ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
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
o
Check the appropriate box:
|
|
|
o Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
|
|
o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
|
|
x Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
o Definitive
Additional Materials
|
o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
|
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
(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.
|
|
o |
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:
|
|
|
o |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|
|
o |
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.:
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ATLANTIC
AMERICAN CORPORATION
4370 Peachtree Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30319-3000
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 1, 2007
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Atlantic American
Corporation (the Company) will be held at the principal executive offices of the Company at 4370
Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia at 9:00 A.M., Eastern Time, on May 1, 2007, for the
following purposes:
|
(1) |
|
To elect eleven (11) directors of the Company for the ensuing year; |
|
|
(2) |
|
To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm for the 2007 fiscal year; and |
|
|
(3) |
|
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2007, will be entitled to notice
of, and to vote at, the meeting, or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED WHEN MAILED IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE IN THE UNITED STATES.
|
|
|
|
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
Janie L. Ryan |
|
|
Corporate Secretary |
April 6, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia
ATLANTIC
AMERICAN CORPORATION
4370 Peachtree Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30319-3000
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 1, 2007
GENERAL
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of
Directors of Atlantic American Corporation (the Company) for use at the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders (the Meeting) to be held at the time and place and for the purposes specified in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and at any postponements or adjournments
thereof. When the enclosed proxy is properly executed and returned, the shares which it represents
will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions thereon. In the absence of any
such instructions, the shares represented thereby will be voted in favor of the election of
nominees for director listed under the caption Election of Directors and for the ratification of
the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm
for 2007. Management does not know of any other business to be brought before the Meeting not
described herein, but it is intended that as to any such other business properly brought before the
Meeting, a vote will be cast pursuant to any proxy granted in accordance with the judgment of the
proxies appointed thereunder. This proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first
being given or sent to shareholders of the Company on or about April 6, 2007.
Any shareholder who executes and delivers a proxy may revoke it at any time prior to its use by:
(i) giving written notice of such revocation to the Secretary of the Company at 4370 Peachtree
Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30319-3000; (ii) executing and delivering a proxy bearing a later date
to the Secretary of the Company at 4370 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30319-3000; or (iii)
attending the Meeting and voting in person.
Only holders of record of issued and outstanding shares of $1.00 par value per share common stock
of the Company (Common Stock) as of March 16, 2007 (the Record Date) will be entitled to notice
of, and to vote at, the Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 21,536,573 shares of Common Stock
outstanding. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be acted upon.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report to Shareholders of the Company, which includes a copy of the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, including financial statements, is being
provided with this proxy statement.
EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION
The costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. Officers, directors and employees of
the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, personal interview or otherwise, but will not receive
any additional compensation for so doing. No contract or arrangement exists for engaging
specially-paid employees or solicitors in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the
Meeting. Arrangements may be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy materials to their principals, and the Company will reimburse
them for their expenses in so doing.
VOTE REQUIRED
A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock must be present in person or by proxy at the
Meeting in order to have the quorum necessary to transact business. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will be counted as present in determining whether the quorum requirement is satisfied.
A non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner votes on one proposal
pursuant to discretionary authority or instructions from the beneficial owner, but does not vote on
another proposal because the nominee has not received instruction from the beneficial owner and
does not have discretionary power to vote with respect to such proposal. Directors are elected by
the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and
actually voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present. In order for shareholders to approve
each other matter to be voted on at the Meeting, the votes cast favoring the proposal must exceed
the votes cast opposing the proposal. Abstentions and non-votes will not count as votes for or
against any proposal as to which there is an abstention or non-vote.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
One of the purposes of the Meeting is to elect eleven directors to serve until the next annual
meeting of shareholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified or until their
earlier resignation or removal. In the event any of the nominees should be unavailable to serve as
a director, which contingency is not presently anticipated, proxies will be voted for the election
of such other persons as may be designated by the present Board of Directors.
All of the nominees for election to the Board of Directors are currently Directors of the Company.
The following information is set forth with respect to the eleven nominees for Director to be
elected at the Meeting:
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position with the Company |
J. Mack Robinson |
|
83 |
|
Chairman of the Board |
Hilton H. Howell, Jr. |
|
45 |
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Edward E. Elson |
|
73 |
|
Director |
Harold K. Fischer |
|
74 |
|
Director |
Samuel E. Hudgins |
|
78 |
|
Director |
D. Raymond Riddle |
|
73 |
|
Director |
Harriett J. Robinson |
|
76 |
|
Director |
Scott G. Thompson |
|
62 |
|
Director |
Mark C. West |
|
47 |
|
Director |
William H. Whaley, M.D. |
|
67 |
|
Director |
Dom H. Wyant |
|
80 |
|
Director |
Mr. Robinson has served as Chairman of the Board since 1974 and served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company from September 1988 to May 1995. Mr. Robinson is also a Director
of Gray Television, Inc.
Mr. Howell has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 1995, and prior
thereto served as Executive Vice President of the Company from October 1992 to May 1995. He has
been a Director of the Company since October 1992. Mr. Howell is the son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs.
