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
Filed by the Registrant x
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)) |
| x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ¨ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 |
VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| x | No fee required. |
| ¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
| (1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
| (2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
| (3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined:) |
| (4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
| (5) | Total fee paid: |
| ¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ¨ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
| 1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
| 2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
| 3) | Filing Party: |
| 4) | Date Filed: |
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time at Brandermill Country Club located at 3700 Brandermill Parkway, Midlothian, Virginia. Directions to the meeting site may be found on the final page of the attached proxy statement.
At the meeting, you will be asked to:
| 1. | elect three directors for a term of three years each; |
| 2. | approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the executive compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement; |
| 3. | ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP, as Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017; and |
| 4. | transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponement thereof. |
You will find information regarding these matters in the proxy statement.
You may vote your shares by internet, telephone or regular mail, or in person at the Annual Meeting. On or about April 17, 2017, we mailed our shareholders a notice containing instructions on how to obtain the proxy statement and the 2016 Annual Report to Shareholders on the internet and how to vote their shares over the internet. You may read, print or download the proxy statement and 2016 Annual Report to Shareholders at www.envisionreports.com/VBFC. You may request paper copies of these materials as well by following the instructions on the Notice. If you receive a proxy card, it also contains instructions regarding to how vote by internet, telephone, regular mail or in person at the Annual Meeting.
Your vote is very important. Please take time to vote now so that your shares are represented at the meeting. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
| Sincerely, | |
 | |
| William G. Foster | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
Midlothian, Virginia
April 17, 2017
VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.
13319 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA 23113
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED of and invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp., a Virginia corporation, to be held on May 30, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Brandermill Country Club, 3700 Brandermill Parkway, Midlothian, Virginia, for the purpose of considering and voting on the following:
| 1. | The election of three directors for a term of three years each; |
| 2. | The approval, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, of the executive compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement; |
| 3. | The ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017; and |
| 4. | To transact any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
All shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on April 5, 2017 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF VOTING BY PROXY CARD, TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE BY SUBMITTING YOUR PROXY.
YOU MAY SUBMIT YOUR PROXY AND VOTE YOUR SHARES:
| · | BY EXECUTING AND RETURNING THE PROXY CARD AS DIRECTED ON THE PROXY CARD; OR |
| · | BY VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET. TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, SIMPLY USE THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD OR THE NOTICE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. |
IF YOU DECIDE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE PERSONALLY ON ANY MATTER PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
If your shares of the Company’s common stock are held by a broker or other custodian, then that organization is considered the shareholder of record and the shares are considered held in “street name”. The Company provided its proxy materials to the shareholder of record for distribution to you along with your voting instructions. As the beneficial owner of the shares, you have the right to direct the shareholder of record how to vote your shares. Check the information forwarded to you by the shareholder of record to see which voting methods are available to you. If you plan to vote in person at the Annual Meeting and your shares are held by your broker or other shareholder of record, you should contact that organization to obtain a legal proxy or broker’s proxy card and bring it to the meeting as proof of your authority to vote the shares.
| By Order of the Board of Directors, | |
 | |
| Deborah M. Golding | |
| Vice President, Corporate Secretary |
Midlothian, Virginia
April 17, 2017
VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.
13319 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA, 23113
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the board of directors of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. (the “Company”) to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on May 30, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time at Brandermill Country Club, 3700 Brandermill Parkway, Midlothian, Virginia.
This proxy statement is being furnished to shareholders beginning April 17, 2017. In accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the Company is furnishing this proxy statement over the internet to its shareholders. Most of the Company’s shareholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy statement; instead, most shareholders will receive the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 30, 2017 (the “Notice of Internet Availability”), which contains instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet and vote shares. The Notice of Internet Availability was first mailed to shareholders on or about April 17, 2017. By furnishing proxy materials over the internet, the Company is able to reduce the printing and mailing costs of this solicitation and help conserve natural resources. If you receive the Notice of Internet Availability but would still like to receive paper copies of the proxy materials, please follow the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability. Shareholders may vote over the internet, by telephone or mail.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 30, 2017
A complete
set of proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting is available on the internet.
These materials, including the Notice of Annual
Meeting, proxy statement, proxy card and the
2016 Annual Report with Form 10-K may be viewed at www.envisionreports.com/VBFC
Voting and Revocation of Proxies
All properly executed proxies and all properly completed proxies submitted by telephone or internet pursuant to this solicitation will be voted in accordance with the directions given in the proxy unless the proxy is revoked prior to the completion of voting at the Annual Meeting. Execution of a proxy will not affect a shareholder’s right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote in person. Any shareholder who has completed and returned a proxy may revoke it by (1) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person, (2) by submitting a new proxy bearing a later date, or (3) by submitting written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary address to Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp., P.O. Box 330, Midlothian, Virginia, 23113. Proxies will extend to, and will be voted at, any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
If you hold your shares through a broker or other custodian, then that organization is considered the shareholder of record and the shares are considered held in “street name”. The Company provided its proxy materials to the shareholder of record for distribution to you along with voting instructions. As the beneficial owner of the shares, you have the right to direct the shareholder of record how to vote your shares. Check the information forwarded to you by the shareholder of record to see which voting methods are available to you. If you shares are held through a bank or other custodian and you plan to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you should contact that organization to obtain a legal proxy or broker’s proxy card and bring it to the meeting as proof of your authority to vote the shares. If your shares are held through a broker or other shareholder of record and you wish to revoke your proxy or change your vote, you should contact that organization.
| 1 |
Only shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on April 5, 2017, the Record Date, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The number of shares outstanding and entitled to vote on the Record Date was 1,429,223. A majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the common stock, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Each shareholder of record of the Company’s common stock on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share registered in his or her name with respect to each matter to be vote upon at the Annual Meeting. Shares for which the shareholder has elected to abstain or to withhold the proxies’ authority to vote on a matter, and “broker non-votes,” will count toward a quorum.
With regard to the election of directors, votes may be cast in favor or withheld. If a quorum is present, the three nominees for Class B director who receive the greatest number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, even if less than a majority, will be elected directors; therefore, votes withheld and broker non-votes will have no effect.
For all other proposals, votes may be cast in favor or against, or shareholders may abstain from voting. Approval of these other proposals require an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Although abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, they generally do not count as votes cast, and therefore will have no effect on such proposals.
Routine and Non-Routine Proposals
If you own shares held in street name, meaning through a broker or other similar organization, and you do not provide the organization that holds the shares with specific voting instructions then, under applicable rules, the organization that holds the shares may generally vote your shares with respect to “routine” matters but cannot vote on “non-routine” matters. If the organization that holds such shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, that organization will inform the inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on this matter with respect to the shares. This is referred to as a “broker non-vote”.
The ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017 is considered a routine matter under applicable rules. A broker or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to occur in connection with Proposal 3. The election of three directors and the advisory (non-binding) vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation are considered non-routine matters under applicable rules. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on these non-routine matters, and therefore broker non-votes may occur in connection with Proposals 1 and 2.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. Solicitation is being made by the Company’s Board of Directors by mail and electronic notice and access to the internet. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, the Company may also solicit proxies through its directors, officers, and employees. The Company will also request persons, firms, and corporations holding shares in their names or in the name of nominees that are beneficially owned by others to send proxy materials to and obtain proxies from those beneficial owners and will reimburse the holders for their reasonable expenses in doing so.
| 2 |
PROPOSAL ONE – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors currently consists of twelve directors that are divided into three classes (A, B and C). The terms of office of four directors of the Company will expire at the Annual Meeting and three of the directors have been nominated for election to serve as directors in Class B for three-year terms ending in 2020. One director will be retiring from the Board and eight other directors will continue serving terms that end in either 2018 or 2019, as indicated below.
The election of each nominee for director requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock cast in the election of directors. If the proxy is executed in such manner as not to withhold authority for the election of any or all of the nominees for directors, then the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxy for the election of the nominees named below. If the proxy indicates that the shareholder wishes to withhold a vote from one or more nominees for director, such instructions will be followed by the persons named in the proxy.
Each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and has agreed to serve, if elected. The board of directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve. If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve as a director, votes will be cast, pursuant to the enclosed proxy, for such substitute nominee as may be nominated by the board of directors. There are no current arrangements between any nominee and any other person pursuant to which a nominee was selected. No family relationships exist among any of the directors or between any of the directors and executive officers of the Company.
The following biographical information discloses each nominee’s and incumbent director’s age, business experience in the past five years and the year each individual was first elected to the board of directors of the Company or its predecessor and current subsidiary, Village Bank (the “Bank”). In addition, the following information includes the particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the board of directors to conclude that the person should serve as a director. Unless otherwise specified, each nominee and incumbent director has held his current position for at least five years.
Nominees for Election as Directors
For Terms to Expire in 2020 (Class B)
Raymond T. Avery, III, 67, has been a director since 1998. Mr. Avery is President and co-founder of Chesterfield Construction Services, Inc., which trades as Emerald Homes. This company specializes in the “work force affordable” sector of the residential construction market. Mr. Avery has over 35 years of experience in real estate development and home building in central Virginia. This experience provides managerial expertise to the board of directors as well as an extensive knowledge of the real estate market in which the Bank operates. Mr. Avery serves as Chair of the Credit Risk Management Committee and is a member of the Enterprise Risk Management Committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
Charles E. Walton, 71, has been a director since 2008 when River City Bank merged with the Bank. He formerly served as a director of River City Bank. Mr. Walton is the owner of Charles E. Walton & Co., P.C., a certified public accounting firm. Mr. Walton provides accounting and auditing experience, as well as investment and business advisory skills that are critical for the Company. Mr. Walton qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) guidelines. Mr. Walton is a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Enterprise Risk Management Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
| 3 |
William G. Foster, 55, has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank since March 1, 2014. He has served as President of the Company and the Bank since August 2013. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank since March 2012. Prior thereto, he was an independent consultant focusing on business restructuring, turnaround and strategic planning. From March 1990 until April 2008, he served in several executive leadership roles with SunTrust Bank (and its predecessor Crestar Bank), including Group Executive Vice President-MidAtlantic Commercial Real Estate Banking, Senior Managing Director and Senior Credit Officer for Corporate and Investment Banking, and Group Executive Vice President-MidAtlantic Commercial Banking Line of Business. Mr. Foster has more than 29 years of banking industry experience, which has afforded him broad knowledge and a keen understanding of all aspects of banking. In addition to his banking experience, he currently serves as immediate past Chair of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, sits on the Cabinet for the Chesterfield Business Council of Chamber RVA, and is on the board of directors of the Retail Merchants Association and Virginia Bankers Association Benefits Corporation. Mr. Foster is a member of the Executive Committee, Enterprise Risk Management Committee, and an Advisory Member of the Compensation Committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH ABOVE
_________________________________________________
Whose Terms Will Expire in 2018 (Class C)
Michael A. Katzen, 64, has been a director since 2008 when River City Bank merged with the Bank. He formerly served as a director of River City Bank. Mr. Katzen is a partner in the law firm of Katzen & Frye, P.C. His experience with real estate law provides the board of directors with expertise in evaluating significant loan relationships as well as working out nonperforming loans collateralized by real estate. Mr. Katzen currently serves as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and is a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Enterprise Risk Management Committee.
Kenneth R. Lehman, 57, is private investor and former attorney. Over the last five years, Mr. Lehman has served as a director of several banks and bank holding companies, including three publicly-traded (i.e., registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) companies: First Capital Bancorp, Inc., where he served as a director from 2012 through January 2016, Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc., where he served as a director from November 2009 through January 2014, and Tower Bancorp, Inc., where he served as a director from March 2009 through February 2012. He currently serves as a director of Four Oaks Fincorp, Inc. and its subsidiary, Four Oaks Bank & Trust Company, Marine Bank & Trust Company, Delmar Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary, The Bank of Delmarva, and Liberty Bell Bank. Mr. Lehman is the Managing Member and owner of BVC Capital, LLC. Mr. Lehman currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee.
Michael L. Toalson, 64, has been a director since 2004. Mr. Toalson is Chief Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Virginia (“HBAV”). He heads the HBAV lobbying team before state lawmakers and regulators and is the chief administrative officer of the 3,000 member business organization. His familiarity with various home builders and the Virginia real estate market in general are invaluable to the board of directors in evaluating significant loan relationships and marketing the Bank’s services to the home building community. Mr. Toalson currently serves as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Credit Risk Management Committee. He also serves on the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
O. Woodland Hogg, Jr., 72, has been a director since 2008 when River City Bank merged with the Bank. He formerly served as a director of River City Bank. Mr. Hogg is the owner and principal broker of ERA Woody Hogg & Associates, a real estate brokerage business. He brings managerial skills as well as a keen knowledge of the real estate market in central Virginia to the board of directors. Mr. Hogg currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee and Credit Risk Management Committee. He also serves on the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
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Whose Terms will Expire in 2019 (Class A)
Craig D. Bell, 59, is a founder of the Bank and has been a director since 1998. Mr. Bell is Chairman of the board of directors of the Company and the Bank. He is a partner with the law firm of McGuireWoods LLP, where is the head of the State and Local Tax and Tax Litigation Groups. McGuireWoods is a 1,000 attorney international law firm having offices in twelve states and five countries. Mr. Bell is an Emeritus Director of the Community Tax Law Project, a non-profit provider of pro bono tax assistance to low income families and its former President; a Fellow of the American College of Tax Council; former Chair of both the Virginia State Bar Section of Taxation and the Virginia Bar Association Tax Section; a Master member of the Edgar J. Murdock Inn of Court for Tax; an adjunct Professor of Law at the College of William and Mary School of Law; and a Trustee of both the Virginia War Museum and the Henricus Park Foundation. Mr. Bell retired from the Army Reserves in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel after completing 27 years of service. As a result of this experience, Mr. Bell brings leadership and decision making skills to the board of directors. Mr. Bell currently serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee and is a member of the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. He also serves as an ex officio member of all Committees.
John T. Wash, Sr., 72, has been a director since 2008 when River City Bank merged with the Bank. He formerly served as a director of River City Bank. Mr. Wash has developed significant managerial and marketing skills as a real estate investor and Managing Partner of Hanover Plaza, LLC and Bay Court Associates, LLC since 1988. In addition, Mr. Wash was previously President of Galeski Optical from 1999 to 2005 and owner of Hanover Cleaners & Tuxedo Rentals from 1978 to 2008. Mr. Wash is currently a member of the Credit Risk Management Committee and the Compensation Committee.
George R. Whittemore, 67, has been a director since 1998. Mr. Whittemore is retired. He was a member of the board of directors of Condor Hospitality, Inc. (formerly SuperTel Hospitality Trust, Inc.), a publicly traded (NASDAQ listed) real estate investment trust that owns hotels (from November 1994 to March 2016) and served as chairman of its compensation committee and was a member of its audit committee. He was a consultant to Supertel Hospitality from August 2004 to August 2005 and its president from November 2001 to August 2004. Mr. Whittemore served as director and Senior Vice President/Senior Administrative Officer of Anderson & Strudwick, Inc., a brokerage and investment banking firm from November 1996 until November 2001. He was President/Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Financial Corporation and its subsidiary, Pioneer Federal Savings Bank, from September 1982 until its merger with Signet Banking Corporation (now Wells Fargo Corporation) in August 1994. Mr. Whittemore was a director of Prime Group Realty Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust that owned commercial office buildings, and served as chairman of its audit committee from July 2005 until December 2012. He is a director of Lightstone Value Plus REIT (since July 2006), Lightstone Value Plus REIT II (since June 2008), and Lightstone Value Plus REIT III, Inc. (since December 2013), all of which are non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts (all three of which are SEC filers) that own various types of commercial real estate and related investments, and is chairman of the audit committee of Lightstone Value Plus REIT and a member of the audit committee of the other two REITs. Mr. Whittemore provides experience in banking, investment banking, commercial real estate, and public company management and board experience that are important to the Company. Mr. Whittemore serves as Chair of the Audit Committee, Chair of the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, and as a member of the Executive Committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
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Thomas W. Winfree, 72, has been a director since 2001. Mr. Winfree has been a Virginia banker for more than 45 years and served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company from its inception until his retirement on February 28, 2014. He has also served as President of the Bank from 2001 to August 2013 and as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank from 2001 until his retirement in February 2014. This experience afforded him broad knowledge and a keen understanding of all aspects of banking. In addition to his banking experience, he served as President of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce during 2004 and was appointed to again serve on the Chamber’s board of directors in 2009-2010. Mr. Winfree is also a founding member and Director of the Families of the Wounded Fund, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping the families of soldiers severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan who are being treated at McGuire Veterans Hospital. He has served on the Bon Secours Health Systems Joint Hospitals board, where he was Chair in 2011 to 2015, the St. Francis Medical Center Citizens board, the Capital Region Collaborative, and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce board. He currently serves on the Better Business Bureau board serving Central Virginia, the Board of Venture Richmond, and is past President of the Goochland Rotary Club. Mr. Winfree is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Audit Committee, Credit Risk Management Committee and Enterprise Risk Management Committee. He is also Chair of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors
James E. Hendricks, Jr., 54, has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Risk Officer since December 5, 2016. He has served as Chief Credit Officer since March 1, 2014 and as Director of Special Assets since joining the Company in September 2013. From 1990 to 2013, Mr. Hendricks served in several leadership roles at SunTrust Bank (and its predecessor Crestar Bank), including Senior Vice President and Consumer Banking Chief Operational Risk Officer, Senior Vice President and Consumer Lending Credit and Compliance Risk Officer, and Senior Vice President of Credit Process Review. Prior to 1990, he served as Bank Examiner for the Comptroller of the Currency. Mr. Hendricks received his BS in Finance from Virginia Tech and MBA from University of Richmond. Mr. Hendricks has over 30 years of banking industry experience.
George Karousos, 48, has served as Chief Executive Officer of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation since February 1, 2017 and as its President since November 28, 2016. Prior to joining Village Bank Mortgage Corporation, Mr. Karousos served as Senior Vice President for First Heritage Mortgage LLC. Mr. Karousos began his mortgage career in 1994 where he worked for Bank of America as Vice President of Consumer Real Estate, Richmond, Virginia, until 2006. Upon leaving Bank of America, Mr. Karousos managed the central Virginia area for Primary Residential Mortgage. In 2010, he joined Wells Fargo Home Mortgage where he led one of the largest sales and production teams in the region. He currently serves on the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
Rebecca L. Kline, 59, has served as Executive Vice President - Retail Banking of the Bank since September 2009. Prior to that, Mrs. Kline served as Vice President - Retail Manager of the Bank since 2006. Prior to her service to the Bank, Mrs. Kline was First Vice President of First Market Bank and Senior Vice President of Central Fidelity Bank. Mrs. Kline has over 35 years of banking industry experience.
Max C. Morehead, Jr., 53, has served as Executive Vice President - Commercial Banking since March 2014. He has 29 years banking experience at SunTrust Bank (and its predecessor bank in the Mid-Atlantic region, Crestar Bank) and First Citizens Bank. During the majority of his 25 years at SunTrust, Mr. Morehead held various positions, including managing commercial and business banking groups. Mr. Morehead also serves as Chair of the Chesterfield County based non-profit, Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE). He is a 1986 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute.
C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr., 66, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since its inception. He has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank since September 2003. He serves on the Board of Chesterfield County’s Economic Development Authority. Mr. Whitehurst has over 40 years of banking industry experience, including 25 years in public accounting as a partner of an international public accounting firm. He currently serves on the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.
| 6 |
Security Ownership of Management
The following table sets forth, as of April 5, 2017, unless otherwise noted, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock by each of the directors, by the executive officers named in the “Summary Compensation Table” below, and by the directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership includes shares, if any, held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives of a director or executive officer living in such person’s home, as well as shares, if any, held in the name of another person under an arrangement whereby the director or executive officer can vest title in himself at once or at some future time.
VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.
Beneficial Ownership
| Name | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percent of Class (%) | ||||||
| Directors | ||||||||
| R. T. Avery, III (1) | 18,330 | 1.28 | % | |||||
| Craig D. Bell (2) | 18,081 | 1.27 | % | |||||
| William B. Chandler (3) | 16,003 | 1.12 | % | |||||
| William G. Foster, Jr. (4) | 26,968 | 1.89 | % | |||||
| O. Woodland Hogg (5) | 7,281 | * | ||||||
| Michael A. Katzen (6) | 8,498 | * | ||||||
| Kenneth R. Lehman (7) | 577,200 | 40.39 | % | |||||
| Michael L. Toalson (8) | 9,289 | * | ||||||
| Charles E. Walton (9) | 11,503 | * | ||||||
| John T. Wash (10) | 9,579 | * | ||||||
| George R. Whittemore (11) | 10,705 | * | ||||||
| Thomas W. Winfree (12) | 9,374 | * | ||||||
| Named Executive Officers | ||||||||
| C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr. (13) | 15,293 | 1.07 | % | |||||
| James E. Hendricks, Jr. (14) | 15,113 | 1.06 | % | |||||
| Directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons) | 765,752 | 53.58 | % | |||||
_______________________________
*Indicates that holdings amount to less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock.
| (1) | Amount disclosed includes 1,046 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Avery; 3,858 shares of common stock in Mr. Avery’s IRA; 3,081 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Avery’s spouse; 252 shares of common stock owned by JG Developers, Inc.; 9,973 shares of common stock held by the Trustee under the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan Trust FBO Raymond T. Avery, III; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. |
| (2) | Amount disclosed includes 671 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Bell; 3,125 shares of common stock in Mr. Bell’s IRA account; 4,506 shares of common stock in a Revocable Trust; 7 shares of common stock owned jointly with Mr. Bell’s brother; 9,277 shares of common stock held by the Trustee under the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan Trust FBO Craig D. Bell; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. Mr. Bell also has stock options for 375 shares, which vested on July 15, 2013 and have not been exercised. |
| (3) | Amount disclosed includes 7,548 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Chandler; 8,335 shares of common stock held by the Trustee under the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan Trust FBO William B. Chandler; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. |
| 7 |
| (4) | Amount disclosed includes 10,215 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Foster, of which 4,416 shares are held jointly with Mr. Foster’s spouse; 14,429 shares of common stock in Mr. Foster’s IRA account; the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 811 shares; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 1,200 shares. Mr. Foster also has stock options for 313 shares, which vested on August 20, 2015 and have not been exercised. |
| (5) | Amount disclosed includes 5,972 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Hogg, of which 1,357 shares are held jointly with Mr. Hogg’s spouse; 340 shares of common stock in Mr. Hogg’s IRA account; 345 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Hogg’s spouse in an IRA account; 504 shares of common stock held by the Trustee under the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan Trust FBO O. Woodland Hogg, Jr.; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. |
| (6) | Amount disclosed includes 1,537 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Katzen, of which 114 shares are held jointly with Mr. Katzen’s spouse; 6,841 shares of common stock held by the Trustee under the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan Trust FBO Michael A. Katzen; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. |
| (7) | Amount disclosed includes 577,200 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Lehman, all of which are pledged as security. |
| (8) | Amount disclosed includes 200 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Toalson; 5,438 shares of common stock held in Mr. Toalson’s IRA account; 2,050 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Toalson jointly with his spouse; 1,481 shares of common stock held by the Trustee under the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan Trust FBO Michael L. Toalson; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. |
| (9) | Amount disclosed includes 8,370 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Walton, of which 2,250 shares are held jointly with his spouse and 4,006 shares are pledged as security; 2,966 shares of common stock in Mr. Walton’s IRA accounts; 47 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Walton’s spouse; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. |
| (10) | Amount disclosed includes 8,965 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Wash; 494 shares of common stock in Mr. Wash’s IRA account; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. |
| (11) | Amount disclosed includes 363 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Whittemore; 6,786 shares of common stock in Mr. Whittemore’s IRA accounts; 1,093 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Whittemore’s spouse; 2,186 shares of common stock held by the Trustee under the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan Trust FBO George R. Whittemore; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 120 shares. Mr. Whittemore also has stock options for 157 shares, which vested on July 15, 2013 and have not been exercised. |
| (12) | Amount disclosed includes 7,241 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Winfree; 1,128 shares of common stock in Mr. Winfree’s IRA account; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) for 120 shares. Mr. Winfree also has stock options for 885 shares, which vested on January 3, 2014 and have not been exercised. |
| (13) | Amount disclosed includes 13,787 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Whitehurst, of which 7,711 shares are held jointly with his spouse; the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 406 shares; the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 600 shares; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 187 shares. Mr. Whitehurst also has stock options for 313 shares, which vested on September 26, 2016 and have not been exercised. |
| (14) | Amount disclosed includes 7,374 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Hendricks, of which 807 shares are held jointly with his spouse; 4,457 shares of common stock in Mr. Hendricks’ IRA account; 1,964 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Hendricks’ spouse; the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 531 shares; the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 600 shares; and the unvested portion of a restricted stock award (time-based) of 187 shares. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth, as of April 5, 2017, certain information known to the Company with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock by owners of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. Beneficial ownership includes shares, if any, held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives of such owner living in such person’s home, as well as shares, if any, held in the name of another person under an arrangement whereby such owner can vest title in himself at once or at some future time.
| 8 |
| Amount and Nature of | Percent of | |||||||
| Name | Beneficial Ownership | Class (%) | ||||||
| John S. Clark | 96,772 | 6.77 | % | |||||
| 1633 Broadway, 30th Floor New York, NY 10019 | ||||||||
Mr. Clark beneficially owns 96,772 shares of common stock. Mr. Clark has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 78,428 of such shares, which includes 3,000 shares of common stock held by trusts for which he serves as sole trustee. Mr. Clark has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 18,344 of such shares deemed beneficially owned by his spouse.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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 reports of ownership and changes in ownership of common stock. Officers and directors are required by regulations 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 fiscal year 2016, there was one late filing, specifically a Form 5 for the purchase of shares by Kenneth R. Lehman on June 10, 2016. All other directors and executive officers complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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 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.
The positions of Chairman of the board of directors and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company are held by separate persons due to the distinct and time-consuming natures of these roles. The principal role of the President and Chief Executive Officer is to manage the business of the Company in a safe, sound, and profitable manner. The role of the board of directors, including its Chairman, is to provide independent oversight of the President and Chief Executive Officer, to oversee the business and affairs of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders, and to balance the interests of the Company’s diverse constituencies including shareholders, customers, employees, and communities.
Each board member of the Company also serves as a director of the Bank. Our directors are also actively involved in our strategic planning process and the management of our nonperforming assets.
The board of directors has determined that the following eleven individuals of its twelve current members are independent as defined by applicable SEC rules and the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”): Raymond T. Avery, III, Craig D. Bell, William B. Chandler, O. Woodland Hogg, Jr., Michael A. Katzen, Kenneth R. Lehman, Michael L. Toalson, Charles E. Walton, John T. Wash, Sr., George R. Whittemore and Thomas W. Winfree. In reaching this conclusion, the board of directors considered that the Company and its subsidiary conduct business with companies of which certain members of the board of directors or members of their immediate families are or were directors or officers.
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There were no other relationships between the Company and its directors except as disclosed below under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”.
Board and Committee Meeting Attendance
In 2016, there were 12 meetings of the Company’s board of directors and 15 meetings of the Bank’s board of directors. Each director attended greater than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the board of directors and meetings of committees of which the director was a member in 2016.
The board of directors generally holds executive sessions of non-employee directors at each board meeting. At least one executive session is held for the purpose of evaluating the President and Chief Executive Officer. Any independent director can request that an executive session be scheduled.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The board of directors oversees risk management to be reasonably certain that the Company’s risk management policies, procedures, and practices are consistent with corporate strategy and functioning appropriately.
The board of directors performs its risk oversight in several ways. The board of directors establishes standards for risk management by approving policies that address and mitigate the Company’s most material risks. These include policies addressing credit risk, interest rate risk, capital risk, and liquidity risk, as well as Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money-Laundering compliance. The board of directors also monitors, reviews, and reacts to risk through various reports presented by management, internal and external auditors, and regulatory examiners.
The board of directors conducts certain risk oversight activities through its committees with direct oversight over specific functional areas. The risk oversight activities of the Audit, Compensation, Executive, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are described in the “Committees of the Board” section of this Proxy Statement, below; in the “Executive Compensation” section, beginning on page 18, and in the “Audit Information” section, beginning on page 23.
The board of directors is empowered to create additional standing and ad hoc committees to facilitate regular monitoring and deeper analysis of matters that may arise from time to time. The board of directors also meets regularly in executive session to discuss a variety of topics, including risk, without members of management present.
In the foregoing ways, the full board of directors is able to monitor the Company’s risk profile and risk management activities on an ongoing basis.
The Company has an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Executive Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Company’s Audit Committee assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility to the shareholders relating to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, 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 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 board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. A copy of the charter is available at our website at www.villagebank.com under “Corporate Information-Governance Documents”.
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The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Whittemore (Chair), Chandler, Katzen, Walton and Winfree. The board of directors, in its business judgment, has determined that such directors are independent as defined by NASDAQ’s listing standards and SEC regulations. The board of directors also has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee have sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the Audit Committee and that Messrs. Walton and Whittemore qualify as audit committee financial experts as defined by SEC regulations.
The Audit Committee met five times in 2016. For additional information regarding the Audit Committee, see “Audit Information – Audit Committee Report” later in this Proxy Statement.
The Company’s Compensation Committee assists the board of directors in fulfilling their responsibility to the shareholders to ensure that the Company's officers, key executives, and board members are compensated in accordance with the Company's total compensation objectives and executive compensation policy. The Compensation Committee advises and recommends for approval compensation policies, strategies, and pay levels necessary to support organizational objectives. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee. A copy of the charter is also available at our website at www.villagebank.com under “Corporation Information-Governance Documents”.
The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Chandler (Chair), Bell, Katzen, Walton and Wash, all of whom the board in its business judgment has determined are independent as defined by NASDAQ’s listing standards and SEC regulations.
The Compensation Committee met four times in 2016. For additional information regarding the Compensation Committee, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” later in this Proxy Statement.
When the board of directors is not in session, the Executive Committee is authorized to exercise all of the board of director’s power except for certain responsibilities of the board of directors, such as approval of an amendment of the articles of incorporation, a plan of merger or consolidation or the issuance of stock.
The members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Bell (Chair), Hogg, Lehman, Whittemore and Foster. The Executive Committee did not meet in 2016.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for selecting and recommending to the board of directors with respect to (i) nominees for election at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and (ii) nominees to fill board vacancies. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a copy of which is available at our website at www.villagebank.com under “Corporate Information-Governance Documents”.
The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Katzen (Chair), Bell, Toalson and Walton, all of whom the board of directors in its business judgment has determined are independent as defined by NASDAQ’s listing standards and SEC regulations.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met twice time in 2016.
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In identifying potential nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the board of directors, the range of talents, experiences and skills that would best complement those that are already represented on the board of directors, the balance of management and independent directors and the need for specialized expertise. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates for board membership suggested by its members and by management, and the independent directors will also consider candidates suggested informally by a shareholder of the Company.
In the consideration of director nominees, including any nominee that a shareholder may submit, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers, at a minimum, the following factors for 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; |
| · | The extent to which the prospective nominee contributes to the range of talent, skill and expertise appropriate for the board of directors; and |
| · | The prospective nominee’s involvement within the communities the Company serves. |
Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may recommend candidates for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consider formally in connection with an annual meeting as long as the recommendation is made on or before the last date on which a shareholder may nominate an individual for election to the board of directors under the Company's Bylaws.
Under the process used by the Company for selecting new board candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies the need to add a new board member with specific qualifications or to fill a vacancy on the board. The Committee will initiate a search, working with staff support and seeking input from board members and executive management, hiring a search firm, if necessary, and considering any candidates recommended by shareholders. An initial slate of candidates that will satisfy criteria and otherwise qualify for membership on the board may be presented to the board of directors. A determination is made as to whether board members have relationships with preferred candidates and can initiate contacts. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee interviews prospective candidates. The board of directors meets to conduct further interviews of prospective candidates, if necessary or appropriate, and to consider and recommend final candidates for approval.
Members of the board of directors of the Company do not receive fees for their service as directors. However, all of the directors of the Company also serve as directors of the Bank. In 2016, the Chairman of the board of directors of the Bank received a $22,000 retainer payable semi-annually in increments of $11,000. Each other non-employee member of the board of directors of the Bank, other than Mr. Lehman, received a $20,000 retainer payable semi-annually in increments of $10,000. Mr. Lehman received a $10,000 retainer because he joined the Board on June 24, 2016. Directors do not receive attendance fees for board or committee meetings.
Board members who are also officers of the Company or the Bank receive compensation only for their executive roles. They do not receive additional compensation for board service or attending committee meetings.
In 2005, the Bank adopted the Outside Directors Deferral Plan under which non-employee directors of the Bank have the opportunity to defer receipt of all or a portion of their compensation until retirement or departure from the board of directors. Any amounts deferred under this plan are maintained in an account for the benefit of the director and are credited annually with interest on the deferred amount at a market rate established at the beginning of each plan year (5.03% for 2016).
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The following table provides information concerning the compensation of all non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2016:
Director Compensation for 2016
| Fees Earned | ||||||||||||
| or Paid | BOLI | |||||||||||
| in Cash | Income | Total | ||||||||||
| Name | ($) | ($) | ($) | |||||||||
| R.T. Avery, III | 20,000 | (1) | 360 | 20,360 | ||||||||
| Craig D. Bell | 22,000 | (1) | 132 | 22,132 | ||||||||
| William B. Chandler | 20,000 | 360 | 20,360 | |||||||||
| R. Calvert Esleeck, Jr. | 20,000 | 508 | 20,508 | |||||||||
| O. Woodland Hogg, Jr. | 20,000 | - | 20,000 | |||||||||
| Michael A. Katzen | 20,000 | (1) | - | 20,000 | ||||||||
| Kenneth R. Lehman | 10,000 | - | 10,000 | |||||||||
| Michael L. Toalson | 20,000 | 237 | 20,237 | |||||||||
| Charles E. Walton | 20,000 | - | 20,000 | |||||||||
| John T. Wash, Sr. | 20,000 | - | 20,000 | |||||||||
| George R. Whittemore | 20,000 | (1) | 315 | 20,315 | ||||||||
| Thomas W. Winfree | 20,000 | - | 20,000 | |||||||||
_________________________
(1) All fees earned by the director were deferred for the year ended December 31, 2016.
The Company encourages members of the board of directors to attend the Annual Meeting of shareholders. All of the twelve directors attended the May 2016 annual meeting.
Any director may be contacted by writing to the named director, c/o the Company, P.O. Box 330, 13319 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, Virginia 23113. Communications to the non-management directors as a group may be sent to the same address, c/o the Corporate Secretary of the Company. The Company promptly forwards all such correspondence to the indicated directors.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This section of the proxy statement provides an overview and explanation of the material information relevant to understanding the objectives, policies, and the philosophy underlying the Company’s compensation programs for its executives, focusing on the named executive officers (also referred to as NEOs). The NEOs for 2016 were as follows:
| · | William G. Foster, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company |
| · | James E. Hendricks, Jr., Executive Vice President/Chief Risk Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank |
| · | C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company |
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This section of the Proxy Statement is intended to inform shareholders about certain incentive compensation plans as well as components of compensation paid to the NEOs. Following the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Company provides additional information relating to executive compensation in a series of tables, including important explanatory footnotes and narrative. The Summary Compensation Table is incorporated by reference into this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
At the 2016 annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders, the shareholders voted to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s NEOs, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation, and the accompanying narrative disclosure, set forth in the Company’s 2016 proxy statement. Excluding abstentions and broker non-votes, the vote was 913,372 shares “For” (97.6% of the shares voted) and 22,549 shares “Against” (2.4% of the shares voted).
The Compensation Committee took into account the result of the shareholder vote in determining executive compensation policies and decisions since the 2016 annual meeting. The Compensation Committee viewed the vote as an expression of the shareholders’ overall satisfaction with the Company’s current executive compensation programs. While the Compensation Committee considered this shareholder satisfaction in determining to continue the Company’s executive compensation programs for 2016, decisions regarding incremental changes in individual compensation were made in consideration of the factors described below.
Compensation Policy and Objectives
The Compensation Committee’s compensation philosophy with respect to its executive officers is one of pay for performance. Accordingly, an executive officer’s annual compensation consists of a base salary, an annual monetary bonus and stock-based compensation. The annual monetary bonus is utilized to reward our executives for achieving short-term financial and productivity goals, and stock- based compensation is utilized for achieving long-term financial and productivity goals. The Compensation Committee evaluates all compensation plans to ensure that they do not encourage unnecessary or excessive risk.
The Compensation Committee’s primary objective is to provide competitive levels of compensation to attract, retain and reward outstanding executive officers. In a highly competitive community banking marketplace, excellent leadership is essential. Our executive officers are expected to manage the business of the Company in a manner that promotes its growth and profitability for the benefit of our shareholders. To that end, we believe that:
| · | Our key executives should have compensation opportunities at levels that are competitive with peer institutions; |
| · | Total compensation should include significant “at risk” components that are linked to annual and longer term performance results; and |
| · | Stock-based compensation should form a key component of total compensation as a means of linking executive management to the long-term performance of the Company and aligning their interests with those of shareholders. |
The Compensation Committee has engaged Lockton Companies, LLC as an independent executive compensation advisor. The compensation advisor advises the Compensation Committee on matters relating to compensation benchmarking, staying current with regulatory and legal issues related to executive compensation, and designing appropriate compensation programs. As part of its consultation with the Compensation Committee, the compensation advisor provides the Committee with peer group comparisons. The Compensation Committee has direct access to the consultant and control over its engagement. The Compensation Committee has determined that the work of the compensation advisor and its employees as compensation consultants to the Company has not created any conflict of interest.
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The Company believes that a competitive salary for executive management is essential. Furthermore, flexibility to adapt to the particular skills of an individual or the specific needs of the Company is required. Proposed salary adjustments for executive management are presented to the Compensation Committee by the Chief Executive Officer, typically during the second quarter. The Compensation Committee reviews the recommendations, makes any further adjustments and generally approves the recommendations with input from the Compensation Committee’s external compensation advisor. Recommendations regarding adjustments to Mr. Foster’s salary are reviewed and, if appropriate, approved by the Board of Directors.
On June 20, 2016, the Compensation Committee met and, in accordance with its compensation philosophy and practices, recommended base salaries for the NEOs, which were approved by the Board of Directors on June 22, 2016. As a result, the NEO base salaries effective August 1, 2016 were:
| 2016 | % Increase | |||||||
| Name | Base Salary | From 2015 | ||||||
| William G. Foster | $ | 275,000 | 10.0 | % | ||||
| James E. Hendricks, Jr. | $ | 195,000 | 8.3 | % | ||||
| C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr. | $ | 186,000 | 4.2 | % | ||||
Short-Term Incentive Compensation
In late 2015, the Board of Directors approved a short-term incentive plan to reward executives for creating value for the Company by achieving Corporate and Individual performance goals. The Compensation Committee was given the responsibility to administer and enforce the plan. Under the plan, the CEO had an incentive target of 25% of base salary and the other NEOs had an incentive target of 15% of their base salary if certain Company performance goals were attained, adjusted for the NEO’s individual performance results against the plan. Actual awards would be adjusted upward or downward based on actual performance results versus goal and individual performance relative to goal. The Company performance goals were not met and no awards were made under the plan.
In the past, the Compensation Committee has recommended for approval by the Board of Directors stock option and restricted stock awards to employees under the Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. Incentive Plan, as amended and restated February 25, 2014. This Plan expired on February 28, 2016. In May 2015, the shareholders approved a new Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan. Awards of stock options and restricted stock are utilized to attract new employees, reward existing employees for performance, and retain key employees. The NEOs have outstanding stock awards under both plans.
2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan
On June 30, 2015, the Board approved a Long Term Incentive Plan under which executives and directors were awarded time-vested restricted stock grants and performance based restricted stock units. The time-vested restricted stock awards vest annually with 10% vesting on December 31, 2015 and 30% vesting on each of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The performance based restricted stock units can be earned based on performance versus goals for 2015-2018. Goals were established in the following categories and carry the following weighting:
| · | 25% Consolidated Net Income Before Taxes Less Preferred Stock Dividends |
| · | 25% Consolidated Gross Loan Balances (excluding loans held for sale) |
| · | 25% Bank Adversely Classified Items Ratio |
| · | 25% Consolidated Efficiency Ratio 100% |
| 15 |
In granting stock awards in 2015, the Compensation Committee asked its external compensation advisor to provide a recommendation regarding stock awards for executive management. The Compensation Committee’s advisor recommended stock awards for each executive based on the Company’s executive compensation philosophy statement. As a result of this evaluation, the Compensation Committee and Board approved a combination of time-vested restricted stock grants and performance-based restricted stock grants to reward and retain the named executives and other key officers of the Company and Bank. The stock-based compensation for the named executives includes the full value of the time-vested restricted stock grants as of the date of grant.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
We believe that retirement compensation plays an important role in retaining key executives, as well as helping them provide for retirement. The Compensation Committee engaged an independent compensation advisor to analyze the total retirement benefits provided by the Company and/or the Bank and Social Security to employees with various levels of compensation and years of service so that the Compensation Committee could determine the projected replacement ratio of income at retirement compared with active employment. Because of limits under our qualified retirement plan on the amount of deferrals that our executives can make, several of our executives can expect to have a lower retirement replacement ratio than we have targeted for all employees. Consequently, as a matter of “pension equity”, we have adopted a supplemental plan which should provide a benefit for designated executives that will help approach the targeted retirement replacement ratio.
The Company provides a potential supplemental retirement plan benefit of $50,000 annually for 20 years to Mr. Foster and a potential benefit of $25,000 annually for 15 years to each of Messrs.
Whitehurst and Hendricks. The benefits vest ratably each year over a 10-year period. Under the plan’s vesting schedule, Mr. Foster is in his fifth year of service, Mr. Hendricks is in his fourth year of service and Mr. Whitehurst has completed his 10-year vesting requirement and is fully vested in his benefit. In the event of a pre-retirement death, vesting is accelerated and the executive’s named beneficiary receives the benefit under the applicable payout schedule. In the event of a post-retirement death, the executive’s named beneficiary receives any remaining benefit payments under the applicable payout schedule. In the event of a change of control of the Company, vesting is accelerated and the benefit is paid under the applicable payout schedule.
Employment and Change-in-Control Agreements with Named Executive Officers
Securing the continued service of key executives is essential to the successful future of the Company. Employment agreements and management continuity agreements (which help retain key executives during a possible change of control situation) assist the Company by providing security to key executives.
The Company has an employment agreement with Mr. Whitehurst and the Bank has an employment agreement with Mr. Hendricks. The Company’s employment agreement with Mr. Foster expired on August 7, 2016.
Mr. Hendricks’s employment agreement was entered into on April 5, 2016 and the initial term of the agreement will expire on March 31, 2019. The agreement will automatically extend for an additional 12 months on March 31, 2019, and on each March 31ST thereafter, unless either party gives notice of nonrenewal at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the then current term. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Hendricks serves as an Executive Vice President of the Bank and is entitled receive an annual base salary of not less than $180,000. His current base salary is $210,000. The Bank’s board of directors will review his base salary at least annually and may make adjustments in its discretion. Mr. Hendricks will be entitled to cash bonuses and stock-based awards in such amounts as may be determined by the Company’s or the Bank’s board of directors in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plans in effect for senior executives of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Hendricks is also entitled to participate in the Village Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan with a potential annual benefit of $25,000 for 15 years. Pursuant to his agreement, if Mr. Hendricks is terminated without “Cause” (as defined in his agreement) or resigns for “Good Reason” (as defined in his agreement), he will be paid for 12 months following his termination the sum of (i) his annual base salary as of the date of termination plus (ii) the highest annual bonus paid or payable for the two most recently completed years. If, within 24 months following a Change of Control of the Bank, he is terminated by the Bank without Cause, he terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined in his agreement) or the Bank fails to renew his agreement, he will be paid a lump sum cash payment equal to two times the sum of (i) his annual base salary as of the date of termination plus (ii) the highest annual bonus paid or payable for the two most recently completed years.
| 16 |
Mr. Whitehurst’s employment agreement was entered into on January 6, 2017, and the initial term of the agreement will expire on January 6, 2019. The agreement may be extended contingent upon board or compensation committee approval. If the agreement is not extended in writing before the end of its term, or expressly terminated, it will automatically terminate at the end of its term. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Whitehurst serves as an Executive Vice President of the Bank and is entitled receive an annual base salary of not less than $186,000. The Bank’s board of directors will review his base salary at least annually and may make adjustments in its discretion. Mr. Whitehurst will be entitled to cash bonuses and stock-based awards in such amounts as may be determined by the Company’s or the Bank’s board of directors in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plans in effect for senior executives of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Whitehurst is also entitled to participate in the Village Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan with a potential annual benefit of $25,000 for 15 years. Pursuant to his agreement, if Mr. Whitehurst is terminated without “Cause” (as defined in his agreement) or resigns for “Good Reason” (as defined in his agreement), he will be paid for 12 months following his termination the sum of (i) his annual base salary as of the date of termination plus (ii) the highest annual bonus paid or payable for the two most recently completed years. If, within 24 months following a Change of Control, he is terminated by the Company without Cause, he terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined in his agreement) or the Company fails to renew his agreement, he will be paid a lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of his annual base salary as of the date of termination plus the highest annual bonus paid or payable for the two most recently completed years.
Mr. Foster’s employment agreement was entered into on August 8, 2013 and expired on August 7, 2016. Pursuant to the terms of his agreement, Mr. Foster was employed initially as the President of the Company and the Bank, and became Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company and the Bank in February 2014. Mr. Foster currently receives a base salary of $275,000 per year, an increase from the initial base salary of $200,000 per year set forth in his employment agreement. Pursuant to his agreement, he became a participant in the Village Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan with a potential annual benefit of $50,000 for 20 years. In addition, he was granted restricted stock awards in the amount of $100,000 upon being named President on August 19, 2013. Mr. Foster was not entitled to any severance benefits pursuant to his employment agreement. Notwithstanding the expiration of his employment agreement, Mr. Foster will continue to be a participant in the Village Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and his restricted stock awards will continue to vest in accordance with their terms. He will also continue to participate in the benefit plans available to senior executives of the Company and the Bank.
All NEOs are eligible to participate in the health and welfare benefit programs available to all of the Company’s employees. These programs include medical, dental, and vision coverages, short and long-term disability plans, and life insurance.
In addition, the Company has a 401(k) profit sharing plan. The NEOs participate in this plan and are fully vested in their own contributions. The Company’s discretionary matching contributions vest pro-ratably. The Company’s discretionary matching contributions fully vest over three years at 33%, 66% and 100%.
The Company and certain members of the Board of Directors and NEOs are parties to split dollar life insurance agreements or bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) agreements. Generally, under each split dollar or BOLI agreement, the Company has applied to a reputable insurance company for an insurance policy on the executive’s life. The insured executive is requested to designate his beneficiary upon death. A death benefit will be paid to the executive’s designated beneficiary, or to his estate, as may be applicable, under the provisions of the applicable agreement, and a death benefit will also be paid to the Company. Any death benefit paid to the Company will be in excess of any death benefit paid to the insured executive’s designated beneficiary. During 2016, the Company received a death benefit of $266,000 as a result of the death of a director.
| 17 |
The following table presents information concerning the compensation of the NEOs for services rendered in all capacities to the Company and the Bank.
Summary Compensation Table
| Nonqualified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock | Deferred | All Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name and Principal | Awards | Compensation | Compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | ($) (1) | Earnings ($) | ($) (3) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| William G. Foster | 2016 | 260,417 | 40,000 | - | 57,660 | 12,350 | 370,428 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| President and Chief | 2015 | 250,000 | - | 157,760 | 55,253 | 11,594 | 474,607 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James E. Hendricks, Jr. (2) | 2016 | 186,250 | 25,000 | - | 21,411 | 10,684 | 243,345 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive Vice President/ | 2015 | 180,000 | - | 83,810 | 19,990 | 10,209 | 294,009 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Risk Officer and | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr. | 2016 | 181,625 | - | - | - | 10,826 | 192,451 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive Vice President/ | 2015 | 178,500 | - | 83,810 | - | 10,635 | 272,945 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The amounts represent the grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. Stock awards consist of both time- based and performance-based restricted stock awards. The performance-based awards in the above table assume the probable outcome of performance conditions is equal to the targeted potential value of the awards. The time-based awards vest over a period of four years and the performance-based awards can be earned over a period of four years. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 14 of the Company's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2016. Assumptions used for the December 31, 2015 amounts are consistent with those used for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(2) Mr. Hendricks was promoted to his current executive position on December 5, 2016.
(3) Amounts shown in the "All Other Compensation" column are detailed in the following table:
All Other Compensation
| Company | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions | Company | |||||||||||||||||||||
| to Retirement | Vehicle / | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Name and Principal | BOLI | and 401(k) | Automobile | Telephone | ||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Year | Income | Plans | Allowance | Allowance | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| William G. Foster, Jr. | 2016 | $ | 450 | $ | 5,300 | $ | 6,000 | $ | 600 | $ | 12,350 | |||||||||||
| 2015 | $ | 404 | $ | 4,590 | $ | 6,000 | $ | 600 | $ | 11,594 | ||||||||||||
| James E. Hendricks, Jr. | 2016 | - | 4,084 | 6,000 | 600 | 10,684 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | - | 3,609 | 6,000 | 600 | 10,209 | |||||||||||||||||
| C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr. | 2016 | 1,561 | 3,264 | 6,000 | - | 10,826 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 1,356 | 3,278 | 6,000 | - | 10,635 | |||||||||||||||||
| 18 |
No stock awards were granted to NEOs in 2016.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the amount and value of outstanding equity awards on an award-by-award basis held by the NEOs at December 31, 2016.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-end
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of | Market Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | of Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Securities | or Units | or Units | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underlying | Option | Option | of Stock That | of Stock That | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Grant | Unexercised Options (#) | Exercise | Expiration | Have Not | Have Not | |||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Date | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Price ($) | Date (1) | Vested (#) | Vested ($) (2) | |||||||||||||||||
| William G. Foster | 8/20/2012 | - | 313 | 16.00 | 8/20/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8/20/2014 | 812 | (3) | 21,680 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7/2/2015 | 4,800 | (4) | 128,160 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5,612 | 149,840 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| James E. Hendricks, Jr. | 7/30/2014 | 531 | (3) | 14,178 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7/2/2015 | 2,400 | (4) | 64,080 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7/2/2015 | 187 | (3) | 4,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3,118 | 83,251 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr. | 9/26/2013 | - | 313 | 25.28 | 9/26/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7/30/2014 | 407 | (3) | 10,867 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7/2/2015 | 2,400 | (4) | 64,080 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7/2/2015 | 187 | (3) | 4,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,994 | 79,940 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
_______________________________
(1) Each of the incentive stock option awards cliff vests at the end of three years from date of grant. Once the shares vest and become exercisable, the award recipient may exercise such options, or any portion thereof, for a term of ten years after the date of grant.
(2) The market value of the stock awards that have not vested was determined based on the per share closing price of the Company's common stock on December 30, 2016 ($26.70).
(3) Stock award is time vested according to the following schedule: 25% after one year, an additonal 25% after two years and the remaining 50% after three years.
(4) Time vested restricted stock grant and performance based restricted stock unit awards under the Long Term Incentive Plan described on page 15.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Some of the directors and officers of the Company are customers of the Company and the Bank, and the Company and the Bank have had banking transactions in the ordinary course of business with directors, officers, and their associates, on substantially the same terms, including interest rates, collateral and repayment terms on loans, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with persons not related to the Company All outstanding loans to such officers and directors and their associates are current as to principal and interest and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. None of such outstanding loans are classified as non- accrual, past due, restructured or potential problems. As of December 31, 2016, all loans to directors, executive officers and their affiliates totaled approximately $7,711,000.
From time to time, the Company employs the law firm of McGuireWoods, LLP as legal counsel. Craig D. Bell, the chairman of the board of directors of each of the Company and the Bank, is a partner with McGuireWoods, LLP. The Company paid McGuireWoods, LLP approximately $176,457 in legal fees in 2016.
There are no legal proceedings to which any director, officer or associate is a party that would be material and adverse to the Company.
| 19 |
PROPOSAL TWO - ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As part of implementing the “say on pay” requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, pursuant to applicable rules, the SEC requires a separate and non-binding shareholder vote to approve the compensation of the named executive officers in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say on pay” proposal, gives shareholders the opportunity to endorse or not endorse a company’s executive pay program. Accordingly, shareholders of the Company are being asked to approve the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the shareholders of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. approve the compensation of executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.”
As stated above, this is an advisory vote only. Approval of the proposed resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote.
The board of directors believes that the Company’s compensation policies and procedures are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of its shareholders. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the board of directors. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
| 20 |
PROPOSAL THREE - RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The board of directors has appointed the firm of BDO USA, LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. BDO USA, LLP audited the financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2016.
The selection of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent auditors is not required to be submitted to a vote of the shareholders for ratification. The Company is doing so because it believes that it is a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to vote on an advisory basis in favor of the selection of BDO USA, LLP, the board of directors will reconsider whether to retain BDO USA, LLP, and may retain that firm or another firm without re-submitting the matter to the shareholders. Even if the shareholders ratify the appointment, the board of directors may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that a change would be in the Company’s best interests.
A majority of the votes cast at the meeting by holders of the common stock is required for the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm.
A representative of BDO USA, LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO USA, LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017.
| 21 |
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter that the board of directors has adopted.
Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, BDO USA, LLP, billed the following fees for services provided to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
| 2016 | 2015 | |||||||
| Audit fees (1) | $ | 158,514 | $ | 241,277 | ||||
| Audit-related fees (2) | 12,000 | 12,000 | ||||||
| Tax fees (3) | 25,090 | 46,378 | ||||||
| All other fees | - | - | ||||||
| Total | $ | 195,604 | $ | 299,655 | ||||
________________________
(1) Audit fees: Audit and review services, consents, review of documents filed with the SEC, including the registration statement related to our rights offering in 2015, and the Village Bank Mortgage Corporation audit in compliance with governmental auditing standards.
(2) Audit-related fees: Audit of the Employee Benefit Plan.
(3) Tax fees: Preparation of tax returns and consultation on tax matters.
The Audit Committee is composed of five directors, each of whom is independent within the meaning of the listing standards of the NASDAQ and SEC regulations. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the board of directors. The Audit Committee reviews its charter at least annually and revises it as necessary to ensure compliance with current regulatory requirements.
Management is responsible for:
| · | the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements; and |
| · | complying with laws and regulations and ethical business standards. |
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for:
| · | performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements; and |
| · | expressing an opinion as to the conformity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). |
The Audit Committee is responsible for:
| · | the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of: |
| o | 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; |
| o | the accounting firm engaged for the purpose of performing internal audit procedures for the Company; |
| o | the firm engaged for the purpose of performing a review of the loan portfolio for the Company; and |
| 22 |
| · | monitoring, overseeing and reviewing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company. |
The Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and BDO USA, LLP, 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, 2016 were prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed these consolidated financial statements with management and BDO USA, LLP, including the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm’s responsibilities, critical accounting policies and practices used and significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of such financial statements.
The Audit Committee has discussed with BDO USA, LLP the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301 “Communication with Audit Committees,” issued by the PCAOB. The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from BDO USA, LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Accounting Oversight Board regarding BDO USA, LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with BDO USA, LLP the firm’s independence from the Company. Moreover, the Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the audit services described above is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent auditors.
Based upon its discussions with management and BDO USA, LLP and its review of the representations of management and the report of BDO USA, LLP to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for filing with the SEC. By recommending to the board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be so included, the Audit Committee is not opining on the accuracy, completeness or presentation of the information contained in the audited financial statements.
Audit Committee Members
George R. Whittemore, Chair
William B. Chandler
Michael A. Katzen
Charles E. Walton
Thomas W. Winfree
Midlothian, Virginia
April 17, 2017
All audit related services, tax services and other services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by BDO USA, LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. The Audit Committee’s Charter provides for pre-approval of audit, audit-related and tax services. The Charter authorizes the Audit Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services.
| 23 |
PROPOSALS FOR 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The next Annual Meeting of shareholders will be held by the Company on or about May 22, 2018. Any shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal for consideration at that meeting, and who wishes to have such proposal included in the Company’s Proxy Statement, must comply with SEC Rule 14a-8 and must submit the proposal in writing no later than December 18, 2017. All such proposals and notifications should be sent to William G. Foster, President and Chief Executive Officer, at P.O. Box 330, 13319 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, Virginia 23113.
The Company’s bylaws also prescribe the procedure that a shareholder must follow to nominate directors for election. Such nominations require written notice delivered to the Secretary of the Company at its principal executive office not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting; or in the event that less than 70 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made, the shareholder has 10 days after the earlier of the date of notice or public disclosure to give written notice. The written notice must provide certain information and representations regarding both the nominee and the shareholder making the nomination and a written consent of the nominee to be named in a Proxy Statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected. Any shareholder may obtain a copy of the bylaws, without charge, upon written request to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. Based upon an anticipated date of May 22, 2018 for the next Annual Meeting, the Company must receive any notice of nomination or other business no later than March 23, 2018 and no earlier than February 21, 2018 for such meeting.
THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS, WHICH INCLUDES A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 (EXCLUDING EXHIBITS), AS FILED WITH THE SEC, IS BEING MAILED TO SHAREHOLDERS WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT. FOR THOSE SHAREHOLDERS THAT RECEIVED THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY, THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND THE 2016 ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.ENVISIONREPORTS.COM/VBFC. A COPY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE BY WRITING TO C. HARRIL WHITEHURST, JR., EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, WHOSE ADDRESS IS P.O. BOX 330, MIDLOTHIAN, VIRGINIA, 23113-0330. THE ANNUAL REPORT IS NOT PART OF THE PROXY SOLICITATION MATERIALS.
| 24 |
DIRECTIONS TO BRANDERMILL COUNTRY CLUB
3700 Brandermill Parkway
Midlothian, Virginia 23112
From the East
Take I-64 W toward Richmond
Take the I-295 S exit toward US-60 / Rocky Mt NC
Take VA-895 W via Exit 25 toward Richmond
VA-895 W becomes VA-150 N/Chippenham Pkwy N
Take US-360 W/Hull Street Rd toward Amelia
Turn right onto Genito Rd / VA-604
Turn left onto Old Hundred Rd S
Enter next roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Brandermill Pkwy
Brandermill Country Club will be on your right
From the North
Take I-95 S toward Richmond
Merge onto I-195 S toward Powhite Pkwy/US-60/US-360 W.
Keep left to take VA-76 S toward Powhite Pkwy/VA-150/US-60/US-360
Take left onto Charter Colony Pkwy toward Hull Street Rd/Strayer University
Charter Colony Pkwy becomes Old Hundred Rd. S
Enter next roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Brandermill Pkwy
Brandermill Country Club will be on your right
From the South
Take I-95 N/Richmond toward Richmond
Merge onto VA-288 N via Exit 62 toward Chesterfield/Powhite Pkwy.
Merge onto US-360 W/Hull Street Rd. toward Amelia
Turn right onto Old Hundred Rd. S
Enter next roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Brandermill Pkwy.
Brandermill Country Club will be on your right
From the West
Take I-64 E toward Richmond
Merge onto VA-288 S via Exit 175 toward Chesterfield
Take the Lucks Lane exit toward VA-720
Turn slight right onto Lucks Lane
Turn left onto Charter Colony Pkwy.
Charter Colony Pkwy becomes Old Hundred Rd. S
Enter next roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Brandermill Pkwy.
Brandermill Country Club will be on your right
25
