FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS LEGEND
The Bank has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 (File no. 333-166225) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") which includes a prospectus for the offer and sale of securities of a potential bank holding company (the “Holding Company”) to shareholders of the Bank in connection with a proposed reorganization of the Bank to a bank holding company structure (the "proposed transaction"), as well as a proxy statement of the Bank for the solicitation of proxies from the Bank's shareholders for use at the Bank's 2011 annual meeting. The combined prospectus and proxy statement, together with other documents filed by the Holding Company with the SEC, will contain important information about the Bank, the Holding Company and the proposed transaction. We urge investors and Bank shareholders to read carefully the combined prospectus and proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC, including any amendments or supplements also filed with the SEC. Bank shareholders in particular should read the combined prospectus and proxy statement carefully before making a decision concerning the proposed transaction. Investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of the combined prospectus and proxy statement at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the combined prospectus and proxy statement can also be obtained free of charge by directing a request to Customers Bank, Investor Relations, 1015 Penn Ave. Suite 103, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania 19610, or calling (484) 923-2171.
The Bank, the Holding Company and certain of their directors and executive officers may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information concerning the interests of directors and executive officers is set forth in the combined prospectus and proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation, or sale is unlawful before registration or qualification of the securities under the securities laws of the jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus satisfying the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Safe Harbor” Statement
In addition to historical information, this information may contain “forward-looking statements” which are made in good faith by the Bank, pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Bank’s strategies, goals, beliefs, expectations, estimates, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business. Statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “pro forma,” “looking forward,” “would,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” or similar expressions generally indicate a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which, in whole or in part, are beyond the Bank’s control). Numerous competitive, economic, regulatory, legal and technological factors, among others, could cause the Bank’s financial performance to differ materially from the goals, plans, objectives, intentions and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Bank cautions that the foregoing factors are not exclusive, and neither such factors nor any such forward-looking statement takes into account the impact that any future acquisition may have on the Bank and any such forward-looking statement. The Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Bank.
PROXY STATEMENT
Customers Bank
99 Bridge Street
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460
INFORMATION REGARDING THE ANNUAL MEETING
This proxy statement is being furnished to shareholders of Customers Bank in connection with the solicitation of your proxy to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on September 6, 2011. At the meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote to elect three Class A directors of Customers Bank to serve a three-year term, to approve and ratify the Customers Bank Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan, and to ratify the appointment of ParenteBeard LLC as the independent registered public accounting firm of Customers Bank for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. A form of proxy card is enclosed separately.
COMMONLY USED TERMS
For purposes of this proxy statement, any references to the “Bank,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Customers Bank.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Why am I receiving these proxy materials?
The Bank is sending you this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card because the board of directors of the Bank is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting. You are invited to attend the meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to attend the meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign, and return the accompanying proxy card.
The Bank has mailed this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card to all shareholders of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Who is entitled to vote at the meeting?
To be able to vote, you must have been a beneficial owner or record holder of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock on August 3, 2011, the Record Date on which we determined shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting (the “Record Date”).
Shareholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If, at the close of business on the Record Date, your shares of Voting Common Stock were registered directly in your name, then you are a shareholder of record. As a shareholder of record you may vote in person at the meeting or by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to complete and return the accompanying proxy card to ensure your vote is counted.
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank, or Other Agent. If, at the close of business on the Record Date, your shares were not issued directly in your name, but rather were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, or by another agent, you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker, bank, or other agent. The broker, bank, or other agent holding your shares in that account is considered to be the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the meeting.
As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, or other agent on how to vote the shares of Voting Common Stock in your account. You are also invited to attend the meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy issued in your name from your broker, bank or other agent.
What am I being asked to vote on?
There are three matters scheduled for a vote at the meeting:
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To elect three Class A directors of the Bank to serve a three-year term;
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To approve and ratify the Customers Bank Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan; and
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To ratify the appointment of ParenteBeard LLC as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Bank for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
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The Bank’s board of directors recommends a vote “FOR” the Board of Director’s nominees identified in this proxy statement and “FOR” Proposals 2 and 3 above.
How many votes do I have?
Each holder of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share held.
What is a quorum?
For a proposal to be considered at the meeting, a quorum must be present. The presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes which all shareholders are entitled to cast on the particular matter will constitute a quorum for purposes of considering such matter. The shareholders present, in person or by proxy, at a duly organized meeting can continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum.
Abstentions and “broker non-votes” (that is, shares held by a broker or nominee that are represented at the meeting, but with respect to which such broker or nominee is not instructed to vote on a particular proposal and does not have discretionary voting power) will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.
Your shares will be counted toward the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank, or other agent) or if you are present at the meeting. If there is no quorum, the chairperson of the meeting, or a majority of the votes present at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to another date.
At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present in person or by proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting if a quorum had been present. If the meeting is twice adjourned for lack of a quorum, those present at the second of the adjourned meetings will constitute a quorum for the election of directors without regard to the other quorum requirements of the Bank’s articles, bylaws, or applicable law.
What vote is required?
For Proposal 1, if a quorum is present, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. See “What is cumulative voting and when does it occur?” at page 4 of this proxy statement for more information about cumulative voting. “Withheld” votes and broker non-votes will not count in determining the number of votes required to elect a director, and they will not count in favor of or against a director’s election. Beneficial owners should note that Brokers may no longer vote your shares on the election of directors in the absence of your specific instructions as to how to vote. So we encourage you to provide instructions to your broker regarding the voting of your shares.
For Proposals 2 and 3, if a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock having voting powers, present, in person or by proxy, is required to approve such proposals. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not deemed to constitute “votes cast” and, therefore, do not count either for or against approval of a given proposal.
How do I vote?
For any matter to be voted on except the election of directors, you may vote “FOR” or “Against” or abstain from voting. For the election of directors, you may vote “FOR” or “Against” all director nominees or you may withhold authority to vote for one or more directors nominees. To withhold authority, or if you desire to cumulate your vote, follow the instructions on your proxy card. The procedures for voting are as follows.
Shareholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting. Alternatively, you may vote by proxy by using the accompanying proxy card. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the meeting and vote in person if you have already voted by proxy. In such case, notify the Corporate Secretary before the meeting begins of your presence at the meeting and your intention to revoke your previously voted proxy.
To vote in person, come to the meeting and we will give you a ballot when you arrive.
To vote by proxy, simply complete, sign, and date the accompanying proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us before the meeting, we will vote your shares as you direct unless you revoke your proxy.
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker, Bank, or Other Agent. If your shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock are held in “street name,” that is, your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, in lieu of a proxy card you should receive a voting instruction form from that institution by mail. Complete and mail the voting instruction card as instructed to ensure that your vote is counted.
If your shares are held in street name and you wish to vote in person at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from the record holder (that is, your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee) and bring it with you to the meeting. We recommend that you vote your shares in advance as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting.
What is cumulative voting and when does it occur?
Cumulative voting allows a shareholder to cast all of the shareholder’s votes for a single director or multiple directors. Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Banking Code, in each election of directors, every shareholder entitled to vote shall have the right, in person or by proxy, to multiply the number of votes to which the shareholder may be entitled by the total number of directors to be elected in the same election. The shareholder may cast the whole number of such votes for one candidate, or the shareholder may distribute the votes among any two or more candidates. Cumulative votes may be cast for one director nominee or distributed among two or more director nominees. For example, if you owned 100 shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock as of the Record Date and three directors were being elected, you would have 300 votes (100 shares multiplied by three directors) to cast, in the entirety, among the three director positions. You could cast all 300 votes for one director position, or you could allocate those 300 votes among the three director positions in any way you like, but you cannot cast more than a total of 300 votes across all director positions.
If you are present in person at the shareholder meeting, to engage in cumulative voting, you must notify a judge of election of your intention to cumulate votes before voting begins. If you do this, a judge of elections will provide you with a special ballot to mark your cumulative votes.
If you sign and return a proxy for the meeting, you must mark on the proxy the number of votes you wish the proxies to cast for each candidate. If you fail to show cumulative votes on your proxy, your proxies will cast an equal number of your votes for each director position. If your proxy cumulative voting instructions are ambiguous, your proxies will have authority to cumulate and cast your votes in any manner consistent with your unambiguous instructions.
What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?
If you return a signed proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted “FOR” each proposal listed on the proxy card and “FOR” each director nominated by the board of directors. If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, then one of the proxies named on the proxy card will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.
What if I receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form?
If you receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form because your shares are held in multiple accounts or registered in different names or addresses, please be sure to complete, sign, date, and return each proxy card or voting instruction form to ensure that all of your shares will be voted. Only shares relating to proxy cards and voting instruction forms that have been signed, dated, and timely returned will be counted in the quorum and voted.
Who will count the votes and how will my votes be counted?
Votes will be counted by the judge of elections appointed for the Annual Meeting. The judge of elections will count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes for each proposal, and “FOR” and “WITHHELD” votes, as applicable, for each director nominee named on your proxy card.
Can I change my vote after I have sent you my proxy?
Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the applicable vote at the meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares, you may revoke your proxy in any one of three ways:
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You may submit another properly completed proxy with a later date;
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You may send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our Corporate Secretary at 1015 Penn Ave. Suite 103, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania 19610; or
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You may attend the meeting and vote in person (however, simply attending the meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy; you must notify the Corporate Secretary before the meeting begins of your presence at the meeting and your intention to revoke your previously voted proxy).
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If your shares are held by a broker, bank, or other agent, you should follow the instructions provided by them.
How may I communicate with the board of directors?
Please address any communications to the Bank’s board of directors, in writing to the Bank’s Corporate Secretary at 1015 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, Pennsylvania 19610. The Corporate Secretary will relay shareholder communications to the board of directors or any individual director to whom communications are directed.
Who will bear the cost of soliciting proxies?
The Bank will bear the entire cost of the solicitation of proxies for the meeting, including the preparation, assembly, printing, and distribution of this proxy statement, the proxy card and any additional solicitation materials furnished to shareholders. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to brokerage houses, fiduciaries, and custodians holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others so that they may forward the solicitation materials to the beneficial owners. The Bank may reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to beneficial owners. The original solicitation of proxies may be supplemented by solicitation by personal contact, telephone, facsimile, email, or any other means by the Bank’s directors, officers, or employees. No additional compensation will be paid to those individuals for any such services.
How can I find out the results of the voting at the meeting?
The voting results will be announced at the meeting.
What is the recommendation of the board of directors?
The Bank’s board of directors recommends a vote:
FOR the proposal to elect three Class A directors of the Bank to serve a three-year term;
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FOR the proposal to approve and ratify the Customers Bank Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan; and
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FOR the proposal to ratify the appointment of ParenteBeard LLC as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Bank for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
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With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the meeting, the proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment. The Judge of Election for the meeting will be Carlyn D’Amico or, in her absence, one or more other individuals to be appointed in accordance with the Bank’s bylaws.
Unless you give other instructions on your proxy card, the persons named as proxies on your signed proxy card will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Bank’s board of directors with respect to each of the proposals and the election of each director position, and in their discretion with respect to any other matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting.
Whom should I call if I have questions about the meeting?
You should contact Trudy Hackney, our Corporate Secretary, at (484) 359-7135 (for questions about the meeting).
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as of June 30, 2011, with respect to the beneficial ownership of each director, each beneficial owner known to Customers Bank of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding Voting Common Stock, executive officers and all directors and executive officers as a group.
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner(4)
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Voting Common Stock (1)
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Exercisable Stock Options or Warrants to Purchase Voting Common Stock (9)
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Percent of Class of Voting Common Stock (2)
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Class B
Non-Voting Common Stock
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Exercisable Stock Options or Warrants to Purchase
Class B
Non-Voting Common Stock (10)
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Percent of Class of Class B
Non-Voting Common Stock (2)
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Directors and Officers
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All directors and executive officers as a group
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Amberland Properties Limited (13)(14)
54/58 Athold Street
Douglas, Isle of Man UK
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Anand V. Khubani
7 Adams Way
Towaco, NJ 07082
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Rodella Assets Inc. (13)(15)
50 Raffles Place
Singapore
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Commerce Street Financial Partners, LP (13)(16)
1700 Pacific Ave
Dallas, TX 75210
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Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner(4)
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Voting Common Stock (1)
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Exercisable Stock Options or Warrants to Purchase Voting Common Stock (9)
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Percent of Class of Voting Common Stock (2)
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Class B
Non-Voting Common Stock
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Exercisable Stock Options or Warrants to Purchase
Class B
Non-Voting Common Stock (10)
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Percent of Class of Class B
Non-Voting Common Stock (2)
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Firefly Value Partners, LP(13)(17)
551 Fifth Ave, 36th Floor
New York, NY 10176
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Marble Arch Partners Master Fund L.P.(13)(19)
645 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10022
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Scoggin Capital Management (12)(18)
660 Madison Ave, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10065
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Brown Finance Group, S.A.
Rue de Conseil General
1211 Geneva Switzerland (20)
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(1)
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Based on information furnished by the respective individual and the share records of the Bank. Shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares the power to vote or dispose of the shares, whether or not he or she has any economic interest in the shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the named beneficial owner has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares.
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(2)
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Beneficial ownership for each listed person as of June 30, 2011 includes shares issuable pursuant to warrants to purchase stock or pursuant to options held by such person which are exercisable within 60 days after June 30, 2011. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities, which voting or investment power may be further described in the footnotes below. Shares subject to warrants or options exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2011 are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of the person or group holding such option or warrants, but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of any other person or group.
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(3)
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Represents warrants to purchase Voting Common Stock of the Bank granted to Mr. Sidhu pursuant to his employment agreement with the Bank, whereby Mr. Sidhu is entitled to the grant of warrants or stock options representing 10% of all equity issuances by the Bank, subject to certain conditions. See “EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Officer Employment Agreements” on page 41 of this Annual Proxy Statement-Prospectus. The following options to purchase shares of Customers Bank’s Voting Common Stock or Class B Non-Voting Common Stock were excluded from the disclosures above as they were not exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2011: for Mr. Sidhu – 1,861,055; Mr. Ehst – 279,158; Mr. Brugger – 279,158; Mr. Taylor – 100,000; and Mr. Hedde – 35,000.
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(4)
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Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o Customers Bank, 1015 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, Pennsylvania 19610.
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(5)
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Includes 405,449 shares of Voting Common Stock held jointly with Mr. Mumma’s wife. Mr. Mumma has pledged 408,531 shares as security for an outstanding loan with a financial institution.
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(6)
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Mr. Choudhrie has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in these securities through his company, Lewisburg Capital Limited.
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(7)
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Includes 51,783 shares of Voting Common Stock held jointly with Mr. Sickler’s wife.
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(8)
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Includes 5,000 warrants to purchase Voting Common Stock held jointly with Mr. Sickler’s wife.
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(9)
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Except as otherwise indicated by footnote, amounts in this column represent warrants issued in connection with such individual’s purchase of Voting Common Stock in Customers Bank’s 2010 and 2009 private offering.
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(10)
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Except as otherwise indicated by footnote, amounts in this column represent warrants issued in connection with such individual’s purchase of Class B Non-Voting Common Stock in Customers Bank’s 2010 private offering.
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(11)
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Includes 6,000 options issued to Mr. Mumma, under the 2004 Plan. See “EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Officer Employment Agreement” beginning on page 41 of this Annual Proxy Statement-Prospectus.
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(12)
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Shares in this row are directly held by Scoggin Capital Management II LLC, Scoggin International Ltd., and Game Boy Partners LLC, each related to Scoggin Capital Management. Each of these investors participated in the March 2010 private offering and is entitled to special contractual rights.
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(13)
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Signifies lead investor in the February 2010 private offering. Each such investor is entitled to special contractual rights.
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(14)
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Thomas P. Cherian may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by Amberland Properties Limited.
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(15)
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Sumant Kapur may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by Rodella Assets Inc.
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(16)
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Dorey Wiley, Manager of Commerce Street Financial Partners, GP, LLC may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by Commerce Street Capital.
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(17)
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Ryan Heslop and Ariel Warszawski, both Managing Members of FVP GP, LLC, the general partner of FVP US-Q, LP and FVP Master Fund, L.P. may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by FVP US-Q, LP and FVP Master Fund L.P.
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(18)
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Craig Effron and Curtis Schenker, Managers of Scoggin LLC may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by Scoggin Capital Management II, LLC and Scoggin International Ltd. Craig Effron and Curtis Schenker, Managers of Game Boy Partners LLC, may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by Game Boy Partners, LLC.
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(19)
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Tim Jenkins, Member of Marble Arch Partners Master Fund L.P. may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by Marble Arch Partners Master Fund L.P.
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(20)
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Seamus Dawes of Brown Finance Group S.A. may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the securities owned by Brown Finance Group S.A.
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PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF THREE CLASS A DIRECTORS OF THE BANK
One of the purposes of the Annual Meeting is the election of three Class A directors to the Bank’s board of directors. The following directors have been nominated by our board for election as directors to serve as follows:
Class A —Term to Expire in 2013:
1. Richard A. Ehst
2. T. Lawrence Way
3. Steven J. Zuckerman
Richard Ehst, President and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Ehst joined Customers Bank as President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board in August 2009. Mr. Ehst was previously an Executive Vice President, Commercial Middle Market, Mid-Atlantic Division, of Sovereign Bank. Before this role, Mr. Ehst served as Regional President for Berks County from 2004 until 2009 and Managing Director of Corporate Communications for Sovereign from 2000 until 2004 where his responsibilities included reputation risk management and marketing services support systems. Mr. Ehst also served as a member of the County of Berks Workforce Investment board of directors from 2009 through 2011. Before joining Sovereign Bank, Mr. Ehst was an independent consultant to more than 70 financial institutions in the mid-Atlantic region, including Sovereign Bank, where he provided guidance on regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management.
Mr. Ehst has superior knowledge and lengthy experience in the banking industry, as well as superlative business development skills which provide significant value to the board.
T. Lawrence Way, Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee
Mr. Way is the former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alco Industries, Inc., an employee-owned diversified manufacturing company. Over his 34-year career with Alco, Mr. Way has held various positions at the Company, including a term as interim Chief Financial Officer. He continues as a member of the Alco Board of Directors and chairs the Board's Audit Committee. Mr. Way is a Certified Public Accountant, received a Masters in Business Administration from Mount St. Mary’s College, a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers-Camden School of Law, and graduated from Tufts University. He has experience in varied management, finance, operations and mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Way’s background as an attorney and certified public accountant, as well as his experience leading a company through the current economic, social and governance issues as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alco Industries, Inc., make him superbly-suited to serve on the board.
Steven J. Zuckerman, Director
Mr. Zuckerman, President and CEO of Clipper Magazine, graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a B.A. in Business Management in 1985. While in college, he co-founded the Campus Coupon Clipper, a predecessor to Clipper Magazine, now a full-service media company with numerous subsidiaries, including Loyal Customer Club, Spencer Advertising & Marketing, Clipper Web Development, The Menu Company, Total Loyalty Solutions, Clipper Graphics and Clipper TV. Clipper Magazine has over 550 individual market editions in over 31 states with 1,200 employees around the country, including approximately 500 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He is a partner in Opening Day Partners, which is owner and operator of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Teams and Stadiums in New Jersey, Maryland and South Central Pennsylvania.
Mr. Zuckerman’s experience in the advertising industry make him uniquely situated to provide the board with insight in the key areas of marketing and customer strategies.
The persons named as proxies in the accompanying form of proxy card have advised us that, unless otherwise instructed, they intend at the Annual Meeting to vote the shares covered by validly executed proxies “FOR” the election of the nominees named above. The proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named above. If one or more of the nominees should, at the time of the Annual Meeting, be unavailable or unable to serve as a director, the shares represented by the proxies will be voted to elect any remaining nominee. The board knows of no reason why the nominees will be unavailable or unable to serve as directors. We expect all nominees to be willing and able to serve as directors.
The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. Valid proxies solicited by the board will be voted “FOR” the nominees listed above, unless the shareholders specify a contrary choice in their proxies.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1
TO ELECT THREE CLASS A DIRECTORS OF THE BANK.
PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMERS BANK
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2004 INCENTIVE EQUITY AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
A proposal to approve the Amended and Restated Customers Bank 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan (the “ Plan” or “2004 Plan”) will be presented for shareholder approval at the Meeting. The Plan, originally known as the “New Century Bank 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan,” was approved by shareholders on May 19, 2004, at which time the number of shares of Common Stock of the Bank authorized for issuance under the Plan was 200,000 shares, the maximum number of shares that could be awarded to any individual under stock options and stock appreciation rights during a single fiscal year of the Bank was 25,000 shares, and the Plan would have a limited term of 10 years such that no awards could be made under the Plan after May 19, 2014. The amended and restated version of the Plan that will be presented for shareholder approval at the Meeting would reflect the change in the name of the Bank, increase the number of shares of Common Stock of the Bank authorized for issuance under the Plan to 1,500,000 shares, increase the per-individual maximum number of shares awarded under stock options and stock appreciation rights to 250,000, and extend the life of the Plan through the 10th anniversary of the date of the Meeting.
A copy of the 2004 Plan is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement. Please read the entire 2004 Plan. The following description is only a summary of the material terms of the 2004 Plan.
Interest of Directors and Officers
Because the Bank’s directors and executive officers are eligible for awards under the Plan, they have an interest in this proposal.
Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of the Bank by linking the personal interests of the members of the Board of Directors and the Bank’s employees, officers and executives to those of shareholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance in order to generate superior returns to shareholders of the Bank. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Bank in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members of the Board of Directors, employees, officers, and executives of the Bank upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Bank’s operation is largely dependent.
Description of the Plan
Administration. The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Committee”). The Committee is appointed by and serves at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.1 of the Plan, the Committee must be comprised of at least two members, all of whom must qualify as “Non-Employee Directors” (as defined in the Plan). If not, the Board of Directors must administer the Plan and, if the Board of Directors is assisted by the Committee, (A) at least two members of the Committee must qualify as Non-Employee Directors, (B) any member of the Committee who does not qualify as a “Non-Employee Director” may not vote on any action of the Committee with respect to any Award under the Plan, and (C) the Plan shall be deemed to be administered by the full Board, the actions of the Committee under the Plan shall be deemed merely advisory to the Board of Directors, and the approval of the Board of Directors shall be required for all actions of the Committee under the Plan, including without limitation the grant of each Award. To the extent necessary or desirable, each member of the Committee shall also qualify as an “outside director” within the meaning of the federal tax laws and shall meet such additional criteria as may be necessary or desirable to comply with regulatory or stock exchange rules or exemptions.
Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee has sole discretionary authority to select participants and grant awards, to determine the type of awards granted and the terms and conditions of awards (which terms and conditions need not be the same in each case), to impose restrictions on any award and to determine the manner in which such restrictions may be removed, to interpret the Plan and any award thereunder, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable in administering the Plan.
Eligible Persons. Under the Plan, the Committee may grant awards to Persons eligible to participate in the Plan, which potentially includes any Employee or Non-Employee Director of the Bank who on the date of any Award is in the employ of the Bank. The Committee is not obligated to treat participants in the Plan uniformly.
Shares Available for Grant. The Plan, as amended, would reserve 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Plan, an increase from 200,000 shares. Such shares may be (i) authorized but unissued shares, (ii) shares held in treasury or (iii) shares purchased by the Bank in the open market. Under the Plan, as amended, the maximum number of shares for which Options and SARs may be awarded to any one participant during any fiscal year is 250,000 shares, an increase from 25,000 shares. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to Options and SARs that may be awarded in any fiscal year will be appropriately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock of the Bank resulting from a stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or similar corporate change. In the event that any award under the Plan is terminated, cancelled, expires, lapses or is forfeited for any reason, the shares subject to such award, or the unexercised portion thereof, shall again become available for grant under the Plan.
Types of Awards and General Provisions. Under the Plan, the Committee may grant “Awards” to eligible persons, including:
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Incentive stock options (“ISOs”) as defined in Section 422 of the Code;
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Non-qualified stock options (“NQOs”);
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Stock appreciation rights (“SARs”);
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The terms and conditions of each Award will be reflected in an award agreement between the Bank and the participant (“Award Agreement”). Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with another Award. The number of shares covered by each outstanding Award and (if applicable) the exercise price per share shall be proportionally adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock of the Bank resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares or the payment of a stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares outstanding effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Bank. The Board may offer to exchange or buy out any Award previously granted to a participant for cash, shares of Common Stock or another Award, on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
Shareholder Rights. No Award shall give the participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Bank unless and until the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award are, in fact, issued to such person in connection with such Award.
Options. ISOs and NQOs together are called “Options.” The maximum term for an Option is 10 years from the date of grant, except that the maximum term of an ISO may not exceed five years if the optionee owns more than 10% of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Each Option granted shall become exercisable at such time and on such conditions as determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement. The exercise price as to any Option shall be the fair market value (determined under Section 422 of the Code) of the shares on the date of grant. In the case of a participant who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Bank on the date of grant, such exercise price for an ISO may not be less than 110% of fair market value of the shares. As required by federal tax laws, if the aggregate fair market value (determined when an Option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which ISOs are first exercisable by an optionee in any calendar year (under all plans of the Bank and of any subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, the Options granted in excess of $100,000 will be treated as NQOs.
Exercise of Options. The exercise of Options will be subject to such terms and conditions as are established by the Committee in the Award Agreement. In the absence of Board action to the contrary, an otherwise unexpired Option, except for NQOs granted to directors, shall cease to be exercisable upon (i) an optionee’s termination of employment or Board service for “cause” (as defined in the Plan); (ii) for ISOs, the termination of employment for any reason other than death or “disability” (as defined in the Plan), unless provided otherwise in the Award Agreement; (iii) for NQOs, the date three months after an optionee’s termination of employment for a reason other than cause, death, or disability, or earlier if the Option expires in accordance with its terms; (iv) in the case of an optionee who becomes disabled, the earlier of the date the Option expires in accordance with its terms or the date one year after the optionee terminates service due to disability; or (v) in the case of a deceased optionee, the earlier of the date the Option expires in accordance with its terms or the date one year after the optionee’s death in the event of death of the optionee during employment or Board service.
An optionee may exercise Options, subject to provisions relative to their termination and limitations on their exercise, only by (i) written notice to the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of intent to exercise the Option with respect to a specified number of shares of Common Stock, and (ii) payment to the Bank (contemporaneously with delivery of such notice) with a cashier’s check, certified check or existing holdings of Common Stock held for more than six months of the amount of the exercise price for the number of shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised. Common Stock utilized in full or partial payment of the exercise price for Options shall be valued at its market value at the date of exercise. Alternatively, if the Board of Directors determines and the agreement for one or more Stock Options so provides, an optionee may be given the right to direct the Bank to apply the fair market value of shares of Common Stock received in exercising a Stock Option in payment of the exercise price
instead of cash or other shares of Common Stock (this is sometimes referred to as an “immaculate cashless” exercise of a Stock Option).
Transferability of Options. Each Option granted under the Plan shall, by its terms, not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a participant who holds Options may transfer such Options (but not ISOs) to his or her spouse, lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or to a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of these individuals. Options so transferred may thereafter be transferred only to the participant who originally received the grant or to an individual or trust to whom the participant could have initially transferred the Options.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Plan permits the granting of SARs. Each SAR shall be subject to such terms and conditions, including grant price, method of exercise, method of settlement and form of consideration payable in settlement, as determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement at the time of the grant, except that in all events a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable only when the underlying Incentive Stock Option may be exercised. For purposes of the Existing Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right shall be considered to be granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option if the exercise of one results in an automatic forfeiture of the other, or if the exercise of one results in the automatic exercise of the other. The Board shall determine the term of each SAR; however, the term of any SAR granted in tandem with an ISO may not exceed ten (10) years. If the SAR is granted in connection with an ISO, the grant price of the SAR shall not be less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. Upon exercise of a SAR, the participant has the right to receive cash equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value on the date of exercise of the number of shares of Common Stock to which such SAR relates, over the grant price of such SAR for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such SAR relates. The grant price of a SAR related to an ISO cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
Stock Awards. Restricted Stock and Unrestricted Stock are together called “Stock Awards.” Each Stock Award shall be subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement at the time of the grant. Unrestricted Stock awards may be granted by the Committee with or without conditions and may provide for an immediate or deferred transfer of shares to the participant. Restricted Stock awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture as the Committee may determine. If the participant terminates employment or services as a Director with the Bank during the restriction period related to any Restricted Stock award, the shares of Common Stock subject to the restriction shall be forfeited; however, the Committee may waive any restriction or forfeiture condition related to such shares of Common Stock.
Performance-Based Awards. The Plan permits the Committee to grant Stock Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code to certain participants that qualify as “covered employees” under Section 162(m) of the Code. The terms and conditions of each Performance-Based Award, including the type of Performance-Based Award, the performance goals to be achieved, and the performance period (as defined in the Plan) during which the performance goals are to be achieved, shall be determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement at the time of grant. The participant must be employed by the Bank or one of its subsidiaries on the last day of the performance period to be eligible to receive the Performance-Based Award. Each Performance-Based Award must be disclosed to and approved by the shareholders of the Bank before any shares of Common Stock subject to the Performance-Based Award are transferred to a participant or any restrictions on such shares lapse.
Conditions on Issuance of Shares. The Board shall not be required to issue shares of Common Stock under an Award unless the issuance complies with applicable laws, regulation of government authorities and the requirements of any exchange on which shares of Common Stock are traded as well as the terms of the Plan and any other terms, conditions or restrictions that may be applicable. In addition, the Committee will have the discretionary authority to impose such restrictions on shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to an Award as it may deem appropriate or desirable, and to that end may require that a participant make certain representations or warranties.
Limits on Transfers of Awards. No right or interest of a participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Bank, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of the participant to any other party other than the Bank. No Award shall be assignable or transferable by a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except that the Committee, in its discretion, may permit a participant to make a gratuitous transfer of an Award that is not an ISO, or a SAR granted in tandem with an ISO, to his or her spouse, lineal descendants, lineal ascendants, or a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of these individuals.
Elections to Defer Compensation. The Plan permits participants designed by the Board or the Committee to elect to defer receipt of all or any part of the following forms of compensation:
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Director’s fees (if the participant is a Director of the Bank); or
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Common Stock or cash deliverable pursuant to an Award (if permitted by the Committee in its discretion).
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All elections by a participant shall remain in full force for all future years until modified or revoked. Upon becoming eligible to participate, a participant has thirty (30) days to make an election to defer salary earned after such election. Any increase or decrease in such deferral amount during a calendar year must be made prior to such calendar year. An election to defer a fiscal year bonus (or increase or decrease the amount to be deferred) must be made prior to the fiscal year.
Deferred Compensation Account. The Bank shall establish a special ledger account (“Deferred Compensation Account”) on the books of the Bank for each participant who elects to defer compensation. Deferred salary shall be credited to the participant’s Deferred Compensation Account on the last day of each calendar month. The amount of any deferred salary, director’s fees, fiscal year bonus or Award will be credited to the participant’s Deferred Compensation Account on the last day of the month in which such salary, director’s fees, fiscal year bonus or Award would have become payable or transferable to the participant.
Investment Election. Each participant may elect that the deferred compensation be credited to his or her Deferred Compensation Account in the form of cash, shares of the Bank’s Common Stock or such deemed investment options as are offered by the Committee. In the absence of a participant election, the amount credited to the Deferred Compensation Account shall be credited as cash. The amount of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account that is credited as cash shall accrue interest at a rate no less than the money market deposit account rate charged by the Bank to its depositors (as such rate may change from time to time) and shall not exceed the highest rate paid on Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) by the Bank plus two percent (2%). Such interest with respect to a Deferred Compensation Account shall be credited to such account quarterly, based on the weighted average daily prime rate or the IRA rate for the three (3) month period ending on the last day of the quarter.
If a participant elects for a deferred amount to be credited as shares of the Bank’s Common Stock, his or her Deferred Compensation Account shall be credited with the number of shares of Common Stock equal in value to the deferred amount, with the value of such Common Stock determined in accordance with a valuation methodology approved by the Committee. The Common Stock credited to the Deferred Compensation Account shall merely constitute a bookkeeping entry of the Bank and the participant shall have no voting, dividend or other legal or economic rights with respect to such Common Stock. No actual shares of Common Stock will be issued until the participant receives a distribution from the Deferred Compensation Plan. At the end of each fiscal quarter, dividends that would have been payable with respect to such Common Stock shall be credited to the Deferred Compensation Account as additional shares of Common Stock. No participant will be granted the right to take payment of the Common Stock in cash rather than shares of Common Stock. If a participant who has elected to receive deferred compensation in the form of shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to have violated the short-swing profit rules of the federal securities laws, then such election shall be void and such deferred amount shall be credited to the participant’s Deferred Compensation Account as cash.
Trust. The Bank may establish one or more trusts to fund deferred compensation obligations under the Plan. The accounts of multiple Participants may be held under a single trust but in such event each account shall be separately maintained and segregated from each other account. Each trust shall be permitted to hold cash, Common Stock of the Bank, or other assets to the extent of the Bank’s obligations. Although the assets of such a trust would be intended to be used for the exclusive purpose of paying the deferred compensation obligations under the Plan, the assets of any trust or account, and any distributions by a trustee or the Bank, would remain subject to the Bank’s general creditors. As a result, the rights of participants in any assets of such a trust shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured creditor of the Bank.