Robinson. He is also a Director of Triple Crown Media, Inc. and Gray Television, Inc.
Mr. Elson is the former Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Denmark,
serving from 1993 through 1998. He has been a Director of the Company since October 1998, and
previously served as a Director from 1986 to 1993.
Mr. Fischer is the retired President of Association Casualty Insurance Company and Association Risk
Management General Agency, Inc., subsidiaries of the Company, positions which he held from 1984
through June 2001. He has been a Director of the Company since the Company acquired those two
subsidiaries in July 1999.
Mr. Hudgins has been an independent consultant since September 1997 and was a Principal in
Percival, Hudgins & Company, LLC, an investment bank, from April 1992 to September 1997. He has
been a Director of the Company since 1986.
Mr. Riddle is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Service Industries,
Inc., a diversified holding company, positions he held from September 1994 to February 1996, and
prior thereto he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of National Service
Industries, since January 1993. Prior thereto, he was President of Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A.,
the President of Wachovia Corporation of Georgia and Executive Vice President of Wachovia
Corporation. He has been a Director of the Company since 1976, and also serves as a Director of
AMC, Inc. and AGL Resources, Inc.
Mrs. Robinson, the wife of J. Mack Robinson, has been a Director of the Company since 1989. She is
also a Director of Gray Television, Inc.
Mr. Thompson has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of American Southern Insurance
Company, a subsidiary of the Company, since 2004; prior thereto he had been the President and Chief
Financial Officer of that company since 1984. He has been a Director of the Company since February
1996.
Mr. West has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Genoa Companies since 1990. He
has been a Director of the Company since July 1997.
Dr. Whaley has been a physician in private practice for more than the past five years. He has been
a Director of the Company since July 1992.
Mr. Wyant is a retired partner of the law firm of Jones Day, which serves as counsel to the
Company. He served as a Partner with that firm from 1989 through 1994, and as Of Counsel from 1995
through 1997. He has been a Director of the Company since 1985.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the nominees for Director.
2
Committees of The Board of Directors
As a result of the level of beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by J. Mack Robinson, one of
our director nominees and currently our Chairman of the Board, and his affiliates, the Company
meets the definition of a controlled company as defined pursuant to Rule 4350(c)(5) of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Marketplace Rules (the NASDAQ Rules).
Accordingly, the Company is exempt from certain requirements of the NASDAQ Rules, including the
requirement that a majority of its Board of Directors be independent, as defined in such rules, the
requirement that director nominees be selected, or recommended for the boards selection, by either
a majority of the independent directors or a nominating committee comprised solely of independent
directors, and certain requirements relating to the determination of executive officer
compensation. The Board of Directors has determined that the following individuals are
independent pursuant to the NASDAQ Rules for purposes of serving as a member of the Board of
Directors: Edward E. Elson, Harold K. Fischer, D. Raymond Riddle, Mark C. West and Dom H. Wyant.
The Board of Directors of the Company has three standing committees: the Executive Committee, the
Stock Option and Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee.
The Executive Committee is composed of Messrs. Robinson, Howell and Hudgins, and Dr. Whaley. The
Executive Committees function is to act in the place and stead of the Board of Directors to the
extent permitted by law on matters which require Board action between meetings of the Board of
Directors. The Executive Committee of the Company met or acted by written consent one time during
2006.
The Stock Option and Compensation Committee is composed of Messrs. Elson, Riddle and West and Dr.
Whaley, each of whom, with the exception of Dr. Whaley, is independent pursuant to the NASDAQ
Rules. The Stock Option and Compensation Committees function is to establish the number of stock
options to be granted to officers and key employees and the annual salaries and bonus amounts
payable to officers of the Company. The Stock Option and Compensation Committee met one time during
2006. Due to its status as a controlled company, and the related historically low turnover among
Board and Committee members, as well as among the Companys executive officers, the Board has not
foreseen a need to adopt a charter to govern the Stock Option and Compensation Committees
functions.
The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs. Elson, Riddle, West and Wyant. The Board of Directors
has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are independent for purposes of
being an Audit Committee member, and financially literate, as such terms are defined in the NASDAQ
Rules and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Board of Directors
has determined that three of the members of the Audit Committee, Messrs. Elson, Riddle and West,
each have the attributes of an audit committee financial expert as defined by the Securities and
Exchange Commission in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K. In making such determination, the Board took
into consideration, among other things, the express provision in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K that
the determination that a person has the attributes of an audit committee financial expert shall not
impose any greater responsibility or liability on that person than the responsibility and liability
imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee, nor shall it affect the duties and
obligations of other Audit Committee members or the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee has a
written charter which sets out its authority and responsibilities, a copy of which is available on
the Companys website, www.atlam.com. The Audit Committee met or acted by written consent five
times during 2006.
Information regarding the functions performed by the Audit Committee and its membership during 2006
is set forth in the Report of the Audit Committee, included below. The Audit Committee is
governed by a written charter, which was amended and restated in 2004.
