SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ___)
 
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

Check the appropriate box:
x
Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
¨
Definitive Proxy Statement
¨
Definitive Additional Materials
¨
Soliciting Material pursuant to §240.14a-12

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC. 

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x
No fee required.
¨
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 
1.
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
   
N/A
     
 
2.
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
   
N/A
     
 
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):
   
N/A
     
 
4.
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
   
N/A
     
 
5.
Total fee paid:
   
N/A
¨
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: ______________________________________________________
¨
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 
1.
Amount Previously Paid:
   
N/A
     
 
2.
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
   
N/A
     
 
3.
Filing Party:
   
N/A
     
 
4.
Date Filed:
   
N/A
 


 
17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland 20832

NOTICE OF 2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 
Date:
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
     
 
Time:
3:00 p.m., EDT
     
 
Place:
Ten Oaks Ballroom
   
5000 Signal Bell Lane
   
Clarksville, MD  21029

The 2009 annual meeting of shareholders of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (Bancorp) will be held as indicated above for the purposes of considering:

 
(1)
The election of four (4) director nominees to serve as Class I directors with terms expiring at the 2012 annual meeting, in each case until their successors are duly elected and qualified; and

 
(2)
A non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of the named executive officers; and

 
(3)
The ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year 2009.

 
(4)
Such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Enclosed with this notice is a proxy card, the 2009 proxy statement and 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Only holders of record of Bancorp's common stock as of the close of business on February 25, 2009 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting, or any adjournment thereof.  Please complete the proxy card and mail it in the enclosed envelope.   You may also choose to vote your shares using the Internet, as explained on the proxy card.  If you attend the meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person.

 
By order of the board of directors,
 
   
 
Ronald E. Kuykendall
 
General Counsel & Secretary
Olney, Maryland
March 16, 2009

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 22, 2009
This proxy statement and Bancorp’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available electronically at
www.sandyspringbank.com/proxy

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES BY COMPLETING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR VOTING YOUR SHARES ELECTRONICALLY, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

 

Table of Contents

3
 
Who Can Vote
 3
 
Executing Your Right to Vote
  3
 
Costs of Proxy Solicitation
  3
 
Internet Voting
  3
 
Changing Your Vote
  3
 
Delivery of Proxy Materials
  4
     
PROPOSAL I: Election of Directors
6
   
Corporate Governance and Other Matters
6
 
Corporate Governance Policy and Code of Business Conduct
  6
 
Director Independence
  6
 
Board Committees
  6
 
Director Attendance at Meetings
8
 
Director Compensation
8
     
Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
10
   
Owners of More Than 5% of Bancorp's Common Stock
11
   
Transactions and Relationships with Management
11
   
Shareholder Proposals and Communications
11
   
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
12
   
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
13
   
 
Overall Compensation Philosophy and Guiding Principles
  13
 
Compensation Decision Process
  13
 
Role of Human Resources and Compensation Committee, Management and the Compensation
  14
 
Consultants in the Executive Compensation Process
 
 
Compensation Structure and Elements
  15
 
Factors for Determining Compensation
  18
 
Employment and Other Significant Agreements with Named Executive Officers
  19
 
Impact of Accounting and Tax on the Form of Compensation
  20
 
Impact of Restrictions on Executive Compensation for TARP Participants
  21
 
Stock Ownership Guidelines
  21
   
Human Resources and Compensation Committee Report
21
   
Executive Compensation Tables
22
   
PROPOSAL II: A Non-Binding Resolution to Approve the Compensation of the Named
Executive Officers
28
     
PROPOSAL III:  The Ratification of the Appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the
  Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Year 2009
29
   
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
29
   
29
   
Report of the Audit Committee
30

 
2

 

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT

General Information

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the board of directors of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (Bancorp) to be used at the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. EDT at Ten Oaks Ballroom, 5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville, Maryland.  The notice of annual meeting, the proxy card, and this proxy statement are being first mailed on or about March 16, 2009, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 25, 2009 (the Record Date).

Who Can Vote

You can vote if you owned shares of Bancorp common stock, par value $1.00 per share, as of the close of business on the Record Date.  Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote.  The number of common shares outstanding on the Record Date was approximately 16,xxx,xxx.  When you give Bancorp your proxy, you authorize Bancorp to vote your shares per your instructions whether or not you attend the annual meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting.

Executing Your Right to Vote

By completing and returning the enclosed proxy card in time to be voted at the annual meeting, the shares represented by it will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked on the card. Executed but unmarked proxies will be voted on all business matters as recommended by the board of directors.  Proxies marked as abstentions and proxies for shares held in the name of a bank, broker, or other nominee marked as not voted will be counted only for purposes of determining a quorum at the annual meeting.

The board of directors does not know of any other matters that are to come before the annual meeting except for incidental, procedural matters. If any other matters are properly brought before the annual meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy card will vote the shares represented by each proxy on such matters as determined by a majority of the board of directors.

Costs of Proxy Solicitation

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by Bancorp. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, Bancorp also may solicit proxies through its directors, officers, and employees. Bancorp also will request persons, firms, and corporations holding shares in their names or in the name of nominees that are beneficially owned by others to send proxy materials to and obtain proxies from those beneficial owners and will reimburse the holders for their reasonable expenses in doing so.

Internet Voting

Bancorp is pleased to offer its shareholders the convenience of voting online via the Internet.  Please check your proxy card for instructions.  Please be aware that if you vote your shares over the Internet, you may incur costs or charges from your Internet access provider for which you are responsible.

Changing Your Vote

Your presence at the annual meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy. However, you may revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise by 1) filing a written notice of revocation with Ronald E. Kuykendall, General Counsel and Secretary; or 2) delivering to Bancorp a duly executed proxy bearing a later date; or 3) attending the annual meeting and casting a ballot in person.

 
3

 

Delivery and Accessibility Proxy Materials

Bancorp plans to take advantage of the householding rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permit the delivery of one set of the proxy materials to shareholders who have the same address to achieve the benefit of reduced printing and mailing costs.  Shareholders residing at a shared address will continue to receive separate proxy cards.  If you wish to receive a separate set of materials, please write or call as specified below, and we will promptly mail them to you at no charge.  If a bank, broker or other nominee holds your shares, please contact your bank, broker or nominee directly.

The 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC, but excluding exhibits, is provided with this proxy statement and both documents are available on the Internet at www.sandyspringbank.com/proxy.  Shareholders may obtain a copy of the exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K by writing Ronald E. Kuykendall, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., 17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland 20832. Shareholders also may access a copy of the Form 10-K including exhibits on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov.

PROPOSAL I: Election of Directors

In accordance with Bancorp's articles of incorporation and bylaws, the board of directors has set the total number of directors at thirteen.  The articles of incorporation divide the directors into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. In general, the term of office of only one class of directors expires in each year, and their successors are elected for terms of three years or until their successors are elected and qualified.

At the annual meeting a total of four director-nominees are before you for election, all of whom are incumbent Bancorp directors.  With respect to the election of directors, a plurality of all the votes cast at the annual meeting will be sufficient to elect a nominee as a director.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED BELOW AS A DIRECTOR OF BANCORP.

Information as to Nominees and Incumbent Directors

The following information sets forth the names of the four nominees for election.  Each has given his or her consent to be nominated and has agreed to serve if elected. If any person nominated by the board of directors is unable to accept election, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person or persons as the present board of directors may designate.

Also provided is information on the remaining incumbent directors. Unless described otherwise, each director has held his or her current occupation for at least five years, and the ages listed are as of the Record Date.  Bancorp's Corporate Governance Policy and Bylaws require a director to retire immediately following the annual meeting following the date on which he or she attains 70 years of age.   Therefore, Directors Charles F. Mess, Sr. and Marshall H. Groom will be retiring from service at the close of the annual meeting.

All directors of Bancorp and its principal subsidiary Sandy Spring Bank (the Bank) are composed of the same persons.  Throughout this proxy statement, the singular use of "board of directors" or "board" shall be intended to refer to both boards unless otherwise indicated.

 
4

 

Incumbent Class I Directors – Nominees for Terms to Expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting:

Name and Position(s) Held
with Bancorp
 
 
Age
 
 
Principal Occupation and Employer
 
Member
of Board
Since
 
Current
Term
Expires
                 
Susan D. Goff
Director
 
63
 
Retired. Former executive of Mid-Atlantic Medical Services, Inc., a health maintenance organization.
 
1994
 
2009
                 
Robert L. Orndorff
Director
 
52
 
President of RLO Contractors, Inc., an excavating contractor in Dayton, Maryland.
 
1991
 
2009
                 
David E. Rippeon
Director
 
60
 
President and CEO of Gaithersburg Equipment Co., Frederick Equipment Co., and Howard County Equipment, tractor and equipment dealerships.
 
1997
 
2009
                 
Daniel J. Schrider
Director
  
44
  
President and CEO of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Sandy Spring Bank
  
2009
  
2009

Incumbent Class II Directors - Continuing
 
Mark E. Friis
Director
 
53
 
President and CEO and owner of Rodgers Consulting, Inc., a land planning and engineering firm in Germantown, Maryland.
 
2005
 
2011
                 
Hunter R. Hollar
Chairman
 
 
60
 
Retired.  Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Sandy Spring Bank
 
1990
 
2011
                 
Pamela A. Little
Director
 
55
 
CFO of ATS a provider of IT services to the federal government in McLean, Virginia (2007); former CFO of Athena Innovative Solutions, Inc. (2005-2007); former CFO of ZKD, Inc. (2004-2005). All of these firms are government contractors.
 
2005
 
2011
                 
Craig A. Ruppert
Director
  
55
  
President and owner of The Ruppert Companies, comprised of nursery and landscaping, business and investment management, and commercial real estate development and management businesses.
  
2002
  
2011

Incumbent Class III Directors - Continuing

Solomon Graham
Director
 
66
 
President and CEO of Quality Biological, Inc., a biotechnology firm providing reagents for medical research.
 
1994
 
2010
                 
Gilbert L. Hardesty
Director
 
68
 
Retired. Former President of Crestar Bank-Annapolis and former President of Annapolis Federal Savings Bank.
 
1997
 
2010
                 
Lewis R. Schumann
Director
  
65
  
Attorney.  Partner in Miller, Miller and Canby, Chtd in Rockville, Maryland
  
1994
  
2010

 
5

 

Corporate Governance and Other Matters

Corporate Governance Policy and Code of Business Conduct

Bancorp's business affairs and strategic direction are overseen by its board of directors.  The board remains committed to setting a tone of the highest ethical standards and performance for Bancorp's management, officers, and company as a whole.  The board believes that strong corporate governance practices are a critical element of doing business today.  To that end, the Corporate Governance Policy is reviewed periodically to ensure it reflects the best interests of Bancorp and its shareholders.

In addition, Bancorp's board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct applicable to all directors, officers, and employees of Bancorp and its subsidiaries. It sets forth the legal and ethical standards that govern the conduct of business performed by Bancorp and its subsidiaries. The Code of Business Conduct includes a Code of Ethics established pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, related SEC regulations, and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

More information about corporate governance, including the Corporate Governance Policy and the Code of Ethics, and board committee charters may be found on Bancorp's investor relations Web site maintained at www.sandyspringbank.com under Investor Relations, Corporate Governance.

Director Independence

The board of directors has affirmatively determined that all directors other than Mr. Hollar and Mr. Schrider are independent under Nasdaq's listing standards. Those independent directors are: Mark E. Friis, Susan D. Goff, Solomon Graham, Marshall H. Groom, Gilbert L. Hardesty, Pamela A. Little, Charles F. Mess, Sr., Robert L. Orndorff, David E. Rippeon, Craig A. Ruppert, and Lewis R. Schumann.

The board of directors complies with or exceeds the independence requirements for the board and board committees established by the Nasdaq stock market, federal securities and banking laws and the additional standards included in Bancorp's Corporate Governance Policy.
 
In accordance with the Corporate Governance Policy, no more than two inside directors may be on the board at any one time. All other directors must be independent. An inside director is defined as a director that is employed or was employed within the last three years as either an officer of Bancorp or the Bank and serves as a member of the board of directors. In making its determination of independence, the board of directors did not consider any transactions, relationship, or arrangements that are not included in the section of this proxy statement entitled "Transactions and Relationships with Management."

Board Committees

Bancorp's board of directors has the following standing committees: Audit, Executive and Corporate Governance, Human Resources and Compensation, and Nominating.  Each committee has a written charter which may be found on Bancorp's investor relations Web site at www.sandyspringbank.com.  The functions, composition, and number of meetings for these committees in 2008 were as follows:

Audit Committee - The Audit Committee is appointed by the board to assist in monitoring the integrity of the financial statements and of financial reporting, including the proper operation of internal and disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the independence and performance of internal and external auditors. The Audit Committee reviews the Forms 10-K and 10-Q prior to filing.  All members of the committee are independent as defined in applicable law, regulations of the SEC, Nasdaq's listing standards, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and related regulations (the FDIA). Members of the committee also meet all other applicable requirements of the SEC, FDIA, and Nasdaq's listing standards for financial, accounting or related expertise. The board of directors has determined that Pamela A. Little qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable securities regulations. During 2008, the Audit Committee held six meetings.

 
6

 

Executive and Corporate Governance Committee -  This committee conducts board business between regular monthly meetings and provides oversight and guidance to the board of directors to ensure that the structure, policies, and processes of the board and its committees facilitate the effective exercise of the board's role in the governance of Bancorp. The committee reviews and evaluates the policies and practices with respect to the size, composition, independence and functioning of the board and its committees as stated in the Corporate Governance Policy. During 2008, the Executive and Corporate Governance Committee held thirteen meetings.

Human Resources and Compensation Committee – Members of this committee are independent directors within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards. The Human Resources and Compensation Committee recommends salaries and other compensation for executive officers, considers other compensation and benefit plans and makes recommendations to the board regarding grants and awards under the 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan. During 2008, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee held six meetings.

Nominating Committee - Members of this committee are independent directors within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards. The Nominating Committee makes recommendations to the board of directors with respect to nominees for election as directors. In exercising its responsibilities, the Nominating Committee considers general, minimum criteria and particular goals and needs of Bancorp for additional competencies or characteristics.  Each director of Bancorp is expected to exhibit the highest standards in exercising his or her duty of loyalty, care and commitment to all shareholders and to protect the values and legacy of the organization.  Additionally, directors must manage themselves well in their personal deportment and display the ability to challenge the thinking of others and to influence them with constructive approaches.  Directors must be able to read and act upon complex financial statements and analyses.  Finally, directors need to be able to apply informed judgment and long-term, conceptual and systemic thinking to all decisions.  The board gathers input from all directors prior to the recruitment of a new director in order to form a collective picture of the competencies needed.  The board also values diversity and seeks to include women and members of minority groups as well as to maintain a range of thinking and personality styles.  The Nominating Committee encourages suggestions for qualified candidates to the board from the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board, other directors, and from shareholders, and is responsible for the evaluation of such suggestions. Shareholders may submit suggestions for qualified director candidates by writing to Ronald E. Kuykendall, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., 17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland 20832.  Submissions should include information regarding a candidate's background, qualifications, experience and willingness to serve as a director.  In addition, the Nominating Committee may consider candidates submitted by a third party search firm hired for the purpose of identifying director candidates.   The Nominating Committee uses the same process for evaluating all nominees, including those recommended by shareholders, using the board membership criteria described above.  Please see "Shareholder Proposals and Communications."  During 2008, the Nominating Committee held seven meetings.

2008 Board Committees

Name
 
Executive
 
Audit
 
Human Resources
 
Nominating
Mark E. Friis
     
X
     
X
Susan D. Goff
 
X
     
Chairman
   
Solomon Graham
         
X
 
Chairman
Marshall H. Groom
 
X
         
X
Gilbert L. Hardesty
 
X
         
X
Hunter R. Hollar
 
X
           
Pamela A. Little
     
Chairman
       
Charles F. Mess, Sr.
     
X
 
X
   
Robert L. Orndorff
 
Chairman
     
X
   
David E. Rippeon
     
X
 
X
   
Craig A. Ruppert
 
X
 
X
     
X
Lewis R. Schumann
  
X
  
 
  
 
  
 

 
7

 

Director Attendance at Meetings

During 2008, the board of directors held twelve regular joint meetings with attendance averaging 98%.   All incumbent directors attended well over 75% of the aggregate of (a) the total number of meetings of the board of directors and (b) the total number of meetings held by all committees on which they served.

Director Compensation

Meeting Fees – Non-employee directors of Sandy Spring Bank received an annual retainer of $11,200. The chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional retainer of $6,000 and all other committee chairmen received an additional retainer of $4,000.  Non-employee directors received $880 for attendance at each meeting of the board of directors and also $800 for attendance at each committee meeting.  Bancorp directors do not receive any additional compensation (beyond compensation received for service as Bank directors); however, non-employee directors would receive a fee of $880 for attendance at a meeting of Bancorp's board of directors not held in conjunction with a meeting of the Bank's board of directors.

Directors of the Bank are eligible to defer all or a portion of their fees under the Director Fee Deferral Plan.  The amounts deferred accrued interest at the Wall Street prime rate in 2008. Beginning in 2009, deferred compensation will accrue interest at a rate that is not considered “above market” or preferential.  Except in the case of death or financial emergency, deferred fees and accrued interest are payable only following termination of a director's service on the board.  In the event a director dies during active service, the Bank may pay benefits that exceed deferred fees and accrued interest to the extent the Bank owns an insurance policy in effect on the director’s life at the time of death that pays a greater amount than the total of deferred fees and accrued interest.

Non-Cash Compensation - Bancorp directors are also eligible to receive non-incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, and restricted stock under Bancorp's 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan. These options have a maximum term of 7 years and an exercise price that may not be less than 100% of the closing price of the common stock on the date of grant. Director options are included in the computation of share dilution.  In 2008, non-employee directors were granted options for a total of 13,860 shares at a grant price of $27.96 with a three year vesting schedule and 3,080 shares of restricted stock with a five year vesting schedule.  Under the Director Stock Purchase Plan, directors may elect to apply from 50% to 100% of their annual retainers to purchase newly issued Bancorp common stock at market value.

 
8

 

2008 Non-Employee Director Compensation

Name
 
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
(1)
   
Stock
Awards
(2)
   
Option
Awards
(3)
   
Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(4)
   
Total
 
John Chirtea(5)
  $ 6,640       -       -       -     $ 6,640  
Mark E. Friis
    34,760     $ 3,186     $ 4,617     $ 218       42,781  
Susan D. Goff
    38,480       3,186       4,617       5,853       52,136  
Solomon Graham
    32,160       3,186       4,617       4,588       44,551  
Marshall H. Groom
    39,360       1,174       1,364       -       41,898  
Gilbert L. Hardesty
    37,760       3,186       4,617       -       45,563  
Pamela A. Little
    32,560       3,186       4,617       921       41,284  
Charles F. Mess, Sr.
    30,560       3,186       4,617       781       39,144  
Robert L. Orndorff
    38,480       3,186       4,617       8,112       54,395  
David E. Rippeon
    29,680       3,186       4,617       -       37,483  
Craig A. Ruppert
    37,760       3,186       4,617       -       45,563  
Lewis R. Schumann
    29,760       3,186       4,617       7,315       44,878  
W. Drew Stabler(5)
    9,840       -       -       -       9,840  
(1)
All or a portion of the reported cash compensation may be deferred under the Director Fee Deferral Plan. Please see the description of “Director Compensation” above.
(2)
On March 26, 2008 the directors noted above were granted 280 shares of restricted stock.  The value reported represents the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with FAS 123(R) for outstanding restricted stock awards for each director.  At December 31, 2008, each non-employee director had 441 unvested shares of restricted stock with the exception of Mr. Groom who had 280 shares.
(3)
On March 26, 2008 each non-employee director received stock options for 1,260 shares. The value reported represents the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with FAS 123(R) for outstanding stock option awards for each director.  As of the Record Date directors held total outstanding options for the following number of shares:  Friis-3,299; Goff-7,721; Graham-6,959; Groom-6,420; Hardesty-12,527; Little-3,299; Mess-9,072; Orndorff-11,680; Rippeon-8,761; Ruppert-7,215; Schumann-11,314.
(4)
Amount reported is the “above-market” interest paid on deferred compensation pursuant to the Director Fee Deferral Plan described above.
(5)
Messrs. Stabler and Chirtea retired from the board on April 23, 2008.  The reported compensation reflects amounts earned or accrued from January 1, 2008 through April 23, 2008.

 
9

 

Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth information as of February 13, 2009, with respect to the shares of common stock beneficially owned by each director continuing in office and nominee for director of Bancorp, by all directors and executive officers of Bancorp as a group, and by the following executive officers of Bancorp and Bank: Hunter R. Hollar Daniel J. Schrider, Philip J. Mantua, Frank Small, R. Louis Caceres and Sara E. Watkins (Named Executive Officers for 2008). Directors qualifying shares are included in shares owned.

 
 
Name
 
Number of Shares
Owned 
(excluding options
and restricted
stock) 
(1) (2)
   
 
 
Shares of
Restricted Stock
   
Number of Shares
That May Be
Acquired Within
60 Days by
Exercising
Options
(3)
   
 
 
 
Total
   
Percentage of
Common Stock
Outstanding
(*Less than
1%)
 
Mark E. Friis
    12,658       441       2,042       15,141       *  
Susan D. Goff
    5,007       441       6,464       11,912       *  
Solomon Graham
    12,048       441       5,702       18,191       *  
Marshall H. Groom
    3,321       280       5,580       9,181       *  
Gilbert L. Hardesty
    7,301       441       11,270       19,012       *  
Hunter R. Hollar(4)
    28,525       2,000       119,168       149,693       *  
Pamela A. Little
    4,800       441       2,042       7,283       *  
Charles F. Mess, Sr.
    16,042       441       7,815       24,298       *  
Robert L. Orndorff
    153,726       441       10,423       164,590       1.0 %
David E. Rippeon
    18,503       441       7,504       26,448       *  
Craig A. Ruppert
    44,325       441       5,958       50,724       *  
Lewis R. Schumann(5)
    91,781       441       10,057       102,279       *  
Daniel J. Schrider(6)
    3,783       3,100       34,688       41,571       *  
Philip J. Mantua(7)
    5,442       1,850       25,121       32,413       *  
Frank H. Small(8)
    16,461       2,150       73,535       92,146       *  
R. Louis Caceres(9)
    3,070       1,600       32,227       36,897       *  
Sara E. Watkins(10)
    12,636       0       33,295       45,931       *  
All directors and all  executive officers as a group (21 persons)
    444,169       17,903       433,601       895,673       5.45 %
(1)
Under the rules of the SEC, an individual is considered to "beneficially own" any share of common stock which he or she, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, has or shares: (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (b) investment power, which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security.
(2)
Only whole shares appear in the table. Fractional shares that may arise from participation in the dividend reinvestment plan are not shown.
(3)
Includes stock options exercisable on the Record Date and within 60 days thereafter.
(4)
Mr. Hollar's shares include 947 shares held through employee benefit plans.  4500 stock options granted to Mr. Hollar expired on December 16, 2008.  In connection with Mr. Hollar’s retirement from employment on December 31, 2008, 1,500 shares of restricted stock and 3,833 unvested stock options were forfeited and remaining vested options will expire on March 31, 2009.
(5)
Mr. Schumann's shares include 77,484 shares held by a trust for which Mr. Schumann is trustee, but in which he has no pecuniary interest.
(6)
Mr. Schrider's shares include 2,841 shares held through employee benefit plans.
(7)
Mr. Mantua's shares include 5,042 shares held through employee benefit plans.
(8)
Mr. Small's shares include 6,111 shares held through employee benefit plans. 2250 stock options granted to Mr. Small in 1998 expired on December 16, 2008.
(9)
Mr. Caceres' shares include 2,298 shares held through employee benefit plans.
(10)
Ms. Watkin's shares include 4,481 shares held through employee benefit plans.  Ms. Watkin’s no longer worked for the Bank as of December 19, 2008, and as such 1,150 shares of restricted stock and 5,000 unvested stock options were forfeited.  Remaining vested stock options will expire on March 19, 2009.
 
 
10

 

Owners of More Than 5% of Bancorp’s Common Stock

Beneficial owners of more than 5% of the common stock are required to file certain ownership reports under the federal securities laws.  The following table shows the common stock beneficially owned by the person or entity who has filed a report reporting beneficial ownership that exceeds 5% of Bancorp’s outstanding common stock at December 31, 2008.

 
Name
 
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
   
Percentage of Shares
Outstanding
 
Barclays Global Investors, NA
400 Howard Street,
San Franscisco, CA 94105
    871,007       5.3 %
(1)
Beneficial ownership is defined by rules of the SEC, and includes shares that the person or entity has, or shares, voting or investment power over.
(2)
Calculated by Bancorp based upon shares reported as beneficially owned by the listed person or entity and shares of Bancorp common stock outstanding as of the Record Date.

Transactions and Relationships with Management

Bancorp and the Bank have had in the past, and expect to have in the future, banking transactions with directors and executive officers in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral on loans, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with other persons. In the opinion of management, these transactions do not and will not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.

Bancorp's written Code of Ethics requires that all related party transactions involving executive officers or directors, as defined in Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K, must be reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee, another independent committee of directors, or the independent directors on the board. As required by federal regulations, extensions of credit by the Bank to directors and executive officers are subject to the procedural and financial requirements of Regulation O of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which generally require advance approval of such transactions by uninterested directors. Other related party transactions as defined in Item 404 (generally, any financial transactions, arrangements, or relationships, regardless of dollar amount, other than extensions of credit and bank deposits) are reviewed by the independent directors with the affected director not present or voting.

Director Lewis R. Schumann is a partner in the Rockville, Maryland law firm of Miller, Miller and Canby, Chtd. which Bancorp and the Bank have retained during 2008 and expect to retain during the current year as legal counsel. The law firm provides legal services on matters of real estate, and trust and estate administration.

Shareholder Proposals and Communications

From time to time, individual shareholders may wish to submit proposals that they believe should be voted upon by the shareholders. The SEC has adopted regulations that govern the inclusion of such proposals in Bancorp's annual proxy materials. Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders may be eligible for inclusion in Bancorp's proxy materials for that annual meeting if received by Bancorp at its executive offices not later than November 18, 2009 unless the date of the 2010 annual meeting is more than 30 days from April 22, 2010, in which case the deadline is a reasonable time before Bancorp begins to print and mail proxy materials.  Any such proposals shall be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 
11

 

In addition, Bancorp's bylaws require that to be properly brought before an annual meeting, shareholder proposals for new business must be delivered to or mailed and received by Bancorp not less than thirty nor more than ninety days prior to the date of the meeting; provided, however, that if less than forty-five days notice of the date of the meeting is given to shareholders, such notice by a shareholder must be received not later than the fifteenth day following the date on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed to shareholders or two days before the date of the meeting, whichever is earlier. Each such notice given by a shareholder must set forth certain information specified in the bylaws concerning the shareholder and the business proposed to be brought before the meeting.

Shareholders also may nominate candidates for election as a director, provided that such nominations are made in writing and received by Bancorp at its executive offices not later than December 16, 2009. The nomination should be sent to the attention of Ronald E. Kuykendall, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., 17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland 20832, and must include, concerning the director nominee, the following information: full name, age, date of birth, educational background and business experience, including positions held for at least the preceding five years, home and office addresses and telephone numbers, and a signed representation to timely provide all information requested by Bancorp for preparation of its disclosures regarding the solicitation of proxies for election of directors. The name of each such candidate for director must be placed in nomination at the annual meeting by a shareholder present in person. The nominee must also be present in person at the annual meeting. A vote for a person who has not been duly nominated pursuant to these requirements will be deemed to be void.

Bancorp's shareholders may communicate with the board of directors or any individual director by addressing correspondence to the board or such director in care of the Secretary at Bancorp's main office by mail, courier, or facsimile or by e-mail through the Company's "contact us" feature of the investor relations area of its Web site at www.sandyspringbank.com.

The board of directors believes it is important for all directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders in order to show their support for Bancorp and to provide an opportunity for shareholders to express any concerns to them. Bancorp has adopted a policy that all directors should attend each annual meeting of shareholders unless they are unable to attend by reason of personal or family illness or pressing matters.  All directors were present at the 2008 annual meeting.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires Bancorp's executive officers and directors, and any persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of Bancorp's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4, and 5 with the SEC. Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by applicable regulations to furnish Bancorp with copies of all Forms 3, 4, and 5 they file.

Based solely on the review of the copies of such forms it has received, all of Bancorp's executive officers and directors have complied with filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during 2008, with the single exception of one late filing of a Form 4 for Charles F. Mess, Sr.

 
12

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The following discussion and analysis describes Bancorp's philosophy, processes, elements of and factors for determining compensation for the named executive officers for 2008 who were the Principal Executive Officer, Hunter R. Hollar; the Principal Financial Officer, Philip J. Mantua; and the three most highly compensated other executive officers for Bancorp and the Bank: Daniel J. Schrider, Frank H. Small, and R. Louis Caceres.  As of December 19, 2008 Executive Vice President Sara E. Watkins no longer worked for the Bank.  Ms. Watkins received compensation under the terms of her employment agreement and as such met the definition of named executive officer for 2008 only.

There were no material changes to the compensation philosophy in 2008, and this discussion is intended to assist in understanding and evaluating the information set forth in the detailed compensation disclosures beginning on page 22.

Early in 2008, Hunter R. Hollar announced his intention to retire as president and chief executive officer as of December 31, 2008.  The board undertook a comprehensive search process, and as a result, on March 26, 2008, Mr. Schrider was promoted to president with the understanding that he would become chief executive officer upon Mr. Hollar’s retirement. This leadership succession prompted a significant review of Mr. Schrider’s total compensation.

Overall Compensation Philosophy & Guiding Principles

Bancorp’s executive compensation philosophy is intended to attract, motivate, and retain top executive talent, to link executive rewards with shareholder interests, to achieve strategic business objectives, and to reward a balanced approach to short-term and long-term performance. The philosophy incorporates elements that are nonperformance-based (e.g., salary, benefits and perquisites) and performance-based (e.g., annual incentives in the form of cash and retirement contributions, and equity-based awards) to provide a “total rewards” approach.

Under this philosophy, executives are paid market competitive salaries based on experience, expertise and individual performance.   Incentive compensation in the form of an annual cash bonus, an annual contribution to a deferred compensation retirement plan, and annual equity awards are targeted to be market competitive and depend upon company performance. These compensation programs are externally benchmarked against the total compensation paid by comparably sized banks.

By following a portfolio approach to compensation and benefits, the executive is provided a measure of security as to the minimum levels of compensation he or she is eligible to receive, and also motivated to focus on the business measures that will produce a high level of performance for Bancorp.  In addition, the committee believes this approach reduces the risk of recruitment of top executive talent by competitors.

Compensation Decision Process

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors and is appointed annually by the board of directors to assist the board in managing compensation and benefit plans for the chief executive officer and other named executive officers. The committee operates under a written charter reviewed and approved by the board.  The process by which the committee makes specific decisions relating to executive compensation includes the following factors:

 
·
The compensation philosophy;
 
·
Bancorp's performance relative to peers and industry standards;
 
·
Success in attaining annual and long-term goals and objectives;
 
·
Alignment of executive interests with shareholder interests through equity-based awards vesting over a period of years;
 
·
Management of compensation expense, and emphasis on performance-based compensation;

 
13

 

 
·
Individual performance, experience, and contributions;
 
·
Succession planning;
 
·
Total compensation and the mix of compensation elements for named executive officers;
 
·
The competitiveness of executive compensation relative to Bancorp's peers and conditions in our labor markets;
 
·
The relative appropriateness of named executive officer's compensation as compared to the compensation of other peer group executive officers; and
 
·
Retention considerations.

Role of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee, Management, and the Compensation Consultants in the Executive Compensation Process

Role of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee

The basic responsibilities of the committee are to review, recommend or approve compensation policies applicable to named executive officers, including participation and performance measures; to consider the relationship of corporate performance to total compensation; to recommend salary and bonus levels and equity-based awards for executive officers for consideration by the board of directors; and to review the adequacy and effectiveness of various compensation and benefit plans and executive succession planning of Bancorp. The committee meets throughout the year (six times in 2008) and also takes action by written consent. The chairman of the committee reports committee actions or recommendations to the board of directors following each committee meeting.

The committee reviews all compensation components for the named executive officers. Compensation includes base salary, short-term incentives usually in the form of cash bonuses, long-term incentives including equity-based awards, benefit plans, and perquisites. The committee determines the appropriate mix of compensation components for each named executive officer.

The committee reviews the chief executive officer's performance and makes recommendations regarding his compensation with the advice of independent consultants (see "Role of the Compensation Consultant"). Decisions regarding compensation for the named executive officers are made by the committee with consideration given to recommendations from the chief executive officer and independent consultants. Decisions by the committee with respect to the compensation are approved by the full board of directors.

The committee has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, human resources, accounting or other experts, advisors, or consultants as it deems desirable or appropriate. In 2008, the committee retained the services of a law firm to advise the committee in its work. The committee has sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultants and to approve the fee and the terms of engagement. Details on the committee's functions are described in its charter, which has been approved by the board of directors and is available on Bancorp’s Investor Relations Web Site maintained at www.sandyspringbank.com.

Role of the Compensation Consultant

The committee is advised by independent compensation consultants and advisors.  In general, the consultants provide compensation benchmarking and analytical data and render advice to the committee regarding all aspects of the committee's compensation decisions, including the chief executive officer's performance review process. The committee has direct access to the consultants and control over their engagement. The committee was advised by two consulting firms during 2008. The firm of Furr Resources, Inc. was engaged to assist with the annual performance evaluation process for the chief executive officer. The firm of Pearl Meyer & Partners (PM&P) was engaged to conduct a review and competitive assessment of total compensation and benefits for the named executive officers, and to provide a comprehensive assessment of the competitiveness and effectiveness of the total executive compensation programs. PM&P assisted in the identification of relevant peer groups and provided other market data used by Bancorp for benchmarking and has provided advice regarding levels and components of compensation for each named executive officer.

 
14

 

Role of Management

Below is a summary of the role of Bancorp's management in assessing or recommending executive compensation:

 
·
The chief executive officer is responsible for the development of Bancorp's strategic plan and annual business plan, which are reviewed and approved by the board of directors.
 
·
The chief executive officer conducts a self-assessment, which is reviewed annually by the board of directors.
 
·
The chief executive officer presents executive performance ratings to the committee and makes recommendations relating to executive compensation, taking into consideration the advice from the external compensation consultant.
 
·
The chief executive officer in collaboration with the external consultant develops proposals relating to potential changes in executive compensation programs for review by the committee.
 
·
The compensation consultant and executive management works with the committee to identify an appropriate peer group for the purpose of market comparisons.
 
·
The chief executive officer and senior vice president of human resources provide the committee with company data necessary to evaluate and implement compensation proposals and programs.
 
·
The senior vice president of human resources works with other external consultants to provide actuarial data and other similar information related to the committee's responsibilities.

The committee regularly requests the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and the senior vice president of human resources to be present at committee meetings where compensation and Bancorp or individual performance is discussed and evaluated.  Executive management is not present during final deliberations and only committee members vote on decisions regarding executive compensation.

Each director completes a performance evaluation form, separately and anonymously, for the chief executive officer and submits it to Furr Resources, Inc. for compilation.  The Executive and Corporate Governance Committee and the Human Resources and Compensation Committee review the results, and then the Executive and Corporate Governance Committee meets with the chief executive officer to discuss his performance.  Based on the results of the evaluations and other criteria as noted herein, including the compensation consultant, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee recommends a chief executive officer compensation package to the board of directors for approval.  The Human Resources and Compensation Committee receives input from the compensation consultant regarding competitive market data for the other named executive officers and from the chief executive officer regarding the performance evaluations of other named executive officers.   Based on these inputs, the committee recommends compensation packages for the other named executive officers and these recommendations are reviewed and approved by the board of directors.

Compensation Structure and Elements

Bancorp's compensation structure for named executive officers consists of five main elements: base salary, the Sandy Spring Leadership Incentive Plan, the Executive Incentive Retirement Plan, equity-based awards, and executive benefits and perquisites. Following is a summary of the role of each component, a description of how decisions regarding the components are made and the specific decisions made in 2008 as they relate to the named executive officers.

 
15

 
Base Salary

Base salary is paid bi-weekly and reviewed annually as a critical element of executive compensation.  In determining base salaries, the committee considers the executive's qualifications and experience, scope of responsibilities, the goals and objectives established for the executive, the executive's past performance, as well as competitive salary practices at financial institutions in the peer group benchmarking (see "Pay Levels and Benchmarking").

In 2008, executive salaries were reviewed and adjustments were made ranging from 0% to 4.30% for all named executive officers other than Mr. Schrider.  Mr. Schrider’s promotion to president, as part of the leadership succession plan, resulted in a 39.5% increase to his base salary.  The following table shows the annual base salary amounts and increase percentages for the named executive officers.  These adjustments were consistent with the company’s goal of paying market competitive base salaries at the 50th percentile based on the peer group of comparably sized banks.

Name
 
Title
 
2007
 Base
Salary
   
Adjustment
(1)
   
Adjusted
Base
Salary
   
Increase
Amount
   
2008
Base
 Salary
   
Increase
%
 
H. Hollar
 
Chief Executive Officer
  $ 462,800     $ 6,500     $ 469,300     $ 18,700     $ 488,000       3.98 %
P. Mantua
 
Chief Financial Officer
    223,600     $ 6,500       230,100       9,900       240,000       4.30 %
D. Schrider
 
Chief Revenue Officer
    244,400     $ 6,500       250,900       99,100       350,000       39.50 %
F. Small
 
Chief Operating Officer
    306,000     $ 6,500       312,500       0       312,500       0.00 %
R. Caceres
 
Executive Vice President
    244,400     $ 6,500       250,900       9,100       260,000       3.63 %
S. Watkins
 
Executive Vice President
    200,500     $ 6,500       207,000       6,000       213,000       2.90 %
 
(1)
  $6,500 was added to each executive officer's base salary on January 1, 2008 to offset the discontinuance of the Executive Health Reimbursement Plan benefit.
 
Sandy Spring Leadership Incentive Plan

In 2008, each of the named executive officers participated in the Sandy Spring Leadership Incentive Plan (SSLIP), a short-term incentive plan.  This plan was designed to pay a cash award as a percentage of annual earnings based on company performance compared to pre-established performance indicators and defined award levels.  The overall program objectives included:

 
·
Align pay with performance.
 
 
·
Position total cash compensation to be competitive with market when performance meets expectations.
 
 
·
Motivate and reward employees for achieving/exceeding performance goals.
 
 
·
Enable the Bank to attract and retain the talent needed to drive success.
 
 
·
Provide clear focus on key strategic business objectives.
 
Performance measures reflect critical goals that are defined each year as part of the business planning process, and participants are paid based on company performance.  This approach supports the desire to foster a collaborative team-oriented culture.  In future years, or as appropriate, the committee may add individual performance goals to SSLIP for certain roles.  The 2008 approved performance measures and weights are: Earnings Per Share Growth 40%, Return on Average Equity 20%, Efficiency Ratio 30%, and Average Asset Growth 10%.  Specific targets and ranges of threshold to stretch performance were established for each performance measure with consideration given to internal goals developed in the business plan as well as industry trends (i.e. relative performance).
 
In order to receive a bonus, performance in any of the measures listed above must exceed the established threshold for that measure, and only those measures that exceed the threshold will contribute to the bonus calculation.  If none of the four measures achieves the threshold no bonus would be earned.
 
16

 
 
Bancorp’s performance in 2008 achieved the threshold for two of the four measures yielding a bonus for SSLIP participants.  However, due to overall results falling below plan, the committee recommended, and the chief executive officer agreed, that no bonuses for executive officers should be paid.  This recommendation was approved by the board.

Executive Incentive Retirement Plan

In 2008, the board of directors implemented an Executive Incentive Retirement Plan to replace individual Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements with the named executive officers. This plan is a defined contribution plan that provides for contributions to be made to the participants' plan accounts based on the attainment of criteria established by the board of directors on an annual basis.  The beginning balance for each participant’s plan account was the accrued balance as of December 31, 2007 under the former Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements. The board of directors adopted this plan to better align the interests of executive management with the performance of Bancorp and the interests of shareholders.

The executive’s vested account balance will be distributed to the executive following termination of employment either in a lump sum or in installments, at the election of the executive.  No payments will be made to an executive who is terminated for just cause.  Deferral bonus awards under the plan vest over a period of 15 years and automatically vest upon the executive’s death or disability or upon a change in control.

For 2008, deferral bonuses under the plan were determined based on company performance as defined by return on average equity compared to peer bank performance (see page “Pay Levels and Benchmarking” on page 6 for a discussion of the peer bank group). The board of directors established a minimum contribution of 2% of salary and a cap of 9%.  Bancorp’s 2008 performance yielded a contribution of 4%.

Equity-Based Awards

Bancorp’s compensation philosophy identifies equity-based compensation as among the most effective means of creating a long-term link between the interests of Bancorp's shareholders and the performance of the organization and executive management. The committee has increasingly weighted the compensation of named executive officers toward equity-based awards. Vesting schedules for equity-based awards support a goal of retention of key leaders.

Executives are eligible to receive annual equity awards in the form of stock options, restricted stock, and stock appreciation rights under Bancorp's 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan. The value of equity awards granted is based on competitive market practice, company performance, and individual performance. The committee recommends, in its discretion, the form, number, and terms of equity-based awards, and the Stock Option Committee, made up of all non-employee directors, approves the awards.   Grants made in 2008 are detailed in the Grants of Plan Based Awards table on page 25.

Benefits and Perquisites

The purpose of executive benefits and perquisites is to provide economic value to attract, retain, and motivate key executives. Bancorp's policy on executive benefits has been to provide benefits consistent with market practice. The committee believes that perquisites should be limited in scope and value and periodically reviews perquisites to ensure alignment with our desired philosophy.

Currently, the named executive officers are eligible to participate in benefit plans available to all employees including the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. Cash and Deferred Profit Plan (401(k) Plan) and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Other benefits and perquisites may be provided at the discretion of the committee. In 2008, perquisites for the named executive officers included payment of a supplemental long-term disability, and a long-term care insurance policy.  In addition, Mr. Hollar received a company-paid automobile and was reimbursed for his health club dues.  Mr. Schrider received a monthly car allowance upon his promotion to president.

 
17

 

Factors for Determining Compensation

Bancorp Goal Setting for Compensation Purposes

On an annual basis, the board of directors approves the annual profit plan including a detailed business plan and financial plan.  These goals are designed to support the multi-year strategic plan by setting annual targets for achievement. The committee uses this information to set goals for the chief executive officer against which to measure individual performance. In addition, Bancorp’s goals along with competitive information assist in determining the incentive award targets for the named executive officers.

The chief executive officer and chief financial officer report on the performance of Bancorp to the board of directors at each regularly scheduled meeting.  The committee received quarterly reports on Bank performance relative to plan and anticipated incentive payouts.  At the end of the year, the chief executive officer reviews the actual performance compared to the profit plan and specific incentive targets. This information is used in assessing individual performance of executive officers.

Pay Levels and Benchmarking

Pay levels for executives are determined using a number of factors, including the individual's role and job responsibilities; the individual's experience and expertise; the pay levels of internal peers; pay levels in the competitive market for similar positions; performance and contribution of the individual; and performance of Bancorp as a whole.  Each of these factors are analyzed as part of the compensation review process, with an emphasis placed on market and competitive information.

The committee assesses competitive market compensation using a number of data sources in order to gauge industry practices of other banking organizations including information publicly disclosed by a selected peer group of publicly traded banking organizations.   Upon considering the benefits of a unified peer group reporting for both financial performance benchmarking and executive compensation, the chief executive officer recommended that a single peer bank group be created for both purposes. 

The peer group for 2008 was compiled by the independent compensation consultant and approved by the committee. It includes banking organizations of similar asset size in the region (two factors that influence executive compensation in financial institutions). The peer group is reviewed and updated annually for appropriateness and compatibility.  The committee believes a group of approximately 20 comparative banks within the contiguous states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey and North Carolina as well as Maryland provides a market perspective for executive compensation.

The specific elements of compensation reviewed as part of this comparable company analysis include base salaries, annual performance bonuses, and long-term incentives relative to the peer group.  Matches to proxy compensation data are made based on the role of the executive, rather than rank to ensure a better comparison. The following group of 21 peer banking institutions was used by Bancorp for 2008.  As of December 31, 2007, these banks were between $2 and $7 billion in total assets, with an average asset size of approximately $3.6 billon, consistent with Bancorp's asset size.

Park National Corporation, OH
Provident Bankshares Corp, MD
F.N.B. Corporation, PA
National Penn Bancshares, Inc., PA
First Commonwealth Financial, PA
First Charter Corporation, NC (1)
Wesbanco, Inc., WV
Harleysville National Corp., PA
S&T Bancorp, Inc., PA
First Financial Bancorp, OH
Sun Bancorp, Inc., NJ
Carter Bank & Trust, VA
Lakeland Bancorp, Inc., NJ
TowneBank, VA
City Holding Company, WV
Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc, VA
First Bancorp, NC
Union Bankshares Corp., VA
First Community Bancshares, Inc., VA
NewBridge Bancorp, NC
Pennsylvania Commerce Bancorp, PA
(1) First Charter Corporation was acquired on June 6, 2008.

 
18

 
 
The committee generally intends that the base salary for each executive will be competitive, and that above-target performance by Bancorp will be rewarded by above-market incentive awards for the individual. The board is willing to make awards commensurate with the achievement of high performance goals and objectives.  These performance goals are created as part of a robust strategic planning and business review process.  Once the business and financial plans are approved by the board of directors, the performance goals for the short-term incentive plans are derived directly from the stated target financial results.

Committee Discretion and Final Compensation Decisions

The committee retains the discretion to decrease all forms of incentive payouts based on significant individual or Bancorp performance shortfalls. Likewise, the committee retains the discretion to increase awards or consider special awards for significant performance, or due to subjective factors described above. The committee believes that the compensation package for each of the named executive officers is reasonable and appropriately within the range of the peer data given Bancorp and individual performance.

Employment and Other Significant Agreements with Named Executive Officers

Employment Agreements

Each of the named executive officers, other than Mr. Hollar, has an employment agreement with Bancorp and the Bank. These employment agreements have an initial term of three years for Mr. Schrider and two years for the other named executive officers.  Mr. Hollar’s employment agreement terminated at the time of his retirement on December 31, 2008.  Mr. Schrider’s agreement provides that it may be extended for an additional year at each anniversary so that the remaining term again becomes three years.  The employment agreements with the other named executive officers are automatically renewed for an additional one year upon each anniversary unless written notice not to renew has been given by the executive or Bancorp. The employment agreements address matters such as the executive’s salary and participation in incentive compensation and benefit plans.

In 2008, as part of the continuing evaluation of its executive compensation practices, the board of directors determined to reduce the number of executive officers with whom Bancorp has employment contracts. On October 15, 2008, Bancorp gave notice to all of the executive officers with employment contracts, other than Mr. Schrider and Mr. Mantua, that their employment contracts would not automatically renew at the end of their respective terms.

The committee anticipates that as the employment agreements with the named executive officers expire, Bancorp will enter into a change-in-control severance agreement with each of the officers.  The change-in-control agreements, which will provide a severance benefit similar to what is currently provided under the executive’s employment agreement, are intended to encourage the executive to continue to perform his or her duties in the event of a pending or potential change in control.

Upon termination of Mr. Schrider without just cause by Bancorp, or with good reason by Mr. Schrider, Mr. Schrider is entitled to receive his salary for the remaining term of the agreement.  Upon termination of the other named executive officers without just cause by Bancorp, or with good reason by the executive, the executive is entitled to salary and bonuses for the remaining term of the agreement, payable in a lump sum based upon prior year's compensation levels.

Each executive is prohibited from conflicts of interest, and is required to maintain the confidentiality of nonpublic information regarding Bancorp and its clients. Each executive is also bound by a covenant not to compete and not to interfere with other employees following termination of employment.  The post-termination restrictions do not apply if the there is a change in control and, in the case of the executive officers other than Mr. Schrider, if the executive's employment is terminated without just cause by Bancorp or with good reason by the executive.

 
19

 

In the event of a voluntary resignation, the executive officer will receive only the compensation, vested rights, and employee benefits up to the date of termination. In the event of retirement, the executive officer would receive no additional compensation under the agreement.

The agreements provide for additional benefits in the event of a change in control of Bancorp or the Bank and either a termination of the officer's employment without just cause or a resignation by the officer with good reason, as defined in the agreements. In those circumstances, Mr. Schrider would be entitled to a lump-sum payment equal to three times his average taxable income for the five calendar years preceding the year in which the change in control occurs.  The other executive officers would be entitled to a lump sum cash payment equal to 2.99 times the sum of the executive's annual salary at the highest rate in effect during the preceding twelve months and other compensation for the preceding calendar year. Each executive also would be entitled to continued participation for a three-year period in Bancorp-sponsored health and welfare plans. The agreements require Bancorp and the Bank to hold the executive harmless from the federal excise tax assessable if payments and benefits exceed the amount allowable as a deduction under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.

The agreements also provide that Bancorp will not make any golden parachute payment to the executive in any period during which the executive is a senior executive officer and the U.S. Department of the Treasury holds an equity or debt position acquired from Bancorp in the Troubled Assets Relief Program Capital Purchase Program.  A golden parachute payment is defined under applicable Treasury rules as payments made on account of severance from employment to the extent that the aggregate present value of such payments exceeds three times the executive’s average taxable income over the five calendar years prior to the year in which the termination from employment occurs.  If any payment due to the executive would exceed the golden parachute limitations, the payment would be reduced by the amount that is necessary so that the payment does not exceed the golden parachute limitation.

Change-in-Control Benefit Triggers

The right to change-in-control benefits under the employment agreements and change-in-control agreements is dependent up on a "double trigger," that is, there must be both a change in control and a termination of employment without just cause or with good reason. However, the employment agreements allow each executive officer to terminate "with good reason" for any reason within the sixty-day period that begins six months after the closing date of a definite agreement that results in the change in control. The committee believes these trigger provisions are reasonable and in the best interests of shareholders and should help (a) to retain executives useful for the transition of a change in control for at least six months after the closing; (b) to reduce potential disincentives for executives in the period in which a change in control is being evaluated and negotiated; and (c) to avoid the potential double payment of executives who continue their employment after a change in control that could result from a single change-in-control trigger.

Impact of Accounting and Tax on the Form of Compensation

The committee and Bancorp consider the accounting and tax (individual and corporate) consequences of the compensation plans prior to making any changes to the plans.

The committee has considered the impact of the Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (R), "Share-Based Payment," which Bancorp adopted on January 1, 2006, on Bancorp's use of equity-based awards. This consideration factored heavily in our decision to use a mix of restricted stock and stock options beginning in 2006.

The committee also considers the limits on deductibility of compensation imposed by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) with respect to annual compensation exceeding $1 million, or $500,000 with respect to senior executive officers during the period that the U.S. Treasury Department holds an equity or debt position in Bancorp pursuant to the TARP-Capital Purchase Program, and Section 280(g) of the Code with respect to change-in-control payments exceeding specified limits.

 
20

 

 Impact of Restrictions on Executive Compensation for TARP Participants

The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requires the Department of the Treasury to establish additional standards for executive compensation for participants in the TARP Capital Purchase Program, such as Bancorp.  These standards must include a prohibition on making any severance payment to a named executive officer or any of the next five most highly compensated employees and a prohibition on paying or accruing any bonus, retention award or incentive compensation to, in the case of Bancorp, at least the five most highly compensated employees, other than certain restricted stock awards.  These new compensation standards may require Bancorp to make significant adjustments to the manner in which it compensates the named executive officers during the period in which the preferred stock issued to the Treasury Department remains outstanding.  Because the specific requirements of these executive compensation standards will depend on the regulations to be issued by the Treasury Department, the committee has not made any determination about which elements of compensation for named executive officers will be changed for 2009 or how they will be changed.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

Bancorp does not currently have a formal stock ownership requirement for executives, but all of the current executive officers own Bancorp common stock. We encourage stock ownership by executives on a voluntary basis. Bancorp retains the discretion to implement a minimum ownership requirement of mandatory holding period for shares received under our equity compensation plan.

Human Resources and Compensation Committee Report

We have reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on this review and discussion, we have recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and in Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee certifies that it has reviewed with senior risk officers the incentive compensation arrangements with senior executive officers (as defined in subsection 111(b)(3) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and 31 C.F.R. § 30.2) and has made reasonable efforts to ensure that such arrangements do not encourage senior executive officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of Bancorp.

February 19, 2009
Susan D. Goff, Chairman
Solomon Graham
Charles F. Mess, Sr.
Robert L. Orndorff
David E. Rippeon

 
21

 

Executive Compensation

Summary of Compensation Table

The following table summarizes compensation earned by or awarded to Bancorp's named Executive Officers for 2008.
 
Name and Principal
Position
 
Year
   
Salary
   
Stock
Awards
(1)
   
Option
Awards
(2)
   
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
(3)
   
Change in
Pension
Value &
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(4)
   
All Other
Compensation
(5)
   
Total
 
Hunter R. Hollar
Chief Executive Officer
   
2008
2007
2006
    $
483,685
458,008
437,677
    $
27,088
18,700
-
    $
29,900
84,425
54,525
   
$
 
$
165,658
-
200,302
    $
94,434
270,078
403,036
    $
59,221
28,334
26,894
    $
859,985
859,545
1,067,909
 
Philip J. Mantua
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
   
2008
2007
2006
    $
237,335
221,285
206,446
    $
12,723
7,480
-
    $
21,930
32,810
17,693
     
28,846
-
52,739
    $
20,410
107,030
79,196
    $
11,364
8,910
8,793
    $
332,608
377,515
347,174
 
Daniel J. Schrider
President & Chief Revenue Officer
   
2008
2007
2006
    $
269,324
241,869
229,892
    $
17,965
7,480
-
    $
26,967
32,810
17,693
     
25,992
-
77,639
    $
31,856
27,731
51,382
    $
24,814
12,565
9,478
    $
396,917
322,455
368,391
 
Frank H. Small
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
   
2008
2007
2006
    $
312,500
304,385
298,892
    $
16,463
11,220
-
    $
27,977
54,018
32,854
     
119,482
-
112,033
    $
78,925
163,972
413,724
    $
20,555
16,018
17,991
    $
575,902
549,613
842,640
 
R. Louis Caceres
Executive Vice President
   
2008
2007
2006
    $
257,900
241,869
229,892
    $
11,674
7,480
-
    $
21,042
32,810
17,693
     
25,070
-
77,639
    $
25,143
82,705
59,827
    $
15,831
11,899
10,516
    $
356,660
376,763
377,874
 
Sara E. Watkins
Executive Vice President
 
2008
    $ 209,635     $ 11,045     $ 13,810       4,767     $ 75,844     $ 279,540     $ 594,640  

 (1)
Represents the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with FAS 123(R) for outstanding restricted stock awards.
(2)
Represents the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with FAS 123(R) for outstanding stock option awards. See the discussion of the assumptions used for these values in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Bancorp's 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(3)
Represents incentive payments earned in 2008 as well as interest paid in 2008 under the Executive Incentive Retirement Plan (EIRP) as described on page 17 and quantified in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table on page 27.  There were no bonuses paid to the named executive officers for 2008 under the Sandy Spring Leadership Incentive Plan (SSLIP).
(4)
This represents the change in value with respect to Bancorp's Pension Plan.  See the table of Pension Benefits on page 26.  The actuarial method for calculating the change in the pension value changed as of January 1, 2008 and resulted in a greater increase than in past years.  For Mr. Hollar and Ms. Watkins this amount also includes the total earnings on the nonqualified deferred compensation plan as further described on page 27.
(5)
This column consists of the value of perquisites and personal benefits for the named executive officers including educational benefits, supplemental long term care and disability insurance, 401(k) matching funds, and life insurance benefits.  In addition to automobile usage, Mr. Hollar also received his bank-owned car as a retirement gift valued at $27,225.  Mr. Schrider received a car allowance beginning in March 2008.  Ms. Watkins received $263,250 in compensation under the terms of her employment agreement upon separation from the Bank.

 
22

 
 
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

This table shows outstanding equity awards to the named executive officers at December 31, 2008.
 
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
Name
 
Grant Date
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
(1)
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable 
 
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
 
Option
Expiration
Date
 
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
 (#)
 
Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not
Vested
 ($)(2)
 
   
12/15/1999
 
10,520
 
-
 
17.21
 
3/31/2009
 
-
 
-
 
Hunter R. Hollar
 
12/13/2000
 
7,481
 
-
 
14.54
 
3/31/2009
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/21/2001
 
18,400
 
-
 
32.25
 
3/31/2009
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/11/2002
 
17,000
 
-
 
31.25
 
3/31/2009
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/17/2003
 
16,950
 
-
 
38.91
 
3/31/2009
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/15/2004
 
18,650
 
-
 
38.00
 
3/31/2009
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/14/2005
 
22,500
 
-
 
38.13
 
3/31/2009
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/13/2006
 
7,667
 
(3)         -
 
37.40
 
3/31/2009
 
(3)              -
 
-
 
   
3/26/2008
                 
(4) 2,000
 
$43,660
 
                               
   
12/15/1999
 
175
 
-
 
17.21
 
12/15/2009
 
-
 
-
 
Philip J. Mantua
 
12/13/2000
 
1,800
 
-
 
14.54
 
12/13/2010
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/21/2001
 
1,500
 
-
 
32.25
 
12/21/2011
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/11/2002
 
1,750
 
-
 
31.25
 
12/11/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/17/2003
 
2,200
 
-
 
38.91
 
12/17/2013
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/15/2004
 
6,050
 
-
 
38.00
 
12/15/2014
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/14/2005
 
6,395
 
-
 
38.13
 
12/14/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/13/2006
 
3,334
 
(5) 1,666
 
37.40
 
12/13/2013
 
(6)    600
 
13,098
 
   
3/26/2008
 
-
 
(7) 5,750
 
27.96
 
03/26/2015
 
(8) 1,250
 
27,288
 
                               
   
12/15/1999
 
800
 
-
 
17.21
 
12/15/2009
 
-
 
-
 
Daniel J. Schrider
 
12/13/2000
 
2,499
 
-
 
14.54
 
12/13/2010
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/21/2001
 
2,000
 
-
 
32.25
 
12/21/2011
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/11/2002
 
4,700
 
-
 
31.25
 
12/11/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/17/2003
 
5,000
 
-
 
38.91
 
12/17/2013
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/15/2004
 
6,625
 
-
 
38.00
 
12/15/2014
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/14/2005
 
6,395
 
-
 
38.13
 
12/14/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/13/2006
 
3,334
 
(5)    1,666
 
37.40
 
12/13/2013
 
(6)    600
 
13,098
 
   
3/26/2008
 
-
 
(7) 10,000
 
27.96
 
03/26/2015
 
(8) 2,500
 
54,575
 
                               
   
12/15/1999
 
6,750
 
-
 
17.21
 
12/15/2009
 
-
 
-
 
Frank H. Small
 
12/13/2000
 
12,001
 
-
 
14.54
 
12/13/2010
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/21/2001
 
6,400
 
-
 
32.25
 
12/21/2011
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/11/2002
 
8,350
 
-
 
31.25
 
12/11/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/17/2003
 
10,325
 
-
 
38.91
 
12/17/2013
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/15/2004
 
11,250
 
-
 
38.00
 
12/15/2014
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/14/2005
 
11,875
 
-
 
38.13
 
12/14/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/13/2006
 
4,667
 
(5) 2,333
 
37.40
 
12/13/2013
 
(6)    900
 
19,647
 
   
3/26/2008
 
-
 
(7) 5,750
 
27.96
 
03/26/2015
 
(8) 1,250
 
27,288
 
                               
   
12/15/1999
 
2,081
 
-
 
17.21
 
12/15/2009
 
-
 
-
 
R. Louis Caceres
 
12/21/2001
 
3,000
 
-
 
32.25
 
12/21/2011
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/11/2002
 
4,700
 
-
 
31.25
 
12/11/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/17/2003
 
5,000
 
-
 
38.91
 
12/17/2013
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/15/2004
 
6,050
 
-
 
38.00
 
12/15/2014
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/14/2005
 
6,395
 
-
 
38.13
 
12/14/2012
 
-
 
-
 
   
12/13/2006
 
3,334
 
(5) 1,666
 
37.40
 
12/13/2013
 
(6)    600
 
13,098
 
 
  
3/26/2008
  
-
  
(7) 5,000
  
27.96
  
03/26/2015
  
(8) 1,000
  
21,830
 
                               
Sara E. Watkins
 
12/15/1999
 
2400
 
-
 
17.21
 
3/19/2009
         
   
12/13/2000
 
3750
 
-
 
14.54
 
3/19/2009
         
   
12/21/2001
 
3000
 
-
 
32.25
 
3/19/2009
         
   
12/11/2002
 
4700
 
-
 
31.25
 
3/19/2009
         
   
12/17/2003
 
5000
 
-
 
38.91
 
3/19/2009
         
   
12/15/2004
 
6050
 
-
 
38.00
 
3/19/2009
         
   
12/14/2005
 
6395
 
-
 
38.13
 
3/19/2009
         
   
12/13/2006
 
2000
 
-
 
37.40
 
3/19/2009
 
-
 
-
 
 
  
3/26/2008
  
-
  
(9) -
  
27.96
  
-
  
(9) -
  
-
 
 
 (1)
All outstanding equity awards were issued under Bancorp’s 1999 Stock Option Plan or Bancorp’s 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan.
(2)
Aggregate market values are based upon the closing price of $21.83 on December 31, 2008.
(3)
Mr. Hollar forfeited 3,833 unvested options and 1,500 unvested shares of restricted stock upon his retirement on December 31, 2008.
(4)
Shares granted on March 26, 2008 for Mr. Hollar will vest over three years in equal amounts on the anniversary of the grant.
(5)
Remaining unexercisable options granted on December 13, 2006 will vest on December 13, 2009.
(6)
Remaining shares granted on December 13, 2006 will vest in equal amounts on each anniversary up to and including December 13, 2011.
(7)
Options granted on March 26, 2008 will vest over three years in equal amounts on the anniversary of the grant.
(8)
Shares granted on March 26, 2008 will vest over five years in equal amounts on the anniversary of the grant.
(9)
Ms. Watkins forfeited a total of 5,000 unvested stock options, and 1,150 shares of restricted stock as of December 19, 2008.

 
23

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table sets forth for the named executive officers information on the estimated potential awards that were possible for 2008 upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the non-equity incentive plans described under “Sandy Spring Leadership Incentive Plan” (SSLIP) on page 16 and “Executive Incentive Retirement Plan” (EIRP) on page 17 as well as restricted stock awards (RSA) and grants of stock options (OPT) made in 2008 under the 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan.

Name
   
Grant Date
   
Estimated possible payouts under
non-equity incentive plan awards
   
All other
stock
awards:
Number
of shares
of stock
(#)
   
All other
option
awards:
Number of
securities
underlying
options
(#)
   
Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/share)
   
Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($)(2)
 
           
Threshold(1)
   
Target
   
Maximum
                         
Hunter R. Hollar
SSLIP
 
n/a
    $ 109,800     $ 219,600     $ 329,400                          
 
EIRP
 
n/a
      9,760       24,400       43,920                          
 
RSA
 
3/26/2008
                              2,000                 $ 55,920  
Philip J. Mantua
SSLIP
 
n/a
      36,000       72,000       108,000                              
 
EIRP
 
n/a
      4,800       12,000       21,600                              
 
RSA
 
3/26/2008
                              1,250                 $ 34,950  
 
OPT
 
3/26/2008
                                      5,750     $ 27.96       27,255  
Daniel J. Schrider
SSLIP
 
n/a
      61,250       122,500       183,750                                  
 
EIRP
 
n/a
      7,000       17,500       31,500                                  
 
RSA
 
3/26/2008
                              2,500                     $ 69,900  
 
OPT
 
3/26/2008
                                      10,000     $ 27.96       47,400  
Frank H. Small
SSLIP
 
n/a
      46,875       93,750       140,625                                  
 
EIRP
 
n/a
      6,250       15,625       28,125                                  
 
RSA
 
3/26/2008
                              1,250                     $ 34,950  
 
OPT
 
3/26/2008
                                      5,750     $ 27.96       27,255  
R. Louis Caceres
SSLIP
 
n/a
      32,500       65,000       97,500                                  
 
EIRP
 
n/a
      5,200       13,000       23,400                                  
 
RSA
 
3/26/2008
                              1,000                     $ 27,960  
 
OPT
 
3/26/2008
                                      5,000     $ 27.96       23,700  
Sara E. Watkins(3)
SSLIP
 
n/a
      0       0       0                                  
 
EIRP
 
n/a
      0       0       0                                  
 
RSA
 
3/26/2008
                              850                     $ 23,766  
 
OPT
 
3/26/2008
                                      4,000     $ 27.96       18,960  

 (1)
The amount listed for the threshold for the SSLIP assumes that all performance measures achieve the threshold level established under the plan.
(2)
The grant date fair value of each equity award is computed in accordance with FAS 123R using a binomial valuation model.
(3)
Ms. Watkins was not eligible to receive a benefit under SSLIP or EIRP as she was not employed on December, 31, 2008.

 
24

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table shows exercises of stock options by the named executive officers during 2008 and the value realized by them upon exercise.

   
Option Awards
   
Stock Awards
 
Name
 
Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise 
(#)
   
Value Realized Upon
Exercise(1) 
($)
   
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
   
Value Realized Upon
Vesting(2)
($)
 
Hunter R. Hollar
    -       -       500     $ 9,750  
Philip J. Mantua
    -       -       200       3,900  
Daniel J. Schrider
    -       -       200       3,900  
Frank H. Small
    -       -       300       5,850  
R. Louis Caceres
    -       -       200       3,900  
Sara E. Watkins
    1,500     $ 14,040       100       1,950  
 
(1)
The value realized upon exercise is determined by multiplying the number of shares acquired by the difference between market value per share of Bancorp common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price per share.
(2)
The value realized upon vesting is equal to the closing market price of Bancorp common stock on the date of vesting multiplied by the number of shares acquired.
 
Pension Benefits

The following table shows the present value of the accumulated benefit under the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. Retirement Income Plan (Pension Plan) for each named executive officer.

Name
 
Plan Name
 
Years of Credited Service
   
Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit
(1)
 
Hunter R. Hollar
 
Pension Plan
    17     $ 327,073  
Philip J. Mantua
 
Pension Plan
    9       62,990  
Daniel J. Schrider
 
Pension Plan
    19       87,279  
Frank H. Small
 
Pension Plan
    17       363,181  
R. Louis Caceres
 
Pension Plan
    9       72,783  
Sara E. Watkins
 
Pension Plan
    34       309,236  

(1)
This plan and related valuation methods and assumptions are included in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.