UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.              )

Filed by the Registrant  x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  o

Check the appropriate box:

o

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

x

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x

No fee required.

o

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

 

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

 

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

 

 

(5)

Total fee paid:

 

 

 

o

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

 

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

 

 

 

(4)

Date Filed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




GRAPHIC

April 4, 2007

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. to be held at the Hotel Providence, 311 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

The official Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy are included with this letter. The matters listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting are more fully described in the Proxy Statement. I encourage you to take the time to review the Proxy Statement.

It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. This Annual Meeting will be particularly important given the stated intent of PL Capital Group to have two of its own nominees elected to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. strongly urges you to reject the PL Capital Group nominees. Accordingly, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please sign and date the enclosed WHITE proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage paid envelope. If you decide to attend the meeting you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Proxy Statement. If you are a shareholder whose shares are held by a broker or otherwise not registered in your name, you will need additional documentation from your record holder to attend and vote personally at the meeting.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to seeing you.

 

Very truly yours,

 

GRAPHIC

 

Malcolm G. Chace

 

Chairman

 




BANCORP RHODE ISLAND, INC.
One Turks Head Place
Providence, Rhode Island 02903

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held Wednesday, May 16, 2007

To the Shareholders of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc.:

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. (the “Meeting”), a Rhode Island corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the Hotel Providence, 311 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903 on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. local time, for the following purposes:

1.                                      To elect five Class II Directors to serve until 2010;

2.                                      To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for the Company; and

3.                                      To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on March 30, 2007 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2007 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The stock transfer books will not be closed.

All Shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE WHITE PROXY CARD EVEN THOUGH YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. Doing so will ensure your presence by proxy and allow your shares to be voted should anything prevent your attendance in person.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

GRAPHIC

 

Margaret D. Farrell, Secretary

April 4, 2007

 

 




BANCORP RHODE ISLAND, INC.

One Turks Head Place
Providence, Rhode Island 02903

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the holders of common stock (the “Shareholders”) of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation (“Bancorp”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Bancorp for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Bancorp (the “Meeting”) to be held at the Hotel Providence, 311 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. local time, and at any adjournments and postponements thereof. This Proxy Statement and the related WHITE proxy card are being mailed on or about April 4, 2007 to holders of record of Bancorp’s common stock on March 30, 2007. As used herein, the “Company” means both Bancorp and Bank Rhode Island, a Rhode Island financial institution (the “Bank”), the only significant operating subsidiary of Bancorp.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Actions to Be Taken At the Meeting

At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to elect five Class II Directors to serve until the 2010 annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, and ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s Independent Auditors.

Who May Vote

Holders of record of Bancorp’s common stock at the close of business on March 30, 2007, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. As of the close of business on March 30, 2007, Bancorp had outstanding 4,845,821 shares of common stock entitled to vote. Holders of the common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on the matters properly presented at the Meeting.

Votes Required to Transact Business At the Meeting

The holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting. A plurality of votes cast is required to elect the directors. All other proposals to be voted upon at the Meeting will require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of Bancorp’s common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

How to Vote Shares Held Directly by the Shareholder

If you are the record holder of your shares, you may vote your shares by marking, signing and dating the enclosed WHITE proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage paid envelope. If you are the Shareholder of record, you may also vote your shares via telephone or internet in accordance with the instructions set forth on the enclosed white proxy card, or in person at the Meeting. Returning a proxy card will not prevent you from voting your shares in person if you attend the Meeting.

How to Vote Shares Held by a Broker, Bank or Other Nominee

If your shares are held through a broker, bank or other nominee, you may vote your shares by marking, signing and dating the voting instruction form provided to you by your broker, bank or other nominee. You may also be able to vote your shares via internet or telephone in accordance with the instructions provided by your broker, bank or nominee. To be able to vote shares not registered in your own name in person at the Meeting, you will need appropriate documentation from the record holder of your shares. If you hold your shares in street name through a broker or bank you may only vote or change your vote in person if you have a legal proxy in your name from ADP or your broker or bank.




If you do not give your broker specific instructions with regard to a matter to be acted upon at the Meeting, your shares may not be voted on those matters and will not be counted in determining the number of shares necessary for approval of any action. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote” and will affect the outcome of the voting as broker non-votes are considered present at the meeting in determining whether or not a quorum is present. Therefore, you are encouraged to provide directions to your broker as to how your shares should be voted with regard to each matter set forth in the Notice of Meeting.

How Will Shares be Voted

The proxy holders will vote all shares represented by a properly executed proxy received in time for the Meeting in accordance with the instructions on the proxy. If you return an executed proxy card without marking your instructions with regard to the matters to be acted upon, the proxy holders will vote FOR approval of the proposals set forth in the Notice of Meeting. Abstentions will be treated as present and entitled to vote and therefore have the effect of a vote against a matter.

A proxy may confer discretionary authority to vote with respect to any matter to be presented at the Meeting which management does not know of within a reasonable time before the date hereof. Management does not know of any such matter which may come before the Meeting and which would be required to be set forth in this Proxy Statement or the related proxy form. If any other matter is properly presented to the Meeting for action, it is intended that the persons named on the enclosed proxy card and acting thereunder will vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matter.

Revocation of Proxies

A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted at the Meeting by:

·                                          Filing a written revocation of the proxy with the Secretary of Bancorp, Margaret D. Farrell, c/o Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, 50 Kennedy Plaza, Suite 1500, Providence, Rhode Island 02903;

·                                          Submitting a signed proxy card bearing a later date; or

·                                          Attending and voting in person at the Meeting provided you are the holder of record of your shares and have filed a written revocation of your grant of proxy with the Secretary of Bancorp as indicated above.

If you hold your shares in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, you will need to contact your nominee in order to revoke your proxy. If you hold your shares in street name through a broker or bank you may only change your vote in person if you have a legal proxy in your name from ADP or your broker or bank.

Persons Making the Solicitation

The Board of Directors of Bancorp is soliciting these proxies. Bancorp will bear the expense of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and the material used in the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. Bancorp contemplates that proxies will be solicited principally through the use of the mail, but officers, directors and employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, without receiving special compensation therefor.

The Company will pay the expenses for this Proxy solicitation. In addition to sending you these materials, some of our directors and officers as well as management and non-management employees may contact you by telephone, mail, e-mail, or in person. You may also be solicited by means of press releases

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issued by the Company, postings on our website, www.bankri.com, and advertisements in periodicals. None of our officers or employees will receive any extra compensation for soliciting you. We have retained Georgeson, Inc. (“Georgeson”) to assist us in soliciting your proxy for an estimated fee of $65,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Georgeson expects that approximately 35 of its employees will assist in the solicitation. Georgeson may ask brokerage houses and other custodians and nominees whether other persons are beneficial owners of Bancorp common stock. If so, we will reimburse banks, nominees, fiduciaries, brokers and other custodians for their costs of sending the proxy materials to the beneficial owners of Bancorp common stock. Our expenses related to the solicitation in excess of those normally spent for an annual shareholders meeting as a result of the proxy contest and excluding salaries and wages of our regular employees and officers are expected to be approximately $230,000, of which approximately $100,000 has been spent to date. Appendix I sets forth information relating to the Company’s directors, director nominees, officers, and employees who are considered “participants” in our solicitation under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by reason of their position as directors or director nominees or because they may be soliciting proxies on our behalf.

Board of Directors Recommendation

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ON PAGE 4 AND SET FORTH ON THE COMPANY’S WHITE PROXY CARD, AND A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.

PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Bancorp’s Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, and as nearly equal as possible. The Board of Directors currently consists of 15 persons, of whom five are designated as Class I Directors, five as Class II Directors and five as Class III Directors. Directors serve staggered three year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until the director’s earlier resignation or removal.

At the Meeting, five Class II Directors are to be elected to serve until the 2010 annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The directors of Bancorp currently also serve as directors of the Bank. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Board Governance and Nominating Committee, have reviewed the relationship that each director (including any individual who served during the 2006 fiscal year but is no longer a director) and each director nominee has with the Company, and affirmatively determined that all directors, other than Ms. Sherman, are independent as defined under the NASDAQ listing standards.

Unless authority to do so has been withheld or limited in a proxy, it is the intention of the persons named as proxies to vote the shares to which the proxy relates FOR the election of the five nominees named on page 4 to the Board of Directors as Class II Directors. If any nominee named on page 4 is not available for election to the Board of Directors at the time of the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named as proxies to act to fill that office by voting the shares to which a proxy relates FOR the election of such person or persons as may be designated by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such designation, in such other manner as the proxies may in their discretion determine, unless authority to do so has been withheld or limited in the proxy. The Board of Directors anticipates that each of the five nominees named on page 4 will be available to serve if elected.

The following table sets forth certain information for both the five individuals being nominated by the Board of Directors for election as Class II Directors, and for those Class I and Class III Directors whose

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terms expire at the annual meetings of Bancorp’s Shareholders in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The five nominees who receive the highest number of votes at the Meeting will be elected.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the election as directors of the nominees for Class II Director named on this page immediately below.

NOMINEES FOR CLASS II DIRECTOR (Term to Expire 2010)

Name

 

 

 

 

Age

 

 

 

Business Experience
During Past 5 Years

 

 

 

Year First
Became
Director*

 

John R. Berger

 

63

 

Business consultant since 1994. Prior thereto, Executive Vice President and director of Mergers and Acquisitions (1993-94) and Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (1985-93) for Shawmut National Corporation.

 

1997

Richard L. Bready

 

62

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nortek, Inc. since 1990 (designer, manufacturer and marketer of high quality branded products); Director of Gabelli Asset Management.

 

N/A

Mark R. Feinstein

 

51

 

President of Northeast Management Inc. (video store franchisee) since 1991.

 

1996

Michael E. McMahon

 

59

 

Founder and Partner of Pine Brook Road Partners LLC (Private Equity Firm) since July 2006. Prior thereto, Executive Director of Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation from January 2003 to July 2006. Founder and Partner of RockPort Capital Partners (Venture Capital Firm) from 2000 to 2003. Also, a director of Transocean, Inc. (offshore drilling).

 

2006

Pablo Rodriguez, M.D.

 

52

 

President of Women’s Care, Inc. (medical services) since 1987.

 

2003

 


*                     The dates of directorship before 2000 reflect the years in which certain of the directors were elected directors of the Bank, which was formed in 1996 and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bancorp on September 1, 2000.

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CLASS III DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE (Term to Expire 2008)

Name

 

 

 

 

Age

 

 

 

Business Experience
During Past 5 Years

 

 

 

Year First
Became
Director*

 

Anthony F. Andrade

 

59

 

President of A&H Composition and Printing, Inc. and former President of Universal Press Graphics, Inc. until his retirement in April 1997.

 

1996

Malcolm G. Chace

 

72

 

Chairman of the Board of each of Bancorp and the Bank since their formation. Vice President of Point Gammon Financial Services since 1986. Also, a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

 

1996

Ernest J. Chornyei, Jr.

 

64

 

Business consultant since February 2000. Prior thereto, Chairman of the Board of Bradford Dyeing Association, Inc. (textiles) in Westerly, Rhode Island.

 

1996

Edward J. Mack II

 

48

 

President and owner of Tri-Mack Plastics Manufacturing Company (engineering, design and manufacture of custom high performance plastic parts) since 1990.

 

2002

Merrill W. Sherman

 

58

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of each of Bancorp and the Bank since their formation. Also, a director of the Providence Journal Co., a subsidiary of Belo Corp.

 

1996

 


*                     The dates of directorship before 2000 reflect the years in which certain of the directors were elected directors of the Bank, which was formed in 1996 and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bancorp on September 1, 2000.

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CLASS I DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE (Term to Expire 2009)

Name

 

 

 

 

Age

 

 

 

Business Experience
During Past 5 Years

 

 

 

Year First
Became
Director*

 

Karen Adams

 

51

 

Television news anchor for WPRI-TV (LIN Television Corp.) since 1989.

 

2002

Meredith A. Curren

 

47

 

Chief Executive Officer and Principal of Pease & Curren, Inc. (precious metals) since 1990. Also, a Trustee of Ocean State Tax Exempt Fund.

 

2002

Bogdan Nowak

 

43

 

President of Rhode Island Novelty, Inc. since 1986 and President of Chemical Light Technologies, Inc. since 1995.

 

2002

Cheryl W. Snead

 

48

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of Banneker Industries, Inc. (manufacturing, assembly and packaging and logistics management) since 1991.

 

1996

John A. Yena

 

66

 

Vice Chairman of the Board of each of Bancorp and the Bank since July 2003. Chairman of the Board of Johnson & Wales University since June 2004. Director of ITT Educational Services, Inc. (provider of technology-oriented postsecondary degree programs) since May 2006. Previously Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Wales University from July 1989 to June 2004.