Due to its status as a controlled company, and the related historically small turnover of its
members, the Board has not foreseen the need to establish a separate nominating committee or adopt
a charter to govern the nomination process. The Board of Directors has generally addressed the
need to retain members and fill vacancies after discussion among current members, the members of
the Executive Committee, and the Companys management. The Board of Directors does not have any
specific qualifications that have to be met by director candidates and does not have a formal
process for identifying and evaluating director candidates.
Additionally, the Board of Directors does not have a formal policy with respect to the
consideration of any director candidates recommended by shareholders and has determined that it is
appropriate not to have such a formal policy at this time. The Board of Directors, however, will
give due consideration to director candidates recommended by shareholders. Any shareholder that
wishes to nominate a director candidate should submit complete information as to the identity and
qualifications of the director candidate to the Board of Directors at the address and in the manner
set forth below for communication with the Board.
The Board of Directors met or acted by written consent six times in 2006. Each of the Directors
named above attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and its committees of which he or
she was a member during 2006. The Company does not have a formal policy regarding Director
attendance at its annual meetings, but attendance by the Directors is encouraged and expected. At
the Companys 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, nine of the Companys directors were in
attendance.
Shareholders may communicate with members of the Board of Directors by mail addressed to the full
Board of Directors, a specific member of the Board of Directors or a particular committee of the
Board of Directors, at Atlantic American Corporation, 4370 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia
30319.
3
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee (the Committee) oversees the Companys (i) financial reports and other
financial information; (ii) systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting, legal
compliance and ethics; and (iii) auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes. The
Companys management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting
processes, including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial
statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, including a discussion of
the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant accounting judgments and estimates,
and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The Companys independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit
of the Companys financial statements in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) and expressing an opinion thereon. During 2006, the Committee
reviewed with the independent auditors for the 2006 fiscal year their judgments as to the quality,
not just the acceptability, of the Companys accounting principles and such other matters as are
required to be discussed with the Committee under auditing standards generally accepted in the
United States, including the items set out in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication
with Audit Committees, as amended, promulgated by the Auditing Standards Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and rule 2-07 of Regulation S-X. In addition, the
Committee has discussed with the Companys independent auditors for the 2006 fiscal year the
auditors independence from management and the Company, including the matters in the written
disclosures received as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No.1, and considered the
compatibility of nonaudit services provided to the Company by BDO Seidman, LLP, with the
maintenance of the auditors independence.
The Committee discussed with the Companys independent auditors for the 2006 fiscal year the
overall scope and plans for the 2006 audit. The Committee met with such independent auditors, with
and without management present, to discuss, among other things, the results of their audit, their
considerations of the Companys internal controls, and the overall quality of the Companys
financial reporting. The Committee met or acted by written consent five times during fiscal year
2006.
In performing its functions, the Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. The Committee
reviews the Companys periodic reports prior to filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and quarterly earnings announcements. In its oversight role, the Committee relies on the work and
assurances of the Companys management, which has the primary responsibility for financial
statements and reports, and of the independent auditors, who, in their report, express an opinion
on the Companys annual financial statements as to their conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the
Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Companys Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
D. Raymond Riddle, Chairman
Edward E. Elson
Mark C. West
Dom H. Wyant
March 28, 2007
4
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth Common Stock ownership information as of March 16, 2007 by: (i) each
person who is known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company; (ii) each director; (iii) each executive officer named in the Summary
Compensation Table below; and (iv) all of the Companys directors and executive officers as a
group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and Nature |
|
|
Name of Individual |
|
of Beneficial |
|
Percent |
or Identity of Group |
|
Ownership(1) |
|
of Class |
J. Mack Robinson |
|
|
14,298,126 |
(2) |
|
|
66.33 |
% |
4370 Peachtree Road, N.E. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atlanta, Georgia 30319 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harriett J. Robinson |
|
|
8,623,771 |
(3) |
|
|
40.04 |
% |
4370 Peachtree Road, N.E. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atlanta, Georgia 30319 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harold K. Fischer |
|
|
1,346,539 |
(4) |
|
|
6.25 |
% |
P.O. Box 9728 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Austin, TX 78766 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hilton H. Howell, Jr. |
|
|
526,246 |
(5) |
|
|
2.41 |
% |
Edward E. Elson |
|
|
21,219 |
(6) |
|
|
* |
|
Samuel E. Hudgins |
|
|
7,386 |
(6) |
|
|
* |
|
D. Raymond Riddle |
|
|
125,687 |
(7) |
|
|
* |
|
Scott G. Thompson |
|
|
107,219 |
(8) |
|
|
* |
|
Mark C. West |
|
|
151,019 |
(9) |
|
|
* |
|
William H. Whaley, M.D. |
|
|
38,219 |
(10) |
|
|
* |
|
Dom H. Wyant |
|
|
17,219 |
(6) |
|
|
* |
|
John G. Sample, Jr. |
|
|
71,268 |
(11) |
|
|
* |
|
All Directors and executive
officers as a group (12 persons) |
|
|
16,710,147 |
(12) |
|
|
76.02 |
% |
|
|
|
* |
|
Represents less than 1% of class. |
|
(1) |
|
All such shares are owned beneficially and of record unless otherwise stated. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes: 3,533,007 shares owned by Gulf Capital Services, Ltd.; 946,702 shares owned
by Delta Life Insurance Company; and 300,000 shares owned by Delta Fire & Casualty Company,
all of which are companies controlled by Mr. Robinson and each of which has an address at 4370
Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30319; and 16,926 shares held pursuant to the Companys
401(k) Plan. Also includes all shares held by Mr. Robinsons wife (see note 3 below). |
|
(3) |
|
Harriett J. Robinson is the wife of J. Mack Robinson. Includes 7,995,048 shares held by
Mrs. Robinson as trustee for her children, as to which she disclaims any beneficial ownership.
