directors of the class whose term is
expiring would be voted upon, and upon election each such director would serve a
three-year term. Commencing with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to
occur in 2000, directors elected to Class I would serve for a three-year term
and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, subject to any
decrease in the total number of authorized directors, as described above.
Subsequently in the years 2001 and 2002, directors elected to Class II and Class
III, respectively, would also be elected for a three-year term and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified.
Classification of the Board of Directors is permitted pursuant to Section 301.5
of the California Corporations Code. Under Section 301.5, a qualifying
California corporation, such as the Corporation, may divide its board of
directors into two or three classes, with one-half or one-third of the
directors, respectively, elected at each annual meeting (or as near to one-half
or one-third as practicable). The authorized number of directors must be not
less than six in the case of a two-class board and not less than nine in the
case of a three-class board. Classified boards of directors are permitted under
the corporate law of a majority of states, and the Corporation believes that
well over one-half of Fortune 500 companies provide for classified boards.
The number of directors to be elected at the Meeting is 11, which is the number
currently provided in the Corporation's Bylaws for the size of the Board and the
present number of directors. The Board of Directors has no present plans,
arrangements, commitments or understandings with respect to increasing or
decreasing the size of the Board or any class of directors.
The text of the proposed amendment to the Articles is set forth in Annex A to
this Proxy Statement. If this Proposal No. 2 is adopted by the shareholders, in
order to make the Bylaws consistent with the amendment to the Articles described
in this Proposal No. 2, upon effectiveness of the filing of the amendment to the
Articles with the Secretary of State of the State of California, Section 3 of
Article III of the Bylaws shall be amended to read as set forth in Annex A,
which is incorporated herein by reference.
Effect of Classification of Board
If adopted, the classification of the Board will apply to every subsequent
election of directors for so long as at least six directors are authorized under
the Corporation's Bylaws and the classification provision is not amended. The
Corporation's Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of not
less than nine and not more than seventeen directors, with the exact number of
directors currently set at eleven. So long as the Board continues to consist of
at least ten authorized directors, after initial implementation of the
classified Board, directors will serve for a term of three years rather than one
year, and one-third of the directors (or as near to one-third as practicable)
will be elected each year.
In the event that the number of directors increases, the increase will be
apportioned by the Board among the classes of directors to make each class as
nearly equal in number as possible. If the number of authorized directors is
decreased to at least six but less than nine, the directors will be apportioned
by the Board among two classes, each consisting of one-half of the directors or
as close an approximation as possible, directors will serve for a term of two
years, and one-half the directors (or as near to one-half as practicable) will
be elected each year. In any event, a decrease in the number of directors cannot
shorten the term of any incumbent director. Vacancies on the Board created by
any resignation, removal or other reason, or by an increase in the size of the
Board, may be filled for the remainder of the term by the vote of the majority
of the directors remaining in office or by the vote of holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of the Corporation's Common Stock.
Pursuant to California law, members of the Board of Directors may be removed by
the Board of Directors for cause (defined to be a felony conviction or court
declaration of unsound mind), by the shareholders
15
<PAGE>
without cause or by court order for fraudulent or dishonest acts or gross abuse
of authority or discretion. In the case of a Board of Directors that is not
classified, no director may be removed by the shareholders if the votes cast
against such removal (or, if done by written consent, the votes eligible to be
cast by the non-consenting shareholders) would have been sufficient to elect
such director if voted cumulatively at an election at which the same total
number of votes were cast (or, if the action is taken by written consent, all
shares entitled to vote were voted) and the entire number of directors
authorized at the time of the director's most recent election were then being
elected (the "Relevant Number of Directors"). In the case of classified boards,
the Relevant Number of Directors is (i) the number of directors elected at the
most recent Annual Meeting of shareholders or, if greater, (ii) the number of
directors sought to be removed. It should be noted that this removal provision
applies equally to corporations that permit cumulative voting and to those that
do not.
Other Effects
The Board of Directors believes that this amendment to the Articles and Bylaws
is in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders.
Public companies are potentially subject to attempts by various individuals and
entities to acquire significant minority positions in the company with the
intent either of obtaining actual control of the company by electing their own
slate of directors, or of achieving some other goal, such as the repurchase of
their shares by the company at a premium. Public companies also are potentially
subject to inadequately priced or coercive bids for control through majority
share ownership. These prospective acquirors may be in a position to elect a
company's entire board of directors through a proxy contest or otherwise, even
though they do not own a majority of the company's outstanding shares at the
time. If Proposal No. 2 is approved, a majority of the Company's directors could
not be removed by such persons until two annual meetings of shareholders have
occurred, unless such removal was for cause and the requisite vote was obtained.
By providing this additional time to the Board of Directors and eliminating the
possibility of rapid removal of the Board, the directors of the Company will
have the necessary time to most effectively satisfy their responsibility to the
Company's shareholders to evaluate any proposal and to assess and develop
alternatives without the pressure created by the threat of imminent removal. In
addition, Proposal No. 2, by providing that directors will serve three-year
terms rather than one-year terms, will enhance continuity and stability in the
composition of the Company's Board of Directors and in the policies formulated
by the Board. The Board believes that this, in turn, will permit it more
effectively to represent the interests of all shareholders, including responding
to demands or actions by any shareholder or group. Following adoption of the
classified board structure, at any given time at least one-third of the members
of the Board of Directors will generally have had prior experience as directors
of the Corporation. The Board believes that this will facilitate long-range
planning, strategy and policy and will have a positive impact on customer and
employee loyalty. The Corporation has not historically had problems with either
the continuity or stability of its Board of Directors.
The classification of the Board of Directors will have the effect of making it
more difficult to replace incumbent directors. So long as the Board is
classified into three classes, a minimum of three annual meetings of
shareholders would generally be required to replace the entire Board, absent
intervening vacancies. While the proposal is not intended as a
takeover-resistive measure in response to a specific threat, it may discourage
the acquisition of large blocks of the Corporation's shares by causing it to
take longer for a person or group of persons who acquire such a block of shares
to effect a change in management.
If Proposal No. 2 is approved and implemented, a shareholder or group of
shareholders seeking to replace a majority of the directors on the Board will
generally need to influence the voting of at least a majority of the outstanding
shares at two consecutive annual meetings. In addition, the Corporation has
other corporate attributes that may also have the effect of helping the
Corporation to resist an unfriendly acquisition. These include existing
provisions in the Corporation's Articles and Bylaws eliminating, subject to
certain exceptions, the liability of directors for monetary damages and
eliminating cumulative voting; provisions in the bylaws providing for
indemnification of directors and officers; and provisions in the Bylaws
requiring advance notice of nomination of a candidate for election to the Board
of Directors of the Corporation when the nomination is made by a person other
than the nominating committee of the
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Board. In addition, at the Corporation's 1989 annual meeting, the Corporation's
shareholders approved an amendment of the Articles which required the
affirmative vote or written consent of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
the principal terms of a reorganization if such reorganization is not approved
by 80% or more of the authorized number of directors. Unless readopted by the
shareholders, this super-majority vote requirement ceases to be effective two
years after its adoption. This Articles provision has not been readopted by the
Corporation's shareholders; however, upon receiving such shareholder approval,
this super-majority vote requirement could be readopted. See also "Proposal No.
3 - Authorization of Issuance of Preferred Stock."
This Proposal is not in response to any attempt to acquire control of the
Corporation. However, the Board believes that adopting Proposal No. 2 is
prudent, advantageous and in the best interests of shareholders because it will
give the Board more time to fulfill its responsibilities to shareholders, and it
will provide greater assurance of continuity and stability in the composition
and policies of the Board of Directors. The Board also believes such advantages
outweigh any disadvantage relating to discouraging potential acquirors from
attempting to obtain control of the Corporation.
Required Approval
Approval of the proposed amendment to the Articles and the Bylaws requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.
Recommendation of Management
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THE ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
THE ARTICLES AND BYLAWS CLASSIFYING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR PURPOSES OF THE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS GREATLY OUTWEIGH THE POSSIBLE DISADVANTAGES OF THE
AMENDMENT. ACCORDINGLY, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
ITS APPROVAL.
PROPOSAL NO. 3:
AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK
Introduction
On February 24, 1999, the Board adopted an amendment to Article Three of the
Articles which authorizes the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock. In order to be effective, this amendment of the Articles must be approved
by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation's Common
Stock. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Corporation
and its shareholders to approve an amendment of the Articles to authorize the
issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, which may be issued in
one or more series and which shall have such rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions as determined by the Board of Directors. The authorization of such
Preferred Stock would provide the Corporation with flexibility in terms of
capital structure and would permit the Board to react without further
shareholder approval to the Corporation's capital needs or to strategic
requirements which may arise in the future. It is proposed that the text of
Article Three of the Articles be amended to read as follows:
Capitalization. This corporation is authorized to issue two classes of
shares designated "Common Stock," and "Preferred Stock," respectively.
The number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is
20,000,000, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be
issued is 5,000,000. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to
time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is authorized to fix
the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock and to determine
the designation of any such series. The Board of Directors is also
authorized to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of
Preferred Stock, and, within the limits and restrictions stated in any
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors originally fixing the
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number of shares constituting any series, to increase or decrease (but
not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the
number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issue of shares of
that series.
Reasons for the Amendment
The vast majority of publicly traded companies have authorized one or more
classes or series of Preferred Stock. Preferred Stock is generally defined to
mean any class of equity securities which has a dividend and/or liquidation
preference over common stock. Pursuant to the proposed amendment to the
Corporation's Articles, the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of
any Preferred Stock shall be determined by the Board of Directors. As a result,
in the event that this proposed amendment to the Corporation's Articles is
adopted by shareholders, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of
Preferred Stock or series of Preferred Stock that have certain dividend and/or
liquidation preferences over the Corporation's Common Stock as well as those
other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions determined by the Board
of Directors. Additionally, in the event that the Corporation were to acquire
another corporation which had outstanding preferred shares, the presence in the
Corporation's Articles of the ability to issue preferred stock would give the
Corporation greater flexibility in structuring such acquisition. No such
acquisitions are pending or currently contemplated.
Other Effects
The Board believes that this amendment to the Articles is in the best interests
of the Corporation and its shareholders.
Issuance of shares of preferred stock or adoption of a shareholders' rights plan
which utilizes preferred stock may discourage or make more difficult or
expensive certain mergers, tender offers or other purchases of the Corporation's
Common Stock and might discourage potential takeover attempts.
The Corporation does not at the present time have any plan or intention to issue
shares of such Preferred Stock or to adopt a shareholders' rights plan. The
Corporation's Articles presently authorize 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock and
no change to that number of shares is requested.
The authorization of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to this proposal will
have no dilutive effect upon the proportionate voting power of the present
shareholders of the Corporation. However, to the extent that preferred shares
which are convertible into the Corporation's Common Stock are subsequently
issued in connection with any corporate action to persons other than the present
shareholders, such issuance could have a dilutive effect on the earnings per
share and voting power of present shareholders.
In addition, although the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in certain
instances may have the effect of forestalling a hostile takeover, the Board of
Directors does not intend or view the authorization of Preferred Stock as an
anti-takeover measure. Notwithstanding the Board's intention, under California
law under certain circumstances, holders of preferred shares, even if those
shares are not granted voting rights, will have the right to vote in connection
with certain fundamental corporate transactions such as a reorganization; under
those circumstances unless the requisite vote is obtained from holders of that
class, the preferred shareholders may effectively be able to block transactions
which are otherwise supported by the common shareholders. The Corporation is not
aware of any proposed or contemplated transaction of this type, and this
amendment to the Articles is not being recommended in response to any specific
effort of which the Corporation is aware to obtain control of the Corporation.
The authorized shares of Preferred Stock will be available for issuance at such
times and for such purposes as the Board of Directors may deem advisable without
further action by the Corporation's shareholders, except as may be required by
applicable laws or regulations. Other than as disclosed in Proposal No. 2 herein
above, the Board of Directors does not believe the Articles or Bylaws of the
Corporation currently contain any other provisions which should be viewed as
anti-takeover devices.
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Required Approval
Approval of the proposed amendment to Article Three of the Articles requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation.
Recommendation of Management
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF
THE CORPORATION AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS, AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR ITS APPROVAL.
PROPOSAL NO. 4:
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Summary of the 1996 Stock Option Plan
The Corporation's 1996 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Plan"), which was
approved by the shareholders in May of 1996 and amended in 1998, provides for
awards in the form of options (which may constitute incentive stock options or
non-statutory stock options) to key employees and outside directors. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") selects the
key employees of the Corporation or any subsidiary who will receive awards,
determines the size of any award and establishes any vesting or other
conditions. Grants of options to outside directors are subject to the
restrictions in the Plan. At the date of this proxy statement, there were 88
individuals (other than non-employee directors) eligible for awards of options
under the Plan. The fair market value of the Company's Common Stock subject to
such awards on April __, 1999 was $27.50 per share. As of April __, 1999,
385,430 options have been granted, of which 148,000 have been granted to
non-employee directors, which are still outstanding under the Plan.
The total number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan is
479,080. The total number of shares available for grant under the Plan is
subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends and other
similar recapitalization transactions. No individual may receive option grants
in a single year covering more than 100,000 shares. If any options are
forfeited, or if options terminate for any other reason prior to exercise, then
such options again become available for awards.
The above summary description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Plan, a copy of which is available upon written request to the
Corporate Secretary, SJNB Financial Corp., One North Market Street, San Jose, CA
95113. Shareholders are urged to read the Plan in its entirety.
Proposed Amendment
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Corporation
and the creation of shareholder value by (a) encouraging key employees and
outside directors to focus on critical long-range objectives, (b) encouraging
the attraction and retention of key employees and outside directors with strong
qualifications, including key executives that may join the Corporation in the
future as a result of acquisitions, and (c) linking key employees and outside
directors directly to shareholder interests through increased stock ownership.
In this regard the Corporation has found that, in order to fulfill the purposes
of this Plan, it is necessary to provide sufficient options to continue the
automatic grant of options to directors who are not employees of the Corporation
or any of its subsidiaries (each, an "Outside Director") and award new and
existing employees to continue to provide appropriate incentives in 1999 and
beyond. Under the proposed amendment, an additional 150,000 shares of Common
Stock would be added to the shares currently authorized under the Plan, bringing
the total number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan to
619,080. Based on the number of currently outstanding options, _____ options
would be available for grant under the Plan, of which the ten Outside Directors
would automatically receive an aggregate of 50,000 options annually.
The amendment, which is subject to shareholder approval, would amend and restate
Section 3.1 of the Plan to read as follows:
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"3.1 BASIC LIMITATION. The aggregate number of Options awarded under the Plan
shall not exceed 619,080, subject to Section 3.2. No grants shall be made under
the Predecessor Plan after May 22, 1996. The limitation of this Section 3.1
shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 7."
Section 3.2 provides that if any option granted under the Plan or any
predecessor plan is forfeited or terminates for any other reason before being
exercised in full, then the Common Stock corresponding to the unexercised
portion of such option shall become available for new grants under the Plan.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The proposed amendment of the Plan to increase the number of shares of Common
Stock available for grant under the Plan will have no effect upon the tax
consequences to either participants or the Corporation of option grants or
exercises.
Amended Plan Benefits
The Committee has full discretion to determine the number of options to be
granted to employees under the Plan; provided, however, that no individual may
receive option grants in a single calendar year covering more than 100,000
shares. Therefore, the aggregate benefits and amounts that will be received by
each of the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, the executive
officers as a group and all other employees under the amended Plan are not
presently determinable. Details on awards granted during the last year to the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table are presented in such
table. Until the Board directs otherwise or an Outside Director ceases to serve
as a director, each Outside Director will receive an annual automatic grant of
5,000 options.
Required Approval
The adoption of the proposed amendment to the Plan requires the affirmative vote
of not less than a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or
represented and voting at the Meeting.
Recommendation of Management
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION
OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE CORPORATION'S 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN.
PROPOSAL NO. 5:
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Ratification of KPMG LLP
The Board of Directors has selected KPMG LLP to serve as independent public
accountants for the Corporation and its subsidiary for the year ending December
31, 1999. KPMG LLP examined the financial statements of the Corporation and its
subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 1998. KPMG LLP has informed the
Corporation that it has had no connection during the past three years with the
Corporation or its subsidiary in the capacity of promoter, underwriter, voting
trustee, director or employee.
In recognition of the important role of the independent public accountants, the
Board of Directors has determined that its selection of the independent public
accountants should be submitted to the shareholders for review and ratification
on an annual basis.
In the event the appointment is not ratified by the shareholders, the adverse
vote will be deemed to be an indication to the Board of Directors that it should
consider selecting other independent public accountants for 2000. Because of the
difficulty and expense of making any substitution of accounting firms after the
beginning of the current year, it is the intention of the Board of Directors
that the appointment of KPMG LLP for the year 1999 will stand unless for other
reasons the Board of Directors deems it necessary or appropriate to make a
change. The Board of Directors also retains the power to appoint another
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independent public accounting firm to replace an accounting firm ratified by the
shareholders in the event the Board of Directors determines that the interests
of the Corporation require such a change.
It is anticipated that representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the
Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do
so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Required Approval
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at the
Meeting is required for ratification of KPMG LLP as the Corporation's
independent public accountants.
Recommendation of Management
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KPMG LLP TO SERVE AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARY FOR 1999.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters which will be brought before
the Meeting, but if such matters are properly presented to the Meeting, proxies
solicited hereby will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons
holding such proxies.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
A copy of the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998 is included in the Corporation's Annual Report to
Shareholders.
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ANNEX A
TEXT OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
CONCERNING THE CLASSIFICATION OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation shall be amended by
adding thereto a new Article Eight which shall read as set forth below:
"Eight: Classified Board of Directors.
-----------------------------
(a) The number of directors which shall constitute the whole board of
directors of this corporation shall be specified in the bylaws of
the corporation.
(b) In the event that the authorized number of directors shall be
fixed at nine (9) or more, the board of directors shall be
divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III, each
consisting of a number of directors equal as nearly as
practicable to one-third the total number of directors. Directors
in Class I shall initially serve for a term expiring at the 2000
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, directors in Class II shall
initially serve for a term expiring at the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, and directors in Class III shall initially serve
for a term expiring at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Thereafter, each director shall serve for a term ending at the
third annual shareholders meeting following the annual meeting at
which such director was elected. In the event that the authorized
number of directors shall be fixed with at least six (6) but less
than nine (9), the board of directors shall be divided into two
classes, designated Class I and Class II, each consisting of
one-half of the directors or as close an approximation as
possible. Each class shall consist of one-half of the directors
or as close an approximation as possible. At each annual meeting,
each of the successors to the directors of the class whose term
shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected for a
term running until the second annual meeting next succeeding his
or her election and until his or her successor shall have been
duly elected and qualified. The foregoing notwithstanding, each
director shall serve until his successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified, unless he shall resign, die, become
disqualified or disabled, or shall otherwise be removed.
(c) At each annual election, the directors chosen to succeed those
whose terms then expire shall be identified as being of the same
class as the directors they succeed, unless, by reason of any
intervening changes in the authorized number of directors, the
board of directors shall designate one or more directorships
whose term then expires as directorships of another class in
order more nearly to achieve equality in the number of directors
among the classes. When the board of directors fills a vacancy
resulting from the resignation, death, disqualification or
removal of a director, the director chosen to fill that vacancy
shall be of the same class as the director he succeeds, unless,
by reason of any previous changes in the authorized number of
directors, the board of directors shall designate the vacant
directorship as a directorship of another class in order more
nearly to achieve equality in the number of directors among the
classes.
(d) Notwithstanding the rule that the classes shall be as nearly equal
in number of directors as possible, in the event of any change in
the authorized number of directors, each director then continuing
to serve as such will nevertheless continue as a director of the
class of which he is a member, until the expiration of his current
term or his earlier resignation, death, disqualification or
removal. If any newly created directorship or vacancy on the board
of directors, consistent with the rule that the three classes
shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible, may
be allocated to one or two or more classes, the board of directors
shall allocate it to that of the available class whose term of
office is due to expire at the earliest date following such
allocation."
A-1
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Section 3 of Article III of the Corporation's Bylaws shall be amended in its
entirety to read as follows:
"Section 3. Election and Term of Office. In the event that the authorized
number of directors shall be fixed at nine (9) or more, the Board of Directors
shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III.
Each class shall consist of one-third of the directors or as close an
approximation as A-Apossible. The initial term of office of the directors of
Class I shall expire at the annual meeting to be held during fiscal year 2000,
the initial term of office of the directors of Class II shall expire at the
annual meeting to be held during fiscal 2001 and the initial term of office of
the directors of Class III shall expire at the annual meeting to be held during
fiscal year 2002. At each annual meeting, commencing with the annual meeting to
be held during fiscal year 2000, each of the successors to the directors of the
class whose term shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected for
a term running until the third annual meeting next succeeding his or her
election until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
In the event that the authorized number of directors shall be fixed with at
least six (6) but less than nine (9), the Board of Directors shall be divided
into two classes, designated Class I and Class II. Each class shall consist of
one-half of the directors or as close an approximation as possible. At each
annual meeting, each of the successors to the directors of the class whose term
shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected for a term running
until the second annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until
his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Notwithstanding
the rule that the classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as
possible, in the event of any change in the authorized number of directors, each
director then continuing to serve as such shall nevertheless continue as a
director of the class of which he or she is a member until the expiration of his
or her current term, or his or her prior death, resignation or removal. At each
annual election, the directors chosen to succeed those whose terms then expire
shall be of the same class as the directors they succeed, unless, by reason of
any intervening changes in the authorized number of directors, the Board of
Directors shall designate one or more directorships whose term then expires as
directorships of another class in order more nearly to achieve equality of
number of directors among the classes. This section only may be amended or
repealed by approval of the Board of Directors and the outstanding shares (as
defined in Section 152 of the California General Corporation Law) voting as a
single class, notwithstanding Section 903 of the California General Corporation
Law."
A-2
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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
SJNB FINANCIAL CORP.
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of SJNB Financial Corp., a California corporation (the
"Corporation") dated April 14, 1999, and revoking any proxy heretofore given,
hereby constitutes and appoints Douglas L. Shen, Diane P. Rubino and F. Jack
Gorry, or any of them, with full power of substitution, as attorney and proxy to
appear and vote all of the shares of Common Stock of the Corporation standing in
the name of the undersigned which the undersigned could vote if personally
present and acting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Corporation to
be held in the Main Dining Room at The San Jose Country Club, 15571 Alum Rock
Avenue, San Jose, California on May 26, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. local time, or at any
adjournments thereof, upon the following items as set forth in the Notice of
Annual Meeting and more fully described in the Proxy Statement.
1. Election of Directors.
FOR ALL nominees (except as marked to the contrary below) __
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY __
R.S. Akamine, R.A. Archer, A.V. Bruno, R. Diridon, F.J. Gorry,
J.R. Kenny, A.K. Lund, L. Oneal, D.P. Rubino, D. L. Shen,
G.S. Vandeweghe
(Instructions: To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, strike a
line through that nominee's name. To vote for all nominees except one
whose name is struck, check "FOR." To vote against all nominees named
above, check "WITHHOLD AUTHORITY.")
2. Approval of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to
classify the Board of Directors into three classes.
FOR __ AGAINST __ ABSTAIN __
3. Approval of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation to authorize the
issuance of Preferred Stock.
FOR __ AGAINST __ ABSTAIN __
4. Approval of Amendment to 1996 Stock Option Plan to authorize the
issuance of an additional 150,000 options to purchase
Common Stock.
FOR __ AGAINST __ ABSTAIN __
5. Ratification of Accountants. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as
independent certified public accountants for the
Corporation for 1999.
FOR __ AGAINST __ ABSTAIN __
6. Other Business. The proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion
on such other matters as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
<PAGE>
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER HEREIN SPECIFIED
BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1, IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2, IN FAVOR OF
PROPOSAL 3, IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 4, IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 5 AND IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES ON ANY OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE
ANNUAL MEETING.
Dated ________, 1999
--------------------------------
(Signature)
--------------------------------
(Signature)
(This proxy should be marked, dated, signed by the
shareholder(s) exactly as his or her name appears
hereon and returned promptly in the enclosed
envelope. Executors, administrators, guardians,
officers of the Corporation and others signing in a
fiduciary capacity should state their full titles as
such. If shares are held by joint tenants or as
community property, both should sign.)
DO NOT FOLD, STAPLE OR MUTILATE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO MARK,
SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS PROXY, USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
