DEF 14A 1 proxysec05.txt PROXY 4/2005 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.) 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 240.14a-12 BOL 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)(4)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: BOL BANCSHARES, INC. 300 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 (504) 592-0600 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD APRIL 12, 2005 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Annual Meeting") of BOL BANCSHARES, INC. (the "Company") will be held at 300 St. Charles Avenue, 4th Floor, New Orleans, Louisiana, on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 3:30 p.m., for the following purposes, all of which are more completely set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement: 1. To elect four directors to the Board of Directors for a one-year term. 2. To ratify the appointment of Laporte, Sehrt, Romig and Hand, as the Company's independent auditors. 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Management is not aware of any other business, other than procedural matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting. Only holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on February 27, 2005 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or at any such adjournment. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Douglas A. Schonacher Secretary New Orleans, Louisiana March 14, 2005 You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. It is important that your shares be represented regardless of the number you own. Even if you plan to be present, you are urged to complete, sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy promptly in the envelope provided. If you attend the meeting, you may vote either in person or by proxy. Any proxy given may be revoked by you in writing or in person at any time prior to the exercise thereof. BOL BANCSHARES, INC. PROXY STATEMENT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS APRIL 12, 2005 This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of BOL BANCSHARES, INC. ("the Company") in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at 300 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 3:30 p. m., and at any adjournment thereof for the purposes set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The approximate mailing date on which this Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy card, and Annual Report to Stockholders (which is not part of the Company's soliciting materials) are being mailed is March 14, 2005. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The proxy solicited hereby, if properly signed and returned to the Company and not revoked prior to its use, will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained thereon. If no contrary instructions are given, each proxy received will be voted FOR the matters described below and upon the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, in accordance with the best judgment of the persons appointed as proxies. Any shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised by (i) filing written notice thereof with G. Harrison Scott, BOL BANCSHARES, INC. 300 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130; or (ii) appearing at the Annual Meeting and giving notice of his or her intention to vote in person. Proxies solicited hereby may be exercised only at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof and will not be used for any other meeting. VOTING Only shareholders of record at the close of business on February 27, 2005 (the "Voting Record Date") will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. On the Record Date, there were 179,145 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting on each matter properly presented at the Annual Meeting. Unless authority is withheld in the proxy, each proxy executed and returned by a shareholder will be voted for the election of the nominees described in this Proxy Statement. The proxy also confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein, or their substitutes, with respect to any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR There are currently 3 directors serving on the Board, and those 3 directors plus one Bank director are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for the year 2005 expiring on the second Tuesday of April, 2006 or until successors are duly elected and qualified for the transaction of any business. Unless otherwise directed, each proxy executed and returned by a shareholder will be voted for the election of the nominees for director listed below. At this time, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees listed below may not be able to serve as a director if elected. In the event that any elected candidate is unable to serve his candidacy, the Board reserves the right to appoint a replacement until the next Annual Meeting. The following table presents information concerning the nominees for director of the Company. Directors of the Company each serve for a term of one year. The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of the nominees for Directors. Position with the Company and the Director Name Age Bank and Principal Occupation Since G. Harrison Scott 81 Director; Chairman of the Board of the 1981 Company and President of the Bank Douglas A. Schonacher 74 Director of the Company and the 1988 Bank and Secretary of the Company; President, V.I.P. Distributors Franck F. LaBiche 59 Director of the Bank and the Company 2004 President, Executone Systems Co. of La. Inc. Henry L. Klein 60 Director of the Bank 2004 Attorney at Law, Klein Daigle, L.L.C. No family relationships exist among the current directors or executive officers of the Company or the Bank, and except for service as a director of the Company, no director of the Company is a director of any other company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(b) of that act or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AND THE BANK The Company does not have standing audit, nominating, or compensation committees of the Board of Directors, or committees performing similar functions. In lieu thereof, the Board of Directors as a group performs the foregoing functions. During fiscal year 2004, the Board of Directors of the Company held a total of 5 meetings. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Bank does not have standing nominating, or compensation committees of the Board of Directors, or committees performing similar functions. In lieu thereof, the Board of Directors as a group performs the foregoing functions. During fiscal year 2004, the Board of Directors of the Bank held a total of 11 meetings. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees on which such director served. The Board of Directors of the Bank has an Executive Committee consisting of two permanent members and three rotating members. The permanent members of the Executive Committee in 2004 were Messrs. Scott (chairman), and Comiskey, and the rotating members were selected from Messrs. Schonacher, Labiche, and Mrs. Chouest. The Executive Committee formulates policy matters for determination by the Board of Directors and reviews financial reports, loan reports, new Business, and other real estate owned information. The Executive Committee met 27 times in 2004. The Board of Directors of the Bank does have an Audit and Finance Committee. This committee meets monthly on the first Tuesday of the month. By Bank policy, the Audit and Finance Committee reviews information from management; reviews financial and delinquency reports; reviews the work performed by the Bank's internal auditor and by the independent certified public accountant firm. In addition this committee also reviews capital expenditures in excess of $5,000; analyzes the Loan Loss Reserve adequacy; and approves charged off loans. The Audit and Finance Committee met 12 times in 2004. The Audit and Finance Committee discloses the following: 1. They have reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management, and with the independent auditors. 2. They have received a letter and written disclosure from the independent auditors, and have discussed the independence of the auditors. 3. They have recommended to the Board of Directors that the financial statements prepared by the independent auditors be included in the Annual Report. The Audit and Finance Committee consisted of Messrs. Schonacher (chairman), LaBiche, and Mrs. Chouest. Non-Director Executive Officer The following table presents information concerning the principal occupation during the last five years of the executive officer of the Company and the Bank who does not serve as a director. Position with the Company and the Name Age Bank and Principal Occupation Peggy L. Schaefer 52 Ms. Schaefer has served as Treasurer of the Company since 1988 and Senior Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer since 1983 and Cashier of the Bank since 2004. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF STOCK BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth as of the Voting Record Date, certain information as to the Company Stock beneficially owned by (i) each person or entity, including any "group" as that term is used in Section 13(d) (3) of the Exchange Act, who or which was known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more that 5% of the issued and outstanding Stock, (ii) the directors of the Company, (iii) all directors and executive officers of the Company and the Bank as a group. Common Preferred Name of Beneficial Owner Number Percent Number Percent Edward J. Soniat 10,381 5.79% 257,326 11.96% Estate of James A. Comiskey 35,467 19.80% (3) 94,706 4.40% Directors: G. Harrison Scott 62,991 35.16% (2) 127,368 5.92% Douglas A. Schonacher 2,740 1.53%(*)(4) 18,537 (*) Franck F. LaBiche 500 - (*) - - Henry L. Klein 500 - (*) - - All Directors & Executive Officers 66,856 37.32% 148,677 6.91% of the Company and the Bank as a group (5 persons) (*) Represents less than 1% of the shares outstanding. (1) Based upon information furnished by the respective persons. Pursuant to rules promulgated under the 1934 Act, a person is deemed to beneficially own shares of stock if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the shares; or (b) investment power, which includes the power to dispose or direct the disposition of the shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the named beneficial owner has sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to the indicated shares. (2) Includes 21,755 common shares owned by Scott Family Limited Liability Partnership, L.L.P. (3) Includes 47 common shares and 2,661 preferred shares owned by Mr. Comiskey's spouse. (4) Includes 2,525 common shares and 9,213 preferred shares owned by Director Schonacher's spouse. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The Company pays no salaries or other compensation to its directors and executive officers. The Bank paid each director, other than Messrs. Scott and Comiskey, a fee for attending each meeting of the Board of Directors, and each meeting of the Bank's Audit and Finance Committee and Executive Committee, in the amount of $400, $300, and $300, respectively. From October 1, 1990, through June 30, 1992, the director-recipients loaned these fees to the Company. The total amount loaned to the Company since October 1, 1990, and as of December 31, 2004, was $916,017, including accrued and unpaid interest at the rate of 10% per annum. At this time, there is no maturity date on these loans. The following table sets forth compensation for the Bank's executive officers for the calendar years 2004, 2003, and 2002. No other executive officer received total compensation in excess of $100,000 during 2004. Annual Compensation Long Term Compensation Awards Payouts Restricted Other Annual Stock Options/ LTIP All Other Name and Principal Year Salary Bonus Compensation Award(s) SARs Payouts Compensation Position ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($) ($) G. Harrison Scott, 2004 89,800 0 41,000 0 0 0 - Chairman of the 2003 89,800 0 41,000 0 0 0 19,494 Board 2002 89,800 0 41,000 0 0 0 19,494 James A. Comiskey, 2004 89,800 0 41,000 0 0 0 - President 2003 89,800 0 41,000 0 0 0 19,000 2002 89,800 0 41,000 0 0 0 19,000
In addition to the cash compensation shown in the foregoing table, the Bank provided automobiles for Messrs. Scott and Comiskey. Annual compensation does not include amounts attributable to miscellaneous benefits received by Messrs. Scott and Comiskey. The cost to the Bank of providing such benefits did not exceed 10% of the total annual salary and bonus paid to Messrs. Scott and Comiskey. INDEBTEDNESS OF MANAGEMENT AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS The Bank makes loans in the ordinary course of business to its directors and executive officers, on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons, and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. At December 31, 2004, three of the directors had aggregate loan balances in excess of $60,000, which amounted to approximately $1.8 million in the aggregate. On September 30, 1991, the Company purchased a four-story building located at 300 St. Charles Avenue from the RTC for a price of $402,500. The building serves as the Bank's main office. The purchase was financed by a loan from former director Mr. Soniat to the Company, which in turn sold the building to the Bank. As of December 31, 2004, there was a balance of $24,162 in principal and accrued but unpaid interest on the loan, which bears interest at the rate of 13.50% per annum. The loan matured on September 30, 1996, however, Mr. Soniat agreed to renew this loan at the same interest rate and repayment schedule, on a month-to-month basis, which unless changed, would fully amortize such loan on September 30, 2006. The Bank leased office space from Severn South Partnership and Tammany Mall Partnership. The general partners of these Partnerships are majority shareholders in BOL BANCSHARES, INC. Rent paid to Severn South Partnership for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 totaled $412,380, $425,320, and $465,633 respectively. On September 1, 2004 for a price of $499,058, the Subsidiary Bank purchased the building from which it was operating a branch and paying rent to Tammany Mall Partnership. For the year ended December 31, 2004, $49,600 was paid to Tammany Mall Partnership in rent expense before the purchase. For the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, $74,400 was paid to Tammany Mall Partnership in rent expense. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS The Board of Directors of the Company has appointed LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand, independent certified public accountants, to perform the audit of the Company's and the Bank's financial statements for the year 2005, and further directed that the selection of auditors be submitted for ratification by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand acted as independent auditors of the Company and the Bank for the preceding year. The Company has been advised by LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand that neither that firm nor any of its associates has any relationship with the Company or the Bank other than the usual relationship that exists between independent certified public accountants and clients. LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand will have one or more representatives at the Annual Meeting who will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and who will be available to respond to appropriate questions. AUDIT FEES The aggregate fees billed by LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig and Hand for its audit of the Company's annual financial statements for 2004 and for its reviews of the Company's unaudited interim financial statements included in Form 10-QSB filed by the Company during 2004 was $63,166. The fees billed for 2003 were $65,823. Audit-Related Fees The Company did not pay any fees to LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand for assurance and related services during 2004 or 2003. Tax Fees The aggregate fees billed by LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig and Hand for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning for 2004 was $12,090. The fees billed for 2003 were $10,467. All Other Fees The Company did not pay any fees to LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand for any other services rendered to the Company during 2004 or 2003. The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand as independent auditors for the year 2005. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS Any shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal to be considered at the next annual meeting of shareholders must submit that proposal to the Board of Directors at least 120 days before the mailing date for proxy solicitation material, i.e., November 11, 2005. FORM 10-KSB A copy of the Company's Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission will be furnished without charge by contacting BOL BANCSHARES, INC. 300 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130; Attention Accounting Department. (504-889-9465) OTHER MATTERS The Board of Directors knows of no other matters likely to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than the matters described above in this Proxy Statement. However, if any other matters should properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the proxies solicited hereby will be voted with respect to those other matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! WE URGE YOU TO SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT TODAY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.