Also includes 1,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days, and
6,720 shares held jointly with her grandson. Does not include shares held by Mr. Robinson (see
note 2 above). |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 1,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes: 200,000 shares subject to presently exercisable stock options; 77,107 shares
held pursuant to the Companys 401(k) Plan; 3,200 shares owned by his wife; 38,000 shares
owned by his wife as custodian for their children; and 6,720 shares held in joint ownership
by Mr. Howells son and Harriett J. Robinson, as to which he disclaims any beneficial
ownership. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 1,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes 1,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days, and
600 shares held by Mr. Riddles spouse, as to which he disclaims any beneficial ownership. |
|
(8) |
|
Includes 80,000 shares subject to presently exercisable options. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes 1,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days.
Also includes 127,500 shares owned by Atlantis Capital LLP, of which Mr. West is the President
of the General Partner. |
|
(10) |
|
Includes 1,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days,
and 6,000 shares owned by Dr. Whaleys spouse as custodian for his daughter. |
|
(11) |
|
Includes: 50,000 shares subject to presently exercisable options; 11,268 shares held
pursuant to the Companys 401(k) Plan; and 10,000 deferred shares granted pursuant to the
Companys 1992 Incentive Plan. |
|
(12) |
|
Includes 338,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days
held by all directors and executive officers as a group. Also includes shares held pursuant to
the Companys 401(k) Plan described in notes 2, 5 and 11 above. |
5
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Under the securities laws of the United States, the Companys directors, executive officers, and
any persons holding more than ten percent of any class of the Companys equity securities
registered pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are required to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes of ownership of Common
Stock and other equity securities of the Company, and to furnish the Company with copies of such
reports. To the Companys knowledge, all but two of these required filings were timely completed
during the year ended December 31, 2006. One of the required filings by Mr. Robinson relating to
one transaction was inadvertently made after the deadline prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the other required filing was by Mrs. Robinson, relating to one transaction
inadvertently made after the deadline prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In
making this disclosure, the Company has relied on written representations of its directors and
executive officers and its receipt of copies of the reports that have been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Philosophy
The Stock Option and Compensation Committee (the Compensation Committee) believes that the
compensation of executives should be designed to attract, retain and motivate those persons who
enable Atlantic American to achieve its mission. Our compensation setting process includes
establishing an overall level of compensation for executive officers that will be paid if certain
personal, corporate and combined performance goals are met. Compensation is then allocated through
four primary components: base salaries, cash bonuses, equity incentives and other minor
perquisites.
The Compensation Committees philosophy is to pay wages and salaries competitive with prevailing
levels within our industry and market. The Compensation Committee also uses annual bonus awards to
award and incentivize officers; bringing overall compensation to desired levels. In addition,
equity incentives are considered in order to provide additional motivation to improve the Companys
long term prospects. Industry compensation data is typically sourced from SNL Financial, a leading
financial information provider to the financial services industries, including insurance. Market
compensation data, which we generally obtain from various public sources such as proxy statements
and various state and/or regional salary surveys, relating to companies of similar size (measured
by assets, revenues, GAAP and statutory profitability, etc.) with executive officers in the Atlanta
area, is also considered.
To assist the Compensation Committee in establishing overall compensation for executive officers,
the Compensation Committee has, from time to time, engaged the services of an external compensation
consultant, Buck Consultants. The consultants were engaged to make recommendations relative to the
levels and timing of base and incentive cash compensation and short and long-term equity awards and
programs.
Compensation adjustments and the components thereof are determined annually at the beginning of
each year, effective March 15, and are solely the responsibility of the Compensation Committee.
Adjustments, after consideration of industry and market data and input from relevant consultants,
are then based primarily on the performance of the Company and the individual executive officer
during the prior calendar year and expectations and objectives for performance in the current year.
All decisions are within the discretion of the Compensation Committee and are made without regard
to race, religion, color, age, handicap, gender, national origin or other prohibited factors; and
our overall compensation program complies with all applicable federal, state, and local rules and
guidelines.
Cash Compensation
Annual adjustments to cash compensation levels are determined on a discretionary basis by the
Compensation Committee after considering not only those factors discussed above, but also after
considering various external market factors such as increases in consumer prices, external forces
which may be influencing the Atlanta employment market and/or competitive offers and/or positions.
Bonus Compensation
Cash bonuses are determined on a discretionary basis by the Compensation Committee. The bonuses
are intended to reflect an evaluation of the individuals prior year performance as well as the
Companys prior year performance. Historical practice is that bonuses have been determined based
on a percentage of the annual cash compensation to be paid with effect as of March 15 of the year
in which the bonus is paid and the performance evaluation is made. While the Compensation
Committee retains discretion as to the amounts and percentages of bonus awards, the bonus
compensation range as a percentage of salary for each of the Companys executive officers has
historically been as follows: Chairman of the Board (40%-50%), Chief Executive Officer (50%-60%),
and Chief Financial Officer (30%-40%).
Equity-Based Compensation
6
The Compensation Committee believes that equity-based compensation, in the form of stock options or
other stock awards, serves to motivate executives to seek to improve the Companys short-term and
long-term prospects and thereby align the interests of the Companys executives with those of its
shareholders. Given evolving trends in equity-based compensation, as in 2005, the Compensation
Committee declined to make any equity-based compensation awards in 2006 to allow for further
analysis of relevant comparables. Analysis is ongoing and the Compensation Committee does plan on
making future equity-based awards.
Perquisites
The Compensation Committee believes that including compensation for the Companys executive
officers of certain minor perquisites is consistent with the Companys overall compensation
philosophy and appropriately reflects prevailing market conditions. The Compensation Committee
reviews, from time to time, the nature and level of perquisites available for such officers.
Primary Compensation Table
For compensation purposes, the Compensation Committee generally evaluates the performance of the
named executive officers on the same basis as the Companys other officers. Approved increases for
2006, as applicable, for these individuals are reflected below and are in recognition of various
performance criteria during both 2005 and 2006. Salary increases and bonus awards are granted in
the first quarter and are generally consistent with historical compensation practices of the
Company. The distribution of bonus awards coincides with the release of performance results for
the previous year and after considering the Federal income tax consequences of such deductions.
All forms of compensation are taxed in compliance with State and Federal law.
Termination Payments
During 2006 the Company did not make payment to any executive officer as a result of dismissal,
resignation, or retirement.
Report of the Stock Option and Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation
The Stock Option and Compensation Committee (the Compensation Committee) of the Company has
reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of
Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation
Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in
this Proxy Statement.
THE STOCK OPTION AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Dr. William H. Whaley, Chairman
Edward E. Elson
D. Raymond Riddle
Mark C. West
7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
There is shown below information concerning the annual compensation for services in all capacities
to the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, of those persons
qualifying as Executive Officers of the Company. Included are: (i) chief executive officer (ii)
chief financial officer and (iii) the only other executive officer of the Company at December 31,
2006, whose salary and bonus exceeded $100,000, (the named executive officers):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary Compensation Table |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
|
Bonus |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Total |
|
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($)(3) |
|
Hilton H. Howell, Jr. |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
456,500 |
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
53,500 |
(1) |
|
|
785,000 |
|
President and CEO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John G. Sample, Jr. |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
374,286 |
|
|
|
158,697 |
|
|
|
28,820 |
(2) |
|
|
561,803 |
|
Senior Vice President and
CFO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Mack Robinson |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
187,550 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
53,500 |
(1) |
|
|
341,050 |
|
Chairman of the Board |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Consists of (i) contributions to the named individuals
account under the Companys 401(k) Plan of $7,500 and (ii) fees paid for serving as a director
of the Company and subsidiaries of $46,000. |
|
(2) |
|
Consists of (i) contributions to Mr. Samples account under the Companys 401(k)
Plan of $7,500, (ii) an annual automobile allowance of $9,000, (iii) reimbursed costs of an
annual physical of $320 and (iv) fees paid for serving as a director of a subsidiary of the
Company of $12,000. |
|
(3) |
|
Does not include amounts deemed received pursuant to certain related transactions
and described below in Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence. |
8
Grants of Plan Based Awards
The Company has no formal incentive plan under which awards are granted that fall within the scope
of FAS 123R. Additionally, other than earned but unpaid bonus awards, at December 31, 2006 there
were no committed future payouts under any equity or non-equity incentive plans for any named
executive officer.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table provides information about the outstanding equity awards held by the named
executive officers at December 31, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards(1) |
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of |
|
|
|
|
|
Plan |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
Market |
|
Awards: |
|
Awards: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
or Units |
|
Value of |
|
Number of |
|
Market or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of |
|
Shares or |
|
Unearned |
|
Payout Value |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
Awards: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
Units of |
|
Shares |
|
of Unearned |
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That |
|
Stock |
|
Units or |
|
Shares, Units |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have |
|
That |
|
Other Rights |
|
or Other |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Underlying |
|
Option |
|
Option |
|
Not |
|
Have Not |
|
That Have |
|
Rights That |
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Unexercised |
|
Exercise |
|
Expiration |
|
Vested |
|
Vested |
|
Not Vested |
|
Have Not |
Name |
|
(#) Exercisable |
|
(#) Unexercisable |
|
Unearned Options (#) |
|
Price ($) |
|
Date |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
(#) |
|
Vested ($) |
Hilton H. Howell, Jr. |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
1.25 |
|
|
|
10/15/11 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
1.59 |
|
|
|
05/06/13 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
John G. Sample, Jr. |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
|
|
07/02/12 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
29,600 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
J. Mack Robinson |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
All of the option grants were made under the Companys 1992 Incentive Plan, except for
100,000 options granted to Mr. Howell that were made under the Companys 2002 Incentive Plan.
All of the option grants have a ten-year term, vest 50% upon the date of grant and 25% on each
of the two subsequent anniversaries of the date of grant and have an exercise price equal to
the fair market value on grant date. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
There were no stock options awarded to, or exercised by, any named executive officers during 2006.
Further, all previous grants were fully vested prior to 2006.
Pension Benefits
While the Company does have a defined benefit plan in one of its subsidiary companies, the Company
does not provide future pension benefits to any of its Executive Officers.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
The Company does not provide its named executive officers with any benefits under any type of
nonqualified deferred compensation plan.
Payments Upon Termination and Change in Control
The Company has no commitments for future payments to named executive officers in the event of a
change in control or termination and no such payments were made in 2006.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2006, Messrs. Elson, Riddle and West, and Dr. Whaley, none of whom was, during the year or
formerly, an officer or employee of the Company, were members of the Stock Option and Compensation
Committee of our Board of Directors. None of the Stock Option and Compensation Committee members
serve as members of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or
more executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Stock Option and Compensation
Committee.
9
Compensation of Directors
Atlantic Americans policy is to pay all members of the Board of Directors an annual retainer fee
of $12,000, to pay fees to Directors at the rate of $2,000 for each Board meeting attended and $500
for each committee meeting attended. In addition, Directors are reimbursed for actual expenses
incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board and/or Committees of the Board. The
annual retainer fee is paid $6,000 in cash, with the remainder paid in shares of Common Stock based
upon the market price as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the
annual meeting, the date of grant of such shares. Pursuant to the Companys 2002 Incentive Plan
(the 2002 Incentive Plan), all Directors who are not employees or officers of the Company of any
of its subsidiaries are entitled to receive stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock and
other equity awards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director Summary Compensation Table |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Pension |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
Deferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan |
|
Compensation |
|
All Other |
|
|
Name |
|
in Cash ($) |
|
Stock Awards ($) |
|
Option Awards ($) |
|
Compensation ($) |
|
Earnings |
|
Compensation ($) |
|
Total ($) |
J. Mack Robinson |
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
22,000 |
(2) |
Hilton H. Howell, Jr. |
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
22,000 |
(2) |
Edward E. Elson |
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
23,500 |
|
Harold K. Fischer |
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
Samuel E. Hudgins |
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
120,600 |
(4) |
|
|
142,600 |
|
D. Raymond Riddle |
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
23,500 |
|
Harriett J. Robinson |
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
22,000 |
(2) |
Scott G. Thompson |
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
22,000 |
|
Mark C. West |
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
William H. Whaley, M.D. |
|
|
16,500 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
15,000 |
(3) |
|
|
37,500 |
|
Dom H. Wyant |
|
|
15,500 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
None other than compensation received as an employee of the Company and reported
in the Summary Compensation Table above, or, in the case of Mr. Thompson, compensation
received as an employee of a subsidiary of the Company. |
|
(2) |
|
Does not include amounts deemed received pursuant to certain related transactions
and described below in Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence. |
|
(3) |
|
The Company has entered into a consulting agreement with Dr. Whaley, pursuant to
which Dr. Whaley provides certain medical consulting and advisory services to the Companys
subsidiaries. Pursuant to the agreement, Dr. Whaley receives $15,000 per year for such
services. |
|
(4) |
|
The Company has entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Hudgins, pursuant to
which Mr. Hudgins provides various financial and other consulting services to the Company.
Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Hudgins received $120,600 during 2006 for such services. |
10
2.
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee is required by law and applicable NASDAQ Rules to be directly responsible for
the appointment, compensation and retention of the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm. The Committee has appointed BDO Seidman, LLP (Seidman) as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. While
shareholder ratification of the selection of Seidman as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm is not required by the Companys By-laws or otherwise, the Board of Directors is
submitting the selection of Seidman to the shareholders for ratification. If the shareholders fail
to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee may, but is not required to, reconsider whether to
retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion, may
direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time
during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company
and its shareholders.
On April 3, 2006, the Audit Committee determined not to renew its engagement of Deloitte & Touche
LLP (D&T), which served as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 (the Prior Period), and appointed Seidman as the
Companys auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. Seidman has also been engaged to
reaudit the Companys financial statements for the Prior Period.
D&Ts reports on the Companys consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2005 and 2004
and for the years then ended did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were
not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
In connection with the audits of the Companys financial statements for each of the two most recent
fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, there were no disagreements between the Company and
D&T on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to D&Ts satisfaction, would have caused D&T to
make reference to the matter in its reports. During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2005,
there were no reportable events as defined in Regulation S-K, Item 304(a)(1)(v).
D&T has previously furnished us with a letter, addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission,
stating whether it agrees with the above statements. A copy of D&Ts letter, dated April 3, 2006,
has been filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Companys current report on Form 8-K dated April 3, 2006.
A representative from Seidman is expected to be present at the Meeting and will have the
opportunity to make any statement if such representative desires to do so, and, if present, will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
Amounts paid to the Companys principal auditor by category were as follows:
Audit Fees
The Company has paid or expects to pay Seidman approximately $460,000, in the aggregate, for
professional services it rendered for the audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements
and audits of subsidiary company statutory reports for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and
the reviews of the interim financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
filed during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. The Company also expects to pay Seidman
$150,000 for a reaudit of the Companys consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders equity and
cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2005. The Company has
previously paid D&T, in the aggregate, $580,600 for professional services it rendered for the audit
of the Companys consolidated financial statements and audits of subsidiary company statutory
reports for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and the reviews of the interim financial
statements included in the Companys quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005.
Audit Related Fees
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company paid D&T $12,880
and $20,345, respectively, in the aggregate, in audit-related fees. These fees related to
professional services performed in connection with D&Ts consultation with the Company on its
internal controls over financial reporting, successor auditor workpaper review and state insurance
examinations. No audit-related fees were paid to Seidman during either of these periods.
Tax Fees
There were no tax fees paid to the Companys principal auditor in either 2006 or 2005.
All Other Fees
Seidman did not provide any other category of products or services to the Company during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006.
The Audit Committee considers whether the provision of non-audit services by the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm is compatible with maintaining auditor independence.
All audit and non-audit services to be performed by the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance by the Audit
Committee. Pursuant to the Audit Committees Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (the
Policy) and as permitted by Securities and
11
Exchange Commission rules, the Audit Committee may
delegate pre-approval authority to any of its members, provided that any service approved in this
manner is reported to the full Audit Committee at its next meeting.
The Policy provides for a general pre-approval of certain specifically enumerated services that are
to be provided within specified fee levels. With respect to requests to provide specifically
enumerated services not specifically pre-approved pursuant to such general grant, such requests
must be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the independent registered public accounting firm
and the Chief Financial Officer, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view,
the request is consistent with Securities and Exchange Commission rules on auditor independence.
Such requests must also be specific as to the nature of the proposed service, the proposed fee and
any other details the Audit Committee may request.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Company leases space for its principal offices, as well as the principal offices of certain of
its subsidiaries, in an office building located at 4370 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia,
from Delta Life Insurance Company, a corporation of which Mr. Robinson, the Companys Chairman,
owns 59% of the stock, with the remainder owned by Mrs. Robinson directly and as trustee for her
children, under leases which expire at various times from August 31, 2011 to May 31, 2012. Under
the terms of the leases, the Company occupies approximately 65,489 square feet of office space as
well as covered parking garage facilities at an annual rent of approximately $611,000, plus a pro
rata share of all real estate taxes, general maintenance and service expenses and insurance costs
with respect to the office building and other facilities. The terms of the lease are believed by
management of the Company to be comparable to terms that could be obtained by the Company from
unrelated parties for comparable rental property.
Effective December 31, 1995, an aggregate of $13.4 million in principal of demand notes previously
issued by the Company were canceled in exchange for the issuance by the Company of an aggregate of
134,000 shares of a new series of preferred stock (the Series B Preferred Stock), which has a
stated value of $100 per share and accrues dividends at 9% per year. At December 31, 2006, the
Company had accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock totaling $13,266,000,
which was the largest amount outstanding during such year. All shares of Series B Preferred Stock
are owned directly or indirectly by affiliates of Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Robinson or Mr. Howell.
On September 30, 2006, the Company issued and sold 70,000 shares of its Series D preferred stock,
par value $1.00 per share (the Series D Preferred Stock) to Gulf Capital Services, Ltd. (Gulf
Capital), a corporation of which Mr. Robinson owns 24% of the stock, with the remainder owned by
Mrs. Robinson as trustee for her children, for an aggregate purchase price of $7.0 million. The
outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock have a stated value of $100 per share; accrue annual
dividends at a rate of $7.25 per share (payable in cash or shares of the Companys common stock at
the option of the board of directors of the Company) and are cumulative; in certain circumstances
may be convertible into an aggregate of approximately 1,754,000 shares of common stock, subject to
certain adjustments and provided that such adjustments do not result in the Company issuing more
than approximately 2,703,000 shares of common stock without obtaining prior shareholder approval;
and are redeemable solely at the Companys option. The Series D Preferred Stock is not currently
convertible. At December 31, 2006, the Company had accrued but unpaid dividends on the series D
Preferred Stock totaling $126,875, which was the largest amount outstanding during such year.
In 1991, certain of the Companys subsidiaries made loans to Leath Furniture, LLC (Leath), which
at the time was a subsidiary of the Company. In 1996, the Company sold Leath to Gulf Capital. The
loans are secured by mortgages on certain properties owned by Leath. The loans had an outstanding
principal balance of $1.4 million at December 31, 2006, bear interest at 91/4% per annum, are payable
in monthly installments and mature on December 1, 2016. The largest amount of this outstanding
indebtedness during 2006 was $1.9 million. During 2006, Leath made principal and interest payments
on such loans in the aggregate amount of $746,769. On July 11, 2006, Leath was sold by Gulf
Capital and is no longer owned by affiliates of the Company.
Certain members of management are shareholders and are on the Board of Directors of Triple Crown
Media, Inc (Triple Crown) and Gray Television, Inc. (Gray). In 2005, Gray spun-off its
newspaper publishing and wireless businesses to its shareholders. The company formed as a result
of the spin-off, Triple Crown, then acquired Bull Run Corporation (Bull Run). In connection with
the spin-off, the Company received one share of Triple Crown common stock for every ten shares of
Gray common stock and for every ten shares of Gray class A common stock owned. In connection with
the Bull Run acquisition, the Company received 0.0289 shares of Triple Crown common stock for each
share of Bull Run common stock owned by it and Triple Crown series A preferred stock in exchange
for the shares of Bull Runs series D preferred stock. In addition, certain of the Companys
subsidiaries have, from time to time, purchased and owned shares of Triple Crown and Gray in the
ordinary course of investing. Mr. Howell is an executive officer and a member of the board of
directors of Triple Crown, Mr. Robinson is an executive officer of Gray, and each of Mr. Robinson
and Mr. Howell, and Mrs. Robinson, is on the board of directors of Gray. Additionally, each of Mr.
Robinson, Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Howell are beneficial owners of in excess of 5% of the voting power
of each of Triple Crown and Gray. At December 31, 2006, the Company owned 54,732 shares of Triple
Crown common stock, 388,060 shares of Gray common stock Class A and 106,000 shares of Gray common
stock. The Company also owned 175 shares of Gray series C preferred stock and 2,360 shares of
Triple Crown series A preferred stock at December 31, 2006. The aggregate carrying value of the
Companys investments in Triple Crown and Gray at December 31, 2006 was $2,086,377 and $5,701,083,
respectively.
The Company is a party to a consulting arrangement with Mr. Hudgins, pursuant to which Mr. Hudgins
provides various financial and other consulting services to the Company. Pursuant to the
agreement, Mr. Hudgins received $120,600 during 2006 for such services.
In accordance with the terms of the written charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors, the Audit Committee is to approve all related party transactions that are required to be
disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Audit Committee approved all such
transactions in 2006.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management of the Company knows of no other matters than those stated above which are to be brought
before the Meeting. However, if any such other matters should be presented for consideration and
voting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxies to vote thereon in accordance with
their best judgment.
12
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholder proposals to be presented at the next annual meeting of shareholders must be received
by the Company no later than December 10, 2007, in order to be considered for inclusion in the
proxy statement for the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. Any such proposal should be addressed
to the Companys President and mailed to 4370 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30319-3000. A
shareholder not seeking to have his proposal included in the Companys proxy statement, but seeking
to have the proposal considered at the Companys 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, should notify
the Company in the manner set forth above of his proposal no later than February 21, 2008. In
accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, if the shareholder has not
given such notice to the Company by February 21, 2008, the persons appointed as proxies for the
2008 annual meeting of shareholders may exercise discretionary authority to vote on any such
shareholder proposal.
13
PROXY
ATLANTIC
AMERICAN CORPORATION
4370 Peachtree Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30319-3000
Proxy Solicitation on Behalf of the Board of Directors of
the Company for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on May 1, 2007
The undersigned hereby appoints J. Mack Robinson, Hilton H. Howell, Jr. and John G.
Sample, Jr., or any of them, as proxies with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
to vote on the undersigneds behalf at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Atlantic
American Corporation, to be held at 9:00 A.M., Eastern Time, on May 1, 2007, at the offices
of the Company, 4370 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia and at all adjournments or
postponements thereof, upon all business as may properly come before the meeting, including
the business described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement,
receipt of which is acknowledged.
PROXIES WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS INDICATED BELOW. IF NO
SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL DIRECTOR
NOMINEES AND ALL LISTED PROPOSALS. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO
VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. THIS PROXY IS
REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS USE.
1. |
|
Election Of Directors: |
|
|
|
NOMINEES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
|
J. Mack Robinson
|
|
|
5. |
|
|
Samuel E. Hudgins
|
|
|
9. |
|
|
Mark C. West |
2.
|
|
Hilton H. Howell, Jr.
|
|
|
6. |
|
|
D. Raymond Riddle
|
|
|
10. |
|
|
William H. Whaley, M.D. |
3.
|
|
Edward E. Elson
|
|
|
7. |
|
|
Harriett J. Robinson
|
|
|
11. |
|
|
Dom H. Wyant |
4.
|
|
Harold K. Fischer
|
|
|
8. |
|
|
Scott G. Thompson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
for all nominees
For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s):
2. |
|
To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP. |
FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
|
|
|
|
|
Dated:
|
|
|
|
, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
|
|
Sign exactly as your name(s) appears at left. Give full title of executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian, etc. Joint owners should each sign personally.