<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
FILED BY THE REGISTRANT [X] FILED BY A PARTY OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT [ ]
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
MASSBANK Corp.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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:
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 2
MASSBANK CORP.
123 HAVEN STREET
READING, MASSACHUSETTS 01867
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
To the Stockholders of
MASSBANK CORP.:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of MASSBANK Corp. (the "Corporation")
will be held at Tara's Ferncroft Conference Center, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers,
Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 10:00 A.M. (together with all
adjournments and postponements thereof, the "Annual Meeting"), for the following
purposes:
1. To consider and act upon a proposal to elect four Directors to
serve until the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified;
2. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to the
Corporation's Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan to increase
the number of shares of the Corporation's Common Stock subject to issuance
thereunder by 170,000 shares, or approximately 4.8% of the total number of
outstanding shares; and
3. To consider and act upon any other matters which may properly come
before the Annual Meeting.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 1998 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
ROBERT S. CUMMINGS, Secretary
Reading, Massachusetts
March 26, 1998
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE
COMPLETE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE. IF YOU WISH TO VOTE YOUR STOCK IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOUR
PROXY MAY BE REVOKED.
<PAGE> 3
MASSBANK CORP.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1998
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of MASSBANK Corp. (the "Corporation") for the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation, and any adjournments or
postponements thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). At the Annual Meeting,
stockholders will consider and act upon the matters set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting.
Stock transfer books will not be closed, but the Board of Directors has
fixed the close of business on March 2, 1998 as the record date for determining
the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On
that date, there were outstanding 3,578,478 shares of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), and the holders thereof on that date are
entitled to one vote for each share held by them. All share information set
forth herein has been adjusted to reflect the 4-for-3 split of the Corporation's
Common Stock, effective September 15, 1997.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of at least a majority of
the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote is
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual
Meeting. The Corporation intends to count (i) shares of Common Stock for which
proxies or ballots have been received but with respect to which holders or
shares have been abstained on any matter and (ii) broker non-votes as present
for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the
transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. A broker non-vote occurs when a
broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner votes on one
proposal, but does not vote on another proposal because such broker or other
nominee does not have discretionary voting power as to the proposal and has not
received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
A quorum being present, (i) Directors will be elected by a plurality of the
votes cast, and (ii) the amendment to the Corporation's Amended and Restated
1994 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") will be approved by a majority of the
shares voting on such matter. With respect to the election of Directors, votes
may only be cast in favor or withheld from the nominees; there is no ability to
abstain. Accordingly, votes that are withheld and broker non-votes will have no
effect on the results of the vote for the election of Directors. With respect to
the proposal relating to the amendment to the Plan, abstentions and broker
non-votes will have no effect on the results of the vote.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Corporation. The
solicitation of proxies by mail may be followed by the solicitation of certain
stockholders by officers or regular employees of the Corporation by telephone or
oral communication. The enclosed proxy, if executed and returned, may be revoked
at any time before it has been exercised (i) by delivery of a revocation in
writing to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices
of the Corporation (123 Haven Street, Reading, Massachusetts 01867), (ii) by
delivering a later-dated proxy, or (iii) by voting in person at the Annual
Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself constitute
revocation of a proxy.
<PAGE> 4
Stockholders are requested to complete, date, sign and return the
accompanying proxy in the enclosed envelope. Shares represented by properly
executed proxy received prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting and not revoked
will be voted at the Annual Meeting as directed on the proxy. If a properly
executed proxy is submitted and no instructions are given, the proxy will be
voted FOR the election of the four nominees for Director set forth herein and
FOR the approval of the amendment to the Plan. It is not anticipated that any
other matters than those set forth in this Proxy Statement will be presented at
the Annual Meeting. If other matters are presented, proxies will be voted in
accordance with the discretion of the proxy holders.
The approximate date on which this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy
are first being sent to stockholders is March 26, 1998. The Corporation's 1997
Annual Report, including financial statements for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1997, is being mailed to stockholders concurrently with this Proxy
Statement. The Annual Report, however, is not part of the proxy soliciting
materials.
2
<PAGE> 5
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with the Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and By-Laws, the Board of Directors is divided into three approximately equal
classes, with each Director serving for a term of three years. As a consequence,
the term of only one class of Directors expires each year, and their successors
are elected for terms of three years. The Board of Directors is presently
comprised as follows:
Class I: Ms. Hickey, Messrs. Costello, Marshall and McPherson and Dr.
Stackhouse, who were elected to serve until the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are chosen
and qualified.
Class II: Messrs. Bedell, Cummings, Lapidus and Schurian, who were elected
to serve until the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until
their successors are chosen and qualified.
Class III: Messrs. Altschuler, Brandi, Bufferd and Carr, who were elected
to serve until the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until
their successors are chosen and qualified.
The Board of Directors has nominated the four Class III Directors to stand
for re-election at the Annual Meeting to serve until the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and until their successors are chosen and qualified. Each of
Messrs. Altschuler, Brandi, Bufferd and Carr will stand for re-election at the
Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise noted thereon, proxies solicited hereby which
are executed and returned on a timely basis will be voted for the election of
such nominees. The Corporation believes that each of the Board of Directors'
nominees for Director will be able to serve. If one or more of such nominees
should be unable to serve, the individuals named in the enclosed proxy will vote
for such other person or persons, if any, as the Board of Directors at the time
may recommend to serve in place of the person or persons unable to serve.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION
OF ITS NOMINEES.
Information regarding these nominees for election as Directors, as well as
each current Director whose term is not scheduled to expire until the 1999 or
the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, is set forth below.
SAMUEL ALTSCHULER CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR, ALTRON, INC., A
MANUFACTURER OF ELECTRONIC INTERCONNECT PRODUCTS
[PICTURE]
Mr. Altschuler, 70, has served as a Director since 1986 and as
a Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1979. He is also a
member of the Compensation and Option Committee of the
Corporation. Mr. Altschuler has been associated with Altron,
Inc. since founding the company in 1970. Mr. Altschuler is a
past President of IPC, an industry trade association.
3
<PAGE> 6
MATHIAS B. BEDELL RETIRED IN 1989 AS PRESIDENT OF BEDELL BROTHERS INSURANCE
AGENCY
[PICTURE]
Mr. Bedell, 65, has served as a Director since 1986 and
as a Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1965. Mr. Bedell is
also a member of the Executive Committee of the Corporation
and a Director and Executive Committee member of MASSBANK (the
"Bank"), the Corporation's principal subsidiary. He also
serves on the Compensation and Option Committee and the
Insurance Committee of the Corporation.
GERARD H. BRANDI CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
OF MASSBANK CORP. AND MASSBANK
[PICTURE]
Mr. Brandi, 49, has served as a Director since 1986. He first
joined a predecessor bank in 1975 and became a Trustee in
1978. He has served the Bank and Corporation in various
capacities over the past twenty-three years. Mr. Brandi was
named President of the Corporation and the Bank in 1986, Chief
Executive Officer in 1992 and Chairman in 1993. Mr. Brandi is
also Chairman of the Executive Committees of the Corporation
and the Bank, a member of the Asset/Liability Committee of the
Corporation and a member of the Trust Committee of the Bank.
He is a Director of the Depositors Insurance Fund,
Northeastern University's National Council, The Lowell Plan,
the New England Automated Clearing House and the Massachusetts
Bankers Association. He also serves as the Vice Chairman and
Director of the Lowell Development and Finance Corp., and
Treasurer and Director of the Massachusetts Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr. Brandi is a member of
the Government Relations Council of the American Bankers
Association and a Trustee and a member of the Investment
Committee of the Savings Banks Employees Retirement
Association.
ALLAN S. BUFFERD DEPUTY TREASURER AND DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS, MASSACHUSETTS
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
[PICTURE]
Mr. Bufferd, 60, was elected a Director in 1995. He is also a
member of the Asset/Liability Committee of the Corporation.
Mr. Bufferd serves as Vice Chairman and Life Trustee and as a
member of the Executive Committee of the Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center, a Trustee of the Whiting Foundation and a
Trustee and member of the Executive and Finance Committees of
Wheelock College. He is also a member of the Investment
Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Pension Retirement
Investments Trust. In addition, he is the Treasurer and a
Director of the Harvard Cooperative Society and a Director of
Fluor Daniel Groundwater Technology, Inc.
4
<PAGE> 7
PETER W. CARR RETIRED AS VICE PRESIDENT/FINANCE OF GUILFORD TRANSPORTATION
INDUSTRIES
[PICTURE]
Mr. Carr, 67, has served as a Director since 1986 and as a
Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1980. Mr. Carr is also the
Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Corporation.
ALEXANDER S. COSTELLO EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, THE LOWELL SUN
[PICTURE]
Mr. Costello, 44, has served as a Director since 1993. He is a
member of the Insurance Committee of the Corporation. Mr.
Costello is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The
Lowell Plan, a non-profit organization dedicated to the
revitalization of the City of Lowell, and a member of the
Board of Governors of Saints' Memorial Hospital of Lowell.
ROBERT S. CUMMINGS ATTORNEY, SENIOR PARTNER OF PEABODY & BROWN
[PICTURE]
Mr. Cummings, 67, has served as a Director since 1986 and as a
Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1979. Mr. Cummings is
Secretary of the Corporation, a member of the Executive
Committee of the Corporation and a Director and Executive
Committee member of the Bank. He also serves as Chairman of
the Compensation and Option Committee of the Corporation. Mr.
Cummings is a Trustee of Hallmark Healthcare, Chairman of the
Commissioners of Trust Funds of the Town of Reading, Chairman
and Director of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals and Treasurer, Director and Executive
Committee member of the World Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals.
5
<PAGE> 8
LOUISE A. HICKEY RETIRED AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR PATIENT SERVICES AT
MELROSE-WAKEFIELD HOSPITAL
[PICTURE]
Ms. Hickey, 72, has served as a Director since 1986 and as a
Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1981. Ms. Hickey is a
member of the Compensation and Option Committee of the
Corporation. Ms. Hickey is an Honorary Trustee of the
Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
LEONARD LAPIDUS UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
[PICTURE]
Mr. Lapidus, 68, has served as a Director since 1994. He is a
member of the Asset/Liability Committee of the Corporation.
Mr. Lapidus served as a Director of the Bank from 1994 to
1995. Mr. Lapidus served from 1981 to 1994 as President of the
Depositors Insurance Fund, a fund established under
Massachusetts law to provide deposit insurance to
Massachusetts savings banks. Presently, he is a United States
Government official who advises, and arranges to place
advisors with, the governments of former Soviet bloc countries
to help them reform their banking and bank regulatory systems.
STEPHEN E. MARSHALL PRESIDENT AND TREASURER OF C. H. CLEAVES INSURANCE AGENCY,
INC.
[PICTURE]
Mr. Marshall, 59, has served as a Director since 1986 and as a
Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1972. He is a member of
the Executive Committee of the Corporation and a Director and
Executive Committee member of the Bank. Mr. Marshall is also
Chairman of the Insurance Committee of the Corporation. Mr.
Marshall's affiliations include the Professional Insurance
Agents of Massachusetts, The American Cancer Society and the
Visiting Nurses Association.
ARTHUR W. MCPHERSON ACCOUNT MANAGER, THE ADVISORS GROUP
[PICTURE]
Mr. McPherson, 72, has served as a Director since 1986 and as
a Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1973. Mr. McPherson is a
member of the Audit Committee of the Corporation and Chairman
of the Trust Committee of the Bank. Mr. McPherson serves as a
Deacon and the Missions Co-ordinator for the Park Street
Church of Boston. He is also an Honorary Director of the
Melrose YMCA.
6
<PAGE> 9
HERBERT G. SCHURIAN CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
[PICTURE]
Mr. Schurian, 61, has served as a Director since 1986 and as a
Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1973. He is a member of
the Executive Committee of the Corporation and a Director and
an Executive Committee member of the Bank. He is Chairman of
the Asset/Liability Committee and a member of the Audit
Committee of the Corporation. Mr. Schurian is associated with
various professional, civic and local charitable
organizations.
DONALD B. STACKHOUSE, D.M.D. RETIRED AS PRESIDENT OF DENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN
1995
[PICTURE]
Dr. Stackhouse, 66, has served as a Director since 1986 and as
a Trustee of a predecessor bank since 1972. He is also a
member of the Executive Committee of the Corporation and a
Director and an Executive Committee member of the Bank. Dr.
Stackhouse is a former Clinical Professor in Graduate
Prothodontics at Tufts University and a Director of the L.D.
Pankey Dental Institute.
7
<PAGE> 10
The following chart shows the number of shares of the Corporation's Common
Stock beneficially owned by each Director and named executive officer of the
Corporation as of January 21, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
BENEFICIALLY PERCENT
NAME OWNED(1) OF CLASS(2)
---- ------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Samuel Altschuler........................................... 20,750 *
Mathias B. Bedell........................................... 28,110(3) *
Gerard H. Brandi............................................ 157,931(4)(5) 4.4%
Allan S. Bufferd............................................ 3,150(6) *
Peter W. Carr............................................... 19,750(6) *
David F. Carroll............................................ 34,420(5)(6) *
Reginald E. Cormier......................................... 34,899(5) *
Alexander S. Costello....................................... 6,250 *
Robert S. Cummings.......................................... 27,400 *
Louise A. Hickey............................................ 16,250 *
Leonard Lapidus............................................. 4,349 *
Stephen E. Marshall......................................... 9,151 *
Arthur W. McPherson......................................... 3,350 *
Herbert G. Schurian......................................... 23,700(7) *
Dr. Donald B. Stackhouse.................................... 21,307 *
Donald R. Washburn.......................................... 37,143(5)(8) 1.0%
Donna H. West............................................... 36,675(5) 1.0%
All Directors and executive officers as a group (18
persons).................................................. 494,099(5)(9) 12.9%
</TABLE>
- - ---------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, each person named has sole voting and sole
investment power with respect to all shares indicated. Includes the
following number of shares that the above listed Directors and executive
officers have the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of
options granted pursuant to the Corporation's 1986 Stock Option Plan or
Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan: Mr. Altschuler, 15,750
shares; Mr. Bedell, 13,000 shares; Mr. Brandi, 30,200 shares; Mr. Bufferd,
2,750 shares; Mr. Carr, 15,750 shares; Mr. Carroll, 19,416 shares; Mr.
Cormier, 16,383 shares; Mr. Costello, 6,250 shares; Mr. Cummings, 20,000
shares; Ms. Hickey, 15,750 shares; Mr. Lapidus, 4,083 shares; Mr. Marshall,
9,000 shares; Mr. McPherson, 2,750 shares; Mr. Schurian, 17,500 shares; Dr.
Stackhouse, 16,667 shares; Mr. Washburn, 22,017 shares; Ms. West, 20,917
shares, respectively. Does not include the following number of units of
cash-only securities (contracts issued to the holder under the Corporation's
Deferred Compensation Plan) whose value per unit is derived from changes in
the market price per share of the Corporation's Common Stock: Mr. Bedell,
5,177 units; Mr. Bufferd, 164 units; Mr. Cummings, 5,177 units; and Mr.
Lapidus, 164 units.
(2) Calculated on the basis of 3,578,478 outstanding shares as of January 21,
1998.
(3) Includes 3,684 shares owned by Mr. Bedell's spouse, as to which shares Mr.
Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership.
(4) Includes 739 shares held by Mr. Brandi as custodian for various nieces and
nephews, 3,335 shares owned by Mr. Brandi's daughter and 8,750 shares owned
by Mr. Brandi's spouse, as to all of which shares
8
<PAGE> 11
Mr. Brandi disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 88,343 shares owned
jointly with Mr. Brandi's spouse, with respect to which shares Mr. and Mrs.
Brandi share voting and investment power.
(5) Includes shares allocated to the accounts of executive officers under the
Bank's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP"). The number of such
allocated shares included in the above table is as follows: Mr. Brandi --
12,874; Mr. Carroll -- 5,282; Mr. Cormier -- 4,313; Mr. Washburn -- 5,634;
Ms. West -- 5,216; and all executive officers as a group (six persons) --
34,433. Does not include any portion of the unallocated shares under the
ESOP which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by participating executive
officers as a result of their ability to direct the voting of such shares
through the voting of shares allocated to their accounts under the ESOP. The
number of such unallocated shares over which the executive officers may
exercise voting power is as follows: Mr. Brandi -- 4,843; Mr. Carroll --
1,987; Mr. Cormier -- 1,622; Mr. Washburn -- 2,120; Ms. West -- 1,962; and
all executive officers as a group -- 12,953.
(6) Voting and investment power for these shares (other than shares which may be
acquired through the exercise of options as described above) is shared with
spouse as to all shares indicated.
(7) Includes 3,800 shares owned by Mr. Schurian's spouse and 400 shares owned by
his son, as to all of which shares Mr. Schurian disclaims beneficial
ownership.
(8) Includes 2,400 shares owned jointly with Mr. Washburn's spouse, with respect
to which shares Mr. and Mrs. Washburn share voting and investment power.
(9) Includes 256,583 shares that such persons have the right to acquire through
the exercise of options granted pursuant to the Corporation's 1986 Stock
Option Plan or Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
During 1997, the Board of Directors of the Corporation held four meetings,
the Executive Committee of the Corporation held nine meetings, the Audit
Committee of the Corporation held four meetings and the Compensation and Option
Committee of the Corporation held one meeting. During 1997, each incumbent
Director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the
Corporation's Board of Directors and of the committees of which he or she was a
member, with the exception of Mr. Costello, who attended three of five meetings,
or 60% of the meetings.
The Executive Committee of the Corporation consists of Messrs. Bedell,
Brandi, Cummings, Marshall and Schurian and Dr. Stackhouse and is vested with
the authority of the Board of Directors in most matters between Board meetings.
The Audit Committee of the Corporation consists of Messrs. Carr, McPherson and
Schurian and is responsible for reviewing the Corporation's financial statements
and the scope of the audit, reviewing the Corporation's internal financial and
accounting controls and recommending to the Board the appointment of independent
auditors. The Compensation and Option Committee of the Corporation consists of
Messrs. Altschuler, Bedell and Cummings and Ms. Hickey. The Compensation and
Option Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board of
Directors of the Bank with respect to the policies which govern both annual
compensation and incentive stock ownership programs for the employees of the
Bank.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation acts as a nominating committee,
selecting nominees for election as Directors and executive officers. The Board
considers the recommendation of any stockholder with respect to nominees for
election to the Board if such recommendation is timely in accordance with, and
is accompanied by the information required by, the Corporation's By-Laws. To
make a recommendation, a stockholder should send the nominee's name and
supporting information to the Secretary of the Corporation at the Corporation's
principal offices. See "Stockholder Proposals."
9
<PAGE> 12
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information with respect to each holder who,
to the knowledge of the Corporation, beneficially owned more than 5% of the
Corporation's Common Stock as of March 2, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT OF PERCENT OF
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
NAME AND ADDRESS CORPORATION'S COMMON STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1)
---------------- -------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Private Capital Management, Inc.(2) ......... 378,024 10.6%
3003 North Tamiami Trail
Naples, FL 33940
Baker, Fentress & Company(3)................. 273,590 7.6%
200 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60606
First Manhattan Co.(4)....................... 211,798 5.9%
437 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
</TABLE>
- - ---------------
(1) Calculated on the basis of 3,578,478 outstanding shares as of March 2, 1998.
(2) Private Capital Management, Inc. ("PCM") is an investment adviser registered
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"). According to
the most recent filing made by PCM with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") on Schedule 13D dated March 10, 1993, 335,000 shares
(as adjusted for 3-for-2 and 4-for-3 splits of the Corporation's Common
Stock occurring after such date) had been purchased for the accounts of
investment advisory clients of PCM. PCM reported in such filing that it
possessed shared dispositive power over all of such shares and no voting
power over any of the shares. On March 16, 1998, a representative of PCM
informed the Corporation that it holds 378,024 shares as indicated above.
(3) Baker, Fentress & Company ("Baker") is an investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. According to a joint filing made
by Baker and John A. Levin & Co., Inc. ("Levin") on Schedule 13G dated
February 13, 1998, Baker possesses sole voting power over 25,130 of the
above shares, shared voting power over 153,863 of the above shares, sole
dispositive power over 25,130 of the above shares and shared dispositive
power over 248,460 of the above shares. Levin, an investment adviser under
the Advisers Act, holds for the accounts of its investment advisory clients
the above 273,590 shares. Baker is the sole shareholder of Levin Management
Co., Inc., which is the sole shareholder of Levin. Baker, therefore, may be
deemed the beneficial owner of the above 273,590 shares held by Levin.
(4) First Manhattan Co. ("First Manhattan") is a broker or dealer registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and an investment adviser
registered under the Advisers Act. According to a filing made by it with the
SEC on Schedule 13G dated February 9, 1998, First Manhattan possesses sole
voting power over 171,687 of the above shares, shared voting power over
20,511 of the above shares, sole dispositive power over 171,687 of the above
shares and shared dispositive power over 40,111 of the above shares.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Until the Corporation becomes actively involved in other business, no
separate compensation is being paid to the executive officers of the
Corporation, all of whom are executive officers of the Bank and receive
compensation as such.
10
<PAGE> 13
SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth for the fiscal years ended December 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995, a summary of the compensation paid by the Bank to the Chief
Executive Officer and the four additional executive officers whose remuneration
from the Corporation and its subsidiaries exceeded $100,000 during 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
---------------------------------
AWARDS PAYOUTS
ANNUAL COMPENSATION ----------------------- -------
--------------------------------------- RESTRICTED (1)
OTHER ANNUAL STOCK SECURITIES LTIP ALL OTHER
SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION AWARD(S) UNDERLYING PAYOUTS COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($) ($) ($) OPTIONS(#) ($) ($)
- - --------------------------- ---- ------ ----- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gerard H. Brandi......... 1997 337,500 94,500 (2) -0- 3,333 -0- 76,580(3)
Chairman, President 1996 322,800 100,068 (2) -0- 3,333 -0- 67,574(3)
and Chief Executive 1995 310,000 97,650 (2) -0- 3,333 -0- 63,830(3)
Officer
Donald R. Washburn....... 1997 110,700 17,700 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 13,244(4)
Senior Vice President, 1996 106,800 18,156 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 9,340(4)
Lending 1995 102,000 22,950 (2) -0- 2,000 -0- 8,544(4)
Donna H. West............ 1997 108,600 20,600 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 13,458(5)
Senior Vice President, 1996 103,200 22,704 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 9,019(5)
Community Banking 1995 98,400 22,140 (2) -0- 2,000 -0- 8,212(5)
Reginald E. Cormier...... 1997 93,000 18,500 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 11,502(6)
Vice President, 1996 87,900 19,338 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 7,689(6)
Treasurer and Chief 1995 84,000 18,900 (2) -0- 2,000 -0- 7,047(6)
Financial Officer
David F. Carroll......... 1997 90,000 14,000 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 10,754(7)
Vice President, 1996 86,520 14,708 (2) -0- 2,333 -0- 7,572(7)
Operations 1995 82,800 18,630 (2) -0- 2,000 -0- 7,046(7)
</TABLE>
- - ---------------
(1) Includes (i) the cash value of shares of MASSBANK Corp. Common Stock
acquired by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") and allocated to the
named party (but excluding any allocation of dividends and interest
thereunder), and (ii) such other items as are disclosed in individual
footnotes below. Such cash value was determined by multiplying the number of
shares of Common Stock so allocated by the closing price of the Common Stock
on December 31 of the applicable year.
(2) Perquisites did not exceed 10% of total salary and bonus.
(3) Consists of the Bank's payment of permanent life insurance premiums in the
amount of $3,226 in each of 1997, 1996 and 1995 under Mr. Brandi's executive
supplemental retirement agreement, ESOP allocations valued at $15,534,
$10,898 and $10,474 representing 326, 286 and 330 shares of Common Stock on
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, determined in accordance
with footnote 1 above, and contributions of $57,820, $53,450 and $50,130 to
a rabbi trust for a deferred compensation program for Mr. Brandi in 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively.
(4) Consists of ESOP allocations of $13,244, $9,340 and $8,544 representing 278,
245 and 269 shares of Common Stock at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, determined in accordance with footnote 1 above.
(5) Consists of ESOP allocations of $13,458, $9,019 and $8,212 representing 283,
237 and 259 shares of Common Stock at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, determined in accordance with footnote 1 above.
11
<PAGE> 14
(6) Consists of ESOP allocations of $11,502, $7,689 and $7,047 representing 242,
202 and 222 shares of Common Stock at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, determined in accordance with footnote 1 above.
(7) Consists of ESOP allocations of $10,754, $7,572 and $7,046 representing 226,
199 and 222 shares of Common Stock at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, determined in accordance with footnote 1 above.
OPTION GRANTS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding options
granted during 1997 to the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive
officers named above.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
------------------------------------------------------------ VALUE AT ASSUMED
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
SHARES OPTIONS PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR OPTION TERM
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES BASE PRICE -------------------------
NAME GRANTED IN FISCAL YEAR PER SHARE EXPIRATION DATE 5% 10%
---- ---------- -------------- ----------- --------------- -- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gerard H. Brandi....... 3,333 9.3% $30.09375 January 21, 2007 $63,080 $159,856
Chairman, President
and Chief Executive
Officer
Donald R. Washburn..... 2,333 6.5% $30.09375 January 21, 2007 $44,154 $111,895
Senior Vice
President, Lending
Donna H. West.......... 2,333 6.5% $30.09375 January 21, 2007 $44,154 $111,895
Senior Vice
President, Community
Banking
Reginald E. Cormier.... 2,333 6.5% $30.09375 January 21, 2007 $44,154 $111,895
Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer
David F. Carroll....... 2,333 6.5% $30.09375 January 21, 2007 $44,154 $111,895
Vice President,
Operations
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE> 15
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUE
The following table sets forth certain information regarding options
exercised during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 and options held as of
December 31, 1997 by the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive
officers named above.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE FISCAL YEAR END FISCAL YEAR END
NAME ON EXERCISE REALIZED EXERCISABLE / UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE / UNEXERCISABLE
---- --------------- -------- --------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gerard H. Brandi.......... 2,966 $87,229 27,700/0 $808,313/0
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive
Officer
Donald R. Washburn........ 1,400 $55,113 20,267/0 $622,169/0
Senior Vice President,
Lending
Donna H. West............. 1,500 $54,563 19,167/0 $579,344/0
Senior Vice President,
Community Banking
Reginald E. Cormier....... 1,333 $24,667 16,333/0 $469,052/0
Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer
David F. Carroll.......... 1,000 $22,938 17,666/0 $518,219/0
Vice President, Operations
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE> 16
COMPARATIVE STOCK PERFORMANCE BY THE CORPORATION
COMPARISON OF TEN YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
The following chart compares the performance of the Common Stock of the
Corporation (assuming reinvestment of dividends) with the S&P 500 Index and a
group comprised of 16 industry peers, including the Corporation (the "Ten Year
Peer Group"), over a ten-year period. The chart assumes a $100 investment was
made on December 31, 1987 in the Common Stock of MASSBANK Corp., the stocks
included in the S&P 500 and the stocks of the Ten Year Peer Group. Data for the
chart was provided to the Corporation by The Bloomberg. Information about the
indices and the Ten Year Peer Group which was provided by The Bloomberg is
believed to be reliable, but neither the accuracy nor the completeness of such
information is guaranteed by the Corporation.
COMPARISON OF TEN YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG MASSBANK CORP., THE S&P 500 INDEX AND THE TEN YEAR PEER GROUP
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD MASSBANK S&P 500 TEN YEAR
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) CORP. INDEX PEER GROUP
<S> <C> <C> <C>
12/31/87 100.00 100.00 100.00
12/31/88 138.93 116.56 111.88
12/31/89 128.70 153.41 89.62
12/31/90 98.27 148.66 49.18
12/31/91 127.79 193.85 70.46
12/31/92 250.53 208.60 118.97
12/31/93 272.04 229.54 149.74
12/31/94 271.44 232.56 151.70
12/31/95 387.31 319.85 231.71
12/31/96 478.16 393.24 291.15
12/31/97 816.21 524.40 506.71
</TABLE>
(1) The banks in the Ten Year Peer Group are: Abington Bancorp, Inc., American
Bank of CT, Andover Bancorp, Inc., Banknorth Group, Inc., Cape Cod Bank &
Trust, First Essex Bancorp, Granite State Bankshares, Inc., MASSBANK Corp.,
Medford Bancorp, Inc., Merchants Bancshares, Metrowest Bank, NewMil Bancorp,
Inc., Norwich Financial Corp., UST Corporation, Vermont Financial Services
and Webster Financial Corp.
14
<PAGE> 17
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
The following chart compares the performance of the Common Stock of the
Corporation (assuming reinvestment of dividends) with the S&P 500 Index and a
group comprised of 16 industry peers, including the Corporation (the "Five Year
Peer Group"), over a five-year period. The chart assumes a $100 investment was
made on December 31, 1992 in the Common Stock of MASSBANK Corp., the stocks
included in the S&P 500 and the stocks of the Five Year Peer Group. Data for the
chart was provided to the Corporation by The Bloomberg. Information about the
indices and the Five Year Peer Group which was provided by The Bloomberg is
believed to be reliable, but neither the accuracy nor the completeness of such
information is guaranteed by the Corporation.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG MASSBANK CORP., THE S&P 500 INDEX AND THE FIVE YEAR PEER GROUP
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD MASSBANK S&P 500 FIVE YEAR
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) CORP. INDEX PEER GROUP
<S> <C> <C> <C>
12/31/92 100.00 100.00 100.00
12/31/93 108.58 110.04 132.81
12/31/94 108.35 111.49 138.59
12/31/95 154.59 153.33 211.11
12/31/96 190.86 188.51 269.44
12/31/97 325.79 251.39 459.12
</TABLE>
(1) The banks in the Five Year Peer Group are: Abington Bancorp, Inc., American
Bank of CT, Andover Bancorp, Inc., Banknorth Group, Inc., Cape Cod Bank &
Trust, First Essex Bancorp, Granite State Bankshares, Inc., MASSBANK Corp.,
Medford Bancorp, Inc., Merchants Bancshares, Metrowest Bank, NewMil Bancorp,
Inc., Norwich Financial Corp., UST Corporation, Vermont Financial Services
and Webster Financial Corp.
15
<PAGE> 18
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Corporation and the Bank have entered into a three-year employment
agreement with Mr. Brandi, and the Bank has entered into two-year employment
agreements with Messrs. Carroll, Cormier and Washburn and Ms. West (each an
"Employment Agreement" and collectively the "Employment Agreements"). Mr.
Brandi's Employment Agreement is scheduled to expire in 2001, unless extended as
explained below. The Employment Agreements of Messrs. Carroll, Cormier and
Washburn and Ms. West are scheduled to expire in 2000, unless extended as
explained below. Pursuant to the Employment Agreements, Mr. Brandi, Mr. Carroll,
Mr. Cormier, Mr. Washburn and Ms. West are paid current annual salaries of
$351,000, $93,600, $97,800, $114,600, and $113,400, respectively.
Under the respective Employment Agreements, the Corporation or the Bank, as
the case may be, may terminate the officer's employment, without incurring any
continuing obligations to him or her, at any time for "cause," as defined in the
Employment Agreement. On each anniversary of the respective Employment
Agreement, unless the Corporation or the Bank, as the case may be, or the
officer has previously given the specified notice to the other of his, her or
its election not to extend the respective Employment Agreement, an additional
one-year period is automatically added to the term of the Employment Agreement.
In addition, the Employment Agreements provide generally that if the
Corporation or the Bank, as the case may be, were to terminate the officer's
employment for any reason other than for "cause," or, solely with respect to Mr.
Brandi, he were to terminate his own employment upon the occurrence of a
significant change in the responsibilities, powers or authorities exercised by
him from those exercised immediately prior to a "Change in Control," or
following a reduction in his annual compensation, or for other reasons as set
forth in his Employment Agreement, the officer would be entitled to continue to
receive the compensation and benefits specified in the Employment Agreement for
the duration of what otherwise would have been its term. The compensation and
benefits payable to Mr. Brandi in the foregoing situations provide for an
adjustment factor tied to increases in the Consumer Price Index. A "Change in
Control" is generally defined in Mr. Brandi's Employment Agreement to mean (i)
the occurrence of a tender or exchange offer, business combination, sale of
assets, contested election or combination of transactions, the result of which
is that the persons who were Directors of the Corporation or the Bank before
such transactions cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation or the Bank, respectively, or (ii) the acquisition by a person
or group of persons of beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the Common Stock
of the Corporation or the Bank, as the case may be, which is not approved by the
respective Board of Directors in the manner established by Mr. Brandi's
Employment Agreement. In addition, Mr. Brandi's Employment Agreement provides
that in the event Mr. Brandi is not elected to, or is subsequently removed from,
the office of Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Bank, then such
event would be treated as a termination without cause by the Corporation and the
Bank, and Mr. Brandi would be entitled to exercise his rights described in this
paragraph under the Employment Agreement.
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
The Corporation and the Bank have entered into an Executive Severance
Agreement with Mr. Brandi, and the Bank has entered into Executive Severance
Agreements with Mr. Carroll, Mr. Cormier, Mr. Washburn and Ms. West (each an
"Executive Severance Agreement" and collectively the "Executive Severance
Agreements"). The Executive Severance Agreements generally provide that if there
were a "Change in Control" of the Corporation, as defined therein, and if at any
time during the two-year period following the Change in Control, either the
Corporation or the Bank, as the case may be, were to terminate the employment of
any of the above named officers for any reason other than for deliberate
dishonesty with respect to the Corporation or the Bank, conviction of certain
crimes, gross and willful failure to perform his or her duties, or for other
reasons as set forth in the Executive Severance Agreements, or any of the above
named
16
<PAGE> 19
officers were to terminate his or her employment following a substantial adverse
change in his or her title or responsibilities or a reduction in his or her
annual base salary, or for other reasons as set forth in the Executive Severance
Agreements, the named officer would be entitled to receive a lump sum payment
equal to approximately three times his or her average annual compensation over
the five previous years of his or her employment with the Corporation or the
Bank, as the case may be. For purposes of the Executive Severance Agreements, a
"Change in Control" is generally deemed to have occurred when (i) a person or
group of persons acquires beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the Common
Stock of the Corporation, (ii) as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest,
merger or similar transaction, persons who were Directors before such
transaction cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, or (iii) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a merger,
a plan of liquidation or an agreement for the sale of all or substantially all
of the Corporation's assets.
Any payments under the Executive Severance Agreements or the Employment
Agreements are subject to reduction if such payments are non-deductible to the
Corporation or the Bank as a result of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). In addition, if the officer becomes entitled
to receive cash compensation pursuant to both the Employment Agreement and the
Executive Severance Agreement, he or she is required to elect to receive cash
compensation pursuant to only one of such agreements. The officer would be
entitled to continue to receive any benefits he or she is eligible for under his
or her Employment Agreement regardless of the agreement under which he or she
elected to receive cash compensation.
PENSION PLAN
The Bank provides a retirement plan for all of its eligible employees
through the Savings Banks Employees Retirement Association ("SBERA"), an
unincorporated association of savings banks operating within Massachusetts and
other organizations which provide services to or for savings banks.
The following table illustrates annual minimum pension benefits for
retirement at age 65 under the most advantageous plan provisions (in effect for
the plan year November 1, 1997 - October 31, 1998) available for various levels
of compensation and years of service. The figures in this table are calculated
on the basis of a straight-life annuity and are based on the assumption that the
Plan continues in its present form. The benefits are not subject to any
deduction for Social Security or other offset amounts.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL PENSION BENEFIT BASED ON YEARS OF SERVICE
--------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE 25 YEARS
COMPENSATION(1)(2) 10 YEARS 15 YEARS 20 YEARS OR MORE
------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$100,000.................................... $19,242 $28,863 $38,484 $48,104
120,000.................................... 23,442 35,163 46,884 58,604
140,000.................................... 27,642 41,463 55,284 69,104
160,000.................................... 31,842 47,763 63,684 79,604
</TABLE>
- - ---------------
(1) Average compensation for purposes of this table is based on the three years
immediately preceding retirement.
(2) Under applicable federal laws, the maximum compensation that may be used for
plan years beginning in 1997 to calculate benefits under the Bank's
retirement plan is $160,000.
Mr. Brandi, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Cormier, Mr. Washburn and Ms. West will have
an estimated 40, 29, 25, 35 and 35 credited years of service, respectively,
under the plan at age 65.
EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT AGREEMENT
The Corporation and the Bank have entered into an Executive Supplemental
Retirement Agreement with Mr. Brandi. The Executive Supplemental Retirement
Agreement provides in general for monthly payments upon retirement and for
monthly payments to a beneficiary in lieu of retirement payments if Mr. Brandi
dies
17
<PAGE> 20
prior to his retirement. Mr. Brandi's agreement provides for 180 monthly
payments of $2,500 upon his retirement and 120 monthly payments of $3,000 in the
case of his death prior to retirement. The agreement is substantially funded by
an insurance policy owned by the Bank on the life of Mr. Brandi.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND OPTION COMMITTEE
The Compensation and Option Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation is comprised of the following non-employee
Directors: Samuel Altschuler, Mathias B. Bedell, Robert S. Cummings (Chairman)
and Louise A. Hickey. The Committee is responsible for making recommendations to
the Board of Directors of the Bank with respect to the policies that govern both
annual compensation and incentive stock ownership programs for the employees of
the Bank.
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
The goals of the compensation program are to align compensation with
business objectives and performance, and to enable the Bank to attract, retain
and reward executive officers who contribute to the success of the Bank.
STRUCTURE OF COMPENSATION
Compensation paid to the Bank's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and other
executive officers consists primarily of the following elements: base salary,
annual performance incentives in the form of cash bonuses, and long-term
performance incentives in the form of stock option awards, as discussed below.
BASE SALARY
Several factors determine base salary, including the Corporation's
performance, individual performance, compensation paid in prior years and
compensation of officers employed by similar institutions. The Committee reviews
competitive salary information from independent surveys. The Committee also
consults with the CEO with respect to the salaries for the other executives. The
Committee reviews recommendations of management for the annual salary, benefits
and incentives budget as part of the overall planning and budgeting process of
the Corporation, and submits its recommendations to the Board of Directors of
the Bank.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
The compensation paid to Gerard H. Brandi, the CEO of the Bank and the
Corporation, consisted of his annual base salary, a cash bonus, awards of stock
options and deferred compensation contributions. For 1997, the Committee
considered the following factors (without any specific weighting of these
measures) in determining the compensation to be paid to Mr. Brandi: the
Corporation's size and performance, including its profitability, efficiency and
share price performance, Mr. Brandi's performance and the compensation of chief
executive officers at similar institutions. Based on these factors, Mr. Brandi's
annual compensation, consisting of base salary and an annual performance
incentive in the form of a cash bonus, was increased approximately 2.2% during
1997, and he was awarded options to acquire 3,333 shares of Common Stock.
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Profit Sharing and Incentive Compensation Bonus Plan. All non-officer
employees of the Bank are eligible to receive annual profit-sharing
distributions based on the Corporation's net income. All officers and senior
executives (including the CEO) are eligible to receive incentive bonuses based
upon the following factors (without any specific weighting of these measures):
the Corporation's net income, return on assets,
18
<PAGE> 21
earnings per share and other specific goals and objectives. Because
substantially all of the target goals for these factors were met for 1997,
bonuses were awarded during 1997 to the CEO and the other executive officers.
Stock Option Awards. The Corporation's 1986 Stock Option Plan and Amended
and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan are intended as performance incentives
for participants who contribute to the attainment of long-term strategic
objectives of the Corporation. The Plans enable persons to whom options are
granted to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the success of the
Corporation. The long-term strategic objectives of the Corporation are set forth
in a five-year strategic plan which is revised annually. Because substantially
all of the Corporation's strategic objectives were attained, stock options were
awarded to the CEO, Directors and Bank officers.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan. All full-time employees of the Bank and the
Corporation who have at least one year of service are eligible to participate in
the Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"). The ESOP provides these persons with
a long-term ownership interest in the Corporation that is designed to serve as
an incentive for individual performance.
The Committee's policy with respect to Section 162(m) of the Code is to
make every reasonable effort to ensure that compensation is deductible to the
extent permitted and appropriate, while simultaneously providing the
Corporation's executives with appropriate rewards for their performance.
This report has been furnished by Samuel Altschuler, Mathias B. Bedell,
Robert S. Cummings and Louise A. Hickey, the members of the Committee.
* * * * *
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation and Option Committee of the Board of Directors is
comprised of Messrs. Altschuler, Bedell and Cummings (Chairman) and Ms. Hickey,
all of whom are non-employee Directors of the Corporation.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (excluding Executive
Committee members and employees of the Corporation or the Bank) received during
1997, and will receive during 1998, $400 for each Board of Directors or
committee meeting attended, and members of the Executive Committee (excluding
employees of the Bank) received during 1997, and will receive during 1998, an
annual payment of $6,000 plus $200 for each meeting attended of the Board of
Directors of the Bank and of any committee thereof. Directors of the Corporation
and the Bank are also reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with
attendance. In addition, during 1997, the chairmen of the various committees of
the Board of Directors of the Corporation (other than the Executive Committee)
received, and will receive in 1998, an additional $50 for each committee meeting
over which they preside and the Secretary of the Corporation, who is also the
Clerk of the Bank, received, and will receive in 1998, an additional annual
payment of $1,000.
INDEBTEDNESS OF MANAGEMENT
The Bank has made loans to one Director, who is also an executive officer,
and one other executive officer, under which the indebtedness of such persons
exceeded $60,000 during 1997. Loans to such persons were made in the ordinary
course of business, were made on substantially the same terms, including
interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with other persons, and did not involve more than the normal risk
of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.
19
<PAGE> 22
CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
The Corporation retained during 1997 and proposes to retain during 1998 the
law firm of Peabody & Brown. Robert S. Cummings, a Director and Secretary of the
Corporation, is a senior partner of Peabody & Brown.
PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO
MASSBANK CORP. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
PROPOSAL
The Board of Directors has adopted an amendment to the MASSBANK Corp.
Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and is recommending
the amendment to stockholders for approval. Subject to stock splits and similar
events, the amendment would increase the number of shares of Common Stock
reserved and available for issuance under the Plan by 170,000 shares, or
approximately 4.8% of the total number of outstanding shares, to a total of
360,000 shares.
No more than 10% of the total number of shares that can be issued under the
Plan will be available for grants in the form of restricted stock or
unrestricted stock. In order to satisfy the performance-based compensation
exception to the $1,000,000 cap on the Corporation's tax deduction imposed by
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan also provides that stock options or stock
appreciation rights with respect to no more than 70,000 shares of Common Stock
may be granted to any one individual in any three calendar years. The shares
issued by the Corporation under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares,
or shares reacquired by the Corporation. To the extent that awards under the
Plan do not vest or otherwise revert to the Corporation, the shares of Common
Stock represented by such awards may be the subject of subsequent awards. On
March 17, 1998, the closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
National Market was $51.25.
REASONS FOR THE AMENDMENT
The Corporation historically has utilized stock options as part of its
overall program of compensation and has granted options pursuant to its 1986
Stock Option Plan and the Plan. The Board of Directors believes that stock
options and other stock-based awards play an important role in the success of
the Corporation and that role must increase if the Corporation is to continue to
attract, motivate and retain the caliber of Directors, officers and other
employees necessary to the Corporation's future growth and success. The
amendment is necessary to provide for an adequate number of shares of Common
Stock available for grant under the Plan. The Board of Directors believes that
adding more shares of Common Stock to the Plan will help the Corporation to
achieve its goals by keeping the Corporation's incentive compensation program
competitive with those of other companies.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMENDMENT TO THE
PLAN BE APPROVED, AND THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THIS
PROPOSAL.
SUMMARY OF THE PLAN
The material terms of the Plan are summarized below.
Plan Administration; Eligibility. The Plan is administered by the Board of
Directors or a committee thereof appointed by the Board of Directors (such
committee, or the Board acting in such capacity, is hereinafter referred to as
the "Committee"). The Committee has full power to select, from among the persons
eligible for awards, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, to make any
combination of awards to
20
<PAGE> 23
participants and to determine the specific terms of each award, subject to the
provisions of the Plan. Persons eligible to participate in the Plan generally
will be those officers and other employees of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries who are responsible for or contribute to the management, growth or
profitability of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, as selected from time to
time by the Committee. Directors of the Corporation and its subsidiaries will
also be eligible for certain awards under the Plan.
Stock Options Granted to Employees. The Plan permits the granting of both
Incentive Options and Non-Qualified Options to employees of the Corporation or
its subsidiaries. The option exercise price of each option shall be determined
by the Committee but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value for
the shares on the date of grant in the case of Incentive Options. For purposes
of the Plan, the fair market value of the Common Stock will generally be the
closing sale price on the date in question.
The term of each option shall be fixed by the Committee and may not exceed
ten years from the date of grant in the case of an Incentive Option. The
Committee shall determine at what time or times each option may be exercised
and, subject to the provisions of the Plan, the period of time, if any, after
death, disability or termination of employment during which options may be
exercised. Options may be made exercisable in installments, and the
exercisability of options may be accelerated by the Committee.
Upon exercise of options, the option exercise price must be paid in full
either in cash or by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to
the Committee or, if the Committee so determines, by delivery (or attestation)
of shares of Common Stock valued at their fair market value on the exercise
date. The exercise price may also be delivered to the Corporation by a broker
pursuant to irrevocable instructions to the broker from the Plan participant.
At the discretion of the Committee, options granted to employees under the
Plan may include a so-called "reload" feature pursuant to which a participant
exercising an option by delivery of shares of Common Stock may be automatically
granted an additional option to purchase that number of shares equal to the
number delivered to exercise the original option.
To qualify as Incentive Options, options must meet additional Federal tax
requirements, including limits on the value of shares subject to Incentive
Options which first become exercisable in any one year, and a shorter term and
higher minimum exercise price in the case of certain large stockholders.
Stock Options Granted to Non-Employee Directors. The Plan permits the
granting of Non-Qualified Options to non-employee Directors of the Corporation.
The exercise price of such Non-Qualified Options must be equal to the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The term of each Non-
Qualified Option will be fixed by the Committee, provided that no Non-Qualified
Option will be exercisable after ten years from the date of grant.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may also grant Stock Appreciation
Rights ("SARs") entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount in any
combination of cash or shares of Common Stock, not greater in value than the
increase since the date of grant in the value of the shares covered by such
SARs. SARs may be granted independently or in tandem with the grant of an
option. Each tandem SAR will terminate upon the termination or exercise of any
accompanying option.
Restricted Stock and Unrestricted Stock. The Committee may also award
shares of Common Stock subject to such conditions and restrictions as the
Committee may determine ("Restricted Stock"). The purchase price, if any, of
shares of Restricted Stock will be determined by the Committee.
Recipients of Restricted Stock must enter into a Restricted Stock award
agreement with the Corporation, in such form as the Committee determines,
setting forth the restrictions to which the shares are subject and the date or
dates on which the restrictions will lapse and the shares become vested. The
Committee may at
21
<PAGE> 24
any time waive such restrictions or accelerate such dates. If a participant who
holds shares of Restricted Stock terminates employment for any reason (including
death) prior to the vesting of such Restricted Stock, the Corporation will have
the right to repurchase the shares or to require their forfeiture in exchange
for the amount, if any, which the participant paid for them. Prior to the
vesting of Restricted Stock, the participant will have all rights of a
stockholder with respect to the shares, including voting and dividend rights,
subject only to the conditions and restrictions set forth in the Plan or in the
Restricted Stock award agreement.
The Committee may also grant shares (at no cost or for a purchase price
determined by the Committee) which are free from any restrictions under the Plan
("Unrestricted Stock"). Unrestricted Stock may be issued in recognition of past
services or other valid consideration, and may be issued in lieu of any cash
compensation payable to an employee. A non-employee Director may, pursuant to an
irrevocable written election at least six months before directors' fees would
otherwise be paid, receive all or a portion of such fees in Unrestricted Stock
(valued at fair market value on the date the directors' fees would otherwise be
paid.)
Performance Share Awards. The Committee may also grant awards
("Performance Shares") entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock
upon the attainment of individual or Corporation performance goals and such
other conditions as the Committee shall determine. Except as otherwise
determined by the Committee, rights under a Performance Share award will
terminate upon a participant's termination of employment. Performance Shares may
be awarded independently or in connection with stock options or other awards
under the Plan.
Deferrals; Nature of Corporation's Obligations Under the Plan. The
Committee may require or may permit participants to make elections to defer
receipt of benefits under the Plan. The Committee may also provide for the
accrual of interest or dividends on benefits deferred under the Plan on such
terms as the Committee may determine. Unless the Committee expressly determines
otherwise, participants in the Plan will have no rights greater than those of a
general creditor of the Corporation. The Committee may authorize the creation of
trusts and other arrangements to meet the Corporation's obligations under the
Plan, provided that such trusts and arrangements are consistent with the
foregoing sentence.
Adjustments for Stock Dividends, Mergers, Etc. The Committee shall make
appropriate adjustments in the number and type of securities issuable under the
Plan and in connection with outstanding awards to reflect stock dividends, stock
splits and similar events. In the event of a merger, liquidation or similar
event, the Committee in its discretion may provide for substitution or
adjustments or may (subject to the provisions described below under "Change of
Control Provisions") accelerate or, upon payment or other consideration for the
vested portion of any awards as the Committee deems equitable in the
circumstance, terminate such awards.
Tax Withholding. Plan participants are responsible for the payment of any
Federal, state or local taxes which the Corporation is required by law to
withhold from the value of any award. The Corporation may deduct any such taxes
from any payment otherwise due to the participant. With the approval of the
Committee, participants may elect to have such tax obligations satisfied either
by authorizing the Corporation to withhold shares of stock to be issued pursuant
to an award under the Plan or by transferring to the Corporation shares of
Common Stock having a value equal to the amount of such taxes.
Amendments and Termination. The Board of Directors may at any time amend
or discontinue the Plan and the Committee may at any time amend or cancel
outstanding awards (or provide substitute awards at the same or a reduced
exercise or purchase price) for the purpose of satisfying changes in the law or
for any other lawful purpose. No such action, however, shall be taken which
adversely affects any rights under outstanding awards without the holder's
consent.
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Change of Control Provisions. The Plan provides that in the event of a
"Change of Control" (as defined in the Plan) of the Corporation, all stock
options, SARs and Performance Share Awards shall automatically become fully
exercisable, unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly provide at the time
of grant. Restrictions and conditions on awards of Restricted Stock shall
automatically be deemed waived. In addition, at any time prior to or after a
Change of Control, the Committee may accelerate awards and waive conditions and
restrictions on any awards to the extent it may determine appropriate.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF AMENDMENT
The amendment to the Plan shall become effective upon approval by the
holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voting on such matter at the
Annual Meeting.
TAX ASPECTS UNDER THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
The following is a summary of the principal Federal income tax consequences
of transactions under the Plan. It does not describe all Federal tax
consequences under the Plan, nor does it describe state or local tax
consequences.
Incentive Options. No taxable income is realized by the optionee upon the
grant or exercise of an Incentive Option. If shares issued to an optionee
pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Option are not sold or transferred
within two years from the date of grant or within one year after the date of
exercise, then (i) upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of
the option price (the amount paid for the shares) will be taxed to the optionee
as capital gain and any loss sustained will be capital loss, and (ii) there will
be no deduction for the Corporation for Federal income tax purposes. The
exercise of an Incentive Option will give rise to an item of tax preference that
may result in alternative maximum tax liability for the optionee.
If shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Option
are disposed of prior to the expiration of the two-year and one-year holding
periods described above (a "disqualifying disposition"), generally (i) the
optionee will realize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount
equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the shares at exercise
(or, if less, the amount realized on a sale of such shares) over the option
price thereof, and (ii) the Corporation will be entitled to deduct such amount.
Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the
Incentive Option is paid by tendering shares of Common Stock.
If an Incentive Option is exercised at a time when it no longer qualifies
for the tax treatment described above, the option is treated as a Non-Qualified
Option. Generally, an Incentive Option will not be eligible for the tax
treatment described above if it is exercised more than three months following
termination of employment. In the case of a participant who is disabled, the
three-month period is extended to one year. This three-month requirement is
waived for an optionee who dies.
Non-Qualified Options. With respect to Non-Qualified Options under the
Plan, no income is realized by the optionee at the time the option is granted.
Generally, (i) at exercise, ordinary income is realized by the optionee in an
amount equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market
value of the shares on the date of exercise, and the Corporation receives a tax
deduction for the same amount, and (ii) at disposition, appreciation or
depreciation after the date of exercise is treated as either short-term,
mid-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on how long the shares have
been held. Special rules apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of
the Non-Qualified Option is paid by tendering shares of Common Stock.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 has created three different types of
capital gains for individuals: short-term capital gains (on assets held for one
year or less) which are taxed at ordinary income rates; mid-term capital gains
(from the sale of assets held more than a year but not more than 18 months)
which are taxed at a
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maximum rate of 28%; and long-term capital gains (from the sale of assets held
more than 18 months) which are taxed at a maximum rate of 20%.
Stock Appreciation Rights; Discretionary Payments. No income will be
realized by an optionee in connection with the grant of an SAR. When the SAR is
exercised, or when an optionee receives payment in cancellation of an option in
the case of a tandem SAR, the optionee will generally be required to include as
taxable ordinary income in the year of such exercise or payment an amount equal
to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any stock received.
The Corporation may generally be entitled to a deduction for Federal income tax
purposes at the same time equal to the amount includable as ordinary income by
such optionee.
Restricted Stock. A recipient of Restricted Stock generally will be
subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the stock at
the time that the stock is no longer subject to forfeiture less any amount paid
for such stock. However, a recipient who so elects under Section 83(b) of the
Code, within 30 days of the date of issuance of the Restricted Stock, will
realize ordinary income on the date of issuance equal to the fair market value
of the shares of Restricted Stock at that time (measured as if the shares were
unrestricted and could be sold immediately), minus any amount paid for such
stock. If the shares subject to such election are forfeited, the recipient will
not be entitled to any deduction, refund or loss for tax purposes with respect
to the forfeited shares. The Corporation generally will receive a tax deduction
equal to the amount includable as ordinary income to the recipient.
Unrestricted Stock. The recipient of Unrestricted Stock will generally be
subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the stock on
the date that the stock is issued to the participant less any amount paid for
such stock. The Corporation generally will be entitled to a deduction equal to
the amount treated as compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the
employee.
Performance Shares. The recipient of a Performance Share award generally
will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of any
Common Stock issued under the award, and the Corporation will generally be
entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income realized by the
recipient.
Dividends. Dividends paid on Restricted Stock, to the extent includable in
a participant's income under the Plan, will be taxed at ordinary income rates.
Generally, the Corporation will not be entitled to any deduction for dividends
paid on Restricted Stock for which the recipient filed a Section 83(b) election.
The Corporation will be entitled to a deduction for dividends paid on Restricted
Stock for which a Section 83(b) election has not been filed.
Payments in Respect of a Change of Control. The Plan provides for
acceleration or payment of awards and related shares in the event of a Change of
Control as defined in the Plan. Such acceleration or payment may cause the
consideration involved to be treated in whole or in part as "parachute payments"
under the Code. Acceleration of benefits under other Corporation stock and
benefits plans and other contracts with employees in the event of a Change of
Control could be subject to being combined with Plan accelerations for
"parachute payment" purposes. Any such "parachute payments" may be
non-deductible to the Corporation in whole or in part, and the recipient may be
subject to a 20% excise tax on all or part of such payments (in addition to
other taxes ordinarily payable).
Limitation on the Corporation's Deduction. As a result of Section 162(m)
of the Code, the Corporation's deduction for Non-Qualified Options and other
awards under the Plan may be limited to the extent that a "covered employee"
(e.g., the chief executive officer) receives compensation in excess of
$1,000,000 in such taxable year of the Corporation (other than performance-based
compensation that otherwise meets the requirements of Section 162(m) of the
Code).
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<PAGE> 27
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
A representative of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, the independent public
accountants for the Corporation, expects to be present at the Annual Meeting and
will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires to do so. The
representative will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
The Corporation's Directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of
more than 10% of its Common Stock are required under Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
Copies of those reports must also be furnished to the Corporation. Based solely
on a review of reports furnished to the Corporation and written representations
that no other reports were required, the Corporation believes that during 1997
no person who was a Director, executive officer or greater than 10% beneficial
owner of the Corporation's Common Stock failed to file on a timely basis all
reports required by Section 16(a), except that, with respect to Private Capital
Management, Inc., which has reported to the Corporation that it beneficially
owns 378,024 shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, the Corporation has not
received any filings under Section 16(a) and is therefore unable to make this
determination.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
For a proposal of a stockholder to be included in the Board of Directors'
Proxy Statement for the Corporation's 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, it
must be received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (123
Haven Street, Reading, Massachusetts 01867) on or before November 26, 1998. Such
a proposal must also comply with the requirements as to form and substance
established by the SEC for such a proposal to be included in the Proxy
Statement.
In addition, the Corporation's By-Laws also provide that any stockholder
wishing to have any director nominations or a stockholder proposal considered at
an annual meeting must provide written notice of such nominations or stockholder
proposal and certain other information as set forth in the By-Laws of the
Corporation to the Secretary of the Corporation at its principal executive
offices (a) not less than 75 days nor more than 120 days prior to the
anniversary of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders (the
"Anniversary Date") or (b) in the event that the annual meeting of stockholders
is scheduled to be held on a date more than seven days prior to the Anniversary
Date, not later than the close of business on (i) the 20th day (or if that day
is not a business day for the Corporation, on the next succeeding business day)
following the first date on which the date of such meeting was publicly
disclosed or (ii) if the first date of such public disclosure occurs more than
75 days prior to such scheduled date of such meeting, then the later of (1) the
20th day (or if that day is not a business day for the Corporation, on the next
succeeding business day) following the first date of such public disclosure or
(2) the 75th day prior to such scheduled date of such meeting (or if that day is
not a business day for the Corporation, on the next succeeding business day).
Any stockholder desiring to submit a nomination or proposal must comply with the
By-Laws of the Corporation.
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OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters which may come
before the Annual Meeting. It is the intention of the persons named in the
enclosed proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their best judgment if any
other matters shall properly come before the Annual Meeting.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE
COMPLETE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE. IF YOU WISH TO VOTE YOUR STOCK IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOUR
PROXY MAY BE REVOKED.
March 26, 1998
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0728-PS-97
<PAGE> 30
MASSBANK CORP.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
1994 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS.
The name of the plan is the MASSBANK Corp. Amended and Restated 1994 Stock
Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable
the personnel of MASSBANK Corp. (the "Company") and its Subsidiaries upon whose
judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful
conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is
anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company's
welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the
Company, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company's behalf and
strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.
The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
"Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Award" or "Awards," except where referring to a particular category of
grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock
Awards and Performance Share Awards.
"Award Agreement" means the agreement executed and delivered to the
Company by the recipient of an Award.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Cause" means, for purposes of the Plan, and shall be limited to, a
determination of the Board that the optionee should be dismissed as a result of
(i) dishonesty of the optionee with respect to the Company, MASSBANK (the
"Bank"), or any affiliate thereof; (ii) the optionee's commission of a crime
punishable as a felony; or (iii) the optionee's failure to perform in a
satisfactory manner a substantial portion of such optionee's duties and
responsibilities to the Company or the Bank.
"Change of Control" is defined in Section 14.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.
"Committee" means the Board or any Committee of the Board as described in
Section 2.
<PAGE> 31
"Disability" means disability as set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code.
"Disinterested Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule
16b-3(c)(2)(i) promulgated under the Act, or any successor definition under the
Act.
"Effective Date" is defined in Section 16.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the related rules, regulations and interpretations.
"Fair Market Value" on any given date means the last sale price at which
Stock is traded on such date or, if no Stock is traded on such date, the most
recent date on which the Stock was traded, as reflected on the NASDAQ National
Market System or, if applicable, any other national stock exchange or trading
system on which the Stock is traded.
"Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option designated and qualified
as an "incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
"Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board who is not also an
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
"Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an
Incentive Stock Option.
"Normal Retirement" means retirement from active employment with the
Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the retirement policies of the
Company and its Subsidiaries then in effect.
"Option" or "Stock Option" means any option to purchase shares of Stock
granted pursuant to Section 5.
"Performance Share Award" means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9(a).
"Restricted Stock Award" means an Award granted pursuant to Section 7(a).
"Stock" means the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company, subject
to adjustment pursuant to Section 3.
"Stock Appreciation Right" means an Award granted pursuant to Section
6(a).
"Subsidiary" means any bank, corporation or other entity (other than the
Company) in any unbroken chain of banks, corporations or other entities,
beginning with the Company if each of the banks, corporations or entities (other
than the last bank, corporation or entity in the
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unbroken chain) owns stock or other interests possessing 50% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other interests in one of
the other banks, corporations or entities in the chain.
"Unrestricted Stock Award" means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.
SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; COMMITTEE AUTHORITY TO SELECT PARTICIPANTS
AND DETERMINE AWARDS, ETC.
(a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee
thereof appointed by the Board (such committee, or the Board acting in such
capacity, is hereinafter referred to as the "Committee").
(b) Powers of Committee. The Committee shall have the power and authority
to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and
authority:
(i) to select the officers, other employees and directors of the
Company and its Subsidiaries to whom Awards may from time to time be
granted;
(ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if
any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock and Performance
Shares, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more
participants;
(iii) to determine the number of shares to be covered by any Award;
(iv) to determine and modify the terms and conditions, including
restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award,
which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and
participants, and to approve the form of Award Agreements;
(v) to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of all or any
portion of any Award;
(vi) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what
circumstances Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award
shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the
participant and whether and to what extent the Company shall pay or credit
amounts equal to interest (at rates determined by the Committee) or
dividends or deemed dividends on such deferrals; and
(vii) to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and
practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and
proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and
provisions of the Plan and any Award (including
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related Award Agreements); to make all determinations it deems advisable
for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in
connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of
the Plan.
All decisions and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding on all
persons, including the Company and Plan participants.
SECTION 3. SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION.
(a) Shares Issuable. The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and
available for issuance under the Plan shall be 190,000, subject to adjustment in
accordance with Section 3(b) below. For purposes of this limitation, the shares
of Stock underlying any Awards which are forfeited, cancelled, reacquired by the
Company, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other
than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock available for
issuance under the Plan so long as the Plan participants to whom such Awards had
been previously granted received no benefits of ownership of the underlying
shares of Stock to which the Award related. Subject to such overall limitation,
shares may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of
Award, including Incentive Stock Options. No more than 70,000 shares may be
issued to any one individual in the form of Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights in any period of three consecutive years, subject to the adjustment of
such number of shares in accordance with Section 3(b) below. Shares issued under
the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or shares reacquired by the
Company. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right settled in stock, the
right to purchase an equal number of shares of Common Stock covered by a related
Stock Option, if any, shall be deemed to have been surrendered and will no
longer be exercisable, and said number of shares shall no longer be available
under the Plan.
(b) Stock Dividends, Mergers, Etc. In the event of a stock dividend, stock
split or similar change in capitalization affecting the Stock, the Committee
shall make appropriate adjustments in (i) the number and kind of shares of stock
or securities that may be issued pursuant to the Plan or on which Awards may
thereafter be granted, (ii) the number and kind of shares remaining subject to
outstanding Awards, and (iii) the option or purchase price in respect of such
shares. In the event of any merger, consolidation, dissolution or liquidation of
the Company, the Committee in its sole discretion (and without the consent of
the optionee) may, as to any outstanding Awards, make such substitution
(including the substitution of shares of capital stock of any other entity) or
adjustment in the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the
Plan and in the number and purchase price (if any) of shares subject to such
Awards as it may determine and as may be permitted by the terms of such
transaction, or accelerate, amend or terminate such Awards upon such terms and
conditions as it shall provide (which, in the case of the termination of the
vested portion of any Award, shall require payment or other consideration which
the Committee deems equitable in the circumstances), subject, however, to the
provisions of Section 14.
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<PAGE> 34
(c) Substitute Awards. The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in
substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees of another
corporation who concurrently become employees of the Company or a Subsidiary as
the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the
Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of
property or stock of the employing corporation. The Committee may direct that
the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee
considers appropriate in the circumstances.
SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY.
Participants in the Plan will be such officers and other employees of the
Company and its Subsidiaries who are responsible for or contribute to the
management, growth or profitability of the Company and its Subsidiaries and who
are selected from time to time by the Committee, in its sole discretion.
Non-Employee Directors are also eligible to participate in the Plan but only to
the extent provided in Section 5(c) and Section 8(c) below.
SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS.
Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the
Committee may from time to time approve.
Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options
or Non-Qualified Stock Options. To the extent that any option does not qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted under the Plan after January
17, 2004.
(a) Stock Options Granted to Employees. The Committee in its discretion
may grant Stock Options to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. Stock
Options granted to employees pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be subject to
the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall
deem desirable:
(i) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price of a Stock Option
shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but shall be, in
the case of Incentive Stock Options, not less than 100% of Fair Market
Value on the date of grant. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by
reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the
Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock
of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation and an Incentive
Stock Option is granted to such employee, the option price shall be not
less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the grant date.
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<PAGE> 35
(ii) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by
the Committee, but no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more
than ten years after the date the option is granted. If an employee owns
or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d)
of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation and an
Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the term of such
option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.
(iii) Exercisability; Rights of a Shareholder. Stock Options shall
become vested and exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in
installments, as shall be determined by the Committee at or after the
grant date. The Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of
all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights
of a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock
Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.
(iv) Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or
in part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying
the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be
made by one or more of the following methods:
(A) In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument
acceptable to the Committee;
(B) Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of
shares of Stock that have been purchased by the optionee in the open
market or that have been held by the optionee for at least six
months and are not then subject to restrictions under any Company
plan, if permitted by the Committee, in its discretion. Such
surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the
exercise date; or
(C) By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly
executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a
broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable
and acceptable to the Company to pay the option purchase price;
provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the option
purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall
comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of
indemnity and other agreements as the Committee shall prescribe as a
condition of such payment procedure.
The delivery of certificates representing shares of Stock to be purchased
pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt
from the Optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with
the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase
price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other
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<PAGE> 36
requirements contained in the Stock Option or applicable provisions of
laws. Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. In the
event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned
shares of Stock through the attestation method, the shares of Stock
transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be
net of the number of shares attested to.
(v) No Stock Option shall be transferable by the optionee otherwise
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and all Stock
Options shall be exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by the
optionee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement that the optionee may
transfer, without consideration for the transfer, his Non-Qualified Stock
Options to members of his immediate family, to trusts for the benefit of
such family members and to partnerships in which such family members are
the only partners; provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and
the applicable Award Agreement.
(vi) Termination by Death. If any optionee's employment by the
Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of death, the Stock
Option may thereafter be exercised, to the extent exercisable at the date
of death, by the legal representative or legatee of the optionee, for a
period of one year (or such shorter period as the Committee shall specify
at the time of grant or such longer period as the Committee shall specify
at any time) from the date of death, or until the expiration of the stated
term of the Option, if earlier.
(vii) Termination by Reason of Disability or Normal Retirement.
(A) Any Stock Option held by an optionee whose employment by
the Company and its Subsidiaries has terminated by reason of
Disability may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was
exercisable at the time of such termination, for a period of one
year (or such shorter period as the Committee shall specify at the
time of grant or such longer period as the Committee shall specify
at any time) from the date of such termination of employment, or
until the expiration of the stated term of the Option, if earlier.
(B) (1) Any Non-Qualified Stock Option held by an optionee
whose employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries has terminated
by reason of Normal Retirement may thereafter be exercised, to the
extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, for a
period of one year (or such shorter period as the Committee shall
specify at the time of grant or such longer period as the Committee
shall specify at any time) from the date of such termination of
employment, or until the expiration of the stated term of the
Option, if earlier.
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<PAGE> 37
(2) Any Incentive Stock Option held by an optionee whose
employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries has terminated by
reason of Normal Retirement may thereafter be exercised, to the
extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, for a
period of three months (or such shorter period as the Committee
shall specify at the time of grant or such longer period as the
Committee shall specify at any time) from the date of such
termination of employment, or until the expiration of the stated
term of the Option, if earlier.
(C) The Committee shall have sole authority and discretion to
determine whether a participant's employment has been terminated by
reason of Disability or Normal Retirement.
(D) Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time
of grant, the death of an optionee during a period provided in this
Section 5(a)(vii) for the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option
(or during the final year of such period if longer than one year),
shall extend such period for one year following death, subject to
termination on the expiration of the stated term of the Option, if
earlier.
(viii) Termination for Cause. If any optionee's employment by the
Company and its Subsidiaries has been terminated for Cause, any Stock
Option held by such optionee shall immediately terminate and be of no
further force and effect; provided, however, that the Committee may, in
its sole discretion, provide that such Stock Option can be exercised for a
period of up to three months from the date of termination of employment or
until the expiration of the stated term of the Option, if earlier.
(ix) Other Termination. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, if an optionee's employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries
terminates for any reason other than death, Disability, Normal Retirement
or for Cause, any Stock Option held by such optionee may thereafter be
exercised, to the extent it was exercisable on the date of termination of
employment, for a period of three months (or such shorter period as the
Committee shall specify at the time of grant or such longer period as the
Committee shall specify at any time) from the date of termination of
employment or until the expiration of the stated term of the Option, if
earlier.
(x) Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required
for "incentive stock option" treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the
Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this
Plan and any other plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries become
exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year
shall not exceed $100,000.
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(xi) Form of Settlement. Shares of Stock issued upon exercise of a
Stock Option shall be free of all restrictions under this Plan, except as
otherwise provided in this Plan.
(b) Reload Options. At the discretion of the Committee, Options granted
under Section 5(a) may include a so-called "reload" feature pursuant to which an
optionee exercising an Option and paying the purchase price by the delivery of a
number of shares of Stock in accordance with Section 5(a)(iv)(B) hereof would
automatically be granted an additional Option (with an exercise price equal to
the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the additional Option is granted
and with the same expiration date as the original Option being exercised, and
with such other terms as the Committee may provide) to purchase that number of
shares of Stock equal to the number delivered to pay the purchase price in
connection with the exercise of the original Option.
(c) Stock Options Granted to Non-Employee Directors.
(i) Grant of Options. The Committee in its discretion may grant
Non-Qualified Stock Options to Non-Employee Directors subject to the
following terms and conditions (it being noted that under the current
Rules under the Act, such grant may result in the members of the Committee
ceasing for a period of time to be Disinterested Persons and the Plan
ceasing to be qualified under Rule 16b-3).
(ii) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Stock
covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section 5(c) shall be
equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the Stock Option
is granted.
(iii) Exercise; Termination; Non-transferability.
(A) No Option granted under this Section 5(c) may be exercised
before the first anniversary of the date upon which it was granted;
provided, however, that any Option so granted shall become
exercisable upon the termination of service of the Non-Employee
Director because of Disability or death or upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control as set forth in Section 14 hereof. No Option
issued under this Section 5(c) shall be exercisable after the
expiration of ten years from the date upon which such Option is
granted.
(B) The rights of a Non-Employee Director in an Option granted
under Section 5(c) shall terminate three months after such Director
ceases to be a Director of the Company or the specified expiration
date, if earlier; provided, however, that if the Non-Employee
Director resigns, is not re-nominated for election or is removed as
a Director and the Committee determines that the primary reason for
such resignation, failure to re-nominate or removal would
9
<PAGE> 39
constitute Cause, then the rights shall terminate immediately on the
date on which he ceases to be a Director.
(C) No Stock Option granted under this Section 5(c) shall be
transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution, and Options granted under this Section
5(c) shall be exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by
the optionee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its
sole discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement that the optionee
may transfer, without consideration for the transfer, his Stock
Options to members of his immediate family, to trusts for the
benefit of such family members and to partnerships in which such
family members are the only partners; provided that the transferee
agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms
and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any
Option granted to a Non-Employee Director and outstanding on the
date of his death may be exercised by the legal representative or
legatee of the optionee for a period of one year from the date of
death or until the expiration of the stated term of the Option, if
earlier.
(D) Options granted under this Section 5(c) may be exercised
only by written notice to the Company specifying the number of
shares to be purchased. Payment of the full purchase price of the
shares to be purchased may be made by one or more of the methods
specified in Section 5(a)(iv). An optionee shall have the rights of
a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a
Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.
SECTION 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS; DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS.
(a) Nature of Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right is an
Award entitling the recipient to receive an amount in cash or shares of Stock
(or in a form of payment permitted under Section 6(e) below) or a combination
thereof having a value equal to (or if the Committee shall so determine at time
of grant, less than) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
the date of exercise over the exercise price per share set by the Committee at
the time of grant (or over the option exercise price per share, if the Stock
Appreciation Right was granted in tandem with a Stock Option) multiplied by the
number of shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have
been exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form of
payment.
(b) Grant and Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation
Rights may be granted to any employees of the Company or any Subsidiary by the
Committee in tandem with, or independently of, any Stock Option granted pursuant
to Section 5(a) of the Plan. In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted
in tandem with a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such Right may be granted either at
or after the time of the grant of such Option. In
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<PAGE> 40
the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock
Option, such Right may be granted only at the time of the grant of the Option.
A Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted in tandem
with a Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the
termination or exercise of the related Stock Option, except that, at the
Committee's discretion, a Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less
than the full number of shares covered by a related Stock Option shall only so
terminate if and to the extent that the number of shares covered by the exercise
or termination of the related Stock Option exceeds the number of shares not
covered by such Stock Appreciation Right.
(c) Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation
Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined from
time to time by the Committee, subject to the following:
(i) Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Stock Options
shall be exercisable at such time or times and to the extent that the
related Stock Options shall be exercisable.
(ii) Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the applicable
portion of any related Stock Option shall be surrendered.
(iii) Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with a Stock
Option shall be transferable only when and to the extent that the
underlying Stock Option would be transferable. Stock Appreciation Rights
not granted in tandem with a Stock Option shall not be transferable
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution. All Stock
Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during the participant's lifetime
only by the participant or the participant's legal representative.
(d) Settlement in the Form of Restricted Shares. Shares of Stock issued
upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be free of all restrictions
under this Plan, except as otherwise provided in this Plan.
SECTION 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.
(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Award. The Committee may grant Restricted
Stock Awards to any employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. In no event
shall the number of shares of Stock issued pursuant to the grant of Restricted
Stock Awards or the award of Unrestricted Stock for consideration less than Fair
Market Value at the time of the award exceed in the aggregate 10% of the maximum
number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under this Plan,
as such number may be adjusted in accordance with Section 3 hereof. A Restricted
Stock Award is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire, at no cost or for a
purchase price determined by the Committee, shares of Stock subject to such
restrictions
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<PAGE> 41
and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time of grant ("Restricted
Stock"). Conditions may be based on continuing employment and/or achievement of
pre-established performance goals and objectives. A Restricted Stock Award may
be granted to an employee by the Committee in lieu of any compensation otherwise
due to such employee.
(b) Award Agreement. A participant who is granted a Restricted Stock Award
shall have no rights with respect to such Award unless the participant shall
have accepted the Award within 60 days (or such shorter date as the Committee
may specify) following the award date by making payment to the Company by
certified or bank check or other instrument or form of payment acceptable to the
Committee in an amount equal to the specified purchase price, if any, of the
shares covered by the Award and by executing and delivering to the Company a
Restricted Stock Award Agreement in such form as the Committee shall determine.
(c) Rights as a Shareholder. Upon complying with Section 7(b) above, a
participant shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the
Restricted Stock including voting and dividend rights, subject to
non-transferability restrictions and Company repurchase or forfeiture rights
described in this Section 7 and subject to such other conditions contained in
the Award Agreement. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine,
certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock shall remain in the
possession of the Company until such shares are vested as provided in Section
7(e) below.
(d) Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as
specifically provided herein. In the event of termination of employment of the
participant by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason (including death,
Disability, Normal Retirement and for Cause), the Company shall have the right,
at the discretion of the Committee, to repurchase shares of Restricted Stock
with respect to which conditions have not lapsed at their purchase price, or to
require forfeiture of such shares to the Company if acquired at no cost, from
the participant or the participant's legal representative. The Company must
exercise such right of repurchase or forfeiture not later than the 90th day
following such termination of employment (unless otherwise specified in the
Award Agreement).
(e) Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Committee at the time of grant shall
specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of performance goals, objectives
and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Stock
and the Company's right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to
such date or dates and/or the attainment of such pre-established goals,
objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have
lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Stock and shall be deemed "vested." The
Committee at any time may accelerate such date or dates and otherwise waive or,
subject to Section 12, amend any conditions of the Award.
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<PAGE> 42
(f) Waiver, Deferral and Reinvestment of Dividends. The Restricted Stock
Award Agreement may require or permit the immediate payment, waiver, deferral or
investment of dividends paid on the Restricted Stock.
SECTION 8. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.
(a) Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, grant (or sell at a purchase price determined by the Committee) to
any employees of the Company or any Subsidiary shares of Stock free of any
restrictions under the Plan ("Unrestricted Stock"). The number of shares of
Stock issued pursuant to all awards of Unrestricted Stock shall be limited as
described in Section 7(a) hereof. Shares of Unrestricted Stock may be granted or
sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services or other
valid consideration, or in lieu of any cash compensation due or payable to such
employee.
(b) Elections to Receive Unrestricted Stock In Lieu of Compensation. Upon
the request of an employee and with the consent of the Committee, each employee
may, pursuant to an irrevocable written election delivered to the Company no
later than the date or dates specified by the Committee, receive a portion of
the cash compensation otherwise due to him in Unrestricted Stock (valued at Fair
Market Value on the date or dates the cash compensation would otherwise be
paid). Such Unrestricted Stock may be paid to the employee at the same time as
the cash compensation would otherwise be paid, or at a later time, as specified
by the employee in the written election.
(c) Elections to Receive Unrestricted Stock in Lieu of Directors' Fees.
Each Non-Employee Director may, pursuant to an irrevocable written election
delivered to the Company no later than the date or dates specified by the
Committee, receive all or a portion of such fees in Unrestricted Stock (valued
at Fair Market Value on the date or dates the directors' fees would otherwise be
paid). Such Unrestricted Stock may be paid to the Non-Employee Director at the
same time the directors' fees would otherwise have been paid, or at a later
time, as specified by the Non-Employee Director in the written election.
(d) Restrictions on Transfers. The right to receive Unrestricted Stock may
not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, other than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
SECTION 9. PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS.
(a) Nature of Performance Shares. A Performance Share Award is an award
entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock upon the attainment of
specified performance goals. The Committee may make Performance Share Awards
independently of or in connection with the granting of any other Award under the
Plan. Performance Share Awards may be granted under the Plan to any employees of
the Company or any Subsidiary, including
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<PAGE> 43
those who qualify for awards under other performance plans of the Company. The
Committee in its sole discretion shall determine whether and to whom Performance
Share Awards shall be made, the performance goals applicable under each such
Award, the periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other
limitations and conditions applicable to the awarded Performance Shares;
provided, however, that the Committee may rely on the performance goals and
other standards applicable to other performance based plans of the Company in
setting the standards for Performance Share Awards under the Plan.
(b) Restrictions on Transfer. Performance Share Awards and all rights with
respect to such Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or
otherwise encumbered.
(c) Rights as a Shareholder. A participant receiving a Performance Share
Award shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares actually received
by the participant under this Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the
Award but not actually received by the participant. A participant shall be
entitled to receive a stock certificate evidencing the acquisition of shares of
Stock under a Performance Share Award only upon satisfaction of all conditions
specified in the written instrument evidencing the Performance Share Award (or
in the performance plan adopted by the Committee).
(d) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee at
any time, a participant's rights in all Performance Share Awards shall
automatically terminate upon the participant's termination of employment by the
Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason (including death, Disability, Normal
Retirement, termination without Cause and termination for Cause).
(e) Acceleration, Waiver, Etc. At any time prior to the participant's
termination of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Committee may
in its sole discretion accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 12, amend any or
all of the goals, restrictions or conditions imposed under any Performance Share
Award.
SECTION 10. TAX WITHHOLDING.
(a) Payment by Participant. Each participant shall, no later than the date
as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received
thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the participant for
Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements
satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of, all Federal, state, or local
taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income.
The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the
right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the
participant.
(b) Payment in Shares. Subject to the approval of the Committee, a
participant may elect to have such tax withholding obligation satisfied, in
whole or in part, by (i) authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of
Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of
14
<PAGE> 44
shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is
effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due, or (ii) transferring to
the Company shares of Stock owned by the participant with an aggregate Fair
Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the
withholding amount due.
SECTION 11. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.
For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a
termination of employment:
(a) a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from
the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or
(b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for
any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee's right to
re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the
policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee
otherwise so provides in writing.
SECTION 12. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION.
The Board may at any time amend or discontinue the Plan and the Committee
may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding Award (or provide substitute
Awards at the same or reduced exercise or purchase price or with no exercise or
purchase price, but such price, if any, must satisfy the requirements which
would apply to the substitute or amended Award if it were then initially granted
under this Plan) for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other
lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any
outstanding Award without the holder's consent.
SECTION 13. STATUS OF PLAN.
With respect to the portion of any Award which has not been exercised and
any payments in cash, stock or other consideration not received by a
participant, a participant shall have no rights greater than those of a general
creditor of the Company unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly determine
in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Committee
may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company's
obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder;
provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent
with the provision of the foregoing sentence.
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<PAGE> 45
SECTION 14. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS.
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control as defined in this Section 14:
(a) Each Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right and Performance Share
Award shall automatically become fully exercisable unless the Committee shall
otherwise expressly provide at the time of grant.
(b) Restrictions and conditions on Awards of Restricted Stock shall
automatically be deemed waived, and the recipients of such Awards shall become
entitled to receipt of the Stock subject to such Awards.
(c) To the extent Section 14(a) hereof is not applicable to any Stock
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or Performance Share Awards, the Committee
may at any time prior to or after a Change of Control accelerate the
exercisability of any Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Performance
Share Awards to the extent it shall in its sole discretion determine.
(d) "Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any one of the
following events:
(i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Act) becomes a "beneficial owner" (as such term is defined
in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Act) (other than the Company, any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit
plan of the Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by
the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities;
(ii) persons who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Company's
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason, including without
limitation as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar
transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided that
any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the date
hereof whose nomination was approved by at least a majority of the
directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall, for purposes of this
Plan, be considered a member of the Incumbent Board;
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation or other entity,
other than (A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing
to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 80% of the
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<PAGE> 46
combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a
recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no
"person" (as hereinabove defined) acquires more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or
(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by
the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
SECTION 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Committee may
require each person acquiring shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and
agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares
without a view to distribution thereof.
No shares of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all
applicable securities laws and other legal and stock exchange requirements have
been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing of such stop-orders and
restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems
appropriate.
(b) Delivery of Stock Certificates. Delivery of Stock certificates to
participants under this Plan shall be deemed effected for all purposes when the
Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have delivered such
certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the participant, at the
participant's last known address on file with the Company.
(c) Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing
contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional
compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is
required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable
only in specific cases. Neither the adoption of this Plan nor the grant of any
Award to any employer shall confer upon any employee any right to continued
employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 16. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
This Plan shall become effective upon approval by the holders of a
majority of the shares of capital stock of the Company present or represented
and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Subject to such approval by
the stockholders, and to the requirement that no Stock may be issued hereunder
prior to such approval, Stock Options and other Awards may be granted hereunder
on and after adoption of this Plan by the Board.
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<PAGE> 47
SECTION 17. GOVERNING LAW.
This Plan shall be governed by Massachusetts law except to the extent such
law is preempted by Federal law.
<PAGE> 48
PROXY
MASSBANK CORP.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints GERARD H. BRANDI and REGINALD E. CORMIER,
and each of them, Proxies with power of substitution to vote on behalf of the
undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of MASSBANK Corp. (the
"Corporation") to be held at Tara's Ferncroft Conference Center, 50 Ferncroft
Road, Danvers, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 10:00 o'clock in the
forenoon, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, hereby granting full
power and authority to act on behalf of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting,
and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
FOR THE ELECTION OF SAMUEL ALTSCHULER, GERARD H. BRANDI, ALLAN S. BUFFERD AND
PETER W. CARR AS CLASS III DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION AND FOR APPROVAL OF THE
AMENDMENT TO THE CORPORATION'S AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE EACH AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING, AND AT ANY ADJOURNMENTS
OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF. A STOCKHOLDER WISHING TO VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS NEED ONLY SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY AND
RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
- - -------------- --------------
SEE REVERSE CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED SEE REVERSE
SIDE ON THE REVERSE SIDE SIDE
- - -------------- --------------
[X] Please mark
votes as in
this example.
1. To elect Samuel Altschuler, Gerard H. Brandi, Allan S. Bufferd and Peter W.
Carr as Class III Directors of the Corporation to serve until the 2001
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified.
[ ] FOR [ ] WITHHOLD
[ ] FOR ALL EXCEPT ______________
To vote your shares for all Director nominees, mark the "FOR" box. To
withhold voting for all nominees, mark the "WITHHOLD" box. If you do not
wish your shares voted "FOR" a particular nominee, mark the "FOR ALL
EXCEPT" box and enter the name(s) of the exception(s) in the space
provided; your shares will be voted for the remaining nominees.
<PAGE> 49
2. To approve an amendment to the Corporation's Amended and Restated 1994
Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the Corporation's
Common Stock subject to issuance thereunder by 170,000 shares, or
approximately 4.8% of the total number of outstanding shares.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. To consider and act upon any other matters which may properly come before
the Annual Meeting, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
MARK FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT [ ]
If only one of the Proxies is present and acting at the Annual Meeting in
person or by substitute, then that one shall have and may exercise all of
the power and authority of said Proxies hereunder. The undersigned hereby
revokes any proxy previously given and acknowledges receipt of the Notice
of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and a copy of the Annual Report for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.
Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon. Joint owners should each
sign. If signing as attorney or for an estate, trust or corporation, title
or capacity should be stated.
Signature:_________________ Date:_____ Signature:__________________ Date:______
2
