You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Severn Bancorp, Inc. to be held on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the DoubleTree Hotel, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.
At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to (i) elect three directors, each to serve for a three-year term, (ii) ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm of Severn Bancorp, Inc. for the year ending December 31, 2018, and (iii) transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote (i) FOR the election of all three of the Board’s nominees for election as directors, and (ii) FOR the ratification of BDO USA, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for Severn Bancorp, Inc. for the year ending December 31, 2018. We encourage you to read the accompanying Proxy Statement, which provides information about Severn Bancorp, Inc. and the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting.
All stockholders and properly appointed proxy holders may attend the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who plan to attend the meeting must present valid photo identification along with the invitation that is enclosed with the proxy card. If you hold your shares in a brokerage account, please also bring proof of your share ownership, such as a broker’s statement showing that you owned shares of Severn Bancorp, Inc. on the record date of March 7, 2018 or a legal proxy from your broker or nominee. As noted above, a legal proxy is required if you hold your shares in a brokerage account and you plan to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders of record will be verified against an official list available at the Annual Meeting. Severn Bancorp, Inc. reserves the right to deny admittance to anyone who cannot adequately show proof of share ownership as of the record date. No cameras, recording equipment, large bags, briefcases or packages will be permitted into the Annual Meeting.
It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you are requested to complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage paid envelope. Any proxy given may be revoked by you in writing or in person at any time prior to its exercise.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
SEVERN BANCORP, INC.
200 WESTGATE CIRCLE, SUITE 200
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401
(410) 260-2000
This proxy statement contains information about the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Severn Bancorp, Inc. to be held on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the DoubleTree Hotel, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (the “Annual Meeting”).
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Why did you send me this proxy statement?
Severn Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) sent you this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card because you were a stockholder of the Company at the close of business on March 7, 2018, the record date for the Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”). The Company’s Board of Directors chose this day as the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to be voted at the Annual Meeting.
This Proxy Statement summarizes the information you need to know to cast an informed vote at the Annual Meeting. However, you do not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card.
The Company began sending this Proxy Statement, Notice of Annual Meeting and the enclosed proxy card on or about March 29, 2018 to all stockholders of record on the Record Date. On the Record Date, there were 12,247,626 shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding. The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, accompanies this Proxy Statement.
May I attend the Annual Meeting?
All stockholders and properly appointed proxy holders may attend the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who plan to attend the meeting must present valid photo identification along with the invitation that is enclosed with the proxy card. If you misplace the invitation, please bring proof of your share ownership, such as a broker’s statement showing that you owned shares of the Company on the record date of March 7, 2018 or a legal proxy from your broker or nominee. As noted above, a legal proxy is required if you hold your shares in a brokerage account and you plan to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders of record will be verified against an official list available at the Annual Meeting. The Company reserves the right to deny admittance to anyone who cannot adequately show proof of share ownership as of the Record Date. No cameras, recording equipment, large bags, briefcases or packages will be permitted into the Annual Meeting.
How do I vote by proxy?
You vote your proxy by completing the enclosed proxy card in accordance with its instructions, signing and dating the proxy card and returning it in the postage-paid envelope. Your vote is important.
Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, the Company urges you to complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and to return it promptly in the envelope provided. Returning the proxy card will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
If you properly complete your proxy card and send it to us in time to vote, your “proxy” (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares as you have directed. If you sign the proxy card but do not make specific choices, your proxy will vote your shares as recommended by the Board of Directors as follows:
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•
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“FOR” the election of all three of the nominees for director;
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•
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“FOR” ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018; and
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In addition, the proxy card confers authority on the proxy named in the proxy card to vote with respect to:
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1.
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The election of any person as a director should the nominee be unable to serve or, for good cause, will not serve;
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2.
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Other proposals for which management did not have notice by February 26, 2018; and
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3.
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Matters incidental to the conduct of the Annual Meeting.
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On these other matters, your proxy will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors, or, if no recommendation is given, in their own discretion. At the time this Proxy Statement was mailed, the Company knew of no matters that needed to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, other than those discussed in this Proxy Statement.
If you hold your shares in “street name” through your broker, bank or other nominee, you must vote in accordance with the voting instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee.
If you are a participant in the Company’s tax-qualified employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) through which you own shares of Company common stock, the trustee of the ESOP votes all the shares held by the ESOP, but each participant may direct the trustee how to vote the shares of Company common stock allocated to his or her plan account. If you own shares through the ESOP and you do not vote by April 19, 2018, the ESOP trustee will vote your shares in accordance with the terms of the ESOP.
How many votes do I have?
The number of votes you have is dependent on the number of shares of common stock you own. Each share of common stock entitles you to one vote. The proxy card indicates the number of shares of common stock that you own.
Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card?
Yes. Even after you have submitted your proxy, you may change your vote at any time before the proxy is exercised if you file with the Secretary of the Company either a notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. You may also revoke the proxy if you attend the meeting in person and so request. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted proxy.
How do I vote in person?
If you plan to attend the meeting and vote in person, the Company will give you a ballot form when you arrive. However, if you hold your shares in “street name” through your broker, bank, or other nominee, you must bring a proxy card and letter from such broker, bank or other nominee authorizing you to vote the shares and indicating that you were the beneficial owner of the shares on the Record Date for voting.
What constitutes a quorum?
The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding on the Record Date will constitute a quorum, permitting the conduct of business at the Annual Meeting. Proxies that are marked as abstentions and broker non-votes (described below) will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the Annual Meeting.
What vote is required for each proposal?
The three nominees for director who receive the most votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be elected. Shares voted “withhold authority”, and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the results of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.
To ratify the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm, the proposal must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. Shares voted “abstain” and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the results of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.
To approve any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, generally must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. However, there may be occasions where a greater vote is required by law, or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.
What is a broker non-vote?
If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee, you must instruct the broker, bank or other nominee how to vote your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any proposal on which the broker, bank or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote. This is called a “broker non-vote.” In these cases, the broker, bank or other nominee can register your shares as being present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not be able to vote on those matters for which specific authorization is required. Under New York Stock Exchange rules, brokers are not permitted to vote shares for which they have not received instruction on how to vote on non-routine matters.
If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee, your broker, bank or other nominee has discretionary voting authority to vote your shares on the ratification of BDO USA, LLP, even if the broker, bank or other nominee does not receive voting instructions from you. However, your broker, bank or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote on the election of directors, in which case a broker non-vote will occur and your shares will not be voted on these matters. Accordingly, it is important that beneficial owners instruct their brokers how they wish to vote their shares.
Who will bear the costs of solicitation of proxies?
The Company will bear the costs of this solicitation, including the expense of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and the material used in this solicitation of proxies. The proxies will be solicited principally through the mail, but directors, officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. Although there is no formal agreement to do so, the Company may reimburse banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expense in forwarding these proxy materials to their principals. In addition, the Company may pay for and utilize the services of individuals or companies it does not regularly employ in connection with the solicitation of proxies; however, the Company currently has no such arrangement.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2018
The proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, the form of proxy card, and the Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2017 are available at www.edocumentview.com/SVBI.
Directions to the Annual Meeting are available by calling our executive offices at (410) 260-2000 during regular business hours.
STOCK OWNERSHIP
The following table shows the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of March 7, 2018, the Record Date, by (i) each director and nominee for director; (ii) the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group.
The securities “beneficially owned” by a person are determined in accordance with the definition of “beneficial ownership” set forth in the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, accordingly, include securities as to which the person has or shares voting or investment power. Shares of common stock which a person has the right to acquire within 60 days after the Record Date are deemed outstanding for computing the share ownership and percentage ownership of the person having such right, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. The same shares may be beneficially owned by more than one person. Beneficial ownership may be disclaimed as to certain of the securities.
Name of Individual
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Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
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Percent of
Class
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Nominees for Director:
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Alan J. Hyatt **
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1,721,523
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(1)
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14.1
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%
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James H. Johnson, Jr.
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2,400
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(2)
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*
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Mary Kathleen Sulick
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1,500
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(3)
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*
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Directors Continuing in Office:
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Raymond S. Crosby
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47,250
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(4)
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*
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David S. Jones
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52,275
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(5)
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*
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Eric M. Keitz
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37,200
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(6)
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*
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John A. Lamon, III
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78,700
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(7)
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*
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Albert W. Shields
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113,550
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(8)
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*
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Konrad M. Wayson
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64,475
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(9)
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*
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Named Executive Officers:
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Christopher Chick
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3,837
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(10)
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*
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Paul B. Susie
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11,000
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(11)
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*
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All directors, nominees for directors and executive officers as a group(12 persons)
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2,133,710
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(12)
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17.4
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%
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**
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Also a named executive officer for 2018.
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(1)
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Includes 100,019 shares owned by Mr. Alan Hyatt, 1,376,564 shares owned by Mr. Alan Hyatt and his wife, 23,232 shares Mr. Alan Hyatt controls as custodian for his children, 144,470 shares allocated to Mr. Alan Hyatt as a participant in the ESOP, 41,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date, 7,738 shares owned by Mrs. Hyatt, 6,000 shares held by a company of which Mr. Alan Hyatt is the general partner, 10,000 shares held by the ESOP, for which Mr. Alan Hyatt is a co-trustee, which were not allocated to the accounts of participants as of the Record Date, 6,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by Mr. Alan Hyatt, and 6,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by a company of which Mr. Alan Hyatt is the general partner.
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(2)
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Includes 1,200 shares owned by Dr. Johnson and his wife. Also included are 1,200 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
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(3)
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Includes 1,500 shares owned by Ms. Sulick.
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(4)
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Includes 46,050 shares owned by Mr. Crosby and his wife. Also included are 1,200 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
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(5)
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Includes 2,000 shares owned by Mr. Jones, 17,287 shares Mr. Jones controls as custodian for his children, 27,699 shares owned by Southern Drywell, Inc., of which Mr. Jones has a 50% interest as a co-owner and 4,089 shares owned by a trust that Mr. Jones controls as a co-trustee and beneficiary. Also included are 1,200 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of Record Date.
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(6)
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Includes 36,000 shares owned by Mr. Keitz. Also included are 1,200 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
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(7)
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Includes 71,250 shares owned by Mr. Lamon and his wife, and 6,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by Mr. Lamon and his wife. Also included are 1,200 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
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(8)
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Includes 93,600 shares owned by a family trust controlled by Mr. Shields, and 18,750 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by Mr. Shields. Also included are 1,200 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
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(9)
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Includes 57,025 shares owned by Mr. Wayson, and 6,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by Mr. Wayson. Also included are 1,200 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
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(10)
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Includes 3,600 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date and 237 shares allocated to Mr. Chick as a participant in the ESOP.
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(11)
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Includes 1,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the record date and 10,000 shares held by the ESOP, for which Mr. Susie is a co-trustee.
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(12)
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Includes, among the other shares described above, a total of 144,707 shares allocated to the executive officers as participants in the ESOP, 10,000 shares held by the ESOP, for which a director and an executive officer act as co-trustees, which shares were not allocated as of the Record Date, a total of 54,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date, and a total of 43,750 shares issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.
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The following table presents information regarding the beneficial ownership of common stock as of March 7, 2018 by each person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding common stock of the Company.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
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Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
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Alan J. Hyatt
(1)
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1,721,523
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14.1
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%
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Sharon G. Hyatt
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200 Westgate Circle, Suite 200
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Annapolis, Maryland 21401
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Louis Hyatt
(2)
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1,073,983
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8.9
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%
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200 Westgate Circle, Suite 200
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Annapolis, Maryland 21401
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(1)
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Includes 100,019 shares owned by Mr. Alan Hyatt, 1,376,564 shares owned by Mr. Alan Hyatt and his wife, 23,232 shares Mr. Alan Hyatt controls as custodian for his children, 144,470 shares allocated to Mr. Alan Hyatt as a participant in the ESOP, 41,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date, 7,738 shares owned by Mrs. Hyatt, 6,000 shares held by a company of which Mr. Alan Hyatt is the general partner,
1
0,000 shares held by the ESOP, for which Mr. Alan Hyatt is a co-trustee, which were not allocated to the accounts of participants as of the record date, 6,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by Mr. Alan Hyatt, and 6,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by a company in which Mr. Alan Hyatt is the general partner.
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(2)
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Includes 993,463 shares owned by Mr. Louis Hyatt, 61,770 shares owned by Mr. Louis Hyatt and his wife, and 18,750 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Series A Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock held by Mr. Louis Hyatt and his wife. Mr. Louis Hyatt is the father of Mr. Alan Hyatt.
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DISCUSSION OF PROPOSALS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD
Proposal 1:
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Election of Directors
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General.
The Company’s bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of from seven to eleven directors. The Board of Directors currently consists of nine members divided into three classes. Generally, the members of each class are elected for a term of three years and one class is elected annually. Accordingly, the Board has nominated Alan J. Hyatt, James H. Johnson, Jr., and Mary Kathleen Sulick to serve as directors for a three-year term. All of the nominees are incumbent directors.
Nominees for Election.
The Board of Directors has nominated the persons named below, all of whom are present members of the Board of Directors of the Company, for election as directors of the Company to serve for three year terms and until their successors are elected and qualified:
Nominees:
Alan J. Hyatt.
Alan J. Hyatt, 63, has been Chairman of the Board and President of the Bank since 1982, having previously served as an officer and director since 1978. He has also served as the Chairman of the Board and President of the Company since 1990. Mr. Hyatt has been a partner in the law firm of Hyatt & Weber, P.A., in Annapolis, Maryland, since 1978, and is also a real estate broker with Hyatt Commercial, a subsidiary of the Bank, also in Annapolis, Maryland. Mr. Hyatt serves on the Board of Trustees of the Anne Arundel Health System Inc., and the Anne Arundel County Pension Trustee Board. He formerly was the Chairman of the Board of the Anne Arundel Community College Foundation, Inc. Mr. Hyatt currently spends the majority of his professional time on the affairs of the Bank and the Company, and the balance on his law practice. As an attorney and businessman, Mr. Hyatt brings strong legal and financial skills important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
James H. Johnson, Jr.
James H. Johnson, Jr., 70, has been a director of the Company since 2012 and a director of the Bank since 2011. Currently he serves as a visiting professor of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. For the period April 2012 through December 2017, Dr. Johnson served as the Director of the U.S. EPA's Center for Environmental Research. He is Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering and former dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences at Howard University. Dr. Johnson received his B.Sc. from Howard University, M.Sc. from the University of Illinois and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. He is a registered professional engineer in the District of Columbia. Dr. Johnson also serves as a member of the Anne Arundel Community College (MD) Board of Trustees. Previous board and committee activities include past Chair of U.S. EPA Board of Scientific Counselors, past Chair of the U.S. EPA National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, and member of the National Research Council’s (NRC) Division of Earth and Life Studies oversight committee, U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board, the NRC Boards on Radioactive Waste Management and Environmental Studies and Toxicology, and the American Society of Civil Engineering Foundation Board. Dr. Johnson is currently a member of the Corporate Governance and Risk Committees. Mr. Johnson’s many years of education and government experience is important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
Mary Kathleen Sulick.
Mary Kathleen Sulick, 66, has been a director of the Company since 2012 and a director of the Bank since 2011. Ms. Sulick has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1989 and received the Personal Financial Specialist certification from the AICPA in 2008. Ms. Sulick joined HeimLantz Financial Advisors in 2002, after leaving her position as Finance Director of the City of Annapolis. She became a partner of the firm in 2009. A native of Annapolis, Ms. Sulick graduated magna cum laude from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1981. She went on to further her education through graduate work in Finance at the University of Maryland. Ms. Sulick has over 27 years of experience in accounting and she began her accounting and finance career with the Maryland General Assembly in 1983. A 1998 graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel, Ms. Sulick is active in many community and professional organizations. Currently she serves on the City of Annapolis Police and Fire Retirement Plan Committee and Anne Arundel County Pension Trustee Board. She also is an active member of the Annapolis Rotary Club. Her professional organization memberships include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Personal Financial Planning division and the Financial Planning Association. As a Certified Public Accountant, Ms. Sulick is currently Chairperson of the Audit and Examining Committee where she serves as the Company’s audit committee financial expert. Ms. Sulick also serves on the Risk Committee and Transactions With Affiliates Committee. Ms. Sulick brings strong accounting and financial skills important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
Directors continuing in office whose terms will expire at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders are:
Raymond S. Crosby.
Raymond Crosby, 55, has been a director of the Company since 2012 and a director of the Bank since 2011. Mr. Crosby is President of Crosby Marketing Communications, one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading advertising, public relations and digital marketing firms with headquarters in Annapolis and offices in Washington, DC. Mr. Crosby leads a team of 85 professionals in developing national marketing and public relations programs for health care organizations, federal agencies, advocacy groups and leading corporations. He provides high level counsel to clients and handles new business development, financial oversight and industry involvement on behalf of the firm. He serves on the Council of Governors for the American Association of Advertising Agencies and is a former Chairman of the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Crosby is a lifelong Annapolitan and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Crosby is currently a member of the Compensation Committee and Audit Committee. Mr. Crosby’s 30+ years of business experience is important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
Eric M. Keitz.
Eric M. Keitz, 57, joined Severn Bancorp, Inc. as Chief Operating Officer in 2017. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Keitz was a practicing Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience in auditing, corporate and partnership taxation, and SEC reporting. Mr. Keitz has been a member of the Severn Bank Board since 2009 and a member of the Severn Bancorp Board since 2010. He previously served as Chairman of the Auditing and Examining Committee and as a member of the Governance, Compensation, and Regulatory Compliance/Risk Committees. He currently serves on several non-profit boards in Anne Arundel County and is a member of the Audit Committee of the Annapolis Yacht Club.
Albert W. Shields.
Albert W. Shields, 73, has been a director of the Company and the Bank since 2003. Mr. Shields has over 35 years of experience in the real estate and development industry, and currently provides independent consulting services to business executives. He served as senior vice president of Home Depot Inc. from 2003 through 2008. From 1986 to 2002, Mr. Shields was the chief executive officer of Floors, Inc. a flooring specialty company with thirteen centers located on the east coast. In 2002, the company was sold to Home Depot, Inc. Mr. Shields is a charter member of Heritage Charities and Maddy’s Day for the benefit of Lombardi Cancer Centers. Mr. Shields is a member of the Company’s Audit and Examining Committee and the Compensation Committee. Mr. Shields’ many years of business experience is important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
Directors continuing in office whose terms will expire at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders are:
David S. Jones.
David S. Jones, 58, has been a director of the Company since 2012 and a director of the Bank since 2011. In 1983 Mr. Jones cofounded Southern Drywell, Inc., a septic system contractor, and serves as its President. Mr. Jones also cofounded Jones of Annapolis, Inc., a demolition and excavation contractor, in 1980 and serves as the Secretary/Treasurer. Both companies are located in Annapolis. He has developed, owned and leased commercial and residential real estate throughout Anne Arundel County since 1985. Mr. Jones’ many years of business experience is important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
John A. Lamon, III
John A. Lamon, III, 60, has been a director of the Company since 2009 and a director of the Bank since 2008. Mr. Lamon has been a senior account executive with G&G Outfitters, Inc. since 2000, a promotional products and marketing company that focuses on branded merchandise. Prior to that, Mr. Lamon was president and owner of John A. Lamon & Associates, a promotional and marketing company. Mr. Lamon was with the company for 20 years before selling the business to G&G Outfitters, Inc. Mr. Lamon is also a partner in The Boathouse Restaurant in Canton, MD. Mr. Lamon received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, where he was a two-time All American lacrosse player. Mr. Lamon has received the Willis Bilderback Volunteer Award and the Willie Gateau Youth Services Award. He has served on various boards including St. Mary’s School, the Annapolis Touchdown Club, St. Mary’s Royal Blue Club and the University of Maryland M Club. Mr. Lamon is currently Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit and Examining Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Lamon’s business and marketing experience is important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
Konrad M. Wayson.
Konrad M. Wayson, 56, has been a director of the Company since 2009 and a director of the Bank since 2008. Mr. Wayson has served as secretary and treasurer of Hopkins & Wayson, Inc., a general contractor servicing Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia, since 1984. He has been a partner of Wayson Landholdings since its start in 1996 and has been serving as its managing partner since 2007. He served as chief financial officer of Childs Landscaping from 1997 until 2004 when the company was sold. Mr. Wayson has served on the Anne Arundel Medical Foundation Board, the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation Board and the Anne Arundel School Board. Mr. Wayson is currently a member of the Audit and Examining Committee and the Compensation Committee. As a treasurer and businessman, Mr. Wayson brings strong financial skills important to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, enterprise and operational risk management.
Executive Officers who are not Directors.
Christopher A. Chick,
age 50, joined the Company in 2015 as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. Mr. Chick has over 27 years in the banking industry. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Chick held various management positions at Susquehanna Bank and was a Bank Examiner with the Office of Thrift Supervision. Mr. Chick is a graduate of the University of Baltimore where he received his Master of Finance. He is also a graduate of the Maryland Bankers Association, Executive School of Bank Management. Mr. Chick has been recognized within the industry with various awards including Next Leader in Banking, Maryland Bankers Association and Top Banker Award, Smart CEO.
Paul B. Susie,
age 50, joined the Company in July 2016 and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Susie brings to Severn a strong background and many years of experience in financial management and banking in particular. He previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Hopkins Federal Savings Bank and 1st Mariner Bank. He has also held financial executive positions in biopharmaceutical, manufacturing and marine companies. Mr. Susie has passed the CPA Exam, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Baltimore.
The Board of Directors and Committees.
The Company’s Board of Directors generally meets on a monthly basis, or as needed. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors met twelve times. No director attended fewer than 75% in the aggregate of (a) the total number of Board meetings held while the director was a member during the year ended December 31, 2017 and (b) the total number of meetings held by committees on which the director served during the year ended December 31, 2017.
The Board of Directors has a standing Corporate Governance Committee, Nominating Committee, Compensation Committee and Audit and Examining Committee.
Attendance of Directors at Annual Meeting.
It is the policy of the Board of Directors to encourage directors to attend each annual meeting of stockholders. Such attendance allows for direct interaction between stockholders and members of the Board of Directors. All the directors attended the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Director Independence
. The Board of Directors examines the independence of the Company’s directors on an annual basis in both fact and appearance to promote arms-length oversight. Based upon the definition of an “independent director” under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Board of Directors has determined that the Company has a majority of “independent” directors that comprise its Board as required by the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. Independent directors consist of: Raymond S. Crosby, James H. Johnson, Jr., David S. Jones, John A. Lamon III, Albert W. Shields, Mary Kathleen Sulick and Konrad Wayson. The Board determined that these individuals are independent because they are not executive officers or employees of the Company and otherwise satisfy all of the Nasdaq independence requirements and, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, are not individuals having a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. As employees of the Bank, Mr. Alan J. Hyatt and Mr. Eric M. Keitz are not considered independent.
Board Leadership Structure
. The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer is best situated to serve as Chairman because he is the director most familiar with the Company’s business and industry, and most capable of effectively identifying strategic priorities and leading the discussion and execution of strategy. The Board believes this provides an efficient and effective leadership model for the Company. The Board believes that combining the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles fosters clear accountability, effective decision-making, and alignment on corporate strategy. In addition, this structure facilitates the flow of information between management and the Board. To assure effective independent oversight, and because the Company does not have a lead independent director, the Board has adopted a number of governance practices, including:
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A strong, independent director role;
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Regular executive sessions of the independent directors; and
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Annual performance evaluations of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by the independent directors.
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The Board believes that the combined role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is in the best interest of stockholders because it provides the appropriate balance between strategic development and oversight of management.
Risk Oversight
. The Board of Directors has an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing management of the Company’s risks. The Board reviews monthly information regarding the Company’s credit, liquidity and operations, as well as the risks associated with each. The Company’s Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company’s executive compensation plans and arrangements. The Audit and Examining Committee oversees management of financial risks. The Nominating Committee and Corporate Governance Committee each manages risks associated with the independence of the Board of Directors and potential conflicts of interest. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire Board of Directors is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks.
The Board of Directors, together with the Audit and Examining, Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees of the Board, coordinate with each other to provide enterprise-wide oversight of our management and handling of risk. These committees report regularly to the entire Board of Directors on risk-related matters and provide the Board of Directors with integrated insight about the Company’s management of strategic, credit, interest rate, financial reporting, technology, liquidity, compliance, operational and reputational risks. While the Company has not developed an enterprise-wide risk statement, the Board of Directors believes that sound credit underwriting to manage credit risk and a conservative investment portfolio to manage liquidity and interest rate risk contribute significantly to an effective oversight of the Company’s risk.
At meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees, directors receive regular updates from management regarding risk management. Outside of formal meetings, the Board, its committees and individual Board members have regular access to senior executives, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Lending Officer.
Corporate Governance Committee
The Company’s Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of at least three members, each appointed by the Board of Directors, and is responsible for developing corporate governance policies for the Company. The Corporate Governance Committee consists of: James H. Johnson, Jr., Chairman, David Jones, and John A. Lamon III. The Board has determined that each of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee is independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The Corporate Governance Committee met three times in 2017. The Corporate Governance Committee, in addition to setting corporate governance policies of the Company, is responsible for establishing criteria for selecting new directors, and identifying, screening and recruiting new directors. In addition, the Corporate Governance Committee will select members for the various Board of Director committees, determine director and committee member compensation, and may consider the institution of a process for stockholders to submit recommendations of director candidates. The Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities are described in a written charter that was adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website www.severnbank.com.
Nominating Committee
The Company’s Nominating Committee consists of the full Board of Directors, however, only the independent directors may vote on approval of nominations. There is no written charter. The Board has determined that the following directors are independent as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules: Raymond S. Crosby, James H. Johnson, Jr., John A. Lamon III, Albert W. Shields, Mary Kathleen Sulick and Konrad Wayson. Alan J. Hyatt, Eric M. Keitz, and David S. Jones are not independent as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. While the Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by stockholders, it has not actively solicited recommendations from stockholders for nominees nor established any procedures for this purpose, other than the procedures contained in the Bylaws concerning nominations of candidates by stockholders. The Company currently has no written policy in effect regarding the nomination of candidates to the Company’s Board. The Company has traditionally relied upon its Board of Directors acting as the Company’s Nominating Committee to consider candidates. When the Board of Directors considers candidates they are referred to the Company’s Governance Committee for consideration. The Company’s Bylaws provide that if a stockholder wishes to submit nominations for directors, it should be done in writing and sent to the Secretary of the Company at least 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company’s Board, in its capacity as the Nominating Committee, met once during 2017. This year’s nominees were approved by the full Board following the recommendation by the independent directors after evaluating each nominee’s general business acumen and knowledge of the Company and its business activities and prior service on the Company’s board. In addition to the aforementioned criteria, the Board considers the investment in the Company made by the nominee as demonstrated by the number of shares owned by such nominee. The Nominating Committee is seeking Board membership that reflects diversity in its broadest sense, including persons diverse in professional backgrounds, gender and ethnicity. The Board’s process for identifying and evaluating director nominees relates to the general business acumen and knowledge of the Company and its business activities. Board membership longevity is also evaluated when considering the nomination of current Board members. There was no third party paid to identify or assist in finding candidates for the Board of Directors.
Compensation Committee
The Company has no compensation committee because the Company does not pay its employees. The executive officers of the Company are paid by the Bank. The Bank has a Compensation Committee, the primary functions of which are for the committee to determine the compensation of the Company’s executive officers and to administer, and approve awards under, the Company’s equity compensation plans. The role of the Compensation Committee is described in greater detail under the section entitled “Executive and Director Compensation - Background.” The Compensation Committee currently consists of: John A. Lamon, III, Chairman, Raymond S. Crosby, Albert W. Shields and Konrad M. Wayson. The Board has determined that each of the members of the Bank’s Compensation Committee is independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The Compensation Committee met two times in 2017.
Scope of Authority of the Compensation Committee.
The scope of the Compensation Committee’s authority and responsibilities is set forth in its written charter, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website www.severnbank.com. The chairperson, in consultation with other members of the Committee, sets the agenda of each meeting. As provided under the Committee’s charter, the Committee may delegate its authority to special subcommittees as the Committee deems appropriate, consistent with applicable law and the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
The Role of Management in Determining or Recommending Executive Compensation
. As part of the review process, each executive officer is independently interviewed by the Compensation Committee, and provides input into the performance of the Company and the Bank and an annual self-assessment of his performance purely in an informational and advisory capacity. However, no executive officer participates in the Compensation Committee’s deliberations or decisions, and has no role in determining his own compensation.
Role of Compensation Consultants in Determining or Recommending Executive Compensation
. Under its charter, the Compensation Committee has authority to retain, at the Company’s expense, such counsel, consultants, experts and other professionals as it deems necessary. To date, the Compensation Committee has not engaged an independent compensation consultant. Instead, the Compensation Committee performs an informal survey of area companies and banks and reviews the compensation practices of the surveyed companies.
Audit and Examining Committee
The Company’s Audit and Examining Committee is comprised of at least three members, each of whom is appointed by the Board of Directors, and is responsible for overseeing the accounting and financial reporting process of the Company, and the audits of the financial statements of the Company. In addition, the Committee prepares an audit committee report as required by SEC rules to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement. The Audit and Examining Committee consists of: Mary Kathleen Sulick, Chairperson, Raymond S. Crosby, John A Lamon, III, Albert W. Shields, and Konrad M. Wayson. The Board has determined that each of the Audit and Examining Committee members is independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and applicable SEC rules. The Audit and Examining Committee’s responsibilities are described in a written charter that was adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website www.severnbank.com. The Board has determined that Mary Kathleen Sulick is an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined by applicable SEC rules. The Audit and Examining Committee met six times in 2017.
EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Background
Because the Company does not pay its employees, compensation decisions are made by the Compensation Committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee currently consists of: John A. Lamon III, Chairman, Raymond S. Crosby, Albert W. Shields and Konrad M. Wayson. Each of the members of the Bank’s Compensation Committee is independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules as currently in effect.
The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. The responsibilities of the Committee include:
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formulating, evaluating and approving the compensation of the Company’s executive officers; and
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overseeing all compensation programs involving the issuance of the Company’s stock and other equity securities of the Company.
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Objectives of the Compensation Program
The primary objectives of the Compensation Committee with respect to executive compensation are:
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To attract and retain the best possible executive talent;
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To tie annual and long-term cash and stock incentives to achievement of corporate and individual performance objectives; and
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To align executives’ incentives with stockholder value creation.
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To achieve these objectives, the Compensation Committee has implemented and maintains compensation plans that tie a portion of an executive’s overall compensation to the financial performance of the Company. Overall, the total compensation opportunity is intended to create an executive compensation program that is set at the median competitive levels of comparable publicly traded financial institutions. This is based upon an annual informal survey of similar sized companies established by the Compensation Committee.
The executive officers of the Company have no employment contracts. Annually, the Bank’s Compensation Committee evaluates profiles of comparable financial institutions to assure that the compensation to its executive officers is comparable to similarly sized financial institutions in the industry. Other factors used by the Compensation Committee in determining compensation for its executive officers include an assessment of the overall financial condition of the Company and the Bank, including an analysis of our asset quality, interest rate risk exposure, capital position, net income and consistency of earnings. Our return on average assets and return on equity are considered and compared to its peer group. In addition, the Compensation Committee interviews each executive officer individually and collectively to evaluate performance of the Company and the individual executive officers. This input is used to determine the total compensation package for each executive officer, and the allocation between the different components within the compensation package. The complexity of the activities of the executive officers are considered, and intangible items are considered such as the reputation and general standing of the Bank within the community and the likelihood of continuing successful and profitable results.
Say-on-Pay Vote
At the 2017 annual meeting, we held a stockholder advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, commonly referred to as a say-on-pay vote. Our stockholders approved the compensation of our named executive officers at the 2017 annual meeting, with an overwhelming majority of stockholder votes that were cast in favor of our say-on-pay resolution. As we evaluated our compensation practices, we were aware of the strong support our stockholders expressed for our pay for performance compensation philosophy. As a result, following our annual review of our executive compensation philosophy, the Compensation Committee decided to retain our general approach to executive compensation. We believe our executive compensation program for 2018 advances our goals of recruitment and retention, promotes both short-term and long-term performance of our executive officers and aligns executives’ incentives with stockholder value creation.
Our Board has adopted a policy of holding say-on-pay votes every three years until changed by the advisory vote of stockholders at the next say-on-frequency vote. The next say-on-frequency vote will occur no later than our 2020 annual meeting.
Compensation Components
Compensation consists of the following components:
Base Salary.
Base salaries are used to attract and retain employees by providing a portion of compensation that is not considered “at risk.” Base salaries are designed to reward the performance of our executive officers in the daily fulfillment of their responsibilities to the Company. Base salaries for our executives are established based on the scope of their responsibilities and historical compensation levels, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by other companies for similar positions. Generally, the Company believes that executive base salaries should be targeted near the median of the range of salaries for executives in similar positions and with similar responsibilities at comparable companies in line with the Company’s compensation philosophy. Base salaries are reviewed annually, and adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance and experience.
Annual Bonus.
The purpose of the annual bonus program is to align the interests of executive officers with Company stockholders by motivating executive officers to achieve superior annual financial and annual operational performance. The Company’s annual bonus plan for its executives provides for a discretionary cash bonus, dependent upon the level of achievement of corporate and personal goals. In addition, the discretionary bonus for the executive officers named in the proxy statement is determined based on the Company’s performance compared to budgets and projections. The Board of Directors establishes specific financial and operational goals for the Company at the beginning of each year and annual discretionary bonus funding is in part related to achievement of these annual goals. The Compensation Committee approves any bonus for the Chief Executive Officer and for each other named executive officer. The Compensation Committee retains the right to award discretionary bonuses.
Long-Term Incentive Program.
The Compensation Committee believes that long-term performance is achieved through an ownership culture that encourages long-term performance by the Company’s executive officers through the use of stock-based awards. In connection with this, the Board of Directors adopted the Severn Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”), which was ratified by our stockholders at the 2008 annual meeting. The purpose of the 2008 Plan is to enable the Company to (i) promote the long-term retention of key employees; (ii) further reward key employees, directors and other persons for their contributions to the Company’s growth and expansion; (iii) provide additional incentive to key employees, directors and other persons to continue to make similar contributions in the future; and (iv) further align the interests of key employees, directors and other persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. These purposes will be achieved by granting to such employees, directors and other persons, in accordance with the 2008 Plan, options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or unrestricted stock, deferred stock, restricted stock units or performance awards (collectively the “Awards”), for shares of the Company’s common stock. By encouraging such stock ownership, the Company seeks to attract, retain and motivate the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, and to provide additional incentives to the Company’s directors and key employees to promote the success of our business. On December 19, 2017, the Compensation Committee granted 95,800 options to directors, executives and employees under the 2008 Plan, and will consider other Awards under the 2008 Plan when determining long-term incentive programs. Included in the December 19, 2017 grant were 20,000 options at an exercise price of $7.81 to Mr. Hyatt, 4,000 options at an exercise price of $7.10 to Mr. Keitz, 10,000 options at an exercise price of $7.10 to Mr. Susie and 12,000 options at an exercise price of $7.10 to Mr. Chick. Additionally, Mr. Keitz was awarded 20,000 options at an exercise price of $7.10 on August 23, 2017, the date of his employment. All options awarded vest in five equal annual installments of 20% each over a five year period and, except for those options awarded to Mr. Hyatt, expire six years from the grant date. Options awarded to Mr. Hyatt expire five years from the grant date.
Other Compensation.
The Company’s named executive officers participate in other employee benefit plans generally available to all employees, including the following:
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The Bank maintains a 401(k) plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, and contributes, on behalf of each participating employee, a matching contribution of 50% of salary contributed by an employee, on a pre-tax basis, to the 401(k) plan, up to 6% of each participant’s salary. The Bank’s plan also allows a non-matching profit sharing contribution to be determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
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The Bank maintains the ESOP for employees of the Bank and its subsidiaries. The ESOP provides an opportunity for the employees of the Bank to become stockholders of the Company and thus provide them with a greater financial interest in the success of the Bank. In addition, the ESOP assists the Bank in attracting and retaining capable personnel. As of December 31, 2017, a total of 540,138 shares of the Company’s common stock were owned by the ESOP, of which 530,138 shares were allocated to employees.
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In addition, our executive officers receive modest benefits, including health insurance; however, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may revise, amend or add to the officers’ benefits if it deems it advisable. The Compensation Committee believes these benefits are currently at or slightly below median competitive levels for comparable companies. The Compensation Committee has no current plans to make changes to the levels of benefits provided.