UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
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Emerging growth company
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 – Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On June 6, 2024, the shareholders of Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which provides for the grant of stock-based awards to officers (including the named executive officers), employees and directors of the Company and Pathfinder Bank. A description of the material terms of the Plan is contained in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2024. A copy of the Plan is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 5.07 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
The 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company was held on June 6, 2024. At the 2024 Annual Meeting, shareholders approved all of the proposals which included (i) the election of three directors, John P. Funiciello, Tony Scavuzzo, and Lloyd Stemple each for a three-year term and until their successors have been elected and qualified; (ii) the approval of the Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan; (iii) the approval of an advisory nonbinding resolution regarding the compensation of our named executive Officers ("Say-on-Pay"); and (iv) the ratification of the appointment of Bonadio & Company, LLP, as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.
The following table reflects the tabulation of votes with respect to the election of the three directors at the 2024 Annual Meeting:
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Number of Votes |
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For |
Withheld |
Non Votes |
Director nominees for a three-year term: |
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John P. Funiciello |
2,913,593 |
385,498 |
648,104 |
Tony Scavuzzo |
3,046,682 |
252,409 |
648,104 |
Lloyd "Buddy" Stemple |
2,943,564 |
355,477 |
648,104 |
The following table reflects the tabulation of votes with respect to the approval of the Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan:
For |
Against |
Abstain |
3,070,126 |
205,562 |
23,403 |
The following table reflects the tabulation of votes with respect to the approval of an advisory non-binding resolution regarding the compensation of our named executive Officers ("Say-on-Pay"):
For |
Against |
Abstain |
3,116,755 |
139,488 |
42,848 |
The following table reflects the tabulation of votes with respect to the approval of the ratification of Bonadio & Company, LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024:
For |
Against |
Abstain |
3,893,814 |
29,544 |
23,837 |
Item 9.01– Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) |
Financial statements of businesses acquired. None. |
(b) |
Pro forma financial information. None. |
(c) |
Shell company transactions: None. |
(d) |
Exhibits. |
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10.1 |
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104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded in the cover page formatted in Inline XBRL) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
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PATHFINDER BANCORP, INC. |
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Date: |
June 7, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ James A. Dowd |
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James A. Dowd President and Chief Executive Officer |
PATHFINDER BANCORP, INC.
2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE 1 — GENERAL
Section 1.1. Purpose, Effective Date and Term. The purpose of the Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the long-term financial success of Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries, including Pathfinder Bank (the “Bank”), by providing a means to attract, retain and reward individuals who contribute to that success and to further align their interests with those of the Company’s shareholders through the ownership of additional shares of common stock of the Company and/or through compensation tied to the value of the Company’s common stock. The “Effective Date” of the Plan will be the date on which the Plan satisfies the applicable shareholder approval requirements. The Plan will remain in effect as long as Awards are outstanding; provided, however, that no Awards may be granted under the Plan after the day immediately before the ten-year anniversary date of the Effective Date. Upon shareholder approval of the Plan, no additional awards will be granted under Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, which shall remain in existence solely for the purpose of administering outstanding grants under that plan.
Section 1.2. Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in accordance with Section 5.1.
Section 1.3. Participation. Each individual who is granted or holds an Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan will be a Participant in the Plan (a “Participant”). The grant of Awards will be limited to Employees, Directors and Service Providers of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Section 1.4. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Plan are defined in Article 8 and elsewhere in this Plan.
ARTICLE 2 — AWARDS
Section 2.1. General. Any Award under the Plan may be granted singularly or in combination with another Award or other Awards. Each Award under the Plan will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any additional terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Committee provides with respect to the Award and as evidenced in an Award Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of an Award Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.2(d), an Award may be granted as an alternative to or replacement of an existing Award under the Plan or any other plan of the Company or any Subsidiary or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary, including without limitation the plan of any entity acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary. The types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan include Stock Options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, and any Award may be granted as a Performance Award.
Section 2.2. Stock Options. A Stock Option is a grant that represents the right to purchase shares of Stock at an established Exercise Price.
Section 2.3. Restricted Stock.
Section 2.4. Restricted Stock Units.
Section 2.5. Vesting of Awards. The Committee shall specify the vesting schedule or market or performance conditions of each Award at the time of grant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the Awards available under the Plan shall vest no earlier than one (1) year after the date of grant, unless accelerated due to death, Disability, or an Involuntary Termination at or following a Change in Control.
Section 2.6. Deferred Compensation. Subject to approval by the Committee before an election is made, an Award of Restricted Stock Units may be deferred pursuant to a valid deferral election made by a Participant. If a deferral election is made by a Participant, the Award Agreement shall specify the terms of the deferral and shall constitute the deferral plan pursuant to the requirements of Code Section 409A. If any Award would be considered “deferred compensation” as defined under Code Section 409A (“Deferred Compensation”), the Committee reserves the absolute right (including the right to delegate such right) to unilaterally amend the Plan or the Award Agreement, without the consent of the Participant, to maintain exemption from, or to comply with, Code Section 409A. Any amendment by the Committee to the Plan or an Award Agreement pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall maintain, to the extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without violating Code Section 409A. A Participant’s acceptance of any Award under the Plan constitutes acknowledgement and consent to the rights of the Committee, without further consideration or action. Any discretionary authority retained by the Committee pursuant to the terms of this Plan or pursuant to an Award Agreement shall not apply to an Award that is determined to constitute Deferred Compensation, if the discretionary authority would contravene Code Section 409A.
Section 2.7. Effect of Termination of Service on Awards. The Committee shall establish the effect of a Termination of Service on the continuation of rights and benefits available with respect to an Award and, in so doing, may make distinctions based upon, among other things, the reason(s) for the Termination of Service and type of Award. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement or as set forth in an employment or severance agreement between the Company and/or a Subsidiary and the Participant, the following provisions will apply to each Award granted under this Plan:
Section 2.8. Holding Period for Vested Awards. As a condition of receipt of an Award, the Award Agreement may require a Participant to agree to hold a vested Award or shares of Stock received upon exercise of a Stock Option for a period of time specified in the Award Agreement (“Holding Period”). In connection with the foregoing, a Participant may be required to retain direct ownership of Covered Shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Holding Period following the date of vesting or (ii) such person’s termination of employment with the Company and any Subsidiary. The foregoing limitation, if applicable, shall not apply to the extent that an Award vests due to death, Disability or an Involuntary Termination at or following a Change in Control, or to the extent that (x) a Participant directs the Company to withhold or the Company elects to withhold shares of Stock with respect to the vesting or exercise, or, in lieu thereof, to retain, or to sell without notice, a sufficient number of shares of Stock to cover the amount required to be withheld or (y) a Participant exercises a Stock Option by a net settlement, and in the case of (x) and (y) herein, only to the extent of the shares are withheld for tax purposes or for purposes of the net settlement.
ARTICLE 3 — SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN
Section 3.1. Available Shares. The shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan shall be shares currently authorized but unissued, currently held or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subsequently acquired by the Company, including shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions.
Section 3.2. Share Limitations.
Section 3.3 Limitations on Grants to Directors.
Section 3.4. Corporate Transactions.
Section 3.5. Delivery of Shares. Delivery of shares of Stock or other amounts under the Plan shall be subject to the following:
ARTICLE 4 — CHANGE IN CONTROL
Section 4.1. Consequence of a Change in Control. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.5 (relating to vesting and acceleration) and Section 3.4 (relating to the adjustment of shares), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan or determined by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement:
Section 4.2. Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the earliest to occur of the following:
ARTICLE 5 — COMMITTEE
Section 5.1. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of at least two Disinterested Board Members. Any members of the Committee who do not qualify as Disinterested Board Members shall abstain from participating in any discussion or decision to make or administer Awards that are made to Participants who at the time of consideration for such Award are persons subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors (or if necessary to maintain compliance with the applicable listing standards, those members of the Board of Directors who are “independent directors” under the corporate governance statutes or rules of any national Exchange on which the Company lists, has listed or seeks to list its securities) may, in their discretion, take any action and exercise any power, privilege or discretion conferred on the Committee under the Plan with the same force and effect under the Plan as if done or exercised by the Committee.
Section 5.2. Powers of Committee. The administration of the Plan by the Committee shall be subject to the following:
Section 5.3. Delegation by Committee. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the applicable rules of an Exchange upon which the Company lists its shares or the Plan, or as necessary to comply with the exemptive provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it, including: (a) delegating to a committee of one or more members of the Board of Directors who are not “non-employee directors,” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act; or (b) delegating to a committee of one or more members of the Board of Directors who would be eligible to serve on the Compensation Committee of the Company pursuant to the listing requirements imposed by any national securities exchange on which the Company lists, has listed or seeks to list its securities, the authority to grant awards under the Plan. The acts of the delegates shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Committee and the delegates shall report regularly to the Committee regarding the exercise of delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards so granted. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.
Section 5.4. Information to be Furnished to Committee. As may be permitted by applicable law, the Company and its Subsidiaries will furnish the Committee with data and information it determines may be required for it to discharge its duties. The records of the Company and its Subsidiaries as to a Participant’s employment, termination of employment, leave of absence, reemployment and compensation will be conclusive on all persons unless determined by the Committee to be manifestly incorrect. Subject to applicable law, Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the Plan must furnish the Committee any evidence, data or information as the Committee considers desirable to carry out the terms of the Plan.
Section 5.5. Committee Action. The Committee shall hold meetings, and may make administrative rules and regulations, as it may deem proper. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the action of a majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, as well as actions taken pursuant to the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the Committee without holding a meeting, shall be deemed to be actions of the Committee. Subject to Section 5.1, all actions of the Committee, including interpretations of provisions of the Plan, will be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Company, Participants and all other interested parties. Any person dealing with the Committee shall be fully protected in relying upon any written notice, instruction, direction or other communication signed by a member of the Committee or by a representative of the Committee authorized to sign the same in its behalf.
ARTICLE 6 — AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.1. General. The Board of Directors may, as permitted by law, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan, and the Board of Directors or the Committee may amend any Award Agreement, provided, however, that no amendment or termination (except as provided in Sections 2.6, 3.4 and 6.2) may cause the Award to violate Code Section 409A, may cause the repricing of a Stock Option, or, in the absence of written consent to the change by the affected Participant (or, if the Participant is not then living, the affected beneficiary), adversely impair the rights of any Participant or beneficiary under any Award before the date the amendment is adopted by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that, no amendment may (a) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (b) materially increase the aggregate number of securities which may be issued under the Plan, other than pursuant to Section 3.4, or (c) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan, unless the amendment is approved by the Company’s shareholders.
Section 6.2. Amendment to Conform to Law and Accounting Changes. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of: (i) conforming the Plan or the Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A); or (ii) avoiding an accounting treatment resulting from an accounting pronouncement or interpretation thereof issued by the SEC or by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) after the adoption of the Plan or the making of the Award affected thereby, which, in the sole discretion of the Committee, may materially and adversely affect the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. By accepting an Award under this Plan, each Participant agrees and consents to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 6.2 to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.
ARTICLE 7 — GENERAL TERMS
Section 7.1. No Implied Rights.
Section 7.2. Transferability. Except as otherwise so provided by the Committee, Stock Options under the Plan are not transferable except: (i) as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; (ii) to a trust established by the Participant, if under Code Section 671 and applicable state law, the Participant is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Stock Option while held in trust; or (iii) between spouses incident to a divorce or pursuant to a domestic relations order, provided, however, in the case of a transfer within the meaning of Section 7.2(iii), the Stock Option shall not qualify as an ISO as of the day of the transfer. The Committee shall have the discretion to permit the transfer of vested Stock Options (other than ISOs) under the Plan; provided, however, that such transfers shall be limited to Immediate Family Members of Participants, trusts and partnerships established for the primary benefit of Immediate Family Members or to charitable organizations, and; provided, further, that the transfers are not made for consideration to the Participant.
Awards of Restricted Stock shall not be transferable, except in the event of death, before the time that the Awards vest in the Participant. A Restricted Stock Unit Award is not transferable, except in the event of death, before the time that the Restricted Stock Unit Award vests in the Participant and the property in which the Restricted Stock Unit is denominated is distributed to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary.
A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
Section 7.3. Designation of Beneficiaries. A Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries under this Plan and may from time to time revoke or amend any such designation. Any designation of beneficiary under this Plan shall be controlling over any other disposition, testamentary or otherwise (unless the disposition is pursuant to a domestic relations order); provided, however, that if the Committee is in doubt as to the entitlement of any beneficiary to any Award, the Committee may determine to recognize only the legal representative of the Participant, in which case the Company, the Committee and the members thereof shall not be under any further liability to anyone.
Section 7.4. Non-Exclusivity. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board of Directors nor the submission of the Plan to the shareholders of the Company for approval (and any subsequent approval by the shareholders of the Company) shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board of Directors or the Committee to adopt other incentive arrangements as may deemed desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units and/or Stock Options and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
Section 7.5. Eligibility for Form and Time of Elections/Notification Under Code Section 83(b). Unless otherwise specified herein, each election required or permitted to be made by any Participant or other person entitled to benefits under the Plan, and any permitted modification or revocation thereof, shall be filed with the Company at such times, in such form, and subject to such restrictions and limitations, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall require. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee may, on the date of grant or at a later date, as applicable, prohibit an individual from making an election under Code Section 83(b). If the Committee has not prohibited an individual from making this election, an individual who makes this election shall notify the Committee of the election within ten (10) days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or as otherwise required by the Committee. This requirement is in addition to any filing and notification required under the regulations issued under the authority of Code Section 83(b).
Section 7.6. Evidence. Evidence required of anyone under the Plan may be by certificate, affidavit, document or other written information upon which the person is acting considers pertinent and reliable, and signed, made or presented by the proper party or parties.
Section 7.7. Tax Withholding.
Section 7.8. Action by Company or Subsidiary. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Company or any Subsidiary shall be by resolution or unanimous written consent of its board of directors, or by action of one or more members of the board of directors (including a committee of the board of directors) who are duly authorized to act for the board of directors, or (except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or applicable rules of the Exchange on which the Company lists its securities) by a duly authorized officer of the Company or Subsidiary.
Section 7.9. Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor to the Company, whether the existence of the successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business, stock, and/or assets of the Company.
Section 7.10. Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law and the Company’s governing documents, each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board of Directors, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Section 5.3, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss (including amounts paid in settlement), cost, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of his or her own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute or regulation. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s charter or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless. The foregoing right to indemnification shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, if required by applicable law, an advancement of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such persons to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.
Section 7.11. No Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise permitted by the Committee, no fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award Agreement. The Committee shall determine whether cash or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares or whether the fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated by rounding down.
Section 7.12. Governing Law. The Plan, all Awards granted hereunder, and all actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to principles of conflict of laws, except as superseded by applicable federal law. The federal and state courts located in the State of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim, action, complaint or lawsuit brought under the terms of the Plan. By accepting any Award, each Participant and any other person claiming any rights under the Plan agrees to submit himself or herself and any legal action that brought with respect to the Plan, to the sole jurisdiction of such courts for the adjudication and resolution of any such disputes.
Section 7.13. Benefits Under Other Plans. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee or as set forth in a Qualified Retirement Plan, non-qualified plan or other benefit plan, Awards to a Participant (including the grant and the receipt of benefits) under the Plan shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the Participant’s benefits under, or contributions to, any Qualified Retirement Plan, non- qualified plan and any other benefit plans maintained by the Participant’s employer. The term “Qualified Retirement Plan” means any plan of the Company or a Subsidiary that is intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a).
Section 7.14. Validity. If any provision of this Plan is determined to be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, but this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision has never been included herein.
Section 7.15. Notice. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, all written notices and all other written communications to the Company provided for in the Plan or in any Award Agreement, shall be delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid (provided that international mail shall be sent via overnight or two-day delivery), or sent by facsimile, email or prepaid overnight courier to the Company at its principal executive office. Notices, demands, claims and other communications shall be deemed given: (a) in the case of delivery by overnight service with guaranteed next day delivery, the next day or the day designated for delivery; (b) in the case of certified or registered U.S. mail, five (5) days after deposit in the U.S. mail; or (c) in the case of facsimile or email, the date upon which the transmitting party received confirmation of receipt; provided, however, that in no event shall any such communications be deemed to be given later than the date they are actually received, provided they are actually received.
If a communication is not received, it shall only be deemed received upon the showing of an original of the applicable receipt, registration or confirmation from the applicable delivery service. Communications that are to be delivered by U.S. mail or by overnight service to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the Company’s Corporate Secretary, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement.
Section 7.16. Forfeiture Events. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. These events include, but are not limited to, termination of employment for Cause, termination of the Participant’s provision of Services to the Company or any Subsidiary, violation of material Company or Subsidiary policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct of the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Section 7.17. Awards Subject to Company Policies and Restrictions.
Section 7.18. Automatic Exercise. In the sole discretion of the Committee exercised in accordance with Section 5.2(a), any Stock Options that are exercisable but unexercised as of the day immediately before the tenth anniversary of the date of grant (or other expiration date) may be automatically exercised, in accordance with procedures established for this purpose by the Committee, but only if the Exercise Price is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on that date and the automatic exercise will result in the issuance of at least one (1) whole share of Stock to the Participant after payment of the Exercise Price and any applicable tax withholding requirements. Payment of the Exercise Price of a Stock Option and any applicable tax withholding requirements with respect to Stock Options shall be made by a net settlement of the Stock Option whereby the number of shares of Stock to be issued upon exercise are reduced by a number of shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price and any applicable tax withholding.
Section 7.19. Regulatory Requirements. The grant and settlement of Awards shall be conditioned upon and subject to compliance with Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1828(k), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ARTICLE 8 — DEFINED TERMS
In addition to the other definitions contained herein, unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
“10% Shareholder” means an individual who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
“Award” means any Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit or any other right or interest relating to Stock or cash, granted to a Participant under the Plan.
“Award Agreement” means the document (in whatever medium prescribed by the Committee and whether or not a signature is required or provided by a Participant) that evidences the terms and conditions of an Award. A copy of the Award Agreement will be provided (or made available electronically) to each Participant.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the same meaning as “cause” or “for cause” (or any similar term) set forth in any employment, change in control, consulting, or other agreement for the performance of services or severance between the Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in an agreement, the term will mean (i) a material act of willful misconduct by the Participant in connection with the performance of his/her duties, including, without limitation, misappropriation of funds or property of the Company or a Subsidiary; (ii) the conviction of the Participant for, or plea of nolo contendere by the Participant to, any felony or a misdemeanor involving deceit, dishonesty, or fraud; (iii) the commission by the Participant of any misconduct, whether or not related to the Company or any of its affiliates, that has caused, or would reasonably be expected to cause, material detriment or damage to the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ reputation, business operation or relation with its employees, customers, vendors, suppliers or regulators;
(iv) continued, willful and deliberate non-performance by the Participant of his/her duties (other than by reason of the Participant’s physical or mental illness, incapacity or disability) that has continued for more than thirty (30) days following written notice providing the details of such non-performance from the Board of Directors or the board of directors of a Subsidiary, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, or his designee, as the case may be; (v) willful failure to cooperate with a bona fide internal investigation or an investigation by regulatory or law enforcement authorities, after being instructed by the Company or a Subsidiary to cooperate, or the deliberate destruction of or deliberate failure to preserve documents or other materials that the Participant should reasonably know to be relevant to such investigation, after being instructed by the Company or a Subsidiary to preserve such documents, or the willful inducement of others to fail to cooperate or to fail to produce documents or other materials; or (vi) removal or prohibition of the Participant from participating in the conduct of the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s affairs by order issued under applicable law and regulations by a federal or state banking agency having authority over the Company or a Subsidiary. The good faith determination by the Committee of whether the Participant’s Service was terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for “Cause” shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.
“Change in Control” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder, as modified from time to time.
“Covered Shares” means any shares acquired by a Participant pursuant to an Award granted under this Plan, net of taxes and transaction costs. For these purposes, “taxes and transaction costs” include, without limitation: (i) shares retained by the Company to satisfy tax withholding requirements attributable to Awards, and (ii) any taxes payable by the Participant related to Awards that are in excess of the amounts withheld in accordance with clause “(i).”
“Director” means a member of the Board of Directors or of a board of directors of a Subsidiary.
“Disability.” If the Participant is a party to a written employment agreement (or other similar written agreement) with the Company or a Subsidiary that provides a definition of “Disability” or “Disabled,” then, for purposes of this Plan, the terms “Disability” or “Disabled” will have meaning set forth in that agreement. In the absence of such a definition, “Disability” will be defined in accordance with the Bank’s long-term disability plan. In the absence of a long-term disability plan or to the extent that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, “Disability” or “Disabled” shall mean that a Participant has been determined to be disabled by the Social Security Administration. Except to the extent prohibited under Code Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee shall have discretion to determine if a Disability has occurred.
“Disinterested Board Member” means a member of the Board of Directors who: (i) is not a current Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary; (ii) is not a former employee of the Company or a Subsidiary who receives compensation for prior Services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the taxable year; (iii) has not been an officer of the Company or a Subsidiary for the past three (3) years; (iv) does not receive compensation from the Company or a Subsidiary, either directly or indirectly, for services as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director except in an amount for which disclosure would not be required pursuant to Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K in accordance with the proxy solicitation rules of the SEC, as amended or any successor provision thereto; and (v) does not possess an interest in any other transaction, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K under the proxy solicitation rules of the SEC, as amended or any successor provision thereto. The term Disinterested Board Member shall be interpreted in a manner as shall be necessary to conform to the requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the corporate governance standards imposed on compensation committees under the listing requirements imposed by any Exchange on which the Company lists or seeks to list its securities.
“Dividend Equivalent Right” means the right, associated with a Restricted Stock Unit, to receive a payment, in cash or shares of Stock, as applicable, equal to the amount of dividends paid on a share Stock, as specified in the Award Agreement.
“Employee” means any person employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, including Directors who are employed by the Company or a Subsidiary.
“Exchange” means any national securities exchange on which the Stock may from time to time be listed or traded.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder, as modified from time to time.
“Exercise Price” means the price established with respect to a Stock Option pursuant to Section 2.2.
“Fair Market Value” on any date, means: (i) if the Stock is listed on an Exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, the closing sales price on that Exchange or over such system on that date or, in the absence of reported sales on that date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported; or (ii) if the Stock is not listed on an Exchange, “Fair Market Value” shall mean a price determined by the Committee in good faith on the basis of objective criteria consistent with the requirements of Code Section 422 and applicable provisions of Code Section 409A.
“Good Reason.” A termination of employment by an Employee will be deemed a termination of employment for “Good Reason” as a result of the Participant’s resignation from the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, then “Good Reason” shall be defined in accordance with Code Section 409A, including the requirement that a Participant gives 60 days’ notice to the Company or the Subsidiary for whom the Participant is employed of the Good Reason condition and the Company or Subsidiary, as applicable, will have 30 days to cure the Good Reason condition. Any distribution of an Award subject to Code Section 409A shall be subject to the distribution timing rules of Code Section 409A, including any delay in the distribution of such Award, which rules shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.
“Immediate Family Member” means with respect to any Participant: (i) any of the Participant’s children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouses, former spouses, siblings, nieces, nephews, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law, including relationships created by adoption; (ii) any natural person sharing the Participant’s household (other than as a tenant or employee, directly or indirectly, of the Participant); (iii) a trust in which any combination of the Participant and persons described in section (i) or (ii) above own more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interests; (iv) a foundation in which any combination of the Participant and persons described in sections (i) or (ii) above control management of the assets; or (v) any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which any combination of the Participant and persons described in sections (i) or (ii) above control more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.
“Involuntary Termination” means the Termination of Service of a Participant by the Company or Subsidiary (other than termination for Cause) or termination of employment by an Employee for Good Reason.
“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2.
“Non-Qualified Option” means the right to purchase shares of Stock that is either: (i) designated as a Non-Qualified Option; (ii) granted to a Participant who is not an Employee; or (iii) granted to an Employee but does not satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.
“Performance Award” means an Award that vests in whole or in part upon the achievement of one or more specified performance measures, as determined by the Committee. The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of a Performance Award (including without limitation any applicable performance measures) need not be the same with respect to each recipient. A Performance Award shall vest, or as to Restricted Stock Units be settled, after the Committee has determined that the performance goals have been satisfied. Performance measures may be based on the performance of the Company as a whole or on any one or more Subsidiaries or business units of the Company or a Subsidiary and may be measured relative to a peer group, an index or a business plan and may be considered as absolute measures or changes in measures. The terms of an Award may provide that partial achievement of performance measures may result in partial payment or vesting of the award or that the achievement of the performance measures may be measured over more than one period or fiscal year. In establishing any performance measures, the Committee may provide for the exclusion of the effects of the certain items, including but not limited to the following: (i) extraordinary, unusual, and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss; (ii) gains or losses on the disposition of a business; (iii) dividends declared on the Company’s stock; (iv) changes in tax or accounting principles, regulations or laws; or (v) expenses incurred in connection with a merger, branch acquisition or similar transaction. Subject to the preceding sentence, if the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company or the manner in which the Company or its Subsidiaries conducts its business or other events or circumstances render current performance measures to be unsuitable, the Committee may modify the performance measures, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, performance measures relating to any Award hereunder will be modified, to the extent applicable, to reflect a change in the outstanding shares of Stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or stock split, or a corporate transaction, such as a merger of the Company into another corporation, any separation of a corporation or any partial or complete liquidation by the Company or a Subsidiary. If a Participant is promoted, demoted or transferred to a different business unit during a performance period, the Committee may determine that the selected performance measures or applicable performance period are no longer appropriate, in which case, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may: (i) adjust, change or eliminate the performance measures or change the applicable performance period; or (ii) cause to be made a cash payment to the Participant in an amount determined by the Committee
“Restricted Stock” or “Restricted Stock Award” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3(a).
“Restricted Stock Unit” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.4(a).
“Retirement” or “Retired” means, unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, retirement from employment or service on or after attainment of age 65. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Employee or Director has not had a Termination of Service as defined in this Plan, the Employee or Director shall not be deemed to have Retired for purposes of forfeiture of non-vested Awards, vesting in Awards or reducing the exercise period of Options issued hereunder.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder and modified from time to time.
“Service” means the uninterrupted provision of services as an Employee or Director of, or a Service Provider to, the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and includes service as a director emeritus or advisory director. Service will not be deemed interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company or a Subsidiary, if the Employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Subsidiary, or any successor entities, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Service Provider, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Subsidiary in any capacity of Employee, Director or Service Provider (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement).
“Service Provider” means any natural person (other than an Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or the Subsidiary and the services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
“Stock” means the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share.
“Stock Option” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2.
“Subsidiary(ies)” means any corporation, affiliate, bank or other entity which would be a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company as defined in Code Section 424(f) and, other than with respect to an ISO, also means any partnership or joint venture in which the Company and/or other Subsidiary owns more than 50% of the capital or profits interests.
“Termination of Service” means the first day occurring on or after a grant date on which the Participant ceases to be an Employee or Director (including a director emeritus or advisory director) of, or Service Provider to, the Company or any Subsidiary, regardless of the reason for such cessation, subject to the following: