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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.          )

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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

SCBT Financial Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
         
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No fee required.

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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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    (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):
        

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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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.

 

 

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SCBT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
520 Gervais Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held April 22, 2008


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:

        Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") of SCBT Financial Corporation, a South Carolina corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the Company's headquarters in the Dorchester-Jasper Room on the second floor, 520 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina at 2:00 p.m., on April 22, 2008, for the following purposes:

        Only record holders of Common Stock of the Company at the close of business on March 4, 2008, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

        The Company's Proxy, Proxy Statement (providing important shareholder information for the Annual Meeting), and 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders (which includes its 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K) accompany this Notice.

        You are cordially invited and urged to attend the Annual Meeting in person. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO PROMPTLY VOTE BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET, OR BY MAIL ON THE PROPOSALS PRESENTED, FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD FOR WHICHEVER VOTING METHOD YOU PREFER. IF YOU VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED, POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING YOUR PROXY, PLEASE CALL THE COMPANY AT 800-277-2175. IF YOU ARE A RECORD SHAREHOLDER, ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND DESIRE TO REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON, YOU MAY DO SO. IN ANY EVENT, A PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY A RECORD HOLDER AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS EXERCISED.

        THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF ALL THE PROPOSALS PRESENTED.

Columbia, South Carolina
March 23, 2008



SCBT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
520 Gervais Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201


PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
to be Held April 22, 2008

        This Proxy Statement is furnished to shareholders of SCBT Financial Corporation, a South Carolina corporation (herein, unless the context otherwise requires, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company's board of directors for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the Company's headquarters in the Dorchester-Jasper Room on the second floor, 520 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina at 2:00 p.m., on April 22, 2008 or any adjournment thereof (the "Annual Meeting"), for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

        Solicitation of proxies may be made in person or by mail, telephone or other means by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company. The Company may also request banking institutions, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of Common Stock of the Company held of record by such persons, and the Company will reimburse the reasonable forwarding expenses. The cost of solicitation of proxies will be paid by the Company. This Proxy Statement was first mailed to shareholders on or about March 25, 2008.

        The Company has its principal executive offices at 520 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The Company's mailing address is P.O. Box 1030, Columbia, South Carolina 29202, and its telephone number is 800-277-2175.


ANNUAL REPORT

        The Annual Report to Shareholders (which includes the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K containing, among other things, the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 financial statements) accompanies this proxy statement. Such Annual Report to Shareholders does not form any part of the material for the solicitation of proxies.


REVOCATION OF PROXY

        Any record shareholder returning the accompanying proxy may revoke such proxy at any time prior to its exercise (a) by giving written notice to the Company of such revocation, (b) by voting in person at the meeting, or (c) by executing and delivering to the Company a later dated proxy. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in itself constitute revocation of a proxy. Any written notice or proxy revoking a proxy should be sent to SCBT Financial Corporation, P.O. Box 1030, Columbia, South Carolina 29202, Attention: Renee R. Brooks. Written notice of revocation or delivery of a later dated proxy will be effective upon receipt thereof by the Company.


QUORUM AND VOTING

        The Company's only voting security is its $2.50 par value Common Stock ("Common Stock"), each share of which entitles the holder thereof to one vote on each matter to come before the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on March 4, 2008 (the "Record Date"), the Company had issued and outstanding 10,185,143 shares of Common Stock, which were held of record by approximately 5,450 persons. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote on matters that come before the Annual Meeting. Notwithstanding the Record Date specified above, the Company's stock transfer books will not be closed and shares of the Common

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Stock may be transferred subsequent to the Record Date. However, all votes must be cast in the names of holders of record on the Record Date.

        The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. If a share is represented for any purpose at the Annual Meeting by the presence of the registered owner or a person holding a valid proxy for the registered owner, it is deemed to be present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Therefore, valid proxies which are marked "Abstain" or "Withhold" or as to which no vote is marked, including proxies submitted by brokers who are the record owners of shares but who lack the power to vote such shares (so-called "broker non-votes"), will be included in determining the number of votes present or represented at the Annual Meeting. If a quorum is not present or represented at the meeting, the shareholders entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present or represented. If any such adjournment is for a period of less than 30 days, no notice, other than an announcement at the meeting, will be given of the adjournment. If the adjournment is for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting will be given in accordance with the Bylaws. Directors, officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies for the reconvened meeting in person or by mail, telephone or other means. At any such reconvened meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. Once a quorum has been established, it will not be destroyed by the departure of shares prior to the adjournment of the meeting.

        Provided a quorum is established at the meeting, directors will be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders of the Company do not have cumulative voting rights.

        All other matters to be considered and acted upon at the Annual Meeting, including the proposal to ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes PLLC, Certified Public Accountants, as independent registered public accounting firm, require that the number of shares of Common Stock voted in favor of the matter exceed the number of shares of Common Stock voted against the matter, provided a quorum has been established. Abstentions, broker non-votes and the failure to return a signed proxy will have no effect on the outcome of such matters.


ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE PROXIES

        Each proxy, unless the shareholder otherwise specifies therein, will be voted "FOR" the election of the persons named in this Proxy Statement as the board of directors' nominees for election to the board of directors; and "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of Dixon Hughes PLLC as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. In each case where the shareholder has appropriately specified how the proxy is to be voted, it will be voted in accordance with his specifications. As to any other matter of business that may be brought before the Annual Meeting, a vote may be cast pursuant to the accompanying proxy in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting the same. However, the board of directors does not know of any such other business.


SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND COMMUNICATIONS

        Any shareholder of the Company desiring to include a proposal in the Company's 2009 proxy materials for action at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must deliver the proposal to the executive offices of the Company no later than November 15, 2008 if such proposal is to be considered for inclusion in the 2009 proxy materials. Only proper proposals that are timely received will be included in the Company's 2009 Proxy Statement and Proxy. In addition, a shareholder who desires to nominate a person for election to the board of directors of the Company or to make any other proposal for consideration by shareholders at a shareholders' meeting must deliver notice of such

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proposed action to the secretary of the Company no less than 45 days before such meeting. For a nominee for director, such notice should be addressed to the governance committee of the Company at P.O. Box 1030, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. The recommendation must set forth the name and address of the shareholder or shareholder group making the nomination; the name of the nominee; his or her address; the number of shares of Company stock owned by the nominee; any arrangements or understandings regarding nomination; the five-year business experience of the recommended candidate; legal proceedings within the last five years involving the candidate; a description of transactions between the candidate and the Company valued in excess of $120,000 and other types of business relationships with the Company; a description of any relationships or agreements between the recommending shareholder or group and the candidate regarding nomination; a description of known relationships between the candidate and the Company's competitors, customers, business partners or other persons who have a business relationship with the Company; and a statement of the recommended candidate's qualifications for board membership. For any other shareholder proposal, such notice must set forth the name and address of the shareholder making the proposal and the text of the resolution to be voted on.

        The Company does not have a formal process by which shareholders may communicate with the board of directors. Historically, however, the chairman of the board or the governance committee has undertaken responsibility for responding to questions and concerns expressed by shareholders. In the view of the board of directors, this approach has been sufficient to ensure that questions and concerns raised by shareholders are adequately addressed. Any shareholder desiring to communicate with the board may do so by writing to the secretary of the Company at P.O. Box 1030, Columbia, South Carolina 29202.


BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN PARTIES

        The following table sets forth the number and percentage of outstanding shares that exceed 5% beneficial ownership by any single person or group, as known by the Company:

Title of Class

  Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
  Amount of Beneficial Ownership(1)
  Percent of Shares Outstanding
 
Common Stock   Wellington Management Company, LLP   898,089   8.82 %
    75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109          

(1)
Beneficial ownership of Wellington Management Company, LLP is based on its Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2008. Wellington Management Company, LLP reported that it has shared power to vote or to direct the vote of 714,696 shares and shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 849,332 shares.

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        The following table sets forth, as of March 4, 2008, the number and percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by (i) each director and nominee for director of the Company, (ii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iii) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group.

 
  Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
Name of Beneficial Owner

  Common Shares
Beneficially Owned(1)

  Common Shares
Beneficially Owned(2)

  Percent of
Shares Outstanding

Jimmy E. Addison   2,126   375   *
Colden R. Battey, Jr.(3)   89,662   3,940   *
Luther J. Battiste, III   3,324   2,693   *
Joe E. Burns(4)(6)   15,229   12,954   *
Thomas S. Camp(4)(6)   14,674   16,821   *
Dalton B. Floyd, Jr.    21,473   900   *
M. Oswald Fogle   14,026   3,652   *
Dwight W. Frierson(5)   17,083   5,009   *
Robert R. Hill, Jr.(4)(6)   55,518   22,491   *
Robert R. Horge(4)(6)   43,243   29,943   *
Harry M. Mims, Jr.    39,357   3,394   *
Ralph W. Norman   10,678   1,425   *
Alton C. Phillips   6,860     *
John C. Pollok(3)(4)(6)   15,457   25,568   *
James W. Roquemore(3)(5)   17,970   4,071   *
Thomas E. Suggs   3,958   3,889   *
Susie H. VanHuss   3,292   900   *
A. Dewall Waters   33,328   3,784   *
John W. Williamson, III   55,524   3,421   *
John F. Windley(4)(6)   10,339   11,837   *
Cathy Cox Yeadon(5)   13,342   1,976   *
All directors and executive officers as a group (24 persons)(2)(4)(6)   580,399   174,404   7.4%

*
Indicates less than one percent of the outstanding SCBT Financial Corporation Common Stock shares.

(1)
As reported to the Company by the directors, nominees and executive officers.

(2)
Based on the number of shares acquirable by directors and executive officers through vested stock options within 60 days of the Record Date of March 4, 2008.

(3)
Excludes shares owned by or for the benefit of family members of the following directors and executive officers, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares: Mr. Battey, 21,886 shares; Mr. Pollok, 571 shares; and Mr. Roquemore, 9,544 shares.

(4)
Includes shares held as of December 31, 2007 by the Company under the Company's Employee Savings Plan, as follows: Mr. Burns, 1,807 shares; Mr. Camp, 627 shares; Mr. Hill, 3,170; Mr. Horger, 1,555 shares; Mr. Pollok, 2,790 shares; Mr. Windley 931 shares; and all directors and executive officers as a group, 18,820 shares.

(5)
For Mr. Frierson, includes 7,039 shares owned by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Orangeburg, of which Mr. Frierson is a management affiliate. Mr. Frierson may direct the voting and disposition of these shares on that company's behalf. For Mr. Roquemore, includes 7,483 shares owned by

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(6)
Includes shares of restricted stock, as to which the executive officers have full voting privileges. The shares are as follows: Mr. Burns, 4,725 shares; Mr. Camp, 4,939 shares; Mr. Hill, 17,298 shares; Mr. Horger, 1,501 shares; Mr. Pollok, 7,537 shares; Mr. Windley, 3,961 shares; and all directors and executive officers as a group, 48,935 shares. These restricted stock shares are not currently vested.


ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        The Articles of Incorporation of the Company provide for a maximum of twenty directors, to be divided into three classes each serving three-year terms, with the classes as equal in number as possible. The board of directors has currently established the number of directors at 14, effective at the Annual Meeting. Luther J. Battiste, III, Robert R. Hill, Jr., Ralph W. Norman, and Susie H. VanHuss, all of whom currently are directors of the Company and whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting, have been nominated by the board of directors for re-election by the shareholders. Additionally, Alton C. Phillips, who since the last Annual Shareholders' Meeting was recommended by the governance committee and subsequently elected to the board of directors by the board members, has been nominated by the board of directors for election by the shareholders. Colden R. Battey, Jr., A. Dewall Waters, and Cathy Cox Yeadon have decided to retire from the board of directors upon conclusion of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting.

        The board unanimously recommends a vote FOR these nominees.

        The table below sets forth name of each director, age, when first elected and current term expiration of SCBT Financial Corporation.

Name

  Age
  First Elected Director
  Current Term Expires
  Nominee for New Term
  Business Experience for the Past Five Years
Robert R. Horger
Chairman
SCBT Employee
  57   1991   2010       Chairman of SCBT Financial Corporation and South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. since 1998. He also has served as Vice Chairman of SCBT Financial Corporation and South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Horger is an attorney with Horger, Barnwell and Reid in Orangeburg, SC.

Robert R. Hill, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer SCBT Employee

 

41

 

1996

 

2008

 


 

President and Chief Executive Officer of SCBT Financial Corporation since November 6, 2004. Prior to that time, Mr. Hill served as President and Chief Operating Officer of South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. from 1999 to November 6, 2004. Mr. Hill joined the Company in 1995.

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Jimmy E. Addison

 

47

 

2007

 

2010

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer of SCANA Corporation, the holding company of South Carolina Electric and Gas Company and other utility-related concerns. He also serves on the Board of the Oliver Gospel Mission, the Business Partnership Foundation of the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and serves as Treasurer of the Southeastern Electric Exchange.

Colden R. Battey, Jr.

 

72

 

1999

 

R

 

 

 

Senior Partner of Harvey & Battey Law Firm, Beaufort, SC.

Luther J. Battiste, III

 

58

 

2001

 

2008

 


 

Managing shareholder of the firm Johnson, Toal and Battiste, P.A., Columbia, S.C. and Orangeburg, SC.

Dalton B. Floyd, Jr.

 

69

 

2006

 

2009

 

 

 

Attorney with the Floyd Law Firm in Surfside Beach, SC. Formerly served as Chairman and General Counsel of SunBank, N.A. and Sun Bancshares, Inc. from 1999 to 2005, when that company was acquired by SCBT Financial Corporation.

M. Oswald Fogle

 

63

 

2001

 

2009

 

 

 

Plant manager of Roseburg Forest Products in Orangeburg, SC, a company engaged in the lamination of boards and general warehousing.

Dwight W. Frierson

 

51

 

1996

 

2009

 

 

 

Vice Chairman of the Board, SCBT Financial Corporation and South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. He is also Vice President and General Manager of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Orangeburg, SC.

Harry M. Mims, Jr.

 

66

 

1988

 

2010

 

 

 

President of J.F. Cleckley & Company, a company engaged in site development.

Ralph W. Norman

 

54

 

1996

 

2008

 


 

President of Warren Norman Co., Inc., a real estate development firm.

Alton C. Phillips

 

44

 

2007

 

2008

 


 

President of Carolina Eastern, Inc., a Charleston, SC based company that markets and distributes fertilizers, chemicals and seed.

James W. Roquemore

 

53

 

1994

 

2010

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer of Patten Seed Company, Inc. of Lakeland, GA and General Manager of Super-Sod/Carolina, a company that produces and markets turf, grass, sod and seed.

Thomas E. Suggs

 

58

 

2001

 

2009

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of Keenan and Suggs, Inc., an insurance brokerage and consulting firm.

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Susie H. VanHuss

 

68

 

2004

 

2008

 


 

Retired in 2006 as Executive Director of the University of South Carolina Foundations; Professor Emeritus of Management in the Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. As Executive Director, she was the Chief Executive Officer of the USC Educational Foundation and the USC Development Foundation, both 501(C) (3) non-profit South Carolina corporations. She is also an author for Southwestern Publishing Company.

A. Dewall Waters

 

64

 

1987

 

R

 

 

 

Partner in A.D. Waters Enterprises, LLC, a partnership that owns and operates McDonald's restaurants.

John W. Williamson, III

 

59

 

2001

 

2010

 

 

 

President of J.W. Williamson Ginnery, Inc., which is a partner in Carolina Eastern-Williamson Lynchburg Grain Company and Carolina Soy. Also serves as Chairman of the Jackson Companies, which operate a camping resort, golf community, and commercial development group in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Cathy Cox Yeadon

 

58

 

1997

 

R

 

 

 

Retired; formerly Vice President, Human Resources at Cox Industries, Inc., a wood products manufacturing and treating company.

R—Director will retire from the board effective the date of the Annual Meeting on April 22, 2008.


FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

        There are no family relationships among any of the directors and executive officers of the Company.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

        During 2007, the board of directors of the Company held thirteen meetings. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (a) the total number of meetings of the board of directors held during the period for which he or she served as a director, and (b) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the board of directors of the Company on which he or she served.

        There is no formal policy regarding attendance at annual shareholder meetings; however, such attendance has always been strongly encouraged. Last year, all directors active at that time attended the 2007 Annual Shareholders' Meeting, except Jimmy E. Addison and Dalton B. Floyd, Jr.

        The board of directors has adopted a Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals that is applicable to the Company's chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller, financial reporting manager and all managers reporting to these individuals who are responsible for accounting and financial reporting. The Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals was filed as Exhibit 14 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

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        The board of directors of the Company maintains executive, audit, compensation, governance, policy and trust asset management committees. The composition and frequency of meetings for these committees during 2007 were as follows:

 
   
  Committees of the Board of Directors
Name

  Independent Under NASDAQ Requirements
  Executive (10 meetings)
  Audit (9 meetings)
  Compensation (6 meetings)
  Governance (4 meetings)
  Policy (8 meetings)
  Trust Asset Management (4 meetings)
Robert R. Horger   No   • Chair                    

Robert R. Hill, Jr.    No                        

Jimmy E. Addison   Yes                      

Colden R. Battey, Jr.    Yes                

Luther J. Battiste, III   Yes                    

Dalton B. Floyd, Jr.    Yes                    

M. Oswald Fogle   Yes       • Chair              

Dwight W. Frierson   Yes             • Chair   • Chair    

R. Caine Halter   Yes                    

Harry M. Mims, Jr.    Yes                

Ralph W. Norman   Yes                    

Alton C. Phillips   Yes                      

James W. Roquemore   Yes                  

Thomas E. Suggs   Yes                  

Susie H. VanHuss   Yes           • Chair          

A. Dewall Waters   Yes                      

John W. Williamson, III   Yes                    

Cathy Cox Yeadon   Yes                     • Chair

Note:    All directors other than Robert R. Horger and Robert R. Hill, Jr. meet the independence requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market. Therefore, under these requirements, a majority of the members of the Company's board of directors is independent.

        The functions of these committees are as follows:

        Executive Committee—The board of directors of the Company may, by resolution adopted by a majority of its members, delegate to the executive committee the power, with certain exceptions, to exercise the authority of the board of directors in the management of the affairs of the Company.

        Audit Committee—The board of directors has determined that all members of the audit committee are independent directors under the independence requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market. The board of directors has also determined that M. Oswald Fogle is an "audit committee financial expert" for purposes of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The primary function of the audit committee is to assist the board of directors of the Company in overseeing (i) the Company's accounting and financial reporting processes generally, (ii) the audits of the Company's financial statements and (iii) the Company's systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting. In such role, the audit committee reviews the qualifications, performance and independence of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm and has the authority to appoint, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the Company's independent auditors. The audit committee also oversees the Company's

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internal audit department. The board of directors has adopted a charter for the audit committee, a copy of which is located on the Company's website at www.scbtonline.com under Investor Relations.

        Compensation Committee—The board of directors has determined that all members of the compensation committee are independent directors under the independence requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market applicable to directors who do not serve on the audit committee. The compensation committee, among other functions, evaluates the performance of the executive officers of the Company and recommends to the board of directors matters concerning compensation, salaries, benefits and other forms of executive compensation for officers and directors of the Company. The committee, which currently consists of six independent directors as determined in accordance with the independent standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, is required to be made up of no fewer than three independent board members who are recommended by the governance committee (after recommendation of the chairman) and approved by the board of directors. The compensation committee's processes and procedures for considering and determining executive compensation are described below under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis." The compensation committee charter can be found on the Company's website at www.scbtonline.com under Investor Relations.

        Governance Committee—The board of directors has determined that all members of the governance committee are independent directors under the independence requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market applicable to directors who do not serve on the audit committee. The governance committee acts as the nominating committee for the purpose of recommending to the board of directors nominees for election to the board of directors. The governance committee also periodically reviews and, where appropriate, recommends changes to the Company's corporate governance practices. The governance committee has not established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met for a person to be nominated to serve as a director, and the governance committee has not identified any specific qualities or skills that it believes are necessary to be nominated as a director. Nominees for the board are reviewed by the governance committee on a case-by-case basis based on a number of factors, including a proposed nominee's independence, age, skills, occupation, diversity and experience and any other factors beneficial to the Company. The governance committee will consider nominees identified by its members, other directors, officers and employees of the Company and other persons, including shareholders of the Company. The governance committee will consider nominees for director recommended by a shareholder if the shareholder provides the committee with the information described in paragraph 6 under the caption "Committee Authority and Responsibilities" of the governance committee's charter. The governance committee charter can be found on the Company's website at www.scbtonline.com under Investor Relations. The required information regarding a director nominee is also discussed in general terms within the first paragraph of the "Shareholder Proposals and Communications" section on page 2 of this proxy statement.

        Policy Committee—The primary purpose of the policy committee is to recommend and approve new policies and to review and approve present policies or policy updates and changes.

        Trust Asset Management Committee—The primary purpose of the trust asset management committee is to oversee the activities of the trust and asset management department and the investment services activities of the Company's subsidiary banks.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis


Objectives of the Compensation Program

        Role of the Compensation Committee:    The compensation committee is responsible for the design, implementation and administration of the compensation programs for executive officers of the Company. The committee seeks to increase shareholder value by rewarding performance with cost-effective compensation and striving to attract and retain talented executives through adherence to the following compensation objectives:

During 2007, the committee had six meetings and the following objectives, goals, initiatives were met:

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Compensation Consultant

        During 2007, the compensation committee engaged the services of Amalfi Consulting of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to provide market compensation data for both directors and executive management of the Company. Amalfi Consulting reports directly to the compensation committee and met with the compensation committee three times during 2007. The compensation committee has the sole authority to hire consultants and set the engagements and the related fees of those consultants. The following consulting services were provided:

Clark Consulting (the surviving entity) has provided assistance and consultation with supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) reviews. This service was provided by a separate and independent division of Clark Consulting and is not associated with the newly formed Amalfi Consulting.


