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To Be Held April 28, 2015
Mailed to Security Holders on or about March 19, 2015
AmeriServ Financial, Inc.
P. O. Box 430
Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430
814-533-5300
March 19, 2015
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
AmeriServ Financial, Inc.s annual meeting of shareholders will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 1:30 p.m., Eastern Time, at the Holiday Inn Downtown, Crown Ballroom, 250 Market Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15901.
The matters to be acted upon at the meeting are:
(a) | the election of four Class II director nominees of the board of directors; |
(b) | an advisory vote to approve the compensation of the named executive officers of AmeriServ Financial, Inc.; and |
(c) | such other matters as may properly come before the AmeriServ Financial, Inc. annual meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Your vote is very important to us, and we encourage you to review the enclosed materials. Voting via the Internet or by telephone is fast and convenient, and your vote is immediately tabulated and confirmed. Using the Internet or telephone saves us money by reducing postage and proxy tabulation costs. If you prefer to vote by mail, please sign, date and return the proxy card. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please vote now so that the matters coming before the meeting may be acted upon.
I look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.
Respectfully yours,
Jeffrey A. Stopko
Interim President & Chief Executive Officer
To Our Shareholders:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of shareholders of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. will be held at the Holiday Inn Downtown, Crown Ballroom, 250 Market Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15901, on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 1:30 p.m., Eastern Time, for the purpose of considering and voting on the following matters:
1. | election of four Class II director nominees of the board of directors, each to serve until the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders, or until the earlier of their resignation or their respective successors shall have been elected and qualified (Matter No. 1); |
2. | an advisory vote to approve the compensation of the named executive officers of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (Matter No. 2); and |
3. | such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Only those shareholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2015 shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. A proxy statement, a proxy card and a self-addressed postage prepaid envelope are enclosed. This proxy statement and enclosed proxy card are being mailed to shareholders on or about March 19, 2015. Please complete, sign and date the proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided or, if you prefer, vote by telephone or Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card. If you attend the meeting and are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person.
This notice, the accompanying proxy statement and form of proxy are sent to you by order of the board of directors.
Sharon M. Callihan
Corporate Secretary
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
March 19, 2015
The board of directors of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. is soliciting proxies for use at our annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 28, 2015, at 1:30 p.m., Eastern Time, at the Holiday Inn Downtown, Crown Ballroom, 250 Market Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15901. This proxy statement and enclosed proxy card are being mailed to shareholders on or about March 19, 2015. Our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2014 accompanies this proxy statement. The annual report should not be regarded as proxy solicitation material. AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (which is sometimes referred to as ASRV, the company, we, us or our) is the holding company for AmeriServ Financial Bank doing business as AmeriServ Financial (the Bank) and AmeriServ Trust & Financial Services Company (the Trust Company).
We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to the use of the mail, some of our directors and officers may solicit proxies, without additional compensation, in person, by telephone, or by electronic communication. We may make arrangements with banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares held by them of record, and we may reimburse them for reasonable expenses they incur.
As of the close of business on the record date, February 20, 2015, there were 18,853,521 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding. Holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Except with respect to the election of directors, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share held. Holders of our common stock are entitled to cumulate their vote in the election of directors.
The four persons receiving the highest number of votes cast at the annual meeting will be elected as Class II directors (Matter No. 1). The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required to approve the advisory (non-binding) vote on the compensation of our named executive officers (Matter No. 2).
If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the annual meeting, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn the meeting to another time or place, the persons named in the proxy card will have discretion to vote on those matters according to their best judgment to the same extent as the person signing the proxy would be entitled to vote. At the date of this proxy statement, we do not anticipate that any other matters will be raised at the annual meeting.
Although the advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers is non-binding, as provided by law, our board of directors will review the results of the votes and take them into account in making a determination concerning executive compensation.
If you participate in our Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan, the proxy card included with this proxy statement indicates the number of shares registered in your name and the number of shares, including fractional shares, credited to your account in our Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan.
If your shares are held in an account at a bank, brokerage firm, broker-dealer or other similar organization, then you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name. In that case, you will have received these proxy materials from that organization holding your account and, as a beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct your broker, bank, trustee, or nominee how to vote the shares held in your account. If no voting instructions are given, your broker or nominee has discretionary authority to vote your shares on
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your behalf on routine matters. A broker non-vote results on a matter when your broker or nominee returns a proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because it does not have discretionary authority to vote on that proposal and has not received voting instructions from you. We believe that your broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to any of the matters considered at this meeting. You may not vote shares held in street name at the annual meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from that organization holding your account.
If you appropriately mark, sign and return the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card, as the case may be, in time to be voted at the annual meeting, or if you vote by telephone or Internet in accordance with the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction card, as the case may be, the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with your instructions. Signed proxies not marked to the contrary will be voted FOR the election of the nominees for our board of directors, and FOR an advisory (non-binding) vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. Proxy holders shall have full discretion and authority to vote for any one or more of such nominees and will vote the shares represented by each proxy so as to maximize the number of nominees elected to our board of directors, except to the extent that a shareholder withholds such authority on such proxy. However, the shares represented by each proxy cannot be voted by the proxy holders for a greater number of nominees than those identified in this proxy statement.
You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the taking of the vote at the annual meeting. Prior to the applicable cutoff time, you may change your vote using the Internet or telephone methods described above, in which case only your latest Internet or telephone proxy submitted prior to the annual meeting will be counted. You may also revoke your proxy and change your vote by signing and returning a new proxy card or voting instruction form dated as of a later date, or by attending the annual meeting and voting in person in accordance with the methods described above. However, your attendance at the annual meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you properly vote at the annual meeting or specifically request that your prior proxy be revoked by delivering a written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary at P.O. Box 430, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430 prior to the annual meeting.
Under our bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that all shareholders are entitled to cast constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting. Abstentions will not constitute or be counted as votes cast for purposes of the annual meeting, but will be counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
Based on filings made under Section 13(d) and Section 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), as of March 9, 2015, the only persons known by us to be beneficial owners of five percent or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock were as follows:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Amount of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Common Stock |
||
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(1) Building One 6300 Bee Cave Road Austin, Texas 78746 |
1,626,767 | 8.7% | ||
Financial Stocks Capital Partners III L.P.(2) 1300 Carew Tower 441 Vince Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 |
1,287,884 | 6.9% | ||
Wellington Management Group LLP(3) 280 Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts 02210 |
1,091,800 | 5.8% |
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(1) | Includes subsidiaries of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (collectively, Dimensional), four investment companies to which Dimensional furnishes investment advice and certain other commingled fund, group trusts and separate accounts to which Dimensional may serve as investment manager, advisor or sub-adviser. This information is based upon Amendment No. 13 to a Schedule 13G filing dated February 5, 2015 made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
(2) | Includes Finstocks Capital Management, LLC, Elbrook Holdings, LLC, FSI Group, LLC, Steven N. Stein, and John M. Stein. This information is based upon Amendment No. 7 to a Schedule 13G filing dated February 10, 2015 made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
(3) | This information is based upon Amendment No. 4 to a Schedule 13G filing dated February 12, 2015 made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
Under our articles of incorporation, the total number of directors may be determined by either a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the directors then in office or by a resolution adopted by the shareholders at a meeting. The number of directors for 2015 has been set by the board at 12 who are not officers of the Corporation or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Corporation plus the President and Chief Executive Officer. The board has determined that all current members of our board of directors are independent, pursuant to the listing standards of The NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ). Our interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey A. Stopko, does not serve as a member of our board of directors.
Our board of directors, as provided in our articles of incorporation, is divided into three classes, each being as nearly equal in number as possible. The directors in each class serve a term of three years or until the earlier of their resignation or their respective successors have been elected and qualified. Under our articles of incorporation, a person who is elected to fill a vacancy on the board of directors will serve as a director for the remaining term of office of the class to which he or she was elected.
The board of directors has fixed the number of directors in Class II at four and has nominated J. Michael Adams, Jr., Margaret A. OMalley, Mark E. Pasquerilla, and Thomas C. Slater for election as Class II directors, each of whom will serve a three-year term that will expire at the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders, or until the earlier of their resignation or their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified. Directors Adams, OMalley, Pasquerilla and Slater were previously elected by the shareholders at the 2012 annual meeting. The remaining directors will continue to serve in accordance with their previous election, with the terms of the Class I and Class III directors expiring in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Our bylaws permit nominations for election to the board of directors to be made by the board of directors or by any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors. All nominations for directors to be made at the annual meeting by shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors must be preceded by notice in writing, delivered or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid, to our Non-Executive Chairman not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the previous years annual meeting and in compliance with the procedures and with the information required by our bylaws. Such notice must contain, to the extent known, the following information:
| the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make such nomination (the Nominating Shareholder); |
| the name and address of the beneficial owner, if different than the Nominating Shareholder, of any of the shares owned of record by the Nominating Shareholder (the Beneficial Holder); |
| the number of shares of each class and series of shares of the company which are owned of record and beneficially by the Nominating Shareholder and the number which are owned beneficially by any Beneficial Holder; |
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| a representation that there are (and will be) no undisclosed arrangements and understandings between the Nominating Shareholder and any Beneficial Holder and any other person or persons pursuant to which the nomination is being made; |
| the name and address of the person or persons to be nominated; |
| a representation that the Nominating Shareholder is at the time of giving of the notice, was or will be on the record date for the meeting, and will be on the meeting date a holder of record of shares of the company entitled to vote at such meeting, and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; |
| such other information regarding each nominee proposed by the Nominating Shareholder as would have been required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by our board of directors; |
| a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Nominating Shareholders notice by, or on behalf of, the Nominating Shareholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price exchanges for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Nominating Shareholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of our stock; and |
| the written consent of each nominee to serve as our director if so elected. |
The presiding officer of any such shareholder meeting may, in such officers sole discretion, refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person which the presiding officer determines is not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure.
We have not received any properly made notice of nomination for directors from any shareholder in connection with this years annual meeting. Any nomination that does not comply with the procedures required by the bylaws, and any vote cast at the annual meeting for any candidate not duly nominated, will be disregarded.
With respect to the election of directors, each shareholder has the right to vote, for each share of our common stock held by the shareholder, such number of votes as shall be equal to the number of directors to be elected, and the shareholder may cast the whole number of votes for one nominee or distribute them among two or more nominees.
Except as noted below, each of the nominees listed is a current member of our board of directors and has expressed his willingness to serve. If any of the nominees become unable to accept nomination or election, the persons named in the proxy may vote for a substitute nominee selected by our board of directors. Our management, however, has no present reason to believe that any Class II nominee will be unable to serve as a director, if elected.
The following tables set forth as to each of the nominees for election as a Class II director and as to each of the continuing Class I and Class III directors, his or her age, principal occupation and business experience, the period during which he or she has served as a member of our board of directors, or an affiliate or predecessor, and their current and recent directorships in other public companies. In addition, we briefly describe the particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led our board to conclude that the person should serve as a member of our board of directors. There are no family relationships between any of the listed persons.
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J. Michael Adams, Jr., Esquire, 52
Director since: 2000
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Mr. Adams is the owner of Elizabeth Milling Company, a manufacturing and packaging company of ice-melt products with facilities in Smithton and Donora, Pennsylvania. He is also the owner and managing member of NATASH LP which is a real estate investment company. He formerly served as the founder and managing member of Mike Adams & Associates LLC, a Pittsburgh based law firm. He practiced law for 24 years prior to his retirement which included serving as legal counsel to both private businesses and public institutions, boards and commissions. Mr. Adams also previously served as chairman of the board of directors of the Daily News Publishing Co., a privately held company. He received a B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University and a J.D. from University of Pittsburgh School of Law. His corporate, legal and board experience provide Mr. Adams skills relevant to his service on our audit and nominating committees respectively. Because we are a public company operating in a highly regulated industry, we believe Mr. Adams experience and perspective is valuable not only as a member of the board but also as a member of multiple board committees.
Margaret A. OMalley, Esquire, 54
Director since: 1997
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Ms. OMalley has over 30 years of experience in private legal practice at, and is the owner of, Yost & OMalley, a law firm in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where she advises both individuals and corporate for profit and non-profit entities. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, and is an experienced litigator in both state and federal courts. Because we are a public company operating in a highly regulated industry, we believe Ms. OMalleys experience and perspective as an attorney is valuable not only as a member of the board but also in her continued role as Chair of the compensation and audit committees. With ASRVs increased regulatory and corporate governance measures passed in recent years, we believe that Ms. OMalleys continued leadership in these committee roles remains important to the boards success.
Mark E. Pasquerilla, 54
Director since: 1997
Other Current Public Company Directorships: Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT)
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Mr. Pasquerilla has been an officer and director of Pasquerilla Enterprises, LP, a Johnstown-based real estate owner and manager and also a private financial investor, and its subsidiaries since 2006 (CEO since 2013, and President from 2006 to 2013). Mr. Pasquerilla has been an officer of Crown American Enterprises, Inc. (Crown American), a private financial investor, from 1992 to 2013 and a director from 2012 to 2013. From April 1999 until December 2006, he served as Chairman and CEO of its affiliates, Crown Holding Company and Crown Hotel Holding Company. From 1992 to December 2006, Mr. Pasquerilla also served as President of Crown Holding Company and its various subsidiaries. From April 1999 until it was acquired by PREIT in November 2003, he served as Chairman and CEO of Crown American Realty Trust and as a trustee from 1993 until 2003. Mr. Pasquerilla has been a trustee of PREIT since 2003 and a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee of its board of trustees since 2011. In connection with his work as an officer and trustee of Crown American and PREIT, Mr. Pasquerilla has acquired substantial experience in real estate finance. Because, like most banks, ASRV has many real estate loans, we believe this experience is important to the board of directors.
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Thomas C. Slater, 72
Director since: 1980
Other Current Public Company Dictatorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Mr. Slater has been the owner, President & Director of Slater Laboratories, Inc. since 1970. Mr. Slater is also the founder of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, a member of the American Association of Bioanalysts, and a former trustee of Mount Aloysius College. The board continues to find Mr. Slaters extensive experience with ASRV and his commitment to his committee positions to be a primary factor in his continued service to the board.
Allan R. Dennison, 68
Director since: 2005
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Since November 2012, Mr. Dennison has served as Non-Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASRV, the Bank, and the Trust Company. Previously, from February 2004 until October 2009, Mr. Dennison served as President & CEO of ASRV and its subsidiaries. Mr. Dennison has more than 40 years of banking experience, and his prior positions included being President and CEO of Swineford National Bank, a community bank affiliated with Fulton Financial Corporation, and senior positions with Mellon Bank of Pittsburgh and Huntington National Bank. The depth of Mr. Dennisons banking experience and industry knowledge over decades of economic change is highly valuable to the board.
James M. Edwards, Sr., 75
Director since: 1984
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Since 2010, Mr. Edwards has served as Treasurer of the Cambria/Somerset Counties Authority, a regional water authority. From 1980 to 1997, he served as President and CEO of WJAC, Inc., the NBC affiliated television/radio broadcast company serving the Johnstown-Altoona-State College, Pennsylvania television market. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Johnstown Tribune Publishing Co., WJAC, Inc.s parent company, as well as Treasurer and Vice Chairman of the NBC Television Network Affiliates Board. From 1990 to 1996 he served as Chairman of JARI, the largest economic development organization in the greater Johnstown, Pennsylvania region. From 2007 to 2010, he also served as JARIs Director of Entrepreneurial Development. Since 1984, he has served on the Board of Directors of each of Johnstown Savings Bank and AmeriServ Financial, Inc., including serving on the Executive Committee of both boards. Mr. Edwards brings to the Board the business experience he gained during a 40 year career in the newspaper, radio, and television business; several years of experience as a director of companies involved in the refractory, men and womens clothing, soft drink bottling, travel agency, and investment company business; as well as the experience gained by serving as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of national and state print and broadcast media organizations; and over 30 years of experience with major community service organizations, including Chairman of the Greater Johnstown Cambria County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the East Coast Hockey Leagues Board of Governors and a 2014 inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame; the largest Tier II professional hockey league in the country. Chairman of the Construction Oversight Committee and Project Administrator for the $34 million dollar Johnstown Renaissance Complex Project, and President of the 17,000 member Pennsylvania Jaycees. We believe that Mr. Edwards extensive and diversified business experience, and his long history of involvement in community public services organizations in the Johnstown Area provides the broad-based background appropriate of a director.
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Sara A. Sargent, 67
Director since: 1996
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Ms. Sargent is the owner and President of Sargents Court Reporting Service, Inc., Sargents Personnel Agency, Inc., and Sargents Transcription Service, Inc. She is active in all phases of the business, including operations, marketing, financial analysis, and contract negotiations. Ms. Sargent has won numerous business-related awards, including the Small Business Person of the Year for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and being selected by Ernst & Young and Merrill Lynch as Entrepreneur of the Year for Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. We believe that her professional experience managing multiple organizations demonstrates that she has the capability to effectively oversee ASRVs management as a member of the board and continues to make valuable contributions to ASRVs committees. Ms. Sargent is the Chair of the nominating committee.
Robert L. Wise, 71
Director since: 1986
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Mr. Wise is the former President of Pennsylvania Electric Company, Metropolitan Edison Company, Jersey Central Power and Light Company, GPU Genco, Inc., and former CEO of GPU International, each of them a subsidiary of GPU, Inc., a large public energy conglomerate of 14,000 employees, serving more than 4 million customers. GPU, Inc., merged with FirstEnergy, Inc., in 2001. Mr. Wises executive experience at subsidiaries of a large publicly traded company is valuable to ASRV as a board member, and more specifically, as a member of our audit committee and as ASRVs audit committee financial expert.
Daniel R. DeVos, 72
Director since: 1986
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Mr. DeVos is the former President & CEO of Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), a position he held from 1988 until he retired in January 2009. He continues to serve as a director of CTC, a nonprofit research and development organization. Under Mr. DeVos leadership, CTC grew from 15 to 1,400 employees at 50 locations across the country with annual revenues in excess of $240 million and achieved a national reputation for advanced computing, telecommunications, process modeling, materials development and environmental technology applications. In addition, Mr. DeVos has played an important role in the revitalization efforts in the Johnstown area, including serving as Chairman of the Johnstown Chamber of Commerce and the Johnstown chapter of the United Way. We believe that Mr. DeVos previous professional experiences provides him with insight as to how companies may improve their business processes and operations and better utilize technology in these processes and operations, which is valuable to our board of directors, especially when it is involved in considering capital investments in technology and in its ongoing responsibilities for overseeing management and evaluating managements effectiveness.
Bruce E. Duke, III, M.D., 71
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Dr. Duke is currently retired from practice. Until April 2011, he was a surgeon with Conemaugh Health System (CHS), the largest health care provider in west central Pennsylvania. Since July 2009, Dr. Duke has served on the finance and capital improvement committees for CHSs holding company. Also, since July, 2013, he has served as a member of the board of directors of the Conemaugh Health Foundation. Prior to his employment with CHS in 2008, he was the President of Valley Surgeons, Inc., a 10 employee firm with 3 surgeons, where he oversaw the business matters for the firm and acted as a fiduciary for its pension plan. During his tenure with ASRV, Dr. Duke has made valuable contributions to our board and committees and we
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believe he will continue to do so given his experience in managing the operations, financial statements, and compensation programs of his surgical practice.
Craig G. Ford, 85
Director since: 2003
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Mr. Ford is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of ASRV, the Bank and the Trust Company. From December 2002 until March 2004, he served as the President & CEO of ASRV and the Bank. From 1992 to December 2002 and since his retirement from ASRV in March 2004, he has acted as an independent consultant to small to mid-cap financial institutions and advised them on strategic planning, technology planning, business plan development and execution, and management-board coordination. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Ford was a Group Executive Vice President of Meridian Bancorp, where he was responsible for technology and government relations. Prior to that, Mr. Ford had a long career with Mellon Bank, where he led the banks community banking division for 10 years until he began serving as the Chairmans liaison with acquired companies. Mr. Ford has also been prominent in bank industry activities, including a term as President of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association Government Relations Council, and Chairman of the American Bankers Associations Membership Criteria Committee. Mr. Ford also served as Co-Chairman of the Committee for Efficiency in Government of the Office of Management of the Budget (1974 1976), as well as serving as a member of the Financial Council of the American Management Association, and as a member of the USPS Treasury Task Force (1970 1975). He received his bachelor of science degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Fords nomination is based upon the value we place on his in-depth knowledge regarding the banking business and the community in which ASRV operates. Additionally, we believe that Mr. Fords knowledge and leadership qualities are important to the boards effectiveness and in his role as Chairman. We believe his leadership and knowledge were very important to the successful transition from Mr. Dennison to our former President & CEO, Glenn Wilson, and will continue to be important for the successful leadership transition from Mr. Wilson to our future President & CEO. Finally, Mr. Fords aptitude in the area of strategic planning remains important as ASRV formulates plans in these uncertain economic times.
Kim W. Kunkle, 60
Director since: 1984
Other Current Public Company Directorships: None
Other Public Company Directorships within past 5 years: None
Since 1984, Mr. Kunkle has served as the President & CEO of Laurel Holdings, Inc. (Laurel Holdings), which is a closely held private company with wholly owned subsidiaries involved in underground utility construction, plumbing, janitorial services, metal machining, industrial tool distribution, and pipeline rehabilitation. Laurel Holdings employs over 200 and has sales in excess of $17 million. We believe that Mr. Kunkles professional experience managing a diverse organization of Laurel Holdings size demonstrates his ability to effectively oversee ASRVs management as a member of the board and continues to make valuable contributions to ASRVs committees.
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The following table sets forth information concerning the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned, as of February 20, 2015, by each present director, nominee for director, and each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table as well as by all directors, nominees, and executive officers as a group.
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) | Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percent of Class (%) |
||||||
J. Michael Adams, Jr.(3) | 99,638 | * | ||||||
Allan R. Dennison(4) | 36,266 | * | ||||||
Daniel R. DeVos | 61,770 | * | ||||||
Bruce E. Duke, III, M.D.(5) | 72,720 | * | ||||||
James M. Edwards, Sr.(6) | 58,044 | * | ||||||
Craig G. Ford(2) | 88,020 | * | ||||||
James T. Huerth(2),(7) | 55,036 | * | ||||||
Kim W. Kunkle(8) | 81,698 | * | ||||||
Margaret A. OMalley | 290,347 | 1.5 | ||||||
Mark E. Pasquerilla(9) | 442,994 | 2.3 | ||||||
Sara A. Sargent | 190,013 | 1.0 | ||||||
Thomas C. Slater | 63,570 | * | ||||||
Jeffrey A. Stopko(2),(10) | 72,865 | * | ||||||
Robert L. Wise | 117,290 | * | ||||||
Gregor T. Young, IV, JD(2),(11) | 131,113 | * | ||||||
Officers, Directors and Nominees for Director as a Group (15 persons) | 1,861,384 | 9.8 |
* | Less than 1% |
(1) | Except as noted below, each of the identified beneficial owners, including the officers, directors and nominees for director, has sole investment and voting power as to all the shares beneficially owned with the exception of those held jointly by certain officers, directors and nominees for director with their spouses or directly by their spouses or other relatives. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, the address for each person is c/o AmeriServ Financial, Inc., P.O. Box 430, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430. |
(2) | Includes shares of our common stock that may be acquired within sixty (60) days of the record date upon the exercise of presently exercisable stock options that were granted under the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan as follows: |
Ford 40,000 | Huerth 41,991 | |||
Stopko 33,079 | Young 46,578 |
(3) | Includes 23,897 shares of our common stock held by Jerome M. Adams and Elizabeth Adams under a Voting Trust Agreement dated January 31, 2002 of which Mr. Adams serves as voting trustee. 69,106 of Mr. Adams shares have been pledged to a financial institution. |
(4) | Includes 7,215 shares of our common stock held in Mr. Dennisons 401(k) plan. |
(5) | Includes 5,702 shares of our common stock held jointly with Dr. Dukes spouse. |
(6) | Includes 8,841 shares of our common stock held by Mr. Edwards spouse. |
(7) | Includes 514 shares of our common stock held in Mr. Huerths 401(k) plan. |
(8) | Includes 29,203 shares of our common stock held by Laurel Management Retirement Plan, of which Mr. Kunkle is a trustee and 3,000 shares of our common stock held by Laurel Holdings, Inc., of which Mr. Kunkle is an officer. With respect to each, Mr. Kunkle has voting and investment power. |
(9) | Includes 287,150 shares of our common stock held by Crown American Enterprises, Inc., of which Mark E. Pasquerilla is an officer, and has the power to vote such shares, and 125,500 shares held by the Marenrico Partnership, of which Mr. Pasquerilla is one of the partners and has the power to vote such shares. |
(10) | Includes 16,612 shares of our common stock held in Mr. Stopkos 401(k) plan. |
(11) | Includes 68,553 shares of our common stock jointly held with Mr. Youngs spouse. |
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Based solely upon our review of the Forms 3 and Forms 4 filed by the beneficial owners of our common stock, we believe all reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act were filed on time.
The board of directors has various standing committees, including an audit committee, a board enterprise risk committee, a compensation committee, a corporate governance committee, an executive committee, an investment/ALCO committee, a nominating committee, and a technology committee, and each committee operates under a written charter. For information regarding availability of certain of these charters, see information below the heading Corporate Governance Documents below. Directors are expected to attend meetings of the board, meetings of the committees on which they serve and the ASRV annual meeting. During 2014, the board of directors held 14 meetings, the audit committee held 14 meetings, the executive committee did not hold any meetings, the investment/ALCO committee held 4 meetings, the technology committee held 4 meetings, the corporate governance committee held 5 meetings, the compensation committee held 3 meetings, the nominating committee held 1 meeting, and the board enterprise risk committee held 2 meetings. There were 2 executive sessions of the board of directors excluding management. Each director attended at least 75% of the combined total of meetings of the board of directors and of each committee of which he or she was a member. Each director attended ASRVs 2014 annual meeting of shareholders with the exception of Kim W. Kunkle.
The executive committee serves as a resource for management to seek guidance on issues between regularly scheduled meetings or with respect to matters that generally do not warrant calling a special board meeting. In addition, from time to time, the executive committee is asked to study strategic issues in greater depth than may be practical for the board as a whole. The executive committee is comprised of Directors Pasquerilla (Chair), OMalley (Vice Chair), Adams, Dennison, Ford, Kunkle and Sargent.
The primary responsibility of the board enterprise risk committee is to oversee the companys enterprise risk management activities on behalf of the board and report the results of their activities to the board, including executive managements assessment of key systemic risks facing the company and executive managements structure and processes established to identify, measure, monitor, and manage risks. The board enterprise risk committee is comprised of Directors Dennison (Chair), OMalley (Vice Chair), Adams, DeVos, Duke, Ford, Kunkle, Pasquerilla, Sargent, and Slater.
The technology committee is comprised of Directors DeVos (Chair), Sargent (Vice Chair), Edwards, Pasquerilla, Slater, and Wise. The technology committee monitors the operation of information systems (IS), including new technology implementation, within the company and its subsidiaries and provides input into the companys strategic IS plan and IS disaster recovery plan.
The investment/ALCO committee is comprised of Directors Slater (Chair), Kunkle (Vice Chair), Dennison, Duke, Edwards, Ford, and Pasquerilla. This committee is responsible for overseeing our investment policy and monitoring interest rate, liquidity and market risks.
The audit committee is comprised of Directors OMalley (Chair), Adams (Vice Chair), DeVos, Duke, Sargent and Wise, each of whom in the judgment of the board of directors is independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing requirements. Mr. Wise is also designated as the audit committee financial expert, and meets the qualifications to serve as such under the NASDAQ listing standards. This designation does not impose any duties, obligations or liabilities on Mr. Wise that are greater than the duties, obligations or liabilities imposed on the other members of the Audit Committee.
The audit committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, oversight, and termination of our independent auditors. The audit committee is also responsible for oversight of Internal Audit. The committee is required to pre-approve audit and certain non-audit services performed by the independent auditors. The committee also assists the board in providing oversight over the integrity of our financial statements, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and the performance of our internal audit function. The committee also is responsible for, among other things, reporting to our board on the results of the annual audit and reviewing the financial statements and related financial and non-financial disclosures included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Importantly, from a
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corporate governance perspective, the audit committee regularly evaluates the independent auditors independence from ASRV and its management, including approving consulting and other legally permitted, non-audit services provided by our auditors and the potential impact of the services on the auditors independence. The committee meets periodically with our independent auditors and our internal auditors outside of the presence of management, and possesses the authority to retain professionals to assist it in meeting its responsibilities without consulting with management. The committee reviews and discusses with management earnings releases, including the use of pro forma information (if applicable). The committee also discusses with management and the independent auditors the effect of accounting initiatives. The committee also is responsible for receiving and evaluating complaints and concerns relating to accounting and auditing matters.
The nominating committee is comprised of Directors Sargent (Chair), OMalley (Vice Chair), Adams, DeVos, Kunkle, Pasquerilla and Slater, each of whom in the judgment of the board of directors is independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards. The nominating committee is responsible for nominating individuals to stand for election as directors at the annual meeting of shareholders, assisting the board in the event of any vacancy on the board by identifying individuals qualified to become board members, recommending to the board qualified individuals to fill such vacancy, and recommending to the board, on an annual basis, nominees for each board committee. The committee has the responsibility to develop and recommend criteria for the selection of director nominees to the board, including, but not limited to, diversity, age, skills, experience, and time availability (including consideration of the number of other boards on which the proposed director sits) in the context of the needs of the board and ASRV and such other criteria as the committee determines to be relevant at the time. The committee has the power to apply these criteria in connection with the identification of individuals to be board members, as well as to apply the standards for independence imposed by our listing agreement with NASDAQ and all applicable federal laws in connection with this identification process.
The nominating committee does not maintain a formal diversity policy with respect to the identification or selection of directors for nomination to the board of directors. Diversity is just one of many factors the nominating committee considers in the identification and selection of director nominees. ASRV defines diversity broadly to include differences in race, gender, ethnicity, age, viewpoint, professional experience, educational background, skills and other personal attributes that can foster board heterogeneity in order to encourage and maintain board effectiveness.
The nominating committee considers potential candidates recommended by its members, management and others, including shareholders. In considering candidates recommended by shareholders, the committee will apply the same criteria it applies in connection with candidates recommended by the nominating committee. Shareholders may propose candidates to the nominating committee by delivering a notice to the nominating committee that contains the information required by Section 1.3 of our bylaws. In addition, shareholders may nominate persons directly for election as directors in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.3 of our bylaws. A notice of any such nomination must contain all required information and must be mailed or delivered to our Non-Executive Chairman not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the annual meeting. The nominating committee did not pay any fee to any third party to search for, identify and/or evaluate the 2015 nominees for directors.
The corporate governance committee is comprised of Directors Adams (Chair), OMalley (Vice Chair), Duke, Ford, and Sargent, each of whom in the judgment of the board of directors is independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards. The committee is responsible for making recommendations to the board of directors regarding, and monitoring compliance with: corporate governance principles applicable to the company; matters involving the companys articles of incorporation, bylaws, shareholder proposals, committee responsibilities and other corporate governance issues; and the companys policies, including, but not limited to, its Code of Ethics and Legal Code of Conduct, Code of Conduct for Directors, and Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers.
The compensation committee is comprised of Directors OMalley (Chair), Pasquerilla (Vice Chair), Adams, DeVos, Sargent and Slater, each of whom in the judgment of the board of directors is independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards. The compensation committee is responsible for
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reviewing and making recommendations regarding executive compensation and board compensation. The committees processes and procedures for determining executive compensation are described below under Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The committee has the authority to establish the compensation of the principal executive officer and other key executives. The principal executive officer provides input regarding compensation for executive officers other than himself.
The committees procedure for determining director compensation is to benchmark director compensation against compensation paid by similar asset size peer financial institutions. The committee also encourages stock ownership by directors by directing that the annual retainer be paid in our common stock and by facilitating the use of monthly board fees for the purchase of additional shares of our common stock. The committees charter does not permit the committee to delegate its authority. The committee retained Strategic Compensation Planning, Inc. as a compensation consultant with respect to advising the committee on best practices in the community banking industry, including best practices for executive compensation and director fees.
The board of directors currently separates the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors from the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. We believe that the separation of these roles, while not always necessary, is appropriate in the current economic and regulatory environment in which ASRV operates. We believe that the President and Chief Executive Officer should primarily focus on managing ASRVs operations in a manner that executes its corporate strategy. Conversely, we believe that our Chairman of the Board of Directors should primarily focus on leading the boards oversight of corporate governance matters, monitoring the progress and effectiveness of the President and Chief Executive Officer and management in implementing the companys corporate strategy, and ensuring that the board is receiving, with sufficient frequency, the information it requires to act effectively, including providing proper risk oversight.
Although our Non-Executive Vice Chairman leads our boards risk oversight processes, we believe that each member of our board of directors in his or her fiduciary capacity has a responsibility to monitor and manage risks faced by ASRV. At a minimum this requires the members of our board of directors to be actively engaged in board discussions, review materials provided to them, and know when it is appropriate to request further information from management and/or engage the assistance of outside advisors. Furthermore, because the banking industry is highly regulated, certain risks to ASRV are monitored by the board of directors through its review of ASRVs compliance with regulations set forth by its regulatory authorities, including the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and recommendations contained in regulatory examinations.
We believe risk oversight is a responsibility for each member of the board of directors. Each of our committees concentrates on specific risks for which they have an expertise, and each committee is required to regularly report to the board of directors on its findings. For example, the investment/ALCO committee regularly monitors ASRVs exposure to certain investment risks, such as the effect of interest rate or liquidity changes, while our audit committee monitors ASRVs exposure to certain reputational risks by establishing and evaluating the effectiveness of the company programs to report and monitor fraud and by monitoring ASRVs internal controls over financial reporting. Our compensation committees role in monitoring the risks related to our compensation structure is discussed in further detail in the section titled Our Compensation Policies and Risk below.
Additionally, our board enterprise risk committee, which coordinates the boards oversight of enterprise risks by working with the other committees of the board to avoid the duplication of efforts, met two times during 2014. The primary responsibility of the board enterprise risk committee is to oversee the companys enterprise risk management activities on behalf of the board and report the results of their activities to the board, including executive managements assessment of key systemic risks facing the company and executive managements structure and processes established to identify, measure, monitor, and manage risks. This committee is made up of the chairs of the board committees responsible for risk oversight.
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Directors OMalley (Chair), Pasquerilla (Vice Chair), Adams, DeVos, Sargent and Slater are excluded from participation in any plan administered by the compensation committee while serving as a member of such committee, except for participation in the Independent Directors Annual Retainer Plan (the committees administration of which is limited to coordinating the payment of a predetermined retainer) and the ASRV 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, which was previously approved by shareholders on April 26, 2011.
None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors, or on the compensation committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.
Our current executive officers and certain biographical information regarding them is listed below. All data is as of the date of this proxy statement.
Jeffrey A. Stopko, age 52, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Mr. Stopko became interim President and Chief Executive Officer of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. on January 9, 2015 following the resignation of Mr. Wilson. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Stopko had served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 1997, and was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2009. Mr. Stopko has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. since 2009.
Michael D. Lynch, age 54, Senior Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. Mr. Lynch became interim Chief Financial Officer of AmeriServ Financial, Inc. on January 15, 2015. Mr. Lynch has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment and Risk Officer of AmeriServ since 2013. Prior to 2013, he had been Vice President and Chief Investment and Risk Officer of AmeriServ from 2005 to 2013.
Gregor T. Young, IV, JD, age 59, President and CEO of AmeriServ Trust & Financial Services Company. Mr. Young has served as the President and CEO of AmeriServ Trust & Financial Services Company since 2010. Prior to his current position, Mr. Young was the Executive Vice President and Managing Director of S&T Bank Wealth Management Group from March 2000 to February 2010.
James T. Huerth, age 53, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of AmeriServ Financial Bank. Mr. Huerth became the interim President and Chief Executive Officer of AmeriServ Financial Bank on January 9, 2015 following the resignation of Mr. Wilson. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Huerth had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer of the Bank since 2009. Mr. Huerth was Director of Corporate Banking, Senior Executive Vice President of StellarOne from 2008 to 2009, and President and CEO and a member of the board of directors of Planters Bank and Trust Co. from 2004 to 2008.
The compensation committee administers our executive compensation program. The committee, which is composed entirely of independent directors, operates under a written charter and is responsible for determining the compensation of the President and Chief Executive Officer (the CEO) and, with the recommendations of the CEO, the compensation of the other executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation Table that appears following this Executive Compensation (we refer to the CEO and the other executive officers identified in that table collectively as the Named Executive Officers), for administering our incentive compensation programs (including our stock incentive plan), for approving and overseeing the administration of our employee benefits programs, for providing insight and guidance to management with respect to employee compensation generally, and for reviewing and making recommendations to the board with respect to director compensation.
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The compensation committee annually reviews the adequacy of its charter and recommends changes to the board for approval. The compensation committee meets at scheduled times during the year and also acts upon occasion by written consent. The chair of the committee reports on committee activities and makes committee recommendations at meetings of the board of directors.
Our executive compensation programs seek to achieve and maintain equity with respect to balancing the interests of shareholders and executive officers, while supporting our need to attract and retain competent executive management. Toward this end, the compensation committee has developed an executive compensation policy, along with supporting executive compensation plans and programs, which are intended to attain the following objectives:
| emphasize the enhancement of shareholder value; |
| support the acquisition and retention of competent executives; |
| deliver the total executive compensation package in a cost-effective manner; |
| reinforce key business objectives; |
| provide competitive compensation opportunities for competitive results; |
| encourage management ownership of our common stock; and |
| comply with applicable regulations. |
The committee collects and analyzes comparative executive compensation information from relevant peer groups, approves executive salary adjustments, recommends executive discretionary incentive/bonus plans, and administers our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan. Additionally, from time to time, the committee reviews other human resource issues, including qualified and non-qualified benefits, management performance appraisals, and succession planning.
The committee uses comparisons of competitive executive pay practices taken from banking industry compensation surveys and, from time-to-time, consultation with independent executive compensation advisors. Peer groups and competitive compensation practices are determined using executive compensation packages at bank holding companies and subsidiaries of comparable size to us and our subsidiaries. However, the committee does not maintain a specific target percentile with respect to this peer group in determining executive compensation levels. A selection of national information is used for comparative compensation survey data, including data from a peer group of small-cap bank holding companies in our geographic area. The peer group is periodically revised, and for 2014 compensation decisions the group consisted of the following companies: ACNB Corporation, Franklin Financial Services Corporation., Peoples Financial Services Corp., Chemung Financial Corporation, Codorus Valley Corporation, First United Corporation, LNB Bancorp, Inc., Farmers National Banc Corp., Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation, Citizens & Northern Corporation, Bryn Mawr Bank Corp., Orrstown Financial Services, Inc., ESSA Bancorp, and CNB Financial Corp.
Our executive compensation policy is designed to encourage decisions and actions that have a positive impact on overall corporate performance. For that reason, participation is focused on executive officers who have the greatest opportunity to influence the achievement of strategic corporate objectives.
We use two components of the executive compensation program to establish and maintain the desired relationship between executive pay and performance.
The first component, the formal performance appraisal system, relates to annual salary adjustments. We establish quantitative and qualitative performance factors for each executive position, and annually evaluate the performance of the executive against these standards. We then integrate this appraisal with market-based adjustments to salary ranges to determine if a base salary increase is merited.
The second component of ensuring the desired relationship between executive pay and performance relates to the committees role in administering the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and recommending executive discretionary cash incentive/bonus awards. The committee recommends to the board of directors cash and
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equity at-risk compensation awards when, in the judgment of committee members, such awards are justified by the performance of executive officers in relation to our performance with due regard for the level of risk assumed by the company.
The accounting and tax treatment of particular forms of compensation do not materially affect the committees compensation decisions. However, the committee evaluates the effect of such accounting and tax treatment on an ongoing basis and will make appropriate modifications to its compensation policies where appropriate.
For 2014, the elements of total compensation for the Named Executive Officers are comprised of the following:
| base salary; |
| incentive opportunities under our cash and stock-based incentive compensation program; |
| awards under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan; |
| benefits under our pension plan; |
| benefits under our health and welfare benefits plans; and |
| certain limited perquisites. |
1. Base Salary. The compensation committee reviews the base salaries of the Named Executive Officers on an annual basis as well as in the event of any promotion or significant change in job responsibilities. The committee reviews peer group data to establish a market-competitive executive base salary program, combined with a formal performance appraisal system that focuses on awards that are integrated with strategic corporate objectives. Salary income for each Named Executive Officer is reported in Column (b) of the Summary Compensation Table, which appears following this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
2. Incentive Cash and Stock Compensation. We have an established, written executive incentive compensation plan, our Executive At-Risk Incentive Compensation Plan, which generally provides for cash and stock awards for the achievement of performance goals. We based incentive award opportunities for 2014 on annual company-wide budget return on assets (ROA) targets and comparison to peer ROA performance for the previously named peer group. All awards are subject to recovery by us in the event the payment was based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria.
3. Incentive Stock Option Awards. We use the grant of stock options under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan as the primary vehicle for providing long-term incentive compensation opportunities to our senior officers, including the Named Executive Officers. The 2011 Stock Incentive Plan provides for the grant of restricted stock awards and qualified and non-qualified stock options. We grant all stock options with a per share exercise price that is not less than 100% of the fair market value of such shares on the date that the option is granted. Accordingly, grantees will not obtain any value from the option grant under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan unless the market price of our common stock increases after the date of grant. The 2011 Stock Incentive Plan is designed to provide at-risk (incentive) compensation that aligns managements financial interests with those of our shareholders, encourages management ownership of our common stock, supports the achievement of corporate short and long-term financial objectives, and provides competitive equity reward opportunities. We have not adopted any specific policy regarding the amount or timing of any stock-based compensation under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan. Information concerning the number of options held by each Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2014, is set forth in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table, which appears below.
4. Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan. We maintain a defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of our employees, including the Named Executive Officers. Benefits under the plan are based upon an employees years of service and highest average compensation for a five-year period. The 2014 increase in the actuarial present values of each Named Executive Officers accumulated benefit under the plan is set forth
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in Column (g) of the Summary Compensation Table which appears below and the actuarial present value of each Named Executive Officers accumulated benefit under the plan and the aggregate number of years of service credited to each Named Executive Officer is set forth in the Pension Benefits Table which appears below. The compensation committee believes that this plan promotes employee and executive officer retention and permits us to maintain a competitive position and attract talented officers and employees. Effective January 1, 2013, we amended the defined benefit pension plan to provide that employees hired on or after that date are not eligible to participate. Instead, such employees are eligible to participate in a qualified 401(k) retirement plan. All of the Named Executive Officers continue to participate in the defined benefit pension plan under the old plan provisions.
On October 16, 2014, we adopted the AmeriServ Financial Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the Deferred Compensation Plan), under which participants who are among a select group of management or highly compensated employees (including our Named Executive Officers) may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of any annual incentive bonus and/or salary payable to such participants with respect to a fiscal year. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, which was effective January 1, 2015, each participant must make an irrevocable deferral election before the beginning of the fiscal year to which such compensation relates. Participants can elect to receive distributions of their accounts in the Deferred Compensation Plan, either in a lump sum or in installments, commencing within thirty days following (i) their separation of service or disability, or (ii) a specified date. Participants may elect to allocate the deferred amounts into an investment account and select among various investment options upon which the rate of return of the deferred amounts will be based. Participants investment accounts are adjusted periodically to reflect the deemed gains and losses attributable to the deferred amounts. Each participant is always 100% vested in their investment accounts. The Deferred Compensation Plan is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan. As such, the rights of all participants to any deferred amounts represent our unsecured promise to pay and the deferred amounts remain subject to the claims of the Companys creditors.
5. Health and Welfare Benefits. We provide health, life, and disability insurance, and other employee benefits programs to our employees, including the Named Executive Officers. The compensation committee is responsible for overseeing the administration of these programs and believes that our employee benefits programs should be comparable to those maintained by other members of our peer group so as to assure that we are able to maintain a competitive position in terms of attracting and retaining officers and other employees. We provide these employee benefits plans on a non-discriminatory basis to all employees.
6. Perquisites. ASRV provides some of its Named Executive Officers with additional benefits not available to our other employees. For example, as set forth in the footnotes to our Summary Compensation Table, which appears below, some of our Named Executive Officers receive reimbursements for the purchase or lease of, and the operation expenses for, a motor vehicle and for country club membership fees and dues. The compensation committee believes that these perquisites are offered by its competitors for talented executive officers and allow ASRV to remain competitive in attracting and retaining talented executive officers.
For 2014, we increased the Named Executive Officers base salaries in order to, among other things, maintain their compensation at a competitive level. The compensation committee also considered a number of factors in setting these new levels, including the Named Executive Officers annual performance review, an annual review of peer compensation, and the overall performance of the company.
As part of our compensation program, we entered into agreements with Messrs. Wilson, Stopko, Huerth, and Young, pursuant to which they will be entitled to receive severance benefits upon the occurrence of certain enumerated events following a change in control. The events that trigger payment are generally those related to termination of employment without cause or detrimental changes in the executives terms and conditions of employment. See Employment Contracts and Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control below for a more detailed description of these events. We believe that this structure will help: (i) assure the executives full attention and dedication to the company, free from distractions caused by personal uncertainties and risks related to a pending or threatened change in control, (ii) assure the executives
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objectivity for shareholders interests, (iii) assure the executives of fair treatment in case of involuntary termination following a change in control, and (iv) attract and retain key talent during uncertain times.
The compensation committee discussed, evaluated, and reviewed with our senior risk officer all of the companys employee compensation programs in light of the risks posed to us by such programs. The compensation committee also discussed, evaluated, and reviewed with the our senior risk officer all of the compensation programs in which the Named Executive Officers participate to assess whether any aspect of these programs create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. The compensation committee met with our senior risk officer in February and September 2014 with respect to the foregoing.
At the conclusion of this review, the compensation committee determined that our compensation programs for our Named Executive Officers do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.
The compensation committee is of the view that, to the extent permitted by law, it has authority to retroactively adjust any cash or equity-based incentive award paid to any senior officer (including any Named Executive Officer) where the award was based upon our achievement of specified financial goals and it is subsequently determined following a restatement of our financial statements that the specified goals were not in fact achieved. There has been no restatement of our financial statements, and, therefore, there have been no retroactive adjustments of any cash or equity-based incentive award on such a basis.
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The following table sets forth information for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, and 2014 concerning the compensation of our Named Executive Officers for services in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries.
Name, Age and Principal Position |
Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1)(2) |
Option Awards ($)(1) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(2) |
Changes in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) |
All Other Compensation ($)(3) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Glenn L. Wilson President and CEO of ASRV and AmeriServ Financial Bank(4) |
2014 | $ | 378,325 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 76,364 | $ | 24,100 | $ | 478,789 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | $ | 368,333 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,877 | $ | 13,548 | $ | 32,632 | $ | 53,545 | $ | 16,285 | $ | 496,285 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | 357,500 | $ | 0 | $ | 26,299 | $ | 24,395 | $ | 17,875 | $ | 63,229 | $ | 17,834 | $ | 507,132 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey A. Stopko Executive Vice President and CFO of ASRV |
2014 | $ | 205,518 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 21,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 66,551 | $ | 9,654 | $ | 302,723 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | $ | 195,258 | $ | 0 | $ | 5,741 | $ | 5,277 | $ | 17,222 | $ | 28,520 | $ | 6,304 | $ | 258,322 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | 186,255 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,244 | $ | 10,652 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 64,026 | $ | 5,685 | $ | 296,862 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gregor T. Young, IV, JD President and CEO of AmeriServ Trust and Financial Services Company |
2014 | $ | 244,510 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 21,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 74,129 | $ | 17,996 | $ | 357,635 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | $ | 238,132 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,645 | $ | 5,162 | $ | 31,934 | $ | 53,553 | $ | 20,324 | $ | 359,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | 230,625 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,021 | $ | 10,327 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 61,100 | $ | 19,797 | $ | 356,870 | ||||||||||||||||||||
James T. Huerth Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer of AmeriServ Financial Bank |
2014 | $ | 201,897 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 21,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 47,980 | $ | 11,931 | $ | 282,808 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | $ | 190,633 | $ | 0 | $ | 5,605 | $ | 5,171 | $ | 16,814 | $ | 29,381 | $ | 12,815 | $ | 260,419 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | 182,500 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,038 | $ | 10,651 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 37,631 | $ | 12,097 | $ | 272,917 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Represents the grant date fair value, computed in accordance with FASB A.S.C. Topic 718, of stock and option awards earned under the Executive At-Risk Incentive Compensation Plan for 2012 and 2013 and under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan for 2012, 2013, and 2014. See the discussion in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, for a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate the amounts in this column. The amounts in the Option Awards column for 2012 and 2013 have been adjusted from past years proxy statements to reflect the correct year of grant with a corresponding change to the Total column. |
(2) | Our Named Executive Officers did not achieve the performance goals under the Executive At-Risk Incentive Compensation Plan for 2014. Previous years reflect the cash and stock amounts earned under the Executive At-Risk Incentive Compensation Plan for such year. |
(3) | For 2014, includes, as applicable, (a) premiums we pay for life insurance policies with coverage limits above $50,000 for each of the Named Executive Officers; (b) country club dues for Messrs. Wilson, Young, and Huerth; (c) the aggregate incremental cost of Messrs. Wilsons, Youngs, Stopkos, and Huerths company-provided automobile; and (d) reimbursement of the cost of premiums that Mr. Wilson paid for long-term disability insurance. |
(4) | On January 9, 2015, Mr. Wilson resigned from his position as our President and Chief Executive Officer and member of our board of directors and from all director, committee membership, officer and other positions that he had with each of our subsidiaries. |
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The following table sets forth information concerning outstanding equity awards held by each Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2014.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested ($) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Glenn L. Wilson | 38,304 | 0 | 0 | $ | 1.68 | 2019 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20,329 | 10,165 | (1) | 0 | $ | 2.75 | 2022 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,575 | 11,151 | (2) | 0 | $ | 3.23 | 2023 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey A. Stopko | 6,000 | 0 | 0 | $ | 1.70 | 2020 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,000 | 0 | 0 | $ | 2.28 | 2021 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,602 | 3,801 | (1) | 0 | $ | 2.75 | 2022 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,172 | 4,343 | (2) | 0 | $ | 3.23 | 2023 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 25,000 | (3) | 0 | $ | 3.18 | 2024 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregor T. Young, IV, JD | 10,000 | 0 | 0 | $ | 2.07 | 2020 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10,000 | 0 | 0 | $ | 2.07 | 2020 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,000 | 0 | 0 | $ | 2.28 | 2021 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,330 | 3,667 | (1) | 0 | $ | 2.75 | 2022 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,125 | 4,248 | (2) | 0 | $ | 3.23 | 2023 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 25,000 | (3) | 0 | $ | 3.18 | 2024 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James T. Huerth | 7,500 | 0 | 0 | $ | 1.73 | 2020 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,500 | 0 | 0 | $ | 1.73 | 2020 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,000 | 0 | 0 | $ | 2.28 | 2021 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,601 | 3,801 | (1) | 0 | $ | 2.75 | 2022 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,128 | 4,256 | (2) | 0 | $ | 3.23 | 2023 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 25,000 | (3) | 0 | $ | 3.18 | 2024 | | | | |
(1) | Vests on March 15, 2015. |
(2) | 1/2 vest on each of March 15, 2015 and March 15, 2016. |
(3) | 1/3 vests on each of February 19, 2015, February 19, 2016 and February 19, 2017. |
19
The following table sets forth the number of shares acquired upon exercising options and the vesting of stock awards by our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.
OPTION AWARDS | STOCK AWARDS | |||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on Exercise ($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($) |
||||||||||||
Glenn L. Wilson | | | | | ||||||||||||
Jeffrey A. Stopko | | | | | ||||||||||||
Gregor T. Young, IV, JD | | | | | ||||||||||||
James T. Huerth | | | | |
The following table sets forth information concerning plans that provide for payments or other benefits at, following, or in connection with, retirement for each Named Executive Officer.
Name | Plan Name | Number of years of Credited Service (#) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($)(1) |
Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($) |
||||||||||||
Glenn L. Wilson | Defined Benefit Plan | 5 | 298,823 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
Jeffrey A. Stopko | Defined Benefit Plan | 28 | 366,213 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
Gregor T. Young, IV, JD | Defined Benefit Plan | 5 | 279,020 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
James T. Huerth | Defined Benefit Plan | 5 | 165,298 | $ | 0 |
(1) | The present value of accumulated benefits was calculated with the following assumptions. Retirement occurs at age 65. At that time, the participants take a lump sum based on the accrued benefit as of December 31, 2014. The lump sum is calculated using an interest rate of 6.00% and the IRS 2014 applicable mortality table for IRC Section 417(e). The lump sum is discounted to December 31, 2014, at a rate of 4.00% per year. |
Benefits described in the foregoing table relate to the qualified defined benefit retirement plan that we provide to all our employees. Remuneration for pension benefit purposes is total cash remuneration paid to an employee for a calendar year, including base salary, wages, commissions, overtime, bonuses and any other form of extra cash compensation and any pre-tax contributions under a qualified retirement or cafeteria plan. An employees benefit is determined based on the employees final average compensation, which means the average annual compensation received by an employee in five consecutive years out of the last ten years before the employees termination of employment for which the average annual compensation is highest.
Retirement benefits under the pension plan are paid for the life of the employee with a right of survivorship with respect to ten years of post-retirement benefits. Other optional forms of benefits are available in actuarially equivalent amounts.
We do not maintain a nonqualified defined contribution or other deferred compensation plan for the Named Executive Officers.
20
We enter into employment contracts and change in control agreements with certain of our employees, including the Named Executive Officers, when we determine that an employment or change in control agreement is warranted in order to ensure the executives continued employment in light of prevailing market competition for the particular position held by the executive officer, or where it is determined it is necessary in light of the prior experience of the executive or our practices with respect to other similarly situated employees.
We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Wilson, which was effective August 17, 2009. Mr. Wilsons agreement terminated upon Mr. Wilsons termination of employment effective January 9, 2015. Mr. Wilsons agreement had an initial two-year term that would automatically renew for an additional one-year term thereafter, unless it terminated as set forth therein or unless one party provided written notice to the other of its intent not to renew the agreement 90 days in advance of the end of the agreements term.
The agreement provided for an annual base salary of $350,000. Mr. Wilson was not eligible for a merit increase until the 2012 calendar year. In addition, the agreement provided, among other things, that Mr. Wilson had the right to:
| participate in the bonus programs that we maintained for our executive officers of similar rank, which could not exceed 30% of his base salary and were subject to recovery or clawback if such bonuses were based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria; |
| participate in our health, life, and disability insurance programs, pension plan, 401(k) plan, and other fringe benefit programs that we generally offered to all our employees; |
| take up to five weeks of vacation; |
| receive payment of the initiation fees and dues to be a member of a country club and reimbursement for all ordinary, necessary, and reasonable business-related expenses incurred by him on business at such country club; |
| receive a company-provided automobile and operating expenses for business use (and ancillary personal use); and |
| receive payment for certain relocation and moving expenses incurred by his acceptance of the position of President & CEO during 2009 and 2010. |
If we terminated Mr. Wilsons employment without cause (other than by reason of our decision not to renew the agreement), or Mr. Wilson resigned for good reason (following his written notice to us within 90 days of the occurrence of any event of good reason and our failure to cure the same within 30 days of receipt of such notice), and no change in control had occurred as of the date of such termination, he was entitled to the following upon his execution of a release agreement:
| a lump sum cash payment within 30 days from the termination date equal to two times his annual base salary then in effect; and |
| the continuation of his health insurance benefits for him and his eligible dependents for a period of two years following his termination date (this period included his COBRA eligibility period and Mr. Wilson would have been responsible for the payment of premiums for such benefits in the same amount as similarly situated active employees). |
Mr. Wilsons employment agreement generally defined the term good reason as the termination of his employment absent a change in control and on the account of a reduction in his base salary except across-the-board reductions similarly affecting all our salaried employees or senior executive officers.
21
Mr. Wilsons employment agreement generally defined the term cause as:
| a material breach of Mr. Wilsons agreement by Mr. Wilson not cured by him within 30 days of his receipt of the companys notice that it intended to terminate his employment for cause based upon this breach; |
| the commission of any act involving dishonesty or fraud or conduct tending to bring us into public disgrace or disrepute in any respect, including, but not limited to, acts of dishonesty or fraud, a commission of a felony, or a crime of moral turpitude; |
| gross negligence or willful misconduct or the continuing and unreasonable refusal to substantially perform duties as specifically directed by the board of directors; or |
| an addiction to drugs or alcohol if Mr. Wilson refused treatment or failed to successfully complete treatment within the last 12 months. |
In the event that Mr. Wilson resigned from, or we terminated, his employment without cause, upon or after a change in control, he was entitled to the following severance benefits under his employment agreement:
| a lump sum cash payment within 30 days from the termination date equal to 2.99 times his annual base salary then in effect; |
| the continuation of his health insurance benefits for him and his eligible dependents for a period of three years following his termination date (this period included his COBRA eligibility period and Mr. Wilson would have been responsible for the payment of premiums for such benefits in the same amount as similarly situated active employees); and |
| a lump sum cash payment within 30 days from the termination date equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate retirement benefits he would have received under the terms of each of our tax-qualified and non-qualified plans as in effect upon the termination date as if he continued to be employed for three more years and had he received on a pro-rated basis, as appropriate, the greater of (I) the highest compensation taken into account under each such plan with respect to one of the three years immediately preceding the year in which the termination date falls, or (II) his annualized base compensation in effect immediately prior to the date of termination, over (B) the retirement benefits he actually receives under such plans. |
Mr. Wilsons agreement generally defined the term change in control as the occurrence of any of the following:
| any person or group (as those terms are defined or used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) that was not our affiliate was or became the beneficial owner (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of our securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of our securities then outstanding; or |
| there occurred a merger, consolidation, share exchange, division or other reorganization involving us and another entity that was not our affiliate in which our shareholders did not continue to hold a majority of the capital stock of the resulting entity, or a sale, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of substantially all of our assets to another entity or other person that was not our affiliate. |
In the event Mr. Wilson suffered a total and permanent disability (i.e., a mental or physical disability, illness, or incapacity that rendered him unable to perform a substantial portion of his duties for a period of three consecutive months or an aggregate period of six months in any 18-month period or that rendered him unable to earn a livelihood as an employee of a comparable business), we would have continued his salary for up to 90 days, with such salary reduced by any amounts payable under an applicable disability insurance plan.
Mr. Wilson was subject to the confidentiality and non-solicitation covenants contained in the agreement for the term of his employment and continues to be subject to such covenants for two years following the date of his termination.
22
Effective March 29, 2010, the Trust Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Young. Mr. Youngs agreement is materially identical to Mr. Wilsons except that the initial term of Mr. Youngs agreement is for one year, his initial annual salary is $225,000, and he received two stock option awards of 10,000 shares each.
Effective May 17, 2010, the Bank entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Huerth. Mr. Huerths agreement is materially identical to Mr. Wilsons except that the initial term of Mr. Huerths agreement is for one year, his initial annual salary is $175,000, he is entitled to four weeks of annual vacation, and he received two stock option awards of 7,500 shares each.
We entered into a change in control agreement with Mr. Stopko, which was initially effective as of May 24, 2002. The initial term of the agreement is for three years and the agreement annually renews for a term ending three years from each annual anniversary date, unless a party has given the other party written notice at least 60 days prior to such anniversary date that such party does not agree to renew the employment agreement. Under the agreement, if we or a successor terminate Mr. Stopkos employment, without cause, or if Mr. Stopko terminates employment for good reason (following his written notice to us within 90 days of the occurrence of any event of good reason and our failure to cure the same within 30 days of receipt of such notice) following a change in control, he will be entitled to certain severance benefits; provided that he executes a release agreement. The severance benefits under the agreement consist of the following:
| a lump-sum payment, within 30 days following termination, equal to two times the sum of his average base salary and bonuses for the five immediately preceding calendar years; |
| two additional years of service credit for the purpose of calculating pension benefits where the incremental actuarial present value is paid as a lump sum cash payment; |
| continuation, for a period of two years, of all life, disability, and medical insurance benefits in effect during the immediately preceding three calendar years (or, to the extent such benefits cannot be provided under a plan because he is no longer an employee, a lump-sum payment equal to the after-tax cost of obtaining such benefits); and |
| all unvested stock options will become immediately vested, and such options will be exercisable at any time prior to the earlier of the expiration date of such options or the date which is 90 days after termination. |
If Mr. Stopko becomes entitled to receive the severance benefits under the agreement, he will be subject to a covenant not to compete and an agreement not to solicit our customers or employees for 24 months following termination of employment.
The agreement generally defines the term change in control as the occurrence of any of the following:
| any person or group (as those terms are defined or used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of our securities representing 24.99% or more of the combined voting power of our securities then outstanding; |
| there occurs a merger, consolidation, share exchange, division or other reorganization involving us and another entity in which our shareholders do not continue to hold a majority of the capital stock of the resulting entity, or a sale, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of substantially all of our assets to another entity or other person; or |
| there occurs a contested proxy solicitation or solicitations of our shareholders which results in the contesting party or parties obtaining the ability to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors standing for election at one or more meetings of our shareholders. |
23
The agreement generally defines the term cause as:
| material breach of any provision of the agreement, which is not cured within 30 days; |
| willful misconduct that is materially inimical to the our best interests, monetary or otherwise; |
| conviction, or the entering of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, of a felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud or deceit; or |
| adjudication as a bankrupt under the United States Bankruptcy Code. |
In connection with this agreement, the term good reason includes the occurrence of any of the following events:
| a reduction in title, responsibilities, including reporting responsibilities or authority; |
| assignment of duties inconsistent with his office; |
| a material reduction in annual base salary; |
| a termination of participation, on substantially similar terms, in any incentive compensation or bonus plans, or any change or amendment to any of the substantive provisions of any of such plans that would materially decrease the potential benefits; or |
| a failure to provide benefits at least as favorable as those enjoyed by the officer and his dependents under any pension, life insurance, medical, health and accident, disability or other employee plans immediately prior to a change in control, or any action that would materially reduce any of such benefits, unless such reduction relates to a reduction in benefits applicable to all employees generally. |
24
The table below summarizes the payments the Named Executive Officers would receive if they were terminated as of, or a change in control occurred on, December 31, 2014.
Before Change in Control | After Change in Control | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination for Death or Disability |
Involuntary Termination for Cause |
Involuntary Termination without Cause |
Voluntary Termination for Good Reason |
Involuntary Termination without Cause |
Voluntary Termination for Good Reason |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Glenn L. Wilson | Severance(1) |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 762,200 | $ | 762,200 | $ | 1,139,489 | $ | 1,139,489 | |||||||||||||||
Additional retirement benefit payment |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 195,136 | $ | 195,136 | ||||||||||||||||
Welfare continuation(2) |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 26,271 | $ | 26,271 | $ | 39,326 | $ | 39,326 | ||||||||||||||||
Value of accelerated stock options |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,444 | $ | 1,444 | ||||||||||||||||
Potential reduction in payout due to operation of Code Section 280G |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ($181,276 | ) | ($181,276 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 788,471 | $ | 788,471 | $ | 1,194,119 | $ | 1,194,119 | ||||||||||||||||
Jeffery A. Stopko | Severance | (1) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 385,828 | $ | 385,828 | ||||||||||||||
Additional retirement benefit payment |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 91,464 | $ | 91,464 | ||||||||||||||||
Welfare continuation(2) |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 34,754 | $ | 34,754 | ||||||||||||||||
Value of accelerated stock options |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,444 | $ | 1,444 | ||||||||||||||||
Potential reduction in payout due to operation of Code Section 280G |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 513,490 | $ | 513,490 | ||||||||||||||||
Gregor T. Young, IV | Severance | (1) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 246,010 | $ | 0 | $ | 735,570 | $ | 735,570 | ||||||||||||||
Additional retirement benefit payment |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 193,743 | $ | 193,743 | ||||||||||||||||
Welfare continuation(2) |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 14,678 | $ | 0 | $ | 43,854 | $ | 43,854 | ||||||||||||||||
Value of accelerated stock options |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,393 | $ | 1,393 | ||||||||||||||||
Potential reduction in payout due to operation of Code Section 280G |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ($197,437 | ) | ($197,437 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 260,688 | $ | 0 | $ | 777,123 | $ | 777,123 | ||||||||||||||||
James T. Huerth | Severance(1) |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 161,280 | $ | 0 | $ | 430,080 | $ | 430,080 | |||||||||||||||
Additional retirement benefit payment |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 119,381 | $ | 119,381 | ||||||||||||||||
Welfare continuation(2) |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 9,877 | $ | 0 | $ | 39,326 | $ | 39,326 | ||||||||||||||||
Value of accelerated stock options |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,444 | $ | 1,444 | ||||||||||||||||
Potential reduction in payout due to operation of Code Section 280G |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 171,157 | $ | 0 | $ | 590,231 | $ | 590,231 |
(1) | For severance and welfare continuation payment calculation, and time and form of such payments, see Employment and Severance Agreements. |
(2) | Assumes no increase in the cost of welfare benefits. |
25
The following table sets forth information concerning compensation that we or the Bank or the Trust Company paid or accrued to each non-employee member of our board of directors during the year ended December 31, 2014.
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
Option Awards ($)(2) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings |
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
J. Michael Adams, Jr. | $ | 36,375 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 45,374 | ||||||||||||||
Allan R. Dennison | $ | 48,075 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 57,074 | ||||||||||||||
Daniel R. DeVos | $ | 43,425 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 52,424 | ||||||||||||||
Bruce E. Duke, III, M.D. | $ | 29,325 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 38,324 | ||||||||||||||
James M. Edwards, Sr. | $ | 22,375 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 31,374 | ||||||||||||||
Craig G. Ford | $ | 84,075 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 93,074 | ||||||||||||||
Kim W. Kunkle | $ | 37,275 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 46,274 | ||||||||||||||
Margaret A. OMalley | $ | 34,775 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 43,774 | ||||||||||||||
Mark E. Pasquerilla | $ | 32,275 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 41,274 | ||||||||||||||
Sara A. Sargent | $ | 50,475 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 59,474 | ||||||||||||||
Thomas C. Slater | $ | 38,025 | $ | 8,999 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 47,024 | ||||||||||||||
Robert L. Wise | $ | 22,975 | $ | 17,399 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 40,374 |
(1) | Represents the grant date fair value, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, of stock awards earned under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan. See the discussion in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, for a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate the amounts in this column. All non-employee independent directors received an annual retainer of $9,000 payable in shares of our common stock. All directors received 2,548 shares of our common stock pursuant to this arrangement on May 6, 2014. Board meeting and committee meeting attendance fees are paid in cash. Mr. Wise has directed ASRV to apply a portion of his board fees that would otherwise be received in cash to the purchase of shares of our common stock. |
(2) | Other than Mr. Ford, no director has any outstanding options to purchase AmeriServs common stock. Mr. Ford currently has 40,000 options to purchase AmeriServs common stock, which is fully exercisable. |
In 2014, all ASRV and Bank board meetings were held jointly, but with separate agendas and minutes. During 2014, non-employee directors received $750 for each joint ASRV and Bank board meeting attended and received $600 for their attendance at certain committee meetings of the ASRV and Bank board of directors. In 2014, each committee Chair received an annual retainer of $2,000 in addition to the committee meeting fee. However, directors frequently were not compensated for specially called committee meetings, telephonic meetings, or committee meetings convened for a limited purpose, such as the audit committees review of quarterly earnings releases. Mr. Ford, in connection with his service as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASRV and the Bank received monthly retainers of $7,000. Additionally, Mr. Dennison, in connection with is service as non-executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASRV and the Bank received monthly retainers of $4,000.
Messrs. Adams, Dennison, Edwards, Ford, Kunkle, and Wise, and Mses. OMalley and Sargent are also directors of the Trust Company. Directors serving on the board of directors of the Trust Company received $750 for each board of directors meeting attended, except for Messrs. Ford and Dennison.
Messrs. Adams and Wise also serve on the board of directors of West Chester Capital Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank, for which each receives $750 for each board of directors meeting attended.
26
As described above in the Executive Compensation section and the compensation tables of this proxy statement, ASRVs compensation programs are designed to:
| align the interests of our executive officers with the long-term interests of our shareholders; |
| create a culture that rewards the superior performance of our executive officers through the attainment of specified performance objectives and targets; and |
| attract, motivate, and retain the highest level of executive talent and experience for the benefit of our shareholders. |
We are submitting a non-binding proposal allowing our shareholders to cast an advisory vote on our compensation program at the annual meeting of shareholders. This proposal, commonly known as a say-on-pay vote, gives you as a shareholder of ASRV an opportunity to endorse or not endorse our executive compensation programs and policies through the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the companys named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the narrative disclosure regarding executive compensation, the compensation tables and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement, is hereby APPROVED.
Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the board. However, the compensation committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation programs and arrangements.
Opponents of say-on-pay votes have suggested that the impact on shareholder value of these proposals remains unproven because shareholders currently, for example, have the right to approve certain compensation plans, such as stock option plans.
Therefore, we cannot assess what measurable impact, if any, this proposal will have in the creation of shareholder value or improving our corporate governance, in light of the corporate governance standards we currently have in place.
We believe that both ASRV and its shareholders benefit from maintaining a constructive dialogue with its shareholders. This proposal is only one part of our corporate governance program and practices that maintain this dialogue with our shareholders and our commitment to the creation of long-term shareholder value.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE ABOVE ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
27
On September 15, 2011, the audit committee of our board of directors extended the engagement of S.R. Snodgrass P.C. to provide audit, tax, SSAE 16 and benefit plan audit services for the years ending on December 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Additionally, on May 6, 2014, the audit committee of our board of directors extended the engagement of S.R. Snodgrass P.C. through the year ending on December 31, 2015.
S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. has audited our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014. The report on those consolidated financial statements appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders. Representatives of S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. are expected to be present at the annual meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to us by S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 258,936 | $ | 263,266 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 110,449 | 104,448 | ||||||
Tax Fees | 34,500 | 34,000 | ||||||
All Other Fees | 27,503 | 39,131 |
Audit Fees include fees for audit services associated with the annual core audit and expenses associated with on-going compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This category also includes fees associated with the quarterly reviews of Form 10-Q and a HUD procedures audit.
Audit-Related Fees includes fees associated with the SSAE 16 examination issued by the Trust Company, the audit of the 401(k) profit sharing plan, an audit of certain common and collective funds of the Trust Company, a student loan audit required by the Department of Education, and surprise custody examination of procedures for our registered investment advisory subsidiary.
Tax Fees includes tax preparation, tax compliance and tax advice.
All Other Fees include an information technology network security assessment and review of XBRL tagging and reporting process.
The audit committees Pre-Approval Policy is available on the companys website at www.ameriserv.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance.
The audit committee pre-approves all audit and legally permissible non-audit services provided by S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. in accordance with the pre-approval policies and procedures adopted by the committee at its meeting on July 17, 2014. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Under the policy, pre-approved services include pre-approval of non-prohibited services for a limited dollar amount. A list of the prohibited non-audit services as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is attached to the pre-approval policy. The SECs rule and relevant guidance will be consulted to determine the precise definitions of these services and the applicability of exceptions to certain of the prohibitions.
The pre-approval fee levels for all services to be provided by S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. are established annually by the audit committee. Any proposed services exceeding these levels will require specific pre-approval by the audit committee. The approved pre-approval fee level for audit services for fiscal year 2014 was $10,000.
The audit committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. Such member must report any decisions to the audit committee at the next scheduled meeting. All services performed by S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. in 2014 were pre-approved in accordance with the pre-approval policy.
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The audit committee of ASRVs board of directors operates under a written charter that specifies the audit committees duties and responsibilities. This charter is available on our website at www.ameriserv.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance.
The audit committee oversees ASRVs financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the audit committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management including a discussion about the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of the disclosures in the financial statements.
The audit committee reviewed with S.R. Snodgrass, P.C., our independent registered public accounting firm, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of ASRVs accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the audit committee under generally accepted auditing standards or as are required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The audit committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, and has discussed with S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. its independence. When necessary, the audit committee has considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors independence.
The audit committee discussed with ASRVs internal auditor and S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The audit committee met with the internal auditor and S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. to discuss the results of their audits and examinations, their evaluations of ASRVs internal controls and the overall quality of ASRVs financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee recommended to the board of directors, and the board of directors has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Submitted by the Audit Committee,
Margaret A. OMalley (Chair)
J. Michael Adams, Jr. (Vice Chair)
Daniel R. DeVos
Bruce E. Duke, III, M.D.
Sara A. Sargent
Robert L. Wise
A copy of our Code of Ethics and Legal Code of Conduct, Code of Conduct for Directors, our Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officer and the charters of our audit committee, nominating committee, compensation committee, corporate governance committee, and investment/ALCO committee are available on our website at www.ameriserv.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance and any shareholder may obtain a printed copy of these documents by writing to Investor Relations, AmeriServ Financial, Inc., P.O. Box 430, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430, by e-mail at info@ameriserv.com or by calling Investor Relations at (814) 533-5310.
Requests for printed financial material (including our annual reports, Forms 10-K, 10-Q and Call Reports) should be directed to Michael D. Lynch, Senior Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer, AmeriServ Financial, Inc., P.O. Box 430, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430, telephone (814) 533-5193.
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The board of directors of ASRV undertakes a formal review of director independence semi-annually with input from outside corporate counsel. This process consists of an oral question and answer session at a board meeting at which all directors hear the responses of each director and have an opportunity to evaluate the facts presented. As part of this question and answer session, each director is asked to confirm that there are no facts or circumstances with respect to the director that would be in conflict with the NASDAQ listing standards regarding independence or that would otherwise compromise the directors independence. This independence review is further supplemented by an annual questionnaire that directors are required to complete that contains a number of questions designed to ascertain the facts necessary to determine independence, as well as facts regarding any related party transactions. Based upon these reviews, the board of directors has determined that all of our current directors are independent. In making this determination, the board considered a number of specific relationships between directors and ASRV as follows:
| Director Pasquerilla owns the Holiday Inn Downtown, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. ASRV periodically holds off-site meetings at the Holiday Inn, including, in some years, its annual meeting of shareholders. In addition, the Holiday Inn provides catering services to ASRV from time to time. The board determined that the amount paid by the company to the Holiday Inn is not material to the company or the Holiday Inn. |
| Director Kunkle is the majority owner of Laurel Holdings, Inc. Among other things, Laurel Holdings operates a company that provides janitorial services to ASRV. In 2014, ASRV paid Laurel Holdings the sum of approximately $250,000 for these services. The amount paid represents less than five percent of Laurel Holdings consolidated revenues. Accordingly, the board concluded that the existence of this relationship did not impair Mr. Kunkles independence. |
Certain directors, nominees, and executive officers or their associates were customers of and had transactions with ASRV or its subsidiaries during 2014. Transactions that involved loans or commitments by the Bank were made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. All transactions, products or services provided to the directors, nominees, executive officers, or their associates by ASRV or its subsidiaries are on substantially the same terms and conditions that those directors, nominees, executive officer, or their associates could receive elsewhere.
Our audit committee charter requires that the audit committee approve all related party transactions other than routine deposit relationships and loans that otherwise comply with federal regulations. ASRV also reviews the independence of directors semi-annually. During this process, related party transactions are disclosed to all board members.
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The board of directors knows of no other matters to be presented at the annual meeting. If, however, any other business should properly come before the annual meeting, or any adjournment thereof, it is intended that the proxies will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with the best judgment of the persons named in the proxies.
Shareholders and other interested parties who desire to communicate directly with our independent, non-management directors should submit communications in writing addressed to the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, AmeriServ Financial, Inc., P.O. Box 430, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430.
Shareholders, employees and other interested parties who desire to express a concern relating to accounting or auditing matters should communicate directly with our audit committee in writing addressed to the Audit Committee Chair, AmeriServ Financial, Inc., P.O. Box 430, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430.
Any shareholder who desires to submit a proposal for inclusion in the proxy materials relating to our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders in accordance with the rules of the SEC must submit such proposal in writing, addressed to: Chairman of the Board of Directors, AmeriServ Financial, Inc., Executive Offices, P.O. Box 430, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907-0430 no later than November 20, 2015. In accordance with our bylaws, a shareholder who desires to propose a matter for consideration at an annual meeting of shareholders, even if the proposal is not submitted by the deadline for inclusion in our proxy materials, must comply with the procedures specified in our bylaws, including providing notice thereof in writing, delivered or mailed by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at the address above, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous years annual meeting. Assuming the annual meeting of shareholders in 2016 is held within thirty days before or after April 28, 2016, this period will begin on December 30, 2015 and will end on January 29, 2016.
In accordance with our bylaws, a shareholder who desires to nominate candidates for election to ASRVs board of directors must comply with the proceeding specified in the bylaws, including providing proper notice of the nomination in writing, delivered or mailed by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the address above, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous years annual meeting. Assuming the annual meeting of shareholders in 2016 is held within thirty days before or after April 28, 2016, this period will begin on December 30, 2015 and will end on January 29, 2016.
If the shareholder does not also comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2) under the Exchange Act, proxy holders may exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies that we solicit to vote in accordance with their best judgment on any such shareholder proposal or nomination.
By Order of the Board of Directors:
Sharon M. Callihan
Corporate Secretary
March 19, 2015
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