Distributions. Except in the case of financial hardship, a participant will not receive a distribution from his or her Deferred Compensation Account until the earlier of (1) termination of the participant’s employment or directorship with the Bank or (2) the death or legal incapacitation of the participant (each a “Distribution Event”). In addition, a Director may, at the time he first becomes eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan, specify an age (not less than 55 years) to receive distributions of his Deferred Compensation Account. The Board has the authority, in its sole discretion, to allow an early distribution from a participant’s Deferred Compensation Account in the event of severe financial hardship due to the sudden illness of the participant or a participant’s family member, or the loss of the participant’s property due to casualty or other extraordinary circumstance.
Each participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be distributed in either a lump sum or in annual installments over a period of up to ten years as specified by the participant at the time of his initial election to defer compensation (“Distribution Election”). A participant may change his Distribution Election at any time prior to ninety (90) days before a Distribution Event. If a participant dies prior to distribution of the entire balance of the Deferred Compensation Account, the undistributed balance shall be paid to the beneficiary designated by the participant or in the absence of such designation, to the legal representative or the person or entity identified in the deceased participant’s last will.
If the participant fails to provide a Distribution Election, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the Distribution Election. In addition, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, distribute the balance of a participant’s Deferred Compensation Account in a lump sum, even if the participant had elected installment payments, in the event a participant whose employment with the Bank has been terminated continues to be affiliated with a direct competitor of the Bank after reasonable notice from the Committee.
Change in Control. In the event of a “change in control” of the Bank, each participant will be permitted to elect, during the thirty (30) day period immediately prior to the change in control, to receive a distribution of all or a portion of his or her Deferred Compensation Account during the seven (7) day period after the change in control. For purposes of the Plan, “change in control” means:
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the acquisition by a person or persons acting in concert of the power to vote twenty-five percent (25%) or more of a class of the Bank’s voting securities;
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the acquisition by a person of the power to direct the Bank’s management or policies, if the Board of Directors or the Bank’s primary federal regulator has made a determination that such acquisition constitutes or will constitute an acquisition of control of the Bank for the purposes of the Bank Holding Company Act or the Change in Bank Control Act and the regulations thereunder;
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during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Bank cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election of each Director who was not a Director at the beginning of such period has been approved in advance by Directors representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then in office who were Directors in office at the beginning of the period; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (iii), each Director who is first elected to the Board of Directors (or first nominated by the Board of Directors for election by the shareholders) with the approval of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors who were Directors at the beginning of the period shall be deemed to be a Director at the beginning of the two-year period;
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the Bank shall have merged into or consolidated with another corporation, or merged another corporation into the Bank, on a basis whereby less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the surviving corporation is represented by shares held by persons who were shareholders of the Bank immediately before the merger or consolidation; or
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the Bank shall have sold to another person (a) substantially all of the Bank’s assets or (b) the Bank.
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The term “person” refers to an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization or other entity.
Non-Transferability of Deferred Compensation. A participant’s right to receive payments of deferred compensation are not assignable or transferable, shall not be subject to alienation, anticipation, sale, pledge, encumbrance or other legal process, and shall not be in any manner subject to the debts or liabilities of such participant. In the event a participant attempts such a transfer, the Committee may, in its discretion, terminate such participant’s interest in such deferred compensation to the extent the Committee deems necessary or advisable to prevent or limit the effects of such transfer. Any deferred compensation effected by such termination shall be retained by the Bank or the trust and the Committee may, in its sole discretion, pay to such participant, his or her spouse or children in such a manner as the Committee deems proper.
Effect of Dissolution and Related Transactions. Subject to any required action by the shareholders, if the Bank shall be the surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or consolidation in which the shareholders of the Bank receive the securities of another corporation), each Award shall pertain to and apply to the securities which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award would have been entitled. Upon a dissolution of the Bank, a sale of all or substantially all of the Bank’s assets, a merger or consolidation in which the Bank is not the surviving corporation, a merger or consolidation in which the Bank is the surviving corporation but the shareholders of the Bank receive securities of another corporation or other property, or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Bank’s assets, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority (a) to cancel each outstanding Award and pay to the participant, for each share of Common Stock subject to the cancelled Award, an amount in cash equal to the difference between the value of the securities or other property to be received by the holder of a share of Common Stock and the exercise price of the Award, or (b) to provide for the exchange of each outstanding Award with a substitute award of the same type with respect to the property for which such Award is exchanged, with such adjustments to the exercise price or number of shares or amount of property subject to the substitute award as the Committee deems appropriate.
Duration of Plan. If the Plan, as amended, is approved by shareholders at the Meeting, the Plan will expire by its terms on the 10th anniversary of the date of the Meeting, which would be an extension from May 19, 2014. After the expiration date of the Plan, no Award may be granted, except that the Plan may be terminated at an earlier date by action of the Board of Directors. The expiration of the Plan, or its termination by the Board of Directors, will not affect any Award then outstanding.
Amendment and Termination of Plan. The Board of Directors shall have complete power and authority to amend the Plan, provided, however, the Board of Directors may not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting stock of the Bank, make any amendment which would (a) abolish the Committee without designating such other committee, change the qualifications of its members, or withdraw the administration of the Plan from its supervision, (b) increase the maximum number of shares for which Awards may be granted, (c) amend the formula for determination of the exercise price of Options, (d) extend the term of the Plan or (e) amend the requirements as to the employees eligible to receive Awards. In addition, the Board of Directors shall not make any other amendment to the Plan without shareholder approval to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule. However, except to the extent required by applicable law, no adjustment in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards, and no adjustment in the number of shares available for grant under the Plan, shall require additional shareholder approval, and all such future adjustments shall be deemed approved by the approval of the Plan, to the extent that such adjustment, whether automatic or discretionary, is proportional to and accompanies an equivalent adjustment in the number of shares held by the Bank’s shareholders. Without the written consent of the participant, except as provided in the Plan, no termination or amendment of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted.
Financial Considerations. The Bank will receive no monetary consideration for the granting of Awards under the Plan. It will receive no monetary consideration other than the exercise price for shares of Common Stock issued to participants upon exercise of an Award that is an Option.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
ISOs. An optionee recognizes no taxable income upon the grant of ISOs. If the optionee holds the shares purchased upon exercise of an ISO for at least two years from the date the ISO is granted, and for at least one year from the date the ISO is exercised, any gain realized on the sale of the shares received upon exercise of the ISO is taxed as long-term capital gain. However, the difference between the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the ISO will be treated by the optionee as current income in the year of exercise for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If an optionee disposes of the shares before the expiration of either of the two special holding periods noted above, the disposition is a “disqualifying disposition.” In this event, the optionee will be required, at the time of the disposition of the Common Stock, to treat the lesser of the gain realized or the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of exercise as ordinary income, and the excess, if any, as capital gain.
The Bank will not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes as the result of the grant or exercise of an ISO, regardless of whether or not the exercise of the ISO results in liability to the optionee for alternative minimum tax. However, if an optionee has ordinary income taxable as compensation as a result of a disqualifying disposition, the Bank will be entitled to deduct an equivalent amount.
While the bargain element that exists at the time of exercise of an ISO is not taxed under the normal federal income tax, it is subject to tax under the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) system. The AMT is designed to ensure that every taxpayer pays at least some tax. The impact on a particular employee who exercises ISOs will depend upon many factors, including the amount of other “tax preferences” and adjustments on his or her tax return.
ISO treatment is only available with respect to the first $100,000 in value of shares underlying ISOs first becoming subject to exercise in any given calendar year. The $100,000 value is based upon the value of the shares at the time of grant. Any options in excess of this amount are treated as NQOs.
If a Stock Option was originally issued with an “immaculate cashless” exercise feature and is also an ISO, the “immaculate cashless” exercise also has tax consequences. When an ISO is exercised, the optionee must hold the underlying stock for a specific period to remain eligible for ISO treatment. In an “immaculate cashless” exercise, the stock is deemed to be immediately sold to the issuer, when the option is exercised. Thus, the post-exercise minimum holding period is not met for the stock that is deemed to be immediately sold to the issuer. This applies, however, only to those shares that are “deemed” sold to pay the exercise price; the shares retained by the optionee may still qualify for favorable tax treatment if they are held for the balance of the two ISO holding periods. The optionee will recognize as ordinary income the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value on the date of exercise for those shares of the ISO paid or deemed paid to satisfy the exercise price of the ISO.
NQOs. In the case of a NQO, an optionee will recognize ordinary income upon the exercise of the NQO in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and the option price (or, if the optionee is subject to certain restrictions imposed by the federal securities laws, upon the lapse of those restrictions unless the optionee makes a special tax election within 30 days after the date of exercise to have the general rule apply). Upon a subsequent disposition of such shares, any amount received by the optionee in excess of the fair market value of the shares as of the exercise will be taxed as capital gain. The Bank will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes at the same time and in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the optionee in connection with the exercise of a NQO.
SARs. A participant recognizes no taxable income upon the grant of an SAR. Upon the exercise of the SAR, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to excess of the fair market value of the shares received over the grant price of such shares under the SAR. The Bank will be entitled to deduct for federal income tax purposes the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the participant at the time of the exercise.
Restricted Stock. Generally, except as described in the following paragraph, a participant recognizes no taxable income upon the grant or purchase of Restricted Stock that is subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture,” as defined in Section 83 of the Code, until such time as the Restricted Stock is no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture. At that time, the participant will be taxed, at ordinary income rates, on the difference between the fair market value of the shares and the amount the participant paid, if any, for the Restricted Stock. The Bank will be eligible for a tax deduction at the time the participant recognizes the income in an amount equal to the income recognized.
A participant may elect, under Section 83(b) of the Code, to recognize taxable ordinary income at the time the Restricted Stock is transferred to the participant in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of the grant, determined without regard to any forfeiture restrictions. If such an election is made, the Bank will be entitled to a deduction at that time in the same amount. Future appreciation of the shares will be taxed at either the long-term or short-term capital gains rate when the shares are sold depending upon the length of time the participant held the shares. However, if, after making such an election, the shares are forfeited, the participant will be unable to claim a tax deduction.
Unrestricted Stock. If the Unrestricted Stock award provides for the immediate transfer of shares to the participant, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of grant. If the Unrestricted Stock award provides for a deferred transfer of shares to the participant, the participant will recognize taxable ordinary income at the time the Unrestricted Stock is actually transferred to the participant. The Bank will be entitled to a deduction at such time and in the same amount as the participant recognizes income. It is intended that all awards providing for the deferred transfer of Unrestricted Stock will be structured to comply with and avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code.
Deferred Compensation. For purposes of the federal income tax laws, it is intended that participants will not realize taxable income on any compensation that is deferred under the Plan at the time such compensation is earned, and that all deferred compensation arrangements under the Plan will be structured to comply with and avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code. When a participant receives any distributions from his or her Deferred Compensation Account, any cash and the fair market value of any shares of Common Stock distributed to the participant will be treated as ordinary income. The Bank will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes at the same time and in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the participant in connection with a distribution from the participant’s Deferred Compensation Account.
Plan Benefits
The grant of an Award, the types of Awards and the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards under the Plan are subject to the discretion of the Committee; therefore, the benefits or amounts that will be received by any participant or group of participants in the Plan, if approved, including directors and key employees, are not currently determinable. To date, only ISOs and NQOs have been granted to participants.
The amount of benefits payable in the future as a result of deferred compensation under the Plan, if approved, is not currently determinable because such benefits depend on the number of participants who are authorized by the Board or the Committee to defer compensation under the Plan, the amount of compensation each participant elects to defer, and the fair market value of the Bank’s Common Stock as it changes over time.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL 2
TO APPROVE AND RATIFY THE CUSTOMERS BANK
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2004 INCENTIVE EQUITY AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table provides certain summary information as of August 3, 2011 concerning the Bank’s compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which shares of the Bank’s Common Stock may be issued.
Plan Category
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Number Of Securities To Be Issued Upon Exercise Of Outstanding Options, Warrants And Rights(#)
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Weighted-Average Exercise Price Of Outstanding Options, Warrants And Rights($)
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Number Of Securities Remaining Available For Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected In The First Column)(#)
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Equity Compensation Plans Approved By Security Holders (1)
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Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved By Security Holders
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(1)
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Includes shares of the Bank’s Common Stock that may currently be issued upon the exercise of awards granted under the 2004 Plan and the 2010 Stock Option Plan.
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(2)
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Includes shares of the Bank’s Common Stock underlying awards that may currently be granted under the 2004 Plan.
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(3)
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Includes 834,350 shares of the Bank’s Common Stock that may be issued to Mr. Sidhu upon the exercise of warrants granted under an agreement between the Bank and Mr. Sidhu in connection with the Bank’s 2009 and 2010 private offerings.
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(4)
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This amount does not include securities available for future issuance under the 2004 Plan which is being submitted for shareholder approval at the Annual Meeting.
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PROPOSAL 3
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our Audit Committee has selected ParenteBeard LLC (“ParenteBeard”) to serve as the Bank’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. ParenteBeard or its predecessor has been the Bank’s independent public accounting firm since 1997. The Bank has been advised by ParenteBeard that neither it nor any member thereof has any financial interest, direct or indirect, in the Bank or any of its affiliates, in any capacity. One or more representatives of ParenteBeard is expected to be present at this year’s Annual Meeting with an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and to answer appropriate questions with respect to that firm’s examination of the Bank’s financial statements and records for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
Although the submission of the appointment of ParenteBeard is not required by the Bank’s bylaws, the board is submitting it to the shareholders to ascertain their views. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment, we will not be bound to seek other independent registered public accountant for 2011, but the selection of other independent registered public accounting firms will be considered in future years.
Audit and Other Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The following table presents fees billed by ParenteBeard for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
Services Rendered
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Fiscal 2010
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Fiscal 2009
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Audit Fees
The audit fees for fiscal years 2010 and 2009 were billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Bank’s annual financial statements and related services. The increase in audit fees from 2009 to 2010 were primarily due to additional audit procedures conducted in relation to the Bank’s private offerings of securities, registration statements, the addition of the warehouse lending division, and additional audit procedures performed to comply with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
Audit-Related Fees
The audit-related fees consisted principally of fees related to the Bank’s the stand-alone audits of the Statements of Assets Acquired and Liabilities assumed as of July 9, 2010 and September 17, 2010 for the FDIC assisted acquisitions in 2010 of USA Bank and ISN Bank, respectively, private offerings of securities in 2010 and 2009, and various research, consultation and discussions in 2010 and 2009.
Tax Fees
Tax fees for fiscal years 2010 and 2009 consisted principally of preparing our U.S. federal and state income tax returns.
Our Audit Committee has reviewed the non-audit services currently provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and has considered whether the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independence of such independent registered public accounting firm. Based on such review and consideration, the Audit Committee has determined that the provision of such non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Pre-Approval Policy for Services by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. The Audit Committee has not established a pre-approval policy for these services.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL 3 TO RATIFY THE
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
CUSTOMERS BANK
History, Business, and Properties
History
The Bank was incorporated on March 25, 1994 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is a Pennsylvania state chartered bank and member of the Federal Reserve System. The Bank commenced operations on June 26, 1997. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. As of March 31, 2010, the Bank had total assets of $1.61 billion and total deposits of $1.39 million.
The Bank’s Corporate Headquarters and a full service branch are located at 99 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, Chester County, PA 19460. The main telephone number is (610) 933-2000.
The Bank has not undergone bankruptcy, receivership or any similar proceedings. There have been no material re-classifications, mergers, consolidations or purchases or sales of a significant amount of assets not in the ordinary course of business.
In December 2010, the shareholders of the Bank approved a name change from New Century Bank to Customers Bank. After receiving all necessary regulatory approvals in April 2011, the name has been officially changed to Customers Bank.
The Bank has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC (the “S-1”) pursuant to which the Bank will seek shareholder approval to reorganize into a bank holding company structure whereby all of the current shareholders of the Bank will become shareholders of the holding company, and the Bank will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the holding company. The transaction, if approved by shareholders of the Bank, will involve several steps including, among others, an application to applicable bank regulators for permission to form interim bank as a merger subsidiary into which the Bank can merge in order to become a wholly owned subsidiary of the holding company, applications to applicable bank regulators for permission for the Bank to merge into the merger subsidiary in accordance with a Plan of Merger and Reorganization, the exchange at a ratio of three-to-one of outstanding shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock and Class B Non-Voting Common Stock for shares of the holding company’s Voting Common Stock and Class B Non-Voting Common Stock, and the exchange of outstanding warrants and options to purchase shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock for warrants or options, respectively, to purchase shares of the holding company’s Voting Common Stock.
Business
Through the Bank’s nine branches in Bucks, Berks, Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania, one in Mercer County, New Jersey and one in Westchester County, New York, the Bank provides a full range of financial products and services to small businesses, professionals and individuals on the “Main Line” and in Philadelphia suburbs, Greenwich, Connecticut, Port Chester & Rye communities of New York and Mercer County, New Jersey. The Bank had no revenues in any of the last three years that were attributable to customers outside of the United States, nor did it have any long-lived assets in any of the past three years that were located outside of the United States.
On August 24, 2010, the Bank entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Reading, Pennsylvania based Berkshire Bancorp (“Berkshire”) and its subsidiary Berkshire Bank. Berkshire is a $150 million bank holding company with 5 offices in the Reading, PA market. The consideration for this deal will be Voting Common Stock of the proposed holding company, valued at tangible book value at the month end prior to closing. The acquisition of Berkshire is intended to occur simultaneously with the Bank’s proposed reorganization into a holding company structure, and shareholder and regulatory approval.
As of June 30, 2011, the Bank had 147 full time, 8 part time employees, and 5 employees of Berkshire Bank that were working for the Bank in accordance with an “employee leasing” arrangement between Berkshire and the Bank.
Competition
The Bank competes with other financial institutions for deposit and loan business. Competitors include other commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, securities brokerage firms, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, money market funds, and certain government agencies. Financial institutions compete principally on the quality of the services rendered, interest rates offered on deposit products, interest rates charged on loans, fees and service charges, the convenience of banking office locations and hours of operation, and in the consideration of larger commercial borrowers, lending limits.
Many competitors are significantly larger than the Bank, and have significantly greater financial resources, personnel and locations from which to conduct business. In addition, the Bank is subject to regulation, while certain of its competitors are not. Non-regulated companies face relatively few barriers to entry into the financial services industry. The Bank’s larger competitors enjoy greater name recognition and greater resources to finance wide ranging advertising campaigns. The Bank competes for business principally on the basis of high quality, personal service to customers, customer access to the Bank’s decision makers, and competitive interest and fee structure. The Bank also strives to provide maximum convenience of access to services by employing innovative delivery vehicles such as internet banking, and convenience of availability of banking representatives.
The Bank believes that it is able to compete effectively with its competitors and has developed a unique business model that is focused on doing a few things well, and combines high touch customer service with high technology to provide convenience to customers. In particular, the Bank believes its competitive strengths include:
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“Concierge Banking – a unique banking model. The Bank focuses its customer service efforts on relationship banking, personalized service and the ability to quickly make credit and other business decisions. Relationship managers are assigned for all customers, establishing a single point of contact for all issues and products. Additionally, the Bank brings the bank to the customer by using an appointment banking approach available 12 hours a day, seven days a week. This “concierge banking” approach allows the Bank to provide more competitive services to the customer in a more convenient and more expeditious manner, delivered by experienced bankers, and enhances the overall customer experience, offering better pricing, speed and convenience.
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The Bank’s current markets are primarily served by large national and regional banks, with a few larger institutions capturing more than 60% of the deposit market share. The Bank’s large competitors utilize expensive, branch-based models to sell products to consumers and small businesses. This expensive branch-based model requires our larger competitors to price their products with wider margins and charge more fees to justify their higher expense base. While maintaining physical branch locations remains an important component of the Bank’s strategy, the Bank intends to pursue an operating model with fewer and less expensive locations, thereby lowering overhead costs.
The Bank believes that its “concierge banking” approach and creation of a more inexpensive network of “virtual” branches provides greater convenience and more competitive deposit pricing for customers and will lead to a competitive advantage over larger institutions and contribute to the profitability of the Bank franchise, allowing it to generate core deposits, which are expected to be the primary source of funding for asset growth.
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Sophisticated high technology services. The key components of the Bank’s technology services are remote account opening, remote deposit capture and mobile banking, collectively creating “virtual branch banks.” The Bank’s sales force is able to open accounts at the location of the customer, and remote account opening is also available via the Bank’s web site. Remote deposit capture is available for business customers and new scanners will not only serve the high volume customers, but also the low volume, high dollar customer, which will enable the Bank the opportunity to attract larger deposit relationships. Mobile banking services are available that enable the Bank to offer a channel similar to the larger banks and target the customer who is looking to utilize this technological channel for their every day banking. To ensure functionality across the customer base, the Bank will not only provide the technology, but also set up and train customers on how to benefit from this technology.
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Experienced lending team with local decision making. The Bank has hired experienced lenders who know the market very well, understand prudent lending standards and want to work in an empowered work environment. We believe that this philosophy of having experienced lenders who have worked through numerous economic cycles and are empowered to make quick decisions will allow the Bank to effectively compete with larger organizations.
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Properties
The Bank leases its corporate headquarters and a full service branch, which are located in a freestanding building at 99 Bridge St., Phoenixville, Chester County, PA 19460, wherein the Bank leases approximately 15,298 square feet on 2 floors. The lease on this location expires in 2022.
The Bank leases office space totaling 8,000 square feet at 1015 Penn Avenue, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania which comprises the intended corporate headquarters of the holding company and a full service branch that opened in mid-2010. The lease on this location expires in 2015.
In addition to the corporate headquarters, the Bank leases properties in the 2,300 to 3,300 square foot range where it maintains full service commercial bank branches at 155 East Lancaster Ave. in Wayne, Pennsylvania, 215 Lancaster Avenue in Malvern, Pennsylvania, 3557 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania and 73 Old Dublin Pike in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 1 S. Main St. Yardley, Pennsylvania and 601 North Main St., Port Chester, New York. The leases on these locations expire in 2013, 2014, 2014, 2015, 2015 and 2015 respectively.
The Bank also leases 5,500 square feet of property at 513 Kimberton Road in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania where it maintains a full service commercial bank branch and corporate offices. The lease on this location expires in 2013.
The Bank subleases 5,059 square feet of space in Hamilton, New Jersey from which it conducts its mortgage warehouse lending activities. In addition, the Bank leases 1,950 square fee at 2419 Nottingham Way in Hamilton, New Jersey where it maintains a full service branch. The lease on these locations expire in 2015.
The total minimum cash lease payments for the Bank’s current office, branch offices and mortgage warehouse lending locations amounts to approximately $100 thousand per month.
Legal Proceedings
On May 14, 2010, Alliance Bank, a bank located in Broomall, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, commenced a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, seeking preliminary and permanent injunctive relief as well as compensatory and punitive damages against the Bank. The lawsuit arises from Alliance’s allegations that the Bank’s use of the name and trademark “CUSTOMERS 1st BANK” infringes Alliance’s federal trademark registration for the mark CUSTOMER FIRST®. The specific relief requested by Alliance includes (a) the entry of a preliminary and permanent injunction against the Bank from using the mark “CUSTOMERS 1st BANK” or any other similar designation in connection with the Bank’s banking services; (b) an order that the Bank is to remove and/or destroy all commercial and promotional materials using or showing the mark “CUSTOMERS 1st BANK” in connection with the Bank’s banking services; (c) an order that the Bank should to pay Alliance compensatory and punitive damages as determined at a trial on the merits; and (d) an order that the Bank should pay Alliance an amount equal to the Bank’s profits realized through the alleged infringing conduct, as well as court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and pre- and post-judgment interest. On July 27, 2010, the court issued an order entering a preliminary injunction against the Bank’s continued use of the name and mark “Customers 1st Bank” in connection with any banking and financial services. The Bank has accordingly ceased use of the name “Customers 1st Bank” in accordance with the Order.
On November 15, 2010, Customers Bank filed suit against Open Solutions, Inc. (“OSI”) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, seeking damages for failure to assist in the conversion of system and customer information associated with the former USA Bank and requesting injunctive relief to compel OSI to assist with the deconversion of the former USA Bank's systems. OSI filed counterclaims against Customers Bank on November 24, 2010, asserting claims for breach of contract and breach of settlement agreement. In support of its breach of contract claim, OSI alleged that Customers Bank "assumed" the former-USA Bank agreements and is bound by those agreements. OSI claimed that it has sustained damages in excess of $1 million. Customers Bank disputed that it has any liability to OSI. Prior to trial, OSI dismissed with prejudice its settlement agreement claim. Trial was held on February 24, 2011. On March 7, 2011, the Court ruled against Customers Bank and in favor of OSI as follows: judgment was entered against Customers on OSI's claim that the agreements between OSI and USA Bank were assumed by Customers Bank and judgment was entered against Customers on its claims against OSI; judgment was entered for OSI on its breach of contract claim under one agreement, in the amount of $104 thousand; the Court found there was no breach of the second agreement by Customers Bank and no proof of damages. OSI filed a motion for payment of legal fees and costs associated with the litigation, which are estimated to be around $205,000. Customers Bank filed a motion with the District Court to vacate the judgment and to enter judgment in favor of Customers on OSI's counterclaim. In addition, the FDIC filed a motion to intervene in the litigation, and has also sought dismissal of OSI's counterclaims on jurisdictional grounds. On May 3, 2011, the Court granted the FDIC's motion to intervene, and directed that OSI respond to the motion to dismiss the counterclaim. On August 9, 2011, the District Court granted the FDIC's motion to dismiss and vacated the judgment entered against Customers. The Court denied Customers' post-trial motion as moot because of the Court's vacatur of the judgment.
Although the Bank from time to time is involved in various legal proceedings in the normal course of business, other than as described above, there are no material legal proceedings to which it is a party or to which its property is subject.
Management
The names, ages and positions of each of the directors and executive officers of the Bank, together with descriptions of the business backgrounds of each of the directors and named executive officers, are provided in “OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT” below.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
The Bank’s board members are:
Name
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Director Since
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Position
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Age
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Term Expires:
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Director, President and Chief Operating Officer
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2013
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Daniel K. Rothermel, J.D.
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Director, Lead Independent Director
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2013
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Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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T. Lawrence Way, CPA, J.D.
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There are no arrangements or understandings between any director and any other persons pursuant to which a director was or is to be selected as a director or nominee.
Below are the biographies of our directors:
Jay S. Sidhu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Sidhu joined Customers Bank as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in the second quarter of 2009. Before joining Customers Bank, Mr. Sidhu was the Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Bank from 1989 and its Chairman from 2002 until his retirement on December 31, 2006, and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SIDHU Advisors, LLC, a consulting firm. He has received Financial World’s CEO of the year award and named Turnaround Entrepreneur of the Year. He has received many other awards and honors, including a Hero of Liberty Award from the National Liberty Museum. Mr. Sidhu serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of the board of directors of Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation, the holding company for Atlantic Coast Bank, a federal savings bank with main offices in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Sidhu has also served on the boards of numerous businesses and not-for-profits, including as a member of the board of Grupo Santander. He obtained an MBA from Wilkes University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Leadership Course. Mr. Sidhu also helped establish the Jay Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University.
Mr. Sidhu’s demonstration of day-to-day leadership combined with his extensive banking sector experience provide the board with intimate knowledge of Customers Bank’s direction and strategic opportunities.
Richard Ehst, President and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Ehst joined Customers Bank as President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board in August 2009. Mr. Ehst was previously an Executive Vice President, Commercial Middle Market, Mid-Atlantic Division, of Sovereign Bank. Before this role, Mr. Ehst served as Regional President for Berks County from 2004 until 2009 and Managing Director of Corporate Communications for Sovereign from 2000 until 2004 where his responsibilities included reputation risk management and marketing services support systems. Mr. Ehst also served as a member of the County of Berks Workforce Investment board of directors in 2009 through 2011. Before joining Sovereign Bank, Mr. Ehst was an independent consultant to more than 70 financial institutions in the mid-Atlantic region, including Sovereign Bank, where he provided guidance on regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management.
Mr. Ehst has superior knowledge and lengthy experience in the banking industry, as well as superlative business development skills which provide significant value to the board.
Bhanu Choudhrie, Director
Mr. Choudhrie has been Executive Director of C&C Alpha Group Limited, a London based family private equity group, since November 2006, and was the Executive Director of C&C Business Solutions Ltd. from June 2003 to November 2006. In July 2010, Mr. Choudhrie became a director of Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation, the holding company for Atlantic Coast Bank, a federal savings bank with main offices in Waycross, Georgia. Mr. Choudhrie is a private equity investor with investments in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. C&C Alpha Group was founded in 2002. The company, with global headquarters in London, has established offices in several countries. Its team comprises entrepreneurs, financial analysts, project developers, project managers and strategy consultants.
As an executive of a UK-based firm with international interests, Mr. Choudhrie provides the board with a global market perspective.
John R. Miller, Director
Mr. Miller has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Wilkes University since 1996, including a tenure as Chairman of the Board from 2005 to 2008. He has also been the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Osborn Retirement Community since 2006. Mr. Miller served in various capacities as an accountant at KPMG, LLP, a global accounting, tax and advisory firm, from 1968 to January 2005, including a tenure as Vice Chairman from 1999 to 2004, as a member of the Board of Directors from 1993 to 1997, and as a member of the Management Committee from 1997 to 2004. He was the Chairman of the United States Comptroller General’s Governmental Auditing Standards Advisory Council from 2001 to 2008. He has received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, recognizing distinguished Americans who have made significant contributions to the nation’s heritage. Mr. Miller is a graduate of Wilkes University with a B.S. in Commerce and Finance and is registered as a certified public accountant in both Pennsylvania and New York.
Mr. Miller’s 36 years of experience at KPMG, LLP and 7 years as Chairman of the US Comptroller’s General Auditing Standards Advisory Council have given him valuable experience and insight into auditing, accounting and financial reporting, making him a valuable asset to the Bank’s board. Mr. Miller is an independent member of Customers Bank’s board of directors, as independence for board members is defined under NASDAQ Rules.
Kenneth B. Mumma, Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee
Mr. Mumma is the former Chairman and CEO of the Bank who founded the Bank in 1997. Prior to his joining the Bank, he was engaged in the private practice of law. He is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and received his J.D. from Villanova School of Law. He also received his certificate from the Central Atlantic School of Banking. His strong civic commitment is demonstrated by his participation in a number of the area’s nonprofit organizations.
As one of the Bank’s original founders, Mr. Mumma brings to the board his entrepreneurial experience, keen strategic insights, institutional knowledge and deep commitment to our enterprise.
Daniel K. Rothermel, Director and Chairman of the Risk Management Committee
Mr. Rothermel has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumru Associates, Inc., a private holding company located in Reading, Pennsylvania, since 1989, and served over twenty years on the board of directors of Sovereign Bancorp and Sovereign Bank. At Sovereign, he was lead independent Director and served on the Audit, Governance, and Risk Management Committee and was chairman of the Executive Committee. He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Business Administration (finance and accounting) and of the American University with a Juris Doctor.
Mr. Rothermel’s background as an attorney and general counsel, plus his extensive service as director of Sovereign Bank provide unique and valuable perspective to the board.
T. Lawrence Way, Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee
Mr. Way is the former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alco Industries, Inc., an employee-owned diversified manufacturing company. Over his 34-year career with Alco, Mr. Way has held various positions at the Company, including a term as interim Chief Financial Officer. He continues as a member of the Board of Directors and chairs the Board's Audit Committee. Mr. Way is a Certified Public Accountant, received a Masters in Business Administration from Mount St. Mary’s College, a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers-Camden School of Law, and graduated from Tufts University. He has experience in varied management, finance, operations and mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Way’s background as an attorney and certified public accountant, as well as his experience leading a company through the current economic, social and governance issues as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alco Industries, Inc., make him well-suited to serve on the board.
Steven J. Zuckerman, Director
Mr. Zuckerman, President and CEO of Clipper Magazine, graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a B.A. in Business Management in 1985. While in college, he co-founded the Campus Coupon Clipper, a predecessor to Clipper Magazine, now, a full-service media company, with numerous subsidiaries, including Loyal Customer Club, Spencer Advertising & Marketing, Clipper Web Development, The Menu Company, Total Loyalty Solutions, Clipper Graphics and Clipper TV. Clipper Magazine has over 550 individual market editions in over 31 states with 1,200 employees around the country, including approximately 500 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He is a partner in Opening Day Partners, owner and operator of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Teams and Stadiums in New Jersey, Maryland and South Central Pennsylvania.
Mr. Zuckerman’s experience in the advertising industry make him uniquely situated to provide the board with insight in the key areas of marketing and customer strategies.
Executive Officers
Thomas Brugger, Chief Financial Officer - Age 44
Mr. Brugger is the Chief Financial Officer. He joined Customers Bank in September 2009. Mr. Brugger was employed by Sovereign Bank for 15 years in the roles of Corporate Treasurer, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. At Sovereign Bank, Mr. Brugger was responsible for investment portfolio management, wholesale funding, liquidity, regulatory and economic capital, securitization, interest rate risk, business unit profitability, budgeting, and treasury operations. He was Chairman of the Asset/Liability committee and all pricing committees. In addition, he participated in 19 acquisitions while at Sovereign Bank. Before Sovereign Bank, he worked in the treasury department and internal audit at Independence Bancorp.
Warren Taylor, President and Director of Community Banking - Age 52
Mr. Taylor is the President and Director of Community Banking. He joined Customers Bank in July 2009. Prior to Customers Bank, Mr. Taylor was employed by Sovereign Bank for 20 years in the role of Division President. At Sovereign Bank, Mr. Taylor was responsible for retail banking in various markets in southeastern Pennsylvania and central and southern New Jersey. Mr. Taylor was actively involved with team member selection from the branch manager role and higher.
Glenn A. Hedde, President of Customers Bank Mortgage Warehouse Lending - Age 50
Mr. Hedde is the President of Customers Bank Mortgage Warehouse Lending. He joined Customers Bank in August 2009, and immediately prior to that he provided consulting services in the banking, mortgage banking and multi-family lending industries. Mr. Hedde was the President of Commercial Operations at Popular Financial Holdings, LLC from 2000 to 2008. During his time at Popular Financial, Mr. Hedde was a member of a senior leadership team with direct responsibility for management of more than $300 million assets in mortgage warehouse lending. Additionally, Mr. Hedde was responsible for business development, risk management, collateral operations and compliance. Mr. Hedde also previously worked in mortgage banking, business development, and credit quality management for various companies including GE Capital Mortgage Services, Inc. and PNC Bank.
BOARD GOVERNANCE
Information about our Board of Directors
During 2010, the Bank’s board of directors held 19 meetings, excluding committee meetings, which are described below. See “Director Compensation Table” and the notes and narratives below such table, beginning on page 42 of this proxy statement, for more information on director fees.
In 2010, each of the directors of the Bank attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of board meetings held while he was a director, and (ii) the total number of meetings held by committees during his service on those committees.
The table below highlights the membership composition of our various board level committees:
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Executive
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Audit
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Risk Management
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Compensation
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Nominating and Corporate Governance
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* Committee Chair
Board Leadership Structure
The board of directors believes that our Chief Executive Officer is best situated to serve as Chairman because he is the director most familiar with our business and the financial services industry, and most capable of effectively identifying strategic priorities and leading the discussion and execution of strategy. Independent directors and management have different perspectives and roles in strategy development. Our independent directors bring experience, oversight and expertise from outside the Bank and industry, while the Chief Executive Officer brings industry-specific experience and expertise. The board believes that the combined role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer promotes strategy development, and its execution, and facilitates information flow between management and the board, which are essential to effective governance.
One of the key responsibilities of the board is to develop strategic direction and hold management accountable for the execution of strategy once it is developed. The board believes the combined role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, together with an independent Lead Director having the duties described below, is in the best interest of shareholders because it provides the appropriate balance between management and strategy development on the one hand and independent oversight on the other.
Daniel K. Rothermel, an independent director who serves as Chairman of the Risk Management and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, was selected by the board of directors to serve as the Lead Director. As Lead Director, Mr. Rothermel presides over all board meetings when the Chairman is not present, and presides over meetings of the non-management directors held in executive session. The Lead Director has the responsibility of meeting and consulting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on board and committee meeting agendas, acting as a liaison between management and the non-management directors, including maintaining frequent contact with the Chairman and Chief Executive and advising him on the efficiency of the board meetings, and facilitating teamwork and communication between the non-management directors and management.
Risk Oversight
The board of directors believes that establishing the right “tone at the top” and full and open communication between management and the board of directors are essential for effective risk management and oversight. At each regular board meeting, the directors receive a summary on areas of material risk to the Bank, including credit, market, liquidity and operational risk. These summary reports are in a scorecard structure and they assist the directors in the early identification of risks. The board also created a board Risk Management Committee and a management Risk Committee to monitor and oversee all risk of the Bank in a more detailed fashion. The board can ask either committee to research issues and address any risk issues that merit additional focus and attention. These committees will develop recommendations to manage risk and will bring any material issues to the attention of the full board.
The board of directors has an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing management of our risks. The Audit Committee assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to areas of financial reporting and compliance with laws, rules and regulations applicable to us, including those related to accounting regulation. The Audit Committee is composed of independent, non-executive directors free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment. The independent auditors are ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee and the board of directors. The Audit Committee reviews the independence and performance of the auditors and annually recommends to the board of directors the appointment of the independent auditors or approve any discharge of auditors when circumstances warrant. The chief internal auditor reports directly to the Audit Committee. The annual risk assessment and internal audit plan are approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee performs other oversight functions as requested by the board of directors.
The Compensation Committee assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to our compensation policies and programs. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will assist the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risks associated with board of directors organization and membership, and succession planning for our directors.
Director Independence
Each of Messrs. Rothermel, Way, Zuckerman, Miller and Choudhrie was considered independent in 2010, as independence for board members is defined under NASDAQ Rules. In determining that Messrs. Rothermel, Way, Zuckerman, Miller and Choudhrie meet the definition of independent, the board of directors considered routine banking transactions between Customers Bank or its affiliates and each of the directors, their family members and businesses with whom they are associated, such as loans, deposit accounts, routine purchases of insurance or securities brokerage products, any overdrafts that may have occurred on deposit accounts, any contributions Customers Bank made to non-profit organizations with whom any of the directors are associated, and any transactions that are discussed under “TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES” beginning on page 44 of this proxy statement. In addition, when determining Mr. Zuckerman’s independence, the board considered and deemed immaterial certain advertising arrangements Customers Bank has with Clipper Magazine and its affiliates, for which Mr. Zuckerman is the Chief Executive Officer.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the board of directors can act on behalf of the board of directors in between meetings of the full board, to the extent permitted by law, in order to carry out the business of the Bank.
The Bank’s Executive Committee held 2 meetings during 2010.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
In April 2010, we established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. This committee has responsibility for identifying and evaluating candidates for director and recommending the nomination of directors to the full board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review and assess the adequacy of our corporate governance guidelines, personal codes of conduct and related internal policies and guidelines, assist the board of directors in interpreting and applying corporate governance guidelines, and recommend any proposed changes to the board of directors for approval. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has a charter. The board of directors has determined that each member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent as defined under NASDAQ Rules.
The Bank’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held 2 meetings during 2010.
Director Nominations
Our bylaws contain provisions that address the process by which a shareholder may nominate an individual to stand for election to the board of directors at the Bank’s Annual Meeting.
In evaluating director nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the following factors:
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The appropriate size of our board of directors and its Committees;
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The perceived needs of the board for particular skills, background, and business experience;
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The skills, background, reputation, and business experience of nominees compared to the skills, background, reputation, and business experience already possessed by other members of the board; and
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The nominees’ independence from management.
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There are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider such other factors as it may deem are in our best interests and the interests of our shareholders. The Committee does, however, believe it appropriate for at least one member of the board to meet the criteria for an “audit committee financial expert,” that a majority of the members of the board meet the definition of “independent director” under NASDAQ Rules, and that one or more key members of management participate as members of the board.
While we have no formal policy with respect to diversity on the board, in order to enhance the overall quality of the board’s deliberations and decisions, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks candidates with diverse professional backgrounds and experiences, representing a mix of industries and professions with varied skill sets and expertise.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the current members of the expiring class of directors willing to continue in service. Current members of the expiring class with skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by members of the expiring class with that of obtaining a new perspective. If any member of the expiring class does not wish to continue in service or if the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the board decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies the desired skills and experience of a new nominee, and discusses with the board suggestions as to individuals that meet the criteria. The Committee has not engaged third parties to identify, evaluate, or assist in identifying potential nominees, but relies on community and business contacts it has established through its directors, officers and professional advisors to help it identify potential director candidates when a specific need is identified.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate any recommendation for a director nominee proposed by a shareholder. In order to be evaluated in connection with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s procedures for evaluating potential director nominees, any recommendation for director nominee must be submitted in accordance with our procedures for shareholder nominees. Our bylaws require that all nominations made by a shareholder must be made in writing, delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Bank not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any meeting of the shareholders called for the election of directors. If less than thirty (30) days' notice of the meeting is given to the shareholders, the nomination shall be delivered or mailed to the Secretary not later than the close of the seventh (7th) day following the day on which notice of the meeting was mailed to shareholders. Every nomination must include: (a) the consent of the person nominated to serve as a director; (b) the name, age, business address and residence address of the nominee; (c) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee; (d) the number of shares of the Bank beneficially owned by the nominee; (e) the name and address of the notifying shareholder; and (f) the number of shares of the Bank owned by the notifying shareholder.
The Bank’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held 2 meetings during 2010.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. For this purpose, the Audit Committee performs several functions:
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Approves in advance the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for all audit and non-audit services, and approves the fees and other terms of the engagement;
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Maintains responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm and evaluates the qualifications, performance, and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm;
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Reviews, with our independent registered public accounting firm, any significant difficulties, disagreements, or restrictions encountered during the course of the audit, and reviews any management letters issued by the independent registered public accounting firm;
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Reviews the critical accounting policies and all alternative treatments of financial information discussed by the independent registered public accounting firm with management, and reviews with management significant judgments made in the preparation of financial statements;
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Reviews, with management and our independent registered public accounting firm, our financial reporting processes and internal financial controls;
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Reviews the annual audited financial statements and recommends to the board of directors their inclusion in our annual report;
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Reviews the quarterly financial statements and earnings press releases;
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Reviews and approves any related party transactions;
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Establishes and oversees procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters; reviews changes in, or waivers of, our Code of Ethics, and as requested by the board, reviews and investigates any conduct alleged to be in violation of the Code of Ethics; and
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Periodically reviews and discusses with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Accounting Standards No. 61 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards No. 380) and any formal written statements received from the independent registered public accounting firm.
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The Bank’s Audit Committee held 3 meetings during 2010.
The board of directors has determined that, during 2010, Mr. Way would qualify as a “financial expert” within the meaning of that term in the SEC regulations dealing with audit committee financial experts. It has also determined that Messrs. Rothermel, Way, Miller and Choudhrie are “independent” within the meaning of that term under NASDAQ Rules. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the charter for adequacy on an annual basis.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee of the board of directors:
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Periodically reviews and advises the board concerning both regional and industry-wide compensation practices and trends in order to assess the adequacy and competitiveness of our compensation programs for executive officers and directors relative to comparable companies in our industry;
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Reviews and makes recommendations regarding all benefit programs and human resource policies;
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Reviews the performance of the CEO on an annual basis and sets goals for the coming year;
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Reviews and approves corporate and personal performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of all executive officers, and sets all executive compensation;
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Makes recommendations to the board regarding the establishment and terms of incentive compensation plans and equity compensation plans, and administers such plans;
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Approves grants of options, restricted stock, and other awards to all executive officers and directors;
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Approves compensation related matters outside the ordinary course to executive officers and directors, including but not limited to employment contracts, change-in-control provisions, severance arrangements, and material amendments thereto; and
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Makes recommendations to the board regarding director compensation in conjunction with the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee.
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The Bank’s Compensation Committee held 4 meeting during 2010. The board of directors has determined that each of the members of the Compensation Committee is “independent” within the meaning of that term under NASDAQ Rules.
Risk Management Committee
The Risk Management Committee of the board of directors:
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Assists the full board in oversight of the Bank’s risk governance process and framework;
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Reviews and approves the Bank’s significant risk assessment and management policies; and
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Reviews management information regarding enterprise risk.
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The Bank’s Risk Management Committee held 4 meetings during 2010.
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings
While we have no formal policy regarding director attendance at our Annual Meeting, we make every effort to schedule our Annual Meeting at a time and date to maximize attendance by directors taking into account the directors’ schedules. We believe that Annual Meetings provide an opportunity for shareholders to communicate with directors and have requested that all directors make every effort to attend our Annual Meetings. Historically, more than a majority of the directors have done so; for example, in 2010, 7 of the Bank’s then-directors attended the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Bank.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The Bank’s Compensation Objectives and the Focus of Compensation Rewards
The Bank’s compensation program is designed to attract highly qualified individuals, retain those individuals in a competitive marketplace for executive talent and motivate performance in a manner that maximizes corporate performance while ensuring that these programs do not encourage unnecessary or excessive risks that threaten the value of the bank. The Bank seeks to align individual performance with long-term strategic business objectives and shareholder value, and believes that the combination of executive compensation provided fulfills these objectives.
Currently, the Bank’s executive compensation program has three key elements: (1) salary; (2) bonus and (3) long-term equity incentives. The mix of short term performance incentives versus long term incentives are reviewed annually with the intention of achieving a reasonable balance of those incentives. The Bank does not have set percentages of short term versus long term incentives.
Compensation philosophy is determined by the board of directors, based upon the recommendations of the Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors. The Bank’s chief executive officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee concerning the compensation of other executive officers, but does not participate in establishing his own compensation.
The guiding principle of the Bank’s compensation philosophy is that the compensation of executive officers should be based primarily on the financial performance of the Bank, and partially on individual performance. While this “pay-for-performance” philosophy requires the Compensation Committee to first consider the Bank’s profitability, the Committee does not intend to reward unnecessary or excessive risk taking. These principles are reflected in the specific elements of the compensation program, particularly the incentive bonus program, as described below.
Role of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee
The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities regarding the Bank’s compensation and benefit plans and practices. Authority granted to the Compensation Committee is established by the board of directors. The Compensation Committee met as necessary in 2010. The Compensation Committee strongly considered the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer regarding the other named executive officers. The actions of the Compensation Committee were presented for discussion at meetings of the full Board of Directors.
Specific Elements of the Compensation Program
Described below are the specific elements of the Bank’s compensation program for executive officers.
Salary
The Bank believes that a key objective of the salary structure is to maintain reasonable “fixed” compensation costs, while taking into account the performance of the executive officers. Base salaries are paid to executive officers on a bi-weekly basis, and are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee as described in “Compensation Methodology,” above. The Compensation Committee determines if any base pay changes should be made for executive officers. All of the named executive officers for 2010 joined the Bank in 2009, and their initial base salaries were established by the Compensation Committee. Base pay changes, if any, are normally determined after considering the executive’s current base pay position relative to the Bank’s peer group, Customer Bank’s performance and the individual’s contribution to that performance for the prior year and the national and regional economic conditions, their effect upon Customer Bank and how the executive has dealt with them within his or her area of responsibility.
In 2010, the Compensation Committee decided not to raise salaries of the named executive officers because such officers had been with the Bank only since 2009. The salaries disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table set forth on page 33 of this Annual Proxy Statement-Prospectus indicate the actual amount paid to each named executive officer in 2009 and 2010. Since each of the named executive officers were employed by the Bank for less than half of 2009, the total salary paid to each such person is significantly higher in 2010 compared to 2009, however, the salary rates were not changed during those periods.
Bonuses
Bonuses are designed to motivate executives by rewarding performance. The Compensation Committee considers the Bank’s financial performance, including growth and various financial measures. As with base salary, the Compensation Committee also considers national and regional economic conditions. The chief executive officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to the annual bonus of the other executive officers, based on their respective contributions to the performance of the areas for which they are responsible. Based on the Bank’s 2009 performance, limited bonuses were paid to the named executive officers in 2010.
Bonuses earned in 2010 and approved by the Compensation Committee on February 17, 2011 are based on the judgement of the Committee and recommendations of executive management. The bonus allocated to Glenn Hedde is based on 10% of the net profit of the mortgage warehouse division. The bonus will be paid 40% in cash and 60% in restricted stock units that vest over a three year period.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation
The Bank’s shareholders approved the Management Stock Purchase Plan, the 2010 Stock Option Plan and the Bonus Retention and Recognition Plan (referred to collectively as “equity compensation programs”) at the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders held on December 9, 2010.
The Bank’s equity compensation program permits the Compensation Committee to grant stock options and restricted stock unit awards on a discretionary basis. With the exception of warrants issued to Mr. Sidhu in connection with the capital raising activities in 2009, none of the named executive officers were granted equity awards in 2009 due to their limited employment periods. Stock options were granted to the named executive officers in 2010 at an exercise price equal to the then current market price of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock.
Perquisites, Post-Retirement and Other Elements of Compensation for Executive Officers
In order to attract and retain qualified executives, the Bank provides executives with a variety of benefits and perquisites, consisting primarily of retirement benefits through a 401(k), executive life insurance, and the use of automobiles. Details of the values of these benefits and perquisites that were paid to the named executive officers in 2010 may be found in the footnotes and narratives to the summary compensation table.
Employment and Other Agreements
The Bank has entered into Employment Agreements with each of Messrs. Sidhu, Ehst and Brugger, and a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreement with Mr. Sidhu, the material elements of which are described elsewhere in this Annual Proxy Statement-Prospectus. See "EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Officer Employment Agreements" beginning on page 41.
Consideration of Risk
The Bank’s compensation methods are discretionary and balance short and long-term goals for it’s executive officers. The Compensation Committee strives to provide strong incentives to manage the Bank for the long-term, while avoiding excessive risk taking in the short term. Goals and objectives reflect a fair mix of quantitative and qualitative performance measures to avoid excessive weight on a single performance measure. As a matter of best practice, beginning in 2010, the Compensation Committee intends to annually review the relationship between the risk management practices and the incentive compensation provided to the executive officers to confirm that the incentive compensation does not encourage unnecessary and excessive risks.
Risk Management Checks and Balances
The Committee believes that the design and governance of the Bank’s executive compensation program is consistent with the highest standards of risk management. The design of the executive compensation program supports the Bank’s risk management goals through an interlocking set of checks and balances.
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Rather than determining incentive compensation awards based on a single metric, the Committee applies its informed judgment taking into account factors such as quality and sustainability of earnings, successful implementation of strategic initiatives and adherence to risk and compliance policies and other core values of the Bank.
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To further ensure that executive officers are focused on long-term performance, a significant portion of the incentive award is provided as a long-term equity award that does not become earned and paid until three to five years after the grant date.
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Use of equity awards aligns executive officers’ interests with the interests of shareholders, and the significant stock ownership requirements further enhance this alignment.
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Together, these features of the executive compensation program are intended to:
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Ensure that compensation opportunities do not encourage excessive risk taking;
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Focus executive officers on managing the bank towards creating long-term, sustainable value for shareholders; and
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Provide appropriate levels of realized rewards over time.
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Compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
The executive compensation arrangements are intended to be maintained in conformity with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, which imposes certain restrictions on deferred compensation arrangements and tax penalties on the affected employees if their deferred compensation arrangements do not comply with those restrictions.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth information for each of the named executive officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008: (1) the dollar value of base salary and bonus earned; (2) option awards; (3) all other compensation; and (4) the dollar value of total compensation.
Name & Principal
Position
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Year
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Salary
($)
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Bonus
($)
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Stock Award ($) (4)
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Option
Awards
($) (2)
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All Other
Compensation
($) (3)
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Pension ($) (6)
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Total ($)
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Richard A. Ehst
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2010
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150,000
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75,000
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12,500
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252,371
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21,500
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--
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511,371
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President & COO
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2009
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55,668
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27,833
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--
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--
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5,461
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--
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88,962
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2008
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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EVP & Chief Financial Officer
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Warren Taylor
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2010
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134,615
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50,000
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187,500
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51,570
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1,508
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--
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425,193
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President and Director of
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2009
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64,620
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10,000
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--
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--
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632
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--
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75,252
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Community Banking
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2008
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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--
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President of Customers Bank
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Mortgage Warehouse Lending
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(1)
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The columns disclosing Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation and Non- Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings have been omitted from the table because no named executive officer earned any compensation during 2010, 2009 or 2008 of a type required to be disclosed in those columns.
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(2)
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Represents the grant date fair value, as calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, including 834,350 immediately exercisable warrants to purchase Voting Common Stock of the Bank granted to Mr. Sidhu in connection with the 2009 private offering.
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(3)
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In addition to the items specified in footnotes (5) and (6) below, the amounts listed in this column include for each named executive officer insurance premiums paid under the Bank’s insurance plans available to all employees, and matching 401(k) contributions paid under the Bank’s 401(k) Retirement Savings and Profit Sharing Plan, as well as car allowance payments for each of Messrs. Ehst and Brugger. For a summary of the Bank’s insurance plans, see “EMPLOYEE BENEFITS-Insurance” at page 41 of this proxy statement. For a summary of the 401(k) Retirement Savings and Profit Sharing Plan, see “EMPLOYEE BENEFITS-401(k) Retirement Savings and Profit Sharing Plan” at page 41 of this proxy statement.
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(4)
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Represents the aggregate grant date fair value calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 of awards to purchase shares of the Bank Common Stock at a purchase price of $1.00 per share, granted pursuant to the Management Stock Purchase Plan. For a summary of the Management Stock Purchase Plan, see the description on 34 of this proxy statement.
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(5)
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Includes $14,755 paid as a car allowance for Mr. Sidhu in 2009.
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(6)
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Reflects the aggregate present value of the benefits under Mr. Sidhu’s supplemental executive retirement plan that became effective upon the acquisition of USA Bank on July 9, 2010.
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(7)
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Represents aggregate bonus for 2010 of which $293,752 will be paid through the issuance of 73,438 shares of restricted stock units in February 2011 under the 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan. The restricted stock units vest over a three year period.
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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS(10)
Name
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Grant date
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All other stock awards: Number of shares of stock
(#)
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All other option awards: Number of securities underlying options
(#) (2)
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Exercise or base price of option awards
($/Sh)
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Grant date fair value of stock and
option awards ($)
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Jay S. Sidhu
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4/6/2010
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--
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1,346,262 (3)
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3.25
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1,388,534(3)
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7/14/2010
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--
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35,000 (4)
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3.50
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32,071(4)
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7/9/2010
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430,000 (1)
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--
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--
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12/28/2010
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--
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223,262 (5)
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4.00
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263,204(5)
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1/31/2011
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--
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229,375 (6)
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4.00
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264,722 (6)
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2/28/2011
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--
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15,083 (7)
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4.00 (7)
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16,291(7)
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4/6/2010
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--
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201,939 (3)
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3.25
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208,280(3)
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Richard A. Ehst
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7/14/2010
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--
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5,250 (4)
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3.50
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4,811(4)
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7/9/2010
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5,000 (1)
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--
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--
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12/28/2010
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--
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33,489 (5)
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4.00
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39,481(5)
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1/31/2011
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--
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34,406 (6)
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4.00
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39,708 (6)
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2/28/2011
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--
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2,262 (7)
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4.00 (7)
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2,444(7)
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4/6/2010
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--
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201,939 (3)
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3.25
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208,280(3)
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Thomas R. Brugger
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7/14/2010
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--
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5,250 (4)
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3.50
|
4,811(4)
|
|
7/9/2010
|
50,000 (1)
|
--
|
|
--
|
|
12/28/2010
|
--
|
33,489 (5)
|
4.00
|
39,481(5)
|
|
1/31/2011
|
--
|
34,406 (6)
|
4.00
|
39,708 (6)
|
|
2/28/2011
|
--
|
2,062 (7)
|
4.00 (7)
|
2,444(7)
|
Warren Taylor
|
4/6/2010
|
--
|
50,000 (3)
|
3.25
|
51,570(3)
|
|
7/9/2010
|
75,000 (1)
|
--
|
|
--
|
|
2/17/2011
|
--
|
50,000 (8)
|
4.00 (8)
|
55,230(8)
|
Glenn A. Hedde
|
4/6/2010
|
--
|
10,000 (3)
|
3.25
|
10,314(3)
|
|
7/9/2010
|
30,000 (1)
|
--
|
|
--
|
|
2/17/2011
|
--
|
25,000 (8)
|
4.00 (8)
|
27,615(8)
|
|
2/17/2011
|
73,438 (9)
|
--
|
4.00 (9)
|
293,752(9)
|
|
(1)
|
Reflects restricted stock shares issued under the Management Stock Purchase Plan at $1.00 per share.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Includes options awarded on April 6, 2010 with an exercise price of $3.25 and vesting of 20% per year on the first through fifth anniversary date of grant, options awarded on July 14, 2010 to Messrs. Sidhu, Ehst and Brugger with an exercise price of $3.50 and vesting of 20% per year on the first through fifth anniversary date of grant, options awarded on December 28, 2010 to Messrs Sidhu, Ehst, and Brugger with an exercise price of $4.00 and vesting of 20% per year on the first through fifth anniversary date of grant, options awarded on February 17, 2011 to Messrs Taylor and Hedde with an exercise price of $4.00 per share and vesting of 20% per year on the fifth anniversary date of grant, and options awarded on February 28, 2011 to Messrs Sidhu, Ehst and Brugger with an exercise price of $4.00 per share and vesting of 20% per year on the first through fifth anniversary date of grant. All options are non-qualified stock options.
|
|
|
(3)
|
This value is based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which estimates the present dollar value of Customer Bank’s common stock to be $1.03 per share under option. The actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance the value realized will be at or near the value estimated by the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions underlying the Black-Scholes model include: (a) an expected volatility of 20%; (b) a risk-free rate of return of 3.28%, which equals the zero-coupon rate paid on U.S. Treasury bonds with lives approximating the expected term of the option as of the grant date; (c) the Bank has not paid dividends through 2010 and (d) an expected term of 7 years.
|
|
|
(4)
|
This value is based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which estimates the present dollar value of the company’s common stock option to be $0.92 per share under option. The actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance the value realized will be at or near the value estimated by the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions underlying the Black-Scholes model include: (a) an expected volatility of 20%; (b) a risk-free rate of return of 1.82%, which equals the zero-coupon rate paid on U.S. Treasury bonds with lives approximating the expected term of the option as of the grant date; (c) the Bank has not paid dividends through 2010 and (d) an expected term of 7 years.
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
This value is based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which estimates the present dollar value of the company’s common stock option to be $1.178 per share under option. The actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance the value realized will be at or near the value estimated by the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions underlying the Black-Scholes model include: (a) an expected volatility of 20%; (b) a risk-free rate of return of 2.89%, which equals the zero-coupon rate paid on U.S. Treasury bonds with lives approximating the expected term of the option as of the grant date; (c) the Bank has not paid dividends through 2010 and (d) an expected term of 7 years.
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
This value is based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which estimates the present dollar value of Customer Bank’s common stock to be $1.1541 per share under option. The actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance the value realized will be at or near the value estimated by the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions underlying the Black-Scholes model include: (a) an expected volatility of 20%; (b) a risk-free rate of return of 1.95%, which equals the zero-coupon rate paid on U.S. Treasury bonds with lives approximating the expected term of the option as of the grant date; (c) Customers Bank’s has not paid dividends through 2010 and (d) an expected term of 7 years.
|
|
|
(7)
|
This value is based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which estimates the present dollar value of Customer Bank’s common stock to be $1.0801 per share under option. The actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance the value realized will be at or near the value estimated by the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions underlying the Black-Scholes model include: (a) an expected volatility of 20%; (b) a risk-free rate of return of 2.13%, which equals the zero-coupon rate paid on U.S. Treasury bonds with lives approximating the expected term of the option as of the grant date; (c) the Bank has not paid dividends through 2010 and (d) an expected term of 7 years.
|
|
|
|
(8)
|
This value is based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which estimates the present dollar value of Customer Bank’s common stock to be $1.1046 per share under option. The actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance the value realized will be at or near the value estimated by the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions underlying the Black-Scholes model include: (a) an expected volatility of 20%; (b) a risk-free rate of return of 2.30%, which equals the zero-coupon rate paid on U.S. Treasury bonds with lives approximating the expected term of the option as of the grant date; (c) the Bank has not paid dividends through 2010 and (d) an expected term of 7 years.
|
|
|
|
(9)
|
Reflects restricted stock units issued under the 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.
|
|
|
|
(10)
|
The columns disclosing Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards and Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards have been omitted from the table because no named executive officer earned any compensation of a type required to be disclosed in those columns.
|
|
|
2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan
During 2004, the shareholders of Customers Bank approved the 2004 Incentive Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan (“2004 Plan”), the purpose of which is to promote the success and enhance the value of Customers Bank by linking the personal interests of the members of the board of directors and Customers Bank’s employees, officers and executives to those of Customers Bank’s shareholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance in order to generate superior returns to shareholders of Customers Bank. The 2004 Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to Customers Bank in its ability to motivate, attract and retain the services of members of the board of directors, employees, officers and executives of Customers Bank.
The 2004 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors. It provides for the grant of options, some or all of which may be structured to qualify as incentive stock options if granted to employees, and for the grant of stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and unrestricted stock up to a total of 200,000 shares of Voting Common Stock. At Customers Bank’s next annual meeting of shareholders, it intends to seek shareholder approval for an amendment of the 2004 Plan that will extend the term of the 2004 Plan for an additional 10 years after the date of that annual meeting and increase the number of shares eligible for grant underlying awards pursuant to the 2004 Plan by one million three hundred thousand (1,300,000) shares to one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares total.
Management Stock Purchase Plan
In December 2010, the Bank’s shareholders approved Customers Bank’s Management Stock Purchase Plan (the “Management Stock Purchase Plan”), which consists of a pool of 700,000 shares of Common Stock of the Bank (or any successor bank or holding company of the Bank) that may be offered for purchase by senior management personnel at a deeply-discounted purchase price of $1.00 per share during a short election period. The Management Stock Purchase Plan is intended to provide the Bank with a flexible way to motivate, attract, and retain the services of employees, officers, and executives upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Bank’s operation largely depends. The Management Stock Purchase Plan promotes the success and enhances the value of the Bank by linking the personal interests of executive and senior management-level employees of the Bank to those of shareholders, and by providing those individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance in order to generate superior returns to shareholders.
The Management Stock Purchase Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors or, in certain cases, by the full board of directors. The Compensation Committee, or the full board if applicable, has the authority to determine which senior management personnel may be granted the right to purchase shares under the Management Stock Purchase Plan, and to make decisions and interpretations necessary to administer the Management Stock Purchase Plan. In making determinations, the Compensation Committee may consider the nature of services rendered by the individual, his or her present and potential contributions to the Bank’s success and other factors as the Committee in its discretion deems relevant. Unless sooner terminated by the board, the Management Stock Purchase Plan will expire ten (10) years from the date the Management Stock Purchase Plan was approved by the shareholders of the Bank, which was December 9, 2010. Offers granted under the Management Stock Purchase Plan are, by the 2004 Plan’s terms, not transferable other than by will or laws of descent and distribution. No right or interest of a participant in any offer may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Bank, or be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of the participant to any other party other than the Bank. However, the foregoing does not imply any obligation of the Bank to lend against or accept a lien or pledge of any offer for any reason.
2010 Stock Option Plan
In December 2010, the Bank’s shareholders approved the 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”) which provides for the grant of stock options to management personnel, other employees of the Bank, and non-employee members of the board of directors. The purpose of the Stock Option Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of the Bank by linking the personal interest of employees, officers, executive and non-employee directors of the Bank to those of shareholders and by providing those individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance in order to generate superior returns to shareholders. The Stock Option Plan provides flexibility for the Bank to motivate, attract, and retain the services of employees, officers, and executives upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Bank’s operation largely depends. The options can take the form of either tax-qualified incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code (“ISOs”) or non-qualified stock options (“NQOs”), although only NQOs may be granted to non-employee directors.
The Stock Option Plan consists of a pool of the lesser of ten million (10,000,000) shares of Common Stock the Bank, or fifteen percent (15%) of the number of shares of Common Stock and Class B Non-Voting Common Stock issued by the Bank in consideration of cash or other property after December 31, 2009. The Stock Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors or, in certain cases, by the full board of directors. The maximum number of shares underlying options granted to any single participant during a fiscal year shall be six million six hundred sixty six thousand six hundred sixty seven (6,666,667) shares of Common Stock or Class B Non-Voting Common Stock. All employees are potentially eligible to receive options under the Stock Option Plan. In making determinations regarding the potential eligibility of any employee, the Compensation Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the employee, his or her present and potential contributions to the Bank’s success and such other factors as the Compensation Committee in its discretion deems relevant.
The Compensation Committee is authorized to grant stock options to participants subject to the following terms and conditions: (1) the exercise price per share of an option must not be less than the fair market value of one share at the time the option is granted, and the term of an option must not be longer than ten (10) years from the date of grant; and (2) in the case of a participant who owns stock representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Bank at the time of the grant of an option to that participant, the option cannot qualify as an ISO unless the exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock at the time of grant and the term is not longer than five years from the date of grant.
Unless sooner terminated by the board, the Stock Option Plan will expire ten (10) years from the date the Stock Option Plan was approved by the shareholders of the Bank, which was December 9, 2010. The termination of the Stock Option Plan must not affect any option that is outstanding on the termination date without the consent of the participant. Offers granted under the Stock Option Plan are, by its terms, not transferable other than by will or laws of descent and distribution. No right or interest of a participant in any offer may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Bank, or be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of that participant to any other party other than the Bank; provided, however, that the foregoing must not be deemed to imply any obligation of the Bank to lend against or accept a lien or pledge of any offer for any reason.
The Compensation Committee recently approved equity compensation awards to certain named executive officers and members of senior management under each of the Management Stock Purchase Plan and Stock Option Plan.
Stock Option Grants in Connection with Recent Private Offerings
In connection with a recent offering, under its 2010 Stock Option Plan, the Bank granted 10-year nonqualified stock options to members of its senior management team for shares up to 15% of the offered shares. Of these, 10% were granted to Mr. Sidhu and 3.0% were granted to other executive officers, with the remainder being granted to unidentified employees. As long as an individual to whom these options are granted remains an employee or director of the Bank, as the case may be, the options will vest 5 years from the date of grant, subject to earlier vesting upon a change in control of the Bank or a termination without cause of the executive’s employment (but not, in the case of employees other than Mr. Sidhu, termination of employment upon voluntary resignation). In Mr. Sidhu’s case, the options will vest upon his resignation for “Good Reason” in accordance with the provisions of his employment agreement but not on any other voluntary resignation. Vesting of each award is also contingent upon achievement, at any time during the option life, of a performance goal that the market price of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock appreciate by 50%.
Bonus Recognition And Retention Program
In December 2010, the Bank’s shareholders approved the Bonus Recognition and Retention Program (the “BRRP”) which provides specified benefits to a select group of management and highly compensated employees who contribute materially to the continued growth, development and future business success of the Bank that are eligible under the BRRP. Participation in the BRRP is limited to a select group of management and highly compensated employees, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. From that group, the Committee selects, in its sole discretion, the employees who are eligible to participate in the BRRP, which always includes the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer.
As a condition of participation, each selected employee must annually complete and return to the Committee (or its designee) the forms the Committee may prescribe, including an annual deferral election form. Each election made by a participant to defer receipt of a portion of his or her bonus for a given calendar year must be filed no later than December 31 prior to the calendar year with respect to which the relevant bonus may be earned; provided, however, in the event an employee is hired during a plan year and is designated as being eligible to participate for that year, the employee may commence participation for that year by filing a deferral election within 30 days of employment. Each eligible employee must file a new deferral election for each year with respect to which he or she desires to defer receipt of a portion of a bonus.
A participant may elect to defer receipt of not less than 25%, nor more than 50%, of his or her bonus payable with respect to each year of participation. Shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the portion of the bonus deferred by a participant will be allocated to an annual deferral account (the “Annual Deferral Account”) established by the Bank for the year of deferral. On the same day that the shares of Common Stock attributable to a deferred bonus are allocated to the Annual Deferral Account, a matching amount equal to an identical number of shares of Common Stock shall be allocated to the Annual Deferral Account. . The Annual Deferral Account shall be increased by that number of shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount of any cash dividend payable with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock allocated to the Annual Deferral Account.
In the event a participant files a deferral election and subsequently terminates as an employee prior to the date bonuses are paid for in that year, the deferral election filed for that year shall be administered as provided in the BRRP. In such event, if (a) he or she is entitled to a bonus notwithstanding termination or (b) the termination of employment is related to death, disability, or is involuntary or related to a change in control, then the bonus and the related matching amount shall be distributed to the individual or his or her beneficiary in cash or invested and so distributed in Common Stock, at the Compensation Committee’s election, within 60 days following the date that year’s bonuses are paid.
A participant becomes 100% vested in an Annual Deferral Account on the fifth anniversary date of the initial funding of the account, provided he or she remains continuously employed by the Bank or any subsidiaries from the date of funding to the anniversary date. All required tax withholding with respect to an employee’s participation in the BRRP is his or her responsibility.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END TABLE—NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth information on outstanding warrants and options awards held by the named executive officers at June 30, 2011, including the number of shares underlying each stock option and warrant as well as the exercise price and the expiration date of each outstanding option and warrant.
|
Option Awards
|
Stock Awards
|
Name & Principal Position
|
Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Warrants or Options
(#)
Exercisable
|
Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Warrants or Options
(#)
Unexercisable
|
Warrant or Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Warrant or 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
(#)
|
Jay S. Sidhu
|
571,918 (2)
|
-
|
3.50 (2)
|
6/30/2016
|
-
|
-
|
Chairman & CEO
|
65,671 (2)
|
-
|
3.50 (2)
|
9/30/2016
|
-
|
-
|
|
181,895 (2)
|
-
|
3.50 (2)
|
11/13/2016
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
1,346,262 (3)
|
3.25 (3)
|
4/6/2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
35,000 (4)
|
3.50 (4)
|
7/14/2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
198,262 (5)
|
4.00 (5)
|
12/28/2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
229,375 (6)
|
4.00 (6)
|
1/31/2018
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
15,083 (8)
|
4.00 (8)
|
2/17/2018
|
-
|
-
|
Richard A. Ehst
|
-
|
201,939 (3)
|
3.25 (3)
|
4/6/2017
|
-
|
-
|
President & COO
|
-
|
5,250 (4)
|
3.50 (4)
|
7/14/2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
33,489 (5)
|
4.00 (5)
|
12/28/2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
34,406 (6)
|
4.00 (6)
|
1/31/2018
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
2,262 (8)
|
4.00 (8)
|
2/17/2018
|
-
|
-
|
Thomas R. Brugger
|
-
|
201,939 (3)
|
3.25 (3)
|
4/6/2017
|
-
|
-
|
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
|
-
|
5,250 (4)
|
3.50 (4)
|
7/14/2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
33,489 (5)
|
4.00 (5)
|
12/28/2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
34,406 (6)
|
4.00 (6)
|
1/31/2018
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
2,262 (8)
|
4.00 (8)
|
2/17/2018
|
-
|
-
|
Warren Taylor
|
-
|
50,000 (3)
|
3.25 (3)
|
4/6/2017
|
-
|
-
|
President and Director of Community Banking
|
-
|
50,000 (7)
|
4.00 (7)
|
2/17/2018
|
-
|
-
|
Glenn A. Hedde
|
-
|
10,000 (3)
|
3.25 (3)
|
4/6/2017
|
-
|
-
|
President of Customers Bank Mortgage Warehouse Lending
|
-
|
25,000 (7)
|
4.00 (7)
|
2/17/2018
|
73,438 (8)
|
$4.00
|
(1)
|
The columns disclosing “equity incentive plan awards - number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options,” have been omitted from the table because no named executive officer had any awards described in those columns outstanding at fiscal year end.
|
(2)
|
Represents immediately exercisable warrants to purchase Voting Common Stock of the Bank granted to Mr. Sidhu in connection with an agreement between the Bank and Mr. Sidhu relating to the 2009 private offerings.
|
(3)
|
Stock options awarded in April 2010 vest at the rate of 20% per year, with vesting dates of 4/6/2011, 4/6/2012, 4/6/2013, 4/6/2014 and 4/6/2015.
|
(4)
|
Stock options awarded in July 2010 vest at the rate of 20% per year, with vesting dates of 7/14/2011, 7/14/2012, 7/14/2013, 7/14/2014 and 7/14/2015.
|
(5)
|
Stock options awarded in December 2010 vest at the rate of 20% per year, with vesting dates of 12/28/2011 12/28/2012, 12/28/2013, 12/28/2014 and 12/28/2015.
|
|
|
(6)
|
Stock options awarded in January 2011 vest at a rate of 20% per year with vesting dates 1/31/2012, 1/31/2013, 1/31/2014, 1/31/2015 and 1/31/2016
|
(7)
|
Stock options awarded in February 2011 vests at the rate of 20% per year, with vesting dates of 2/17/2012, 2/17/2013, 2/17/2014, 2/17/2015 and 2/17/2016.
|
(8)
|
Stock options awarded in February 2011 vests at the rate of 20% per year, with vesting dates of 2/28/2012, 2/28/2013, 2/28/2014, 2/28/2015 and 2/28/2016.
|
(9)
|
These restricted stock units will vest on the anniversary of their grant date (February 17, 2011) at a rate of 33.3% per year with vesting dates of 2/17/2012, 2/17/2013 and 2/17/2014.
|
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
|
|
Option awards
|
|
|
Stock awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number of shares
acquired on
exercise
(#)
|
|
Value
realized on
exercise
($)
|
|
Number of shares
acquired on vesting
(#)
|
|
Value
realized on
vesting
($)
|
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
430,000 |
|
|
|
1,075,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A. Ehst
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
President & COO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warren Taylor
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
187,500 |
|
President and Director of Community Banking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
President of Mortgage Warehouse Lending
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PENSION BENEFITS
Name
|
|
Plan name
|
|
|
Number of years credited service
(#)
|
|
|
Present value of
accumulated benefit
($)
|
|
|
Payments during last fiscal year
($)
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Jay S. Sidhu
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
2,561,677 |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A. Ehst
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warren Taylor
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
As a result of the acquisition of USA Bank on July 9, 2010, Mr. Sidhu’s SERP became effective and Mr. Sidhu is entitled to receive the balance of the SERP account payable over 15 years commencing upon the later of his separation from service or his 65th birthday. If Mr. Sidhu dies prior to his payment commencement date, his beneficiary receives a lump sum payment equal to $3,000,000. If Mr. Sidhu dies after reaching age 65, his beneficiary receives the remainder of his scheduled retirement benefits. If the Bank terminates Mr. Sidhu’s employment for cause, he forfeits the benefits provided under the SERP.
|
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control (1)
The table below shows the value of estimated payments pursuant to the employment agreements, equity plans and other non-qualified plans described above upon a termination of employment, including gross-up payments for any excise tax on the parachute payments upon a change of control, for each of Messrs. Sidhu, Ehst, Brugger, Taylor and Hedde. The payments represent the maximum possible payments under interpretations and assumptions most favorable to the executive officer. All
termination events are assumed to occur on December 31, 2010. Actual payments to a terminated executive officer may be more or less than the amounts contained in the various agreements and plans. In addition, certain amounts currently are vested and, thus, do not represent an increased amount of benefits.
Jay S. Sidhu
Assuming one of the following events had occurred on December 31, 2010, Mr. Sidhu’s payments and benefits had an estimated value as follows:
Termination Reason
|
|
Change in
Control
Payment (2)
($)
|
|
|
Accelerated
Vesting of
Stock
Options (3)
($)
|
|
|
Value of
Health and
Welfare
Benefits (4)
($)
|
|
|
Life
Insurance
Benefit
Paid (5)
($)
|
|
Voluntary with ‘Good Reason’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Involuntary without ‘Cause’
|
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|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Control (with or without adverse employment action)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A. Ehst
Assuming one of the following events had occurred on December 31, 2010, Mr.Ehst’s payments and benefits had an estimated value as follows:
Termination Reason
|
|
Change in
Control
Payment (2)
($)
|
|
|
Accelerated
Vesting of
Stock
Options (3)
($)
|
|
|
Value of
Health and
Welfare
Benefits (4)
($)
|
|
|
Life
Insurance
Benefit
Paid (5)
($)
|
|
Voluntary with ‘Good Reason’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Involuntary without ‘Cause’
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Control (with or without adverse employment action)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas R. Brugger
Assuming one of the following events had occurred on December 31, 2010, Mr. Brugger’s payments and benefits had an estimated value as follows:
Termination Reason
|
|
Change in
Control
Payment (2)
($)
|
|
|
Accelerated
Vesting of
Stock
Options (3)
($)
|
|
|
Value of
Health and
Welfare
Benefits (4)
($)
|
|
|
Life
Insurance
Benefit
Paid (5)
($)
|
|
Voluntary with ‘Good Reason’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Involuntary without ‘Cause’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Control (with or without adverse employment action)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
The columns disclosing “Salary continuation, Accrued and unpaid PTO, Severance payments, Long-term disability or Excise tax gross-up payments” have been omitted from the table because no named executive officer had any such items within their employment agreements described in those columns outstanding at fiscal year end.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents continuation of salary payments for the payout period provided under each named executive officers then-applicable employment agreement.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents the aggregate value of the executive’s unvested stock options that would have vested on an accelerated basis, determined by multiplying the number of accelerating option shares by the fair market value of our common stock ($4.00, based upon common shares issued on or around December 28, 2010).
|
|
(4)
|
Represents the cost of the Bank subsidized benefits for the payout period provided under the named executive officers then applicable employment agreement, based on current estimated costs to provide such coverage.
|
|
(5)
|
Represents continuation of salary payments for the payout period provided under each named executive officers then-applicable employment agreement.
|
|
(6)
|
Represents life insurance payout provided under each named executive officers then-applicable employment agreement.
|
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The Bank did not pay any nonqualified deferred compensation to its named executive officers in 2010, 2009 or 2008.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Bank provides health, vision and dental insurance to the named executive officers on terms similar to those provided to other employees generally. The Bank also provides car allowances to each of Messrs. Ehst and Brugger, and in 2009, the Bank purchased a company car to be used by Mr. Sidhu. In accordance with his employment agreement, currently the premiums on a life insurance policy for Mr. Sidhu are paid by the Bank. See “EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - Insurance” on page 41 of this proxy statement.
401(k) Retirement Savings and Profit Sharing Plan
The Bank has a 401(k) profit sharing plan whereby eligible employees may contribute up to 15% of their salary to such plan. The Bank provides a matching contribution equal to 50% of the first 6% of the contribution made by the employee. Employer contributions for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were approximately $101 thousand and $56 thousand, respectively.
Insurance
All eligible full-time employees of the Bank are covered as a group by basic hospitalization, major medical, long-term disability, term life and prescription drug plans. The Bank pays the total cost of such plans for employees with the exception of the major medical and the prescription drug plan, in which cost sharing and co-payments are required by the employees.
Officer Employment Agreements
On June 17, 2009, the Bank entered into a three-year employment agreement with Jay Sidhu as Chairman and CEO of the Bank. Under the terms of agreement Mr. Sidhu will receive a minimum base salary of $225,000 per year plus a performance-based incentive bonus and a car allowance of $1,000 per month. At the end of each year, the term of the agreement is to extend another year unless Mr. Sidhu or the Bank gives notice to the contrary. Mr. Sidhu will also be entitled to cash or equity incentive compensation up to the amount of his base salary under an executive incentive plan to be approved by the board of directors. Mr. Sidhu’s employment agreement also provides that, for every issuance of shares made by the Bank in connection with an acquisition or a raise of capital, the Bank must grant to Mr. Sidhu options or warrants to purchase up to 10% of the shares issued in such issuance. The Bank’s board of directors and Mr. Sidhu intend that future equity compensation grants to management will be submitted for shareholder approval. The Bank’s board of directors and Mr. Sidhu also intend that, to the extent of future capital raises up to $200 million, the Bank’s 2010 Stock Option Plan will fulfill the provisions of Mr. Sidhu’s employment agreement requiring the Bank to issue to Mr. Sidhu options or warrants to acquire up to 10% of the shares issued in connection with acquisitions or raises of capital.
Under the employment agreement, the Bank also agreed that its board of directors will develop and implement a nonqualified retirement income plan designed to provide him with a pension, targeted at $200,000 per year (depending on performance of the investments in the informal funding vehicle) for 15 years commencing upon his retirement at or after age 65, subject to his ability to qualify for a variable life insurance policy to be owned by the Bank to fund the plan. The board of directors is to review the plan at the end of the fourth year of his employment and determine whether it is appropriate to increase the target benefit amount in light of his compensation at that time. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Sidhu was to become vested in this retirement benefit after seven years of continuous service with the Bank, or upon his termination of employment under circumstances that would result in the Bank’s obligation to pay him severance compensation. Ultimately, the plan which was developed and approved by the board of directors provided for funding towards a target benefit of $300,000 per year, and for immediate vesting upon the effective date of the plan. See discussion of the “Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Chairman and Chief Executive Officer” on page 41 of this proxy statement.
As of February 17, 2011, Customers Bank also entered into a three-year employment agreement with Mr. Ehst, and a two-year employment agreement with Mr. Brugger, each of which replaced previous employment agreements that Messrs. Ehst and Brugger entered into with Customers Bank on April 12, 2010. Under the terms of these agreements, Messrs. Ehst and Brugger will receive minimum base salaries, respectively, plus incentive compensation in cash or equity or both and in such amounts as determined by the board of directors in accordance with incentive programs developed for them. Each of Messrs. Ehst and Brugger’s employment agreements provide that, for every issuance of shares made by Customers Bank in connection with an acquisition or a raise of capital, Customers Bank must grant to such individual warrants to purchase up to 1.5% of the same type of security as was issued in such issuance.
Each of Messrs. Sidhu, Ehst and Brugger will be entitled to severance compensation under the agreement if he terminates his employment for “Good Reason” (as defined in their respective employment agreements), if his employment is terminated by the Bank other than for “Cause” (as defined in their respective employment agreements) during the employment term or on expiration of the employment term. If a “Change in Control” (as defined in their respective employment agreements) has not occurred within twelve months before termination of his employment, then: (1) he will receive the sum of his then current base salary plus the average of his last three years’ annual cash bonuses, for the greater of one year1 or the period of time remaining in his employment term, generally payable in equal installments on his normal pay dates, subject to normal tax deductions and withholding; (2) any unvested equity awards he has received will vest in full; (3) he will be entitled to an allocable fraction of any cash bonus that would have been payable to him for the current year had he remained employed through the date of payment; (4) the Bank will continue to provide health insurance (including dental if applicable) and any life or disability insurance benefits (“health benefits”) for the shorter of the period (up to three years with respect to Mr. Sidhu) on which his cash severance compensation is measured or the maximum period the Bank is then permitted to extend his benefit under the applicable plan or policy or applicable law; and (5) if applicable any “parachute payment” excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, grossed up to include any additional taxes payable on that benefit. If a Change in Control shall have occurred within twelve months before termination of his employment, then: (1) he will receive cash equal to three times the sum of his then current base salary plus the average of his annual cash bonuses for the immediately preceding three years, payable in a lump sum; (2) any unvested equity awards he has received will vest in full; (iii) he will be entitled to an allocable fraction of any cash bonus that would have been payable to him for the current year had he remained employed through the date of payment; (3) the Bank shall continue to provide health benefits for the shorter of three years or the maximum period the Bank is then permitted to extend his benefit under the applicable plan or policy or applicable law; and (4) if applicable any “parachute payment” excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, grossed up to include any additional taxes payable on that benefit.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Mr. Sidhu’s employment agreement, the Bank has established a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for Mr. Sidhu. As a result of the Bank’s acquisition of USA Bank on July 9, 2010, the SERP became effective and the present value of the payments was recorded in the third quarter of 2010.
The SERP is a deferred compensation plan whereby the Bank will create a reserve account on its books for Mr. Sidhu. The Bank will credit five, annual and uniform amounts to this account that are sufficient to create a hypothetical fund that would provide payments of $300,000 per year for fifteen years commencing on Mr. Sidhu’s sixty-fifth birthday, assuming a rate of return of 7% per year, compounded annually. Additionally, the Bank will credit the account with any gains or losses as if the Bank had deposited the amounts in certain investment funds selected by Mr. Sidhu. Mr. Sidhu’s vested interest in the SERP shall be zero percent (0%) at all times prior to the Effective Date, but his vested interest shall be 100% vested on and after the Effective Date.
Mr. Sidhu’s entire interest in the account will be paid to him in fifteen annual installments generally upon the later of (a) his separation from service with the Bank, or (b) his sixty-fifth birthday. Any portion of Mr. Sidhu’s interest in the account remaining upon his death will be paid to his beneficiary in a single lump sum.
In the event of Mr. Sidhu’s death prior to the commencement of payments, $3,000,000 will be paid to his beneficiary in a single lump sum whether his death occurs before or after the Effective Date.
These obligations under the SERP will be general unsecured obligations by the Bank to pay money in the future. Mr. Sidhu will have no rights to any assets or investments held by the Bank to meet its obligations under the SERP, except as a general creditor of the Bank.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE(1)
The Bank has compensated its directors for their services and expects to continue this practice. Information relating to the compensation of the Bank’s directors during 2010 is set forth below.
Name & Principal
Position
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
|
|
Stock Awards(2)
|
|
All Other
Compensation
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth B. Mumma, J.D.(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel K. Rothermel, J.D.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Lawrence Way, CPA J.D.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
The columns disclosing non-qualified deferred compensation earnings and non-equity incentive plan compensation have been omitted from the table because no director earned any compensation during 2010 of a type required to be disclosed in those columns.
|
(2)
|
Includes shares of the Bank Common Stock issued to each board member worth $500 per meeting based upon the book value of the preceding month. All directors, excluding John R. Miller, received 1,599 shares for 2010. Mr. Miller received 600 shares since his election as a director for service from August 2010 through the end of 2010.
|
(3)
|
Represents fees paid to Mr. Mumma under a consulting agreement put in place upon his retirement as Chief Executive Officer in June 2009. See information provided in the Summary Compensation Table above for other compensation earned by Mr. Mumma as chief executive officer during 2009.
|
(4)
|
At December 31, 2010, Mr. Mumma held options to purchase 12,250 shares of Customers Bank Voting Common Stock, all of which were fully vested. None of the other directors listed in this table had outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2011.
|
In 2010, each director received $500 for every meeting of the board of directors he attended. No fees were paid in connection with committee meetings. In 2010, the board approved a revision to the director compensation policy. Under the new policy, each director will be entitled to $1,500 in cash for each month he serves as a director, and an award of Voting Common Stock equal to $500, calculated based on the book value of such shares on the date of grant, or, in the event the stock issued is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing trading price as reported by such exchange on the date of grant. In the event an individual ceases to be a member of the board of directors other than on the last day of a given month, the individual will be entitled to his monthly director fee only if he has attended a meeting of the board of directors in that month.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
Customers Bank makes loans to executive officers and directors of the Bank in the ordinary course of its business. These loans are currently made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time the transaction is originated for comparable transactions with nonaffiliated persons, and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present any other unfavorable features. Federal regulations prohibit the Bank from making loans to executive officers and directors at terms more favorable than could be obtained by persons not affiliated with the Bank. The Bank’s policy towards loans to executive officers and directors currently complies with this limitation.
Some current directors, nominees for director and executive officers of the Bank and entities or organizations in which they were executive officers or the equivalent or owners of more than 10% of the equity were customers of and had transactions with or involving the Bank in the ordinary course of business during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. None of these transactions involved amounts in excess of 5% of the Bank’s consolidated gross revenues during 2010 or $200,000, nor was the Bank indebted to any of the foregoing persons or entities in an aggregate amount in excess of 5% of the Bank’s total consolidated assets at December 31, 2010. Additional transactions with such persons and entities may be expected to take place in the ordinary course of business in the future.
On June 17, 2009, the Bank entered into a Consulting Agreement with Kenneth B. Mumma, its former Chairman and CEO, pursuant to which the Bank agreed to engage Mr. Mumma as a consultant until December 31, 2011. During the period of his engagement, Mr. Mumma has agreed to provide from 20 to 40 hours of consulting services per month, for a consulting fee of $13,500 per month plus reimbursement of expenses incurred by him in performing the services. The agreement also provides non-compete covenants for a period ending one year after the term of the consulting agreement. During 2010, the Bank paid an aggregate of $135,000 in consulting fees to Mr. Mumma under the agreement.
On June 30, 2010, the Bank extended a term loan in the principal amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000) to Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation, which is the former holding company for Atlantic Coast Bank, a federal savings bank with main offices in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Sidhu is the Non-executive Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Choudhrie is a director, of Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation, the successor to Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation. This lending transaction was in the ordinary course of the Bank’s business, made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other non-affiliated customers, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. The Bank participated the full amount of the term loan to accredited investors in August 2010. Two of the Bank’s directors had material interests in this transaction: $500,000 of the loan was participated to Mr. Zuckerman, and $2,000,000 of the loan was participated to Emblem Investors LLC, a company for which Mr. Choudhrie is a managing member.
On August 13, 2010, the Bank executed a loan participation agreement in the principal amount of up to twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) to Atlantic Coast Bank. This participating interest is based upon the loan activity by certain mortgage warehouse customer activity and will be repaid upon the release of the underlying mortgage collateral. This lending transaction was in the ordinary course of the Bank’s business, made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other non-affiliated customers, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. This agreement has been terminated on December 30, 2010.
On December 30, 2010, the Bank executed a loan participation agreement with Atlantic Coast Bank for a principal amount up to $6,250,000. This participating interest is based upon specified Atlantic Coast Bank customers activity and will be repaid to the Bank upon the release of the underlying mortgage collateral. This lending transaction was in the ordinary course of the Bank’s business, made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other non-affiliated customers, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Bank has paid approximately $300,000 to Clipper Magazine and its affiliates. Steven Zuckerman, a director of the Bank, is the Chief Executive Officer of Clipper Magazine, a subsidiary of Gannett.
Certain of the Bank’s executive officers and directors purchased securities in private offerings of the Bank’s securities during 2008, 2009, 2010. The below chart indicates the number and types of securities purchased as well as dollar value paid for such securities. The figures for Common Stock and warrants to purchase Common Stock set forth in the chart and accompanying footnotes reflect all adjustments that have been made to date in connection with anti-dilution repricing. See “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT” beginning on page 7 of this Annual Proxy Statement-Prospectus for the current security ownership of each of the below-listed individuals.
Name
|
|
Number and Type of Securities
|
|
Aggregate
Purchase Price
|
|
Jay Sidhu, Chairman and CEO
|
|
285,716 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
62,500 shares of Class B Non-Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
Bhanu Choudhrie, Director (1)
|
|
714,287 shares of Voting Common Stock (2)
|
|
$
|
2,500,000
|
|
|
|
891,771 shares of Voting Common Stock and 307,469 shares of Class B Non-Voting Common Stock (3)
|
|
$
|
4,197,332
|
|
|
|
460,000 shares of Common Stock and 111,429 shares of Class B Non-Voting Common Stock
|
|
$
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
|
10,732 shares of Voting Common Stock (4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,228 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25 shares of 10% Series A Preferred Stock (7)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
224,000 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,000 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Zuckerman, Director
|
|
357,144 shares of Voting Common Stock (5)
|
|
$
|
1,250,000
|
|
|
|
194,704 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
$
|
833,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel Rothermel, Director
|
|
56,252 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth Mumma, Director (6)
|
|
25 shares of 10% Series A Preferred Stock (7)
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,629 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,445 shares of Voting Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Choudhrie has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in these securities as they were purchased through his company, Lewisburg Capital Limited.
|
(2)
|
In connection with this purchase, Lewisburg Capital Limited also received immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 37,166 shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.50 per share. Such warrants expire on June 30, 2016.
|
(3)
|
In connection with this purchase, Lewisburg Capital Limited also received immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 59,963 shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.50 per share. Such warrants expire on February 17, 2017.
|
(4)
|
In connection with this purchase, Mr. Way also received immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 556 shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.50 per share. Such warrants expire on June 30, 2016.
|
(5)
|
In connection with this purchase, Mr. Zuckerman also received immediately exercisable warrants to purchase 18,585 shares of the Bank’s Voting Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.50 per share. Such warrants expire on June 30, 2016.
|
(6)
|
Mr. Mumma purchased such shares jointly with his wife.
|
(7)
|
In June 2009, all outstanding shares of 10% Series A Preferred Stock were redeemed for shares of Voting Common Stock of the Bank and warrants to purchase Voting Common Stock of the Bank.
|
The Bank has a Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics, applicable to its directors, officers and employees, including its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and all of its other executives pursuant to which all directors, officers and employees must promptly disclose to us, any material transactions or relationships that reasonably could be expected to give rise to an actual or apparent conflict of interest with the Bank. In approving or rejecting the proposed agreement, the board of directors must consider the relevant facts and circumstances available and deemed relevant, including, but not limited to the risks, costs and benefits to the Bank, the terms of the transaction, the availability of other sources for comparable services or products, and, if applicable, the impact on a director’s independence. The board of directors may only approve those agreements that, in light of known circumstances, are in, or are not inconsistent with, the Bank’s best interests, as the board of directors determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion. The Bank intends to adopt a formal policy with respect to related party transactions in 2011.
MARKET PRICE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS
Trading Market for Common Stock
There is no established public trading market for the Bank’s Voting Common Stock or Class B Non-Voting Common Stock. Neither the Bank’s Voting Common Stock nor its Class B Non-Voting Common Stock is actively traded nor listed for trading on any securities exchange. There can be no assurance that the Bank’s shares will be listed on any stock exchange or quoted on any electronic bulletin board or system. Furthermore, there are no brokerage firms that act as a market maker in the Bank’s Voting Common Stock or Class B Non-Voting Common Stock. Consequently, information on current stock trading prices is not readily available. The Bank currently acts as its own transfer agent, but it does not make a market in its securities, nor does it attempt to negotiate prices for trades of such securities. An active trading market in the Bank’s Voting Common Stock and Class B Non-Voting Common Stock may not develop within the foreseeable future.
Market Price of Common Stock
As of June 30, 2011, there were 405 shareholders of record, 22,525,825 outstanding shares of Customers Bank’s Voting Common Stock, 6,834,895 outstanding shares of Customers Bank’s Non-Voting Common Stock, 1,653,834 outstanding warrants and 2,662,404 options to purchase Voting Common Stock, 131,500 options to purchase Class B Non-Voting Common Stock of Customers Bank and 106,876 restricted stock units to purchase Voting Common Stock.
The below chart shows the high and low sale prices known by management to have occurred, or bid quotations on the Pink Sheets, of Customers Bank for the periods indicated.
Quarter ended
|
High (1)
|
Low (1)
|
June 30, 2011
|
$4.00
|
$4.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
These ranges are limited only to those transactions known by management to have occurred, based primarily on individual trades of which management may have become aware, or quotations on the Pink Sheets. There may, in fact, have been additional transactions of which management is unaware, and such transactions could have occurred at higher or lower prices.
|
Dividends on Common Stock
Effective December 15, 1999, the Bank’s board of directors declared a 25% stock split effected in the nature of a stock dividend. The Bank has not paid any cash dividends on the Bank’s shares. Presently, the Bank is not authorized to pay cash dividends on its shares.
Dividend payments made by the Bank to its shareholders are subject to the Pennsylvania Banking Code, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board.
The Pennsylvania Banking Code provides that cash dividends may be declared and paid only out of accumulated net earnings and that, prior to the declaration of any dividend, if the surplus of a bank is less than the amount of its capital, the bank shall, until surplus is equal to such amount, transfer to surplus an amount which is at least ten percent of the net earnings of such bank for the period since the end of the last fiscal year or for any shorter period since the declaration of a dividend. If the surplus of a bank is less than fifty percent of the amount of capital, no dividend may be declared or paid without the prior approval of the Pennsylvania Banking Department until such surplus is equal to fifty percent of such bank’s capital.
Under the Federal Reserve Act, if losses have at any time been sustained by a bank equal to or in excess of its undivided profits then on hand, no dividend shall be made; no dividends shall ever be made in an amount greater than a bank’s net profit less losses and bad debts. Cash dividends must be approved by the Federal Reserve Board if the total of all cash dividends declared by a bank in any calendar year, including the proposed cash dividend, exceeds the total of such bank’s net profits for that year plus its retained net profits from the preceding two years less any required transfers to surplus or a fund for the retirement of preferred stock, if any. The Federal Reserve Board and the Pennsylvania Banking Department each has the authority under the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit the payment of cash dividends by a bank when it determines such payment to be an “unsafe or unsound banking practice” under the then existing circumstances.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Act generally prohibits all payments of dividends by any bank that is in default of any assessment of the FDIC.
The Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC have formal and informal policies, which provide that insured banks and bank holding companies should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings, with some exceptions. The Federal banking laws further limit the ability of banks to pay dividends if they are not classified as well capitalized or adequately capitalized.
The Bank does not have any accumulated net earnings, and so, under the foregoing restrictions, the Bank is not presently permitted to pay dividends.
Further, under a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) among the Federal Reserve Board, the Pennsylvania Banking Department and the Bank, the Bank may not declare or pay any dividends that would cause its capital ratios to fall below the higher of the minimum levels for a “well capitalized” classification under Prompt Corrective Action standards pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or the internal ratios set in the Bank’s capital plan without the prior written approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Banking.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The Bank’s Common Stock is not registered with any federal or state securities or banking regulator, and neither entity currently makes periodic securities filings with any regulator.
The Bank files quarterly reports of condition on Form FFIEC 041 (“Call Reports”) with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Ten Independence Mall, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1574. The Call Reports are publicly available from the FDIC’s Internet website at http://www2.fdic.gov/idasp/main.asp or the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Internet website at https://cdr.ffiec.gov/public/. If you wish to obtain a printed copy of an individual Call Report facsimile for periods prior to 2001, please contact the FDIC Public Information Center for ordering instructions and current fees by E-Mail at publicinfo@fdic.gov, by telephone at 877-688-3342 or 703-562-2200, or by fax at 703-562-2296. You may contact the National Technical Information Service (“NTIS”), a branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce), at 800-363-2068 or 703-605-6000 to obtain all available Call Reports for a specific period on magnetic tape, cartridge, or CD-ROM format, at a cost. NTIS has a website for ordering products at http://www.ntis.gov. Use the Site Index at the bottom to find products in the Banking Information category. Each Call Report consists of a Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Changes in Equity Capital and other supporting schedules as of the end of or for the period to which the Call Report relates. The Call Reports are prepared in accordance with regulatory instructions issued by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. These instructions in most, but not all, cases follow U.S. GAAP, including the opinions and statements of the Accounting Principles Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The Call Reports are not incorporated by reference and are not a part of this proxy statement. While the Call Reports are supervisory and regulatory documents, not primarily accounting documents, and do not provide a complete range of financial disclosure, the reports nevertheless provide important information concerning the Bank. In addition to filing Call Reports, the Bank has delivered Audited Financial Statements to its shareholders each year, as well as proxy statements together with notices of each annual meeting.
The Bank is not subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and is not therefore required to file reports or other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Bank maintains a website (http://www.customersbank.com) where you may find additional information about the Bank. The information contained in the website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this proxy statement.
In accordance with Section 20.1 of its bylaws, the Bank has enclosed with this proxy statement its audited Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and its unaudited quarterly financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2011.
OTHER BUSINESS
We do not presently know of any business other than that described above to be presented to the shareholders for action at the meeting. Should other business come before the meeting, votes may be cast pursuant to proxies in respect of any such business in the best judgment of the persons acting under the proxies.
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING ARE URGED TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH REQUIRES NO ADDITIONAL POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
ANNEX A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CUSTOMERS BANK
2004 INCENTIVE EQUITY
AND
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE