DEF 14A 1 efsi-2024-notice_and_pro.htm DEF 14A DEF 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Amendment No. ___ )

 

Filed by the Registrant

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

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

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

EAGLE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

 

No fee required.

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(l) and 0-11

 

 


EAGLE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

2 East Main Street

P.O. Box 391

Berryville, Virginia 22611

NOTICE OF 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

The 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Eagle Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held in person on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at The Barns of Rose Hill, 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville, Virginia. The purpose of the meeting shall be as follows:

1.
To elect four (4) directors, Mary Bruce Glaize, Edward Hill, III, Tatiana C. Matthews and Cary C. Nelson, each for a term of three (3) years
2.
To ratify the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.
3.
To transact such other business as shall properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 22, 2024, as the record date for determining the shareholders of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

 

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

img144882229_0.jpg 

 

Kaley P. Crosen

 

Executive Vice President, Secretary

 

Berryville, Virginia

April 5, 2024

 

 

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted. You may vote by phone or Internet or, if you request a paper copy of the proxy card, you may complete, sign, date and return the proxy card using the postage-paid envelope provided. The proxy card, when returned properly executed, will be voted in the manner you direct. Instructions regarding the methods of voting are contained on the notice, proxy card or voting instruction form.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 21, 2024:

The proxy statement and the Company’s 2023 annual report on Form 10-K are available at https://www.bankofclarke.bank/EFSI_Annual_Meetings.html

 


 

EAGLE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

2 East Main Street

P.O. Box 391

Berryville, Virginia 22611

 

PROXY STATEMENT

2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

May 21, 2024

 

 

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the shareholders of Eagle Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at The Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville, Virginia, and at any adjournment thereof.

We are furnishing our proxy materials primarily over the Internet rather than mailing paper copies of those materials to each shareholder. On or about April 10, 2024, we first mailed an Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials on the Internet (the “Notice”) to shareholders and posted our proxy materials on the Internet site referenced therein. These proxy materials include the accompanying notice of Annual Meeting, this proxy statement, the proxy card and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Notice provides information regarding how to access these proxy materials on the Internet, vote your shares or request a paper copy of these materials.

The cost of solicitation of proxies and preparation of proxy materials will be borne by the Company. Solicitations of proxies will be made by use of the United States mail, electronic notice and access to the Internet, and may be made by direct or telephone contact by employees of the Company. Brokerage houses and nominees will be requested to forward the proxy materials to the beneficial holders of the shares held of record by these persons, and the Company will reimburse them for their reasonable charges in this connection.

Shareholders are encouraged to vote using any of the methods available to our shareholders. If you are a registered shareholder and attend the meeting, you may vote during the Annual Meeting. The Company also is pleased to offer its shareholders the convenience of voting by phone and online via the Internet. Please review the Notice separately mailed to you, the proxy card or your voting instruction form, as applicable, for instructions.

If a shareholder executes a proxy by completing and returning a proxy card or voting by phone or online in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by it will be voted in accordance with those instructions. If no direction is made, proxies will be voted in favor of the election of the nominees named in proposal one, and for the ratification of accountants in proposal two. Any person who has returned a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised by submitting a subsequent vote using any of the prescribed methods, by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of the Company, or by attending the meeting and voting during the meeting. If your shares are held in “street name” by your bank or broker and you want to change or revoke your vote, please follow the instructions given by the institution that holds your shares.

The close of business on March 22, 2024, has been fixed as the record date for the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on that date and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting was 3,557,229. Each outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to shareholders at the meeting. There are no cumulative voting rights. A majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented at the virtual Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

A shareholder may abstain or (only with respect to the election of directors) withhold his or her vote (collectively, “Abstentions”) with respect to each item submitted for shareholder approval. Abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. Abstentions will not be counted as voting in favor of or against the relevant item.

A broker who holds shares in “street name” has the authority to vote on certain items when it has not received instructions from the beneficial owner, except for certain items for which brokers are prohibited from exercising such discretion. “Broker shares” that are voted on at least one matter will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Where brokers do not have or do not exercise such discretion, the inability or failure to vote is referred to as a “broker nonvote.” Under the circumstances where the broker is not permitted to, or does not, exercise its discretion, assuming proper disclosure to the Company of such inability to vote, broker nonvotes will not be counted as voting in favor of or against the particular matter. We expect that a broker will be prohibited from voting on proposal one without instructions from the beneficial owner; therefore, there may be broker nonvotes on proposal one. We expect that a broker may vote on proposal two without instructions from the beneficial owner; therefore, no broker nonvotes are expected to exist in connection with this proposal. If you held your shares in street name, please vote to ensure your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting.

The purposes of the meeting are to elect directors, ratify the appointment of the Company’s accountants, and vote on such other business, if any, that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment. The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters other than those described in this Proxy Statement that may be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment the persons named in the proxy card possess discretionary authority to vote in accordance with their best judgment with respect to such other matters.

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PROPOSAL ONE - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors of the Company is structured into three classes (I, II, and III) with one class elected each year to serve a three-year term. The term of Class III Directors will expire at the Annual Meeting. The persons named below, all of whom are currently members of the Board, will be nominated to serve as Class III Directors. If elected, the Class III nominees will serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified. All nominees have consented to be named and have indicated their intent to serve if elected. Those nominees receiving the greatest number of votes shall be deemed elected even though they may not receive a majority. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

Certain information concerning the nominees for election at the Annual Meeting is set forth below, as well as certain information about the Class I and II Directors who will continue in office until the 2025 and 2026 Annual Meetings of Shareholders, respectively. The following biographical information discloses each Director’s age, principal occupation during the last five years and the year that each individual was first elected to the Board of Directors of the Company or previously to the Board of Directors of Bank of Clarke (the “Bank”), the predecessor to and now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In addition, the following information includes the particular experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills that lead the Board to conclude that each person should serve as a Director.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the Directors nominees set forth below.

Class III (Nominees to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting):

 

Tatiana C. Matthews, 67, has been a director since 2022.

Ms. Matthews is the Co-Founder, President and Chairman of the Board of the Matthews Group, Inc. t/a TMG Construction Corporation (TMG). TMG is a leading design/builder and general contractor serving institutional, governmental, and military clients. Woman/Native American owned and MBE-certified, TMG specializes in new construction, renovations and additions, and facilities maintenance support under Lump Sum, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Task Order and Job Order contracts.

 

Edward Hill, III, 59, has been a director since 2022.

Dr. Hill is a physician executive, entrepreneur, investor, innovator and medical jurisprudence professional with cross-discipline education, training and experience and a cross-functional skill set. He is a founding member of several corporations and companies in the northern Virginia area including Alpharix Partners, LLC, Fetal Cerebral, Inc., and Forensic Perinatal, Inc.

 

Mary Bruce Glaize, 68, has been a director since 1998.

Mrs. Glaize is a retired educator and community volunteer. She currently serves as a Trustee on the Board of Shenandoah University. Additionally, Mrs. Glaize is a founder and trustee emerita of the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum. Her involvement in the communities in which the Company operates allows her to identify the needs of the Bank’s customers and potential customers.

 

Cary C. Nelson, 49, has been a director since 2018.

Mrs. Nelson is the President of H.N. Funkhouser & Company, a local family-owned petroleum company that operates in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Mrs. Nelson is a native of the Winchester/Frederick County, Virginia area. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Richmond. Additionally, Mrs. Nelson is the board chair of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber and the former President of the Rotary Club of Winchester. Mrs. Nelson is also a board member of the Mount Hebron Cemetery. Her business experience and skill set are valuable resources to the Company in both her role on the Board of Directors and the Company’s Audit Committee.

Class II (Incumbent directors to serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting):

 

Brandon C. Lorey, 55, has been a director since 2019.

Mr. Lorey has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of both the Company and the Bank since July 2019. Prior to joining the Company in 2019, heserved as Executive Vice President, Head of Consumer Banking of United Bank, a $7.3 billion asset bank headquartered in Connecticut, since 2015. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President, Consumer Lending from April 2014 to June 2015, as Senior Vice President, Head of Consumer Lending from February 2013 to April 2014. Prior to joining United Bank and its predecessors, he served as Chief Credit and Lending Officer for H&R Block Bank in Kansas City, Senior Vice President at Sovereign Bank in Pennsylvania and held various roles at Chevy Chase Bank, a Federal Savings Bank in Maryland, including Vice President of risk, finance, operations and direct sales.

 

Douglas C. Rinker, 64, has been a director since 2006.

Mr. Rinker is the Chairman of the Board of Winchester Equipment Company, an equipment sales, rental and service company headquartered in Winchester, Virginia. Mr. Rinker also serves as the Senior Pastor of Round Hill Church. As the Chairman of a successful company, Mr. Rinker provides the Board with valuable insight and guidance on the issues of corporate strategy, business growth and risk management. He has demonstrated his commitment to the community by his past service in several community and civic organizations.

 

2


 

John D. Stokely, Jr., 71, has been a director since 2006.

Mr. Stokely is the President and owner of Cavalier Land Development Corp., a real estate development company in Oakton, Virginia and is a former President of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association and the Home Builders Association of Virginia. Mr. Stokely is also a former Chairman and a current Trustee of Shenandoah University as well as a Trustee of the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science. His broad experience and perspective as an entrepreneur brings to the Board a substantial resource with respect to finance, strategic planning and corporate governance.

Class I (Incumbent directors to serve until the 2025 Annual Meeting):

 

Thomas T. Gilpin, 71, has been a director since 1986.

Mr. Gilpin is the Chairman of the Board of both the Company and the Bank. He is the President of Lenoir City Company, a real estate investment company in Winchester, Virginia. He is also President of Clarco Corporation, which operates as Northside Lanes, a bowling center in Winchester,Virginia. He is also a Board member for Valley Health System. Mr. Gilpin’s broad experience provides the Company leadership and consensus-building skills to guide the Board through critical discussions regarding its current challenges and future strategic initiatives.

 

Scott M. Hamberger, 52, has been a director since 2016.

Mr. Hamberger is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Integrus Holdings, Inc. where he has been employed since founding the company in 1993. Integrus’ flagship business, Fortessa Tableware Solutions, is a recognized global leader in commercial foodservice and upscale consumer tableware. As an entrepreneur and executive, Mr. Hamberger brings analytical ability and leadership skills to his role as director. Additionally, he has served as a Director and Chairman of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, as a Trustee and Chairman of Inova Loudoun Hospital, and as a Trustee of Marymount University. By living, volunteering, and operating a business in the Company’s area of operations, Mr. Hamberger is able to help identify the needs of the Company’s customers and potential customers.

 

John R. Milleson, 67, has been a director since 1999.

Mr. Milleson had been the President and Chief Executive Officer of both the Company and the Bank from 1999 to July 2019. From 1997 to 1999, he was Executive Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Company and Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Bank. He brings operational risk management and financial accounting knowledge.

 

Robert W. Smalley, Jr., 71, has been a director since 1989.

Mr. Smalley is the President of Smalley Package Co., Inc., a company focused on real estate management in Berryville, Virginia. He is also the Vice Chairman of Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company, a property and casualty insurance provider in the State of Virginia. Mr. Smalley’s institutional knowledge and longstanding board service make him a distinctively qualified member of the board.

 

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Kathleen J. Chappell, 57, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank since 2019. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank from 2009 to 2019. From 2005 to 2008 she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Middleburg Financial Corporation.

Kaley P. Crosen, 58, has served as Secretary of the Company and as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Bank since 2019. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President and Human Resources Director from 2008 to 2019. Ms. Crosen served as Vice President of Human Resources from 1999 to 2008.

Joseph T. Zmitrovich, 54, has served as President and Chief Banking Officer of the Bank since 2022. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer from 2020 to 2022 and Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of the Bank from 2019 to 2020. Mr. Zmitrovich served as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of the Bank from 2016 to 2019. From 2015 to July 2016, he served as Market President of the Southern Pennsylvania region for BB&T. From 2008 to 2015 he served as Senior Vice President and Commercial Executive for Susquehanna Bank.

3


 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP

 

Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

 

The following table sets forth, as of March 22, 2024, certain information with respect to beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by each of the members of the Board of Directors, by each of the executive officers included in the “Summary Compensation Table” below (collectively, the “named executive officers”) and by all directors and executive officers as a group.

 

 

Amount and Nature

 

 

 

 

 

 

of Beneficial

 

 

 

Percent of

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Ownership (1)

 

 

 

Class (2)

 

Kathleen J. Chappell

 

 

15,437

 

(3)

 

*

 

Thomas T. Gilpin

 

 

114,183

 

(3)

 

 

3.21

%

Mary Bruce Glaize

 

 

15,374

 

 

 

*

 

Scott M. Hamberger

 

 

3,116

 

 

 

*

 

Edward Hill III

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

*

 

Brandon C. Lorey

 

 

33,671

 

 

 

*

 

John R. Milleson

 

 

142,455

 

(3)

 

 

4.00

%

Tatiana C. Matthews

 

 

1,944

 

 

 

*

 

Cary R. Nelson

 

 

4,815

 

(3)

 

*

 

Douglas C. Rinker

 

 

20,089

 

 

 

*

 

Robert W. Smalley, Jr.

 

 

23,683

 

(3)

 

*

 

John D. Stokely, Jr.

 

 

17,789

 

(3)

 

*

 

Joseph T. Zmitrovich

 

 

21,198

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons)

 

 

436,676

 

(3)(4)

 

 

12.28

%

 

* Percentage of ownership is less than one percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(1)
For purposes of this table, beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under which, in general, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if he has, or shares, the power to vote, or direct the voting, of the security or the power to dispose of, or direct, the disposition of the security, or if he has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of the security within 60 days.
(2)
Based on 3,557,229 shares issued and outstanding at March 22, 2024.
(3)
Amounts presented include shares of Common Stock that the individuals beneficially own indirectly through family members and affiliated companies and other entities as follows: Ms. Chappell, 31; Mr. Gilpin, 65,293; Mr. Milleson, 94; Ms. Nelson, 312; Mr. Smalley, 1,639; Mr. Stokely, 5,815.
(4)
Amounts presented include shares of Common Stock held in the Bank of Clarke County Employee 401(k) Savings and Stock Ownership Plan as follows: Mrs. Crosen, 3,868.

 

4


 

Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

 

The following table sets forth, as of March 22, 2024, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by each person who owns, to the Company’s knowledge, more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

Name and Address

 

Number of
Shares

 

 

 

 

Percent of
Class (%) (1)

 

James R. Wilkins, Jr.

 

 

323,401

 

 

(2

)

 

 

9.09

 

13 South Loudoun Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winchester, Virginia 22601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)
Based on 3,577,229 shares issued and outstanding at March 22, 2024.
(2)
Amount includes 37,000 shares held as trustee under the terms of certain trusts and 65,900 shares held by affiliated companies and other entities.

 

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and any persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common Stock. Directors and executive officers are required by SECregulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. Based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company or written representation that no other reports were required, the Company believes that, during the 2023 year, all filing requirements applicable to its officers and directors were timely satisfied other than as follows: one report reporting three transactions for Ms. Purrington and one report reporting one transaction for Mr. Lorey.

5


 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

General

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Company’s business through discussions with the Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees.

 

Independence of the Directors

 

The Board of Directors has determined that the following 10 individuals of its total 11 members are independent as defined by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”): Mrs. Glaize, Ms. Matthews, Mrs. Nelson and Messrs. Gilpin, Hamberger, Hill, Milleson, Rinker, Smalley and Stokely. Other than as set forth in “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” there are no material relationships between the Company and any independent directors. The director not considered independent is Mr. Lorey, who serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

 

The Company has been operating for over 140 years using a board leadership structure in which the President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chairman of the Board of Directors positions are filled by separate individuals. The Company believes that its leadership structure is appropriate because by having an outside independent Chairman, there exists a certain degree of control and balanced oversight of the management of the Board’s functions and its decision-making processes. In accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, the Board of Directors elects the CEO and the Chairman, and each of these positions may be held by the same person or may be held by two persons. Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board does not have a policy, one way or the other, on whether the role of the Chairman and CEO should be separate and, if it is to be separate, whether the Chairman should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee. Under its charter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews and recommends to the Board the leadership structure of the Board. Because the Company’s Chairman and CEO positions are served by two individuals, the Company currently does not require a Lead Director.

 

The Company believes that its leadership structure allows the directors to provide effective oversight of its risk management function. The Audit Committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company, as well as legal and compliance matters and risk management. The Audit Committee charter provides that the Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the internal controls of the Company along with its adherence with compliance and regulatory requirements. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee works closely with members of Company’s executive management and employees of the firm to which the external audit services of the Company are outsourced. The Audit Committee meets regularly and receives an overview of findings from various risk management initiatives including internal audits, Sarbanes Oxley and compliance reports. The Audit Committee also receives updates between its regular meetings from the CEO, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and Chief Risk Officer (“CRO”) and other members of management relating to risk oversight matters. The Audit Committee provides minutes of all its meetings to the full Board. The full Board also engages in periodic discussions with the CEO, CFO and other corporate officers as the Board may deem appropriate.

 

In addition to the Audit Committee, the other committees of the Board consider the risks within their areas of responsibility. For example, the Compensation Committee considers the risks that may exist in the Company’s executive compensation programs. For a discussion of the Compensation Committee’s review of the Company’s senior executive officer compensation plans, employee incentive compensation plans, and the risks associated with these plans, see “Compensation Policy and Practices Review” on page 9 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Board of Directors has approved a Code of Ethics for directors, officers and all employees of the Company and the Bank. The Board has also approved an addendum to the Code of Ethics applicable to the Company’s senior financial management, consisting of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Code of Ethics addendum addresses, among other things, standards that are reasonably necessary to promote honest and ethical conduct, including conduct with respect to conflicts of interest, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the Company’s required periodic reports and compliance with applicable governmental rules and regulations. A copy of the Company’s Code of Ethics and its addendum may be obtained by visiting the “Investor Relations” section of the Bank’s website at www.bankofclarke.bank.

Any amendments to, or waivers of, the Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, executive officers, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions and required to be disclosed will be posted on our website at www.bankofclarke.bank.

 

 

6


 

Board and Committee Meeting Attendance

 

During 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company held seven meetings. The directors of the Company also serve as directors of the Bank. The Bank’s Board held 12 meetings in 2023. During 2023, all directors attended greater than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of both Boards of Directors and meetings of committees on which he or she was a member.

 

Executive Sessions

 

Independent directors meet periodically outside of regularly scheduled Board meetings. These sessions are led by the Chairman of the Board. The independent directors met three times during 2023.

 

Committees of the Board

 

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors to fulfill its oversight responsibility to the shareholders relating to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the qualifications, independence and the performance of the internal audit function. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of both the Company’s Director of Internal Audit and the independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attestation services for the Company. The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors have adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which may be viewed by visiting the “Investor Relations” section of the Bank’s website at www.bankofclarke.bank.

The Audit Committee met four times during 2023. This committee consists of Mrs. Nelson and Messrs. Gilpin, Hamberger, Hill and Smalley. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent as that term is defined in the listing standards of Nasdaq and SEC regulations. The Board has determined that Mrs. Nelson qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined by SEC regulations and has designated her as the Company’s audit committee financial expert.

 

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is a committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee met four times in 2023. The Compensation Committee reviews the CEO’s performance and compensation and reviews and sets

guidelines for compensation of the other executive officers. All decisions by the Compensation Committee relating to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers are reported to the full Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee consists of Ms. Matthews and Messrs. Hamberger, Rinker, and Smalley, each of whom is independent as that term is defined by the listing standards of Nasdaq and SEC regulations. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors have adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which may be viewed by visiting the “Investor Relations” section of the Bank’s website at www.bankofclarke.bank.

 

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee met two times during 2023. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee consists of Mrs. Nelson and Messrs. Gilpin, Rinker and Stokely, each of whom is independent as that term is defined in the listing standards of Nasdaq. The purpose of this committee is to recommend individuals for election to the Board of Directors in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and oversee the corporate governance practices of the Company. The Nominating/Governance Committee and the Board of Directors have adopted a written charter for the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, which may be viewed by visiting the “Investor Relations” section of the Bank’s website at www.bankofclarke.bank.

In identifying potential nominees, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee takes into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the range of talents, experiences and skills that would best complement those that are already represented on the Board, the balance of management and independent directors and the need for specialized expertise. The Board considers candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and management, and the Board will also consider candidates suggested informally by a shareholder of the Company.

 

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee considers, at a minimum, the following factors for potential new directors or the continued service of existing directors:

the ability of the prospective nominee to represent the interests of the shareholders of the Company;
the prospective nominee’s standards of integrity, commitment and independence of thought and judgment;
the prospective nominee’s ability to dedicate sufficient time, energy and attention to the diligent performance of his or her duties, including the prospective nominee’s service on other public company boards; and
the extent to which the prospective nominee contributes to the range of talent, skill and expertise that represents a diversity of background appropriate for the Board.

 

The process used for selecting new candidates for the Board of Directors involves identifying the need to add a new member with specific qualifications or to fill a vacancy. The Chairman of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will initiate a search, which may involve seeking input from Board members and senior management, and considering any candidates recommended by shareholders. A list of candidates which satisfy certain criteria and otherwise qualify for membership is presented to the Nominating/Corporate Governance

7


 

Committee. The Chairman of the Board, along with the President and Chief Executive Officer, conducts interviews with preferred candidates from the list. Afterwards, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee meets to conduct further interviews of preferred candidates, if necessary, and to recommend final candidates for approval by the full Board of Directors.

 

Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may submit candidates for formal consideration by the Company in connection with an Annual Meeting if timely written notice is received, in proper form, for each such recommended Director nominee. If the notice is not timely and in proper form, the nominee will not be considered by the Company. To be timely for the 2025 Annual Meeting, the notice must be received within the time frame set forth in the section titled “Shareholder Proposals for the 2025 Annual Meeting” within this Proxy Statement. To be in proper form, the notice must include each nominee’s written consent to be named as a nominee and to serve, if elected, and information about the shareholder making the nomination and the person nominated for election.

 

Annual Meeting Attendance

 

The Company has not adopted a formal policy on director attendance at its Annual Meeting, although all directors are encouraged to attend and historically most have done so. All directors attended the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting.

 

Shareholder Communication

 

Shareholders and other interested parties may communicate with all members or any member of the Board of Directors by addressing correspondence to “Board of Directors” or to the individual director. Such correspondence should be addressed to the Secretary of the Company, P.O. Box 391, Berryville, Virginia 22611. All communications so addressed will be forwarded promptly, without screening, to the Chairman of the Board of Directors (in the case of correspondence addressed to “Board of Directors”) or to the individual director.

 

Anti-Hedging Policies

 

The Company currently does not have any policies with respect to financial instruments or transactions in derivative securities or otherwise that hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Company’s common stock.

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table provides compensation information for the year ended December 31, 2023, for each non-employee director of the Company’s Board of Directors:

 

Director Compensation Table

Fiscal Year 2023

 

 

Fees Earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or Paid in Cash

 

 

Stock Awards

 

 

Total

 

Name (1)

 

($)

 

 

($) (2)

 

 

($)

 

Thomas T. Byrd

 

 

14,300

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

35,870

 

Thomas T. Gilpin

 

 

45,600

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

67,170

 

Mary Bruce Glaize

 

 

27,200

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

48,770

 

Edward Hill, III

 

 

27,200

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

48,770

 

Scott M. Hamberger

 

 

29,000

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

50,570

 

Tatiana C. Matthews

 

 

29,800

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

51,370

 

John R. Milleson

 

 

30,600

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

52,170

 

Cary C. Nelson

 

 

34,000

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

55,570

 

Douglas C. Rinker

 

 

30,400

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

51,970

 

Robert W. Smalley, Jr.

 

 

30,200

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

51,770

 

John D. Stokely, Jr.

 

 

30,200

 

 

 

21,570

 

 

 

51,770

 

 

____________________

 

(1)
Brandon C. Lorey, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, is not included in this table as he receives no compensation for his services as a director. The compensation received by Mr. Lorey as an employee is shown in the Summary Compensation Table on page 13.
(2)
The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (formerly FASB 123R, Share–Based Payment). The grant date fair value for these stock awards of $35.95 per share was based on the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date (January 3, 2023). At December 31, 2023, each non-employee director had no shares of restricted stock outstanding. During 2023, each director received 600 shares of restricted stock in January, which vested in December.

8


 

 

The Compensation Committee evaluates the compensation of the directors annually. The Compensation Committee relies primarily on information regarding the director compensation of similar financial institutions. Based on this evaluation, the Compensation Committee recommends changes in compensation to the Board of Directors for approval.

 

Non-employee members of the Board of Directors each receive an annual retainer for service as a member of the Bank’s Board of Directors. During 2023, the Chairman of the Board’s retainer was $37,000 and other directors’ retainer was $25,000. The Chairmen of the Audit and Compensation Committees each receive an additional retainer of $4,000 and $2,000, respectively. Members of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee received $400 per meeting attended. Members of all other Bank committees received $200 per meeting attended during 2023. In addition to cash compensation, non-employee members of the Board of Directors receive stock awards in accordance with the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan, as disclosed in the footnotes of the table above.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

The Company, through its subsidiary Bank, grants loans to and accepts deposits from its directors, principal officers and related parties of such persons during the ordinary course of business. Loans are granted on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other customers not related to the Company and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. The aggregate balance of loans to directors, principal officers and their related parties was $4,981,115 at December 31, 2023. Deposits are accepted on the same terms, including interest rates, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other customers. The aggregate balance of deposits from directors, principal officers and their related parties was $7,037,731 at December 31, 2023.

 

The Company has not adopted a formal policy that covers the review and approval of related person transactions by the Board of Directors. The Board, however, does review all such transactions that are proposed to it for approval. During such a review, the Board will consider, among other things, the related person’s relationship to the Company, the facts and circumstances of the proposed transaction, the aggregate dollar amount of the transaction, the related person’s relationship to the transaction and any other material information. The Audit Committee of the Board also has the responsibility to review significant conflicts of interest involving directors or executive officers.

In addition, any extensions of credit to directors and officers are required to be on substantially the same terms as comparable transactions to non-related parties at the time of the extension of credit, pursuant to Regulation O – Loans to Executive Officers, Directors and Principal Shareholders of Member Banks of the banking regulations applicable to us.

 

Compensation Policy and Practices Review

 

The Compensation Committee has authority over the selection, use, and retention of any compensation consultant or any other experts engaged to assist the Committee in discharging its responsibilities. During 2023, the Committee engaged Pearl Meyer and Partners, LLC “PM” to act as consultant and independent advisor to the Committee. PM assisted the Committee in reviewing compensation strategy and recommending changes to the Company’s peer group, as well as selecting and reviewing compensation and performance data for a peer group of comparable, community financial institutions. PM also aided with conducting assessments of compensation policy, plans, practices to address reporting requirements, long term incentive grant determinations, risk assessment of compensation, and provided periodic updates on regulatory and reporting requirement changes related to compensation. In its capacity as advisor to the Compensation Committee, PM worked directly for the Committee and periodically met with Committee Chair without the presence of Company management. Additionally, PM provided consulting to the Company with regard to director compensation as well as director and CEO performance evaluations. As a result of the above noted actions, the Committee found that the Company’s compensation policies, plans and practices do not encourage unnecessary or unreasonable risk-taking and do not give rise to risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

9


 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

General. The Compensation Committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors reviews the salary and other compensation of executive officers, including the named executive officers, and provides oversight of the compensation programs. The Compensation Committee consists entirely of non-employee, independent members of the Board of Directors and operates under a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee establishes and approves the compensation of the President and Chief Executive Officer. The President and Chief Executive Officer recommends the compensation of the other executive officers of the Company and its subsidiary to the Compensation Committee for its review and approval.

Management Say on Pay Vote Results for 2022. At the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, approximately 95% of the shareholders who voted on the "say on pay" proposal approved the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers. The Compensation Committee believes that the shareholder vote confirms the philosophy and objective of linking our executive compensation to our operating objectives and the enhancement of shareholder value. This level of shareholder support is viewed as an affirmation of the Company’s current pay practices, and as a result, no significant changes were made to our pay practices. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Company's say on pay votes when making future compensation decisions for the named executive officers.

 

The Committee evaluates the appropriateness and competitiveness of the Company's total compensation program in light of shareholder feedback generally and to ensure the Company's executive compensation program represents the best interests of shareholders. The Committee is committed to performing a thorough assessment and making changes as deemed necessary to attract and retain the highest quality talent, to reward for achieving the Company's objectives, and to align with the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

At the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders voted on the frequency with which their advisory vote should be held in the future – every one, two or three years. Consistent with shareholders’ voting, the Company will follow a three-year cycle, and shareholders will be asked to vote on a “say on pay” proposal again in 2025.

Objectives of the Compensation Program. The primary objective of the executive compensation program is to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated executive officers who will manage the company in a manner to promote its growth and profitability and to advance the interest of its shareholders. Additional objectives of our executive compensation program are the following:

align executive pay with shareholders’ interests;
recognize individual initiative and achievements; and
unite the entire executive management team to a common objective.

 

Executive Compensation Principles. The executive compensation program generally consists of base salaries, annual cash incentive payments in the form of annual bonuses and long-term equity incentives in the form of stock awards. These components of executive compensation are used together to strike an appropriate balance between cash and stock compensation and between short-term and long-term incentives. We expect a portion of an executive officer’s total compensation to be tied both to the Company’s annual and long-term performance as well as to the creation of shareholder value. In particular, we believe that short-term annual cash incentive compensation should be tied directly to both Company performance and individual performance for the fiscal year. In contrast, we believe that the value of long-term incentive compensation should be tied directly to long-term company performance and an increase in shareholder value. Under the program, performance above targeted standards results in increased total compensation, and performance below targeted standards results in decreased total compensation.

 

We differentiate compensation to executive officers based on the principle that total compensation should increase with an executive officer’s position and responsibility. Executive officers with greater roles and responsibilities associated with achieving performance targets should receive a lesser proportion of the reward if those targets are not achieved and should receive a greater proportion of the reward if those targets are met or surpassed. In addition, as an executive officer’s position and responsibility increases, the use of long-term incentive compensation should increase where executive officers have the greatest influence on strategic performance over time.

 

How Executive Pay Levels are Determined. The Compensation Committee reviews the executive compensation program and its elements annually. In determining the compensation of the executive officers, the Committee evaluates total overall compensation, as well as the mix of salary, cash bonus incentives and equity incentives, using a number of factors including the following:

the Company’s financial and operating performance, measured by attainment of specific strategic objectives and operating results;
the duties, responsibilities and performance of each executive officer;
historical cash and equity compensation levels; and
comparative industry market data to assess compensation competitiveness.

 

 

10


 

With respect to comparative industry data, the Compensation Committee reviews executive salaries and evaluates compensation structures and the financial performance of comparable companies in a peer group established by the Compensation Committee. The peer group used for comparison purposes is comprised of public companies in the banking industry that are similar in size with similar market capitalizations and other characteristics.

Components of Executive Compensation. The components of the executive compensation program included base annual salary, annual cash incentive payments in the form of bonuses and long-term incentives through equity compensation under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan. The Company provides retirement benefits through a 401(k) savings plan. The Company also provides health and welfare benefits that include participation in health, dental and vision plans and various insurance plans, including disability and life insurance.

Each of the components of executive compensation is designed to reward and provide incentives to executive officers consistent with the Company’s overall policies and principles on executive compensation. These components and the rationale and methodology for each are described below. Specific information on the amounts and types of compensation earned by the named executive officers during 2022 can be found in the “Summary Compensation Table” and other tables and narrative disclosures following this discussion.

 

Base Salary: The Company’s philosophy regarding base salary is to provide reasonable current income to the named executive officers in amounts that will attract and retain individuals with a broad, proven track record of performance.

 

The base salary for the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company is approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. In making determinations regarding compensation for the President and Chief Executive Officer for 2023, the Compensation Committee evaluated the performance of Mr. Lorey based on the Company’s financial performance, achievements in implementing the Company’s long-term strategy, and the personal observations of his performance by the members of the Board of Directors. No particular weight was given to any particular aspects of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer.

Base salaries for executive officers other than the President and Chief Executive Officer are recommended by the President and Chief Executive Officer to the Compensation Committee for review and approval. In making base salary recommendations for 2023, the President and Chief Executive Officer evaluated the performance of the executive officers based on the Company’s financial performance, achievements in implementing the Company’s long-term strategy, and the personal observations of the executive officers’ performance by the Chief Executive Officer. The President and Chief Executive Officer also reviews the salary survey prepared by the Virginia Bankers Association. No particular weight was given to any particular aspects of the performance of the executive officers.

 

Annual Incentive Bonus: In 2023, the Compensation Committee approved performance metrics under our Senior Officer Incentive Compensation Plan “SOICP”, which sets the target level of executive cash incentives as a percentage of base salary, as further described below, at December 31, 2023. Each of the named executive officers participates in the SOICP.

Executive officers currently have the opportunity to earn an annual incentive award up to a predetermined percentage of total base salary determined by achievement of the Company's operating or consolidated performance goals. In addition to promoting the achievement of corporate performance goals, the incentive awards are designed to align the interests of executive management with those of shareholders in managing a profitable and sound institution.

In 2023, the SOCIP was designed to provide incentives that would be reasonable in relation to the payment of base salaries and overall compensation to executive officers, to be competitive with market and peer group incentive practices, and to provide executive officers the opportunity to earn above-target incentives for above-target performance. Consistent with the design goals of our SOICP, the Compensation Committee determined that 2023 incentive opportunities for the named executive officers should be targeted within a range of 25% to 30% of base salary of the named executive officers. The maximum level of incentive opportunities for named executive officers ranges from 37.5% to 45% of base salary.

 

Incentive awards are increased when performance exceeds performance targets, and awards are decreased when performance falls below performance targets. Under the SOICP, incentive awards were realized when actual performance results fell within a range of 85% to 125%. Results that fall below the 85% threshold result in no incentives being awarded. Ultimately, all incentive awards under the 2023 SOICP are at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Based on discussion with executive management, the Compensation Committee approved the plan performance objectives and the award formula or matrix by which all awards under the 2023 SOICP were calculated. Performance measures were selected based on important priorities for the Company in 2023. The Compensation Committee approved a weight for each performance measure to indicate its relative importance and the percent of overall incentives that could be earned for that particular performance measure.

The financial and operating targets approved by the Compensation Committee for the 2023 Senior Officer Incentive Compensation Plan were return on average assets, efficiency, net loan growth and the ratio of noninterest income to total income. In order for any amounts to be awarded with respect to the four financial and operating targets of the SOICP, the Company’s pretax net income needed to reach 80% of its 2023 target. Additionally, should the Company’s nonperforming assets to total assets ratio have reached 1.25%, awards to the plan participants would have been decreased by 20%. The 2023 incentive award payments to each executive officer are disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table” below.

 

 

11


 

Equity Compensation: The Compensation Committee may provide equity compensation to executive officers through long-term stock awards pursuant to the 2023 Stock Incentive Plan. Equity grants have been made to executive officers in the form of restricted stock, which is both time and performance based. The time-based shares vest over a three-year period whereby the executive receives one-third of the shares on each of the three subsequent anniversaries of the grant date if that executive is employed on the anniversary date. Performance-based shares are earned over a two-year performance period with vesting at the end of the first and second year based on performance and service. The goal of the Compensation Committee in granting equity compensation is to directly link an executive’s compensation opportunities with shareholder value creation. The multi-year vesting of stock awards focuses executive officers on consistent long-term growth in shareholder value and requires executive officers to remain employed for extended periods to receive the full benefit of the awards.

On January 3, 2023, the Compensation Committee awarded restricted stock grants and performance vested shares to the executive officers. The total amount of stock awards was set based on the executive’s position. The Compensation Committee determined that these stock awards should be split between time and performance-based shares. Our Chief Executive Officer was granted a mix of 50% time-vested and 50% performance-vested shares (at target); while other named executive officers were granted a mix of 60% time-vested and 40% performance-vested shares (at target).

 

The number of time-vested and target number of performance-vested shares for each executive officer are shown in the table below:

 

Name

Position

Number of Time-vested Shares

Target Number of Performance-vested Shares

Brandon C. Lorey

Chief Executive Officer

2,702

669

Kathleen J. Chappell

Chief Financial Officer

1,186

294

Joseph T. Zmitrovich

President and Chief Banking Officer, Bank of Clarke

3,463

335

 

The performance-based shares granted in 2023 contained vesting conditions whereby the executive was entitled to receive up to one half of target shares depending upon the Company’s 2023 performance with vesting of any earned shares one year from the grant date. The remainder of the shares that may be earned depend upon the Company’s two-year average performance for 2023 through 2024 and vesting two-years from the grant date. For performance-vested shares, we measure the Company’s Return on Average Assets “ROAA” percentile ranking versus a custom performance peer group of SEC-reporting banks in Virginia and nearby states with median assets comparable to the Company and generally in a range from half to twice our asset level.

 

A portion of each executive’s target performance-vested share grant can be earned based on ROAA percentile ranking for the performance periods defined above:

 

ROAA Performance Percentile Rank

Below 25th Percentile

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

75th Percentile

Portion of Target Performance-vested Share Earned

None

0.5 times Target

Target

1.5 times Target

 

For ROAA percentile ranking that falls between the percentiles shown above, straight-line interpolation is used to determine the portion of target award earned. Number of earned shares is capped at 1.5 times target. A participant must be employed on the vesting date of each performance period to receive shares earned for performance during that period.

 

Retirement and Other Benefits: The Company provides additional compensation to the named executive officers through various plans which are also available to some or all of the employees. The Compensation Committee oversees these plans and the Compensation Committee considers these plans when reviewing a named executive officer’s total annual compensation and when determining the annual and long-term compensation components described above. These plans are described below.

 

Employee 401(k) Savings and Stock Ownership Plan

 

The Company sponsors a 401(k) savings plan under which eligible employees, including executive officers, may defer a portion of their salary on a pretax basis, subject to certain IRS limits. Each participant in this plan has the right to vote the shares of Common Stock allocated to his or her account. The 401(k) plan was amended, effective January 1, 2007, to include a non-elective safe-harbor employer contribution and an age-weighted employer contribution. Each December 31st, qualifying employees will receive a non-elective safe-harbor contribution equal to three percent of their salary for that year. Also, each December 31st, qualifying employees will receive an additional contribution based on their age and years of service. The percentage of salary for the age-weighted contribution increases on both factors, age and years of service, with a minimum of one percent of salary and a maximum of ten percent of salary.

12


 

In 2023, all executive officers participated in the 401(k) plan and each received all eligible matching contributions under the amended plan. The Company’s contribution to this plan on behalf of each named executive is disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table” below.

 

Employment Agreements. In order to retain and attract executive officers, the Company recognizes the need to enter into employment agreements with provisions for benefits in connection with a termination of employment. The Compensation Committee evaluates the potential payments to executive officers under various arrangements that provide for severance payments, including termination and change of control arrangements, in connection with its annual review of executive compensation.

A description of the terms of our severance plans, the specific circumstances that trigger payment of benefits, an estimate of benefits payable upon the occurrence of those triggering events and other information relating to such plans can be found under the captions of “Employment Agreements” and “Potential Payments upon Termination of Employment or Change-in-Control” below.

 

 

Annual Compensation of Executive Officers

 

The following tables and discussion summarize the compensation earned during 2023 and 2022 by (1) the individual serving as chief executive officer during 2023 and (2) each of the two other most highly compensated executive officers who earned more than $100,000 in total compensation for services rendered in all capacities during 2023.

Summary Compensation Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan

 

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

 

Compen-

 

 

Compen-

 

 

 

 

Name and

 

 

 

Salary

 

 

Bonus

 

 

Awards

 

 

sation

 

 

sation

 

 

Total

 

Principal Position

 

Year

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

($) (1)

 

 

($) (2)

 

 

($) (3)

 

 

($)

 

Brandon C Lorey

 

2023

 

 

540,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

201,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

53,224

 

 

 

795,222

 

President and Chief

 

2022

 

 

515,000

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

188,517

 

 

 

139,050

 

 

 

50,729

 

 

 

918,296

 

Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathleen J. Chappell

 

2023

 

 

327,010

 

 

 

 

 

 

105,477

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,089

 

 

 

482,576

 

Executive Vice President and

 

2022

 

 

308,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

103,459

 

 

 

69,413

 

 

 

46,252

 

 

 

527,624

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph T. Zmitrovich

 

2023

 

 

391,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

127,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

45,721

 

 

 

564,921

 

Executive Vice President and Chief

 

2022

 

 

373,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

118,088

 

 

 

83,925

 

 

 

47,967

 

 

 

622,980

 

____________________

(1)
The amounts reported reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (formerly FASB 123R Share–Based Payment). This presentation replaces the dollar amount recognized for financial statements purposes and has been reflected for all fiscal years presented. Stock awards consist of both restricted time and performance-based awards. Performance-based awards in the above table assume the probable outcome of performance conditions is equal to the target potential value of the awards. The maximum value of performance-based awards can equal 1.5 times target should the Company achieve certain performance conditions. Please see page 11 for a detailed discussion of equity compensation. For valuation and discussion of assumptions related to stock and option awards, please refer to Note 11 to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024.
(2)
This column represents bonus amounts earned under the Company’s Senior Officer Incentive Compensation Plan for achievements relating to Company performance and is discussed in further detail beginning on page 10 under the heading “Annual Incentive Bonus”. Based on the attainment of Company performance goals, the payout, as a percentage of base salary, for the 2023 incentive plan was 0% for the President and CEO, 0% for the Executive Vice President and CFO and 0% for the President and CBO. Based on the attainment of Company performance goals, the payout, as a percentage of base salary, for the 2022 incentive plan was 27.00% for the President and CEO, 25.00% for the Executive Vice President and CFO and 25.00% for the Executive Vice President and CBO.
(3)
The amounts in this column are detailed in the table titled “All Other Compensation” below.

 

13


 

The Company has entered into employment agreements with the named executive officers as described below in the “Employment Agreements” section. All compensation paid to the named executive officers is determined as described above in the Executive Compensation section.

All Other Compensation

Fiscal Year 2023

 

 

 

401(k)

 

 

Life

 

 

Restricted

 

 

 

 

 

Company

 

 

Insurance

 

 

Stock

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions

 

 

Premiums

 

 

Dividends

 

 

Total

 

Name

 

($)

 

 

($) (1)

 

 

($) (2)

 

 

($)

 

Brandon C. Lorey

 

 

36,857

 

 

 

2,556

 

 

 

13,811

 

 

 

53,224

 

Kathleen J. Chappell

 

 

41,673

 

 

 

1,853

 

 

 

6,563

 

 

 

50,089

 

Joseph T. Zmitrovich

 

 

33,327

 

 

 

2,090

 

 

 

10,304

 

 

 

45,721

 

____________________

 

(1)
The amounts in this column represent the annual premium of group term life insurance with a death benefit equal to three times annual compensation, which the Bank provides to all employees.
(2)
The amounts in this column represent dividends received during 2023 on unvested shares of restricted stock. Under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan, holders are entitled to dividends from the grant date through the vesting period.

 

Employment Agreements

 

The Company has entered into employment agreements with its named executive officers, as summarized below.

 

Brandon C. Lorey. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Lorey on July 10, 2019, which was amended and restated on January 10, 2020. The term of Mr. Lorey’s employment agreement continued until December 31, 2023, after which it will automatically extend each December 31 for successive one-year terms, unless either Mr. Lorey or the Company elects not to so extend. Mr. Lorey’s employment agreement provides for an initial base salary of $400,000 per year, and he is eligible for salary increases and bonuses or other incentive compensation, if any, in an amount determined by the Board of Directors. He is also entitled to participate in the Company's employee benefit plans and programs for which he is or will be eligible.

Mr. Lorey’s employment agreement provides for the termination of Mr. Lorey’s employment by the Company without “cause” or by him for “good reason” in the absence of a “change of control” (as those terms are defined in his employment agreement). In such cases, Mr. Lorey will be entitled to receive (i) his then-current base salary for two years following his termination, (ii) a payment in cash equal to the greater of his highest cash bonus in any of the three fiscal years before the year in which termination occurs and the amount of cash bonus that he was designated to receive under the Company’s annual incentive plan, (iii) a welfare continuance benefit of $15,000 and (iv) reasonable out-placement services paid by the Company up to an amount that does not exceed 10% of annual base salary. Mr. Lorey will not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits under the agreement if his employment is terminated for cause. If Mr. Lorey’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by him for “good reason” within one year following a “change of control” (as defined in his employment agreement), he will receive an amount equal to 299% of his average total compensation over the most recent five calendar year period of his employment with the Company prior to the change of control (subject to reduction to the extent that such payment constitutes an “excess parachute payment” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended). Mr. Lorey’s entitlement to the foregoing severance payments is subject to his release and waiver of claims against the Company and his compliance with certain restrictive covenants as provided in the employment agreement.

Mr. Lorey’s employment agreement contains restrictive covenants relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation. The non-compete and non-solicitation covenants generally continue for a period of 12 months following the last day of Mr. Lorey’s employment.

 

Kathleen J. Chappell. The Company entered into an employment agreement with on April 17, 2013, which was amended and restated on January 10, 2020. The initial term of Ms. Chappell’s employment agreement ended on December 31, 2023, after which it renewed for a term of one year on December 31, 2023, and will renew each December 31 thereafter, unless Ms. Chappell or the Company provides written notice to the other party at least 90 days prior to the applicable December 31. Her employment agreement provides for an initial base salary of $230,000, and Ms. Chappell is eligible for base salary increases and bonuses, as determined by the Board of Directors.

Ms. Chappell’s employment agreement provides for the termination of Ms. Chappell’s employment by the Company without “cause” and termination by her for “good reason” (as those terms are defined in her employment agreement). Termination under either of these circumstances will entitle Ms. Chappell to (i) the payment of her then-current salary for 24 months following termination, (ii) a payment in cash equal to the greater of her highest cash bonus in any of the three fiscal years before the year in which termination occurs and the amount of cash bonus that she was designated to receive under the Company’s annual incentive plan and (iii) a welfare continuance benefit equal to 18 times the excess of the premium that would apply for continued healthcare benefit coverage if COBRA continuation were elected, over the amount that she paid for such coverage immediately before termination. If Ms. Chappell is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within one year following a “change of control” (as defined in her employment agreement), she will receive an amount equal to 299% of her base salary, annual

14


 

bonus and equivalent benefits (subject to reduction to the extent that such payment constitutes an “excess parachute payment” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended). Ms. Chappell will not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits under her employment agreement if her employment is terminated for “cause.”

Ms. Chappell’s employment agreement also contains covenants relating to non-competition and non-solicitation, each for a period of 12 months following the last day of Ms. Chappell’s employment, and covenants relating to confidentiality and nondisclosure.

 

Joseph T. Zmitrovich. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Zmitrovich on January 10, 2020 which was amended and restated on May 31, 2022. The initial term of Mr. Zmitrovich’s employment agreement ended on December 31, 2023, after which it renewed for a term of one year on December 31, 2023, and will renew each December 31 thereafter, unless Mr. Zmitrovich or the Company provides written notice to the other party at least 90 days prior to the applicable December 31. His employment agreement provides for an initial base salary of $373,000, and Mr. Zmitrovich is eligible for base salary increases and bonuses, as determined by the Board of Directors.

Mr. Zmitrovich’s employment agreement provides for the termination of Mr. Zmitrovich’s employment by the Company without “cause” and termination by him for “good reason” (as those terms are defined in his employment agreement). Termination under either of these circumstances will entitle Mr. Zmitrovich to (i) the payment of his then-current salary for 24 months following termination, (ii) a payment in cash equal to the greater of his highest cash bonus in any of the three fiscal years before the year in which termination occurs and the amount of cash bonus that he was designated to receive under the Company’s annual incentive plan and (iii) a welfare continuance benefit equal to 18 times the excess of the premium that would apply for continued healthcare benefit coverage if COBRA continuation were elected, over the amount that he paid for such coverage immediately before termination. If Mr. Zmitrovich is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within one year following a “change of control” (as defined in his employment agreement), he will receive an amount equal to 299% of his base salary, annual bonus and equivalent benefits (subject to reduction to the extent that such payment constitutes an “excess parachute payment” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended). Mr. Zmitrovich will not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits under his employment agreement if his employment is terminated for “cause.”

Mr. Zmitrovich’s employment agreement also contains covenants relating to non-competition and non-solicitation, each for a period of 12 months following the last day of Mr. Zmitrovich’s employment, and covenants relating to confidentiality and nondisclosure.

The Company has not entered into any other agreement or arrangement that provides for the payment of severance or similar benefits to any of the named executive officers in connection with a termination of employment for any other reason.

 

15


 

Holdings of Stock Options and Stock Awards

 

The following table contains information concerning unvested stock awards at December 31, 2023, for each of the named executive officers.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

Fiscal Year-End 2023

 

 

Stock Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive

 

 

Awards:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan

 

 

Market or

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awards:

 

 

Payout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Value of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Unearned

 

 

Unearned

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Value of

 

 

Shares,

 

 

Shares,

 

 

 

 

Shares or

 

 

Shares or

 

 

Units or

 

 

Units or

 

 

 

 

Units of

 

 

Units of

 

 

Other

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

Stock That

 

 

Stock That

 

 

Rights

 

 

Rights

 

 

 

 

Have Not

 

 

Have Not

 

 

That Have

 

 

That Have

 

 

Grant

 

Vested

 

 

Vested

 

 

Not Vested

 

 

Not Vested

 

Name

 

Date

 

(#) (1)

 

 

($) (3)

 

 

(#) (2)

 

 

($) (3)

 

Brandon C. Lorey

 

1/4/2021

 

 

434

 

 

 

13,020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7/1/2021

 

 

977

 

 

 

29,310

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/19/2022

 

 

1,783

 

 

 

53,490

 

 

 

1,337

 

 

 

40,110

 

 

 

1/3/2023

 

 

2,799

 

 

 

83,970

 

 

 

2,799

 

 

 

83,970

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathleen J. Chappell

 

1/4/2021

 

 

334

 

 

 

10,020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/19/2022

 

 

1,174

 

 

 

35,220

 

 

 

587

 

 

 

17,610

 

 

1/3/2023

 

 

1,760

 

 

 

52,800

 

 

 

1,174

 

 

 

35,220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph T. Zmitrovich

 

1/4/2021

 

 

2,526

 

 

 

75,780

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/19/2022

 

 

1,340

 

 

 

40,200

 

 

 

670

 

 

 

20,100

 

 

1/3/2023

 

 

2,129

 

 

 

63,870

 

 

 

1,419

 

 

 

42,570

 

 

___________________

(1)
These amounts are comprised of unvested shares of time-based restricted stock at December 31, 2023. All shares granted vest over a three-year period whereby the executive receives one-third of the shares on the anniversary of the grant date if that executive is employed on the anniversary date.
(2)
These amounts are comprised of unvested target shares of performance based restricted stock at December 31, 2023, which were issued on January 19, 2022 and January 3, 2023. These shares contain vesting conditions whereby the executive may receive up to one half of target shares depending upon the Company’s 2022 and 2023 performance, respectively, with vesting of any earned shares one year from the grant date. The remainder of the shares that may be earned depend upon the Company’s two-year average performance for 2022 through 2023 and 2023 through 2024, respectively, and vesting two years from the grant date. Please see page 11 for a detailed discussion of equity compensation.
(3)
These amounts represent the fair market value of the restricted stock awards on December 31, 2023. The closing price of the Company’s common stock was $30.00 on that date.

16


 

Equity Compensation Plan

 

The following table set forth the information as of December 31, 2023, with respect to compensation plans under which shares of Common Stock are authorized for issuance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Securities

 

 

Number of Securities to Be

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

Remaining Available

 

 

Issued upon Exercise of

 

 

Exercise Price of

 

 

for Future Issuance

 

 

Outstanding Options,

 

 

Outstanding Options,

 

 

Under Equity

 

Plan Category

 

Warrants and Rights

 

 

Warrants and Rights

 

 

Compensation Plans (1)

 

Equity Compensation Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved by Shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 Stock Incentive Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

250,000

 

Equity Compensation Plans Not

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved by Shareholders:(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

250,000

 

_________

 

(1) Amounts exclude any securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights.

(2) The Company does not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by shareholders.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination of Employment or Change-in-Control

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination Following Change-in-Control

In the event of termination without cause or resignation for good reason following a change in control, the Company’s employment agreements with Mr. Lorey, Ms. Chappell and Mr. Zmitrovich provide for the payments described under “Employment Agreements” above.

Additionally, under the term of the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan, accelerated vesting of both outstanding stock options and restricted stock grants will occur in the event of a change in control. Typically, the payments relating to stock options represent the value of the unvested and accelerated stock options, calculated by multiplying the number of accelerated options by the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the applicable date.

Potential Payments Upon Involuntary Termination Without Cause or Good Reason

In the event of termination without cause or resignation for good reason, the Company’s employment agreements with Mr. Lorey, Ms. Chappell and Mr. Zmitrovich provide for the payments described under “Employment Agreements” above.

 

 

17


 

Pay Versus Performance

 

In accordance with a final rule adopted by the SEC in August 2022 implementing Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we are providing the following table that sets forth certain compensation measures for certain of our officers alongside certain performance metrics for the Company:

 

 

 



 

 



 

 

Average

 

 



 

 



 

 



 



 



 

 



 

 

Summary

 

 

Average

 

 

Value of

 

 



 



 



 

 



 

 

Compensation

 

 

Compensation

 

 

Initial Fixed

 

 



 



 



 

 



 

 

Table Total

 

 

Actually Paid

 

 

$100 Investment

 

 



 



 

Summary

 

 

Compensation

 

 

for Non-PEO

 

 

to Non-PEO

 

 

Based on

 

 



 



 

Compensation Table

 

 

Actually Paid

 

 

Named Executive

 

 

Named Executive

 

 

Total Shareholder

 

 

Net Income

 



 

Total for PEO(1)

 

 

to PEO(2)

 

 

Officers(1)

 

 

Officers(2)

 

 

Return(3)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Year

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

2023

 

 

795,222

 

 

 

708,845

 

 

 

523,749

 

 

 

474,812

 

 

 

112.97

 

 

 

9,357

 

2022

 

 

918,296

 

 

 

921,209

 

 

 

575,302

 

 

 

577,200

 

 

 

130.32

 

 

 

14,521

 

2021

 

 

915,723

 

 

 

847,345

 

 

 

584,976

 

 

 

613,703

 

 

 

115.69

 

 

 

11,021

 

 

___________________

(1)
The PEO and non-PEOs for each year are as follows:
a.
PEO: Brandon C. Lorey
b.
Non-PEOs were Kathleen J. Chappell and Joseph T. Zmitrovich
(2)
Compensation Actually Paid is a calculation that begins with the Summary Compensation Table “SCT” total compensation in the given year with certain adjustments prescribed by the SEC rules. The following table provides a reconciliation of SCT total compensation with Compensation Actually Paid:

 

 

 



 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

Change in Fair

 

 



 

 



 



 



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

Change in Fair

 

 

Fair Value of

 

 

Value of Stock

 

 



 

 



 



 



 



 

 



 

 

Fair Value of

 

 

Value of

 

 

Stock Awards

 

 

Awards from

 

 



 

 



 



 



 



 

 



 

 

Stock Awards

 

 

Unvested Stock

 

 

Granted and

 

 

Prior Years that

 

 

Fair Value of

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

SCT Stock

 

 

Granted in the

 

 

Awards from

 

 

Vested in the

 

 

Vested in the

 

 

Stock Awards

 

 

Compensation

 

Name

 

Year

 

SCT Total

 

 

Awards

 

 

Covered Year

 

 

Prior Years

 

 

Covered Year

 

 

Covered Year

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

Actually Paid

 

PEO

 

2023

 

$

795,222

 

 

$

(201,248

)

 

$

167,940

 

 

$

(26,959

)

 

$

 

 

$

(6,069

)

 

$

(20,040

)

 

$

708,845

 

NEO

 



 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

Average

 

2023

 

 

523,749

 

 

 

(116,514

)

 

 

97,230

 

 

 

(19,727

)

 

 

 

 

 

(505

)

 

 

(9,420

)

 

 

474,812

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

___________________

(3)
Total Shareholder Return represents the value of a hypothetical $100 investment beginning at market close on the last day of trading of 2020, assuming reinvestment of all dividends.

 

 

18


 

The relationship between (1) compensation actually paid to the PEO and the average compensation actually paid to NEOs other that the PEO and (2) cumulative total shareholder return on the common stock of the Company for the last two completed fiscal years is as shown in Figure 1.

 

Figure 1: Compensation Actually Paid and Total Shareholder Return (TSR)

 

img144882229_1.jpg 

 

 

 

 

 

The relationship between (1) compensation actually paid to the PEO and the average compensation actually paid to NEOs other than the PEO and (2) net income of the Company for the last two completed fiscal years is shown in Figure 2.

 

Figure 2: Compensation Actually Paid and Net Income

 

img144882229_2.jpg 

 

19


 

PROPOSAL TWO

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Our Board of Directors has appointed the firm of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., as independent public accountants to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., as independent public accountants, audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2023, and 2022. Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. has served as the Company’s independent public accountants since 2015. Prior to appointment as independent public accountants, Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. had provided internal audit services to the Company and the Bank since 2005. Representatives of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

Although our Bylaws do not require shareholder ratification or other approval of the retention of our independent registered public accounting firm, as a matter of good corporate governance, the Board of Directors is requesting that the shareholders ratify the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. A majority of the votes cast by the holders of our common stock is required for the ratification of the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., as our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024.

20


 

AUDIT INFORMATION

 

Audit Committee Report

 

The Audit Committee's Report to the Shareholders, which follows, was approved and adopted by the Committee on March 27, 2024.

Management is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, assessing the effectiveness of those internal controls over financial reporting, maintaining the financial reporting process to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and compliance with laws and regulations and ethical business standards. The independent registered accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, expressing an opinion as to the conformity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and expressing an opinion as to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent registered accounting firm engaged for the purpose of issuing an audit report and performing other audit, review, or attestation services for the Company. The Audit Committee also monitors and oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company on behalf of the Board of Directors.

In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed these consolidated financial statements with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., including the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm’s responsibilities, critical accounting policies, and practices used and significant reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of such financial statements.

The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board “PCAOB” and the SEC.

In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the auditors’ independence from the Company and its management, and the independent registered public accounting firm provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant's communications with the audit committee concerning independence.

The Audit Committee also discussed with the Company’s internal auditor and the independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee met with the internal auditor and the independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management in attendance, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the internal controls of the Company, and the overall quality of the financial reporting of the Company. This included the Audit Committee’s monitoring the progress of remediation of noted control deficiencies, until resolved.

 

Based on such reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2024.

 

Audit Committee

 

Cary C. Nelson, Chairwoman

Thomas T. Gilpin

Scott M. Hamberger

Edward Hill

Robert W. Smalley, Jr.

 

Fees of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 and for the review of the financial statements included in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for those fiscal years was $137,760 and $122,525, respectively.

 

Audit Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and not reported under the heading “Audit Fees” above for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 were $60,800 and $54,900, respectively. Audit related fees included consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and employee benefit plan audits.

 

21


 

Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services related to taxes during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 was $13,150 and $13,950, respectively.

 

All Other Fees. The aggregate other fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 were zero.

 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy

 

All audit and audit related services performed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. were pre-approved in accordance with the Audit Committee’s Charter. The Audit Committee, or a designated member of the committee, must pre-approve all audit (including audit related) and non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm in order to ensure that the performance of such services does not impair the registered public accounting firm’s independence. Any interim pre-approval of permitted non-audit services is required to be reported to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee does not delegate its responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm to management.

22


 

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2024 ANNUAL MEETING

 

Under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any shareholder desiring to make a proposal to be acted upon at the 2025 Annual Meeting must cause such proposal to be received, in proper form, by the Secretary of the Company, whose address is P.O. Box 391, Berryville, Virginia 22611, no later than December 11, 2024, in order for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement for that meeting. The Company anticipates holding the 2025 Annual Meeting on May 20, 2025.

The Company’s Bylaws also prescribe the procedure that a shareholder must follow to nominate Directors or to bring other business before shareholders’ meetings outside of the proxy statement process. For a shareholder to nominate a candidate for Director or to bring other business before a meeting, written notice must be received by the Company not less than sixty (60) days and not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting. The notice must describe various matters regarding the nominee and the shareholder giving the notice. For a shareholder to bring other business before the 2025 Annual Meeting, notice must be received by the Secretary of the Company not less than sixty (60) days and not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting. The notice must include a description of the proposed business, the reasons therefore, and other specified matters. Any shareholder may obtain a copy of the Company’s Bylaws, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of the Company. Based on an anticipated meeting date of May 20, 2025, for the 2025 Annual Meeting, the Company must receive any notice of nomination or other business no later than March 21, 2025, and no earlier than February 19, 2025.

In addition to satisfying the requirements under the Company’s Bylaws with respect to advance notice of any nomination, to comply with universal proxy rules any shareholder that intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s director nominees in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-19 must provide notice so that the Secretary of the Company receives it no later than 60 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the Annual Meeting, or March 12, 2025.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company’s 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders (the “Annual Report”), which includes a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (excluding exhibits) as filed with the SEC, accompanies this Proxy Statement. A copy of the Annual Report may also be obtained without charge by writing to Ms. Kaley P. Crosen, Secretary of the Company, whose address is P.O. Box 391, Berryville, Virginia 22611. The Annual Report is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

OTHER MATTERS

 

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any matters to be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than as set forth herein. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, the person or persons voting the proxies will vote them in accordance with their best judgment.

 

 

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

 

Kaley P. Crosen

 

 

Executive Vice President, Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

img144882229_3.jpg

 

 

 

April 5, 2024

 

 

 

 

23


 

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF EAGLE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. May 16, 2023 INTERNET -Access “www.voteproxy.com”and followtheon-screen instructions or scan the QR code with your smartphone. Have your proxy card available when you access the web page. TELEPHONE -Call toll-free 1-800-PROXIES (1-800-776-9437) in the United States or 1-718-921-8500 from foreign countries from any touch-tone telephone and follow the instructions. Have your proxy card available when you call. Vote online/phone until 11:59 PM EST the day before the meeting. MAIL -Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible. IN PERSON -You may vote your shares in person by attending the Annual Meeting. GO GREEN -e-Consent makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy material, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and paper waste. Enroll today via www.astfinancial.com to enjoy online access. COMPANY NUMBER ACCOUNT NUMBER IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2023: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Shareholders are available img144882229_4.jpgat

 


 

https://www.bankofclarke.bank/EFSI_Annual_Meetings.html Please detach along perforated line and img144882229_5.jpg