<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:
[ ] 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 Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
Century Bancshares, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------
(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 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:
----------------------------------------------------- .
<PAGE>
CENTURY BANCSHARES, INC.
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
NOTICE OF 1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 9, 1998
TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK
OF CENTURY BANCSHARES, INC.:
Notice is hereby given that the 1998 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders
("Annual Meeting") of Century Bancshares, Inc. ("Company") will be held at the
Capitol Hilton Hotel, 16th and K Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 at 9:00
a.m. (local time) on Tuesday, June 9, 1998, for the following purposes:
1. to elect a Board of eight directors to serve until the 1999
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, and until their
respective successors have been elected and qualified;
2. to consider and act upon a proposal to amend the Company's
1994 Stock Option Plan that would increase the number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock subject thereto by
200,000; and
3. to transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
All holders of common stock of record at the close of business on April
21, 1998 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof.
A list of such stockholders will be available at the time and place of the
meeting and, during the ten days prior to the meeting, at the Company's
principal office, at 1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.
Stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ WILLIAM C. OLDAKER
------------------------
William C. Oldaker
Secretary
Washington, D.C.
April 28, 1998
IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES
ARE REPRESENTED; THEREFORE, YOU ARE URGED TO SPECIFY YOUR CHOICES BY MARKING THE
APPROPRIATE BOXES ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY. IF YOU WISH TO VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS, MERELY SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY
IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
<PAGE>
CENTURY BANCSHARES, INC.
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 9, 1998
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
by, and on behalf of, the Board of Directors of Century Bancshares, Inc.
("Company") of proxies for use at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Company to be held on Tuesday, June 9, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. (local time), at the
Capitol Hilton Hotel, 16th and K Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, and any
adjournment thereof ("Annual Meeting"), for the purposes set forth in this Proxy
Statement and the accompanying Notice. It is anticipated that this Proxy
Statement, the Notice, and the enclosed form of proxy will be mailed to
stockholders on or about May 1, 1998.
Proxies
For the proxy solicited hereby to be voted, the enclosed form of proxy
must be signed (as registered), dated, and returned to the Company in a timely
manner. Proxies in the enclosed form that are properly executed and received by
the Company prior to or at the Annual Meeting and which are not revoked will be
voted in accordance with the directions set forth therein. If no direction is
made, a proxy that is properly executed and received by the Company and which is
not revoked will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for director named
herein to serve on the Board of Directors until the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, and FOR
approval of the proposal to amend the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan. The
Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be presented at the Annual
Meeting. If any other matter, not known or determined at the time of the
solicitation of proxies, properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the proxies
will be voted in accordance with the discretion of the person or persons voting
the proxies.
Please ensure that your shares will be voted by signing (as
registered), dating and returning the enclosed form of proxy in the enclosed
postage-paid envelope. A stockholder may revoke a proxy at any time prior to its
use by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a signed notice of revocation
or a later dated signed proxy, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in
person, or by giving notice of revocation of the proxy at the Annual Meeting.
Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in itself constitute the revocation of
a proxy. Prior to the Annual Meeting, any written notice of revocation or
subsequent proxy should be sent so as to be delivered to the Corporate
Secretary, Century Bancshares, Inc., 1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20004, or hand delivered to the Corporate Secretary at the aforementioned
address (or at the Meeting) at or before the taking of the vote at the Annual
Meeting.
Voting Securities
The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business
on April 21, 1998 as the record date ("Record Date") for the determination of
stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the
Record Date, the Company had issued and outstanding 2,230,348 shares of its
common stock, $1.00 par value ("Common Stock"), the only class of voting
securities outstanding. Only the record owners of the Common Stock are entitled
to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
<PAGE>
Quorum and Other Matters
The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the
holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record
Date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Shares of Common
Stock represented by a properly executed and returned proxy will be counted as
present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, without
regard to whether the proxy is marked as authorizing the casting of a vote or
abstaining. Shares of Common Stock held by nominees that are voted on at least
one matter coming before the Annual Meeting will also be counted as present for
purposes of determining a quorum, even if the beneficial owner's discretion has
been withheld (a "non-vote") for voting on some or all other matters. In
deciding all questions, each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, in
person or by proxy. Votes at the Annual Meeting will be tabulated by an
Inspector of Election appointed by the Company.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the shares present in person or
by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present. As a result, the eight
nominees for director receiving the greatest number of votes of shares of Common
Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, although not
necessarily a majority of such shares, will be elected to serve as directors
until the Company's 1999 annual meeting of stockholders. An abstention, a
non-vote or a withholding of authority to vote with respect to one or more
nominees for director will not have the effect of a vote against such nominee or
nominees. Approval of the proposed amendment to the Company's 1994 Stock Option
Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Common Stock present at the Annual Meeting, in person
or by proxy. Accordingly, an abstention has the effect of a vote against the
approval of the proposed amendment to the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan. All
other matters properly to come before the Annual Meeting for which the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, does not require the affirmative vote
of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company, require the approval of a majority of outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The following table sets forth the name, address and number of shares
of Common Stock owned beneficially at the Record Date by (a) each person known
to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock; (b) each nominee to serve as director of the
Company; (c) each of the Company's executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table; and (d) all executive officers and directors of the Company
as a group. No executive officer or director of the Company has any family
relationship with any other officer or director. Unless otherwise indicated, all
shares are owned directly and the owner has sole voting and investment power
with respect thereto.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address Amount and Nature of Percent
of Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership of Class
- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Joseph S. Bracewell 150,967 (1) 6.6%
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
George Contis, M.D. 96,016 (2) 4.2%
1716 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22209
</TABLE>
(Table continues on following page)
-2-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address Amount and Nature of Percent
of Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership of Class
- --------------------------- --------------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
John R. Cope 32,180 (3) 1.4%
2000 K Street, N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20006
Bernard J. Cravath 67,376 (4) 3.0%
9812 Falls Road
Suite 201
Potomac, MD 20854
Neal R. Gross 145,291 (5) 6.4%
1323 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Joseph H. Koonz, Jr. 72,647 (6) 3.2%
2020 K Street, N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20006
William S. McKee 65,663 (7) 2.9%
1730 Penn. Ave., N.W.
12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
William C. Oldaker 73,416 (8) 3.3%
818 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20006
All directors, and executive
officers as a group (9 persons) 704,556 29.2%
Robert Fleming Inc. 188,700 (9) 8.5%
320 Park Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Salem Investment Counselors, Inc. 160,400 (9) 7.2%
Post Office Box 25427
Winston-Salem, NC 27114-5427
Tontine Group 149,700 (9)(10) 6.7%
200 Park Avenue, Suite 3900
New York, NY 10166
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------
[FN]
1 Includes 2,300 shares held by minor children, 22,004 shares held as
Trustee, 36,108 shares held for the benefit of Mr. Bracewell in the
Company's 401(k) plan, and 6,758 shares held in individual retirement
accounts. Also includes 20,223 shares issuable upon exercise of options
which are exercisable within the next 60 days, 1,572 shares held by minor
children issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable warrants, and
22,004 shares held as trustee issuable upon exercise of currently
exercisable warrants.
2 Includes 37,569 shares held by Medical Services Corporation International
Profit Sharing Plan and Trust of which Dr. Contis is Trustee, 8,553 shares
issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable options, and 35,963 shares
issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable warrants.
</FN>
(Footnotes continue on following page)
-3-
<PAGE>
[FN]
3 Includes 13,979 shares held in the John R. Cope Rollover IRA, 8,553 shares
issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable options, and 292 shares
issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable warrants. Also includes
879 shares held by Mr. Cope's spouse, 4,219 shares in a family trust of
which Mr. Cope is trustee, and 3,155 shares held in two trusts for a minor
child, of which Mr. Cope is trustee.
4 Includes 1,298 shares held by Mr. Cravath's wife, 8,553 shares issuable
upon exercise of currently exercisable options, and 9,128 shares issuable
upon exercise of currently exercisable warrants.
5 Includes 8,553 shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable
options and 16,839 shares issuable upon exercise of currently
exercisable warrants.
6 Includes 8,553 shares issuable upon exercise of currently
exercisable options and 63,593 shares held jointly with
Mr. Koonz's spouse.
7 Includes 8,553 shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable
options and 4,403 shares issuable upon exercise of currently
exercisable warrants.
8 Includes 8,553 shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable
options and 15,192 shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable
warrants. Also includes 17,209 shares held in individual retirement
accounts, and 1,799 held by Mr. Oldaker's spouse.
9 Based solely on information filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission").
10 A Schedule 13D was jointly filed with the Commission in December 1997 by
the following persons, who affirmed the existence of a "group" within the
meaning of Section 13(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended: Tontine Financial Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("TFP"); TFP's general partner, Tontine Management, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company ("TM"); Tontine Overseas Associates, Ltd., a
Delaware limited liability company ("TOA") serving as investment manager
to TFP Overseas Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands Company ("TFPO"); and Mr.
Jeffrey L. Gendell, as the managing member of TOA. In the Schedule 13D,
TFP and TM each reported shared beneficial ownership of 127,700 shares of
Common Stock owned directly by TFP, TOA reported shared beneficial
ownership of 22,000 shares of Common Stock owned directly by TFPO, and Mr.
Gendell reported shared beneficial ownership of 149,700 shares of Common
Stock owned directly by each of TFP and TFPO.
</FN>
-4-
<PAGE>
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Each of the eight persons identified in the table below is a nominee
for election as a director of the Company and is currently an incumbent
director. The term of office for which the following persons are nominated will
expire at the time of the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and
when their respective successors shall have been elected and qualified. Should
any nominee for the office of director named herein become unable or unwilling
to accept nomination or election, the person or persons acting under the proxies
will vote for the election in his stead of such other person as the Board of
Directors may recommend. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that
any of the nominees will be unable to serve if elected to office, and to the
knowledge of the Board of Directors, the nominees intend to serve the entire
term for which election is sought.
Directors will be elected by a plurality vote of the shares of Common
Stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting. The Board of
Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the nominees listed and, unless marked
to the contrary, proxies received from a stockholder will be voted for the
election of such nominees.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
nominees for election to the Board of Directors of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions with Company,
Name Age Bank and Business Experience
- ---- ---- ------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Joseph S. Bracewell 51 Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company since 1985; Director and
Chief Executive Officer of Century
National Bank ("the Bank") since
1982 and Chairman thereof since
1985; President of the Bank from
1982 to 1988 and since 1996.
George Contis, M.D. 64 Director of the Company since 1995;
Director of the Bank since 1989.
Physician and the President of
Medical Services Corporation
International, an international
contract provider of medical
services, for more than the past
five years.
John R. Cope 55 Director and Vice President of
the Company since 1985; Director of
the Bank since 1982; Vice
Chairman of the Bank since 1985
and General Counsel thereof since
1986. Partner in the law firm of
Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.,
Washington, D.C. for more than the
past five years.
Bernard J. Cravath 66 Director of the Company since
1987 and Assistant Secretary
since 1991; Director of the Bank
from 1984 to 1986. President of
Reality Properties Inc., a real
estate investment corporation,
since 1984. Attorney in private
practice for more than the past five
years.
Neal R. Gross 54 Director of the Company since
1995; Director of the Bank since
1992. Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Neal R. Gross and
Co., Inc., a corporation
providing court reporting services
to attorneys, the federal
government, and other private
organizations and individuals,
for more than the past five
years.
</TABLE>
(Table continues on following page)
-5-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions with Company,
Name Age Bank and Business Experience
- --------------------- ------ ----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Joseph H. Koonz, Jr. 63 Director of the Company since 1985;
Director of the Bank from 1982 to
1987. Partner in the law firm of
Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis
& Lightfoot, Washington, D.C., and
its predecessors for more than the
past five years.
William S. McKee 54 Director of the Company since 1992;
Director of the Bank from 1986 to
1992. Partner in the law firm of
King and Spalding, Washington,
D.C., for more than the past five
years.
William C. Oldaker 56 Director of the Company since
1985 and Secretary since 1992;
Director of the Bank since 1984.
Attorney in the law firm of Manatt,
Phelps, Phillips & Kantor,
Washington, D.C., from 1987
to 1993. Partner in the law firm of
Oldaker, Ryan, Phillips and Utrecht,
Washington, D.C. since 1993.
</TABLE>
The Board of Directors met 11 times in 1997. Messrs. Bracewell, Contis,
Cope, Gross, and Oldaker also serve on the Board of Directors of the Bank, which
met 12 times during 1997. Each of such members attended 75% or more of such
meetings.
The Company has standing Audit and Executive Compensation committees of
its Board of Directors. The Audit Committee, which met 4 times during 1997,
consists of Company Directors Cravath (Chair) and Gross. The Executive
Compensation Committee, which met once during 1997, consists of Company
Directors Oldaker (Chair), Cope, and Cravath. Messrs. Cope, Koonz, and Oldaker
serve as the Stock Option Committee designated by the Board of Directors to
administer the Company's stock option plan. The Company does not have a standing
nominating committee or other committee serving a similar function. Members of
the Board of Directors of the Company also serve on other committees, formal and
informal, with directors and members of senior management of the Bank.
-6-
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation
The following table sets forth the compensation for each of the last
three years awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and the other executive officers of the Company whose salaries and
bonuses exceeded $100,000 for the last completed fiscal year.
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term
Compensation
Awards
Annual Compensation Securities
Name and Principal -------------------------------------------- Underlying All Other
Positions Year Salary Bonus(1) Other (2) Options (#) Compensation (3)
- -------------------- ----- ----------- ---------- ------------- ----------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph S. Bracewell 1997 $182,300 $ 5,000 $10,750 4,000 $2,824
Chairman of the Board, 1996 182,300 -0- 10,750 2,735 1,592
President, and CEO of 1995 182,300 7,000 9,420 1,500 1,800
Company; Chairman of
the Board, President,
and CEO of the Bank
</TABLE>
- ----------------------------------
[FN]
1 These payments are listed in the year accrued and earned, but each was paid
in the following year.
2 Amounts in this column represent (a) matching contributions to the
executive's 401(k) plan account and (b) director fees deferred by the
executive pursuant to the deferred compensation program for directors.
Contributions to the 401(k) plan on behalf of Mr. Bracewell were $4,750,
$4,750 and $4,620 during 1997, 1996, and 1995, respectively. During 1997,
1996, and 1995, Mr. Bracewell deferred $6,000, $6,000, and $4,800,
respectively, pursuant to the deferred compensation program for directors.
3 Includes the dollar value of insurance premiums paid by the Company with
respect to the term life insurance portion of split dollar policies in which
the Company has the full interest in the cash surrender value. During 1997,
1996, and 1995, the Company held three split dollar policies covering Mr.
Bracewell.
</FN>
Board Compensation
Each member of the Board of Directors of the Company receives a
retainer of $4,200 annually ($6,000 for those director serving on the Boards of
both the Company and the Bank) provided the director attends at least two-thirds
of the meetings of the Board of Directors. The payment of the cash retainer may
be deferred at the Director's option in return for a deferred compensation
agreement pursuant to which the director receives future retirement benefits
and/or the director's beneficiary receives certain benefits upon the director's
death (see below). Directors who do not elect the deferred compensation option
receive cash fees of $350 per meeting attended. Effective January 1, 1996,
additional compensation of $50 per meeting is paid to those directors serving on
the Executive Loan Committee ("ELC") of the Bank, which meets on a weekly basis.
During 1997, an aggregate of $4,000 in cash fees were paid to the directors of
the Company for attending Board and ELC meetings, and an aggregate of $25,000 in
premiums were paid on life insurance policies for directors of the Company
participating in the deferred compensation program. As of December 31, 1997, the
Company had $544,000 in deferred compensation liability accrued on its books
with respect to payments due to directors under this program.
-7-
<PAGE>
The Company has entered into Director Compensation Agreements (the
"Compensation Agreements"), with all of the directors of the Company. Each
director of the Company may elect to enter into a Compensation Agreement in lieu
of receiving director's fees in cash. The Compensation Agreements generally
provide for the purchase of life insurance for each director with the deferred
director's fees. The Compensation Agreement will pay an amount up to 180 months
following retirement, or in the case of an individual's death prior to
retirement, the payment of an amount for a period of up to 180 months following
a director's death. The retirement benefit granted under the Compensation
Agreement vests pursuant to a schedule, with 20% of the retirement benefit
vesting each year over a five year period.
Executive Compensation Committee Report
To the Board of Directors
As members of the Executive Compensation Committee, it is our duty to
establish the compensation level of the executive officers, to award bonuses to
the executive officers and to approve the Company's benefit plan arrangements.
The base salary level of the executive officers is recommended to the
Executive Compensation Committee by the CEO. Factors considered by the CEO are
typically subjective, such as his perception of the individual's performance and
any planned changes in functional responsibility, and also include such factors
as prior year compensation levels and general inflationary considerations. The
profitability of the Company and the market value of its stock are not primary
considerations in setting executive officer base compensation, although
significant changes in these items are subjectively considered. The Committee
has reviewed the base compensation for Mr. Joseph S. Bracewell and deferred any
potential adjustments thereof until 1998.
The Committee considers bonuses for the executive officers, including
Mr. Bracewell, after subjectively considering the profitability of the Company
and individual performance. In making such determination, the Committee does not
apply any specific criteria. The perquisites and other benefits received by Mr.
Bracewell that are reported in the Summary Compensation Table are provided
primarily pursuant to existing employee benefit programs.
No member of the Executive Compensation Committee is a former or
current paid officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Executive Compensation Committee
William C. Oldaker
John R. Cope
Bernard J. Cravath
-8-
<PAGE>
Stock Option Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The following report by the Stock Option Committee to the Board of
Directors discusses the factors the Stock Option Committee considers when
determining the number of shares which will be made subject to stock options
granted to the executive officers of the Company.
To the Board of Directors:
As members of the Stock Option Committee it is our duty to administer
the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan. Administering the plan includes awarding
stock options to the executive officers.
Stock options are a component of compensation that is intended to
retain executives and to motivate executives to improve stock market
performance. The number of options granted to each executive officer was
determined by taking a percentage of salary and dividing that amount by the fair
market value per share on the date of the grant. The percentages are recommended
annually by the CEO (subject to the approval of the Committee). The percentage
recommended and utilized for Mr. Joseph S. Bracewell for 1997 was 15 percent.
The option price was the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the
date of the grant.
Stock Option Committee
John R. Cope
Joseph H. Koonz, Jr.
William C. Oldaker
Stock Options Plans
In 1986, the Company adopted an Incentive Stock Option Plan for Key
Employees, a Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Key Employees, and a
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Directors (collectively, the "1986 Plans")
in order to encourage ownership of Common Stock by key employees and directors
of the Company and its subsidiaries. The 1986 Plans expired during 1992 and
1993; however, certain options granted under the 1986 Plans are still
exercisable by the optionees.
The Company initially reserved 150,000 shares of its Common Stock for
the issuance of incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options to
directors and key employees under the Century Bancshares, Inc. 1994 Stock Option
Plan (the "1994 Plan"). The Board of Directors approved the 1994 Plan in April
1994, and it was approved by the Company's stockholders in May 1994. The 1994
Plan is administered by the Company's Stock Option Committee and provides that
the options granted under the 1994 Plan may be either incentive stock options
pursuant to Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
nonqualified options. As of March 31, 1998, after adjusting for stock dividends,
there were 176,362 shares of stock reserved for the 1994 plan.
During fiscal 1997, options to purchase 1,500 shares of the Common
Stock were granted to each non-employee director of the Company and the Bank
under the 1994 Plan at a purchase price of $6.88 per share.
-9-
<PAGE>
As of December 31, 1997, options to purchase 176,614 shares of Common
Stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.54 to $8.81 were outstanding (including
28,367 options issued pursuant to the 1986 Plans), and there were 18,304 shares
of Common Stock available for future grants under the 1994 Plan. The Company is
proposing to increase by 200,000 shares the number of shares available for
issuance pursuant to options granted under the 1994 Plan. See "Amendment to the
1994 Stock Option Plan."
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Company granted the
following options to purchase Common Stock to the executive officer of the
Company listed in the Summary Compensation Table.
OPTIONS GRANTED TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
IN FISCAL YEAR 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
Number of % of Total Value at Assumed
Securities Options Annual Rate of
Underlying Granted to Per Share Stock Price
Options Employees in Exercise Expiration Appreciation for
Name Granted 1997 Price Date Option Term
- ----------- ----------- ------------ -------- ---------- -----------------
5% 10%
-- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph S. Bracewell 4,000 16.4% $6.88 6/06/2007 $17,320 $43,840
</TABLE>
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the following options
were exercised by the executive officer of the Company listed in the Summary
Compensation Table.
OPTIONS EXERCISED IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Shares Underlying Unexercised In-the-Money Options
Acquired On Value Options at Year End at Year End
Name Exercise Realized Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
----- ----------- ---------- -------------------------- --------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph S.
Bracewell 5,463 $25,911 24,743 4,857 $187,629 $ 20,621
</TABLE>
-10-
<PAGE>
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the cumulative total return to
stockholders for the period from September 23, 1997 (the date trading in the
Common Stock commenced on The NASDAQ Stock Market's SmallCap Market) through
December 31, 1997, for a holder of Common Stock against the cumulative total
return of both The NASDAQ Stock Market and the NASDAQ Bank Stock Index.
[GRAPH OMITTED]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------------
Sept. 23, 1997 Oct. 31, 1997 Nov. 30, 1997 Dec. 31, 1997
------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Century Bancshares, Inc. 100.00 101.49 101.49 126.87
Nasdaq Stock Market 100.00 92.58 91.34 89.41
Nasdaq Bank Stocks 100.00 102.57 103.76 111.12
------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------------
Assumes $100 invested at September 23, 1997.
Dividends reinvested through year ended December 31, 1997.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
</TABLE>
-11-
<PAGE>
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
The Company and Mr. Bracewell are parties to an Employment Agreement
which will terminate on August 31, 1999, unless renewed by the parties on
written notice. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Bracewell receives an annual
salary of $205,000, the use of a Company car, the payment by the Company of life
insurance premiums, and certain membership dues. Upon termination of Mr.
Bracewell's employment during the term of the Employment Agreement (except by
the reason of his death or upon termination by the Company for cause), or if the
Company elects not to renew the Employment Agreement, Mr. Bracewell would be
entitled to receive a payment in an amount equal to twice his annual salary,
maintenance of certain health care and life insurance benefits for a period of
one year subject to extension after such time at Mr. Bracewell's expense, and
all his stock options would automatically vest. If Mr. Bracewell elects not the
renew the Employment Agreement upon its expiration, the Employment Agreement
provides for a severance payment in the amount of his annual salary.
In the event of a change of control, Mr. Bracewell may terminate the
Employment Agreement within sixty (60) days after such change of control. Under
the Employment Agreement, a "change of control" means (i) the acquisition by any
person or group of persons of beneficial ownership of securities representing
more than 50% of the Company or the Bank, (ii) a reorganization with respect to
which those persons who had been beneficial owners do not, following such
reorganization, beneficially own shares representing more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the voting securities of the resulting corporation,
(iii) a sale of substantially all the assets of the Company or the Bank, (iv)
the cessation for any reason of the individuals who constituted the Board of
Directors of the Company on the date of the Employment Agreement (the "Incumbent
Board") to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors, provided
that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date of the Employment
Agreement whose election or whose nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders was approved by a majority vote of the directors comprising the
Incumbent Board is, for purposes of the agreement, considered to be a member of
the Incumbent Board, or (v) a change in the Company's status requiring prior
notice to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and/or the Office
of the Comptroller of the Currency pursuant to the Change in Bank Control Act of
1978 and regulations promulgated thereunder. Mr. Bracewell has agreed not to
compete with the Company during the term of Employment Agreement and for 12
months thereafter.
During 1997, the Bank made loans in the ordinary course of business to
certain of the directors and executive officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries, their associates, and members of their immediate families. These
loans were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and
collateral, as those prevailing for comparable transactions with others and do
not involve more than normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable
features. Loans to directors, executives officers and principal stockholders of
the Company and to directors and officers of its subsidiaries are subject to
limitations contained in the Federal Reserve Act, the principal effect of which
is to require that extensions of such credits satisfy the foregoing standards.
As of December 31, 1997, loans outstanding to the directors and executive
officers and their immediate families totaled $3,510,534 (net of participations
sold to other banks on a non-recourse basis), which represented approximately 4%
of total loans outstanding as of that date.
-12-
<PAGE>
With respect to banking transactions other than loans, during 1997 the
Company and its subsidiaries had such transactions in the ordinary course of
business with many of their directors, executive officers, principal
stockholders and other affiliates; however, transactions with such persons were
on substantially the same terms as those that could be obtained from
unaffiliated third parties and those prevailing for comparable transactions with
others.
Mr. Cope, a director of the Company and the Bank, is a member of Bracewell
& Patterson, L.L.P., a law firm that was retained by the Company and its
subsidiaries during 1997.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The only executive officers of the Company are Joseph S. Bracewell and
James T. Duke, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. See "Election
of Directors" for certain information with respect to the age, positions and
length of service with the Company, and the business experience of Mr.
Bracewell. Mr. Duke is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company and the Bank. Mr. Duke joined the Company in December 1997, he is 37
years old and has over 15 years of financial services experience, most recently
with Riggs Bank, N.A. as Vice President--Finance, from November 1993 to December
1997, and over 11 years of experience in the thrift industry prior to 1993. The
Company's executive officers are elected annually and serve at the discretion of
the Board of Directors subject, in the case of Mr. Bracewell, to his contractual
rights. See "Certain Relationships and Transactions."
-13-
<PAGE>
AMENDMENT TO THE 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company is seeking stockholder approval of an amendment to the
Century Bancshares, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan ("1994 Plan"), which would
reserve an additional 200,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to antidilutive
adjustment) for the issuance of incentive stock options and nonqualified stock
options to directors and key employees of the Company pursuant to the 1994 Plan.
The Board of Directors approved the amendment on March 17, 1998, and recommends
that the stockholders approve this amendment to the 1994 Plan.
BACKGROUND
Prior Stock Option Plans
In 1986, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an Incentive
Stock Option Plan for Key Employees, a Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Key
Employees and a Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Directors (collectively
referred to herein as the "1986 Plans"). The purpose of each of the 1986 Plans
was to encourage ownership of the Company's Common Stock by key employees and
directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. A total of 130,000 shares of
Common Stock initially was reserved for issuance under the 1986 Plans. Under the
1986 Plans, the exercise price of any option granted could not be less than the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option was granted. All of
the 1986 Plans were administered by various committees of the Board of Directors
of the Company. The 1986 Plans expired during 1992 and 1993; however, options
with respect to an aggregate of 23,540 shares granted under the 1986 Plans were
outstanding and exercisable by the optionees at March 31, 1998, at exercise
prices ranging from $1.54 to $2.69 per share, of which 18,691 were exercisable
by directors of the Company. In April 1994, the 1986 Plans were replaced by the
Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan described below.
1994 Stock Option Plan
The Board of Directors approved the 1994 Plan in April 1994 and it was
approved by the Company's stockholders in May 1994. The Company initially
reserved 150,000 shares of its Common Stock, subject to antidilutive
adjustments, for the issuance of incentive stock options and nonqualified stock
options to directors and key employees under the 1994 Plan. As a result of stock
dividends declared by the Company in 1995, 1996 and 1997, the number of shares
reserved for issuances under the 1994 Plan has been increased to 176,362. The
1994 Plan is administered by the Stock Option Committee of the Board of
Directors, which subject to the general terms of the 1994 Plan, establishes the
specific terms of options granted pursuant thereto. Options may be granted for
terms up to 10 years, with options granted to directors generally vesting
immediately and employees generally vesting at the rate of 25 percent of the
original grant after each six, eighteen, thirty, and forty-two month periods of
continued service. In the event of a change of control of the Company, the
options currently outstanding under the 1994 Plan will become fully vested. The
1994 Plan is administered by the Company's Stock Option Committee and provides
that the options granted under the 1994 Plan may be either incentive stock
options pursuant to Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or nonqualified options. Directors and certain key employees are
entitled to participate under the 1994 Plan.
-14-
<PAGE>
Options granted under the 1994 Plan will terminate (i) ten years after
the date the option was granted, unless the option was granted for a shorter
period, (ii) five years from the date of grant in the case of an incentive stock
option granted to a 10% or more stockholder of the Company, (iii) three months
after the date on which employment with the Company was terminated, or (iv) one
year after the death or disability of an optionee. Options granted under the
1994 Plan are not transferable by the optionee, other than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution.
As of March 31, 1998, options to purchase 157,876 shares of Common
Stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.92 to $10.63 were outstanding (of which
71,788 were held by directors of the Company) and 33 shares of Common Stock
remained available for future grants under the 1994 Plan.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
The Company has always viewed stock options as an important
compensation tool to motivate directors and key employees and to reward them
based on increases in stockholder value. The shares originally reserved in the
1994 Plan have been exhausted due to stock option grants issued over the course
of the last four years. The Board of Directors believes that the 1994 Plan is
accomplishing its purpose. In order to continue its past practice of granting
options to directors and key employees, additional shares need to be set aside
for that purpose. The proposed reservation of 200,000 additional shares is
deemed reasonable by the Board of Directors in view of the increase in the
number of shares outstanding, the increase in the scope of the Company's
operations and the number of individuals eligible to received stock options,
since the plan was originally adopted in 1994.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS
In the past, Mr. Joseph S. Bracewell, the Chief Executive Office, and
other officers, as well as members of the Board of Directors of the Company,
have been awarded options under the 1994 Plan. Such persons may benefit from
approval of the amendment to increase the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the 1994 Plan if the Stock Option Committee determines to award
additional options under the 1994 Plan to such persons.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.
-15-
<PAGE>
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
("Exchange Act"), and the rules promulgated thereunder require every person who
is the beneficial owner of more than ten percent of any class of any equity
security (other than an exempted security) which is registered pursuant to
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or who is a director or executive officer of an
issuer of such security, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of such
securities. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are
required by regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of
such reports furnished to the Company and certain written representations
provided to the Company by such persons, from September 23, 1997 (the date the
Company became subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act) through December 31,
1997, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to the Company's
officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders were complied
with, except that Mr. Neal R. Gross, a director of the Company, filed a late
report with respect to one transaction in the Company's Common Stock.
EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION
The cost of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors will
be borne by the Company. Solicitations of proxies are being made by the Company
through the mail and may also be made in person or by telephone. Directors and
employees of the Company may be utilized in connection with such solicitations.
The Company also will request brokers and nominees to forward soliciting
materials to the beneficial owners of the Common Stock held of record by such
persons and will reimburse them for their reasonable forwarding expenses in
connection therewith.
DATE OF SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at the 1999 Annual
Meeting must be received by the Company for inclusion in the Company's proxy
statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting on or before January 28,
1999.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC AUDITORS
The firm of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP served as the Company's independent
public auditors for the year ended December 31, 1997, and the Board of Directors
of the Company has appointed such firm to serve in such capacity for the year
ended December 31, 1998. A member of the firm of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP is
expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a
statement if so desired and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company is not aware of any business to be acted on at the Annual
Meeting other than that which is explained in this Proxy Statement. In the event
that any other business calling for a vote of the stockholders is properly
presented at the meeting, the proxies will be voted in accordance with the
discretion of the persons named therein.
-16-
<PAGE>
FORM 10-K AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and may be obtained without exhibits at no
charge by writing to: Corporate Secretary, Century Bancshares, Inc., 1275
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ WILLIAM C. OLDAKER
-------------------------
William C. Oldaker
Secretary
April 28, 1998
-17-