Compensation Benchmarking and Committee Functions

        Each year, with direction from Amalfi Consulting, the compensation committee reviews a survey of the compensation practices of the Company's peers in the United States in order to assess the competitiveness of the compensation arrangements of our executive officers. Although benchmarking is an active tool used to measure compensation structures among peers, it is only one of the tools used by the compensation committee to determine total compensation. Benchmarking is used by the compensation committee primarily to ascertain competitive base salary levels with comparable institutions. The committee uses this data as a reference point, establishes competitive base salaries, and then addresses pay-for-performance (meritocracy) as discussed further in the sections on cash incentives and long-term retention. A combination of peer performance, market factors, company performance and personal performance are all factors that the compensation committee considers to establish total compensation, including incentives. This practice is in line with the Company's meritocracy philosophy of pay. The compensation committee, at its discretion, may determine that it is in the best interest of the Company to negotiate total compensation packages that deviate from regular compensation and incentive levels in order to attract and retain specific talent.

12


        The companies that comprised the peer group in 2007 consisted of the following financial institutions and which had total asset size ranges from $2.0 billion to $6.0 billion:

Hancock Holding Company
National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
Partners Trust Financial Group
Community Banks, Inc.
TierOne Corporation
IBERIABANK Coproration
Virginia Financial Group, Inc.
  First Place Financial Corp.
Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Provident New York Bancorp
Renasant Corporation
Capital City Bank Group, Inc.
Bank of the Ozarks, Inc.
First Busey Corporation
  Security Bank Corporation
Superior Bancorp
Seacoast Banking Corp. of FL
Home Bancshares, Inc.
Union Bankshares Corporation
Ameris Bancorp
Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc.

        The compensation committee reviews the composition of the peer group annually and may change it because of mergers, changes to banks within the group, or changes within the Company. The following quantitative criteria were used to develop the proxy peer group for the 2007 benchmarking studies. The table below compares key performance measures of this peer group to the Company and was based upon December 31, 2006 financial results:

 
  Average
for peers

  SCBT
 
Asset growth over the past three years   92.63 % 81.90 %
Return on average assets   1.12 % 0.97 %
Return on average equity   12.10 % 12.72 %
Net interest margin   3.89 % 3.91 %
Core EPS growth   15.64 % 11.60 %
Efficiency ratio   59.64 % 63.80 %

        Total compensation for the top five executives was compared to the market peer group referenced above. Each executive's percent rank of total compensation in the peer group for 2007 is presented below:

Robert R. Hill, Jr.    37th percentile
John C. Pollok   47th percentile
John F. Windley   39th percentile
Thomas S. Camp   48th percentile
Joe E. Burns   55th percentile


Role of the Chairman and Management

        The compensation committee may receive recommendations from the chairman of the board with respect to the Chief Executive Officer's ("CEO") performance in light of goals and objectives relevant to the CEO compensation. The CEO reviews with the committee the performance of the other executive officers and, based on that review, the CEO makes recommendations to the compensation committee about the total compensation of executive officers (other than the CEO). The CEO does not participate in, and is not present during, deliberations or approvals by the compensation committee or the board with respect to his own compensation.

        In summary, the compensation program, as presented, is designed to be a competitive, performance-based program that is consistent with the Company's philosophy and culture. After reviewing all of the compensation arrangements discussed below, along with corporate and individual performance, we believe that the measurement tools, compensation levels and the design of the Company's executive compensation program are appropriate and motivate senior executives to lead the Company in the best interests of its shareholders.

13



Elements of Compensation

        The fundamental philosophy of the Company's compensation program is to offer competitive compensation opportunities for executive officers that are (i) aligned with the performance of the Company on both a short-term and long-term basis, and (ii) based both on the individual's contribution and on the Company's performance. The compensation paid is designed to retain and reward executive officers who are capable of leading the Company in achieving its business objectives in an industry characterized by complexity, competitiveness and change. It is the intent of the committee to fulfill the Company's philosophy of providing a competitive base salary, relative to the peer group, complemented with significant performance-based incentives. Accordingly, the committee reviews and approves the total compensation of the executive officers annually. Annual compensation for the named executive officers consists primarily of these elements:

14



15


 
  Tier 1
  Tier 2
  Tier 3
 
1.      Adjusted EPS growth   8.0 % 10.00 % 12.0 %
2.      Asset growth   11.0 % 13.0 % 15.0 %


Employee & Executive Benefits

16


17



Employment Agreements

        On November 1, 2006, the Company approved employment agreements with each of the named executive officers. Each employment agreement was deemed effective as of September 1, 2006 other than the agreement with Mr. Hill, which was deemed effective as of May 1, 2006. The agreements provide for the following:

18


        See the discussion entitled Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control, which provides the amount of compensation each executive would receive under various termination events based upon the employment agreements.


Overall Compensation Approach—Building Blocks

        The Company considers all elements of compensation as essential building blocks for a well-rounded plan. The compensation committee used a total compensation approach in determining executive compensation. The following is a summary of the different elements:


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

        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, has recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company's 2008 Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2007. This report is provided by the following independent directors, who comprise the committee:

Susie H. VanHuss, Chair
Colden R. Battey, Jr.
M. Oswald Fogle
Harry M. Mims, Jr.
James W. Roquemore
A. Dewall Waters

19



SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

        The following table summarizes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the current and long-term compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the three most highly compensated executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Each component of compensation is discussed in further detail in the footnotes following the table.

 
   Name and Principal Position

  Year
  Salary ($)
(1)

  Stock Awards ($)
(2)

  Option Awards ($)
(3)

  Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
(4)

  Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
(5)

  All Other Compensation ($)
(6)

  Total ($)
  Robert R. Hill, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
  2007
2006
  $
330,000
300,000
  $
103,961
48,880
  $
60,833
56,103
  $
128,304
118,368
  $
47,625
52,935
  $
28,034
22,667
  $
698,757
598,953
 
John C. Pollok
Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

2007
2006

 

 

228,461
204,212

 

 

46,661
30,984

 

 

35,613
36,358

 

 

86,940
78,638

 

 

46,867
59,380

 

 

24,710
21,654

 

 

469,252
431,226
 
John F. Windley
President of South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A

 

2007
2006

 

 

205,000
190,962

 

 

21,615
9,769

 

 

19,560
16,030

 

 

66,420
64,116

 

 

16,553
16,672

 

 

23,858
23,914

 

 

353,006
321,463
 
Thomas S. Camp
President and CEO of the Piedmont, N.A

 

2007
2006

 

 

192,500
185,402

 

 

31,773
22,656

 

 

21,527
25,926

 

 

62,370
60,910

 

 

19,268
33,504

 

 

12,099
13,899

 

 

339,537
342,297
 
Joe E. Burns
Senior Executive Vice President, and Chief Credit Officer

 

2007
2006

 

 

175,000
162,750

 

 

33,463
24,495

 

 

25,980
28,838

 

 

56,700
53,512

 

 

36,412
21,069

 

 

11,989
12,488

 

 

339,544
303,152
(1)
Consists of total salary compensation, including all amounts that have been deferred at the officers' election. The amounts of salary that the named executive officers elected to defer during 2007 and 2006, respectively, are as follows: Mr. Hill, $0 and $5,000 and Mr. Windley, $10,250 and $9,000.

(2)
From time to time, the Company has awarded shares of restricted stock to its executive officers. The shares of restricted stock the Company awarded to the named executive officers during 2007 cliff vest at 100% on the fourth anniversary of the award, subject to the continued employment of the officer. An officer's interest in any non-vested shares will fully vest if there is a change in control of the Company or the officer dies while employed by the Company. Each officer generally has the right to vote restricted shares and to receive dividends paid on the shares prior to vesting. Beginning in 2007, the market value of the shares is determined by the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of stock awards grant; whereas, in prior years, the Company used the closing market price on the business day preceding the date of grant. The value of restricted stock grants shown above equals the amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, in accordance with FAS 123R and thus include amounts from restricted stock grants made in and prior to 2007 and 2006. See discussion of assumptions used in the valuation of the restricted stock and option awards in Note 18, "Share-based Compensation" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

(3)
These totals reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, in accordance with FAS 123R and thus include amounts recognized in respect of awards granted in and prior to 2007 and 2006. See discussion of assumptions used in the valuation of the restricted stock and option awards in Note 18, "Share-based Compensation" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

(4)
Reflects the dollar value of all amounts earned during the fiscal year pursuant to performance-based non-equity incentive plans.

(5)
Includes the change in pension value and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") accrual as follows: Mr. Hill, $1,573 pension and $45,797 SERP; Mr. Pollok, $1,766 pension and $45,101 SERP; Mr. Windley, $5,827 pension and $9,809 SERP; Mr. Camp, $18,809 pension and $459 SERP; and Mr. Burns, $13,992 pension and $22,009 SERP. It also includes the portion of income earned during the fiscal year in the nonqualified deferred compensation plan exceeding 120% of the applicable long-term federal rate ("AFR"), i.e. exceeding 5.68% at December 31, 2007. Executives with earnings in excess of 120% of the AFR are as follows: Mr. Hill, $255; Mr. Windley, $917; and Mr. Burns, $411.

(6)
The following table provides all other compensation:

Name

  Matching Contributions to Employee Savings Plan
  Life Insurance and Long-term Disability Premium
  Dividends on Unvested Restricted Stock
  Memberships
  Imputed Taxable Value of Vehicles
  Living Expense Reimbursement
  Total
Robert R. Hill, Jr.    $ 12,800   $ 2,416   $ 8,185   $ 2,280   $ 2,353   $   $ 28,034
John C. Pollok     12,800     1,611     3,888     1,080     5,331         24,710
John F. Windley     12,584     1,500     1,508         560     7,706     23,858
Thomas S. Camp     5,678     1,335     2,959     400     1,727         12,099
Joe E. Burns     5,371     1,192     3,039     2,387             11,989

20



GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS

 
 
   
   
  Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
(1)

  Estimated Possible Payouts Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
(2)

   
  All Other Options Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)
   
   
  Name

  Grant Date
  Approval of Award Date
  Thres- hold ($)
  Target ($)
  Maxi- mum ($)
  Thres- hold (#)
  Target (#)
  Maxi- mum (#)
  All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)
(3)

  Exercise or Base Price of Options Awards ($/Sh)
(4)

  Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Options Awards ($)
(5)

  Robert R. Hill, Jr.   1/2/07
1/18/07
1/17/08
n/a
  12/21/06
1/18/07
1/17/08
1/17/08
 


 


118,800
 


130,680
 

3,712
 

3,712
 

6,434
 
6,658
  8,761
  $
39.74
  $
81,521
237,824
 
John C. Pollok

 

1/2/07
1/18/07
1/17/08
n/a

 

12/21/06
1/18/07
1/17/08
1/17/08

 





 




79,961

 




87,958

 



1,375

 



1,375

 



2,475

 


1,956

 

4,081

 

 

39.74

 

 

37,976
69,874
 
John F. Windley

 

1/2/07
1/18/07
1/17/08
n/a

 

12/21/06
1/18/07
1/17/08
1/17/08

 





 




61,500

 




67,650

 



1,025

 



1,025

 



2,049

 


1,430

 

3,584

 

 

39.74

 

 

33,345
51,083
 
Thomas S. Camp

 

1/2/07
1/17/08
n/a

 

12/21/06
1/17/08
1/17/08

 




 



57,750

 



63,525

 


721

 


721

 


1,201

 

1,050

 

2,100

 

 

39.74

 

 

61,267
 
Joe E. Burns

 

1/2/07
1/17/08
n/a

 

12/21/06
1/17/08
1/17/08

 




 



52,500

 



57,750

 


656

 


656

 


1,530

 

1,050

 

2,888

 

 

39.74

 

 

68,594
(1)
These amounts represent ranges of the possible performance-based cash bonuses that were paid in 2008 based on 2007 results pursuant to the Short-Term Cash Incentive Program. The actual bonuses paid are displayed under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation within the Summary Compensation Table. The threshold amount is zero, as this is the minimum payout that can occur under the program. The incentive target level is determined as the aggregate dollar amount derived from the executive officers' target bonuses expressed as a percent of annual salary. This target percentage is currently 36% for Robert R. Hill, Jr., 35% for John C. Pollok and 30% for all other named executive officers. The maximum incentive is 110% of the incentive target level (i.e., 39.6% for Mr. Hill, 38.5% for Mr. Pollok and 33% for all other named executive officers). The Short-Term Cash Incentive Program is further described in the section entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

(2)
These amounts were the possible equity payouts in 2008 for performance in 2007 pursuant to grants of restricted stock and the Long-Term Retention and Incentive Plan. The actual amounts awarded were previously described on pages 16 in the Long-Term Retention and Incentive Plan section under Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The values of these awards are not included in the Summary Compensation Table because the Company did not recognize any expense under FAS 123R in 2007 for these grants. Although the programs have not traditionally specified award levels as percentage of salary payouts, the compensation committee determined the ranges. The Long-Term Retention Plan uses two performance goals, EPS growth and asset growth. Restricted stock is granted by tier (Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3) based on achieving any or all three tiers' performance growth measures. Both the minimum threshold and target payout displayed above represent the Tier 1 level, with the maximum payout representing Tier 3. The restricted stock awarded to these executives had a per-share value of $29.63, which was the closing price on January 17, 2008. The Long-Term Retention and Incentive Plan is further explained in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement.

(3)
Stock award shares granted in 2007 (as equity incentive plan awards earned in 2006) cliff vest at 100% after 4 years for Mr. Hill, Mr. Pollok and Mr. Windley. For Mr. Camp and Mr. Burns these shares vest 25% per year for four years.

(4)
The exercise or base price of options and stock awards is established as the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on the business day prior to the grant date.

(5)
This amount represents the fair market value of all stock and option awards made during the fiscal year 2007. The fair market value for stock awards is based on the closing market price of the stock on the date of grant. The fair value of options is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value for the options issued on January 2, 2007 was $9.30 per share, adjusted to reflect a 5% Common Stock dividend paid on March 23, 2007. The following assumptions were used in valuing options issued:

 
  Assumptions
Dividend yield   1.87%
Expected life   7 years
Expected volatility   17%
Risk-free interest rate   4.68%

21



OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

 
  Option Awards
  Stock Awards
Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
(1)

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
(1)

  Options
Exercise
Price ($)

  Options
Expiration
Date

  Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
(2) (8)

  Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(3)

  Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)

  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested ($)

Robert R. Hill, Jr.    4,961
4,961
3,383
1,825
 
1,654 (4)
3,383 (5)
5,475 (6)
8,761 (7)
  $
$
$
$
$
22.1314
27.2200
31.9714
31.8286
39.7429
  1/3/2013
1/2/2014
1/31/2015
1/6/2016
1/2/2017
  12.037   $ 381,202        
John C. Pollok   2,426
3,032
4,245
4,410
4,134
1,969
984
 



1,378 (4)
1,969 (5)
2,953 (6)
4,081 (7)
  $
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
18.4495
11.3886
15.9143
22.1314
27.2200
31.9714
31.8286
39.7429
  12/31/2009
1/3/2011
1/2/2012
1/3/2013
1/2/2014
1/31/2015
1/6/2016
1/2/2017
  5,718   $ 181,099        
John F. Windley   4,851
1,654
1,654
788
525
 

551 (4)
788 (5)
1,575 (6)
3,584 (7)
  $
$
$
$
$
$
18.1410
22.1314
27.2200
31.9714
31.8286
39.7429
  2/7/2012
1/3/2013
1/2/2014
1/31/2015
1/6/2016
1/2/2017
  2,218   $ 70,240        
Thomas S. Camp   4,851
4,410
3,308
1,050
525
 

1,103 (4)
1,050 (5)
1,575 (6)
2,100 (7)
  $
$
$
$
$
$
15.9143
22.1314
27.2200
31.9714
31.8286
39.7429
  1/2/2012
1/3/2013
1/2/2014
1/31/2015
1/6/2016
1/2/2017
  4,351   $ 137,794        
Joe E. Burns   4,410
3,308
1,313
722
 
1,103 (4)
1,313 (5)
2,166 (6)
2,888 (7)
  $
$
$
$
$
22.1314
27.2200
31.9714
31.8286
39.7429
  1/3/2013
1/2/2014
1/31/2015
1/6/2016
1/2/2017
  4,469   $ 141,519        

All options listed above vest at a rate of 25% per year over the first four years of a 10-year option term.

(1)
Figures shown represent the total number of shares subject to unexercised options held by the named executive officers at year-end 2007. The number of shares subject to options that were exercisable (vested) and unexercisable (unvested) at year-end 2007 is displayed. The number of options granted and the options exercise price have been adjusted to reflect all applicable stock dividends.

(2)
The number of shares of restricted stock granted has been adjusted to reflect all applicable stock dividends.

(3)
Market value is based on a closing price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007, the last business day of the fiscal year.

(4)
Option awards vest at a rate of 25% per year with remaining vesting date of 1/2/2008.

(5)
Options awards vest at a rate of 25% per year with remaining vesting dates of 1/31/2008 and 1/31/2009.

(6)
Option awards vest at a rate of 25% per year with remaining vesting dates of 1/6/2008, 1/6/2009 and 1/6/2010.

(7)
Option awards vest at a rate of 25% per year with remaining vesting dates of 1/2/2008, 1/2/2009, 1/2/2010 and 1/2/2011.

(8)
The stock awards that have not vested comprise the following grants and vesting periods: The January 3, 2005; January 3, 2006; and January 2, 2007 which vest 25% over four years. The January 17, 2002 and January 2, 2003 grants vest 25% in year 3, 25% in year 5, and 50% in year 7. The January 3, 2006 grant vests 100% on the date of the grant, and the January 18, 2007 grant cliff vests 100% in year 4.

22



OPTIONS EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

 
  Option Awards
  Stock Awards
Name

  Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise (#)

  Value Realized On
Exercise ($)
(1)

  Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting (#)
(2)

  Value Realized On
Vesting ($)
(3)

Robert R. Hill, Jr.      $   2,385   $ 91,484
John C. Pollok         1,717     65,214
John F. Windley         306     12,286
Thomas S. Camp         1,563     58,511
Joe E. Burns         762     29,520

(1)
Value realized is based on the difference between the closing price on the date of exercise and the options exercise price.

(2)
Reflects the vested shares that were received pursuant to the stock based benefit plan by each named executive officer that in the case of these awards, vest at 25% per year over a period of four years. Also includes vested shares of the January 17, 2002 stock award grant to Hill, Pollok, Camp, and Burns that vest 25% in year three, 25% in year five, and 50% in year seven.

(3)
Value realized is based on the market value of the underlying shares on the vesting date.


PENSION BENEFITS

Name

  Plan Name
  Number
of Years
Credited
Service (#)
(1)

  Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefits ($)
(2)

  Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year
($)

Robert R. Hill, Jr.    Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
  12
5
  $
67,521
166,260
  $


John C. Pollok

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

12
5

 

 

65,537
163,730

 

 



John F. Windley

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

6
1

 

 

64,508
18,152

 

 



Thomas S. Camp

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

9
5

 

 

139,890
122,841

 

 



Joe E. Burns

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

7
5

 

 

82,141
90,804

 

 



(1)
Number of years credited service for the Defined Benefit Pension Plan equals the actual years of service for each named executive officer. Mr. Hill, Mr. Pollok, Mr. Camp and Mr. Burns all entered into the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") on January 2, 2003 and their number of years credited service began on that date.

(2)
SERP amounts represent the current aggregate liability carried on the Company's books for each of the named executive officers. Pension plan amounts reflect the present value of the accumulated benefit at December 31, 2007.

        The Defined Benefit Pension Plan is described in Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Employee & Executive Benefits—Employee's Pension Plan.

23



Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

        On November 7, 2006, amended SERP agreements were filed with the SEC. The agreements provide for a supplemental executive retirement benefit payout under one of four scenarios: normal retirement, early termination, disability, and change in control. An early retirement benefit, as a fifth scenario, is provided for Mr. Camp.

Normal and Early Retirement Benefit

        The following table provides the normal retirement age, reduced benefit retirement age (if applicable), base benefit amount, and payout period:

Name

  Normal
Retirement
Age

  Early
Retirement
Age

  Base Benefit
Amount / year

  Payout Period
in Years

Robert R. Hill, Jr.    60   n/a   $ 185,000   20
John C. Pollok   60   n/a     165,000   20
John F. Windley   65   n/a     50,000   15
Thomas S. Camp   65   62     50,000   20
Joe E. Burns   65   n/a     50,000   20

        The exact amount of benefits would be generally determined by reference to the number of calendar years after 2002 in which the Company satisfied specified performance measures, namely that the Company's net income after taxes and the book value of its total assets grew annually by at least 6% and 7%, respectively. If the named executive officers had retired at normal retirement age as of December 31, 2007, they would have been entitled to 50% of their maximum annual retirement benefit based on this performance measure, except for Mr. Windley who would be entitled to 10%. A smaller annual benefit, payable over the 20-year period (or 15 years for Mr. Windley) after the executive attains his normal retirement age, will become payable if the employment of any of these officers is terminated prior to attaining retirement age for any reason other than death or for cause.

        Early retirement may be provided for Mr. Camp with a benefit distribution period of 20 years. The annual benefit is equal to 100% of the then-current benefit level, determined as of the end of the plan year immediately preceding the executive's early retirement, multiplied by the applicable performance ratio.

Benefit at Death

        If an executive dies, the Company will be required to pay his beneficiary a lump sum death benefit plus annual payments as presented below:

Name

  Distribution at
Death

  Base Benefit
Amount

  Payout Period
in Years

Robert R. Hill, Jr.    $ 625,000   $ 185,000   10
John C. Pollok     500,000     165,000   10
John F. Windley     250,000     50,000   10
Thomas S. Camp     250,000     50,000   10
Joe E. Burns     250,000     50,000   10

24


Noncompetition

        The named executive officers will forfeit their retirement benefits under the SERP if they compete with the Company during an applicable noncompetition period. The noncompetition periods are as follows:

The Company's obligations under the agreements are general unsecured obligations of the Company, although the agreements require the Company to establish a grantor ("rabbi") trust for such benefits following a change in control.


DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

        The Company has adopted a deferred compensation plan in which selected members of senior management, including executive officers, and/or other highly compensated employees, have the opportunity to elect to defer current compensation for retirement income or other future financial needs. Only eligible employees, as approved by the compensation committee of the board of directors, may participate in the plan. Each year participants can choose to have portions of their compensation for the upcoming year deferred by a certain whole percentage amount ranging between 5% and 100%. Deferrals are recorded in a bookkeeping account which is adjusted to reflect hypothetical investment earnings and losses of investment funds selected by the plan participant among those offered pursuant to the plan. Payments made under the plan will be made from the general assets of South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A., South Carolina Bank and Trust of the Piedmont, N.A., or The Scottish Bank, N.A., as applicable, and will be subject to claims of its creditors. Amounts payable under the plan are payable at the future times (or over the periods) designated by plan participants upon their enrollment in the plan and their annual renewal of enrollment.

        The investment options available to an executive under the deferred compensation plan are listed below along with their annual rate of return for the calendar year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, as reported by the administrator of the deferred compensation plan. The rates assume that 100% of the participant's contribution was deferred as of the first business day of 2007.

 
  Rates of Return
Name of Fund

  2007
  2006
Mainstay Variable Product Cash Management   4.56%   4.71%
Fidelity Investment Grade Bond   3.76%   3.99%
Mainstay Variable Product S&P 500 Index   5.09%   14.92%
Fidelity Variable Product Mid-Cap   16.21%   11.79%

25


        The table below summarizes the amounts in each named executive officer's deferred compensation savings plan:

Name

  Executive
Contributions
in Last FY ($)
(1)

  Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY ($)

  Aggregate
Earnings
in Last FY ($)
(2)

  Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions ($)

  Aggregate
Balance
at Last FYE ($)

Robert R. Hill, Jr.    $   $   $ 535   $   $ 5,881
John C. Pollok                    
John F. Windley     10,250         2,788         36,951
Thomas S. Camp                    
Joe E. Burns             792         8,194

(1)
Includes the total compensation to the above named executive officers for which payment was deferred in 2007. These amounts also comprise part of the amounts in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(2)
Includes total income earned in 2007 on the aggregate balance in the named executive officer's deferred compensation plan. The portion of this income that exceeded 120% of the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) is also included in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the Summary Compensation Table.

26



POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

        The Company has entered into certain agreements and maintains certain plans that will require the Company to provide compensation to named executive officers of the Company in the event of a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company. Each employment agreement has a term of employment of three years from the effective date of the agreement. On each anniversary date of the effective date of the agreement, the term of the agreement is automatically extended for an additional year unless at 60 days prior to the anniversary date either party gives the other party written notice of non-renewal. The amounts of total compensation payable to each named executive officer upon voluntary termination without good reason, voluntary termination for good reason, termination by Company without cause, termination by Company for cause, normal retirement, early retirement, termination due to disability, termination due to death and termination associated with a change in control are shown in the tables below. The amounts assume that such termination was effective as of December 31, 2007 (the last day of the fiscal year), and thus include amounts earned through such time and are estimates of the amounts that would have been paid out to the executives upon their termination as of such date. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of such executive's separation from the Company.

        For purposes of each named executive officer's employment agreement, the terms "good reason," "cause," "disability," "change of control" and "total compensation" are defined below:

27


28


        The following table outlines certain differences between each agreement:

Name

  Base Salary
  Change in Control Payout
  Non-Compete Period in Months
Robert R. Hill, Jr.    $ 330,000   .99 times   24
John C. Pollok     228,461   21/2 times   24
John F. Windley     205,000   2 times   18
Thomas S. Camp     205,000   3 times   18
Joe E. Burns     175,000   2 times   12

        Mr. Hill is the only named executive officer entitled to receive compensation for his noncompete agreement with the Company. His noncompete agreement is set for a 24 month period starting on the termination date. He would be entitled to two years of his Total Compensation package, as defined in the Total Compensation definition (Item e) above, paid in two equal lump sums, the first at time of termination and the second on the first anniversary of termination. Should he violate any of the covenants listed in the noncompetition agreement, no payments that are still due will be paid and the Company has the right to secure an injunction for damages to recover any previous payments made under the agreement.

Robert R. Hill, Jr.

        The following table describes the potential payments upon termination for various reasons for Robert R. Hill, Jr., the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason
(1)

  Voluntary Termination by Employee for Good Reason (not CIC Related)
(2)

  Termination by Company Without Cause
(2)

  Termination by Company for Cause
(3)

  Normal Retirement
  Early Retirement
  Termination Due to Disability
(4)

  Termination Due to Death
(5)

  Termination Associated with a Change in Control
(6)

Compensation:                                                      
Base salary ($330,000)   $   $ 330,000   $ 330,000   $   $   $   $ 330,000   $ 330,000   $ 326,700
Short-term incentive     256,608     384,912     384,912                 128,304     128,304     353,920
Long-term incentives
    Performance shares
    2006-2010 (performance period)
                                   
Noncompete payments (salary portion)     660,000     660,000     660,000                         660,000
Option awards
    In-the-money
                                    7,359
Restricted stock awards
    Unvested and accelerated
                                381,212     381,212

Benefits and Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Supplemental non-qualified pension(8)     878,080     878,080     878,080     878,080     3,700,000     878,080     1,756,180     1,850,000     617,942
Life insurance proceeds                                 625,000    
Medical, dental insurance     8,278     12,417     12,417                 4,139     4,139     16,515
Company car     2,353     7,059     7,059                 2,353     2,353     7,035
Club membership dues     4,560     6,840     6,840                 2,280     2,280     32,567
Tax gross-up(7)                                     523,223
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total   $ 1,809,879   $ 2,279,308   $ 2,279,308   $ 878,080   $ 3,700,000   $ 878,080   $ 2,223,256   $ 3,323,288   $ 2,926,473
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
The Executive is entitled to Base Salary through the date of termination, payment of Total Compensation for noncompetition for two years, and the vested portion of the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension.

(2)
The Company shall continue to pay to the Executive his Total Compensation for a period of 12 months in accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices. The Executive will also receive payment for noncompetition.

(3)
The Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive other than the vested portion of the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension. The noncompetition agreement will be in force for a period of 12 months with no payments due to the Executive.

29


(4)
The Company shall continue to pay to the Executive his Total Compensation for a period of 12 equal monthly installments or in a lump sum as determined by the board.

(5)
The Company will pay to the beneficiary of the Executive an amount equal to 12 months' Total Compensation in equal monthly installments or in a lump sum as determined by the board. Restricted Stock Awards are fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares with a market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007. A life insurance payment is made under the SERP arrangement (not including group or supplemental life insurance).

(6)
The Company (or its successors) shall pay in one lump sum to the Executive, or his beneficiary in the event of his subsequent death, an amount equal to .99 times Executive's Total Compensation (Change in Control Payment) in effect at the date of termination of employment. In addition, the Executive will also be paid under his noncompetition agreement. Option Awards and Restricted Stock Awards will be fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares. The value of Option Awards is based on the difference between the current market price as of December 31, 2007 and the exercise price for options in-the-money (i.e., options with an exercise price below the current market price). The value of Restricted Stock Awards is based on the current market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007.

Upon a change in control ("CIC"), the Company's Supplemental non-qualified pension plan will pay Mr. Hill twenty annual payments of $185,000 which will begin at age 60. The present value of this benefit ($3,700,000) is reduced by the early termination present value ($878,080) and then discounted to 12/31/2007 at a rate of 5.6% which equals 617,942.

(7)
The Company believes that the structure and timing of Mr. Hill's payments upon a change in control as of December 31, 2007 would have caused the payments or distributions to be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. The amount included here is the excise tax which he would receive from the Company on an after-tax basis equal to the federal, state and local income and excise tax imposed.

(8)
The amounts payable under the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension are in accordance with a SERP that is targeted to pay $185,000 annually for 20 years to Mr. Hill at his normal retirement date. The following assumptions were used to calculate the total benefit under each termination or retirement scenario:

Scenario

  Payment Term
  Annual Benefit
  Total Benefit
  Explanation of Calculation
Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason   20 years payable at normal retirement age   $ 43,904   $ 878,080   50% of $87,809 the present value at 12/31/07 of $185,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Voluntary Termination by Employee for Good Reason (not CIC Related)

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

43,904

 

 

878,080

 

50% of $87,809 the present value at 12/31/07 of $185,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination by Company Without Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

43,904

 

 

878,080

 

50% of $87,809 the present value at 12/31/07 of $185,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination by Company for Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

43,904

 

 

878,080

 

50% of $87,809 the present value at 12/31/07 of $185,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Normal Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

185,000

 

 

3,700,000

 

Normal retirement annual benefit times 20 years of payments

Early Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

43,904

 

 

878,080

 

50% of $87,809 the present value at 12/31/07 of $185,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Disability

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

87,809

 

 

1,756,180

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $185,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Death

 

10 years payable at time of death

 

 

185,000

 

 

1,850,000

 

Annual benefit times 10 years of payments

Termination Associated with a Change in Control

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

185,000

 

 

3,700,000

 

Annual benefit times 20 years of payments (paid montly beginning at retirement age)

30


John C. Pollok

        The following table describes the potential payments upon termination for various reasons for John C. Pollok, the Company's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary
Termination
by Employee
Without
Good
Reason
(1)

  Termination
by Company
Without
Cause
(2)

  Termination
by Company
for Cause
(1)

  Normal
Retirement

  Early
Retirement

  Termination
Due to
Disability

  Termination
Due to
Death
(3)

  Termination
Associated
with a
Change in
Control
(4)

Compensation:                                                
Base salary ($228,461)   $   $ 114,231   $   $   $   $   $   $ 575,000
Short-term incentive                                 196,595
Long-term incentives                                                
  Performance shares                                                
  2006-2010 (performance period)                                
Noncompete payments (salary portion)                                
Option awards                                                
  In-the-money                                 6,133
Restricted stock awards                                                
  Unvested and accelerated                             181,089     181,099

Benefits and Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Supplemental non-qualified pension(6)     814,480     814,480     814,480     3,300,000     814,480     1,628,980     1,650,000     575,593
Life insurance proceeds                             250,000    
Medical, dental insurance         2,069                         10,347
Tax gross-up(5)                                               667,801
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total   $ 814,480   $ 930,780   $ 814,480   $ 3,300,000   $ 814,480   $ 1,628,980   $ 2,081,089   $ 2,212,568
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
The Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive other than the vested portion of the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension. A noncompetition agreement will be in force for a period of 24 months with no payment due to the Executive.

(2)
The Company shall pay to the Executive his Base Salary for six months following his termination through customary payroll practices. The Company shall also contribute to Executive's COBRA premium by paying the same monthly amount for health and dental insurance coverage as it would if he were an active employee for a period of 6 months.

(3)
Restricted Stock Awards are fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares with a market price $31.67 as of December 31, 2007. A life insurance payment is made under the SERP arrangement (not including group or supplemental life insurance).

(4)
The Company (or its successors) shall pay the Executive, or his beneficiary in the event of his subsequent death, an amount equal to two and one-half times Executive's Total Compensation (Change in Control Payment) in effect at the date of termination of employment. Two equal payments shall be made, each consisting of one-half the total Change in Control Payment with the first payment to be made immediately upon cessation of employment and the second to be made exactly one year later. Option Awards and Restricted Stock Awards will be fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares. The value of the Option Awards is based on the difference between the current market price as of December 31, 2007 and the exercise price for options in-the-money (i.e., options with an exercise price below the current market price. The value of Restricted Stock Awards is based on the market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007.

Upon a CIC, the Company's Supplemental non-qualified pension plan will pay Mr. Pollok twenty annual payments of $165,000 which will begin at age 60. The present value of this benefit ($1,650,000) is reduced by the early termination present value ($814,480) and then discounted to 12/31/2007 at a rate of 5.6% which equals 575,593.

(5)
The Company believes that the structure and timing of Mr. Pollok's payments upon a change in control as of December 31, 2007 would have caused the payments or distributions to be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. The amount included here is the excise tax which he would receive from the Company on an after-tax basis equal to the federal, state and local income and excise tax imposed.

31


(6)
The amounts payable under the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension are in accordance with a SERP that is targeted to pay $165,000 annually for 20 years to Mr. Pollok at his normal retirement date. The following assumptions were used to calculate the total benefit under each termination or retirement scenario:

Scenario

  Payment Term
  Annual Benefit
  Total Benefit
  Explanation of Calculation
Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason   20 years payable at normal retirement age   $ 40,724   $ 814,480   50% of $81,449 the present value at 12/31/07 of $165,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination by Company Without Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

40,724

 

 

814,480

 

50% of $81,449 the present value at 12/31/07 of $165,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination by Company for Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

40,724

 

 

814,480

 

50% of $81,449 the present value at 12/31/07 of $165,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Normal Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

165,000

 

 

3,300,000

 

Normal retirement annual benefit times 20 years of payments

Early Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

40,724

 

 

814,480

 

50% of $81,449 the present value at 12/31/07 of $165,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Disability

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

81,449

 

 

1,628,980

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $165,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Death

 

10 years payable at time of death

 

 

165,000

 

 

1,650,000

 

Annual benefit times 10 years of payments

Termination Associated with a Change in Control

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

165,000

 

 

3,300,000

 

Annual benefit times 20 years of payments (paid montly beginning at retirement age)

John F. Windley

        The following table describes the potential payments upon termination for various reasons for John F. Windley, the President of the Company's subsidiary South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A.

Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary
Termination
by
Employee
Without
Good
Reason
(1)

  Termination
by Company
Without
Cause
(2)

  Termination
by Company
for Cause
(1)

  Normal
Retirement

  Early
Retirement

  Termination
Due to
Disability

  Termination
Due to
Death
(3)

  Termination
Associated
with a
Change in
Control
(4)

Compensation:                                                
Base salary ($205,000)   $   $ 102,500   $   $   $   $   $   $ 410,000
  Short-term incentive                                 132,840
  Long-term incentives                                
    Performance shares                                                
    2006-2010 (performance period)                                
Noncompete payments (salary portion)                                
Option awards                                                
  In-the-money                                 2,453
Restricted stock awards                                                
  Unvested and accelerated                             70,244     70,244

Benefits and Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Supplemental non-qualified pension (5)     48,720     48,720     48,720     750,000     48,720     487,185     500,000     649,580
Life insurance proceeds                             250,000    
Medical, dental insurance         2,069                         8,278
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total   $ 48,720   $ 153,289   $ 48,720   $ 750,000   $ 48,720   $ 487,185   $ 820,244   $ 1,273,395
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
The Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive other than the vested portion of the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension. A noncompetition agreement will be in force for a period of 18 months with no payment due to the Executive.

32


(2)
The Company shall pay to the Executive his Base Salary for six months following his termination through customary payroll practices. The Company shall also contribute to Executive's COBRA premium by paying the same monthly amount for health and dental insurance coverage as it would if he were an active employee for a period of 6 months.

(3)
Restricted Stock Awards are fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares with a market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007. A life insurance payment is made under the SERP arrangement (not including group or supplemental life insurance).

(4)
The Company (or its successors) shall pay the Executive, or his beneficiary in the event of his subsequent death, an amount equal to two times Executive's Total Compensation (Change in Control Payment) in effect at the date of termination of employment. Two equal payments shall be made, each consisting of one-half the total Change in Control Payment with the first payment to be made immediately upon cessation of employment and the second to be made exactly one year later. Option Awards and Restricted Stock Awards will be fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares. The value of the Option Awards is based on the difference between the current market price as of December 31, 2007 and the exercise price for options in-the-money (i.e., options with an exercise price below the current market price. The value of Restricted Stock Awards is based on the market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007.

(5)
The amounts payable under the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension are in accordance with a SERP that is targeted to pay $50,000 annually for 15 years to Mr. Windley at his normal retirement date. The following assumptions were used to calculate the total benefit under each termination or retirement scenario:

Scenario

  Payment Term
  Annual Benefit
  Total Benefit
  Explanation of Calculation
Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason   15 years payable at normal retirement age   $ 3,248   $ 64,960   10% of $32,479 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Termination by Company Without Cause

 

15 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

3,248

 

 

64,960

 

10% of $32,479 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Termination by Company for Cause

 

15 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

3,248

 

 

64,960

 

10% of $32,479 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Normal Retirement

 

15 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

50,000

 

 

1,000,000

 

Normal retirement annual benefit times payment term

Early Retirement

 

15 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

3,248

 

 

64,960

 

10% of $32,479 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Termination Due to Disability

 

15 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

32,479

 

 

649,580

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Death

 

10 years payable at time of death

 

 

50,000

 

 

500,000

 

Annual benefit times payment term

Termination Associated with a Change in Control

 

15 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

32,479

 

 

649,580

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

33


Thomas S. Camp

        The following table describes the potential payments upon termination for various reasons for Thomas S. Camp, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company's subsidiary South Carolina Bank and Trust of the Piedmont, N.A.

Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason
(1)

  Termination by Company Without Cause
(2)

  Termination by Company for Cause
(1)

  Normal Retirement
  Early Retirement
  Termination Due to Disability
  Termination Due to Death
(3)

  Termination Associated with a Change in Control
(4)

Compensation:                                                
Base salary ($192,500)   $   $ 192,500   $   $   $   $   $   $ 577,500
Short-term incentive                                 187,110
Long-term incentives                                
  Performance Shares
2006-2010 (performance period)
                               
Noncompete payments (salary portion)                                
Option awards
In-the-money
                                4,906
Restricted stock awards
Unvested and accelerated
                            137,796     137,796

Benefits and Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Supplemental non-qualified pension(5)     351,300     351,300     351,300     1,000,000     351,300     702,580     500,000     702,580
Life insurance proceeds                             250,000    
Medical, dental insurance         4,136                         12,408
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total   $ 351,300   $ 547,936   $ 351,300   $ 1,000,000   $ 351,300   $ 702,580   $ 887,796   $ 1,622,300
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
The Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive other than the vested portion of the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension. A noncompetition agreement will be in force for a period of 18 months with no payment due to the Executive.

(2)
The Company shall pay to the Executive his Base Salary for twelve months following his termination through customary payroll practices. The Company shall also contribute to Executive's COBRA premium by paying the same monthly amount for health and dental insurance coverage as it would if he were an active employee for a period of 12 months.

(3)
Restricted Stock Grants are fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares with a market price $31.67 as of December 31, 2007. A life insurance payment is made under the SERP arrangement (not including group or supplemental life insurance).

(4)
The Company (or its successors) shall pay the Executive, or his beneficiary in the event of his subsequent death, an amount equal to three times Executive's Total Compensation (Change in Control Payment) in effect at the date of termination of employment. Two equal payments shall be made, each consisting of one-half the total Change in Control Payment with the first payment to be made immediately upon cessation of employment and the second to be made exactly one year later. Option Awards and Restricted Stock Awards will be fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares. The value of the Option Awards is based on the difference between the current market price as of December 31, 2007 and the exercise price for options in-the-money (i.e., options with an exercise price below the current market price. The value of Restricted Stock Awards is based on the market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007.

34


(5)
The amounts payable under the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension are in accordance with a SERP that is targeted to pay $50,000 annually for 20 years to Mr. Camp at his normal retirement date. The following assumptions were used to calculate the total benefit under each termination or retirement scenario:

Scenario

  Payment Term
  Annual Benefit
  Total Benefit
  Explanation of Calculation
Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason   20 years payable at normal retirement age   $ 17,565   $ 351,300   50% of $35,129 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination by Company Without Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

17,565

 

 

351,300

 

50% of $35,129 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination by Company for Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

17,565

 

 

351,300

 

50% of $35,129 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Normal Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

50,000

 

 

1,000,000

 

Normal retirement annual benefit times 20 years of payments

Early Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

17,565

 

 

351,300

 

50% of $35,129 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Disability

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

35,129

 

 

702,580

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Death

 

10 years payable at time of death

 

 

50,000

 

 

500,000

 

Annual benefit times 10 years of payments

Termination Associated with a Change in Control

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

35,129

 

 

702,580

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Joe E. Burns

        The following table describes the potential payments upon termination for various reasons for Joe E. Burns, the Company's Chief Credit Officer.

Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason
(1)

  Termination by Company Without Cause
(2)

  Termination by Company for Cause
(1)

  Normal Retirement
  Early Retirement
  Termination Due to Disability
  Termination Due to Death
(3)

  Termination Associated with a Change in Control
(4)

Compensation:                                                
Base salary ($175,000)   $   $ 87,500   $   $   $   $   $   $ 350,000
Short-term incentive                                 113,400
Long-term incentives                                
  Performance shares
2006-2010 (performance period)
                               
Noncompete payments (salary portion)                                
Option awards
In-the-money
                                4,906
Restricted stock awards
Unvested and accelerated
                            141,533     141,533

Benefits and Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Supplemental non-qualified pension(5)     312,300     312,300     312,300     1,000,000     312,300     624,600     500,000     624,600
Life insurance proceeds                             250,000    
Medical, dental insurance         2,069                         8,278
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total   $ 312,300   $ 401,869   $ 312,300   $ 1,000,000   $ 312,300   $ 624,600   $ 891,533   $ 1,242,717
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
The Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive other than the vested portion of the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension. A noncompetition agreement will be in force for a period of 12 months with no payment due to the Executive.

35


(2)
The Company shall pay to the Executive his Base Salary for 6 months following his termination through customary payroll practices. The Company shall also contribute to Executive's COBRA premium by paying the same monthly amount for health and dental insurance coverage as it would if he were an active employee for a period of 6 months.

(3)
Restricted Stock Awards are fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares with a market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007. A life insurance payment is made under the SERP arrangement (not including group or supplemental life insurance).

(4)
The Company (or its successors) shall pay the Executive, or his beneficiary in the event of his subsequent death, an amount equal to two times Executive's Total Compensation (Change in Control Payment) in effect at the date of termination of employment. Two equal payments shall be made, each consisting of one-half the total Change in Control Payment with the first payment to be made immediately upon cessation of employment and the second to be made exactly one year later. Option Awards and Restricted Stock Awards will be fully accelerated based on 100% of remaining non-vested shares. The value of the Option Awards is based on the difference between the current market price as of December 31, 2007 and the exercise price for options in-the-money (i.e., options with an exercise price below the current market price. The value of Restricted Stock Awards is based on the market price of $31.67 as of December 31, 2007.

(5)
The amounts payable under the Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension are in accordance with a SERP that is targeted to pay $50,000 annually for twenty years to Mr. Burns at his normal retirement date. The following assumptions were used to calculate the total benefit under each termination or retirement scenario:

Scenario

  Payment Term
  Annual Benefit
  Total Benefit
  Explanation of Calculation
Voluntary Termination by Employee Without Good Reason   20 years payable at normal retirement age   $ 15,615   $ 312,300   10% of $31,230 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Termination by Company Without Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

15,615

 

 

312,300

 

10% of $31,230 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Termination by Company for Cause

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

15,615

 

 

312,300

 

10% of $31,230 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Normal Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

50,000

 

 

1,000,000

 

Normal retirement annual benefit times payment term

Early Retirement

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

15,615

 

 

312,300

 

10% of $31,230 the present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age times payment term

Termination Due to Disability

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

31,230

 

 

624,600

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

Termination Due to Death

 

10 years payable at time of death

 

 

50,000

 

 

500,000

 

Annual benefit times payment term

Termination Associated with a Change in Control

 

20 years payable at normal retirement age

 

 

31,230

 

 

624,600

 

Present value at 12/31/07 of $50,000 annual benefit discounted using a 6% annual rate from normal retirement age

36



DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

        The Company uses a combination of cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on the board of directors. Directors are subject to a minimum share ownership requirement. Each director is required to directly own 3,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock by the third anniversary of the date he/she was first elected to the board by the shareholders. Director compensation is established by the compensation committee after discussion with the compensation consultants and is intended to provide compensation that is needed to attract and retain qualified directors and is competitive with that of comparable financial institutions.

        For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, non-employee directors of the Company are paid a cash retainer of $500 per calendar quarter. Directors who serve on the board of South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A., a subsidiary of the Company, receive $750 per subsidiary meeting attended. Director Norman, who serves on the board of South Carolina Bank and Trust of the Piedmont, N.A., also a subsidiary bank of the Company, receives $500 per subsidiary meeting attended. Directors who are also officers employed by the Company or its subsidiaries do not receive fees or any other separate cash compensation for serving as a director. Members other than the chair of the executive committee, audit committee, compensation committee, governance committee, and trust asset management committee are paid additional payments of $400, $450, $450, $300, and $300 respectively, for each meeting attended. The chair of the audit, compensation, and governance committees received $1,000, $1,000 and $500, respectively, per committee meeting attended in lieu of the corresponding amounts above. Under the Company's deferred compensation plan, directors may elect to defer all or a portion of their directors' fees and to treat such deferred amounts as though they were invested in one or more investment options designated by the plan. Amounts deferred under the plan remain general obligations of the Company and become payable at the times (or during the periods) designated by participating directors. The directors' investment alternatives are the same as those previously listed under the deferred compensation plan for executive officers.

        In May 2007, the Company awarded to each non-employee director serving at that time non-qualified options to acquire 500 shares of the Company's common stock at the fair market value at the time of award, and 200 shares of restricted stock. These awards were granted following the Company's annual shareholders' meeting and vested over a period of one year from the date of grant. The Company intends to grant stock options and restricted stock awards annually to its non-employee directors in similar amounts and terms following the shareholders' meeting, under the authorization of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

        Robert R. Horger, who serves as chairman of the board of the Company, currently receives $81,327 annually for serving in that capacity. During 2007, the compensation committee agreed to pay $25,000 of his salary in the form of immediately vested stock options rather than in cash. In addition, in January 2007, the Company granted to Mr. Horger 612 shares of restricted stock valued at $39.74 per share at the date of grant and 1,838 stock options at an exercise price per share of $39.74. These restricted stock shares vest and the options become exercisable in four equal annual installments over the four-year period following the date of grants. The number of shares and prices has been adjusted to reflect all applicable stock dividends.

37


        The following table sets forth the fees and all other forms of compensation paid to Chairman Horger and the Company's non-fulltime employee directors in 2007. Each component of compensation is discussed in further detail in the footnotes following the table.

Name

  Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
(1)

  Stock Awards ($)
(2)

  Option Awards ($)
(3)

  Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
(4)

  All Other Compensation ($)
(5)

  Total ($)
Robert R. Horger(6)   $ 56,327   $ 15,357   $ 42,242   $ 15,909   $ 937   $ 130,772
Jimmy E. Addison     14,300     11,550     3,076         130     29,056
Colden R. Battey, Jr.      16,300     6,959     4,662         85     28,006
Luther J. Battiste, III     16,400     6,959     4,662         85     28,106
Dalton B. Floyd, Jr.      15,800     6,959     4,662         85     27,506
M. Oswald Fogle     23,450     6,959     4,662     725     85     35,881
Dwight W. Frierson     16,600     6,959     4,662         85     28,306
R. Caine Halter (7)     9,600     6,959     4,662         68     21,289
Harry M. Mims, Jr.      18,300     6,959     4,662         85     30,006
Ralph W. Norman     14,000     6,959     4,662         85     25,706
Alton C. Phillips     8,350     4,834             119     13,303
James W. Roquemore     15,950     6,959     4,663         85     27,657
Thomas E. Suggs     14,340     6,959     4,662         85     26,046
Susie H. VanHuss     17,750     6,959     4,662     506     85     29,962
A. Dewall Waters     13,250     6,959     4,662     1,703     85     26,659
John W. Williamson, III     17,110     6,959     4,662         85     28,816
Cathy Cox Yeadon     14,150     6,959     4,662     1,347     85     27,203

(1)
Includes total compensation earned through salary (Chairman Horger only), Board fees, retainers and committee fees, whether paid or deferred. Directors who elected to defer fees during 2007 are as follows: Chairman Horger, $25,000; Mr. Fogle, $8,438; Mr. Halter, $9,600; Mr. Waters, $11,300; and Mrs. Yeadon, $6,400. Refer to the Board of Directors and Committees section of this proxy statement for more information regarding committee membership and fees.

(2)
From time to time, the Company has awarded shares of restricted stock to its directors. All shares of restricted stock that were awarded to the non-employee directors during 2007 vest at 25% per calendar quarter over a period of four quarters. Each director generally has the right to vote restricted shares and to receive dividends paid on the shares prior to vesting. The market value of the shares is determined by the closing market price of the Company's common stock for the date of the grant. The value of restricted stock grants shown above equals the amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, in accordance with FAS 123R and thus include amounts from restricted stock grants made in and prior to 2007. The following are grant date fair values used to determine stock award expense in accordance with FAS 123R in the table above: $31.91 for January 3, 2005; $31.83 for January 3, 2006; $32.82 for May 1, 2006; $33.95 for July 3, 2006; $39.74 for January 2, 2007; $37.70 for May 1, 2007; and $30.53 for August 1, 2007.

A total aggregate amount of 11,958 shares of stock awards were outstanding at December 31, 2007.

(3)
These totals reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, in accordance with FAS 123R and thus include amounts from awards granted in and prior to 2007. The valuation assumptions for the black scholes model

38


(4)
Includes the change in pension value for Chairman Horger only, totaling $4,977, as well as the portion of income earned during the fiscal year in the nonqualified deferred compensation plan exceeding 120% of the applicable long-term federal rate (AFR), i.e. exceeding 7.67% as of December 31, 2007, which equaled $10,932. The remaining amounts reported for each director above reflect the change in the nonqualified deferred compensation plan during 2007.

(5)
Includes a $0.68 dividend ($0.17 per quarter) on all unvested restricted stock grants outstanding at the time of the dividend.

(6)
Robert R. Horger serves as chairman of the board of the Company and currently receives a salary of $81,327 annually for serving in that capacity. During 2007, the compensation committee agreed to pay $25,000 of his salary in the form of immediately vested stock options rather than in cash. The remaining 1,838 stock options granted to Chairman Horger vest at 25% per year over a period of 4 years. He was also granted 612 shares of restricted stock valued at $39.74 per share in 2007. This restricted stock vests at 25% per year over a period of four years.

(7)
R. Caine Halter passed away on Friday, August 10, 2007; therefore, total compensation reflects a partial year serving on the board of the Company.


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

        The Company's banking subsidiaries have loan and deposit relationships with some of the directors of the Company and its subsidiaries and loan, deposit, and fee-for-service relationships with some of the companies with which the directors are associated, as well as with some members of the immediate families of the directors. (The term "members of the immediate families" for purposes of this paragraph includes each person's spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother and father-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, and brothers and sisters-in-law.) Such loan, deposit, or fee relationships were made in the ordinary course of business, were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates, collateral and fee pricing as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons, and did not, at the time they were made, involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.

        Robert R. Horger, chairman of the board of the Company, is a partner in the law firm of Horger, Barnwell & Reid, which South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. engaged, among other law firms, as counsel during 2007 and may engage during the current fiscal year. In 2007, the Company made payments totaling approximately $17,000 to Horger, Barnwell & Reid.

        Colden R. Battey, Jr., a director, has a 20% interest in a partnership that leases an office building to South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A., in Beaufort, South Carolina. Annual lease payments to the partnership under this lease are approximately $142,000.

        Dalton B. Floyd, Jr., a director, is President of The Floyd Law Firm, PC, which South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. engaged, among other law firms, as counsel during 2007 and may engage during the current fiscal year. In 2007, South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. made payments totaling approximately $12,000 to The Floyd Law Firm, PC. Mr. Floyd also has a 50% interest in a corporation that leases to South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. a lot upon which a South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. branch resides at the intersection of Riverwood Drive and Highway 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet,

39



SC. The rent payments paid by South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. under this lease during 2007 were approximately $111,000.

        R. Caine Halter, a director until August 10, 2007, was a managing partner with a 6.25% personal interest and an additional 1.7% interest through a family limited partnership in a single asset company that owns an office building in Greenville, SC. This building houses the Upstate headquarters for South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A. in space leased from the partnership. During 2007, the Company's lease payments to the partnership were $163,916.

        Thomas E. Suggs, a director, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Keenan and Suggs, Inc., an insurance brokerage and consulting firm that the Company used during 2007 and will use during the current fiscal year as an insurance broker for certain policies. In 2007, the Company made payments to Keenan and Suggs, Inc., as the Company's insurance placement agent, totaling $247,259. Keenan and Suggs, Inc. passes these funds, net of its agency commissions which the firm recognizes as revenue, through to the various insurance companies providing coverages to the Company or its subsidiaries. Keenan and Suggs, Inc. specified that it recognized $61,538 in revenue from the Company as its insurance placement agent during 2007.

        The Company has adopted a Conflict of Interest/Code of Ethics Policy that contains written procedures for reviewing transactions between the Company and its directors and executive officers, their immediate family members, and entities with which they have a position or relationship. These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related person transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director or executive officer. This policy also requires the Company's bank subsidiaries to comply with Regulation O, which contains restrictions on extensions of credit to executive officers, directors, certain principal shareholders, and their related interests. Such extensions of credit (i) must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with third parties and (ii) must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features. The Conflict of Interest/Code of Ethics policy is located on the Company's website at www.scbtonline.com under Investor Relations.

        The Company annually requires each of its directors and executive officers to complete a directors' and officers' questionnaire that elicits information about related person transactions. The Company's audit committee, which consists entirely of independent directors, annually reviews all transactions and relationships disclosed in the director and officer questionnaires, and the board of directors makes a formal determination regarding each director's independence under Nasdaq Global Select Market listing standards and applicable SEC rules.

        In addition, the Company's bank subsidiaries are subject to the provisions of Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act, which places limits on the amount of loans or extensions of credit to, or investments in, or certain other transactions with, affiliates and on the amount of advances to third parties collateralized by the securities or obligations of affiliates. Each bank is also subject to the provisions of Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act which, among other things, prohibits an institution from engaging in certain transactions with certain affiliates unless the transactions are on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to such institution or its subsidiaries, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with nonaffiliated companies.

        In addition to the annual review, the Company has appointed a corporate ethics officer to implement and monitor compliance with the Conflict of Interest/Code of Ethics Policy. The corporate ethics officer reports to the Company's general auditor and chief executive officer quarterly and also advises the Company's executive committee and management with respect to potential conflicts of interest. The related party transactions described above were approved by the Company.

40



SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

        As required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company's directors and executive officers are required to report periodically their ownership of the Company's stock and any changes in ownership to the SEC. Based on written representations made by these affiliates to the Company and a review of forms 3, 4 and 5, it appears that all such reports for these persons were filed in a timely fashion in 2007, except for an inadvertent late filing of a Form 4 by Dane H. Murray on May 14, 2007 for a discretionary transaction in accordance with Rule 16b-3(f) resulting in the disposition of Common Stock in an executive officer's defined contribution plan.


CERTAIN ACCOUNTING MATTERS

        As previously reported on the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 13, 2007, on June 7, 2007, the audit committee selected Dixon Hughes PLLC ("Dixon Hughes") to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm beginning with the year 2008. The Company terminated the engagement of J.W. Hunt and Company, LLP ("J.W. Hunt") as its independent registered public accounting firm effective upon J.W. Hunt's completion of its audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the filing by the Company of its Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2007. The decision to change accountants was approved by the audit committee.

        J.W. Hunt's audit reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

        During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company had no disagreements with J.W. Hunt on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of J.W. Hunt, would have caused J.W. Hunt to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement(s) in connection with its report on the Company's consolidated financial statements for such years.

        The Company provided its disclosures prepared on Form 8-K disclosing the termination of further audit engagements with J.W. Hunt and requested in writing that J.W. Hunt furnish a letter to the SEC stating whether it agreed with the statements made by us and, if not, stating the respects in which it did not agree. On June 13, 2007, we filed the letter provided by J.W. Hunt regarding the change of accountant dated June 12, 2007 with the SEC as Exhibit 16 to our Current Report on Form 8-K.

        As previously reported on the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 13, 2007, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and through June 13, 2007, the Company did not consult with Dixon Hughes regarding either (1) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to the Company or oral advice was provided that was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (2) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or reportable event as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and (v) of Regulation S-K.


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        J. W. Hunt served as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2007. As explained above, the audit committee has appointed Dixon Hughes PLLC, certified public accountants, as independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and its subsidiaries for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, subject to ratification by the

41



Company's shareholders. Dixon Hughes has advised the Company that neither the firm nor any of its partners has any direct or material interest in the Company and its subsidiaries except as independent registered public accounting firm and certified public accountants of the Company. Representatives of Dixon Hughes PLLC are expected to be at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. The Company expects a representative from J. W. Hunt to be present at the Annual Meeting.


RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        On June 7, 2007, the audit committee selected Dixon Hughes to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm beginning with the year 2008. Although the Company is not required to seek shareholder ratification of the selection of its accountants, the Company believes obtaining shareholder ratification is desirable. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes, the audit committee will re-evaluate the engagement of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the shareholders do ratify the appointment, the audit committee has the discretion to appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the audit committee believes that such a change would be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders.

        The board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Dixon Hughes as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.

        If a quorum is present, the number of shares of Common Stock voted in favor of this proposal must exceed the number of shares voted against it for approval of this proposal.


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

        The audit committee oversees the Company's financial reporting process, including internal controls, on behalf of the board of directors. The committee is composed of six directors of the Company, each of whom is independent as defined by the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market applicable to directors who serve on the audit committee. The audit committee operates under an audit committee charter that complies with the requirements regarding audit committees established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations of the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market.

        Management has the primary responsibility for the Company's financial statements, internal controls, and financial reporting. The Company's independent registered public accounting firm are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company's audited financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles and the conformity of the Company with maintaining internal controls over financial reporting as specified by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

        In the context of its responsibilities, the audit committee met with management and the independent registered public accounting firm to review and discuss the December 31, 2007 audited financial statements. The audit committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees). In addition, the audit committee has received from the independent registered public accounting firm the written disclosures and letter required by Independence Standards Board No. 1 (Independence Discussion with Audit Committees) and discussed with them their independence from the Company and its management. The audit committee also has considered whether the independent registered public accounting firm's provision of non-audit services, as set forth in the section entitled Audit and Other Fees below, is compatible with the auditor's independence.

42


        Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the SEC

        This report is provided by the following independent directors, who comprise the audit committee:

M. Oswald Fogle, Chairman   Jimmy E. Addison   Luther J. Battiste, III
Ralph W. Norman   John W. Williamson, III   Cathy Cox Yeadon


AUDIT AND OTHER FEES

        The following listing presents the aggregate fees billed by J. W. Hunt and Company, LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, during 2007 and 2006 for (i) audit fees, (ii) audit-related fees, (iii) tax fees and (iv) all other fees:

 
  2007
  2006
Audit fees   $ 243,538   $ 207,014
Audit related fees(1)     39,400     37,300
Tax fees(2)     28,010     27,212
All other fees(3)     4,150     12,529
   
 
    $ 315,098   $ 284,055
   
 

(1)
Audit-related fees are for services rendered in connection with audits of the Company's employee benefit plans and attesting to internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991.

(2)
Tax fees are for services rendered primarily in connection with the preparation of federal and state income and bank tax returns, calculation of quarterly estimated income tax payment amounts and research associated with various tax-related issues that affect the Company.

(3)
All other fees are for services rendered in connection with accounting research and assistance related to actual or proposed transactions that involve unusual or complex elements.


Pre-Approval Policy

        The audit committee's policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. Under the policy, and in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the audit committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. However, any member to whom such authority is delegated is required to report on any preapproval decisions to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting. The audit committee pre-approved all services provided by J. W. Hunt and Company, LLP during 2007, and none of the services were performed by individuals who were not employees of the independent registered public accounting firm.


AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

        The Company is mailing to shareholders contemporaneously with these proxy materials a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the SEC. Further inquiries regarding the Form 10-K should be directed to: SCBT Financial Corporation, P.O. Box 1030, Columbia, South Carolina 29202, attention: Karen L. Dey, Senior Vice President and Controller.

43



COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

        Colden R. Battey, Jr., a director and member of the compensation committee, has a 20% interest in a partnership that leases an office building to South Carolina Bank and Trust, N.A., in Beaufort, South Carolina. Annual lease payments to the partnership under this lease are approximately $142,000. No current or former officer, and no other member of the compensation committee, has directly or indirectly entered into any transactions with the Company of a nature that would be required to be disclosed in this proxy statement.


OTHER BUSINESS

        The Company does not know of any other business to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, however, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment.

44


 

  C123456789

 000004 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext

 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext

 MR A SAMPLE

 DESIGNATION (IF ANY) 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext

 ADD 1 Electronic Voting Instructions

 ADD 2

 ADD 3 You can vote by Internet or telephone!

 ADD 4 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

 ADD 5 Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting

 ADD 6 methods outlined below to vote your proxy.

 VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.

 Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by

 1:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on April 22, 2008.

 Vote by Internet

 •

 www.investorvote.com

 •

 Vote by telephone

 •

 States, Canada & Puerto Rico any time on a touch tone

 telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call.

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in X •

this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.

 

Annual Meeting Proxy Card  123456 C0123456789 12345

_IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. _

 

A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposal 2.

1. Election of Directors: For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold

01 - Luther J. Battiste, III 02 - Robert R. Hill, Jr. 03 - Ralph W. Norman

 

04 - Alton C. Phillips 05 - Susie H. VanHuss 

 

 

 For Against Abstain 

2. Proposal to ratify appointment of Dixon Hughes, PLLC, 3. And, in the discretion of said agents, upon such other

Certified Public Accountants, as SCBT Financial business as may properly come before the meeting, and Corporation’s independent auditors matters incidental to the conduct of the meeting. for 2008.

B Non-Voting Items

Change of Address — Please print new address below. Comments — Please print your comments below. C Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give

full title.

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.

 C 1234567890 J NT MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE

  140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND

  MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND

 5 1 B V 0 1 6 8 6 6 1 MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND

<STOCK#> 00UVHC

 

 


 

IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. _

Proxy — SCBT Financial Corporation

This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Robert R. Hill, Jr., John C. Pollok and Richard C. Mathis, and each of them, with full power of substitution, are hereby appointed as agent(s) of the undersigned to vote as proxies all of the shares of Common Stock of SCBT Financial Corporation held of record by the undersigned on the record date at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 22, 2008, and at any adjournment thereof.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, you can be sure your shares are represented at the meeting by promptly returning your proxy in the enclosed envelope.

THE PROXIES WILL BE VOTED AS INSTRUCTED. IF NO CHOICE IS INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO A MATTER WHERE A CHOICE IS PROVIDED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” SUCH MATTER.

(Items to be voted appear on the reverse.)

 



QuickLinks

SCBT FINANCIAL CORPORATION 520 Gervais Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS to be Held April 22, 2008
ANNUAL REPORT
REVOCATION OF PROXY
QUORUM AND VOTING
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE PROXIES
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND COMMUNICATIONS
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN PARTIES
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Objectives of the Compensation Program
Compensation Consultant
Compensation Benchmarking and Committee Functions
Role of the Chairman and Management
Elements of Compensation
Employee & Executive Benefits
Employment Agreements
Overall Compensation Approach—Building Blocks
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
OPTIONS EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
PENSION BENEFITS
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
CERTAIN ACCOUNTING MATTERS
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
AUDIT AND OTHER FEES
Pre-Approval Policy
AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
OTHER BUSINESS