 

1996


*                     The dates of directorship before 2000 reflect the years in which certain of the directors were elected directors of the Bank, which was formed in 1996 and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bancorp on September 1, 2000.

The Company has received a notice from PL Capital Group that it intends to nominate two dissident director candidates representing the interests of PL Capital Group and its principals for election to the Board of Directors at the Meeting. PL Capital Group consists of: PL Capital, LLC; Goodbody/PL Capital, LLC; Financial Edge Fund, L.P.; Financial Edge-Strategic Fund, L.P.; PL Capital/Focused Fund, L.P.; PL Capital Offshore, Ltd.; Goodbody/PL Capital, L.P.; PL Capital Advisors, LLC; Richard J. Lashley; and John W. Palmer.

In an amendment to its Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on July 27, 2006, PL Capital Group announced its intent to nominate its own slate of directors for election to the Board of Directors of the Company. On January 24, 2007, PL Capital Group filed a Schedule 14A giving notice of its intent to nominate each of Richard Lashley and John W. Palmer, principals of PL Capital Group, for election to the Board of Directors at the Meeting. In response, the Board of Directors filed notice that it had denied a request from Messrs. Lashley and Palmer to join the Company’s Board of Directors following extensive and thorough review of Messrs. Palmer’s and Lashley’s qualifications, including in-person interviews with them conducted by the Company’s Board Governance and Nominating Committee on January 18, 2007 and subsequent contact with the references they provided.

Corporate Governance

General. The Bancorp Board of Directors met eleven times and the Bank’s Board of Directors met ten times during 2006. In addition, the Bancorp Board of Directors met 5 times during 2006 in executive session without Ms. Sherman or other members of the management. All directors attended at least 75% of

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the meetings of the Bancorp Board of Directors and meetings of Bancorp committees on which such director serves, except for Anthony F. Andrade who was unable to attend four of the eleven meetings of the Bancorp Board of Directors and two of the six meetings of Bancorp’s Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has adopted a policy that requires members of the Board of Directors to make every effort to attend each annual Shareholders meeting. All then current members of the Board of Directors attended the 2006 Annual Shareholders Meeting.

The Bancorp Board of Directors currently has four standing committees: an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and the Board Governance and Nominating Committee. The members and chairs of each of those committees are appointed each year. Each member of the Bancorp Executive, Audit and Compensation Committees is also a member of the corresponding committee of the Bank. No member of the Audit, Compensation or Board Governance and Nominating Committee is an employee of Bancorp or its subsidiaries and all are independent as defined under the applicable NASDAQ listing standards and SEC rules. In addition to the Committees noted above, the Bank has a Directors’ Loan Committee and a Technology and Operations Committee.

Each of the Audit, Compensation and Board Governance and Nominating Committees has a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The Board has also adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles, which along with the committee charters provide the framework for the governance of the Company. The committee charters and the Guidelines as well as the Company’s Code of Ethics, which applies to all directors, officers and employees, are available on the Company’s website at www.bankri.com under “Investor Relations – Corporate Governance.”

Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is authorized to exercise all the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company while the Board is not in session, subject to certain limitations set forth in Bancorp’s Articles of Incorporation and the Bank’s Agreement to Form. The current members of the Executive Committee are Malcolm G. Chace (Chairman), Meredith A. Curren, Karl F. Ericson, Edward J. Mack II, Merrill W. Sherman and John A. Yena. Margaret D. Farrell served as a member of the Executive Committee until her resignation in October 2006. The Executive Committee held one meeting in fiscal year 2006.

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in overseeing the integrity of the Company’s financial reports; the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent accountants; and the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent accountants. The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing, setting the compensation and overseeing the Company’s independent accountants. The Audit Committee meets each quarter with the Company’s independent accountants and management to review the Company’s interim financial results before the publication of quarterly earnings press releases. The Audit Committee also meets separately each quarter in executive session with the independent accountants. The Audit Committee reviews the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and summaries of regulatory examinations to assess the Company’s program for complying with laws and regulations. The Audit Committee also oversees and approves the selection and performance of the Chief Auditor and reviews and approves the Company’s internal audit plan.

The current members of the Audit Committee are Karl F. Ericson (Chairman), Ernest J. Chornyei, Jr., Meredith A. Curren and Cheryl W. Snead. The Board of Directors anticipates appointing Richard L. Bready to the Audit Committee upon his election to the Board of Directors and appointing Meredith A. Curren as Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that all four members of the Audit Committee, along with director nominee, Richard L. Bready, satisfy the financial literacy requirements of the NASDAQ listing standards and are independent as defined under the NASDAQ listing requirements and applicable SEC rules. Additionally, the Board of Directors has determined that

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Karl F. Ericson, Meredith Curren and Richard L. Bready, each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC rules.

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in discharging the Board’s responsibilities relating to director and executive compensation. The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include establishing and reviewing the Company’s executive and director compensation philosophy, strategies, plans and policies, making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the design of the Company’s incentive compensation plans and equity based plans and overseeing generally the administration of such plans, evaluating the performance and determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and advising and assisting the CEO in formulating and implementing programs to facilitate the selection and development of other key managers. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves the compensation of other executive officers of the Company and discharges duties assigned to it under various benefit and compensation plans. The Compensation Committee is composed of five members, each of whom is independent as defined under applicable NASDAQ listing requirements. The current members of the Compensation Committee are John R. Berger (Chairman), Anthony F. Andrade, Meredith A. Curren, Michael E. McMahon (since October 2006) and Pablo Rodriguez, M.D. Edward J. Mack II served as a member of the Compensation Committee until October 2006. The Compensation Committee held six meetings in fiscal year 2006.

Board Governance and Nominating Committee. The Board Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for: identifying individuals qualified to be members of the Board of Directors and recommending such individuals to be nominated by the Board of Directors for election to the Board of Directors by the Shareholders; developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company that are consistent with sound corporate governance practices and in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or other requirements; and monitoring and reviewing any other corporate governance matters which the Board of Directors may refer to the committee from time to time. The Board Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of four members, each of whom is independent as defined under applicable NASDAQ listing requirements. The current members of the Board Governance and Nominating Committee are Malcolm G. Chace (Chairman), Michael E. McMahon (since October 2006), Bogdan Nowak and John A. Yena. Margaret D. Farrell served as a member of the Board Governance and Nominating Committee until October 2006 when she resigned from the Board of Directors. The Board Governance and Nominating Committee held three meetings in fiscal year 2006.

Director Share Ownership Requirements. The Board of Directors has adopted a policy that requires each director to hold at least 500 shares of Bancorp common stock. All current directors meet this requirement.

Nomination of Directors

The Board Governance and Nominating Committee considers suggestions from many sources, including Shareholders, regarding possible candidates for director. The Board of Directors has adopted a policy that requires consideration by the Board Governance and Nominating Committee of nominations submitted by a Shareholder or group of Shareholders that beneficially owns more than 5% of Bancorp’s common stock for at least one year as of the date the recommendation was made. The Board Governance and Nominating Committee does not set specific criteria for directors but believes the Company is well served when its directors bring to the Board of Directors a variety of experience and backgrounds, evidence of leadership in their particular fields, demonstrate the ability to exercise sound business judgment and independence of thought, have significant knowledge of and involvement in the communities which the Bank serves and have substantial experience in business and outside the business community in, for example, the academic or public communities. All candidates must possess integrity and a commitment to ethical behavior. The Company also strives to have all directors other than the CEO be independent within the meaning of applicable NASDAQ rules. The Board Governance and Nominating Committee must also ensure that members of the Board of Directors as a group maintain the requisite qualifications under the NASDAQ

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listing standards for populating the Audit, Compensation and Board Governance and Nominating Committees. The Board Governance and Nominating Committee considers Shareholder nominees for director in the same manner as nominees for director from other sources.

Shareholders may send recommendations for director nominees to the Board Governance and Nominating Committee at the Company’s offices at One Turks Head Place, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. Submissions should include information regarding a candidate’s background, qualifications, experience and willingness to serve as a director. In addition, Section 3.03 of Bancorp’s By-Laws set forth specific procedures that, if followed, enable any Shareholder entitled to vote in the election of directors to make nominations directly at an annual meeting of Shareholders. These procedures include a requirement for written notice to the Company at least 60 days prior to the scheduled annual meeting and must contain the name and certain information concerning the nominee and the Shareholders who support the nominee’s election. For the Bancorp annual meeting to be held in 2008, the notice deadline under the By-Laws is March 22, 2008. A copy of this By-Law provision may be obtained by writing to Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., Attn: Investor Relations Department, One Turks Head Place, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.

Communications with the Board of Directors

The Company’s Board of Directors provides a process for Shareholders to communicate directly with the members of the Board of Directors or the individual chairman of standing committees. Any Shareholder who desires to contact one or more of the Company’s non-management directors may send a letter to those individuals at the following address: c/o Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., One Turks Head Place, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. Communications are distributed to any individual director or directors as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication. In that regard, the Board of Directors has requested that certain items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board should be excluded, such as:

·                                          Spam

·                                          Junk mail and mass mailings

·                                          Product inquiries

·                                          New product suggestions

·                                          Resumés and other forms of job inquiries

·                                          Surveys

·                                          Business solicitations or advertisements

In addition, material that the Company believes poses a security risk will be excluded, with the provisions that any communication that is filtered out must be made available to any outside director upon request.

Compensation of Directors

Compensation of the directors of the Company is set by the Compensation Committee. Directors of the Company (other than Ms. Sherman) receive a combined annual retainer of $10,000 ($7,000 for service as a Bancorp director and $3,000 for service as a Bank director.)  Mr. Chace, as Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee receives an additional $4,000 annual retainer. Other Committee Chairmen receive the following retainers: Audit ($3,000); Compensation and Technology ($2,500); and all other Committees (other than the Executive Committee) ($2,000). Directors of the Company receive $200 for each Bancorp Board meeting attended, as well as $200 for each Bancorp Executive Committee and Compensation Committee meeting attended and $600 for each Bancorp Audit Committee and Board Governance and Nominating Committee meeting attended. In addition, directors receive $600 for each meeting of the Bank’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Technology and Operations Committee attended, and $700 for each Directors’ Loan Committee meeting attended.

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Under the Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (the “Director Plan”) approved by the Bank’s shareholders at the 1998 annual meeting and assumed by Bancorp in connection with the reorganization of the Bank into a holding company structure on September 1, 2000, each non-employee director elected at the 1998 meeting received an option to purchase 1,500 shares of common stock, and each new non-employee director elected thereafter receives an option to purchase 1,000 shares of common stock as of the date of election to the Board. In addition, annual grants of options are made as of the date of each annual meeting of Shareholders to each non-employee director (other than a director who is first elected at or within six months of the meeting) to purchase 500 shares of common stock. All options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant and may be exercised with cash, common stock, or both. Options vest six months after the grant date, unless automatically accelerated in the event of death, disability or a change in control. Options expire upon the earlier to occur of the tenth anniversary of the grant date or two years following a director’s departure from the Board of Directors.

The following Director Compensation table provides information regarding the compensation paid or accrued by each individual who was a director during the 2006 fiscal year.

Name

 

 

 

Total
($)

 

Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)

 

Option
Awards
($) (a) (b)

 

All Other
Compensation

 

Karen Adams

 

$

31,307

 

 

$

25,000

 

 

 

$

6,307

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Anthony F. Andrade

 

24,707

 

 

18,400

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

John R. Berger

 

31,407

 

 

25,100

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Malcolm G. Chace

 

32,907

 

 

26,600

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Ernest J. Chornyei, Jr.

 

27,907

 

 

21,600

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Meredith A. Curren

 

34,307

 

 

28,000

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Karl F. Ericson

 

33,107

 

 

26,800

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Margaret D. Farrell (c)

 

17,800

 

 

17,800

 

 

 

0

(e)

 

 

0

 

 

Mark R. Feinstein

 

31,507

 

 

25,200

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Edward J. Mack II

 

33,707

 

 

27,400

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Michael E. McMahon (c)

 

8,164

 

 

1,400

 

 

 

6,764

(f)

 

 

0

 

 

Bogdan Nowak

 

31,907

 

 

25,600

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Pablo Rodriguez, M.D.

 

28,707

 

 

22,400

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

Merrill W. Sherman (d)

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Cheryl W. Snead

 

29,907

 

 

23,600

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 

John A. Yena

 

33,207

 

 

26,900

 

 

 

6,307

 

 

 

0

 

 


(a)              The amounts reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, in accordance with SFAS 123R for stock options granted to directors pursuant to the Director Plan. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in footnote 15 to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or around March 12, 2007.

(b)             As of December 31, 2006 each director had the following number of options outstanding: Karen Adams 3,000, Anthony Andrade 5,500, John R. Berger 5,500, Ernest J. Chornyei, Jr. 5,500, Meredith Curren 3,000, Karl F. Ericson 5,500, Margaret D. Farrell 5,000, Mark R. Feinstein 5,500, Edward J. Mack II, 3,000, Michael E. McMahon 1,000, Bogdan Nowak 3,000, Pablo Rodriguez, M.D. 2,000, Cheryl W. Snead 5,500. Malcolm G. Chace and John A. Yena had no options outstanding as of December 31, 2006.

(c)              Margaret D. Farrell resigned as a member of the Board of Directors effective October 17, 2006. Michael E. McMahon was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of Bancorp and the Bank to fill the vacancy following Ms. Farrell’s resignation.

(d)             See Summary Compensation Table for disclosure related to Merrill W. Sherman, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

(e)              The 2006 option award to Ms. Farrell was forfeited due to her resignation prior to the vesting date of such option.

(f)               Mr. McMahon received options to purchase 1,000 shares of common stock in connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors on October 18, 2006.

10




COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Security Ownership of 5% Beneficial Owners

The following table sets forth certain information, as of March 30, 2007, regarding the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding common stock:

Name

 

 

 

Amount of Securities
Beneficially Owned (a)

 

Percent
Ownership (b)

 

Malcolm G. Chace (c)
c/o Point Gammon Corporation
One Providence Washington Plaza, Providence, RI 02903

 

 

532,150

 

 

 

11.0%

 

 

Richard A. Grills
P.O. Box 539, Westerly, RI 02891

 

 

249,995

 

 

 

5.2%

 

 

Mendon Capital Advisors Corp.
150 Allens Creek Road, Rochester, NY 14618

 

 

395,800

 

 

 

8.2%

 

 

PL Capital Group (d)
c/o Financial Edge Fund, L.P.
20 East Jefferson Avenue, Suite 22, Naperville, IL 60540

 

 

382,220

 

 

 

7.9%

 

 

Royce & Associates, LLC
1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019

 

 

261,300

 

 

 

5.4%

 

 

Merrill W. Sherman (e)
c/o Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc.
One Turks Head Place, Providence, RI 02903

 

 

285,785

 

 

 

5.9%

 

 


(a)              All information is based upon ownership of record as reflected on the stock transfer books of the Company or as reported on Schedule 13G or Schedule 13D filed under Rule 13d-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(b)             Percent ownership is based upon 4,845,821 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 30, 2007.

(c)              Includes 517,650 shares held by trusts of which Mr. Chace, his spouse or an immediate family member is a co-trustee and has shared voting and investment power. Also includes 4,500 shares held by Mr. Chace’s spouse and 8,000 shares held by a non-profit corporation. Mr. Chace disclaims any economic or beneficial interest in 19,225 shares which are held by trusts of which Mr. Chace is only trustee and not a beneficiary and the 8,000 shares held by a non-profit corporation with respect to which he has voting power but no pecuniary interest.

(d)             According to a Schedule 13D filed on January 24, 2007, PL Capital Group includes Financial Edge Fund, L.P., Financial Edge Strategic Fund, L.P., Goodbody/PL Capital, L.P., PL Capital, LLC, Goodbody/PL Capital, LLC, PL Capital Advisors, LLC, John W. Palmer, Richard J. Lashley, PL Capital Offshore, Ltd. and PL Capital Focused Fund, L.P.

(e)              Includes 167,900 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days.

11




Security Ownership of Directors and Officers

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Bancorp’s common stock as of March 30, 2007 by each director, each director nominee, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table appearing on page 21 and all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares indicated as owned by such person.

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

 

 


Amount of Securities
Beneficially Owned (a)

 


Percent Ownership

 

Karen Adams (b)(c)

 

 

4,275

 

 

 

*

 

 

Anthony F. Andrade (d)

 

 

55,500

 

 

 

1.1%

 

 

Jeffrey W. Angus (e)

 

 

11,100

 

 

 

*

 

 

John R. Berger

 

 

9,569

 

 

 

*

 

 

Richard L. Bready

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

*

 

 

Malcolm G. Chace (f)

 

 

532,150

 

 

 

11.0%

 

 

Ernest J. Chornyei, Jr. (g)(p)

 

 

113,500

 

 

 

2.3%

 

 

Meredith A. Curren (n)

 

 

3,800

 

 

 

*

 

 

James V. DeRentis (h)

 

 

41,400

 

 

 

*

 

 

Karl F. Ericson (o)

 

 

14,500

 

 

 

*

 

 

Mark R. Feinstein (i)

 

 

19,000

 

 

 

*

 

 

Edward J. Mack II (o)

 

 

3,675

 

 

 

*

 

 

Michael E. McMahon (j)

 

 

1,500

 

 

 

*

 

 

Bogdan Nowak (k)(i)

 

 

24,300

 

 

 

*

 

 

Pablo Rodriguez, M.D. (b)

 

 

3,500

 

 

 

*

 

 

Merrill W. Sherman (l)

 

 

285,785

 

 

 

5.9%

 

 

Linda H. Simmons (m)

 

 

24,050

 

 

 

*

 

 

Cheryl W. Snead (d)

 

 

6,010

 

 

 

*

 

 

John A. Yena

 

 

10,500

 

 

 

*

 

 

All Directors and Officers as a Group (q)

 

 

1,166,114

 

 

 

24.1%

 

 


*                     Less than one percent

(a)              If applicable, beneficially owned shares include shares owned by the spouse, children and certain other relatives of the director or executive officer, as well as shares held by trusts of which the person is a trustee or in which he or she has a beneficial interest, and shares acquirable pursuant to options which are presently or will become exercisable within 60 days. All information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by the respective directors and executive officers.

(b)             Includes 2,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(c)              Includes 325 shares held by Ms. Adams’ spouse.

(d)             Includes 5,500 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(e)              Includes 10,100 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(f)               Includes 517,650 shares held by trusts of which Mr. Chace, his spouse or an immediate family member is a co-trustee and has shared voting and investment power. Also includes 4,500 shares held by Mr. Chace’s spouse and 8,000 shares held by a non-profit corporation. Mr. Chace disclaims any economic or beneficial interest in 19,225 shares which are held by trusts of which Mr. Chace is only trustee and not a beneficiary and the 8,000 shares held by a non-profit corporation with respect to which he has voting power but no pecuniary interest.

(g)              Includes 108,000 shares held by a trust of which Mr. Chornyei is a beneficiary.

(h)             Includes 38,100 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(i)                Includes 3,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(j)                Includes 1,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(k)             Includes 10,000 shares held by investment company of which Mr. Nowak is a control person.

(l)                Includes 167,900 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(m)          Includes 23,800 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(n)             Includes 2,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(o)             Includes 1,500 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(p)             Includes 2,500 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(q)             Includes 269,400 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

12




Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires executive officers and directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of Bancorp’s common stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC and any national securities exchange on which Bancorp’s securities are registered. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to Bancorp and written representations from the executive officers and directors, Bancorp believes that during 2006 its executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements, except that a Form 4 for James V. DeRentis was not timely filed in connection with his exercise of options to purchase 1,000 shares of common stock on March 9, 2006.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The Compensation Committee of the Boards of Directors of Bancorp and the Bank (collectively for purposes of this analysis, the “Compensation Committee”) is charged with the responsibility for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence to the Company’s compensation philosophy and assuring that executives and key management personnel are effectively compensated in a manner which is internally equitable and externally competitive. The Compensation Committee also reviews and recommends to the Board the compensation of directors.

The Company has four executive officers: Merrill W. Sherman, our CEO, Linda H. Simmons, our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Jeffrey W. Angus, the Chief Operating Officer of the Bank and James V. DeRentis, the Chief Business Officer of the Bank.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

The Company’s executive compensation philosophy seeks to link executive compensation with the objectives, business strategy, management initiatives and financial performance of the Company. We believe that the compensation of our executives should reflect their success as a management team, rather than individuals, in attaining key operating and strategic objectives, such as growth of earnings and growth of our franchise. We also believe that executive compensation should not be based on the short-term performance of our common stock, whether favorable or unfavorable, but rather that the price of our common stock will, in the long-term, reflect both our operating performance and our franchise value. We seek to have the long-term performance of our common stock reflected in executive compensation through our equity incentive programs.

The overall objectives of our compensation programs are:

·                                          to attract and retain highly qualified individuals in key executive positions;

·                                          to motivate executives to achieve goals inherent in the Company’s business strategies to position the Company for continued growth;

·                                          to foster a performance-based, team oriented culture; and

·                                          to link executives’ and Shareholders’ interests.

We also seek to achieve a balance of the compensation paid to a particular individual and the compensation paid to other executives both inside the Company and at comparable corporations and to remain competitive with larger financial institutions in our marketplace with which the Company competes for executive talent.

13




Elements of Compensation

Our total compensation program for executive officers consists of the following:

·                                          base salary;

·                                          annual cash incentive awards tied to the Company’s annual performance;

·                                          long-term equity incentive compensation, principally in the form of stock options;

·                                          retirement and other benefits; and

·                                          severance benefits.

We choose to pay each element of compensation in order to attract and retain the necessary executive talent, reward annual performance and provide incentive for a balanced focus on long-term strategic goals as well as short-term performance. Our policy for allocating between currently paid and long-term compensation is to ensure adequate base compensation to attract and retain personnel, while providing incentives to maximize long-term value for our Shareholders.

In 2004, the Compensation Committee directly engaged the Compensation Consulting Group of Clark Consulting’s Banking Practice, an outside consulting firm, to prepare an executive compensation study. The study provided comparative information on various components of compensation and total compensation against a peer group of twenty-three publicly traded financial institutions with assets ranging from $880 million to $2.5 billion located on the East Coast, primarily in the Northeast. The companies that comprised our peer group in 2004 were selected based upon asset size, geographic location and functional structure and included: Connecticut Bancshares, Inc., Independent Bank Corp., Yardville National Bancorp, Firstfed America Bancorp, Inc., Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., PennFed Financial Services, Inc., BostonFed Bancorp, Inc., Century Bancorp, Inc., Brookline Bancorp, Inc., Arrow Financial Corporation, Camden National Corporation, CCBT Financial Companies Inc., Partners Trust Financial Group, Inc. (MHC), Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., Provident Bancorp, Inc., Omega Financial Corporation, Patriot Bank Corp., Columbia Bancorp, Merchants Bancshares, Inc., Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation, Center Bancorp, Inc., GA Financial, Inc. and Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc. Where appropriate, the compensation consultant developed blended market matches to reflect the executive’s experience and responsibilities at the Company. This compensation review confirmed that our compensation program elements individually and in the aggregate support and reflect our compensation philosophy and strategic objectives, both on a cash and long-term incentive basis.

Setting Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee makes all compensation decisions for executive officers and approves recommendations regarding all equity awards. The CEO annually reviews the performance of the executive officers (other than the CEO whose performance is reviewed by the Compensation Committee, with input from the full Board of Directors). The conclusions reached and recommendations based on these reviews, including with respect to salary adjustments and annual award amounts, are presented to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee can exercise its discretion in modifying any recommended adjustments or awards to executives. Ms. Sherman does not participate during deliberations regarding her compensation. When appropriate, the Compensation Committee also meets in executive session without the presence of management or consultants.

The Senior Vice President of Human Resources supports the Compensation Committee in its work. From time to time, the Human Resource Department utilizes outside consultants to review and advise management with respect to the competitiveness of its compensation and benefits. In addition, the Compensation Committee has the authority under its charter to engage the services of outside advisers, experts and others to assist the Compensation Committee. In accordance with this authority, the Compensation Committee engages Pearl Meyer & Partners (“Pearl Meyer”), a division of Clark Consulting,

14




as independent outside compensation consultants to advise the Compensation Committee on matters related to director and executive compensation. Pearl Meyer does not advise management of the Company and receives no other compensation from the Company.

Executive Employment Agreements

The Company entered into employment agreements with each of its executive officers in connection with their initial employment. These agreements, which have been amended and restated from time to time, most recently in February 2007 as described below, are designed to promote stability and continuity of senior management who are critical to the Company’s continued success.

The agreements provide that during the term of the contract, the executive’s base salary will not be reduced and he or she will remain eligible for participation in the Company’s executive compensation and benefit programs. Ms. Sherman’s agreement provides for a rolling three-year term while the agreements with each of Ms. Simmons and Messrs. DeRentis and Angus provide for a rolling two-year term. Each agreement automatically renews for successive three or two-year terms on each successive one year anniversary unless either the Company or the executive has given the other written notice of election not to renew at least 90 days prior to any anniversary date.

In 2006, the Company retained a compensation consultant to assist management in assessing the Company’s compensation and benefit programs. The consultant advised management and the Compensation Committee that our programs are generally competitive and effective in the existing business environment, but made several recommendations related to equity awards and equity ownership as well as the severance and change in control benefits provided to our executive officers. At the Compensation Committee’s request, the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer, reviewed the recommendations and generally concurred with them. The recommendations included increasing the normal severance benefit payable to Ms. Simmons and Mr. Angus from 9 to 12 months and eliminating the offset for compensation earned from other employment during the severance period, providing outplacement services for executives other than Ms. Sherman, providing Ms. Sherman with an office and executive assistant for 12 months following a change in control, paying the executive’s pro rata target bonus for the year of a change in control, changing the definition of the bonus component in the change in control benefit to “target bonus” in the year of the change in control as compared to the current definition (highest of last three years for the CEO and last two years for other executives) and adding a requirement to the agreement that the executive sign a release and waiver in favor of the Company prior to the payment of severance or change in control benefits. In February 2007, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with each executive officer reflecting these recommendations as well as other changes to eliminate certain ambiguities and inconsistencies among the agreements.

Base Salary. Base salaries for executive officers historically have been substantially dependent upon the base salaries paid for comparable positions at similar corporations, the responsibilities of the position held and the experience level of the particular executive officer. The Compensation Committee sets the base salary for executives by reviewing compensation for competitive positions in the market and the historical compensation levels of the executives. The Compensation Committee generally seeks to place executive salaries at the median of the Company’s peer group. However, we compete with many larger institutions for top executive-level talent, which may cause base salaries to exceed the targeted level. This has been particularly true in recent years as we have recruited from the Boston market and looked to hire executives who can effectively manage a larger and more complex financial institution. In recognition of our small executive group, our expectation of uniform high performance from all executive officers and to encourage a team approach, the Compensation Committee set 2006 base salary levels for executives (other than the CEO) at the same level.

15




Salaries are reviewed on an annual basis in April, as well as at the time of a promotion or other change in responsibilities. In its annual review the Compensation Committee considers general market adjustments as well as the performance of the individual during the prior year and any change in his or her responsibilities. Annual increases normally take effect on May 1st of each year. In April 2006, base salaries for each of our executives were increased by 4%, which reflected the overall compensation adjustments to employees of the Company generally.

Cash Incentive Awards. In keeping with our philosophy to pay for performance, annual cash incentives tied to performance measures represent a substantial portion of an executive’s total compensation opportunity. Under the cash incentive plan, our executive officers are eligible to receive cash incentive awards of up to 50% (60% in the case of the CEO) of their base salaries. The Compensation Committee generally seeks to provide awards for superior performance that bring total cash compensation to the 75th percentile of the survey group. The 2004 executive compensation study commissioned by the Compensation Committee indicated that total cash compensation for the Company’s executives (assuming achievement of targeted incentive awards) falls within that targeted level.

All cash incentive awards for executive officers are determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, which establishes specific short-term financial goals for the executive management team in February each year. Stock price performance has not been a factor in determining annual incentive compensation because the price of our common stock is subject to a variety of factors outside our control. Historically, the Compensation Committee has established a single financial goal for the executive officers tied to budgeted net income. The Compensation Committee believes that net income is the most important short-term financial measurement for the organization and ultimately drives Shareholder value over time. The Compensation Committee also believes that the Company’s budget, which reflects general economic and specific Company, industry and competitive conditions as well as strategic initiatives, provides the best measure of management’s performance. We set a single goal for incentive awards to align our executives and promote teamwork. For similar reasons, the award opportunities for our executives (other than the CEO) are set at the same level. In 2006, the cash incentive awards were payable at the specified percentage of the executive officer’s base salary upon achieving the following level of budgeted net income:

Officer

 

 

 

Threshold
90% of Net Income

 

Target
100% of Net Income

 

Maximum
104% of Net Income

 

CEO

 

 

30

%

 

 

54

%

 

 

60

%

 

Other Executive Officers

 

 

25

%

 

 

45

%

 

 

50

%

 

 

The Company achieved the threshold level of earnings despite an extremely challenging interest rate environment resulting in severe margin compression. In determining whether management achieved the threshold levels, the Compensation Committee, with the approval of the full Board of Directors, eliminated the effect of the restructuring of the Company’s balance sheet undertaken in the third quarter of 2006. The Compensation Committee determined that this restructuring, which was not contemplated at the time the Board approved the 2006 budget, was undertaken to improve ongoing earnings and was in the longer-term interest of the Company and our Shareholders.

Although the Compensation Committee determined that the executive officers qualified for incentive awards at the threshold level, our executives voluntarily offered to reduce their awards for 2006, to provide a larger bonus pool for other Company officers. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee, on the recommendation of management, awarded the executive officers the incentive awards set forth under “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table, which represented approximately 78% of the threshold and 39% of their maximum incentive award opportunity.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation. Total compensation at the senior executive level also includes long-term incentive awards granted under the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. The objectives of the equity

16




incentive program are to align executive and Shareholder long-term interests by creating a strong and direct link between executive pay and total Shareholder return, and to enable executives to develop and maintain a significant, long-term stock ownership position in our common stock. Historically, except for the 2001 restricted stock award to Ms. Sherman, all equity awards have been in the form of stock options. However, the Compensation Committee is evaluating whether to provide a portion of this long-term equity award through restricted stock in lieu of options, in view of the fact that stock options are comparatively more dilutive to earnings than restricted stock. The Compensation Committee is weighing both the positive and negative consequences that might result from the use of restricted or performance stock, including possible limitations on the deductibility of such awards under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the potentially adverse tax consequences to the executive associated with the vesting of restricted stock awards.

Stock Option Grants. Annual grants of stock options reflect the executive’s position with the Company and his or her contribution to the Company. Historically these awards were made at a level such that the aggregate exercise price of the options equaled 85% to 115% of the executive’s annual base salary. In 2006, the Compensation Committee awarded stock options listed in the “Grants of Plan Based Awards” Table utilizing this methodology. However, in establishing the amount of future awards, the Company intends to use the value of the award (whether restricted stock, stock option or other equity based performance award) as determined for financial reporting purposes under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123R, Share Based Payment (SFAS 123R). Under this new methodology, the value of the award will generally equal between 25% and 35% of the executive’s base salary (depending upon the executive’s level of responsibility), which the Compensation Committee believes to be competitive with other comparable companies. As of December 31, 2006, the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Company’s stock plans was 617,404, representing 12.5% of the issued and outstanding common stock.

The Compensation Committee generally grants options in April of each year, but may also grant options in connection with an individual’s initial employment with the Company or a subsequent promotion. All options are granted at the market closing price on the grant date. Following publicity regarding the granting of stock options, the Compensation Committee initiated an internal review of its historical stock option grant practices to determine whether the stated grant dates of options were supported by the Company’s books and records. The review indicated that in all instances the options were dated as of the date on which the Compensation Committee made the award at the market price on the date of grant and that there was no backdating of options. The Compensation Committee does not have a program or practice of timing grant options in anticipation of the release of material non-public information, but typically makes its annual option grants in early April, in advance of the release of our first quarter earnings (which coincides with base salary adjustments).

Historically, options have had three to five year vesting schedules to encourage key employees to continue in the employ of the Company. However, in December 2005, all outstanding options under the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan vested immediately as part of an accelerated vesting undertaken upon our adoption of SFAS 123R. Under SFAS 123R, we are required to record compensation expense for the fair value of the stock options over the employee’s remaining service period. At the time of the vesting acceleration, approximately 79% of the expenses anticipated to be recorded over the next three years related to stock options that had no intrinsic value, as the stock options were “out-of-the-money.” Additionally, 73% of the unvested options with a positive intrinsic value, or “in-the-money,” were scheduled to fully vest within four months after December 31, 2005. As a result of this accelerated vesting, we were not required to recognize anticipated non-cash compensation expense relating to stock options of approximately $370,000 in 2006, and we estimate that we will not be required to expense an additional $260,000 in 2007 and $70,000 in 2008. Options granted to the executive officers in 2006, which are listed in the “Grants of Plan Based Awards” Table, vest in equal installments over five years commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.

Restricted Stock Award. In January 2001, the Company awarded Ms. Sherman 7,700 shares of restricted stock, of which 3,850 shares vested on January 1, 2006. The 2001 award was subject to forfeiture if

17




the cumulative net income of the Company for the three year period ending December 31, 2002, did not equal or exceed cumulative net income forecasted in the Company’s budgets for the three-year period. In addition to this performance requirement, the award was also subject to forfeiture in the event we terminated Ms. Sherman’s employment for cause or Ms. Sherman resigned without good reason prior to the applicable vesting dates. One-half of the stock award, or 3,850 shares, vested on January 1, 2005, and the remaining 3,850 shares vested on January 1, 2006. The market value of the 3,850 shares which vested on January 1, 2006 was $128,205, which amount is reported in the “Option Exercises and Stock Vested” Table. Under the terms of the award, the Company also made a “gross up” payment of approximately $90,700 to Ms. Sherman to cover income taxes owed by her as a result of the vesting of the shares. The gross-up payment is reported under “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table. At the time the award was made in 2001, our common stock was trading at about $13.50. On January 1, 2006, when the second half of the award vested, our common stock was trading at over $33.30 per share, an increase of $19.80 per share, or 147%. Thus, total value created for our Shareholders over the five year performance and vesting period was approximately $108 million.

Share Retention Guidelines. The Compensation Committee believes that senior management should have a meaningful equity interest in the Company. In order to promote equity ownership and further align the interests of management with our Shareholders, the Board of Directors has adopted share retention and ownership guidelines for our executive officers. These guidelines are based upon the market value of our common stock as a multiple of such officer’s base pay. The multiple is three times base salary for the CEO and one times base salary for the other executive officers. Ms. Sherman was a founder of the Bank and her stock ownership currently substantially exceeds the guideline. Under these guidelines, a new CEO must achieve the ownership level within five years of appointment to the chief executive position. The other executive officers are expected to retain at least 50% of the shares acquired upon exercise of any stock option until they achieve the specified ownership level and thereafter maintain such ownership level. In establishing these guidelines, the Board of Directors determined that a stock retention requirement, rather than a mandated ownership requirement, would appropriately align the interests of the executives (other than the CEO) and the Shareholders. In making this determination, the Board considered the compensation levels of our executive officers and the impact a mandated ownership requirement might have on our recruiting and retention of executives.

Retirement and Other Benefits

In order to attract and retain key executives, we offer retirement benefits through a tax-qualified 401(k) Plan to all employees and a nonqualified deferred compensation plan and supplemental executive retirement plans for certain highly compensated employees, including our executive officers.

401(k) Retirement Plan. Company employees who are at least 21 years of age are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Under the 401(k) Plan, we will make matching contributions of up to 4% of an employee’s compensation, subject to qualified plan limitations. These contributions vest monthly. The retirement benefits under the 401(k) Plan for our executive officers are the same as those available for other eligible employees. Similarly situated employees, including our executive officers, may have materially different account balances because of a combination of factors: the number of years that the person has participated in the plan, the amount of money contributed at the election of the participant from year to year, and the investments chosen by the participant. In 2006, we made matching contributions for the executive officers in the amounts reflected in the footnotes to the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan. The executives (as well as certain other highly compensated employees) are eligible to participate in a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which permits participants to contribute amounts they are precluded from contributing to the 401(k) Plan because of the qualified plan limitations as well as additional compensation deferrals which may be advantageous for

18




personal income tax or other planning reasons. Under the deferred compensation plan, participants receive an amount of employer matching contributions that they have lost under our 401(k) Plan as a result of the nondiscrimination rules applicable to qualified plans. The nonqualified deferred compensation plan is discussed in further detail under the heading “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans” on page 25.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. In order to provide a competitive compensation package, we have adopted two Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (each, a “SERP”): the 2000 SERP and the 2002 SERP. Currently, Ms. Sherman and Mr. DeRentis are the only employees who are participants in the 2000 SERP (although two former executives are entitled to receive benefits under the 2000 SERP). Under the SERPs, Ms. Sherman, Mr. DeRentis and Ms. Simmons are entitled to an annual supplemental retirement benefit equal to 70% of the highest base salary paid in the previous three fiscal years, reduced by the portion of their 401(k) Plan account attributable to employer contributions, any social security offset and (in the case of Ms. Sherman and Mr. DeRentis) any benefit under the 2000 SERP. Mr. Angus is entitled to an annual retirement benefit of $50,000. The SERP benefits vest over a five to ten year period, keyed to the executive’s initial employment. The specific terms of the SERPs (including vesting schedules) are discussed in further detail under the heading “Pension Benefits” on page 24.

Because the SERP benefit is either fixed or is based upon an executive’s base salary, increases in incentive compensation and gains from prior option or stock awards have no impact on the retirement benefit. In addition, in the event of a change in control (as defined under the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control” below), the 2002 SERP participants become fully vested in an increased benefit, which is intended to approximate the formula amount assuming continued employment of the executive until age 65. The SERP vesting provisions encourage key employees to continue in the employ of the Company. In establishing the SERPs, the Compensation Committee took into account that, unlike many of our competitors, we do not maintain a typical qualified defined benefit or cash balance plan.

Perquisites. Other than the plans described above and the severance benefits described below, our executives are entitled to few benefits that are not otherwise available to all of our employees. In 2006, we provided Ms. Sherman with personal benefits which had an aggregate value of less than $10,000.

Severance Benefits

We believe that companies should provide reasonable severance benefits to employees. With respect to executive management, these severance benefits should reflect the fact that it may be difficult for the employee to find comparable employment within a short period of time. Therefore, the employment agreements with our executives provide for severance benefits in the event of the executive’s involuntary termination of employment without cause or termination of employment by the executive for “Good Reason” (as defined under the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control” below) and provide increased benefits in the case of termination in connection with a Change in Control (as defined in the agreements). In the event of a qualified termination, we also continue health and other insurance benefits for between one and three years, corresponding to termination benefits and, in the event of a Change in Control, immediately vest all benefits under the SERP and all equity compensation of the executive. In addition, terminated executives would be entitled to receive any benefits that they otherwise would have been entitled to receive under our 401(k) Plan.

The Company has also entered into Change in Control Severance Agreements with certain key employees. We have found such change in control benefits are necessary to recruit and retain talented management, due in large part to the consolidation of the banking industry. Further, it is our belief that the interests of the Shareholders will be best served if the interests of our senior management are aligned with them, and providing change in control benefits should encourage senior management to consider the prospect

19




of a change in control in an objective manner and reduce their possible reluctance to pursue potential change in control transactions that may be in the best interests of the Shareholders.

Because of the so-called “parachute” tax imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 280G, we have agreed to reimburse Ms. Sherman, Mr. DeRentis and Ms. Simmons for any taxes imposed as a result of change in control benefits. For other officers entitled to a change in control benefit, we cap their change in control benefits so that no taxes will be imposed. Based upon the advice of the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant, we believe providing such “tax gross-up” payments is consistent with benefits offered by our peer group.

All of the change in control benefits are “double trigger” and require termination of employment in connection with the Change in Control. Accordingly, no change in control benefits are paid to an executive unless their employment is terminated without cause or the executive resigns for “Good Reason” (or any reason in the case of Ms. Sherman) within one year of the Change in Control. Ms. Sherman’s agreement allows her to trigger the change in control severance benefit by terminating her employment at any time within one year following the Change in Control. The Compensation Committee believes that providing Ms. Sherman this benefit will facilitate a smooth transition in the event of the sale of the Company.

Relative to the overall value of the Company, these potential change in control benefits (including the 280G tax “gross-up”) are relatively minor. The Compensation Committee regularly reviews the aggregate amount of all our change in control obligations and, based upon advice provided by both its independent compensation consultant and the Company’s investment banker, has determined that the potential change in control benefits under our existing plans and agreements are within an appropriate percentage of deal value.

Tax Deductibility of Compensation.

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1 million paid to a company’s chief executive officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers at year end. There is an exception to the $1 million limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements. The Compensation Committee’s policy is to preserve corporate tax deductions by qualifying compensation paid over $1 million to the executive officers as performance-based compensation. Nevertheless, maintaining tax deductibility is but one consideration among many (and is not the most important consideration) in the design of the compensation program for senior executives. The Compensation Committee may, from time to time, conclude that compensation arrangements are in the best interest of the Company and the Shareholders despite the fact that such arrangements might not, in whole or in part, qualify for tax deductibility.

20




COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included above. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 for filing with the SEC.

Compensation Committee

JOHN R. BERGERChairman

ANTHONY F. ANDRADE

 

MEREDITH A. CURREN

 

MICHAEL E. MCMAHON

 

PABLO RODRIGUEZ, M.D.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following table provides information regarding the total compensation paid or accrued by the Company to each of its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and its other executive officers other than the CEO and CFO (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”).

Because the Company’s Cash Incentive Plan is based on achieving specified performance goals, awards under the plan are not considered “Bonuses” for purposes of SEC rules and are listed below as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.” Amounts listed under “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” were determined by the Compensation Committee at its February 2007 meeting, and, to the extent not deferred by the executive, were paid out shortly thereafter.

Summary Compensation Table

Name and Principal
Position

 

 

 

Year

 

Salary
($)

 

Bonus ($)

 

Stock
Awards
($)

 

Option
Awards
($)(a)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(b)

 

Change in
Pension Value
and Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)(c)

 

All Other
Compensation
($)

 

Total
($)

 

Merrill W. Sherman
President and CEO

 

 

2006

 

 

$

437,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

22,310

 

 

$

103,983

 

 

 

$

261,419

(d)

 

 

$

99,500

(e)

 

$

924,912

 

Linda H. Simmons
Treasurer and CFO

 

 

2006

 

 

224,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,463

 

 

44,347

 

 

 

90,390

 

 

 

8,800

(f)

 

376,037

 

James V. DeRentis
Vice President & Chief Business
Officer

 

 

2006

 

 

224,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,463

 

 

44,347

 

 

 

61,879

 

 

 

7,556

(f)

 

346,282

 

Jeffrey W. Angus
Vice President &
Chief Operating Officer

 

 

2006

 

 

224,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,463

 

 

44,347

 

 

 

15,317

 

 

 

 

 

292,164

 


(a)              The amounts reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, in accordance with SFAS 123R for stock options granted pursuant to the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. Since the Company accelerated the vesting of all options outstanding on December 31, 2005 upon our adoption of SFAS 123R, the amounts reflected are attributable solely to options granted in 2006. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in footnote 15 to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or around March 12, 2007.

(b)             Reflects cash awards to the named individuals under the Cash Incentive Plan which is discussed in further detail on page 16 under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

(c)              Reflects actuarial increase in the present value of the Named Executive Officer’s benefits under the Company’s supplemental executive retirement plans determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Company’s financial statements and includes amounts which the Named Executive Officer may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested.

(d)             Includes earnings of $2,591 on deferred compensation account above 5.62% (120% of the applicable federal long-term rate at December 31, 2005).

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(e)              Includes tax gross-up in the amount of $90,700 in connection with vesting of 3,850 shares of restricted stock on January 1, 2007 granted to Ms. Sherman under a Restricted Stock Agreement entered into with the Company in 2001 and an employer 401(k) match in the amount of $8,800.

(f)               Reflects amount of employer 401(k) match.

Grants of Plan Based Awards

The following table provides information on all plan based awards by the Company in 2006 to each Named Executive Officer.

Name

 

 

 

Grant Date

 

All Other Stock
Awards: Number
of Shares of Stock
or Units
(#)

 

All Other Option
Awards: Number of
Securities Underlying
Options
(#)

 

Exercise or Base
Price of Option
Awards ($/Sh)

 

Grant Date Fair Value of
Stock and Option
Awards (a)

 

Merrill W. Sherman

 

 

04/06/06

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

14,500

 

 

 

$

34.89

 

 

 

$

148,737

 

 

Linda H. Simmons

 

 

04/06/06

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

34.89

 

 

 

56,417

 

 

James V. DeRentis

 

 

04/06/06

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

34.89

 

 

 

56,417

 

 

Jeffrey W. Angus

 

 

04/06/06

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

34.89

 

 

 

56,417

 

 


(a)              Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in footnote 15 to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or around March 12, 2007.

22




Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table provides information on all outstanding equity awards held by each of the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2006.

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(a)

 

Merrill W. Sherman

 

 

17,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

10.00

 

 

02/20/2007

 

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.50

 

 

02/27/2008

 

 

 

 

23,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.75

 

 

01/21/2009

 

 

 

 

29,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.00

 

 

02/15/2010

 

 

 

 

25,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.75

 

 

02/20/2011

 

 

 

 

7,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19.80

 

 

02/11/2012

 

 

 

 

15,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.15

 

 

05/30/2012

 

 

 

 

18,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.05

 

 

04/15/2013

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.43

 

 

01/26/2014

 

 

 

 

14,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.91

 

 

04/26/2014

 

 

 

 

13,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37.98

 

 

04/08/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.89

 

 

04/06/2016

 

Linda H. Simmons

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35.50

 

 

09/16/2014

 

 

 

 

4,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37.98

 

 

04/08/2015

 

 

 

 

8,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36.54

 

 

07/19/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.89

 

 

04/06/2016

 

James V. DeRentis

 

 

4,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.75

 

 

01/21/2009

 

 

 

 

5,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.00

 

 

02/15/2010

 

 

 

 

6,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.75

 

 

02/20/2011

 

 

 

 

1,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19.80

 

 

02/11/2012

 

 

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.15

 

 

05/30/2012

 

 

 

 

5,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.05

 

 

04/15/2013

 

 

 

 

3,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.43

 

 

01/26/2014

 

 

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.91

 

 

04/26/2014

 

 

 

 

4,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37.98

 

 

04/08/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.89

 

 

04/06/2016

 

Jeffrey W. Angus

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.13

 

 

12/05/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.89

 

 

04/06/2016

 


(a)              All options are fully vested except for those that expire on April 6, 2016 which vest in five equal annual installments commencing April 6, 2007.

23




Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table provides information on all exercises of options by the Named Executive Officers during the Company’s 2006 fiscal year.

 

 

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
($)

 

Merrill W. Sherman

 

 

24,000

 

 

 

$

574,560

 

 

 

3,850

 

 

 

$

128,205

 

 

Linda H. Simmons

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

James V. DeRentis

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

24,900

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Jeffrey W. Angus

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

We do not maintain a tax-qualified defined benefit plan. The following table provides information on the estimated present value of future payments for each of the Named Executive Officers under the Company’s two SERPs as of December 31, 2006.

Name of Executive
Officer

 

 

 

Plan Name

 

Number of
Years
Credited
Service
(#)(a)

 

Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)(b)

 

Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)

 

Merrill W. Sherman

 

2000 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

 

NA

 

 

 

$

925,191

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

 

NA

 

 

 

335,352

 

 

 

 

 

Linda H. Simmons

 

2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

 

NA

 

 

 

175,530

 

 

 

 

 

James V. DeRentis

 

2000 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

 

NA

 

 

 

50,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

151,634

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey W. Angus

 

2002 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

 

NA

 

 

 

15,317

 

 

 

 

 


(a)              The SERP benefit is not based upon years of credited service. The benefit is based on a fixed amount or a formula tied to final average base salary and vests in accordance with a vesting schedule as described below.

(b)             Reflects actuarial present value of the Named Executive Officer’s benefits under the Company’s supplemental executive retirement plans determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Company’s financial statements and includes amounts which the Named Executive Officer may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested.

The annual retirement benefit under the 2000 SERP is $250,000 for Ms. Sherman and $35,000 for Mr. DeRentis, and is payable upon the later of the executive attaining age 65 or the executive’s retirement. Under the 2002 SERP, Ms. Sherman, Mr. DeRentis and Ms. Simmons are entitled to a supplemental retirement benefit equal to 70% of the highest base salary paid in the previous three fiscal years, reduced by the portion of their 401(k) Plan account attributable to employer contributions and any social security offset and, in the case of Ms. Sherman and Mr. DeRentis, the amount of their respective annual benefit under the 2000 SERP. Mr. Angus is entitled to an annual retirement benefit of $50,000.

Under the 2000 SERP, we will also provide a pre-retirement death benefit equal to the projected age 65 accrual balance and a post-retirement death benefit for the participant equal to the accrual balance at the date of the SERP participant’s death. The death benefit for participants in the 2002 SERP is equal to the accrual balance at the date of the participant’s death. The pre-retirement and post-retirement death benefits (other than Ms. Sherman’s additional death benefit under the 2002 SERP) are funded through life insurance policies on the lives of the SERP participants purchased and owned by the Bank, which contain a split dollar endorsement in favor of the SERP participant.

24




The benefits payable under the 2000 SERP are fully vested. The benefits under the 2002 SERP vested beginning on November 1, 2005 in the case of Ms. Sherman, and will commence to vest on November 1, 2008 for Mr. DeRentis and May 1, 2011 as to Mr. Angus. With respect to Ms. Simmons, $50,000 of her benefit begins to vest on November 1, 2009 and the balance on August 2010. Benefits under the 2002 SERP vest in 20% increments such that the accrual balance would be fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the first vesting date. Thus, if an executive left at end of the vesting period, he or she would be 100% vested in their 2002 SERP accrual balance (i.e., the amount the Company has accrued to reflect the liability), but not the full benefit, resulting in a reduced retirement benefit in the event of early retirement. The executive is required to remain employed at the Company until age 65 to get the full 2002 SERP benefit. The full benefit will vest immediately upon death. In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the 2002 SERP participants become fully vested in the greater of (i) the retirement benefit calculated in accordance with the formula described above or (ii) a specific annual Change in Control Benefit Amount, which is intended to approximate the formula amount under the 2002 SERP assuming continued employment of the executive until age 65. The current Change in Control Benefit Amount under the 2002 SERP (excluding any tax gross-up) is $131,034 for Ms. Sherman (resulting in a total annual SERP benefit of $381,034), $190,850 for Mr. DeRentis (resulting in a total annual SERP benefit of $225,850), $212,441 for Ms. Simmons and $50,000 for Mr. Angus.

The SERPs are unfunded but provide that upon a Change in Control, the Company must deposit funds in a trust equal to the present value of all accrued benefits provided under both SERPs and thereafter make annual additional deposits to reflect any increases in the accrued benefits. All benefits are forfeited in the event that the participant’s employment is terminated on account of a criminal act of fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement or a felony that involves property of the Company.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

The Named Executive Officers (as well as certain other highly compensated employees) are eligible to participate in our nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The plan permits a participant to defer all or a portion of his or her annual incentive bonus and up to 50% of the participant’s base salary. Deferral elections are made in December of each year for amounts to be earned in the following year. Participants receive an amount of employer matching contributions that they have lost under our 401(k) Plan as a result of the nondiscrimination rules applicable to qualified plans. All amounts contributed by the participant and by the Company under the plan are immediately vested.

Any excess contributions which cannot be contributed under the 401(k) Plan because of the nondiscrimination rules applicable to qualified plans and which would otherwise be returned to the participant at the end of the year, plus the amount of any supplemental deferrals the participant may choose to make, and any matching contributions provided for under the plan are credited to a deferred compensation account (a bookkeeping account). Each participant’s deferred compensation account is credited with interest at a rate equal to the greater of the Baa1 30-year corporate bond index, or the Company’s projected rate of return on average earning assets as reflected in its budget for such year. In addition, the plan allows a participant whose account exceeds $100,000 to specify an alternative investment index for all or any portion of the participant’s account. If a participant specifies an alternative investment index, the Company may make any required distribution under the plan in kind. Ms. Sherman has elected to have $90,000 of her account valued in accordance with the performance of an investment in one or more private equity funds identified by Ms. Sherman. We have invested $90,000 in the specified alternative investments in order to match its liability to Ms. Sherman under the plan. As a result, Ms. Sherman bears the entire risk of loss (and will benefit from any gains) associated with her election.

Participants in the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan are entitled to receive a distribution of their account upon retirement, death, disability or termination of employment except that any amounts attributable to employer contributions are subject to forfeiture if the participant is terminated for

25




fraud, dishonesty or willful violation of any law that is committed in connection with the participant’s employment. A participant is eligible to withdraw amounts credited to the deferred compensation account in the event of unforeseeable financial hardship.

The amount deferred under the plan is not includible in the income of the participant until paid to the participant and, correspondingly, the Company is not entitled to a deduction for any liabilities established under the plan until the amount credited to the participant’s deferred compensation account is paid to him or her.

The amount credited to the deferred compensation account is not funded or otherwise set aside or secure from our creditors. As a result, the participant is subject to the risk that deferred compensation may not be paid in the event of the Company’s insolvency or the Company is otherwise unable to satisfy the obligation. The plan permits (but does not require) the Company to establish a grantor trust for the purpose of funding the plan. If such a trust were created, the corpus of the trust would, under current federal income tax regulations, have to be available to our creditors in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy in order to prevent adverse income tax consequences to the participant.

The following table provides information on contributions, earnings, withdrawals and distributions with respect to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan for each of the Named Executive Officers.

Name

 

 

 

Executive
contributions in
last FY ($)

 

Company
contributions in
last FY ($)

 

Aggregate
earnings in last FY
($)

 

Aggregate
withdrawals/distributions
($)

 

Aggregate balance
at last FYE ($)

 

Merrill W. Sherman

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

27,738

(a)

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

522,714

(a)(b)

 

Linda H. Simmons

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

James V. DeRentis

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Jeffrey W. Angus

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 


(a)              Includes $2,591 which is reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.

(b)             Includes $338,790 of compensation which has been reported in the Company’s Summary Compensation Table in previous years.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control

The tables below reflect the amount of compensation to each of the Named Executive Officers in the event of termination of such executive’s employment upon voluntary termination, involuntary not for cause termination, for cause termination, termination following a Change in Control and in the event of disability or death of the executive. The amounts shown assume that such termination was effective as of December 31, 2006, calculated in accordance with the new employment agreements executed in February 2007. Although the employment agreements were not executed until early 2007, the changes were approved in late 2006 and we believe that presenting the information using the formulas currently in place provides a more accurate picture of the amounts that would be payable upon the happening of certain events. The amounts shown include amounts earned through such time and are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the executives upon their termination. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of such executive’s separation from the Company. Furthermore, while SERP benefits are fully vested on a Change in Control, they are not paid out until the executive is 65.

Severance Benefits absent a Change in Control

In the event the Company terminates Ms. Sherman’s employment without cause or Ms. Sherman terminates her employment for ‘‘Good Reason,’’ she is entitled to the following:

·                                          a lump sum severance payment equal to 2.99 times the sum of her annual base salary as in effect at the time of termination and an amount equal to the average cash incentive bonus earned by her in the prior two fiscal years;

26




·                                          continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage for 36 months;

·                                          continued use of the automobile provided to her under her agreement (with an option to purchase); and

·                                          any options which are exercisable on the date of termination shall not terminate until the earlier of the scheduled expiration date for such options or three years after the date of termination of her employment.

‘‘Good Reason’’ is defined in Ms. Sherman’s agreement as:

·                                          a significant reduction in the nature or scope of her duties, responsibilities, authority and powers;

·                                          any requirement that she perform her duties at a location more than 50 miles from where she currently performs her duties; or

·                                          failure of the Company either to renew the agreement or enter into a new agreement on terms not less favorable than those existing immediately prior to such nonrenewal (other than a reduction of fringe benefits required by law or applicable to all employees generally).

If the Company terminates the employment of an executive (other than Ms. Sherman) without cause or the executive terminates his or her employment for “Good Reason,” the executive would be entitled to continuance of his or her base salary and all medical, dental and life insurance coverage for the severance period, which is 18 months for Mr. DeRentis and 12 months for Ms. Simmons and Mr. Angus. The executive is also entitled to outplacement services for 6 months. “Good Reason” is defined in the agreements of Ms. Simmons and Messrs. DeRentis and Angus as the Company’s failure to renew the agreement on any anniversary date or enter into a new employment agreement on substantially similar terms.

Severance Benefits in connection with a Change in Control

In the event of a ‘‘Terminating Event’’ within one year of a “Change in Control,” Ms. Sherman is entitled to:

·                                          an amount equal to any base salary and incentive bonus earned on account of services performed prior to the Terminating Event which have not been previously paid;

·                                          her pro-rated incentive bonus to the date of the Terminating Event under the Cash Incentive Plan, or any successor plan, based on the “Target Bonus” for the year in which the Termination Event occurs;

·                                          a severance benefit equal to 2.99 times the sum of her base salary and her targeted incentive cash bonus for the year of the Change in Control, payable in a lump sum;

·                                          continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage for 36 months;

·                                          continued use of the automobile provided to her under her agreement (with an option to purchase) for three years; and

·                                          all options held by her vest and remain exercisable for a three-year period.

27




In the case of Ms. Sherman, a ‘‘Terminating Event’’ means either termination of her employment for any reason other than for cause or resignation, death or disability following a Takeover Transaction or a Change in Control resulting from a change in a majority of the Board of Directors, in either case, prior to the first anniversary of the Takeover Transaction or Change in Control.

The agreements with Ms. Simmons and Messrs. DeRentis and Angus provide that in the event of a ‘‘Terminating Event’’ within one year of a Change in Control, the executive is entitled to receive:

·                                          an amount equal to any base salary and incentive bonus earned on account of services performed prior to the Terminating Event which have not been previously paid;

·                                          the executive’s pro-rated incentive bonus to the date of the Terminating Event under the Cash Incentive Plan, or any successor plan, based on the “Target Bonus” for the year in which the Terminating Event occurs;

·                                          a severance benefit equal to two times the sum of the executive’s base salary and targeted incentive cash bonus for the year of the Change in Control, payable in a lump sum;

·                                          medical, dental and life insurance coverage for the 24 months commencing on the date of the Terminating Event; and

·                                          outplacement assistance for a period of twelve months.

In the case of Ms. Simmons and Messrs. DeRentis and Angus, a ‘‘Terminating Event’’ means either:

·                                          termination of employment for any reason other than death, disability or for cause; or

·                                          resignation following:

·       a significant reduction in the nature or scope of the executive’s duties, responsibilities, authority and powers from those exercised prior to the Change in Control;

·       a greater than 10% reduction in the executive’s annual base salary or fringe benefits (other than across-the-board salary reductions or changes in fringe benefit plans);

·       a requirement that the executive perform duties at a location more than 50 miles from the location where such duties were performed prior to the Change in Control; or

·       failure of any successor of the Company to continue the executive’s employment on substantially similar employment terms.

For purposes of all of the agreements, a ‘‘Change in Control’’ would be deemed to have occurred if:

·                                          the Company effectuates a Takeover Transaction; or

·                                          the Company commences substantive negotiations with a third party with respect to a Takeover Transaction, and within 12 months thereafter the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a Takeover Transaction with such party; or

28




·                                          any election of directors of the Company occurs (whether by the directors then in office or by the Shareholders at a meeting or by written consent) where a majority of the directors in office following such election are individuals who were not nominated by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors immediately preceding such election; or

·                                          the Company effectuates a complete liquidation of Bancorp or the Bank.

A ‘‘Takeover Transaction’’ for this purpose generally means:

·                                          a reorganization, merger, acquisition or consolidation of Bancorp or the Bank with, or an acquisition of Bancorp or the Bank, or all or substantially all of Bancorp’s or the Bank’s assets by another corporation where the Company’s existing Shareholders do not have a majority of the voting power of the resulting corporation;

·                                          the issuance of additional shares if our existing Shareholders do not, following such issuance, beneficially own more than 50% of the voting power of Bancorp or the Bank; or

·                                          any person or entity or group of persons or entities (other than an affiliate of the Company) becomes the beneficial owner of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of voting securities of Bancorp.

29




The following table shows the potential payments upon termination of Merrill W. Sherman’s employment as of December 31, 2006 under various circumstances.

Payments Upon
Separation

 

Voluntary
Termination or 
Retirement ($)

 

Involuntary
Not For
Cause
Termination 
($)

 

For Cause
Termination 
($)

 

Involuntary
for Good
Reason
Termination
(Change-in-
Control) ($)

 

Disability ($)

 

Death ($)

 

Compensation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

2,039,838

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

2,039,838

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

Stock Option Acceleration (a)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

121,220

 

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Incentive Bonus

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

239,220

(f)

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Benefits & Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERPs (b)

 

 

1,659,562

 

 

 

1,659,562

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

2,529,398

 

 

 

1,659,562

 

 

335,352

 

NonQualified Deferred Compensation Program (c)

 

 

522,714

 

 

 

522,714

 

 

 

522,714

 

 

 

522,714

 

 

 

522,714

 

 

522,714

 

Health and Welfare Benefits (d)

 

 

0

 

 

 

36,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

36,000

 

 

 

3,105

 

 

0

 

Disability Income (e)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,134,455

 

 

0

 

Life Insurance Benefits

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

2,841,075

(g)

Office and Executive Assistant

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Auto Allowance

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Tax Gross-up

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,454,989

 

 

 

0

 

 

0

 


(a)     Represents the value that would be realized upon the exercise of options that would vest on a Change in Control based on the difference between the option exercise price and the market value of the common stock on December 31, 2006 ($43.25).

(b)    Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits or the death benefit payable under the SERPs. Ms. Sherman would not be entitled to receive any payments under the SERPs until age 65 or death.

(c)     Represents compensation deferred by Ms. Sherman under the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan plus earnings.

(d)    Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of all future premiums which will be paid on behalf of Ms. Sherman under the Company’s health and welfare plans.

(e)     Includes $680,153 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to Ms. Sherman to age 65 under a separate disability income policy plus $454,302 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to age 65 under a disability insurance policy available to all employees.

(f)     Represents payment of full amount of target cash incentive award which would have been paid in lieu of the amount reflected under the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(g)     Includes $664,500 which represents payment of 11¤2 times salary upon death under life insurance available to all employees, and $2,176,575 payable under Split Dollar Agreement between Ms. Sherman and the Bank which provides for payment of a lump sum pre-retirement death benefit equal to the projected accrued liability at normal retirement age under the 2000 SERP.

30




The following table shows the potential payments upon termination of Linda H. Simmons’ employment as of December 31, 2006 under various circumstances.

Payments Upon
Separation

 

Voluntary
Termination or 
Retirement ($)

 

Involuntary
Not For
Cause
Termination 
($)

 

For Cause
Termination 
($)

 

Involuntary
for Good
Reason
Termination
(Change-in-
Control) ($)

 

Disability ($)

 

Death ($)

 

Compensation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

226,720

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

657,430

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Stock Option Acceleration (a)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

46,090

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Incentive Bonus

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

102,015

(e)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Benefits & Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERPs (b)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,009,317

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Health and Welfare Benefits (c)

 

 

0

 

 

 

12,421

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12,421

 

 

 

3,105

 

 

 

0

 

 

Disability Income (d)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,007,861

 

 

 

0

 

 

Life Insurance Benefits

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

515,580

(f)

 

Outplacement Services

 

 

0

 

 

 

12,500

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Auto Allowance

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Tax Gross-up

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

583,325

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 


(a)     Represents the value that would be realized upon the exercise of options that would vest on a Change in Control based on the difference between the option exercise price and the market value of the common stock on December 31, 2006 ($43.25).

(b)    Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits payable under the 2002 SERP. Ms. Simmons would not be entitled to receive any payments under the 2002 SERP until age 65.

(c)     Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of all future premiums which will be paid on behalf of Ms. Simmons under the Company’s health and welfare plans.

(d)    Includes $60,309 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to Ms. Simmons to age 65 under a separate disability income policy plus $947,552 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to age 65 under a disability insurance policy available to all employees.

(e)     Represents payment of full amount of target cash incentive award which would have been paid in lieu of the amount reflected under the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(f)     Includes $340,050 which represents payment of 11¤2 times salary upon death under life insurance available to all employees, and $175,530 payable under Split Dollar Agreement between Ms. Simmons and the Bank which provides for payment of a lump sum pre-retirement death benefit equal to the accrued liability as of the date of death under the 2002 SERP.

31




The following table shows the potential payments upon termination of James V. DeRentis’ employment as of December 31, 2006 under various circumstances.

Payments Upon
Separation

 

Voluntary
Termination or 
Retirement ($)

 

Involuntary
Not For
Cause
Termination 
($)

 

For Cause
Termination 
($)

 

Involuntary
for Good
Reason
Termination
(Change-in-
Control) ($)

 

Disability ($)

 

Death ($)

 

Compensation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

340,080

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

657,430

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Stock Option Acceleration (a)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

46,090

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Incentive Bonus

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

102,015

(e)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Benefits & Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERPs (b)

 

 

107,607

 

 

 

107,607

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

800,409

 

 

 

107,607

 

 

 

0

 

 

Health and Welfare Benefits (c)

 

 

0

 

 

 

19,418

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

19,418

 

 

 

3,105

 

 

 

0

 

 

Disability Income (d)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,059,328

 

 

 

0

 

 

Life Insurance Benefits

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

769,814

(f)

 

Outplacement Services

 

 

0

 

 

 

12,500

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Auto Allowance

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Tax Gross-up

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

637,810

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 


(a)     Represents the value that would be realized upon the exercise of options that would vest on a Change in Control based on the difference between the option exercise price and the market value of the common stock on December 31, 2006 ($43.25).

(b)    Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits payable under the SERPs. Mr. DeRentis would not be entitled to receive any payments under the SERPs until age 65.

(c)     Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of all future premiums which will be paid on behalf of Mr. DeRentis under the Company’s health and welfare plans.

(d)    Includes $63,526 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to Mr. DeRentis to age 65 under a separate disability income policy plus $995,802 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to age 65 under a disability insurance policy available to all employees.

(e)     Represents payment of full amount of target cash incentive award which would have been paid in lieu of the amount reflected under the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(f)     Includes $340,050 which represents payment of 11¤2 times salary upon death under life insurance available to all employees, and $429,764 payable under Split Dollar Agreements between Mr. DeRentis and the Bank which provides for payment of a lump sum pre-retirement death benefit equal to the accrued liability as of the date of death under the 2002 SERP.

32




The following table shows the potential payments upon termination of Jeffrey W. Angus’ employment as of December 31, 2006 under various circumstances:

Payments Upon
Separation

 

Voluntary
Termination or 
Retirement ($)

 

Involuntary
Not For
Cause
Termination 
($)

 

For Cause
Termination 
($)

 

Involuntary
for Good
Reason
Termination
(Change-in-
Control ($)

 

Disability ($)

 

Death ($)

 

Compensation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

226,720

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

355,397

(e)

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Stock Option Acceleration (a)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

46,090

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Incentive Bonus

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

102,015

(f)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Benefits & Perquisites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERPs (b)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

235,111

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Health and Welfare Benefits (c)

 

 

0

 

 

 

12,421

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12,421

 

 

 

3,105

 

 

 

0

 

 

Disability Income (d)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

818,747

 

 

 

0

 

 

Life Insurance Benefits

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

355,367

(g)

 

Outplacement Services

 

 

0

 

 

 

12,500

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Auto Allowance

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 


(a)     Represents the value that would be realized upon the exercise of options that would vest on a Change in Control based on the difference between the option exercise price and the market value of the common stock on December 31, 2006 ($43.25).

(b)    Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits payable under the 2002 SERP. Mr. Angus would not be entitled to receive any payments under the 2002 SERP until age 65.

(c)     Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of all future premiums which will be paid on behalf of Mr. Angus under the Company’s health and welfare plans.

(d)    Includes $48,489 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to Mr. Angus to age 65 under a separate disability income policy plus $770,258 which represents the estimated lump-sum present value of future benefits assuming a 6% interest rate payable to age 65 under a disability insurance policy available to all employees.

(e)     Assumes reduction in severance of $302,033 due to 280G cap on change in control payments.

(f)     Represents payment of full amount of target cash incentive award which would have been paid in lieu of the amount reflected under the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(g)     Includes $340,050 which represents payment of 11¤2 times salary upon death under life insurance available to all employees, and $15,317 payable under Split Dollar Agreement between Mr. Angus and the Bank which provides for payment of a lump sum pre-retirement death benefit equal to the accrued liability as of the date of death under the 2002 SERP.

In addition to the amounts indicated above, upon termination for any reason, each executive officer would be entitled to receive the vested balance in their respective 401(k) Plan accounts on the same basis as all other employees of the Company.

TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT

In accordance with our Board Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, the Board Governance and Nominating Committee is charged with monitoring and reviewing issues involving potential conflicts of interest, and reviewing and approving all related party transactions, except for those governed by Regulation O promulgated under the Federal Reserve Act which are reviewed and approved by the full Board of Directors (without the interested director present) in accordance with Regulation O. In reviewing and evaluating potential conflicts of interest and related party transactions, the Board Governance and Nominating Committee uses applicable NASDAQ listing standards and SEC rules as a guide.

The Company has extended loans to certain of its officers, directors, nominees for director and principal Shareholders, including their immediate families and affiliated companies (“related parties”). Loans outstanding to related parties aggregated $6.6 million at December 31, 2006. Loans to related parties are made in the ordinary course of business under normal credit terms, including interest rates and collateral, prevailing at the time of origination for comparable transactions with other persons, and do not represent more than a normal risk of collectibility or other unfavorable features.

33




In addition, the law firm of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, of which Margaret D. Farrell (a former director and current Secretary of the Company) is a partner, provides legal services to the Company. Furthermore, the spouse of director Edward J. Mack II is also a partner in Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP. Fees paid to Hinckley, Allen and Snyder LLP for services rendered to the Company totaled $436,670 in the 2006 fiscal year.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and financial reporting process. The independent accountants are responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.

The Audit Committee’s responsibilities focus on two primary areas:  (1) the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and financial reporting process and the reliability of the Company’s financial statements; and (2) the independence and performance of the Company’s internal auditors and independent auditors. The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly to, as appropriate, review, evaluate, and discuss with the Company’s management and internal and external auditors the scope of their audit plans, the results of their work, the Company’s financial statements (including quarterly earnings releases), quarterly reports issued by the Company’s internal auditor, the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls and changes in accounting principles. The Audit Committee regularly meets privately with both the internal and external auditors, each of whom has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee.

In connection with these responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 with management and the Company’s independent accountants, KPMG LLP. The Audit Committee also discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61. The Audit Committee received from KPMG LLP written disclosures regarding the firm’s independence as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, wherein KPMG LLP confirms their independence within the meaning of the SEC and Independence Standards Board Rules and disclosed the fees charged for professional services in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. The Audit Committee discussed this information with KPMG LLP and also considered the compatibility of non-audit services provided by KPMG LLP with maintaining its independence. The Audit Committee also reviewed KPMG LLP’s proposal to act as the Company’s external auditor for the year ending December 31, 2007.

Based on the review of the audited financial statements and these various discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the SEC.

Audit Committee

KARL F. ERICSON—Chairman

ERNEST J. CHORNYEI, JR.        MEREDITH A. CURREN        CHERYL W. SNEAD

PROPOSAL NO. 2

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Audit Committee has sole authority to select, evaluate and when appropriate, to replace the Company’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the 2007 fiscal year. Although action by Shareholders in this matter is not required, the Audit Committee believes it is appropriate to seek Shareholder ratification in light of the critical role played by the independent auditors in maintaining the integrity of Company financial controls and reporting and hereby requests Shareholders to ratify such appointment.

34




The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors.

KPMG LLP has served as independent auditor of the Company since the Bank’s formation in 1996. Representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to appropriate questions from Shareholders.

Independent Accountant Fees and Services.

Aggregate fees for professional services rendered for the Company by KPMG LLP as of or for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 are set forth below. The aggregate fees included in the Audit category are billed for the fiscal years for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and review of financial statements and statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. The aggregate fees included in each of the other categories are fees billed in the fiscal years.

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Audit Fees

 

$418,011

 

$503,100

 

Audit-Related Fees  

 

$0

 

$0

 

Tax Fees  

 

$0

 

$27,000

 

All Other Fees  

 

$0

 

$0

 

 

Audit Fees for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were for professional services rendered for the audits of the financial statements of the Company, quarterly review of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, consents, compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other assistance required to complete the year end audit of the consolidated financial statements. In addition, audit fees for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 included fees related to the review of Bancorp’s registration statements in connection with its offering of 550,000 shares of common stock in an underwritten public offering and the registration for resale of 51,532 shares issuable to DWW Leasing, formerly known as Macrolease International Corporation.

Tax Fees as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 were for services rendered for tax returns and estimates, tax advice and tax planning.

The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of the above services is compatible with maintaining KPMG LLP’s independence.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval.   The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent accountants prior to the engagement of the independent accountants with respect to such services. The Chairman of the Audit Committee has been delegated the authority by the Committee to pre-approve the engagement of the independent accountants when the entire Committee is unable to do so. The Chairman must report all such pre-approvals to the entire Audit Committee at the next committee meeting. None of the services described above were approved by the Audit Committee under the de minimus exception provided by Rule 2-01(C)(7)(i)(c) under Regulation S-X.

OTHER BUSINESS OF THE MEETING

The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters to come before the Meeting other than those stated in the Proxy Statement. In the event that other matters properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, it is intended that the persons named in the accompanying proxy and acting thereunder will vote in accordance with their best judgment.

35




ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K

The 2006 Annual Report of Bancorp was mailed to Shareholders with this Proxy Statement. Upon request, Bancorp will furnish without charge a copy of Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, including financial statements, but without exhibits, a copy of which has been filed with the SEC. It may be obtained by writing to Investor Relations Department, Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., One Turks Head Place, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2008

Bancorp’s next annual meeting is scheduled to be held on May 21, 2008. A Shareholder who wants to have a qualified proposal considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2008 annual meeting of Shareholders must notify the Secretary of Bancorp not later than December 15, 2007. Shareholder proposals that are to be considered at the 2008 annual meeting but not requested to be included in the Proxy Statement must be submitted no later than March 22, 2008 and no earlier than December 23, 2007.

36




APPENDIX I

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

Bancorp Rhode Island (“Bancorp”), its directors, nominees for director and certain of the officers and employees of Bancorp and Bank Rhode Island, a subsidiary of Bancorp (the “Bank” and together with Bancorp, the “Company”) are “Participants,” as such term is defined under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, in a solicitation of proxies in connection with Bancorp’s upcoming 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Each of the Participants in the solicitation are listed below, together with the number of shares of Bancorp common stock beneficially owned by each of these persons as of March 30, 2007. Except as indicated below, none of the persons listed below owns any shares of Bancorp common stock of record that such person does not own beneficially.

DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND CERTAIN EMPLOYEES

Name and Address

 

 

 

Title

 

Shares of Common Stock Owned*

Malcolm G. Chace (a)
c/o Point Gammon Corporation
One Providence Washington Plaza
4th Floor
Providence, RI 02903

 

Chairman and Director

 

532,150

Merrill W. Sherman (b)
c/o Bank Rhode Island
One Turks Head Place
Providence, RI 02903

 

President and Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

285,785

Anthony F. Andrade (c)
51 Winter Street
Rehoboth, MA 02769

 

Director

 

55,500

Karen Adams (d)(e)
1629 Old Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865

 

Director

 

4,275

John R. Berger
33 Belknap Road
West Hartford, CT 06117

 

Director

 

9,569

Richard L. Bready
c/o Nortek Inc.
50 Kennedy Plaza
Providence, RI 02903

 

Director Nominee

 

2,000

Ernest J. Chornyei, Jr. (f)(r)
18 East Hills Road
Westerly, RI 02891-5104

 

Director

 

113,500

Meredith A. Curren (g)
c/o Pease & Curren, Inc.
75 Pennsylvania Avenue
Warwick, RI 02888

 

Director

 

3,800

Karl F. Ericson (i)
280 Sanctuary Drive
East Greenwich, RI 02818

 

Director

 

14,500

Mark R. Feinstein (h)
c/o Northeast Management Inc.
6 Blackstone Valley Place
Suite 202 Lincoln, RI 02865

 

Director

 

19,000




 

Edward J. Mack II (i)
c/o Tri-Mack Plastics
66 Tupelo Street
Bristol, RI 02809

 

Director

 

3,675

Michael E. McMahon (j)
60 Hammond Hill
Saunderstown, RI 02874

 

Director

 

1,500

Bogdan Nowak (h)(k)
4 Cedar Rock Meadows
East Greenwich, RI 02818

 

Director

 

24,300

Pablo Rodriguez, M.D. (l)
250 Blackstone Avenue
Warwick, RI 02889

 

Director

 

3,500

Cheryl W. Snead (c)
Banneker Industries, Inc.
678 George Washington Highway
Lincoln, RI 02865

 

Director

 

6,010

John A. Yena
c/o Johnson & Wales University
One Cookson Place, 6th Floor
Providence, RI 02903

 

Director

 

10,500

Jeffrey W. Angus (m)
c/o Bank Rhode Island
One Turks Head Place
Providence, RI 02903

 

Vice President of Bancorp and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bank Rhode Island (“BankRI”)

 

11,100

James V. DeRentis (n)
c/o Bank Rhode Island
One Turks Head Place
Providence, RI 02903

 

Vice President of Bancorp and Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer of BankRI

 

41,400

Margaret D. Farrell (o)
c/o Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP
50 Kennedy Plaza, Suite 1500
Providence, RI 02903

 

Secretary

 

7,500

Michael J. Hebert (p)
c/o Bank Rhode Island
One Turks Head Place
Providence, RI 02903

 

Principal Accounting Officer

 

1,150

Linda H. Simmons (q)
c/o Bank Rhode Island
One Turks Head Place
Providence, RI 02903

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Bancorp and BankRI

 

24,050

William C. DeWitt
c/o Bank Rhode Island
One Turks Head Place
Providence, RI 02903

 

Senior Vice President—Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications

 

0


*                     If applicable, shares of common stock owned includes shares owned by the spouse, children and certain other relatives of the director, officer or employee, as well as shares held by trusts of which the person is a trustee or in which he or she has a beneficial interest and shares acquirable pursuant to options which are presently or will become exercisable within 60 days after March 30, 2007.

I-2




(a)              Includes 517,650 shares held by trusts of which Mr. Chace, his spouse or an immediate family member is a co-trustee and has shared voting and investment power. Also includes 4,500 shares held by Mr. Chace’s spouse and 8,000 shares held by a non-profit corporation. Mr. Chace disclaims any economic or beneficial interest in 19,225 shares which are held by trusts of which Mr. Chace is only trustee and not a beneficiary and the 8,000 shares held by a non-profit corporation with respect to which he has voting power but no pecuniary interest.

(b)             Includes 167,900 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(c)              Includes 5,500 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(d)             Includes 2,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(e)              Includes 325 shares held by Ms. Adams’ spouse.

(f)               Includes 108,000 shares held by a trust of which Mr. Chornyei is a beneficiary.

(g)              Includes 2,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(h)             Includes 3,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(i)                Includes 1,500 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(j)                Includes 1,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(k)             Includes 10,000 shares held by an investment company of which Mr. Nowak is a control person.

(l)                Includes 2,000 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(m)          Includes 10,100 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(n)             Includes 38,100 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(o)             Includes 500 shares held by the retirement plan of Ms. Farrell’s spouse.

(p)             Includes 1,150 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options

(q)             Includes 23,800 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

(r)               Includes 2,500 shares that may be acquired pursuant to options.

I-3




INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSACTIONS IN OUR SECURITIES BY PARTICIPANTS

The following table sets forth information regarding purchases and sales during the past two years of shares of Bancorp common stock by the Participants. No part of the purchase price or market value of those shares is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the purpose of acquiring or holding such securities.

Name

 

Date of Transaction

 

Number of Shares

 

Malcolm G. Chace

 

 

04/13/2005

 

 

 

40,000

(d)

 

 

 

 

09/23/2005

 

 

 

(5,500

)(a)

 

 

 

 

10/03/2005

 

 

 

(1,375

)(a)

 

 

 

 

10/19/2005

 

 

 

(5,770

)(a)

 

 

 

 

10/27/2005

 

 

 

(2,600

)(e)

 

 

 

 

11/15/2005

 

 

 

(1,000

)(e)

 

 

 

 

11/17/2005

 

 

 

(2,000

)(e)

 

 

 

 

02/02/2006

 

 

 

2,276

(d)

 

 

 

 

02/03/2006

 

 

 

1,474

(d)

 

 

 

 

02/06/2006

 

 

 

3,750

(d)

 

 

 

 

03/01/2006

 

 

 

(7,600

)(a)

 

 

 

 

05/02/2006

 

 

 

(10,000

)(e)

 

 

 

 

07/17/2006

 

 

 

500

(b)

 

 

 

 

11/28/2006

 

 

 

(10

)(a)

 

 

 

 

11/29/2006

 

 

 

500

(b)

 

 

 

 

02/15/2007

 

 

 

1,345

(d)

 

 

 

 

02/16/2007

 

 

 

1,645

(d)

 

 

 

 

02/20/2007

 

 

 

10

(d)

 

 

 

 

02/21/2007

 

 

 

2,500

(d)

 

 

 

 

03/26/2007

 

 

 

(20

)(a)

 

Merrill W. Sherman

 

 

11/30/2005

 

 

 

1,000

(a)

 

 

 

 

01/19/2006

 

 

 

24,000

(b)

 

 

 

 

01/19/2006

 

 

 

(7,065

)(c)

 

 

 

 

01/31/2007

 

 

 

17,250

(b)

 

 

 

 

02/13/2007

 

 

 

7,500

(b)

 

Karen Adams

 

 

04/13/2005

 

 

 

500

(d)

 

 

 

 

02/08/2007

 

 

 

1,000

(b)

 

John R. Berger

 

 

04/13/2005

 

 

 

2,000

(d)

 

 

 

 

03/21/2007

 

 

 

5,500

(b)

 

Richard L. Bready

 

 

03/28/2007

 

 

 

2,000

(d)

 

Ernest J. Chornyei, Jr.

 

 

03/29/2007

 

 

 

3,000

(b)

 

Meredith A. Curren

 

 

05/09/2005

 

 

 

800

(d)

 

 

 

 

02/06/2007

 

 

 

1,000

(b)

 

Karl F. Ericson

 

 

03/21/2007

 

 

 

4,000

(b)

 

Mark R. Feinstein

 

 

02/01/2007

 

 

 

2,500

(b)

 

Edward J. Mack II

 

 

03/08/2007

 

 

 

1,500

(b)

 

Michael E. McMahon

 

 

10/26/2006

 

 

 

500

(d)

 

Pablo Rodriguez, M.D.

 

 

10/17/2006

 

 

 

1,000

(b)

 

John A. Yena

 

 

08/08/2006

 

 

 

1,500

(b)

 

 

 

 

11/19/2006

 

 

 

500

(b)

 

Jeffrey W. Angus

 

 

02/27/2007

 

 

 

1,000

(b)

 

James V. DeRentis

 

 

03/09/2006

 

 

 

1,000

(b)

 

 

 

 

02/20/2007

 

 

 

1,200

(b)

 

Margaret D. Farrell

 

 

01/31/2007

 

 

 

5,000

(b)

 

Linda H. Simmons

 

 

02/20/2007

 

 

 

100

(b)

 

 

 

 

02/21/2007

 

 

 

150

(c)

 


(a)              Gift of shares.

(b)             Shares acquired pursuant to exercise of options.

(c)              Shares delivered in connection with payment of exercise price upon exercise of options.

(d)             Open market purchase.

(e)              Sale of shares on open market.

I-4




MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS

Except as described in this Appendix I or otherwise disclosed in this Proxy Statement, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no “associate,” as such term is defined under Rule 14a-1a of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of any Participant beneficially owns any shares of common stock or other securities of the Company. Furthermore, except as described under the heading “Transactions with Management” in this Proxy Statement, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no Participant or any of his or her associates, is either a party to any transactions or series of similar transactions since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction or series of similar transactions (i) in which the Company was or is to be a party, (ii) in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, or (iii) in which any such person or any of his or her associates had or will have, a direct or indirect material interest.

To the best of the Company’s knowledge, except as described in this Appendix I or as otherwise disclosed in this Proxy, no Participant, or any of his or her associates has entered into any agreement or understanding with any person respecting any future employment by the Company or any future transactions to which the Company will or may be a party. Except as described under the heading “Transactions with Management” in this Proxy Statement, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no Participant is a party to any contract, arrangements or understandings with any person with respect to any securities of the Company, including, but not limited to joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies.

Except as described in this Appendix I or as otherwise disclosed in this Proxy Statement, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no Participant has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting.

No Participant has during the last ten years been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

I-5




 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE WHICH REQUIRES NO
POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE


 

BANCORP RHODE ISLAND, INC.

Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
for Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held May 16, 2007

P

R

O

X

Y

The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints Malcolm G. Chace, Merrill W. Sherman, and Linda H. Simmons, and each of them, as proxies with full power of substitution in each, to vote all shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. (the “Company”) held of record on March 30, 2007 by the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. local time, on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at The Hotel Providence, 311 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, on all matters that may properly come before said meeting.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted (i) as directed on reverse side, or, in the absence of such direction, this proxy will be voted FOR the specified nominees in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposal 2 and (ii) in accordance with the judgment of the proxies upon other matters that may properly come before said meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON REVERSE SIDE




THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO AUTHORIZE THE PROXIES TO CAST YOUR VOTES

 

TELEPHONE

 

INTERNET

 

MAIL

This method is available for residents of the U.S. and Canada. On a touch tone telephone, call TOLL FREE 1-800-732-4052, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be asked to enter ONLY the CONTROL NUMBER shown below. Have your instruction card ready, then follow the prerecorded instructions. Your instructions will be confirmed and votes cast as you direct. Available until 12:00 midnight New York City time on May 15, 2007.

This method may also be available by telephone through the Corporation’s proxy solicitor.

 

Visit the Internet website at http://proxy.georgeson.com. Enter the COMPANY NUMBER and CONTROL NUMBER shown below and follow the instructions on your screen. You will incur only your usual Internet charges. Available until 12:00 midnight New York City time on May 15, 2007.

 

Simply sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope. If you are voting by telephone or the Internet, please do not mail your proxy card.

 

 

43796

 

 

COMPANY NUMBER

 

CONTROL NUMBER

 

TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE


x

Please mark votes
as in this example.

 

THE DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR EACH PROPOSAL

 

PROPOSAL 1—Election of five Class II Directors with terms expiring in 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class II Directors (Term to Expire 2010)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John R. Berger

 

FOR

 

WITHHOLD

 

FOR all except

 

Richard L. Bready
Mark R. Feinstein

 

o

 

o

 

o

 

Michael E. McMahon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Rodriguez, M.D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark “For All Except” and write that nominee’s name in the space provided below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

PROPOSAL 2—Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for the Company.

 

o

 

o

 

o

 

 

Date

 

,2007

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

Signature, if held jointly

 

This Proxy must be signed exactly as the name of the Shareholder(s) appears on this card. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc. should give full title as such. If the signatory is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer.