CEO of Heartland Payment Systems forced to sell his shares

Robert O. Carr, chief executive officer at Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. along with his wife Jill A. Carr were forced to sell an aggregate of 692,412 shares of the company’s common stock to meet obligations under a loan for which the shares were pledged as security. The proceeds from the loans were used to cover prior loans a portion of the proceeds of which were expended by Carr in connection with the acquisition of approximately 1.75 million additional shares of Heartland stock by the exercise in 2006 of options granted by two large institutional stockholders.

At the moment the balance of the common stock of the company owned by the Carrs, approximately 4.3 million shares, continues to be subject to pledges under the loan, and it is likely that additional shares will be sold.

Carr commented, “I am extremely disappointed about this involuntary sale of my stock. This forced sale is precipitated by the mix of extraordinary circumstances confronting Heartland and the recent drop in its stock price. Unfortunately, I had no ability to stop the sales by my lender. Together with my wife, I have been one of the company’s largest shareholders since its inception, and I acquired additional shares of stock in 2006 as an expression of my confidence in the company’s potential. This sale initiated by my lender does not in any way reflect my view of the company’s value and future performance potential. My confidence in Heartland remains strong, and I am enthusiastic about reestablishing my ownership position in the company over the months and years to come.”

Additionally Sanford C. Brown, chief sales officer, is also expected to be subject to a forced sale of shares of the company’s common stock to meet obligations under a loan for which the shares were pledged as security.