DEF 14A 1 t1401528_def14a.htm DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

Check the appropriate box:

¨Preliminary Proxy Statement
xDefinitive Proxy Statement
¨Definitive Additional Materials
¨Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12

 

Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

xNo fee required.
¨$125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
¨$500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
¨Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) 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:
   
 
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¨ 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.

 

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4) Date Filed:

 

 

  

 
 

 

August 11, 2014

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

We cordially invite you to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. Our Annual Meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, located at 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, New York at 9:00 a.m., Eastern time on Tuesday, September 16, 2014.

 

The enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement describe the formal business to be transacted. Also enclosed for your review is our Annual Report to Stockholders, which contains detailed information concerning our activities and operating results.

 

The Annual Meeting is being held so that stockholders may vote upon the election of directors, the ratification of the appointment of Fontanella and Babitts as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014, the approval of the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.

 

Our Board of Directors has determined that approval of each of the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting is in the best interests of Sunnyside Bancorp and our stockholders. For the reasons set forth in the Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of directors, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Fontanella and Babitts as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014 and “FOR” approval of the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we urge you to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible, even if you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting. Your vote is important, regardless of the number of shares that you own.

 

  Sincerely,
   
  Timothy D. Sullivan
  President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 
 

 

Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc.
56 Main Street
Irvington, New York 10533
(914) 591-8000

 

NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On Tuesday, September 16, 2014

 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, located at 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, New York at 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, September 16, 2014.

 

A Proxy Card and a Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting are enclosed.

 

The Annual Meeting is being held so that stockholders may vote on the following matters:

 

1.     The election of two directors of Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc.;

 

2.     The ratification of the appointment of Fontanella and Babitts as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014;

 

3.     The approval of the Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan; and

 

such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come before the Annual Meeting.

 

Any action may be taken on the foregoing proposals at the Annual Meeting on the date specified above, or on any date or dates to which the Annual Meeting may be adjourned. Stockholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2014 are the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and any adjournments thereof.

 

EACH STOCKHOLDER, WHETHER HE OR SHE PLANS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, IS REQUESTED TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD WITHOUT DELAY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. ANY PROXY GIVEN BY THE STOCKHOLDER MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS EXERCISED. A PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY FILING WITH THE COMPANY’S SECRETARY A WRITTEN REVOCATION OR A DULY EXECUTED PROXY BEARING A LATER DATE. ANY STOCKHOLDER PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING MAY REVOKE HIS OR HER PROXY AND VOTE PERSONALLY ON EACH MATTER BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE A STOCKHOLDER WHOSE SHARES ARE NOT REGISTERED IN YOUR OWN NAME, YOU WILL NEED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM YOUR RECORD HOLDER IN ORDER TO VOTE PERSONALLY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

The Company’s proxy statement, Annual Report to Stockholders and proxy card are available on http://www.cfpproxy.com/7784.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Julianne Maltbie

Corporate Secretary

Irvington, New York

 

August 11, 2014

 

IMPORTANT: THE PROMPT RETURN OF PROXIES WILL SAVE US THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PROXIES. A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

 

 
 

 

Proxy Statement

of

Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc.

56 Main Street
Irvington, New York 10533
(914) 591-8000

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be Held on Tuesday, September 16, 2014

 

INTRODUCTION

  

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) to be used at the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), which will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, located at 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, New York at 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, and all adjournments of the Annual Meeting. The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and this Proxy Statement are first being mailed to stockholders on or about August 8, 2014. 

 

REVOCATION OF PROXIES

  

Stockholders who execute proxies in the form solicited hereby retain the right to revoke them in the manner described below. Unless so revoked, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting and all adjournments thereof. Proxies solicited on behalf of the Company’s Board of Directors will be voted in accordance with the directions given thereon. Where no instructions are indicated, validly executed proxies will be voted “FOR” the proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement.

 

The Board of Directors knows of no additional matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. Execution of a proxy, however, confers on the designated proxy holder’s discretionary authority to vote the shares in accordance with their best judgment on such other business, if any, which may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

 

Proxies may be revoked by sending written notice of revocation to the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s address shown above, the submission of a later-dated proxy, or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. The presence at the Annual Meeting of any stockholder who had returned a proxy shall not revoke such proxy unless the stockholder delivers his or her ballot in person at the Annual Meeting or delivers a written revocation to the Company’s Secretary prior to the voting of such proxy.

 

VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

  

Holders of record of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, as of the close of business on August 1, 2014 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to one vote for each share then held. As of the Record Date, the Company had 793,500 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.

 

In accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, record holders of common stock who beneficially own in excess of 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock (the “Limit”) are not entitled to any vote with respect to the shares held in excess of the Limit. The

 

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Company’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the Board of Directors (i) to make all determinations necessary to implement and apply the Limit, including determining whether persons or entities are acting in concert, and (ii) to demand that any person who is reasonably believed to beneficially own stock in excess of the Limit supply information to the Company to enable the Board of Directors to implement and apply the Limit.

 

As to the election of directors, the proxy card being provided by the Board of Directors enables a stockholder to vote FOR the election of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors, to WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all the nominees being proposed or to vote FOR ALL EXCEPT one or more of the nominees being proposed. Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, without regard to either broker non-votes or proxies as to which the authority to vote for the nominees being proposed is withheld. Plurality means that individuals who receive the largest number of votes cast are elected, up to the maximum number of directors to be elected at the Meeting.

 

As to the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the proxy card being provided by the Board of Directors enables a stockholder to: (i) vote FOR the proposal; (ii) vote AGAINST the proposal; or (iii) ABSTAIN from voting on the proposal. The ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast without regard to broker non-votes or proxies marked ABSTAIN.

 

As to the approval of the Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, by checking the appropriate box, a stockholder may: (i) vote FOR the approval; (ii) vote AGAINST the approval; or (iii) ABSTAIN from voting on such matter. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, without regard to shares as to which the “ABSTAIN” box has been selected on the proxy card, is required for the approval of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

In the event at the time of the Annual Meeting there are not sufficient votes for a quorum or to approve or ratify any matter being presented, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit the further solicitation of proxies.

 

Proxies solicited hereby will be returned to us and will be tabulated by an Inspector of Election designated by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Participants in the ESOP Plan. If you participate in the Sunnyside Federal Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”), you will receive a vote authorization form that reflects all shares you may direct the trustee to vote on your behalf under the plan. Under the terms of the ESOP, the ESOP trustee votes all shares held by the ESOP, but each ESOP participant may direct the trustee how to vote the shares of common stock allocated to his or her account. The ESOP trustee, subject to the exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities, will vote all unallocated shares of Sunnyside Bancorp common stock held by the ESOP and all allocated shares for which no voting instructions are received in the same proportion as shares for which it has received timely voting instructions. The deadline for returning your voting instructions is September 9, 2014.

 

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Persons and groups who beneficially own in excess of five percent of the Company’s common stock are required to file certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding such ownership. The following table sets forth, as of August 1, 2014, the Record Date, the shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Company’s named executive officers and directors individually, by executive officers and directors as a group, and by each person or group known by us to beneficially own in excess of five percent of the Company’s common stock.

 

Name and Address of
Beneficial Owners
 

Amount of Shares

Owned and Nature

of Beneficial Ownership (1)

  

Percent of Shares
of Common Stock
Outstanding

 
         
Five Percent Stockholders:          
           
Sunnyside Federal
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
56 Main Street
Irvington, New York 10533
   55,545    7.0%
           
Directors and Executive Officers: (2)          
           
William Boeckelman   7,492    * 
Lawrence P. Doyle        
Deborah J. Elliot   7,500    * 
Desmond Lyons   100    * 
Gerardina Mirtuono   1,397(3)   * 
Louis G. Ricci III   1,000    * 
Timothy D. Sullivan   10,455(4)   1.3 
Edward J. Lipkus        
           
All Directors and Executive Officers
as a Group (8 persons)
   27,944    3.5%

  

 

(1)In accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner for purposes of this table, of any shares of Common Stock if he or she has shared voting or investment power with respect to such security, or has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days from the Record Date. As used herein, “voting power” is the power to vote or direct the voting of shares, and “investment power” is the power to dispose or direct the disposition of shares. The shares set forth above for directors and executive officers include all shares held directly, as well as by spouses and minor children, in trust and other indirect ownership, over which shares the named individuals effectively exercise sole or shared voting and investment power.
(2)The business address of each director and executive officer is 56 Main Street, Irvington, New York 10533.
(3)Includes 397 shares allocated to Ms. Mirtuono’s ESOP account.
(4)Includes 580 shares allocated to Mr. Sullivan’s ESOP account.
*Less than 1%.

 

PROPOSAL I - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Company’s Board of Directors is comprised of seven members. The Company’s bylaws provide, and the terms of the Company’s Board of Directors are classified so, that approximately one-third of the directors are to be elected annually. The Company’s directors are generally elected to serve for a three-year period and until their respective successors shall have been elected and shall qualify. Two directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Company’s Nominating Committee has nominated Gerardina Mirtuono and Timothy D. Sullivan, each to serve as directors for three-year terms. Ms. Mirtuono and Mr. Sullivan are current members of the Board of Directors, and each of Ms. Mirtuono and Mr. Sullivan have agreed to serve, if elected.

 

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The table below sets forth certain information regarding the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors, including the terms of office of each director. It is intended that the proxies solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors (other than proxies in which the vote is withheld as to one or more nominees) will be voted at the Annual Meeting for the election of the nominees identified below. If the nominee is unable to serve, the shares represented by all such proxies will be voted for the election of such other substitute as the Board of Directors may recommend. At this time, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why the nominees might be unable to serve, if elected. Except as indicated herein, there are no arrangements or understandings between any nominee and any other person pursuant to which such nominee was selected.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” each of the nominees listed in this Proxy Statement.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company’s directors.

 

Name  Age at August 1,
2014
   Position  Current Term
Expires
  

Director
Since(1)

 
                
Nominees                  
                   
Gerardina Mirtuono   49   Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director   2014    2011 
Timothy D. Sullivan   60   President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board   2014    2008 
                   
Directors Continuing in Office                  
                   
William Boeckelman   68   Director   2015    1991 
Lawrence P. Doyle   56   Director   2016    2012 
Deborah J. Elliot   55   Director   2016    2006 
Desmond Lyons   47   Director   2015    2012 
Louis G. Ricci III   66   Director   2015    2006 

 

 

(1)         Includes service on the Board of Directors of Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan Association of Irvington.

 

The Business Background of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers

 

The business experience for the past five years of each of the Company’s directors and executive officers is set forth below. With respect to directors, the biographies also contain information regarding the person’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that caused the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors to determine that the person should serve as a director. Each director is also a director of Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan Association of Irvington (the “Bank”). Unless otherwise indicated, directors and executive officers have held their positions for the past five years.

 

Directors

 

William Boeckelman is a licensed real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a position he has held since 1995. Mr. Boeckelman has owned businesses and/or lived in Irvington, New York since 1978, having owned The Cantina restaurant, located in Irvington, from 1978

 

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until 1995. Mr. Boeckelman has been an active member of the community for 35 years. His expertise in both the local residential real estate market and the local business environment provide a value perspective for Sunnyside Federal.

 

Lawrence P. Doyle is president and chief executive officer of Katierich Asset Management, LLC, a real estate holding company headquartered in Westchester, New York. Prior to this position, from 2000 until 2011, Mr. Doyle was co-founder and chairman of Kinetics Asset Management, an asset management firm headquartered in New York City that was merged in 2011 into Horizon Kinetics. LLC, the parent holding company to registered investment advisory firms, of which Mr. Doyle remains a Managing Director. Mr. Doyle has over 30 years of investment advisory, wealth management and securities brokerage experience. Mr. Doyle’s extensive financial background provides the Board of Directors with financial sophistication and general business acumen.

 

Deborah J. Elliot is, since 2006, a self-employed financial consultant, advising individuals primarily in the areas of wealth management, debt financing, and financial planning. Prior to 2006, Ms. Elliot was employed by JPMorgan Chase (and its predecessor institution Chase Manhattan Bank) for 21 years, working primarily on financing transactions for public and private companies as well as wealthy individuals who invest in them. Ms. Elliot rose to the level of Managing Director within the JPMorgan Private Bank in 2000, and was Head of the U.S. Private Bank Capital Advisory Business from 2003 through 2005. Ms. Elliot’s broad experience in the areas of loan origination, credit structuring and risk management, and client management provide the board and the Audit Committee with valuable financial industry expertise.

 

Desmond Lyons is a founding partner of Lyons McGovern, LLP, a law firm with offices in White Plains, New York and New York City. Mr. Lyons’ practice focuses on commercial contracts and litigation; employment law; shareholder disputes; corporate dissolution; negligence defense; insurance coverage issues; real estate and municipal law.

 

Mr. Lyons is actively involved in the community and currently serves as Village Justice for the Village of Irvington, and is a former Village Prosecutor for the Village of Irvington, Village of Elmsford and the Village of Ardsley. Additionally he serves on the Lawyer’s Committee for the Inner City Scholarship Fund. Mr. Lyons brings to the board a strong legal background from his career as a practicing attorney and strong ties to the community from his service in local government.

 

Gerardina Mirtuono is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sunnyside Federal, positions she has held since joining Sunnyside Federal in March 2010. From March 2008 until March 2010, Ms. Mirtuono was senior vice president and chief compliance officer for The Park Avenue Bank, New York City. Prior to this position, from 2001 until 2008 Ms. Mirtuono was senior vice president and chief compliance officer for Union State Bank, Orangeburg, New York. Ms. Mirtuono has 27 years of financial institutions experience, and this broad experience provides the board with broad financial industry knowledge and experience.

 

Louis G. Ricci III is president of Hastings Roofing Inc. Mr. Ricci and Hastings Roofing are active in civic and charitable affairs in Westchester County, including being a participant in the Police Athletic League, the Boy Scouts of America and the Girls and Boys Club of Yonkers. Mr. Ricci’s experience in managing his own business as well as his knowledge of the market area and local business owners provides the board with general business operations perspective as well as business development.

 

Timothy D. Sullivan is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunnyside Federal, positions he has held since joining Sunnyside Federal in January 2008. Prior to this, from 1995 until 2007, Mr. Sullivan held positions of increasing responsibility at Amalgamated Bank, New York City, where he rose to the level of executive vice president. Mr. Sullivan has over 35 years of experience in the financial

 

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institutions industry, including extensive experience in all areas of commercial, residential and consumer lending. For the first 14 years of his banking career, Mr. Sullivan had positions of increasing responsibility at Chase Manhattan Bank, including serving as a regional vice president with responsibility for a seventeen branch network and a team leader in the credit audit department. Mr. Sullivan provides the board with a broad perspective on banking as well as insight into the day to day operations of Sunnyside Federal.

 

Executive Officer Who Is Not Also A Director

 

Edward J. Lipkus, III, age 50, since May 2014 has served as our Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this appointment, most recently Mr. Lipkus served as chief financial officer of First National Community Bancorp, Dunmore, Pennsylvania from September 2010 until August 2012.  Prior to this position, from August 2006 until August 2009, Mr. Lipkus served as chief financial officer for First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, Indiana, Pennsylvania.  Mr. Lipkus is a certified public accountant and has 29 years of financial institution experience.

 

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

 

We conduct business through meetings of our Board of Directors and its committees. During 2013, the Board of Directors of Sunnyside Federal met 13 times and the Board of Directors of Sunnyside Bancorp, which was not incorporated until March 2013, met once. No member of the Board or any committee thereof attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of: (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors (held during the period for which he or she has been a director); and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the board on which he or she served (during the periods that he or she served).

 

The Board of Directors of Sunnyside Bancorp has established standing committees, including a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and an Audit Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Audit Committee each operate under a written charter, which governs its composition, responsibilities and operations. These charters may be found on our website located at www.sunnysidefederal.com.

 

Board Independence

 

The Board of Directors has determined that each of the Company’s directors, with the exception of directors Sullivan and Mirtuono, is “independent” as defined in the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market which the Company chooses to follow for purposes of such determination. Neither Mr. Sullivan nor Ms. Mirtuono is independent because each of them is an executive officer of the Company. There were no transactions required to be reported under “Transactions With Certain Related Persons,” below that were considered in determining the independence of the Company’s directors.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Our Board of Directors is chaired by Timothy D. Sullivan who is also our President and Chief Executive Officer.  We do not have a lead independent director. We understand the risk of not appointing an independent chairman, however, we believe that our governance structure is appropriate given the relatively non-complex operating philosophy of our organization.  As Chief Executive Officer of our organization, Mr. Sullivan is well-positioned to understand the challenges faced by our organization.  As a result, he can recommend solutions and prioritize the agenda for action by the Board of Directors.

 

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Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

The board’s role in the Company’s risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to the Company, including operational, financial, legal and regulatory, strategic and reputational risks. The full board (or the appropriate committee in the case of risks that are reviewed and discussed at committee meetings) receives these reports from the appropriate “risk owner” within the organization to enable the Board or appropriate committee to understand the Company’s risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation strategies. When a committee receives the report, the Chairman of the relevant committee will report on the discussion to the full Board at the next Board meeting. This enables the Board and its committees to coordinate the risk oversight role, particularly with respect to risk interrelationships.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of directors Desmond Lyons, who serves as Chairman, William Boeckelman and Lawrence P. Doyle, each of whom is considered “independent” as defined in the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter is available on our website at www.sunnysidefederal.com. Because the Company was not incorporated until March 2013 and did not become the holding company of Sunnyside Federal until July 2013, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not meet during 2013.

 

The functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include the following:

 

·to lead the search for individuals qualified to become members of the Board and to select director nominees to be presented for stockholder approval;

 

·to review and monitor compliance with the requirements for board independence;

 

·to review the committee structure and make recommendations to the Board regarding committee membership; and.

 

·to develop and recommend corporate governance guidelines to the Board of Directors for its approval.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the current members of the Board of Directors willing to continue in service. Current members of the Board with skills and experience that are relevant to the Company’s business and who are willing to continue in service are first considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of the Board with that of obtaining a new perspective. If any member of the Board does not wish to continue in service, or if the Committee or the Board decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, or if the size of the Board is increased, the Committee would solicit suggestions

 

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for director candidates from all Board members. In addition, the Committee is authorized by its charter to engage a third party to assist in the identification of director nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would seek to identify a candidate who at a minimum satisfies the following criteria:

 

·has personal and professional ethics and integrity;

 

·has had experiences and achievements that have given him or her the ability to exercise and develop good business judgment;

 

·is willing to devote the necessary time to the work of the Board and its committees, which includes being available for Board and committee meetings;

 

·is familiar with the communities in which the Company operates and/or is actively engaged in community activities;

 

·is involved in other activities or interests that do not create a conflict with his or her responsibilities to us and the Company’s stockholders; and

 

·has the capacity and desire to represent the balanced, best interests of the Company’s stockholders as a group, and not primarily a special interest group or constituency.

 

In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also take into account whether a candidate satisfies the criteria for “independence” under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards and, if a nominee is sought for service on the Audit Committee, whether the candidate would satisfy the SEC’s independence standards applicable to members of the Company’s audit committee, the financial and accounting expertise of a candidate, including whether an individual qualifies as an audit committee financial expert.

 

The Company does not maintain a specific diversity policy, but diversity is considered in the Company’s review of candidates. Diversity includes not only gender and ethnicity, but the various perspectives that come from having differing viewpoints, geographic and cultural backgrounds, and life experiences.

 

Procedures for the Recommendation of Director Nominees by Stockholders

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has adopted procedures for the submission of recommendations for director nominees by stockholders. Stockholders may submit the names of qualified candidates for director by writing to the Corporate Secretary, at 56 Main Street, Irvington, New York 10533. To be timely, the submission of a candidate for director by a stockholder must be received by the Corporate Secretary not less than 180 days prior to the anniversary date of the proxy statement relating to the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders, or ten days after public announcement (by Form 8-K filed with the SEC or as published on a website maintained by the Company) of the date of the annual meeting in the case of the Company’s first annual meeting of stockholders.

 

The submission must include the following information:

 

·the name and address of the stockholder as he or she appears on the Company’s books, and number of shares of the Company’s common stock that are owned beneficially by such stockholder (if the stockholder is not a holder of record, appropriate evidence of the stockholder’s ownership will be required);

 

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·the name, address and contact information for the candidate, and the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that are owned by the candidate (if the candidate is not a holder of record, appropriate evidence of the stockholder’s ownership will be required);

 

·a statement of the candidate’s business and educational experience;

 

·such other information regarding the candidate as would be required to be included in the proxy statement pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A;

 

·a statement detailing any relationship between the candidate and us;

 

·a statement detailing any relationship between the candidate and any of the Company’s customers, suppliers or competitors;

 

·detailed information about any relationship or understanding between the proposing stockholder and the candidate; and

 

·a statement that the candidate is willing to be considered and willing to serve as a director if nominated and elected.

 

A nomination submitted by a stockholder for presentation by the stockholder at an annual meeting of stockholders must comply with the procedural and informational requirements described in “Advance Notice of Business to be Conducted at Annual Meeting.”

 

The committee did not receive any stockholder-recommended nominees for inclusion in this Proxy Statement.

 

Stockholder Communications with the Board

 

Any of the Company’s stockholders who want to communicate with the Board of Directors or with any individual director can write to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, at 56 Main Street, Irvington, New York 10533. The letter should indicate that the author is a stockholder and if shares are not held of record, should include appropriate evidence of stock ownership. Depending on the subject matter, management will:

 

·forward the communication to the director or directors to whom it is addressed;

 

·attempt to handle the inquiry directly, for example, where it is a request for information about us or it is a stock-related matter; or

 

·not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature, relates to an improper or irrelevant topic, or is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or otherwise inappropriate.

 

At each Board meeting, management shall present a summary of all communications received since the last meeting that were not previously forwarded and make those communications available to the directors.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that is applicable to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. This Code is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and

 

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ethical conduct, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, full and accurate disclosure and compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. There were no amendments made to or waivers from the Company’s Code of Ethics in 2013. Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the Code of Ethics may do so by writing to the Company at: Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc., 56 Main Street, Irvington, New York 10533, Attention, Corporate Secretary.

 

Attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders

 

The Company does not have a policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings of stockholders, although directors are requested to attend these meetings absent unavoidable conflicts. It is expected that all of our directors will attend the 2014 Annual Meeting. We did not hold an annual meeting in 2013.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The members of the Compensation Committee are directors William Boeckelman, who serves as chairman, Deborah J. Elliot and Desmond Lyons, each of whom is considered “independent” as defined in the Nasdaq corporate governance listings standards. The committee is responsible for reviewing all compensation matters related to the Company’s employees. The Compensation Committee met one time in 2013.

 

The Compensation Committee approves the compensation objectives for the Company and Sunnyside Federal and establishes the compensation for the Chief Executive Officer and other executives. The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer provides recommendations to the Compensation Committee on matters of compensation philosophy, plan design and the general guidelines for employee compensation. However, Mr. Sullivan does not vote on and is not present for any discussion of his own compensation. These recommendations are then considered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of non-employee directors, all of whom the Board of Directors has determined are independent in accordance with the Nasdaq listing standards, reviews all compensation components for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other highly compensated executive officers’ compensation including base salary, annual incentive, long-term incentives and other perquisites. In addition to reviewing competitive market values, the committee also examines the total compensation mix, pay-for-performance relationship, and how all elements, in the aggregate, comprise the executive’s total compensation package. Decisions by the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of executive officers are approved by the full Board of Directors.

 

The Compensation Committee does not have a written charter but expects to adopt a written charter in 2014.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Company’s Audit Committee consists of directors Deborah J. Elliot, who serves as Chairman, William Boeckelman and Louis G. Ricci III each of whom is “independent” under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards and SEC Rule 10A-3. The Board has determined that Ms. Elliot qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is used in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee reviews the contents of and conclusions in audit reports prepared by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviews and approves the annual engagement of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Company’s audit and compliance related policies, and reviews with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Company’s financial statements and internal controls. The Board of Directors has

 

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adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which may be found on our website located at www.sunnysidefederal.com. The Audit Committee met four times during 2013.

 

Audit Committee Report

 

As part of its ongoing activities, the Audit Committee has:

 

·Reviewed and discussed with management our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013;

 

·Discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communications with Audit Committees, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T; and

 

·Received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditor required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with the independent auditor the independent auditor’s independence.

 

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

This report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

 

The Audit Committee:

Deborah J. Elliot (Chairman)

William Boeckelman

Louis G. Ricci III

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

The Company’s common stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s executive officers and directors and beneficial owners of greater than 10% of the Company’s common stock (“10% beneficial owners”) are required to file reports with the SEC disclosing beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock. SEC rules require disclosure in the Company’s Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K of the failure of an executive officer, director or 10% beneficial owner to file such forms on a timely basis. Based on the Company’s review of ownership reports and management questionnaires, the Company believes director Boeckelman was delinquent in filing one Form 4 which was subsequently filed. Other than this filing, none of the Company’s executive officers or directors failed to file these reports on a timely basis during 2013.

 

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Executive Officer Compensation

 

Summary Compensation Table. The table below summarizes the total compensation paid to or earned by our President and Chief Executive Officer, Timothy D. Sullivan, and Gerardina Mirtuono, who serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Gerard Iervolino, our former Chief Financial Officer, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. Each individual listed in the table below is referred to as a named executive officer.

 

For a narrative description of information included in this table, please see the discussion in this proxy statement below.

 

Summary Compensation Table For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012
Name and principal
position
  Year   Salary
($)
  

Bonus(1)

($)

  

All other

compensation(2)

($)

   Total
($)
 
Timothy D. Sullivan   2013    224,560        13,567    238,127 
President and Chief Executive Officer   2012    210,000        22,538    232,538 
                          
Gerardina Mirtuono   2013    151,037        10,661    161,698 
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer   2012    135,000        19,417    154,417 
                          
Gerard Iervolino   2013    110,774        4,267    115,041 
Chief Financial Officer   2012    89,939        967    90,906 

 

 

(1)      There were no bonuses paid to the named executive officers.

(2)      A break-down of the various elements of compensation in this column for 2013 is set forth in the following table:

 

All Other Compensation
Name  Board and
Other Fees
($)
   Employer
Contributions
to 401(k) Plan
($)
   Life Insurance
Premiums
Paid
($)
   Total All Other
Compensation
($)
 
Timothy D. Sullivan   4,800    6,642    2,125    13,567 
Gerardina Mirtuono   4,800    4,542    1,319    10,661 
Gerard Iervolino       3,300    967    4,267 

 

Benefit Plans and Agreements

 

Employment Agreements. Sunnyside Bancorp and Sunnyside Federal have employment agreements with each of Timothy D. Sullivan, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Gerardina Mirtuono, our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Our continued success depends to a significant degree on the skills and competence of Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Mirtuono and the employment agreements are intended to ensure that we maintain a stable management base following the conversion and offering.

 

Each agreement has substantially similar terms. Mr. Sullivan’s agreement has a fixed three-year term and, prior to the second annual anniversary of the agreement, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) will consider extending the term. Ms. Mirtuono’s agreement has a three-year term and, commencing on

 

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the first anniversary of the agreement and on each subsequent anniversary thereafter, the agreement will be renewed for an additional year so that the remaining term will be three years, unless a notice is provided to the executive that the agreement will not renew. The term of Mr. Sullivan’s agreement is currently July 15, 2014 through July 15, 2017, and the term of Ms. Mirtuono’s agreement is currently July 15, 2014 through July 15, 2017. The current base salaries for Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Mirtuono are $224,400 and $154,400, respectively. In addition to the base salary, each agreement provides for, among other things, participation in bonus programs, if any, and other fringe benefit plans, if any, applicable to executive employees. The executive’s employment may be terminated for cause at any time, in which event the executive would have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after termination.

 

Certain events resulting in the executive’s termination or resignation entitle the executive to payments of severance benefits following termination of employment. In the event of the executive’s involuntary termination for reasons other than for cause, disability or retirement, or in the event the executive resigns during the term of the agreement following: (i) for Mr. Sullivan only (and not Ms. Mirtuono), failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint the executive to the executive position; (ii) a material change in the nature or scope of the executive’s authority resulting in a reduction of the responsibility, scope, or importance of executive’s position; (iii) relocation of executive’s office by more than 15 miles; (iv) a material reduction in the base salary or benefits paid to the executive unless such reduction is employer-wide; (v) a liquidation or dissolution of Sunnyside Federal; or (vi) a material breach of the employment agreement by Sunnyside Federal, then the executive would be entitled to a severance payment in the form of a cash lump sum equal to the base salary the executive would be entitled to receive for the remaining unexpired term of the employment agreement. Internal Revenue Code Section 409A may require that a portion of the above payments cannot be made until six months after termination of employment if the executive is a “key employee” under IRS rules. In addition, the executive would be entitled to the continuation of non-taxable medical and dental coverage, with the executive paying his or her share of the employee premiums, for the remaining unexpired term of the employment agreement.

 

In the event of a change in control of Sunnyside Federal or Sunnyside Bancorp, followed by executive’s involuntary termination or resignation for one of the reasons set forth above (or for any reason, in the case of Ms. Mirtuono) within twelve (12) months thereafter, the executive would be entitled to a severance payment in the form of a cash lump sum equal to the base salary the executive would be entitled to receive for the remaining unexpired term of the employment agreement, provided that the amount of the payment will not be less than eighteen (18) months of base salary. In addition, the executive would be entitled to the continuation of non-taxable medical and dental coverage, with the executive paying his or her share of the employee premiums, for eighteen (18) months following the termination of employment. In the event payments made to the executive include an “excess parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, such payments will be cutback by the minimum dollar amount necessary to avoid this result.

 

Under each employment agreement, if an executive becomes disabled within the meaning of such term under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the executive shall receive benefits under any short-term or long-term disability plans maintained by Sunnyside Federal, plus, if the amounts paid under such disability programs are less than 80% of the executive’s base salary, Sunnyside Federal shall pay the executive an additional amount equal to the difference between such disability plan benefits and 80% of the executive’s full base salary for one year following the termination of employment due to disability. In the event of the executive’s death, the executive’s beneficiaries will receive any life insurance benefits that they may be entitled to receive under any plan maintained by Sunnyside Federal for the benefit of the executive. If the amounts to be paid are less than twelve (12) months of the executive’s base salary, Sunnyside Federal will pay an amount equal to the difference between the life insurance benefits and the

 

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twelve months of the executive’s base salary in a lump sum payment within thirty days of the date of death.

 

Upon termination of the executive’s employment (other than a termination in connection with a change in control), the executive shall be subject to certain restrictions on his or her ability to compete, or to solicit business or employees of Sunnyside Federal and Sunnyside Bancorp for a period of one year following termination of employment.

  

401(k) Plan.   Sunnyside Federal maintains the Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan Association of Irvington 401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution plan for eligible employees (the “401(k) Plan”). Sunnyside Federal’s named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan just like any other employee. Employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the first day of the month coinciding with or immediately following their date of hire. There is no minimum age or service requirement to participate in the 401(k) Plan or to receive employer contributions.

 

Under the 401(k) Plan a participant may elect to defer, on a pre-tax basis, the maximum amount as permitted by the Internal Revenue Code. For 2013, the salary deferral contribution limit was $17,500, provided, however, that a participant over age 50 may contribute an additional $5,500 to the 401(k) Plan for a total of $23,000. In addition to salary deferral contributions, Sunnyside Federal will make a matching contribution equal to 50% of the participant’s salary deferral contributions for the plan year that is not in excess of 6% of the participant’s annual salary. A participant is always 100% vested in his or her salary deferral contributions and employer matching contributions. Generally, unless the participant elects otherwise, the participant’s account balance will be distributed as a result of a participant’s termination of employment with Sunnyside Federal.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2013, Sunnyside Federal recognized $26,379 as a 401(k) Plan expense.

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan.  Sunnyside Federal maintains a defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”). The amount of the Pension Plan benefit is based on an individual’s compensation and years of service.  Effective April 15, 2008, the annual benefit provided to employees under the Pension Plan was frozen. During the year ended December 31, 2013, Sunnyside Federal recognized a pension credit of $24,138.

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  In connection with the conversion, Sunnyside Federal adopted an employee stock ownership plan for eligible employees. Sunnyside Federal’s named executive officers are eligible to participate in the employee stock ownership plan just like any other employee. Eligible employees who have attained age 21 and were employed by us as of January 1, 2013 are eligible for participation in the employee stock ownership plan on the later of the effective date of the employee stock ownership plan or upon the first entry date commencing on or after the eligible employee’s completion of 1,000 hours of service during a continuous 12-month period.

 

The employee stock ownership plan trustee purchased, on behalf of the employee stock ownership plan, 7% of the total number of shares of Sunnyside Bancorp common stock issued in the offering. The purchase was funded with a loan from Sunnyside Bancorp equal to the aggregate purchase price of the common stock. The loan will be repaid principally through Sunnyside Federal’s contribution to the employee stock ownership plan and dividends payable on common stock held by the employee stock ownership plan over the anticipated 25-year term of the loan. The interest rate for the employee stock ownership plan loan is an adjustable rate equal to the prime rate, as published in The Wall Street

 

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Journal, on the closing date of the offering. Thereafter the interest rate will adjust annually and will be the prime rate on the first business day of the calendar year, retroactive to January 1 of such year.

 

The trustee holds the shares purchased by the employee stock ownership plan in an unallocated suspense account, and shares are released from the suspense account on a pro-rata basis as we repay the loan. The trustee allocates the shares released among participants on the basis of each participant’s proportional share of compensation relative to all participants. A participant becomes vested in his or her account balance at a rate of 20% per year over a 6-year period, beginning in the second year. Participants who were employed by Sunnyside Federal immediately prior to the 2013 stock offering received credit for vesting purposes for years of service prior to adoption of the employee stock ownership plan. Participants also will become fully vested automatically upon normal retirement, death or disability, a change in control, or termination of the employee stock ownership plan. Generally, participants will receive distributions from the employee stock ownership plan upon separation from service. The employee stock ownership plan reallocates any unvested shares forfeited upon termination of employment among the remaining participants.

 

The employee stock ownership plan permits participants to direct the trustee as to how to vote the shares of common stock allocated to their accounts. The trustee votes unallocated shares and allocated shares for which participants do not provide instructions on any matter in the same ratio as those shares for which participants provide instructions, subject to fulfillment of the trustee’s fiduciary responsibilities.

 

Under applicable accounting requirements, Sunnyside Federal records a compensation expense for the employee stock ownership plan at the fair market value of the shares as they are committed to be released from the unallocated suspense account to participants’ accounts, which may be more or less than the original issue price. The compensation expense resulting from the release of the common stock from the suspense account and allocation to plan participants results in a corresponding reduction in Sunnyside Bancorp’s earnings.

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table sets forth for the year ended December 31, 2013 certain information as to the total remuneration we paid to our directors other than Timothy D. Sullivan and Gerardina Mirtuono. Information with respect to director fees paid to Timothy D. Sullivan and Gerardina Mirtuono is included above in “Executive Officer Compensation – Summary Compensation Table.”

 

Directors’ Compensation Table For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
Name  Fees earned
or paid in
cash
($)
   All Other
Compensation
($)
   Total
($)
 
William Boeckelman   17,200        17,200 
Lawrence P. Doyle   14,400        14,400 
Deborah J. Elliot   17,200        17,200 
Desmond Lyons   15,600        15,600 
Louis G. Ricci III   17,200        17,200 

 

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Director Fees

 

Each person who serves as a director of Sunnyside Bancorp also serves as a director of Sunnyside Federal and earns director and committee fees only in his or her capacity as a board or committee member of Sunnyside Federal.

 

Each individual who serves as a director of Sunnyside Federal earns annual attendance and committee fees. For the year ended December 31, 2013, each director was paid a fee of $1,200 for each board meeting attended. Additionally, for each Audit Committee meeting attended, each director was paid a fee of $400 if the director served as a member of the committee.

 

Transactions With Certain Related Persons

 

In the ordinary course of business, Sunnyside Federal makes loans available to its directors, officers and employees. These loans are made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rate and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans to other borrowers not related to Sunnyside Federal. Management believes that these loans neither involve more than the normal risk of collectibility nor present other unfavorable features.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 generally prohibits us from making loans to the Company’s executive officers and directors, but it contains a specific exemption from such prohibition for loans made by Sunnyside Federal to the Company’s executive officers and directors in compliance with federal banking regulations. At December 31, 2013, all of Sunnyside Federal’s loans to directors and executive officers were made in the ordinary course of business, were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans to persons not related to Sunnyside Federal, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.

 

PROPOSAL II – RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM

 

The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors has approved the engagement of Fontanella and Babitts to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. Auditors are not deemed independent unless the Audit Committee has approved the engagement, or alternatively, the engagement is entered into pursuant to detailed pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee which sets forth each specific service to be performed by the auditor.

 

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will consider and vote on the ratification of the engagement of Fontanella and Babitts for the year ending December 31, 2014. A representative of Fontanella and Babitts is expected to attend the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if he or she so desires.

 

Audit Fees.   The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Fontanella & Babitts for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for 2013 and 2012 were $38,000 and $36,600, respectively.

 

Audit-Related Fees.   Fees billed for professional services rendered by Fontanella & Babitts that were reasonably related to the performance of the audits described above were $88,037 and $0 for 2013 and 2012, respectively. The audit-related fees for 2013 include fees incurred in connection with the Company’s initial stock offering, including review of the SEC registration statement filed in connection therewith and review of the Company’s Forms 10-Q and 10-K.

 

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Tax Fees.   The aggregate fees billed for professional services by Fontanella & Babitts for tax services were $8,250 and $7,750 for 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

All Other Fees.   There were no fees billed for professional services rendered for the Company by Fontanella & Babitts for services other than those listed above for 2013 and 2012.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditor

 

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by independent auditors. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent auditors and management are required to periodically report to the full Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditors in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date. The Audit Committee pre-approved 100% of the tax fees and the other non-audit fees described above during 2013 and 2012.

 

The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by Fontanella & Babitts, relating primarily to tax services, is compatible with maintaining the independence of Fontanella & Babitts. The Audit Committee concluded that performing such services would not affect the independence of Fontanella & Babitts in performing its function as auditor of the Company.

 

In order to ratify the selection of Fontanella and Babitts as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2014, the proposal must receive a majority of the votes cast, either in person or by proxy, in favor of such ratification. The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of Fontanella and Babitts as independent registered public accounting firm for 2014.

 

PROPOSAL III – APPROVAL OF THE SUNNYSIDE BANCORP, INC. 2014

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

The Board of Directors has adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), to provide officers, employees and directors of Sunnyside Bancorp and Sunnyside Federal with additional incentives to promote the growth and performance of Sunnyside Bancorp and Sunnyside Federal. Many of the companies that we compete with for directors and management-level employees are public companies that offer equity compensation as part of their overall director and officer compensation programs. By approving the Equity Incentive Plan, our stockholders will give us the flexibility we need to continue to attract and retain highly qualified officers and directors by offering a competitive compensation program that is linked to the performance of our common stock.

 

The following is a summary of the material features of the Equity Incentive Plan, which is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan, attached hereto as Appendix A.

 

General

 

Subject to permitted adjustments for certain corporate transactions, the Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the issuance or delivery to participants of up to 103,155 shares of Sunnyside Bancorp common stock pursuant to grants of restricted stock awards, incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options; provided, however, that the maximum number of shares of stock that may be delivered pursuant

 

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to the exercise of stock options is 79,350 (all of which may be granted as incentive stock options) and the maximum number of shares of stock that may be issued as restricted stock awards is 23,805.

 

The Equity Incentive Plan will be administered by the members of the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) who are “Disinterested Board Members,” as defined in the Equity Incentive Plan. The Committee has the authority and discretion to select the persons who will receive awards; establishing the terms and conditions relating to each award; adopting rules and regulations relating to the Equity Incentive Plan; and interpreting the Equity Incentive Plan. The Equity Incentive Plan also permits the Committee to delegate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers.

 

The Committee may grant an award under the Equity Incentive Plan as an alternative to or replacement of an existing award under the Equity Incentive Plan or any other plan of Sunnyside Bancorp or a subsidiary of Sunnyside Bancorp, or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under any other plan or arrangement of Sunnyside Bancorp or a subsidiary of Sunnyside Bancorp, including the plan of any entity acquired by Sunnyside Bancorp or a subsidiary of Sunnyside Bancorp.

 

Eligibility

 

Employees and directors of Sunnyside Bancorp or its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards under the Equity Incentive Plan, except that non-employees may not be granted incentive stock options.

 

Types of Awards

 

The Committee may determine the type and terms and conditions of awards under the Equity Incentive Plan, which shall be set forth in an award agreement delivered to each participant. Each award shall be subject to conditions established by the Committee that are set forth in the recipient’s award agreement, and shall be subject to vesting conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee; provided, however, that unless the Committee specifies a different vesting rate, no award shall vest more rapidly than 20% per year over a five-year period commencing one year from the date of grant. Awards may be granted in a combination of incentive and non-qualified stock options or restricted stock.

 

Stock Options. A stock option is the right to purchase shares of common stock at a specified price for a specified period of time. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, the exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date the stock option is granted. Fair market value for purposes of the Equity Incentive Plan means (i) the final sales price of Sunnyside Bancorp’s common stock as reported on the principal United States securities exchange on which the shares are listed or admitted to trading on the date in question, or if Sunnyside Bancorp’s common stock was not traded on such date, then on the last preceding date on which any reported sale of Sunnyside Bancorp common stock occurred, and without regard to after-hours trading activity in New York City, or (ii) if the shares of our common stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any such exchange, then the closing bid quotation with respect to a share of our common stock on such date, as of the close of the market and without regard to after-hours trading activity. The Committee will determine the fair market value of the common stock, in accordance with Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, if it cannot be determined in the manner described above. Further, the Committee may not grant a stock option with a term that is longer than 10 years.

 

Stock options are either “incentive” stock options or “non-qualified” stock options. Incentive stock options have certain tax advantages that are not available to non-qualified stock options, and must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Only officers and employees are eligible to receive incentive stock options. Outside directors may only receive non-qualified stock options under the Equity Incentive Plan. Shares of common stock purchased upon the exercise of a stock option must be paid for at the time of exercise in cash or by such other means as the Committee may from

 

18
 

 

time to time permit, including: (i) by personal, certified or cashier’s check, (ii) by tendering stock of Sunnyside Bancorp owned by the participant in satisfaction of the exercise price, (iii) by a “cashless exercise” through a third party, or (iv) by a combination of the foregoing. The total number of shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of a stock option will be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

 

Restricted Stock. A restricted stock award is a grant of common stock, subject to vesting requirements, to a participant for no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law. Restricted stock awards may be granted only in whole shares of common stock and are subject to vesting conditions and other restrictions established by the Committee as set forth in the Equity Incentive Plan or the award agreement. Prior to their vesting, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the recipient of a restricted stock award may exercise any voting rights with respect to common stock subject to an award and receive any dividends and distributions with respect to the common stock.

 

Prohibition Against Repricing of Options. The Equity Incentive Plan provides that neither the Committee nor the Board is authorized to make any adjustment or amendment that reduces or would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of a stock option previously granted.

 

Limitation on Awards Under the Equity Incentive Plan

 

The maximum number of shares of stock that may be available for awards as stock options is 79,350 and for awards of restricted stock is 23,805.

 

To the extent any shares of stock covered by an award (including restricted stock awards) under the Equity Incentive Plan are not delivered to a participant or beneficiary because the award is forfeited or canceled or because a stock option is not exercised, then such shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of stock available for delivery under the Plan.

 

In the event of a corporate transaction involving the stock of Sunnyside Bancorp (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split or other special and nonrecurring dividend or distribution, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the Committee will, in an equitable manner, adjust any or all of the number and kind of securities deemed to be available for grants of stock options and restricted stock, the number and kind of securities that may be delivered or deliverable in respect of outstanding stock options and restricted stock and the exercise price of stock options. In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, stock options and restricted stock.

 

Performance Features

 

General. A federal income tax deduction for Sunnyside Bancorp will generally be unavailable for annual compensation in excess of $1.0 million paid to its chief executive officer or three other most highly compensated officers (other than its chief financial officer). However, amounts that constitute “performance-based compensation” (as that term is used in section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code) are not counted toward the $1.0 million limit. The Equity Incentive Plan is designed so that stock options will be considered performance-based compensation. The Committee may designate whether any restricted stock awards granted to any participant are intended to be performance-based compensation. Any restricted stock awards designated as performance-based compensation will be conditioned on the achievement of one or more performance measures, to the extent required by section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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Performance Measures. The performance measures that may be used for such awards will be based on any one or more of the following performance measures, as selected by the Committee: book value or tangible book value per share; basic cash earnings per share; diluted earnings per share; return on equity; net income or net income before taxes; cash earnings; net interest income; non-interest income; general and administrative expense to average assets ratio; cash general and administrative expense to average assets ratio; efficiency ratio; cash efficiency ratio; return on average assets; cash return on average assets; return on average stockholders’ equity; cash return on average stockholders’ equity; return on average tangible stockholders’ equity; cash return on average tangible stockholders’ equity; core earnings; operating income; operating efficiency ratio; net interest rate margin or net interest rate spread; growth in assets, loans, or deposits; loan production volume; non-performing loans; cash flow; strategic business objectives consisting of one or more objectives based upon meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures, or goals relating to capital raising and capital management; or any combination of the foregoing. Performance measures may be based on the performance of Sunnyside Bancorp as a whole or of any one or more subsidiaries or business units of Sunnyside Bancorp or a subsidiary and may be measured relative to a peer group, an index or a business plan. The Committee may adjust performance measures in certain circumstances, provided, however, no adjustment may be made with respect to an award that is intended to be performance-based compensation within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, except to the extent the Committee exercises negative discretion as permitted under applicable law for purposes of an exception under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. In establishing the performance measures, the Committee may provide for the inclusion or exclusion of certain items.

 

Vesting of Awards

 

If the vesting of an award under the Equity Incentive Plan is conditioned on the completion of a specified period of service with Sunnyside Bancorp or its subsidiaries, without the achievement of performance measures or objectives, then the required period of service for full vesting shall be determined by the Committee and evidenced in an award agreement; subject to acceleration of vesting in the event of death, disability, retirement or involuntary termination of employment or service following a change in control.

 

Change in Control

 

Unless otherwise stated in an award agreement, upon the occurrence of an involuntary termination of employment following a change in control of Sunnyside Bancorp, all outstanding options then held by a participant will become fully exercisable and all restricted stock awards shall be fully earned and vested. For the purposes of the Equity Incentive Plan, a change in control occurs when (a) Sunnyside Bancorp or Sunnyside Federal merges into or consolidates with another entity or merges another bank or corporation into Sunnyside Bancorp or Sunnyside Federal, and as a result, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation is held by persons who were stockholders of the Company or Sunnyside Federal before the merger or consolidation; (b) a person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of a class of Sunnyside Bancorp’s or Sunnyside Federal’s voting securities; (c) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute Sunnyside Bancorp’s or Sunnyside Federal’s Board of Directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of Sunnyside Bancorp’s or Sunnyside Federal’s Board of Directors, provided that each director who is first elected to the board by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period shall be deemed to have also been a director at the beginning of such period; or (d) Sunnyside Bancorp or Sunnyside Federal sells to a third party all or substantially all of its assets.

 

In the event of a change in control, any performance measure attached to an award under the Equity Incentive Plan shall be deemed satisfied as of the date of the change in control.

 

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Forfeiture

 

The Committee may specify in an award agreement that rights and benefits with respect to an award may be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon termination of employment for cause; termination of services with Sunnyside Bancorp or its affiliate or subsidiary; any material violation of one or more of Sunnyside Bancorp’s policies; breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that apply to the employee or director; or any other conduct that is detrimental to Sunnyside Bancorp’s business or reputation, its affiliates and/or its subsidiaries.

 

If Sunnyside Bancorp is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of Sunnyside Bancorp, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any participant who is subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall reimburse Sunnyside Bancorp the amount of any payment in settlement of an award earned or accrued during the twelve-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever just occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement. In addition, in the event of an accounting restatement, the Committee, in its sole and exclusive discretion, may require that any participant reimburse Sunnyside Bancorp for all or any part of the amount of any payment in settlement of any award granted hereunder.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

The Board of Directors may, at any time, amend or terminate the Equity Incentive Plan or any award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan, provided that, except as provided in the Equity Incentive Plan, no amendment or termination may adversely impair the rights of a Participant or beneficiary under an award without the participant’s (or affected beneficiary’s) written consent. The Board of Directors may not amend the Equity Incentive Plan to materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the plan, materially increase the aggregate number of securities that may be issued under the Equity Incentive Plan (other than as provided in the Equity Incentive Plan), or materially modify the requirements for participation in the Equity Incentive Plan, without approval of stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may amend the Equity Incentive Plan or any award agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, to conform the Equity Incentive Plan or the award agreement to current or future law or to avoid an accounting treatment resulting from an accounting pronouncement or interpretation issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or Financial Accounting Standards Board subsequent to the adoption of the Equity Incentive Plan or the making of the award affected thereby, which, in the sole discretion of the Committee, may materially and adversely affect the financial condition or results of operations of Sunnyside Bancorp.

 

Duration of Plan

 

The Equity Incentive Plan will become effective upon approval by the stockholders at this annual meeting. The Equity Incentive Plan will remain in effect as long as any awards under it are outstanding; however, no awards may be granted under the Equity Incentive Plan on or after the 10-year anniversary of the effective date of the Equity Incentive Plan. At any time, the Board of Directors may terminate the Equity Incentive Plan. However, any termination of the Equity Incentive Plan will not affect outstanding awards.

 

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Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The following is a summary of the federal income tax consequences that may arise in conjunction with participation in the Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Non-Qualified Stock Options. The grant of a non-qualified option will not result in taxable income to the participant. Except as described below, the participant will realize ordinary income at the time of exercise in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares acquired over the exercise price for those shares, and Sunnyside Bancorp will be entitled to a corresponding deduction for tax purposes. Gains or losses realized by the participant upon disposition of such shares will be treated as capital gains and losses, with the basis in such shares equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise.

 

Incentive Stock Options. The grant of an incentive stock option will not result in taxable income to the participant. The exercise of an incentive stock option will not result in taxable income to the participant provided the participant was, without a break in service, an employee of Sunnyside Bancorp or a subsidiary during the period beginning on the date of the grant of the option and ending on the date three months prior to the date of exercise (one year prior to the date of exercise if the participant is disabled, as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code).

 

The excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of the exercise of an incentive stock option over the exercise price is an adjustment that is included in the calculation of the participant’s alternative minimum taxable income for the tax year in which the incentive stock option is exercised. For purposes of determining the participant’s alternative minimum tax liability for the year of disposition of the shares acquired pursuant to the incentive stock option exercise, the participant will have a basis in those shares equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise.

 

If the participant does not sell or otherwise dispose of the shares within two years from the date of the grant of the incentive stock option or within one year after the exercise of such stock option, then, upon disposition of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the exercise price will be taxed as a capital gain. A capital loss will be recognized to the extent that the amount realized is less than the exercise price.

 

 If the foregoing holding period requirements are not met, the participant will generally realize ordinary income at the time of the disposition of the shares, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price, or (ii) the excess, if any, of the amount realized upon disposition of the shares over the exercise price, and Sunnyside Bancorp will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. If the amount realized exceeds the value of the shares on the date of exercise, any additional amount will be a capital gain. If the amount realized is less than the exercise price, the participant will recognize no income, and a capital loss will be recognized equal to the excess of the exercise price over the amount realized upon the disposition of the shares.

 

Restricted Stock. A participant who has been granted a restricted stock award will not realize taxable income at the time of grant, provided that that the stock subject to the award is not delivered at the time of grant, or if the stock is delivered, it is subject to restrictions that constitute a “substantial risk of forfeiture” for federal income tax purposes. Upon the later of delivery or vesting of shares subject to an award, the holder will realize ordinary income in an amount equal to the then fair market value of those shares and Sunnyside Bancorp will be entitled to a corresponding deduction for tax purposes. Gains or losses realized by the participant upon disposition of such shares will be treated as capital gains and losses, with the basis in such shares equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of delivery or vesting. Dividends paid to the holder during the restriction period, if so provided, will also be compensation income to the participant and Sunnyside Bancorp will be entitled to a corresponding

 

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deduction for tax purposes. A participant who makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code will include the full fair market value of the restricted stock award in taxable income in the year of grant at the grant date fair market value.

 

Withholding of Taxes. Sunnyside Bancorp may withhold amounts from participants to satisfy withholding tax requirements. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, participants may have shares withheld from awards to satisfy the minimum tax withholding requirements.

 

Change in Control. Any acceleration of the vesting or payment of awards under the Equity Incentive Plan in the event of a change in control or termination of service following a change in control may cause part or all of the consideration involved to be treated as an “excess parachute payment” under the Internal Revenue Code, which may subject the participant to a 20% excise tax and preclude deduction by Sunnyside Bancorp.

 

Deduction Limits. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally limits Sunnyside Bancorp’s ability to deduct for tax purposes compensation in excess of $1.0 million per year for its chief executive officer and the three other most highly compensated executives (excluding the chief financial officer) named in the summary compensation table (“covered employees”). Restricted stock awards, other than performance-based restricted stock awards, and other awards that are not subject to performance goals may be subject to this deduction limit if income recognized on the awards plus other compensation of the executive that is subject to the limit exceeds $1.0 million. “Qualified performance-based compensation” is not subject to this limit and is fully deductible by Sunnyside Bancorp. “Qualified performance-based compensation” is compensation that is subject to a number of requirements such as stockholder approval of possible performance goals, and objective quantification of those goals in advance. Stock options available for award under the Equity Incentive Plan will be considered “qualified performance-based compensation” even if such awards vest solely due to the passage of time during the performance of services. Accordingly, if an award is not exempt from Section 162(m), income recognized on such award by a covered employee will be subject to the $1.0 million deduction limit on compensation.

 

In the case of performance-based awards granted to a covered employee that are not distributed until after the covered employee’s retirement or other termination of employment, the $1.0 million deduction limit will not apply and the award will be fully deductible. Performance awards may provide for accelerated vesting upon death, disability, or a change in control and still be considered exempt from the $1.0 million deduction limit. The Equity Incentive Plan is designed so that stock options and performance-based restricted stock awards that are subject to performance goals may qualify as qualified performance-based compensation that is not subject to the $1.0 million deduction limit. Sunnyside Bancorp expects that the Committee will take these deduction limits into account in setting the size and the terms and conditions of awards. However, the Committee may decide to grant awards that result in executive compensation that exceeds the deduction limit.

 

Tax Advice. The preceding discussion is based on federal tax laws and regulations presently in effect, which are subject to change, and the discussion does not purport to be a complete description of the federal income tax aspects of the Equity Incentive Plan. A participant may also be subject to state and local taxes in connection with the grant of awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. Sunnyside Bancorp suggests that participants consult with their individual tax advisors to determine the applicability of the tax rules to the awards granted to them in their personal circumstances.

 

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Accounting Treatment

 

Under FASB ASC Topic 718, Sunnyside Bancorp is required to recognize compensation expense on its income statement over the requisite service period or performance period based on the grant date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation (such as restricted stock).

 

Awards to be Granted

 

The Board of Directors adopted the Equity Incentive Plan, and the Compensation Committee intends to meet promptly after stockholder approval to determine the specific terms of the awards, including the allocation of awards to executive officers, employees and non-employee directors. At the present time, no specific determination has been made as to the grant or allocation of awards.

 

Required Vote and Recommendation of the Board

 

In order to approve the Equity Incentive Plan, the proposal must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, any stockholder proposal to take action at such meeting must be received at the Company’s executive office, 56 Main Street, Irvington, New York, no later than April 11, 2015. If the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the 2014 annual meeting, any stockholder proposal must be received at a reasonable time before the Company prints or mails proxy materials for such meeting. Any such proposal will be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as with any stockholder proposal (regardless of whether included in the Company’s proxy materials), the Company’s articles of incorporation and Bylaws and Maryland corporation law.

 

ADVANCE NOTICE OF BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT ANNUAL MEETING

 

The Company’s Bylaws generally provides that any stockholder desiring to make a proposal for new business at an annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate one or more candidates for election as directors must submit written notice filed with the Secretary of the Company not less than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary date of the proxy statement relating to the preceding year’s annual meeting and not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of the proxy statement relating to the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, that if (A) less than 90 days’ prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given to stockholders and (B) the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, such written notice shall be timely if delivered or mailed to and received by the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive office of the Company not later than the tenth day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made. The notice must include the stockholder’s name, record address, and number of shares owned, describe briefly the proposed business, the reasons for bringing the business before the annual meeting, and any material interest of the stockholder in the proposed business. In the case of nominations to the Board of Directors, certain information regarding the nominee must be provided. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to require the Company to include in the proxy statement and proxy relating to an annual meeting any

 

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stockholder proposal that does not meet all of the requirements for inclusion established by the SEC in effect at the time such proposal is received.

 

The 2015 annual meeting of stockholders is expected to be held on May 19, 2015, which is more than 30 days prior to the anniversary date of the 2014 annual meeting. Accordingly, for the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, the notice would have to be received not later than the tenth day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors is not aware of any business to come before the Annual Meeting other than the matters described above in this Proxy Statement. However, if any matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that holders of the proxies will act as directed by a majority of the Board of Directors, except for matters related to the conduct of the Annual Meeting, as to which they shall act in accordance with their best judgment.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

The Company will bear the cost of solicitation of proxies and the Company will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of common stock. In addition to solicitations by mail, the Company’s directors, officers and regular employees may solicit proxies personally, by telephone or by other forms of communication without additional compensation. We have retained Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC to assist us in soliciting proxies, and have agreed to pay Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC a fee of $5,000 plus reasonable expenses for these services.

 

The Company’s proxy statement, Annual Report to Stockholders and proxy card are available on http://www.cfpproxy.com/7784.

 

THE COMPANY’S 2013 ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS IS BEING FURNISHED TO STOCKHOLDERS. COPIES OF ALL OF THE COMPANY’S FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE BY WRITING TO THE COMPANY AT 56 MAIN STREET, IRVINGTON, NEW YORK 10533, ATTENTION: CORPORATE SECRETARY.

 

  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
   
  Julianne Maltbie
  Corporate Secretary

 

Irvington, New York
August 11, 2014

 

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Appendix A

 

SUNNYSIDE BANCORP, INC.

 

2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1 – GENERAL

 

Section 1.1           Purpose, Effective Date and Term.  The purpose of the Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the long-term financial success of Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries, including Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan Association of Irvington (the “Association”), by providing a means to attract, retain and reward individuals who contribute to such success and to further align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. The “Effective Date” of the Plan shall be the date the Plan satisfies the applicable shareholder approval requirements.  The Plan shall remain in effect as long as any Awards are outstanding; provided, however, that no Awards may be granted under the Plan after the ten-year anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

Section 1.2           Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”), in accordance with Section 5.1.

 

Section 1.3           Participation.  Each Employee or Director of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company who is granted an Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan shall be a “Participant” in the Plan.  Awards shall be limited to Employees and Directors of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Section 1.4           Definitions.  Capitalized terms used in this Plan are defined in Article 8 and elsewhere in this Plan.

 

ARTICLE 2 - AWARDS

 

Section 2.1           General.  Any Award under the Plan may be granted singularly or in combination with another Award (or Awards).  Each Award under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and such additional terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Committee shall provide with respect to such Award and as evidenced in the Award Agreement.  Subject to the provisions of Section 2.8, an Award may be granted as an alternative to or replacement of an existing Award under the Plan or any other plan of the Company or any Subsidiary or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including without limitation the plan of any entity acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary.  The types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan include:

 

(a)          Stock Options.  A Stock Option means a grant under Section 2.2 that represents the right to purchase shares of Stock at an Exercise Price established by the Committee.  Any Stock Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option (an “ISO”) that is intended to satisfy the requirements applicable to an “Incentive Stock Option” described in Code Section 422(b), or a Non-Qualified Stock Option (a “Non-Qualified Option”) that is not intended to be an ISO; provided, however, that no ISOs may be granted: (i) after the ten-year anniversary of the Effective Date; or (ii)  to a non-Employee.  Unless otherwise specifically provided by its terms, any Stock Option granted to an Employee under this Plan shall be an ISO. Any ISO granted under this Plan that does not qualify as an ISO for any reason (whether at the time of grant or as the result of a subsequent event) shall be deemed to be a Non-Qualified Option. In addition, any ISO granted under this Plan may be unilaterally modified by the Committee to disqualify such Stock Option from ISO treatment such that it shall become a Non-Qualified Option; provided, however, that any such modification shall be ineffective if it causes the Award to be subject to Code Section 409A (unless, as modified, the Award complies with Code Section 409A).

 

(b)          Restricted Stock.  Restricted Stock means a grant of shares of Stock under Section 2.3 for no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan, subject to a vesting schedule or the satisfaction of market conditions or performance conditions. 

 

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Section 2.2           Stock Options

 

(a)          Grant of Stock Options. Each Stock Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall: (i) specify the number of Stock Options covered by the Award; (ii) specify the date of grant of the Stock Option; (iii) specify the vesting period or conditions to vesting; and (iv) contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan, including the effect of termination of a Participant’s employment or Service with the Company as the Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe.

 

(b)          Terms and Conditions. A Stock Option shall be exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions and during such periods as may be established by the Committee. In no event, however, shall a Stock Option expire later than ten years after the date of its grant (or five years with respect to ISOs granted to an Employee who is a 10% Stockholder).  The “Exercise Price” of each Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant (or, if greater, the par value of a share of Stock); provided, however, that the Exercise Price of an ISO shall not be less than 110% of Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant if granted to a 10% Stockholder; provided further, that the Exercise Price may be higher or lower in the case of Stock Options granted or exchanged in replacement of existing Awards held by an Employee or Director of an acquired entity.  The payment of the Exercise Price of a Stock Option shall be by cash or, subject to limitations imposed by applicable law, by such other means as the Committee may from time to time permit, including: (i) by tendering, either actually or constructively by attestation, shares of Stock valued at Fair Market Value as of the day of exercise; (ii) by irrevocably authorizing a third party, acceptable to the Committee, to sell shares of Stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option and to remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise Price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise; (iii) by a net settlement of the Stock Option, using a portion of the shares obtained on exercise in payment of the Exercise Price of the Stock Option; (iv) by personal, certified or cashiers’ check; (v) by other property deemed acceptable by the Committee; or (vi) by any combination thereof. The total number of shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

 

Section 2.3           Restricted Stock.

 

(a)          Grant of Restricted Stock. Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall: (i) specify the number of shares of Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award; (ii) specify the date of grant of the Restricted Stock Award; (iii) specify the vesting period; and (iv) contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan, including the effect of termination of a Participant’s employment or Service with the Company, as the Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe. All Restricted Stock Awards shall be in the form of issued and outstanding shares of Stock that shall be either: (x) registered in the name of the Participant and held by the Company, together with a stock power executed by the Participant in favor of the Company, pending the vesting or forfeiture of the Restricted Stock; or (y) registered in the name of, and delivered to, the Participant. In any event, the certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock Award shall at all times prior to the applicable vesting date bear the following legend:

 

The Stock evidenced hereby is subject to the terms of an Award Agreement with Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. dated [Date], made pursuant to the terms of the Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, copies of which are on file at the executive offices of Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc., and may not be sold, encumbered, hypothecated or otherwise transferred except in accordance with the terms of such Plan and Award Agreement,

 

or such other restrictive legend as the Committee, in its discretion, may specify. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may in its sole discretion issue Restricted Stock in any other approved format (e.g., electronically) in order to facilitate the paperless transfer of such Awards. In the event Restricted Stock is not issued in certificate form, the Company and the transfer agent shall maintain appropriate bookkeeping entries that evidence Participants’ ownership of such Awards. Restricted Stock that is not issued in certificate form shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of the Plan as certificated shares, including the restrictions on transferability and the provision of a stock power executed by the Participant in favor of the Company, until the satisfaction of the conditions to which the Restricted Stock Award is subject.

 

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(b)          Terms and Conditions.         Each Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)          Dividends. Unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to any Restricted Stock Award and specifies such determination in the relevant Award Agreement, any dividends or distributions declared and paid with respect to shares of Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award, other than a stock dividend consisting of shares of Stock, shall be immediately distributed to the Participant. If the Committee determines to delay the distribution of dividends to a Participant until the vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause the dividend (and any earnings thereon) to be distributed to the Participant no later than two and one-half months following the date on which the Restricted Stock vests.

 

(ii)         Voting Rights. Unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to any Restricted Stock Award and specifies such determination in the relevant Award Agreement, voting rights with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock shall be exercised by the Participant in his or her discretion.

 

(iii)        Tender Offers and Merger Elections. Each Participant to whom a Restricted Stock Award is granted shall have the right to respond, or to direct the response, with respect to the related shares of Restricted Stock, to any tender offer, exchange offer, cash/stock merger consideration election or other offer made to, or elections made by, the holders of shares of Stock. Such a direction for any such shares of Restricted Stock shall be given by proxy or ballot (if the Participant is the beneficial owner of the shares of Restricted Stock for voting purposes) or by completing and filing, with the inspector of elections, the trustee or such other person who shall be independent of the Company as the Committee shall designate in the direction (if the Participant is not such a beneficial owner), a written direction in the form and manner prescribed by the Committee. If no such direction is given, then the shares of Restricted Stock shall not be tendered.

 

Section 2.4           Performance-Based Compensation. Any Award under the Plan that is intended to be “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) shall be conditioned on the achievement of one or more objective performance measures, to the extent required by Code Section 162(m), as may be determined by the Committee. The grant of any Award and the establishment of performance measures that are intended to be performance-based compensation shall be made during the period required under Code Section 162(m) and shall comply with all applicable requirements of Code Section 162(m).

 

(a)          Performance Measures.  Such performance measures may be based on any one or more of the following:

 

(i)            book value or tangible book value per share;

 

(ii)           basic cash earnings per share;

 

(iii)          diluted earnings per share;

 

(iv)          return on equity;

 

(v)           net income or net income before taxes;

 

(vi)         cash earnings;

 

(vii)         net interest income;

 

(viii)        non-interest income;

 

(ix)          general and administrative expense to average assets ratio;

 

(x)           cash general and administrative expense to average assets ratio;

 

A-3
 

 

(xi)          efficiency ratio;

 

(xii)         cash efficiency ratio;

 

(xiii)        return on average assets;

 

(xiv)        cash return on average assets;

 

(xv)         return on average stockholders' equity;

 

(xvi)        cash return on average stockholders' equity;

 

(xvii)       return on average tangible stockholders' equity;

 

(xviii)      cash return on average tangible stockholders' equity;

 

(xix)        core earnings;

 

(xx)         operating income;

 

(xxi)        operating efficiency ratio;

 

(xxii)       net interest rate margin or net interest rate spread;

 

(xxiii)      growth in assets, loans, or deposits;

 

(xxiv)      loan production volume;

 

(xxv)       non-performing loans;

 

(xxvi)      cash flow;

 

(xxvii)     strategic business objectives, consisting of one or more objectives based upon meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures, or goals relating to capital raising and capital management; or

 

(xxviii)    any combination of the foregoing.

 

Performance measures may be based on the performance of the Company as a whole or on any one or more Subsidiaries or business units of the Company or a Subsidiary and may be measured relative to a peer group, an index or a business plan and may be considered as absolute measures or changes in measures. The Committee may elect to use different performance measures and shall have sole discretion in determining how performance measures are calculated. In establishing any performance measures, the Committee may provide for the exclusion of the effects of the following items, to the extent identified in the audited financial statements of the Company, including footnotes, or in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of the Company’s annual report or in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis Section, if any, of the Company’s annual proxy statement: (i) extraordinary, unusual, and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss; (ii) gains or losses on the disposition of a business; (iii) changes in tax or accounting principles, regulations or laws; or (iv) mergers or acquisitions.  To the extent not specifically excluded, such effects shall be included in any applicable performance measure. The Committee also may exclude other items in its sole discretion in establishing and calculating performance measures, which may include, but not limited to, the effect of dividends and the expense of Restricted Stock Awards.

 

(b)          Adjustments. Pursuant to this Section 2.4, in certain circumstances the Committee may adjust performance measures; provided, however, no adjustment may be made with respect to an Award that is intended to be performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), except to the extent the Committee exercises such negative discretion as is permitted under applicable law for purposes of an exception under Code Section 162(m). If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate

 

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structure or capital structure of the Company or the manner in which the Company or its Subsidiaries conducts its business or other events or circumstances render current performance measures to be unsuitable, the Committee may modify such performance measures, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate. If a Participant is promoted, demoted or transferred to a different business unit during a performance period, the Committee may determine that the selected performance measures or applicable performance period are no longer appropriate, in which case, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may: (i) adjust, change or eliminate the performance measures or change the applicable performance period; or (ii) cause to be made a cash payment to the Participant in an amount determined by the Committee.

 

Section 2.5           Vesting of Awards. (a)     The Committee shall specify the vesting schedule or conditions of each Award. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant or as set forth in an employment agreement entered into by and between the Company and/or the Association and an Employee, Awards under the Plan shall be granted with a vesting rate not exceeding 20% per year, with the first installment vesting one year after the date of grant. If the right to become vested in an Award under the Plan (including the right to exercise a Stock Option) is conditioned on the completion of a specified period of Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, without achievement of performance measures or other performance objectives being required as a condition of vesting, and without it being granted in lieu of, or in exchange for, other compensation, then the required period of Service for full vesting shall be determined by the Committee and evidenced in the Award Agreement (subject to acceleration of vesting, to the extent permitted by the Committee, including in the event of the Participant’s death, Disability, Retirement or Involuntary Termination of Employment following a Change in Control). Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, Service as a director emeritus, advisory director or consultant shall constitute Service for purposes of vesting.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding Section 2.8 and Article 4 hereof, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulations, or pursuant to an applicable regulatory waiver, the Committee may determine that all Stock Options then held by the Participant shall become fully exercisable (subject to the expiration provisions otherwise applicable to the Stock Option) and all Restricted Stock Awards described in Section 2.1(b) shall be fully earned and vested immediately.

 

Section 2.6           Deferred Compensation. If any Award would be considered “deferred compensation” as defined under Code Section 409A (“Deferred Compensation”), the Committee reserves the absolute right (including the right to delegate such right) to unilaterally amend the Plan or the Award Agreement, without the consent of the Participant, to maintain exemption from, or to comply with, Code Section 409A. Any amendment by the Committee to the Plan or an Award Agreement pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall maintain, to the extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without violating Code Section 409A. A Participant’s acceptance of any Award under the Plan constitutes acknowledgement and consent to such rights of the Committee, without further consideration or action. Any discretionary authority retained by the Committee pursuant to the terms of this Plan or pursuant to an Award Agreement shall not be applicable to an Award which is determined to constitute Deferred Compensation, if such discretionary authority would contravene Code Section 409A.

 

Section 2.7           Prohibition Against Option Repricing.  Except for adjustments pursuant to Section 3.3, and reductions of the Exercise Price approved by the Company’s stockholders, neither the Committee nor the Board shall have the right or authority to make any adjustment or amendment that reduces or would have the effect of reducing the Exercise Price of a Stock Option previously granted under the Plan, whether through amendment, cancellation (including cancellation in exchange for a cash payment in excess of the Stock Option’s in-the-money value) or replacement grants, or other means.

 

Section 2.8.          Effect of Termination of Service on Awards. The Committee shall establish the effect of a Termination of Service on the continuation of rights and benefits available under an Award or the Plan and, in so doing, may make distinctions based upon, among other things, the cause of Termination of Service and type of Award. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant or as set forth in an employment agreement entered into by and between the Company and/or the Association and an Employee, the following provisions shall apply to each Award granted under this Plan:

 

(a)          Upon a Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason other than Disability, death, Retirement or termination for Cause, Stock Options shall be exercisable only as to those shares that were immediately exercisable by such Participant at the date of termination, and Stock Options may be exercised only for

 

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a period of three months following termination and any Restricted Stock that has not vested as of the date of Termination of Service shall expire and be forfeited.

 

(b)          In the event of a Termination of Service for Cause, all Stock Options granted to a Participant that have not been exercised and all Restricted Stock granted to a Participant that has not vested shall expire and be forfeited.

 

(c)          Upon Termination of Service for reason of Disability, death or, to the extent permitted by the Committee, Retirement, all Stock Options shall be exercisable as to all shares subject to an outstanding Award, whether or not then exercisable, and all Restricted Stock shall vest as to all shares subject to an outstanding Award, whether or not otherwise immediately vested, at the date of Termination of Service. Stock Options may be exercised for a period of one year following Termination of Service due to death, Disability or Retirement; provided, however, that no Stock Option shall be eligible for treatment as an ISO in the event such Stock Option is exercised more than three months following Termination of Service due to Retirement or one year following Termination of Service due to Disability and provided, further, in order to obtain ISO treatment for Stock Options exercised by heirs or devisees of an optionee, the optionee’s death must have occurred while employed or within three months of Termination of Service.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Stock Option shall be exercisable beyond the last day of the original term of such Stock Option.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.8, the effect of a Change in Control on the vesting/exercisability of Stock Options and Restricted Stock is as set forth in Article 4.

 

ARTICLE 3 - Shares Subject to Plan

 

Section 3.1           Available Shares.  The shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan shall be shares currently authorized but unissued, currently held or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subsequently acquired by the Company as treasury shares, including shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions.

 

Section 3.2           Share Limitations

 

(a)          Share Reserve. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 3.2, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries under the Plan shall be equal to One Hundred Three Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Five (103,155) shares of Stock. The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options (all of which may be granted as ISOs) is Seventy-Nine Thousand Three Hundred Fifty (79,350) shares of Stock. The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued as Restricted Stock Awards is Twenty-Three Thousand Eight Hundred Five (23,805) shares of Stock. The aggregate number of shares available for grant under this Plan and the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding awards shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3.

 

(b)          Computation of Shares Available. For purposes of this Section 3.2, the number of shares of Stock available for the granting of additional Stock Options and Restricted Stock shall be reduced by the number of shares of Stock granted. To the extent any shares of Stock covered by an Award (including Restricted Stock) under the Plan are not delivered to a Participant or beneficiary for any reason, including because the Award is forfeited or canceled or because a Stock Option is not exercised, then such shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the Plan. To the extent (i) a Stock Option is exercised by using an actual or constructive exchange of shares of Stock to pay the Exercise Price, or (ii) shares of Stock are withheld to satisfy withholding taxes upon exercise or vesting of an Award granted hereunder, the number of shares of Stock available shall be reduced by the gross number of Stock Options exercised rather than by the net number of shares of Stock issued.

 

Section 3.3           Corporate Transactions

 

(a)          General. In the event any recapitalization, forward or reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of shares of Stock or other securities, stock dividend

 

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or other special and nonrecurring dividend or distribution (whether in the form of cash, securities or other property), liquidation, dissolution, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the shares of Stock such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan and/or under any Award granted under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in an equitable manner, adjust any or all of (i) the number and kind of securities deemed to be available thereafter for grants of Stock Options and Restricted Stock in the aggregate to all Participants and individually to any one Participant, (ii) the number and kind of securities that may be delivered or deliverable in respect of outstanding Stock Options and Restricted Stock, and (iii) the Exercise Price of Stock Options. In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Stock Options and Restricted Stock (including, without limitation, cancellation of Stock Options and Restricted Stock in exchange for the in-the-money value, if any, of the vested portion thereof, or substitution or exchange of Stock Options and Restricted Stock using stock of a successor or other entity) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence) affecting the Company or any parent or Subsidiary or the financial statements of the Company or any parent or Subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, any such adjustment to an Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” shall conform to the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder then in effect.

 

(b)          Merger in which Company is Not Surviving Entity. In the event of any merger, consolidation, or other business reorganization (including, but not limited to, a Change in Control) in which the Company is not the surviving entity, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at any time at or after grant and prior to the consummation of such merger, consolidation or other business reorganization, any Stock Options granted under the Plan which remain outstanding shall be converted into Stock Options to purchase voting common equity securities of the business entity which survives such merger, consolidation or other business reorganization having substantially the same terms and conditions as the outstanding Stock Options under this Plan and reflecting the same economic benefit (as measured by the difference between the aggregate Exercise Price and the value exchanged for outstanding shares of Stock in such merger, consolidation or other business reorganization), all as determined by the Committee prior to the consummation of such merger; provided, however, that the Committee may, at any time prior to the consummation of such merger, consolidation or other business reorganization, direct that all, but not less than all, outstanding Stock Options be canceled as of the effective date of such merger, consolidation or other business reorganization in exchange for a cash payment per share of Stock equal to the excess (if any) of the value exchanged for an outstanding share of Stock in such merger, consolidation or other business reorganization over the Exercise Price of the Stock Option being canceled.

 

Section 3.4           Delivery of Shares.  Delivery of shares of Stock or other amounts under the Plan shall be subject to the following:

 

(a)          Compliance with Applicable Laws.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any shares of Stock or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless such delivery or distribution complies with all applicable laws (including, the requirements of the Securities Act), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.

 

(b)          Certificates.  To the extent that the Plan provides for the issuance of shares of Stock, the issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.

 

ARTICLE 4 - CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

Section 4.1           Consequence of a Change in Control. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.5 (relating to vesting and acceleration) and Section 3.3 (relating to the adjustment of shares), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan or as determined by the Committee and set forth in the terms of any Award Agreement or as set forth in an employment agreement entered into by and between the Company and/or the Association and an Employee:

 

(a)          At the time of an Involuntary Termination of Employment (as defined in Section 8.1) (or, as to a Director, Termination of Service as a Director) following a Change in Control, all Stock Options then held by the Participant shall become fully exercisable (subject to the expiration provisions otherwise applicable to the Stock Option).

 

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(b)          At the time of an Involuntary Termination of Employment (as defined in Section 8.1) (or, as to a Director, Termination of Service as a Director) following a Change in Control, all Awards of Restricted Stock described in Section 2.1(b) shall be fully earned and vested immediately. Notwithstanding the above, any Awards the vesting of which are based on satisfaction of performance-based conditions will be vested as specified in subsection (c) hereof.

 

(c)          In the event of a Change in Control, any performance measure attached to an Award under the Plan shall be deemed satisfied as of the date of the Change in Control.

 

Section 4.2           Definition of Change in Control.  For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the earliest to occur of the following:

 

(a)          Merger: The Company or the Association merges into or consolidates with another entity, or merges another bank or corporation into the Company or the Association, and as a result, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were stockholders of the Company or the Association immediately before the merger or consolidation;

 

(b)          Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership: A person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of a class of the Company’s or the Association’s voting securities; provided, however, this clause (b) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of the Company’s or the Association’s voting shares held in a fiduciary capacity by an entity of which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of its outstanding voting securities;

 

(c)          Change in Board Composition: During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute the Company’s or the Association’s Board of Directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s or the Association’s Board of Directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (c), each director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board for election by the stockholders or corporators) by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period shall be deemed to have also been a director at the beginning of such period; or

 

(d)          Sale of Assets: The Company or the Association sells to a third party all or substantially all of its assets.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “Subject Person”) acquired beneficial ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding common stock or Voting Securities as a result of a change in the number of shares of Stock or Voting Securities then outstanding, which thereby increases the proportional number of shares beneficially owned by the Subject Person; provided, however, that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Stock or Voting Securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the beneficial owner of any additional Stock or Voting Securities which increases the percentage of the then outstanding Stock or Voting Securities beneficially owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur. In the event that an Award constitutes Deferred Compensation, and the settlement of, or distribution of benefits under, such Award is to be triggered solely by a Change in Control, then with respect to such Award, a Change in Control shall be defined as required under Code Section 409A, as in effect at the time of such transaction.

 

ARTICLE 5 - COMMITTEE

 

Section 5.1           Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the members of the Compensation Committee of the Company who are Disinterested Board Members. If the Committee consists of fewer than two Disinterested Board Members, then the Board shall appoint to the Committee such additional Disinterested Board Members as shall be necessary to provide for a Committee consisting of at least three Disinterested Board Members. Any members of the Committee who do not qualify as Disinterested Board Members shall abstain from participating in any discussion to make or administer Awards that are made to Participants who at the time of consideration for such Award: (i) are persons subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) are

 

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reasonably anticipated to be Covered Employees during the term of the Award. The Board (or those members of the Board who are “independent directors” under the corporate governance statutes or rules of any national securities exchange on which the Company lists its securities) may, in its discretion, take any action and exercise any power, privilege or discretion conferred on the Committee under the Plan with the same force and effect under the Plan as if done or exercised by the Committee.

 

Section 5.2           Powers of Committee.  The administration of the Plan by the Committee shall be subject to the following:

 

(a)          the Committee will have the authority and discretion to select from among the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ Employees and Directors those persons who shall receive Awards, to determine the time or times of receipt, to determine the types of Awards and the number of shares covered by the Awards, to establish the terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions (including without limitation, provisions relating to non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality), and other provisions of such Awards (subject to the restrictions imposed by Article 6) to cancel or suspend Awards and to reduce, eliminate or accelerate any restrictions or vesting requirements applicable to an Award at any time after the grant of the Award.

 

(b)          The Committee will have the authority and discretion to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

 

(c)          The Committee will have the authority to define terms not otherwise defined herein.

 

(d)          Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by it under the Plan is final and binding on all persons.

 

(e)          In controlling and managing the operation and administration of the Plan, the Committee shall take action in a manner that conforms to the charter and bylaws of the Company and applicable corporate law.

 

Section 5.3           Delegation by Committee.  Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the applicable rules of a stock exchange or the Plan, or as necessary to comply with the exemptive provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or Code Section 162(m), the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it, including: (a) delegating to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not “outside directors” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to eligible persons who are not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Code Section 162(m); and/or (b) delegating to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not “non-employee directors,” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.  The acts of such delegates shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Committee and such delegates shall report regularly to the Committee regarding the delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards so granted. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.

 

Section 5.4           Information to be Furnished to Committee.  As may be permitted by applicable law, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall furnish the Committee with such data and information as it determines may be required for it to discharge its duties.  The records of the Company and its Subsidiaries as to a Participant’s employment, termination of employment, leave of absence, reemployment and compensation shall be conclusive on all persons unless determined by the Committee to be manifestly incorrect.  Subject to applicable law, Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the Plan must furnish the Committee such evidence, data or information as the Committee considers desirable to carry out the terms of the Plan.

 

Section 5.5           Committee Action. The Committee shall hold such meetings, and may make such administrative rules and regulations, as it may deem proper. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the action of a majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, as well as actions taken pursuant to the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the Committee without holding a meeting, shall be deemed to be actions of the Committee. Subject to Section 5.1, all actions of the Committee shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Company, Participants and

 

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all other interested parties. Any person dealing with the Committee shall be fully protected in relying upon any written notice, instruction, direction or other communication signed by a member of the Committee or by a representative of the Committee authorized to sign the same in its behalf.

 

ARTICLE 6 - AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

Section 6.1           General.  The Board may, as permitted by law, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan, and may amend any Award Agreement, provided that no amendment or termination (except as provided in Section 2.6, Section 3.3 and Section 6.2) may cause the Award to violate Code Section 409A, or, in the absence of written consent to the change by the affected Participant (or, if the Participant is not then living, the affected beneficiary), adversely impair the rights of any Participant or beneficiary under any Award granted under the Plan prior to the date such amendment is adopted by the Board; provided, however, that, no amendment may (a) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (b) materially increase the aggregate number of securities which may be issued under the Plan, other than pursuant to Section 3.3, or (c) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan, unless the amendment under (a), (b) or (c) above is approved by the Company’s stockholders.

 

Section 6.2           Amendment to Conform to Law and Accounting Changes.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of (i) conforming the Plan or the Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A), or (ii) avoiding an accounting treatment resulting from an accounting pronouncement or interpretation thereof issued by the SEC or Financial Accounting Standards Board subsequent to the adoption of the Plan or the making of the Award affected thereby, which, in the sole discretion of the Committee, may materially and adversely affect the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. By accepting an Award under this Plan, each Participant agrees and consents to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 6.2 or Section 2.6 to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.

 

ARTICLE 7 - GENERAL TERMS

 

Section 7.1           No Implied Rights.

 

(a)          No Rights to Specific Assets.  Neither a Participant nor any other person shall by reason of participation in the Plan acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary whatsoever, including any specific funds, assets, or other property which the Company or any Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the Plan.  A Participant shall have only a contractual right to the shares of Stock or amounts, if any, payable or distributable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.

 

(b)          No Contractual Right to Employment or Future Awards.  The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment, and selection as a Participant will not give any participating Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or any right or claim to any benefit under the Plan, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the terms of the Plan.  No individual shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan, or, having been so selected, to receive a future Award under the Plan.

 

(c)          No Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award under the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof any rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights.

 

Section 7.2           Transferability.  Except as otherwise so provided by the Committee, ISOs under the Plan are not transferable except (i) as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) to a trust established by the Participant, if under Code Section 671 and applicable state law, the Participant is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Stock Option while held in trust, or (iii) between spouses incident to a divorce or pursuant to a domestic relations order, provided, however, in the case of a transfer within the meaning of this Section 7.2(iii), the Stock Option shall not qualify as an ISO as of the day of such transfer. The Committee shall have the discretion to permit the transfer of Stock Options (other than ISOs) under the Plan; provided, however, that

 

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such transfers shall be limited to Immediate Family Members of Participants, trusts and partnerships established for the primary benefit of such family members or to charitable organizations, and; provided, further, that such transfers are not made for consideration to the Participant.

 

Awards of Restricted Stock shall not be transferable prior to the time that such Awards vest in the Participant.

 

Section 7.3           Designation of Beneficiaries.  A Participant hereunder may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries under this Plan and may from time to time revoke or amend any such designation (“Beneficiary Designation”). Any designation of beneficiary under this Plan shall be controlling over any other disposition, testamentary or otherwise (unless such disposition is pursuant to a domestic relations order); provided, however, that if the Committee is in doubt as to the entitlement of any such beneficiary to any Award, the Committee may determine to recognize only the legal representative of the Participant, in which case the Company, the Committee and the members thereof shall not be under any further liability to anyone.

 

Section 7.4           Non-Exclusivity.  Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or the Committee to adopt such other incentive arrangements as either may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of Restricted Stock or Stock Options otherwise than under the Plan or an arrangement that is or is not intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

Section 7.5           Award Agreement.  Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement signed by the Participant. A copy of the Award Agreement, in any medium chosen by the Committee, shall be provided (or made available electronically) to the Participant.

 

Section 7.6           Form and Time of Elections.  Unless otherwise specified herein, each election required or permitted to be made by any Participant or other person entitled to benefits under the Plan, and any permitted modification or revocation thereof, shall be filed with the Company at such times, in such form, and subject to such restrictions and limitations, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall require.

 

Section 7.7           Evidence.  Evidence required of anyone under the Plan may be by certificate, affidavit, document or other information upon which the person is acting considers pertinent and reliable, and signed, made or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

Section 7.8           Tax Withholding.  Where a Participant is entitled to receive shares of Stock upon the vesting or exercise of an Award, the Company shall have the right to require such Participant to pay to the Company the amount of any tax that the Company is required to withhold with respect to such vesting or exercise, or, in lieu thereof, to retain, or to sell without notice, a sufficient number of shares of Stock to cover the minimum amount required to be withheld. To the extent determined by the Committee and specified in an Award Agreement, a Participant shall have the right to direct the Company to satisfy the minimum required federal, state and local tax withholding by: (i) with respect to a Stock Option settled in stock, reducing the number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option (without issuance of such shares of Stock to the Stock Option holder) by a number equal to the quotient of (a) the total minimum amount of required tax withholding divided by (b) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the exercise date over the Exercise Price per share of Stock; and (ii) with respect to Restricted Stock, withholding a number of shares (based on the Fair Market Value on the vesting date) otherwise vesting that would satisfy the minimum amount of required tax withholding. Provided there are no adverse accounting consequences to the Company (a requirement to have liability classification of an award under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718) is an adverse consequence), a Participant who is not required to have taxes withheld may require the Company to withhold in accordance with the preceding sentence as if the Award were subject to minimum tax withholding requirements.

 

Section 7.9           Action by Company or Subsidiary.  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Company or any Subsidiary shall be by resolution of its board of directors, or by action of one or more members of the Board (including a committee of the Board) who are duly authorized to act for the Board, or (except to the extent

 

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prohibited by applicable law or applicable rules of any stock exchange) by a duly authorized officer of the Company or such Subsidiary.

 

Section 7.10         Successors.  All obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business, stock, and/or assets of the Company.

 

Section 7.11         Indemnification.  To the fullest extent permitted by law and the Company’s governing documents, each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Section 5.3, or an Employee of the Company, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss (including amounts paid in settlement), cost, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of his or her own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute or regulation. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s charter or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

Section 7.12         No Fractional Shares.  Unless otherwise permitted by the Committee, no fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

Section 7.13         Governing Law.  The Plan, all Awards granted hereunder, and all actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to principles of conflict of laws, except as superseded by applicable federal law. The federal and state courts located in the State of New York, shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim, action, complaint or lawsuit brought under the terms of the Plan. By accepting any award under this Plan, each Participant and any other person claiming any rights under the Plan agrees to submit himself and any legal action that the Participant brings under the Plan, to the sole jurisdiction of such courts for the adjudication and resolution of any such disputes.

 

Section 7.14         Benefits Under Other Plans.  Except as otherwise provided by the Committee or as set forth in a Qualified Retirement Plan, Awards to a Participant (including the grant and the receipt of benefits) under the Plan shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the Participant’s benefits under, or contributions to, any Qualified Retirement Plan, non-qualified plan and any other benefit plans maintained by the Participant’s employer. The term “Qualified Retirement Plan” means any plan of the Company or a Subsidiary that is intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a).

 

Section 7.15         Validity.  If any provision of this Plan is determined to be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision has never been included herein.

 

Section 7.16         Notice.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, all written notices and all other written communications to the Company provided for in the Plan or in any Award Agreement, shall be delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid (provided that international mail shall be sent via overnight or two-day delivery), or sent by facsimile, email or prepaid overnight courier to the Company at its principal executive office. Such notices, demands, claims and other communications shall be deemed given:

 

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(a)          in the case of delivery by overnight service with guaranteed next day delivery, the next day or the day designated for delivery;

 

(b)          in the case of certified or registered U.S. mail, five days after deposit in the U.S. mail; or

 

(c)          in the case of facsimile or email, the date upon which the transmitting party received confirmation of receipt; provided, however, that in no event shall any such communications be deemed to be given later than the date they are actually received, provided they are actually received.

 

In the event a communication is not received, it shall only be deemed received upon the showing of an original of the applicable receipt, registration or confirmation from the applicable delivery service. Communications that are to be delivered by U.S. mail or by overnight service to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and to the Corporate Secretary.

 

Section 7.17         Forfeiture Events.

 

(a)          The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events include, but are not limited to, termination of employment for cause, termination of the Participant’s provisions of Services to the Company or any Subsidiary, violation of material Company or Subsidiary policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct of the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(b)          If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, any Participant who is subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

 

In addition, in the event of an accounting restatement, the Committee, in its sole and exclusive discretion, may require that any Participant reimburse the Company for all or any part of the amount of any payment in settlement of any Award granted hereunder.

 

ARTICLE 8 - DEFINED TERMS; CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 8.1           In addition to the other definitions contained herein, unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)          “10% Stockholder” means an individual who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.

 

(b)          “Award” means any Stock Option, Restricted Stock or any or all of them, or any other right or interest relating to stock or cash, granted to a Participant under the Plan.

 

(c)          “Award Agreement” means the document (in whatever medium prescribed by the Committee) which evidences the terms and conditions of an Award under the Plan. Such document is referred to as an agreement, regardless of whether a Participant’s signature is required.

 

(d)          “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(e)          If the Participant is subject to a written employment agreement (or other similar written agreement) with the Company or a Subsidiary that provides a definition of termination for “Cause,” then, for purposes of this Plan, the term “Cause” shall have meaning set forth in such agreement. In the absence of such a definition, “Cause” means (i) the conviction of the Participant of a felony or of any lesser criminal offense involving

 

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moral turpitude; (ii) the commission by the Participant of a criminal or other act that, in the judgment of the Board, will likely cause substantial economic damage to the Company or any Subsidiary or substantial injury to the business reputation of the Company or any Subsidiary; (iii) the commission by the Participant of an act of fraud in the performance of his duties on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary; (iv) the continuing willful failure of the Participant to perform his duties to the Company or any Subsidiary (other than any such failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after written notice thereof; or (v) an order of a federal or state regulatory agency or a court of competent jurisdiction requiring the termination of the Participant’s Service with the Company.

 

(f)           “Change in Control” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.2.

 

(g)          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder, as modified from time to time.

 

(h)          “Code Section 409A” means the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and any rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder, as modified from time to time.

 

(i)           “Committee” means the Committee acting under Article 5.

 

(j)           “Covered Employee” has the meaning given the term in Code Section 162(m), and shall also include any other Employee who may become a Covered Employee before an Award vests, as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

 

(k)          “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

(l)           If the Participant is subject to a written employment agreement (or other similar written agreement) with the Company or a Subsidiary that provides a definition of “Disability” or “Disabled,” then, for purposes of this Plan, the terms “Disability” or “Disabled” shall have meaning set forth in such agreement. In the absence of such a definition, “Disability” shall be defined in accordance with the Association’s long-term disability plan. To the extent that an Award hereunder is subject to Code Section 409A, “Disability” or “Disabled” shall mean that a Participant: (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months; or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering the Company’s Employees. Except to the extent prohibited under Code Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee shall have discretion to determine if a termination due to Disability has occurred.

 

(m)         “Disinterested Board Member” means a member of the Board who: (a) is not a current Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary; (b) is not a former employee of the Company who receives compensation for prior Services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the taxable year; (c) has not been an officer of the Company; (d) does not receive remuneration from the Company or a Subsidiary, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity other than as a Director except in an amount for which disclosure would not be required pursuant to Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K in accordance with the proxy solicitation rules of the SEC, as amended or any successor provision thereto; and (e) does not possess an interest in any other transaction, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K under the proxy solicitation rules of the SEC, as amended or any successor provision thereto. The term Disinterested Board Member shall be interpreted in such manner as shall be necessary to conform to the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code, Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the corporate governance standards imposed on compensation committees under the listing requirements imposed by any national securities exchange on which the Company lists or seeks to list its securities.

 

(n)          “Employee” means any person employed by the Company or any Subsidiary. Directors who are also employed by the Company or a Subsidiary shall be considered Employees under the Plan.

 

(o)          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

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(p)          “Excluded Transaction” means a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction that would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving corporation or any parent thereof) at least 50% of the combined voting power of the Voting Securities of the entity surviving the plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction (or the parent of such surviving entity) immediately after such plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

 

(q)          “Exercise Price” means the price established with respect to a Stock Option pursuant to Section 2.2.

 

(r)           “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to a share of Stock on a specified date:

 

(I)           the final reported sales price on the date in question (or if there is no reported sale on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred) as reported in the principal consolidated reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal United States securities exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or admitted to trading, as of the close of the market in New York City and without regard to after-hours trading activity; or

 

(II)         if the shares of Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any such exchange, the closing bid quotation with respect to a share of Stock on such date, as of the close of the market in New York City and without regard to after-hours trading activity, or, if no such quotation is provided, on another similar system, selected by the Committee, then in use; or

 

(III)        if (I) and (II) are not applicable, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as the Committee may determine in good faith and in accordance with Code Section 422 and the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of the exercise of a Stock Option, Fair Market Value on such date shall be the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company, or if not a day on which the market is open, the next day that it is open.

 

(s)          A termination of employment by an Employee Participant shall be deemed a termination of employment for “Good Reason” as a result of the Participant’s resignation from the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary upon the occurrence of any of the following events following a Change in Control: (a) the failure of the Company or Subsidiary to appoint or re-appoint or elect or re-elect the Employee Participant to the position(s) with the Company or Subsidiary held immediately prior to the Change in Control; (b) a material change in the functions, duties or responsibilities of the Employee Participant compared to those functions, duties or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; (c) any reduction of the rate of the Employee Participant’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; (d) any failure (other than due to reasonable administrative error that is cured promptly upon notice) to pay any portion of the Employee Participant’s compensation as and when due; (e) any change in the terms and conditions of any compensation or benefit program in which the Employee Participant participated immediately prior to the Change in Control which, either individually or together with other changes, has a material adverse effect on the aggregate value of his total compensation package; or (f) a change in the Employee Participant’s principal place of employment, without his consent, to a place that is at least 30 miles further away from the Employee Participant’s principal residence prior to the Change in Control.

 

(t)          “Immediate Family Member” means with respect to any Participant: (a) any of the Participant’s children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouses, former spouses, siblings, nieces, nephews, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law, including relationships created by adoption; (b) any natural person sharing the Participant’s household (other than as a tenant or employee, directly or indirectly, of the Participant); (c) a trust in which any combination of the Participant and persons described in section (a) and (b) above own more than 50% of the beneficial interests; (d) a foundation in which any combination of the Participant and persons described in sections (a) and (b) above control management of the assets; or (e) any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which any combination of the Participant and persons described in sections (a) and (b) above control more than 50% of the voting interests.

 

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(u)          “Incumbent Directors” means:

 

(I)            the individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board; and

 

(II)          any new Director whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended: (a) by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Whole Board, with at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then in office voting in favor of such approval or recommendation; or (b) by a Nominating Committee of the Board whose members were appointed by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Whole Board, with at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then in office voting in favor of such appointments

 

(v)          “Involuntary Termination of Employment” means the Termination of Service by the Company or Subsidiary (other than a termination for Cause) or termination of employment by a Participant Employee for Good Reason.

 

(w)         “ISO” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(a).

 

(x)           “Non-Qualified Option” means the right to purchase shares of Stock that is either (i) granted to a Participant who is not an Employee, or (ii) granted to an Employee and either is not designated by the Committee to be an ISO or does not satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(y)          “Participant” means any individual who has received, and currently holds, an outstanding Award under the Plan.

 

(z)          “Restricted Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3. 

 

(aa)        “Retirement” means, unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, retirement from employment as an Employee on or after the attainment of age 65, or Termination of Service as a Director on or after the attainment of age 70, provided, however, that unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, an Employee who is also a Director shall not be deemed to have terminated due to Retirement until both Service as an Employee and Service as a Director has ceased. A non-Employee Director will be deemed to have terminated due to Retirement under the provisions of this Plan only if the non-Employee Director has terminated Service on the Board(s) of Directors of the Company and any Subsidiary or affiliate in accordance with applicable Company policy, following the provision of written notice to such Board(s) of Directors of the non-Employee Director’s intention to retire.

 

(bb)       “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(cc)        “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

(dd)        “Service” means service as an Employee, service provider, or non-employee Director of the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and shall include service as a director emeritus or advisory director.

 

(ee)        “Stock” means the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share.

 

(ff)         “Stock Option” means an ISO or a Non-Qualified Option.

 

(gg)       “Subsidiary” means any corporation, affiliate, bank or other entity which would be a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company as defined in Code Section 424(f) and, other than with respect to an ISO, shall also mean any partnership or joint venture in which the Company and/or other Subsidiary owns more than 50% of the capital or profits interests.

 

(hh)       “Termination of Service” means the first day occurring on or after a grant date on which the Participant ceases to be an Employee or Director of, or service provider to, the Company or any Subsidiary, regardless of the reason for such cessation, subject to the following:

 

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(I)            The Participant’s cessation as an Employee or service provider shall not be deemed to occur by reason of the transfer of the Participant between the Company and a Subsidiary or between two Subsidiaries.

 

(II)           The Participant’s cessation as an Employee or service provider shall not be deemed to occur by reason of the Participant’s being on a bona fide leave of absence from the Company or a Subsidiary approved by the Company or Subsidiary otherwise receiving the Participant’s Services, provided such leave of absence does not exceed six months, or if longer, so long as the Employee retains a right to reemployment with the Company or Subsidiary under an applicable statute or by contract. For these purposes, a leave of absence constitutes a bona fide leave of absence only if there is a reasonable expectation that the Employee will return to perform Services for the Company or Subsidiary. If the period of leave exceeds six months and the Employee does not retain a right to reemployment under an applicable statute or by contract, the employment relationship is deemed to terminate on the first day immediately following such six month period. For purposes of this sub-section (II), to the extent applicable, an Employee’s leave of absence shall be interpreted by the Committee in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1).

 

(III)         If, as a result of a sale or other transaction, the Subsidiary for whom Participant is employed (or to whom the Participant is providing Services) ceases to be a Subsidiary, and the Participant is not, following the transaction, an Employee of the Company or an entity that is then a Subsidiary, then the occurrence of such transaction shall be treated as the Participant’s Termination of Service caused by the Participant being discharged by the entity for whom the Participant is employed or to whom the Participant is providing Services.

 

(IV)         Except to the extent Section 409A of the Code may be applicable to an Award, and subject to the foregoing paragraphs of this sub-section (hh), the Committee shall have discretion to determine if a Termination of Service has occurred and the date on which it occurred. In the event that any Award under the Plan constitutes Deferred Compensation (as defined in Section 2.6 hereof), the term Termination of Service shall be interpreted by the Committee in a manner consistent with the definition of “Separation from Service” as defined under Code Section 409A and under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(ii). For purposes of this Plan, a “Separation from Service” shall have occurred if the Association and Participant reasonably anticipate that no further Services will be performed by the Participant after the date of the Termination of Service (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) or the level of further Services performed will be less than 50% of the average level of bona fide Services in the 36 months immediately preceding the Termination of Service. If a Participant is a “Specified Employee,” as defined in Code Section 409A and any payment to be made hereunder shall be determined to be subject to Code Section 409A, then if required by Code Section 409A, such payment or a portion of such payment (to the minimum extent possible) shall be delayed and shall be paid on the first day of the seventh month following Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

(V)          With respect to a Participant who is a director, cessation as a Director will not be deemed to have occurred if the Participant continues as a director emeritus or advisory director.

 

(ii)          “Voting Securities” means any securities which ordinarily possess the power to vote in the election of directors without the happening of any pre-condition or contingency.

 

(jj)          “Whole Board” means the total number of Directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies on the Board at the time the relevant action or matter is presented to the Board for approval.

 

Section 8.2           In this Plan, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, the following uses apply:

 

(a)          actions permitted under this Plan may be taken at any time and from time to time in the actor’s reasonable discretion;

 

(b)          references to a statute shall refer to the statute and any successor statute, and to all regulations promulgated under or implementing the statute or its successor, as in effect at the relevant time;

 

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(c)          in computing periods from a specified date to a later specified date, the words “from” and “commencing on” (and the like) mean “from and including,” and the words “to,” “until” and “ending on” (and the like) mean “to, but excluding”;

 

(d)          references to a governmental or quasi-governmental agency, authority or instrumentality shall also refer to a regulatory body that succeeds to the functions of the agency, authority or instrumentality;

 

(e)          indications of time of day mean Eastern time;

 

(f)           “including” means “including, but not limited to”;

 

(g)          all references to sections, schedules and exhibits are to sections, schedules and exhibits in or to this Plan unless otherwise specified;

 

(h)          all words used in this Plan will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances and context require;

 

(i)           the captions and headings of articles, sections, schedules and exhibits appearing in or attached to this Plan have been inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not be considered a part of this Plan nor shall any of them affect the meaning or interpretation of this Plan or any of its provisions;

 

(j)           any reference to a document or set of documents in this Plan, and the rights and obligations of the parties under any such documents, shall mean such document or documents as amended from time to time, and any and all modifications, extensions, renewals, substitutions or replacements thereof; and

 

(k)          all accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP.

 

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REVOCABLE PROXY

 

SUNNYSIDE BANCORP, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

September 16, 2014

 

The undersigned hereby appoints the official proxy committee consisting of the Board of Directors of Sunnyside Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) with full powers of substitution to act as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, located at 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, New York at 9:00 a.m., Eastern time on Tuesday, September 16, 2014. The official proxy committee is authorized to cast all votes to which the undersigned is entitled as follows:

 

    FOR   WITHHELD  

FOR ALL

EXCEPT

1.

The election as directors of the nominees listed below each to serve for a three-year term.

 

Gerardina Mirtuono

Timothy D. Sullivan

 

INSTRUCTION: To withhold your vote for one or more nominees, mark “For all Except” and write the name(s) of the nominee(s) on the line(s) below.

 

__________________________________

 

__________________________________

¨

 

  ¨   ¨
             
    FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
2. The ratification of the appointment of Fontanella and Babitts as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014. ¨   ¨   ¨
             
    FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
3. The approval of the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. ¨   ¨   ¨

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” each of the listed proposals.

 

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSITIONS STATED ABOVE. IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PROPERLY PRESENTED AT SUCH ANNUAL MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOWS OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

 
 

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Should the undersigned be present and elect to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof and after notification to the Secretary of the Company at the Annual Meeting of the shareholder’s decision to terminate this proxy, then the power of said attorneys and proxies shall be deemed terminated and of no further force and effect. This proxy may also be revoked by sending written notice to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or by the filing of a later proxy prior to a vote being taken on a particular proposal at the Annual Meeting.

 

The undersigned acknowledges receipt from the Company prior to the execution of this proxy of a Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement, both dated August 11, 2014 and audited financial statements.

 

Dated:     ¨Check Box if You Plan
    to Attend Annual Meeting
     
     
PRINT NAME OF SHAREHOLDER   PRINT NAME OF SHAREHOLDER
     
     
SIGNATURE OF SHAREHOLDER   SIGNATURE OF SHAREHOLDER

 

Please sign exactly as your name appears on this card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full title.

 

Please complete and date this proxy and return it promptly
in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope.