UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

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  o

 

Check the appropriate box:

o

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

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

x

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Enterprise Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x

No fee required.

o

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

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

 

(3)

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

 

 

 

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

 

 

(5)

Total fee paid:

 

 

 

o

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

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

 

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

 

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

 

 

 

(4)

Date Filed:

 

 

 

 



 

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.

 

222 MERRIMACK STREET

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS 01852

TELEPHONE: (978) 459-9000

 

April 1, 2010

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), the parent holding company of Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, to be held on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. local time, at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 East Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts.

 

The Annual Meeting has been called for the following purposes:

 

1.

To elect five Directors of the Company, each for a three-year term;

 

 

2.

To ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010; and

 

 

3.

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

 

The accompanying Proxy Statement of the Company provides information concerning the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Also enclosed is the Company’s 2009 annual report to stockholders, which contains additional information and results for the year ended December 31, 2009, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you are requested to either (1) deliver your proxy electronically by following the instructions included with your proxy card, OR (2) deliver your proxy by phone by following the instructions included with your proxy card OR (3) deliver your proxy by mail by completing, dating, signing and returning your proxy card in the enclosed postage paid envelope.

 

Thank you in advance for returning your proxy. We appreciate your continuing support of the Company.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

George L. Duncan

 

Chairman of the Board

 



 

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.

 

222 MERRIMACK STREET

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS 01852

TELEPHONE: (978) 459-9000

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

The Annual Stockholders Meeting of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. will be held at the

 

LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

50 East Merrimack Street

Lowell, MA 01852

on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.

 

The annual meeting is being held for the following purposes:

 

1.

To reelect George L. Duncan, Eric W. Hanson, Michael T. Putziger, Carol L. Reid and Michael A. Spinelli to serve as Directors of the Company for a three-year term (Proposal One);

 

 

2.

To ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 (Proposal Two); and

 

 

3.

To transact any other business which may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

You may vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on March 8, 2010.

 

In the event there are not sufficient votes to approve any of the foregoing proposals at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies by the Company.

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

Michael A. Spinelli

 

Secretary

 

222 Merrimack Street

Lowell, Massachusetts 01852

April 1, 2010

 

EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE (1) DELIVER YOUR PROXY ELECTRONICALLY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH YOUR PROXY CARD OR (2) DELIVER YOUR PROXY BY PHONE BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH YOUR PROXY CARD OR (3) COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.  IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND DESIRE TO WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON, YOU MAY DO SO.

 



 

 

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.

 

222 MERRIMACK STREET

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS 01852

Telephone: (978) 459-9000

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Wednesday, May 5, 2010

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 5, 2010

 

The proxy statement and annual report are available to shareholders at www.edocumentview.com/ebtc.

 

You may obtain directions to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, where our annual meeting will be held this year, by going to the following web site: http://www.lowellauditorium.com/Directions.aspx

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Introduction

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), the parent holding company of Enterprise Bank and Trust Company (the “Bank”), for the 2010 Annual Meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”), to be held on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. local time, at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 East Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. This Proxy Statement, the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and the accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to stockholders on or about April 1, 2010.

 

The Annual Meeting has been called for the following purposes: (1) to elect five Directors of the Company, each to serve for a three-year term; (2) to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010; and (3) to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

The Company is a Massachusetts corporation and a registered bank holding company. All of the Company’s material business activities are conducted through the Bank.

 

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Record Date

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 8, 2010 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Record Date”). Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote.  At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 9,132,063 shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding. The holders of shares of the Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record upon each matter properly submitted to the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Proxies

 

You may vote at the annual meeting in person or by proxy.  Proxies may be delivered electronically via the Internet, by phone, or in writing by mail.  If you intend to deliver a proxy electronically or by phone, you may do so by following the instructions included with your proxy card.  If you hold your shares in “street name”, such as in a stock brokerage account or through a bank or other nominee, you need to check your proxy card or contact your broker or nominee to determine whether electronic or telephonic proxy delivery is available to you. If you intend to deliver a proxy by mail, we request that you complete, date, sign and promptly return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States.

 

If you are delivering a proxy electronically or by phone and you properly follow the instructions included with your proxy card for doing so by no later than the deadline indicated in such instructions or if you are delivering a proxy by mail and you return the enclosed proxy card properly executed to the Company in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, then the shares represented by your proxy, regardless of the method of delivery, will be voted in accordance with your voting instructions, unless you subsequently revoke your proxy as further explained below.

 

If you properly deliver your proxy, without including any instructions as to how your proxy should be voted, then your proxy will be voted as follows: (1) FOR the election of George L. Duncan, Eric W. Hanson, Michael T. Putziger, Carol L. Reid and Michael A. Spinelli, the five nominees of the Board of Directors, as Directors of the Company; (2) FOR the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010; and (3) in such manner as management’s proxy-holders shall decide on such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

The presence of a stockholder at the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke a stockholder’s proxy. A stockholder may, however, revoke a proxy at any time prior to the voting thereof on any matter (without, however, affecting any vote taken prior to such revocation) by filing with the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation, or by delivering to the Company a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by properly delivering a proxy electronically or by phone at a later date, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. All written notices of revocation and other written communications with respect to revocation of proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting should be addressed as follows: Enterprise Bancorp, Inc., 222 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852, Attention: Michael A. Spinelli, Secretary.

 

It is not anticipated that any matters other than those set forth in the foregoing proposals (1) and (2) contained in this Proxy Statement will be brought before the Annual Meeting. Please see the additional information under the heading “Stockholder Proposals” at page 38 of this Proxy Statement for a description of the requirements that must be satisfied in order for any Director nomination or other stockholder proposal, which is not otherwise included in this Proxy Statement, to be presented by any stockholder at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote upon such matters in their discretion in accordance with their best judgment.

 

In addition to use of the mails, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone, fax or e-mail by officers, Directors and employees of the Company, none of whom will be specially compensated for such solicitation activities. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for forwarding solicitation materials to the

 

2



 

beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons, and the Company will reimburse such persons for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in that connection. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company.

 

Quorum; Vote Required

 

The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting for the transaction of business. Abstentions and “broker non-votes” (as defined below) will be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

 

The number of affirmative votes required for approval of the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting is as follows:

 

·                  A plurality of the affirmative votes cast by shareholders present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of directors.  “Plurality” means that the nominees receiving the largest number of affirmative votes cast are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors who are nominated to be elected at the annual meeting.  At the Annual Meeting the maximum number of directors to be elected is five.

 

·                  A majority of affirmative votes cast by shareholders present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2010.

 

In voting for the election of directors, you may vote “for” all nominees or “withhold” your vote from all nominees or from only certain specified nominees.  Withholding a vote from all or some of the nominees is effectively a vote against such nominee(s), but will not prevent the election of such nominee(s) so long as such nominee(s) receive a plurality of the affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting.

 

In voting for the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2010, you may vote “for” or “against” such ratification or you may “abstain” from voting on the matter.  Under Massachusetts law, an abstention is not considered a vote cast at a meeting and, consequently, abstentions will have no effect on the voting for this proposal.

 

With respect to the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting, broker non-votes will be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.

 

Under existing stock exchange rules, banks, brokers, or other nominees may vote shares held for a customer in street name on matters that are considered to be “routine” even if they have not received voting instructions from their clients.  A broker “non-vote” occurs when a bank, broker, or other nominee has not received voting instructions from a customer and does not vote the customer’s shares either because the matter is not considered routine or because the bank, broker or other nominee does not exercise its prerogative to vote even if the matter is considered routine.

 

The first proposal to be brought before the Annual Meeting this year, namely the election of directors, is generally not considered a “routine” matter, which means that if your shares are held in street name, your bank, broker, or other nominee may not vote your shares on this matter unless you provide timely instructions for such voting.  The second proposal to be brought before the Annual Meeting this year, namely the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, is considered a “routine” matter, which means that if your shares are held in street name your bank, broker, or other nominee may vote your shares on this matter in its sole discretion if you do not provide timely instructions for voting your shares.

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company have indicated that they intend to vote all shares of the Common Stock that they are entitled to vote in favor of each of proposals (1) and (2)  presented herein. On the Record Date, the Directors

 

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and executive officers of the Company in the aggregate had the right to vote 2,637,924 shares of the Common Stock representing approximately 28.9% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock as of such date.

 

2010 Amendment of By-laws

 

On March 15, 2010, pursuant to its authority under the Company’s articles of organization and by-laws, the Board of Directors approved several amendments to the Company’s by-laws.  The purposes of the amendments were generally as follows:  (1) to specify that a required qualification for membership on the Board of Directors is that a member must either currently or in the past have maintained a residence, business interest or had community involvement within Massachusetts or New Hampshire; (2) to remove certain obsolete means of providing notice to Board members of special directors meetings (i.e., removal of notice by telegraph or telex as a permissible means of notification); (3) to clarify the extent of permissible delegation of authority from the Board of Directors to the Company’s chief executive officer to appoint other officers of the Company and to provide that the chief executive officer may further delegate such authority with respect to non-executive management personnel; and (4) to clarify the required procedures applicable to any resignation by an officer of the Company to be consistent with proposed changes to the appointment process.  A copy of the Company’s current Amended and Restated By-laws was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2010 as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K.  You can access a copy of the by-laws through the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov or you can request a copy from the Company by either directing your request in writing to:  Enterprise Bancorp, Inc, 222 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852, Attention:  Michael A. Spinelli, Secretary, or by calling Jim Marcotte directly at (978) 656-5614.

 

PROPOSAL ONE

 

ELECTION OF CLASS OF DIRECTORS

 

The Company’s By-Laws provide that the number of Directors shall be set by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors. The number of Directors for the Company has been set at 16 through the date of the Annual Meeting.  Under the Company’s Articles of Organization and By-Laws, this number is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with the Directors in each class serving a term of three years and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation, death or removal. As the term of one class expires, a successor class is elected at the annual meeting of stockholders for that year.

 

The Board of Directors currently includes one member, Nancy L. Donahue, whose term will expire at the time of the Annual Meeting.  Ms. Donahue has indicated that she intends to retire from the Board of Directors upon the expiration of her term and, consequently, upon her retirement, the number of Directors of the Company will automatically be reset at 15.

 

At the Annual Meeting, there are five Directors to be elected to serve until the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation, death or removal. The Board of Directors has nominated, upon the recommendation of the Board’s Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee, each of George L. Duncan, Eric W. Hanson, Michael T. Putziger, Carol L. Reid and Michael A. Spinelli, for election as a Director for a three-year term.

 

Unless authority to do so has been withheld or limited in the proxy, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the shares represented by each properly executed proxy for the election as a Director of each of the nominees named above. The Board of Directors believes that all of the nominees will stand for election and will serve as a Director if elected. However, if any person nominated by the Board of Directors fails to stand for election or is unable or refuses to accept election, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may recommend.

 

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Information Regarding Nominees

 

The following table sets forth certain information for each of the five nominees for election as Directors at the Annual Meeting. Each individual has been engaged in his or her principal occupation for at least five years, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Nominees

 

(Term to Expire in 2013)

 

Name, Age, Qualifications and Principal Occupation

 

Director Since (1)

 

 

 

George L. Duncan (69)

Chairman of the Company and the Bank since their inception; prior to January 2007, also Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank since inception.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Duncan’s fifty plus years of experience with financial institutions and commercial lending provides the Board with an expansive knowledge relating to credit risk, loan portfolio management and bank management in varying market conditions. Mr. Duncan’s role as Chairman and past Chief Executive Officer of the Company, along with his past tenure as chief executive officer of an earlier Greater Lowell-based independent commercial bank prior to his founding of Enterprise Bank and leadership positions at many local, community not-for-profit organizations, also provide valuable industry specific and local community experience, market knowledge and contacts.

 

1988

 

 

 

Eric W. Hanson (66)

Since December 2006, Chief Financial Officer of Klin Spirits, LLC, a privately held distributor of imported Russian vodka; prior to August 2008, Chairman of the Board, D.J. Reardon Company, Inc., a privately held distributorship of Anheuser-Busch beverages and affiliated brands.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Hanson’s ownership and management of a major regional distributor and familiarity with local businesses, individuals, market trends and conditions adds value to the Board by providing a substantial depth of general business knowledge, particularly related to retail businesses, and extensive local community experience and contacts.

 

1991

 

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Michael T. Putziger (64)

Since 2005, Vice Chairman of WinnCompanies, a private real estate company that develops, acquires and manages multi-family and mixed income properties nationwide; since 2005, Of Counsel to Murtha Cullina, LLP, a firm which provides legal services to businesses, governmental units, non-profit organizations and individuals (prior to 2005, Partner in Murtha Cullina, LLP); since 2007, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank of Florida Corporation, a publicly held Florida multi-bank holding company (prior to 2007, member of the Board of Directors of Bank of Florida Corporation and of Bank of Florida - Southwest); since 2007, member of the Board of Directors of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, the publicly held parent company of Lake Sunapee Bank, a federally chartered savings bank (prior to 2007, Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Community Bank based in Woodstock, Vermont, which was acquired by New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares and merged into Lake Sunapee Bank).

 

Qualifications: Mr. Putziger’s legal experience and familiarity with commercial real estate development, financial institutions, banking industry trends and public markets provide value to all aspects of the Board’s decision-making process.  Mr. Putziger’s service as chairman of a publicly traded, multi-bank holding company and as a director of a publicly traded thrift holding company and its subsidiary federal savings bank also provides him with substantial experience in the banking and thrift industries and with respect to relevant industry activities and challenges.  This experience has been of value to the Board in, among other areas, its oversight of the Company’s wealth management services and its consideration of various capital raising alternatives for the Company.

 

2008

 

 

 

Carol L. Reid (62)

Financial Executive; prior to September 2005, Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Avid Technology, Inc., a publicly held company specializing in digital media creation tools for film, audio, animation, games and broadcast.

 

Qualifications: Ms. Reid’s past role as a corporate controller of an international public company benefits the Board in its oversight of the Company’s risk management program, internal control structure and financial reporting process.  Ms. Reid possesses the qualifications necessary to be designated a “financial expert” under applicable SEC rules, and she has been designated as such for purposes of her membership on the Company’s audit committee.

 

2006

 

 

 

Michael A. Spinelli (77)

Founder, Global Tourism Solutions, an international tourism consulting firm for emerging nations; Secretary of the Company and the Bank.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Spinelli adds value to the Board through his experience as a business owner of multiple companies, including a company providing services to over 2,000 travel agencies, his experience in independent investment portfolio management,  his knowledge of international markets and his general marketing and financial acumen.

 

1988

 


(1)          All of the listed Nominees are also Directors of the Bank. The years listed in the foregoing table are the respective years in which each named individual first became a Director of the Company and the Bank.

 

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For information regarding the remaining members of the Board of Directors, who will continue to serve after the Annual Meeting, see the listing under the heading “Continuing Directors” at pages 8-11 below.

 

Recommendation of Directors

 

The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the election of George L. Duncan, Eric W. Hanson, Michael T. Putziger, Carol L. Reid and Michael A. Spinelli, the five nominees proposed by the Board of Directors, as Directors of the Company to serve until the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

PROPOSAL TWO

 

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.

 

The Company is not required to submit the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to a vote of stockholders. In the event a majority of the votes cast are against the appointment of KPMG LLP, the Audit Committee may consider the vote and the reasons therefor in future decisions on its appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to attend the annual meeting at which time they will have an opportunity to make a statement if they wish to do so and will be available to answer any appropriate questions from stockholders.

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, the review of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC during the year ended December 31, 2009, and consents on SEC filings were $337,500. The same fees for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $372,000.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

There were no audit-related fees billed to the Company for the years ended December 31, 2009 or 2008.

 

Tax Fees

 

The Company paid $26,750 in 2009 and $27,800 in 2008 to KPMG LLP for tax preparation services performed in each of these two years.

 

All Other Fees

 

No additional fees were paid to KPMG LLP in 2009 and 2008.

 

The Audit Committee must approve in advance any audit or permissible non-audit engagement or relationship between the Company and its independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has delegated to its chairman this approval authority, subject to the requirement that the chairman report the terms of any such engagement or relationship to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. All of the services described above, including those described under the headings, “Audit-Related Fees”, “Tax Fees”, and “All Other Fees”, were provided in conformance with such pre-

 

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approval requirements. The Audit Committee has determined that providing the services described above under the headings, “Audit-Related Fees”, “Tax Fees”, and “All Other Fees”, is compatible with maintaining the independence of KPMG LLP.

 

Recommendation of Directors

 

The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

In addition to the nominees for election to the Board of Directors set forth above, the Board of Directors is comprised of the individuals listed below whose terms expire at the annual meetings of the Company’s stockholders in 2011and 2012.  Each individual has been engaged in his or her principal occupation for at least five years, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Continuing Directors

(Term to expire in 2011)

 

Name, Age and Principal Occupation

 

Director Since (1)

 

 

 

Kenneth S. Ansin (45)

Entrepreneur and private investor; prior to August 2007, owner and President of Norwood Fine Cabinetry, a privately held company specializing in kitchen and bath cabinetry.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Ansin’s skills as an entrepreneur and business owner of various companies and his knowledge of micro finance add value to the Board as they closely match the characteristics and typical financing needs of many of the Company’s commercial customers. Mr. Ansin’s knowledge of and community involvement in the Leominster and Fitchburg markets provide valuable market knowledge and contacts.

 

1994

 

 

 

John R. Clementi (60)

President, Plastican, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of plastic pails and covers.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Clementi’s experience as president and owner of a privately owned company employing approximately 400 individuals and operating within the Company’s market area, together with his prior training as an attorney, his familiarity with wealth management principles, his knowledge of the medical and manufacturing industries and his leadership positions held at various community not-for-profit organizations, enable Mr. Clementi to contribute extensively in multiple aspects of the Board’s oversight and planning functions.

 

1998

 

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Carole A. Cowan (67)

President, Middlesex Community College, the largest community college in Massachusetts.

 

Qualifications: Ms. Cowan’s position as President of a local community college employing over 1,000 individuals, her knowledge of the local markets and her administrative experience, particularly in planning for and responding to rapid changes in personnel and technology, add value to the Board’s decision-making process in many key operational areas.

 

1999

 

 

 

Arnold S. Lerner (80)

Retired radio station owner; Vice Chairman of the Company and the Bank; prior to January 2010, member of the Board of Directors, Courier Corporation, a publicly held company specializing in the publishing, printing and sale of books.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Lerner’s ownership and management of multiple communications companies, 36 years as a director of various banks, past directorship with another publicly traded company, financial and marketing acumen and extensive knowledge of the markets in which the Company operates add value to multiple aspects of the Board’s oversight and strategic planning functions.

 

1988

 

 

 

Richard W. Main (62)

President of the Company and the Bank; prior to April 2009, also Chief Lending Officer of the Bank; prior to January 2005, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Lending Officer of the Bank.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Main’s depth of knowledge relating to the management of the Company’s commercial lending function and the significance of various changes in the market conditions affecting borrowers and their businesses provide invaluable insight to the Board’s oversight and management of the Company’s credit risk and operations. Mr. Main’s past tenure as president, chief operating officer and director of an earlier Greater Lowell-based independent commercial bank prior to joining Enterprise Bank also provides valuable industry specific and local community experience and contacts.

 

1989

 

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Continuing Directors

(Term to expire in 2012)

 

Name, Age and Principal Occupation

 

Director Since (1)

 

 

 

John P. Clancy, Jr. (52)

Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank (and prior to July 2007, also Chief Investment Officer of the Bank); prior to January 2007, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Bank.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Clancy’s bank-related experience in finance, investment, strategy, management and operations provides invaluable insight to the Board’s oversight of operations and its strategic planning function. His prior experience serving as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and the Bank provides a skill set that is extremely valuable within the context of the Board’s decision-making process. Mr. Clancy’s past tenure as Chief Financial Officer of an earlier Greater Lowell-based independent commercial bank prior to joining Enterprise Bank also provides valuable industry specific and local community experience and contacts.

 

2003

 

 

 

James F. Conway, III (57)

President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Courier Corporation, a publicly held company specializing in the publishing, printing and sale of books.

 

Qualifications: With over twenty years experience as the chairman and chief executive officer of a growing publicly traded company that employs approximately 1,900 individuals, Mr. Conway’s financial expertise, SEC reporting experience and knowledge of the public markets add great depth to the Board’s understanding of current market trends and management of risk. Mr. Conway possesses the qualifications necessary to be designated a “financial expert” under applicable SEC rules, and could be designated as such if he were to serve at any time in the future on the Company’s audit committee.

 

1989

 

 

 

Lucy A. Flynn (56)

Vice President Global Marketing Communications, Raytheon Company, a publicly held technology company specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets.

 

Qualifications: Ms. Flynn’s responsibility for corporate communications, public relations, global marketing and compliance with the SEC’s Regulation FD (“Fair Disclosure” requirements) for a multi-national, publicly traded company provides valuable support to the Board for overseeing the Company’s marketing programs and issuance of public disclosures, including financial statements. Ms. Flynn’s former training as an attorney also adds depth to the Board’s overall oversight and planning functions.

 

1997

 

10



 

John P. Harrington (67)

Retired Energy Industry Executive; prior to December 2009, Energy Consultant for Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company; since May 2007, Assistant Secretary of the Company and the Bank.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Harrington’s extensive experience in management, sales and operations, combined with his previous involvement in civic organizations, and his knowledge of the local markets and economy add value to all aspects of the Board’s oversight and planning functions.

 

1989

 

 

 

Nickolas Stavropoulos (52)

Executive Vice President, U.S. Gas Distribution, National Grid, a publicly held company focused on the delivery of electricity and natural gas; from June 2004 through August 2007, President, KeySpan Energy Delivery, and Executive Vice President, KeySpan Corporation; prior to June 2004, Executive Vice President, KeySpan Corporation and President, KeySpan Energy New England; member of Board of Directors, Dynamic Research Corporation, a publicly traded company that provides mission-critical technology management services and solutions for government programs.

 

Qualifications: Mr. Stavropoulos’ role as Executive Vice President of a publicly traded company that employs approximately 28,000 individuals has provided him with substantial experience in operations and financial and SEC reporting, as well as knowledge of both international and local markets. Mr. Stavropoulos also serves as a director of another publicly traded company, which adds to his overall experience as a public company director. In addition, Mr. Stavropoulos was the Chief Financial Officer for a publicly traded company for ten years. Mr. Stavropoulos possesses the qualifications necessary to be designated a “financial expert” under applicable SEC rules, and he has been designated as such for purposes of his membership on the Company’s audit committee.

 

2002

 


(1)        All of the Directors are also Directors of the Bank. The years listed in the foregoing tables are the respective years in which each named individual first became a Director of the Company and the Bank.

 

Independence of Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors has determined that every individual who served as a Director during the year ended December 31, 2009 is “independent” of the Company’s management on the basis of the independence standards contained in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, except for Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy, who are all current employees of the Company, and Messrs. Putziger and Lerner as further described below.

 

Mr. Putziger, who joined the Board of Directors on April 15, 2008, holds a 13.7% limited partnership interest in a limited partnership that is the sole beneficiary of a real estate trust that leases the Bank’s headquarters from the U.S. National Park Service and in turn subleases the building to the Bank.  This lease relationship and the payments made thereunder by the Bank in 2009 are described further under the heading “Transactions With Certain Related Persons” at pages 35-36 below.  Mr. Putziger also held a 13.6% general partnership interest in a general partnership that was the sole beneficiary of a real estate trust that previously owned the building that houses the majority of the Bank’s operations departments.  The Bank acquired this building from the trust in September 2007 for $2,760,787, in addition to having paid a total of $330,782 in prior lease payments to the trust in 2007.  Based on Mr. Putziger’s ownership interest in the partnership, his proportional interest in the gross proceeds paid by the Bank in connection with these lease and purchase transactions totaled $419,835 in 2007.  Taking into account debt obligations on the building that were satisfied prior to any distributions being made by the trust to any of the partners of the partnership, the amount that Mr. Putziger personally received in connection with these lease and purchase transactions totaled

 

11



 

$150,915.  Mr. Putziger also held a 25% interest in a real estate trust that formerly owned parking facilities used by Bank employees.  The Bank purchased the parking facilities for $187,500 in 2007, of which Mr. Putziger received $46,875.  All of these transactions were negotiated and/or completed prior to Mr. Putziger’s becoming a member of the Board of Directors, and the Board believes that the terms of all of these transactions, including the amounts paid by the Bank, were a product of arms-length negotiations between the parties.

 

Mr. Lerner held a 5% general partnership interest in the general partnership that was the sole beneficiary of the real estate trust that previously owned the building that houses the majority of the Bank’s operations departments as described above.  In connection with the previously described lease and purchase transactions, Mr. Lerner’s proportional interest in the gross proceeds paid by the Bank totaled $154,578.   Taking into account the debt obligations on the building that were satisfied prior to the partnership distributions being made, the amount that Mr. Lerner personally received  in connection with these lease and purchase transactions totaled $55,565 in 2007.

 

In considering that Mr. Lerner is currently deemed to be not independent in accordance with the standards required under Nasdaq’s Rule 5605(a)(2), due to the 2007 payments described above, and taking into account the critical role that he has played over the years as a member and former Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member and the current Chairman of the Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors determined, in accordance with Rules 5605(d)(3) and 5605(e)(3) of the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, that Mr. Lerner’s continuing membership on these two committees (including his continuing role as Chairman of the CGNC) for an additional two-year period was critical to the proper functioning of these committees and, therefore, served the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.  At the conclusion of this two-year period, which will be in July 2010, Mr. Lerner will discontinue his role on both committees at least until such time as he is again deemed to be independent under the applicable independence standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

With respect to each of the Company’s independent Directors, there were no transactions, relationships or arrangements that have not been disclosed in this Proxy Statement under the heading “Transactions with Certain Related Persons” at pages 35-36 below, which were considered by the Board of Directors pursuant to the independence standards required under the applicable Nasdaq rule referenced above in the course of the Board’s determining that each such Director meets the definition of independence.

 

Board Leadership Structure and the Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

The Company’s Board of Directors annually appoints a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Assistant Secretary.  These Board offices are currently held by Mr. Duncan as Chairman, Mr. Lerner as Vice Chairman, Mr. Spinelli as Secretary and Mr. Harrington as Assistant Secretary.  In addition to these offices, the Board of Directors maintains six active committees at the Company level and ten active committees at the Bank level, to which specific risk oversight responsibilities have been delegated by the Board.  Chairpersons and committee members are elected each year to a one year term.

 

Mr. Duncan, who previously served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, serves as the executive Chairman of the Board and Mr. Clancy serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  Mr. Clancy was elected Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2007 in conjunction with the Company’s succession planning, taking into account the separate responsibilities of Mr. Duncan and Mr. Clancy in their respective roles.  The Board has implemented this segregation of roles in order to provide better governance and succession to the Board and Company while taking into consideration the size, growth potential and complexity of the Company’s operations.

 

Regular meetings of the Board and its committees are held to review results of operations, including discussions of risk.  The frequency of meetings is determined by the number and significance of risk matters that are discussed at either the Board or committee meetings.  Each committee chairperson is provided an opportunity to present a report to the full Board at each regularly scheduled Board meeting and is required to provide a full report of past accomplishments and future strategies to the full Board on an annual basis.

 

12



 

On a semi-annual basis, the Company’s Risk Management Director reports to the Executive Committee on the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management program.  The Executive Committee consists of eight permanent committee members and two rotating directors.  All Board committees are represented by permanent members of the Executive Committee, which is intended to provide the best venue for discussions relating to credit, liquidity and operational risk topics that have been identified and discussed at the Board committee level.

 

Meetings of Board of Directors and Committees of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. and Enterprise Bank and Trust Company

 

There were thirteen joint meetings of the Company’s (i.e., Enterprise Bancorp, Inc.) Board of Directors and the Bank’s (i.e., Enterprise Bank and Trust Company) Board of Directors during the calendar year ended December 31, 2009. During such period, each Director attended more than 75% in the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of each of the committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she served, excluding Mr. Stavropoulos.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors maintains six standing committees:  an executive committee, an audit committee, an asset-liability committee, a compensation committee, a corporate governance/nominating committee and a strategic growth planning committee.

 

The Bank’s Board of Directors maintains ten standing committees:  an executive committee, an audit committee, an asset-liability committee, a compensation committee, a corporate governance/nominating committee, a strategic growth planning committee, a marketing and business development committee, a banking technology steering committee, an Enterprise Investment Advisors committee and a loan committee.

 

Executive Committee. The Executive Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities pertaining to the oversight of the Company’s management. The Committee consists of directors who represent all other committees of the Board.  Among other responsibilities, the  committee is responsible for approving and/or ratifying loans above certain limits, establishing and recommending transaction authorization limits for management, overseeing the credit quality of the loan portfolio and reviewing branch profitability.  In addition, the Executive Committee is responsible for determining the effectiveness of the Company’s overall risk management program.

 

Audit Committee.  The audit committee consists solely of independent directors and is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Company’s Director of Internal Audit.  Among other responsibilities, the audit committee also monitors the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, adequacy of internal controls relating to financial reporting, compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, performance of the Company’s internal and independent auditors and the business practices and ethical standards of the Company. The audit committee held five executive sessions during 2009 with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP.  Two members of the Audit Committee have been designated as financial experts.

 

Asset-Liability Committee (ALCO). The asset-liability committee is responsible for overseeing the Company’s interest rate risk, capital adequacy, liquidity and balance sheet growth strategies.  The committee monitors the Company’s sensitivity to interest rate risk and the performance of the investment portfolio, approves investment strategies and approves recommended investment and borrowing vehicles while monitoring tolerance levels to ensure adequate liquidity and capital.

 

Compensation Committee (Compensation). The compensation committee is responsible for establishing the Company’s compensation philosophy and executive compensation standards, performs the annual Chief Executive Officer evaluation and recommends executive compensation, any employment agreements and director compensation to the Board for approval.  The committee is also responsible for overseeing the administration of the Company’s employee benefit and compensation programs and determining the effectiveness of the Company’s compensation-related risk management practices.

 

13



 

Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee (CGNC). The corporate governance/nominating committee is responsible for establishing effective governance controls and procedures for the Company and its Directors.  The committee’s specific responsibilities include recommending to the Board:  its determination of the independence of each director; the composition of each Board committee; the Company’s response to any shareholder proposals; and nominees for election to the Board of Directors and appointment as Board officers.   The committee is also responsible for monitoring the effectiveness and performance of the Board and its various committees.

 

Strategic Growth Planning Committee. The strategic growth planning committee was established in 2008 to identify and evaluate strategic growth opportunities for the Company and to assess the risks associated with such opportunities. The committee considers and evaluates potential acquisitions, proposed geographic expansion and proposals for adding or diversifying revenue streams.  The committee also plays a key role in evaluating alternatives and opportunities for raising capital.

 

Marketing and Business Development Committee (Marketing). The marketing and business development committee oversees the Bank’s marketing and branding initiatives and business development and sales efforts, and determines if such initiatives and efforts are consistent with the strategic plan, goals and values of the Bank.  The committee will also review marketing campaign effectiveness and market penetration through the monitoring of various metrics and market research.  The committee is also responsible for determining the clarity of customer value statements, the appropriateness of target customers and markets and the effectiveness of sales incentive programs.

 

Banking Technology Steering Committee (Technology). The banking technology steering committee is responsible for overseeing the information security program, vendor management, project management and other technology related functions of the Bank.  In addition, the committee reviews the adequacy of the Company’s business continuity and disaster recovery plans and the deployment of new technologies with particular attention to operational risk management.  The committee also monitors the results of external penetration and vulnerability testing as part of the Company’s ongoing efforts to maintain a secure operating environment.

 

Enterprise Investment Advisors Committee (EIA). The Enterprise Investment Advisors committee is responsible for ensuring that prudent care and discretion are followed in the investment and fiduciary oversight of client assets to properly manage and report client and Company market risk exposures.  The committee is responsible for approving general investment standards and the selection of independent investment advisors and for monitoring investment, advisor and portfolio performance.  The committee will periodically review management’s strategic planning initiatives and direction for the investment advisory services provided under the Enterprise Investment Advisors label and is also responsible for the oversight of the sale of non-deposit investment (i.e., brokerage) products through an independent third-party broker.

 

Loan Committee. The loan committee reviews information and reports relating to the composition, status, delinquency and classification of both consumer and commercial loans within the Bank’s loan portfolio as well as any OREO assets (i.e., foreclosed property held by the Bank).  The committee also reviews certain larger construction lending projects and relationships and reviews stress testing to determine potential risk exposure(s) related to the commercial real estate portion of the loan portfolio.  The overall mission of the committee is to monitor the trends in asset and credit quality of the Bank’s loan portfolio as well as various other internal and external factors and controls that may impact loan quality and overall credit risk exposure.  The committee not only identifies and informs the Board of any unfavorable trends that it may detect in the Bank’s loan portfolio, but also recommends actions that may be taken to mitigate portfolio risk.

 

14



 

The following table provides 2009 membership by current Directors and meeting information for each of the standing committees of the Board of Directors:

 

 

 

Executive (1)

 

Audit

 

ALCO (1)

 

Compensation

 

CGNC

 

Strategic Growth
Planning

 

Marketing

 

Technology

 

EIA (1)

 

Loan

 

Ansin

 

 

 

 

 

  X*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Clancy

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

  X*

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

Clementi

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  X*

 

 

 

Conway

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

  X*

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowan

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  X*

 

 

 

X

 

Duncan

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Flynn

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Hanson

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  X*

 

Harrington

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Lerner

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

  X*

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Main

 

  X*

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

Putziger

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

  X*

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

Reid

 

 

 

X**

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Spinelli

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Stavropoulos

 

 

 

  X*

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Meetings Held in 2009

 

8 mtgs

 

8 mtgs

 

4 mtgs

 

6 mtgs

 

3 mtgs

 

7 mtgs

 

5 mtgs

 

3 mtgs

 

6 mtgs

 

5 mtgs

 

 


*indicates Committee Chairperson

 

**indicates Committee Vice Chairperson

 

(1)           Up to two additional members are chosen to serve on a three-month rotating basis from among the remaining members of the Board of Directors.

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

All members of the Board of Directors are Directors of the Company and of the Bank.  All compensation paid to the Directors for their service as members of the Board of Directors is paid through the Bank. In 2009, the Bank paid $350 to non-employee Directors for attendance at Board of Directors meetings, executive committee meetings and audit committee meetings.  The Bank paid $250 to non-employee Directors for attendance at all other committee meetings.  In addition to these per meeting fees, the Bank also paid in 2009 annual retainers to non-employee Directors for their membership on the Board of Directors and for their additional services in various Board-related and other corporate capacities as detailed in the following table:

 

15



 

 

 

Annual
Retainer

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Directors

 

$

7,200

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Committee members

 

$

1,600

(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Audit Committee Chairperson

 

$

7,500

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Audit Committee Vice-Chairperson

 

$

4,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Asset-Liability Committee Chairperson

 

$

6,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation Committee Chairperson

 

$

6,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Governance/ Nominating Committee Chairperson

 

$

6,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic Growth Planning Committee Chairperson

 

$

6,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Banking Technology Steering Committee Chairperson

 

$

6,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Enterprise Investment Advisors Committee Chairperson

 

$

6,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Loan Committee Chairperson

 

$

6,000

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Secretary

 

$

500

(3)

 


(1)   Retainer was paid in equal monthly installments.

 

(2)   The annual retainer paid to members of the Executive Committee was based on the actual number of Executive Committee meetings held.  Members were paid a retainer of $200 per meeting or $1,600 total based on the Executive Committee having held eight meetings in 2009.

 

(3)   All other retainers were paid in equal quarterly installments.

 

Directors who are also full-time salaried officers of the Bank were  not paid for attending Board of Directors or committee meetings and did not receive retainers of any kind for their services in any capacity as Directors.

 

For the year 2009, non-employee Directors had the right to make an irrevocable election (by December 31, 2008) to receive shares of Common Stock in lieu of receiving an elected portion of cash fees. The number of shares issued to non-employee Directors pursuant to this election was based on the value of the Common Stock at January 2, 2009, based on the average of the high and low trade prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on that date.  For the year 2009, the Company issued a total of 16,897 shares of Common Stock to ten non-employee Directors at a per share issuance price of $11.275.  These shares were issued in January 2010.  For the year 2010, non-employee Directors have the same option to receive shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash fees at a per share issuance price of $11.09, which reflects the value of the Common Stock at January 4, 2010, based on the average of the high and low trade prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on that date.

 

16



 

The Company believes that giving non-employee Directors the option to receive stock in lieu of cash fees further aligns such Directors’ interests with those of the Company’s shareholders.

 

The following table details the total compensation paid to each non-employee Director for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Name

 

Fees earned
or paid in
cash (1)
($)

 

Kenneth S. Ansin

 

$

22,950

 

John R. Clementi

 

$

26,750

 

James F. Conway, III

 

$

25,300

 

Carole A. Cowan

 

$

26,750

 

Nancy L. Donahue

 

$

11,050

 

Lucy A. Flynn

 

$

15,850

 

Eric W. Hanson

 

$

24,550

 

John P. Harrington

 

$

21,100

 

Arnold S. Lerner

 

$

28,850

 

Michael T. Putziger

 

$

23,950

 

Carol L. Reid

 

$

23,100

 

Michael A. Spinelli

 

$

16,500

 

Nickolas Stavropoulos

 

$

21,350

 

 


(1)   All non-employee Directors, excluding Messrs. Hanson, Lerner and Spinelli, elected to receive all or a portion of their total Director compensation in shares of Common Stock, which were issued in January 2010.

 

During 2009, none of the above listed non-employee Directors received any stock awards, option awards or non-equity incentive plan compensation, nor did they have pensions or nonqualified deferred compensation earnings or any other form of compensation other than the fees paid in cash or stock as set forth above.  None of the above-listed non-employee Directors held any outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2009.

 

INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES

 

Set forth below is certain information regarding the executive officers of the Company (including the Bank), other than those executive officers who are also Directors of the Company and for whom such information is provided elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.  Each individual named below has held his position for at least five years, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Brian H. Bullock

 

52

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Lending Officer of the Bank; prior to April 2009, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Lender of the Bank

 

 

 

 

 

Robert R. Gilman

 

65

 

Executive Vice President, Administration, and Commercial Lender of the Bank

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen J. Irish

 

55

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank; prior to April 2009, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Bank; prior to January 2005, also Chief Operations Officer of the Bank

 

17



 

Steven R. Larochelle

 

46

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer of the Bank; prior to April 2009, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Real Estate Lender of the Bank

 

 

 

 

 

James A. Marcotte

 

52

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company and the Bank; prior to January 1, 2005, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank

 

 

 

 

 

Chester J. Szablak, Jr.

 

52

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of the Bank; from November 2007 through March 2009, Senior Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of the Bank; from January 2006 through October 2007, Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer of the Bank; prior to 2006, Senior Vice President and Sales Manager of the Bank

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Objectives and Design

 

The Company’s core compensation philosophy provides that total annual compensation levels should: (1) be competitive relative to those found in other commercial banking organizations of comparable asset size and performance; (2) reflect individual responsibilities, experience, and performance: and (3) provide incentive to achieve business and financial objectives within reasonable risk parameters.  The Company believes that this compensation philosophy is necessary to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified executives, who are essential to achieving the financial goals set by the Board of Directors and sustaining long-term value for shareholders, while operating the Company in a safe and sound manner.

 

Consistent with this philosophy, the Compensation Committee regularly obtains information regarding compensation levels in the Company’s industry through various sources, including compensation surveys conducted by banking industry associations and independent compensation consultants.  The Company also regularly reviews the responsibilities and ongoing performance of executive officers.  Elements of compensation are established with the goal of rewarding the executive officers for the attainment of both individual and organizational short- and long-term goals.

 

Under the Compensation Committee Charter, the Compensation Committee reviews the performance of the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and recommends their compensation to the Board of Directors for review and approval.  In addition, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company evaluates the performance and responsibilities of the remaining executive officers and recommends their compensation to the Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee reviews the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations and recommends executive compensation to the Board of Directors for approval.

 

The Company at least annually assesses total compensation paid to its executive officers.  As part of this process, the Compensation Committee assesses and evaluates the elements of total compensation, as paid to executive officers as a group and individually.

 

Elements and Rationale

 

Executive compensation may include the following components in addition to an executive’s base salary:  incentive cash compensation, equity compensation, supplemental retirement benefit, supplemental life insurance benefit, income protection following a termination of employment under various circumstances, including following a change in control of the Company, and club memberships and automobiles.  Each of these components is reviewed, both separately and from a total compensation perspective, and approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors on at least an annual basis.  The Company believes that by using a combination of these elements it is best able to find an effective balance in motivating each executive to achieve long-term and short-term goals without taking unnecessary or excessive risks that could threaten the

 

18



 

Company’s financial condition or prospects, thereby enhancing long-term shareholder value.  In establishing the components of compensation for each individual executive officer, the Compensation Committee considers the performance and responsibilities of the individual, the executive’s designation or role within the Company and the cost to the Company of the various components of compensation to be provided.

 

Base Salary

 

The Company annually engages a compensation consulting firm to review the cash elements of the Company’s executive compensation and provide comparative market information on overall total compensation for the Compensation Committee’s review.  In past years and in early 2009, the Company engaged Pearl Meyer & Partners to conduct a comparative market review of the Company’s executive annual cash compensation program.  Based upon the comprehensive salary reviews and comparative assessments performed by Pearl Meyer & Partners, and various other factors, including a review of each executive’s responsibilities, experience in their role, overall performance, a review of the various components of compensation provided to the individual executives, and the challenges that the banking industry has been facing, particularly during the Committee’s review of total compensation in February and March 2009, the 2009 annual base salaries remained unchanged for Mr. Duncan at $203,900, Mr. Clancy at $350,000, Mr. Marcotte at $187,720, and Mr. Irish at $188,689.  Effective April 2009, Mr. Main’s base salary was increased to $219,920 from $194,920.  Mr. Main’s base salary increase was the result of a review of internal equity and based upon the decision to provide compensation through this element rather than equity compensation.

 

In early 2010, the Company engaged the same consulting firm to conduct an updated comparative market assessment. Based upon a review of each executive’s responsibilities, overall performance and contributions, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved, increases to base salaries as follows:  Mr. Clancy’s to $400,000, Mr. Duncan’s to $300,000, Mr. Main’s to $243,900, Mr. Marcotte’s to $192,000, and Mr. Irish’s to $191,991 effective March 29, 2010.  Mr. Clancy’s base salary increase was intended to address his total compensation, which was under-market, and bring his base salary in line with the competitive market assessment.  Likewise, Mr. Duncan and Mr. Main’s increases were based upon the comparative market assessment and a change in the elements and mix of their compensation for 2010.  Specifically, in 2010, there will be a reduction in the expense associated with Mr. Main’s supplemental retirement benefit, and Mr. Duncan’s equity compensation will decrease in 2010 versus 2009.

 

Incentive Compensation (Cash)

 

The terms of incentive cash compensation for executive officers are established by the Compensation Committee, subject to Board approval, on a year-to-year basis.  Given the economic environment in early 2009, which included the Company’s recognition of the earnings challenges that had been and would continue to be faced by all banks, including the anticipated extraordinary expenses associated with a special Federal Depository Insurance Corporation assessment, the Company did not implement a formal executive incentive cash compensation program for 2009.  At year end in 2009, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved that Messrs. Marcotte and Irish each be paid a discretionary bonus in the amount of $24,000, which is approximately 13% of their annual base salary.  This decision was made based upon a review of the executives’ total compensation, performance and contributions, and the Company’s favorable performance versus peer banks in 2009.  At their request, Messrs. Duncan, Clancy, and Main were not paid a discretionary bonus for 2009.

 

The Company intends to develop a variable compensation program for executive officers and a profit-sharing plan for all employees in 2010.  Payments for executives under the variable compensation program will be determined by various elements of Company performance and individual performance.  Target payout percentages for Messrs. Duncan, Clancy, and Main will be 20% of their annual regular earnings and the target payout percentage for Messrs. Marcotte and Irish will be 12.5%.  Payouts under the profit-sharing plan will be based solely on Company performance.

 

Long-Term Incentive (Equity) Compensation

 

The Company aligns the interests of its executives with the long-term interests of stockholders through the granting of equity-based compensation awards, which have been in the form of stock options and restricted stock, granted in all cases at

 

19



 

current fair market value.  The Company’s current long-term equity program, which was revised in 2009 to include increased use of restricted stock, is intended to (1) enhance management’s sense of ownership and commitment to the long-term success of the Company, (2) encourage and reward management performance that increases the long-term success and shareholder value of the Company, and (3) attract and retain the senior leadership and management talent the Company needs to be successful.  At this time, the Compensation Committee anticipates that restricted stock as well as stock options will continue to serve as the primary vehicles to be used to achieve these objectives.

 

In connection with its compensation program, the Company evaluates the issuance of equity grants to employees on an annual basis.  Equity grants to executive officers have been considered and granted at the same time that options have been granted for all employees during the first quarter of each year. Stock options and restricted stock are granted to executives both to reward performance and as a retention tool. The total number of options or restricted stock granted to all employees in the aggregate is determined after considering various factors such as overhang and run rate. The number of options or value of restricted stock awards granted to individual employees, including executives, is also based upon various factors, but is primarily based upon an employee’s level of responsibility and individual performance and contribution, and, with respect to executive officers and senior management, the desired mix of compensation is considered.  Stock option and restricted stock grants to all employees are recommended by executive management and are subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee.  In addition to the recommendation of executive management and Compensation Committee approval, stock options and restricted stock awards granted to executive officers must also be approved by the full Board of Directors.  In all cases, the exercise price of the option and the value of the restricted stock is established based on the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of the grant.

 

On March 17, 2009, the Company granted a total of 51,050 options, at an exercise price of $8.75 per share (which reflected the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant), and 83,200 shares of restricted stock.  Of the options and restricted stock shares granted, the Board approved grants to the executive officers as follows:  40,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Duncan, 2,000 options and 5,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Marcotte, and 2,000 options and 5,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Irish.  Mr. Main did not receive an equity grant for 2009, which reflected the Compensation Committee’s consideration of the different elements of compensation he would receive in 2009, including the expense associated with his supplemental retirement benefit, his 2009 base salary increase, and the total compensation he was reasonably likely to earn for the year.  Mr. Clancy also did not receive an equity grant in 2009, which reflected his specific request to forego any additional compensation at that time, based upon Mr. Clancy’s consideration of various factors including the challenging economic and banking conditions at the time.  The number of options and shares of restricted stock granted to the executives for 2009 are considered to be consistent with the Company’s objective of maintaining a reasonable level of employee participation in the Company’s equity compensation program and to be within competitive ranges for executive management.  Mr. Duncan’s total compensation would have declined in 2009 as a result of the reduction in the expense associated with his supplemental retirement benefit; rather than increasing his base salary in the challenging economic environment, the Company elected to grant Mr. Duncan 40,000 shares of stock, vesting over two years.

 

On March 16, 2010, the Company granted a total of 63,775 options, at an exercise price of $12.51 per share (which reflected the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant), and 70,475 shares of restricted stock.  Of the options and restricted stock shares granted, the Board approved grants to the executive officers as follows:  10,000 options and 10,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Clancy; 3,000 options and 5,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Main; 1,750 options and 4,750 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Marcotte; and 1,750 options and 4,750 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Irish.  Mr. Duncan has not received an equity grant for 2010, which reflects the Compensation Committee’s consideration of the different elements of compensation he will receive in 2010, the size of his restricted stock grant in 2009 and the total compensation he is likely to earn for the year.  With the exception of the stock option grant for Mr. Main, which will vest immediately under the terms of the plan, the remaining equity grants for the executives will vest over four years.  As in 2009, the number of options and shares of restricted stock granted to the executives in 2010 are considered to be consistent with the Company’s objective of maintaining a reasonable level of employee participation in the Company’s equity compensation program and to be within competitive ranges for executive management based upon the current business environment. Additionally, the Company believes the equity grant further aligns the executives’ interests with those of the shareholders, and the vesting schedule facilitates retention.

 

20



 

Supplemental Retirement Benefit and Supplemental Life Insurance Benefit

 

The Company believes that providing supplemental retirement, which is implemented through salary continuation agreements, and supplemental life insurance benefits provide a long-term retention tool as well as providing a reward component to the executive.

 

The Bank is party to salary continuation and supplemental life insurance agreements with each of Messrs. Duncan and Main.  The terms of these salary continuation agreements and the annual amounts payable to the executives thereunder, are described further at page 33 below.  The annual expense incurred by the Company in maintaining this supplemental retirement benefit for each executive equals the annual increase of the present value of the accumulated benefit to be paid to the executive.  This amount is included for each of the executives in the Summary Compensation Table at page 24 below under the heading “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings”.

 

The supplemental life insurance benefits that are payable to Messrs. Duncan and Main are included in the amounts shown as payable in the event of death in the table at page 32 below and are specifically referenced in footnote 3 to the table.

 

During 2006, the Company initiated a supplemental life insurance benefit plan for a number of its employees in management positions.  Under this plan, the Company has provided supplemental life insurance benefits to the employees, subject to certain restrictions.  Messrs. Clancy, Marcotte and Irish participate in this plan and the amounts of their supplemental life insurance benefits are included in the amounts shown as payable in the event of death in the table at page 32 below and are specifically referenced in footnote 3 to the table.

 

Income Protection and Non-Compete

 

In addition to the above noted elements of compensation, Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy have employment agreements with the Company, which include non-competition restrictions, and Mr. Irish has a change in control/noncompetition agreement with the Company.  These agreements provide the executive with income protection in the event of a termination of his employment under certain circumstances, including following a change in control of the Company.  The Company believes these agreements are an important tool in retaining key executives while providing protection to the Company by restricting the executive’s ability to compete in the Company’s marketplace if he were to leave prior to any change in control.  The terms of these agreements are described at pages 29-31 below and the amounts payable thereunder to the executives under various termination scenarios are included in the table at page 32 below.  The Company believes that the non-competition protection afforded by these agreements is critical in the Company’s competitive marketplace and that the payment amounts and related conditions thereto contained in the agreements are consistent with reasonable industry standards.  The maximum amounts that may be paid to any executive under any of these agreements are limited by automatic “cutback” provisions that ensure payments will not exceed the limits specified under Section 280G of the Code.

 

Perquisites

 

In addition to their participation in the Company’s general employee benefit plans, as described in footnote 5 of the Summary Compensation Table at page 24 below, the Company also provides company-owned vehicles for the use of Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy and the Company pays dues related to club memberships for business development purposes for Messrs. Duncan and Main.  The Compensation Committee believes that the cost of these additional perquisites is modest for the size of the Company and that providing them is consistent with maintaining a competitive total compensation and benefits package for senior management.

 

2009 Executive Compensation Program

 

In determining the executive officers’ total 2009 compensation (including base salary, incentive cash compensation, equity compensation, supplemental retirement benefits and other perquisites), the Compensation Committee applied rationale

 

21



 

similar to that used in the prior year.  In 2009 and in 2010, greater emphasis and a higher mix of compensation was placed on equity compensation as an element of compensation for particular executive officers to enhance ownership in the Company, to retain the executive’s continuing services (as a result of the vesting schedule) and to reward performance.  Each executive officer’s total compensation in 2009 reflected the Compensation Committee’s assessment of his responsibilities, performance and contributions as well as the comparative market data provided by Pearl Meyer & Partners.  In referring to such comparative data, the Compensation Committee sought to confirm that its compensation decisions for each individual executive were reasonable.

 

The Company believes that its 2009 executive compensation program successfully linked executive compensation to the Company’s financial performance.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE MATTERS

 

Role of the Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised  of five members, four of whom are deemed to be independent and one, Mr. Lerner, who is temporarily deemed to be not independent as described further under the heading “Independence of Board of Directors” at pages 11-12 above. It is the responsibility of the Compensation Committee to review the performance of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and recommend their compensation to the Board of Directors for review and approval.  The Company’s Chief Executive Officer evaluates the performance of the remaining executive officers and recommends their compensation to the Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee reviews the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations and recommends their compensation to the Board of Directors for approval. During 2009, the Board of Directors approved all recommendations presented by the Compensation Committee.

 

The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain or obtain advice from independent advisors as it deems necessary to perform its role.  During 2009, the Company obtained the services of Pearl Meyer & Partners to provide market assessment information to the Compensation Committee, which is discussed in further detail in the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis at pages 18-22 above.

 

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which can be found on the Company’s website (www.enterprisebanking.com).

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained at pages 18-22 above (the “CD&A”) with management and based on this review and discussion the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

James F. Conway III (Chairperson)

John R. Clementi

Carole A. Cowan

Eric W. Hanson

Arnold S. Lerner

 

22



 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

The Directors listed above under the heading “Compensation Committee Report” at page 22 constitute all of the individuals who served as members of the Compensation Committee during the year ended December 31, 2009.  None of these Directors was an officer or employee of the Company at any time during such period or has ever been an officer of the Company.  None of these Directors has had any relationship with the Company that would require disclosure in this Proxy Statement under the heading “Transactions with Certain Related Persons” at pages 35-36 below under applicable SEC rules.

 

As described in further detail under the heading “Transactions with Certain Related Persons” at pages 35-36 below, the members of the Compensation Committee, as well as businesses and other entities with which they may be affiliated, are customers of the Bank and/or have entered into loan transactions with the Bank in the ordinary course of business.

 

Risk Assessment of Compensation Policies and Practices

 

The Company has implemented an annual risk assessment of its compensation policies and practices, which is intended to determine whether any of its existing compensation policies or practices create incentives for taking unnecessary or excessive risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.  On the basis of this assessment, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has determined that no changes to the Company’s existing compensation policies and practices are necessary at this time.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company (through the Bank) for services rendered in all capacities during the years ended December 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and each of the three other most highly compensated executive officers of the Bank (the “Named Executive Officers”).  The Company does not employ any persons, other than through the Bank.

 

23



 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in Pension

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Equity

 

Nonqualified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive

 

Deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

Option

 

Plan

 

Compensation

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salary($)

 

Bonus

 

Awards

 

Awards

 

Compensation

 

Earnings

 

Compensation ($)

 

 

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

(1)

 

($)

 

($) (2)

 

($) (3)

 

($)

 

($) (4)

 

(5)

 

Total ($)

 

George L. Duncan

 

2009

 

$

204,108

 

$

 

$

350,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

101,663

 

$

38,029

 

$

693,800

 

Chairman of the Company and the Bank

 

2008

 

$

203,920

 

$

 

$

 

$

24,700

 

$

 

$

259,486

 

$

35,618

 

$

523,724

 

 

 

2007

 

$

203,985

 

$

 

$

 

$

47,970

 

$

17,841

 

$

391,180

 

$

40,134

 

$

701,110

 

Richard W. Main

 

2009

 

$

214,040

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

218,503

 

$

25,594

 

$

458,137

 

President of the Company and the Bank

 

2008

 

$

189,015

 

$

 

$

 

$

18,525

 

$

 

$

201,757

 

$

23,206

 

$

432,503

 

 

 

2007

 

$

194,774

 

$

 

$

 

$

23,985

 

$

16,968

 

$

186,295

 

$

24,189

 

$

446,211

 

John P. Clancy, Jr.

 

2009

 

$

350,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

15,473

 

$

365,473

 

Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank

 

2008

 

$

319,414

 

$

 

$

 

$

24,700

 

$

 

$

 

$

13,874

 

$

357,988

 

 

 

2007

 

$

275,050

 

$

 

$

 

$

47,970

 

$

24,062

 

$

 

$

14,048

 

$

361,130

 

Stephen J. Irish

 

2009

 

$

188,728

 

$

24,000

 

$

43,750

 

$

5,020

 

$

 

$

 

$

8,826

 

$

270,324

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Bank

 

2008

 

$

175,973

 

$

 

$

 

$

10,498

 

$

 

$

 

$

6,390

 

$

192,861

 

 

 

2007

 

$

164,167

 

$

 

$

 

$

14,760

 

$

26,357

 

$

 

$

5,439

 

$

210,723

 

James A. Marcotte

 

2009

 

$

187,720

 

$

24,000

 

$

43,750

 

$

5,020

 

$

 

$

 

$

7,931

 

$

268,421

 

Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 

2008

 

$

179,066

 

$

 

$

 

$

8,645

 

$

 

$

 

$

6,889

 

$

194,600

 

of the Company and the Bank

 

2007

 

$

180,500

 

$

 

$

 

$

14,760

 

$

15,794

 

$

 

$

6,115

 

$

217,169

 

 


(1)          Messrs. Main, Irish and Marcotte elected to forego two weeks of their salary in 2008 as the Company was in the process of transitioning to arrears payroll processing.  Mr. Clancy and Mr. Duncan elected to receive vacation pay at the time they transitioned to arrears payroll in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

 

24



 

(2)         The value of the stock awards is based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.  The fair market value was calculated as the average of the high and low trade prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the date of grant as required under the Company’s 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

(3)         The value of the option awards is based on the fair market value of the awards as calculated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.  For assumptions used in calculating the value of option awards and the accounting treatment of the awards, refer to footnote 9 on page 90 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.  For information on vesting, refer to the table “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” and the associated footnote 1 at pages 28-29 below.

 

(4)         For each of Messrs. Duncan and Main this amount is equal to the increase in 2009, 2008 and 2007 of the present value of the accumulated benefit attributable to the executive’s supplemental retirement plan.  For Mr. Duncan, the amounts shown in 2009 and 2008 take into account payments he received through his supplemental retirement plan in each of those years.

 

(5)         For each of the named executive officers, these amounts include the following:

 

·Annual matching contributions by the Bank to the Bank’s 401(k) plan:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

Duncan

 

$

7,042

 

$

5,882

 

$

6,098

 

Main

 

$

7,625

 

$

5,595

 

$

5,819

 

Clancy

 

$

8,820

 

$

6,900

 

$

7,750

 

Irish

 

$

6,778

 

$

5,273

 

$

4,767

 

Marcotte

 

$

6,743

 

$

5,839

 

$

5,346

 

 

·Life insurance premiums paid:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

Duncan

 

$

22,084

 

$

20,542

 

$

25,150

 

Main

 

$

6,584

 

$

5,713

 

$

6,898

 

Clancy

 

$

1,938

 

$

1,737

 

$

1,872

 

Irish

 

$

2,048

 

$

1,118

 

$

671

 

Marcotte

 

$

1,188

 

$

1,050

 

$

769

 

 

25



 

·The amount attributed to the personal use of Bank owned automobiles:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

Duncan

 

$

5,000

 

$

5,291

 

$

4,983

 

Main

 

$

3,532

 

$

4,045

 

$

3,619

 

Clancy

 

$

4,715

 

$

5,237

 

$

4,426

 

 

·The amount paid to a local club on the executive’s behalf for business development purposes:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

Duncan

 

$

3,903

 

$

3,903

 

$

3,903

 

Main

 

$

7,853

 

$

7,853

 

$

7,853

 

 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

 

The following table sets forth information concerning individual grants of restricted stock and stock options made during 2009 to each of the Named Executive Officers.  Other than the grants of restricted stock and stock options shown in the table, there were no other equity-based awards or any non-equity awards granted under any incentive plans to any Named Executive Officer in 2009.

 

Name

 

Grant
Date

 

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

 

Option Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)

 

Exercise or
Base Price of
Option Awards
($/Sh)
(1)

 

Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock and
Option Awards (2)

 

George L. Duncan

 

3/17/09

 

40,000

 

 

 

 

$

350,000

 

Richard W. Main

 

n/a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John P. Clancy, Jr.

 

n/a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen J. Irish

 

3/17/09

 

 

 

2,000

 

$

8.75

 

$

5,020

 

Stephen J. Irish

 

3/17/09

 

5,000

 

 

 

 

 

$

43,750

 

James A. Marcotte

 

3/17/09

 

 

 

2,000

 

$

8.75

 

$

5,020

 

James A. Marcotte

 

3/17/09

 

5,000

 

 

 

 

 

$

43,750

 

 


(1)                                 The exercise price of all stock options granted to employees in 2009, including those granted to Named Executive Officers and reflected in this table, equals the average of the high and low trade prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the date of grant as required under the Company’s 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

(2)                                 For an explanation of the grant date fair value of the stock and option awards, including the assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the option awards, refer to footnote 9 on page 90 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

26



 

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the exercise of stock options and the vesting of stock awards for each of the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise
(#)

 

Value Realized
Upon Exercise
($) (1)

 

Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)

 

Value Realized
on Vesting
($) (2)

 

George L. Duncan

 

28,000

 

$

87,920

 

 

$

 

Richard W. Main

 

14,000

 

$

40,460

 

 

$

 

John P. Clancy, Jr.

 

11,000

 

$

31,790

 

3,500

 

$

47,950

 

Stephen J. Irish

 

8,000

 

$

26,880

 

 

$

 

James A. Marcotte

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 


(1)                                 The value realized upon exercise calculations in the third column from the left above are based upon the difference between the value of the Common Stock on the option exercise date and the per share exercise price of the options.  The value on the exercise date was based on the closing market price of the stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the exercise date.

 

(2)                                 The value realized on vesting calculation in the far right column is based upon the value of the Common Stock on the vesting date of the restricted stock.  The value on the vesting date was based on the closing market price of the stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the vesting date.

 

27



 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

 

The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised stock options and unvested stock awards held by each of the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2009.  The Company has not granted any option awards that are unexercised and unearned and not otherwise disclosed in the table or any stock awards that are unearned and have not vested and are not otherwise disclosed in the table.

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable (1)

 

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

 

Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
that
Have
not
Vested
(#) (2)

 

Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested ($)
(3)

 

George L. Duncan

 

28,000

 

0

 

$

15.34

 

12/31/10

 

40,000

 

$

438,000

 

 

 

28,000

 

0

 

$

14.375

 

08/02/13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,000

 

0

 

$

16.50

 

03/06/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,000

 

0

 

$

12.75

 

03/17/15

 

 

 

 

 

Richard W. Main

 

14,000

 

0

 

$

15.34

 

12/31/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,000

 

0

 

$

14.375

 

08/02/13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,500

 

0

 

$

16.50

 

03/06/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,500

 

0

 

$

12.75

 

03/17/15

 

 

 

 

 

John P. Clancy, Jr.

 

13,000

 

0

 

$

15.34

 

12/31/10

 

3,500

 

$

38,325

 

 

 

20,000

 

0

 

$

14.375

 

08/02/13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,500

 

6,500

 

$

16.50

 

03/06/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,500

 

7,500

 

$

12.75

 

03/17/15

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen J. Irish

 

8,000

 

0

 

$

15.34

 

12/31/10

 

5,000

 

$

54,750

 

 

 

9,000

 

0

 

$

14.375

 

08/02/13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000

 

2,000

 

$

16.50

 

03/06/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,062

 

3,188

 

$

12.75

 

03/17/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

2,000

 

$

8.75

 

03/16/16

 

 

 

 

 

James A. Marcotte

 

6,000

 

0

 

$

15.34

 

12/31/10

 

5,000

 

$

54,750

 

 

 

9,000

 

0

 

$

14.375

 

08/02/13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000

 

2,000

 

$

16.50

 

03/06/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

875

 

2,625

 

$

12.75

 

03/17/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

2,000

 

$

8.75

 

03/16/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

28



 


(1)                                 One-fourth of the total number of shares of Common Stock subject to the options granted becomes exercisable on an annual basis on the anniversary date of the original grant date, and, if sooner, become fully exercisable upon the option recipient reaching the age of 62 while remaining employed with the Bank as of such date.  The three most recent option grants were granted on March 7, 2007, March 18, 2008 and March 17, 2009.

 

(2)                                 The shares awarded to Mr. Duncan subject to restricted stock awards vest over a two-year period, with 50% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of the award and an additional 50% vesting on the second anniversary date of the date of the award.  Mr. Duncan’s restricted stock award was granted on March 17, 2009.  The shares awarded to Mr. Clancy subject to restricted stock awards vest over a five-year period, with 20% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of the award and an additional 20% vesting on each of the next four subsequent anniversary dates of the date of the award.  Mr. Clancy’s restricted stock award was granted on September 7, 2005.  The shares awarded to Messrs. Irish and Marcotte subject to restricted stock awards vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of the award and an additional 25% vesting on each of the next three subsequent anniversary dates of the date of the award.  The shares awarded to Messrs. Irish and Marcotte were granted on March 17, 2009.

 

(3)                                 The market value of the shares subject to restricted stock awards that have not vested is based upon the value of the Common Stock on December 31, 2009, which equals the closing market price of the stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on that date.

 

AGREEMENTS WITH NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The Company and the Bank are parties to employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy and a change in control/noncompetition agreement with Mr. Irish.  The Bank is also a party to salary continuation agreements with Messrs. Duncan and Main and supplemental life insurance agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main, Clancy, Irish and Marcotte.

 

Each of the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy is for a fixed term of years (three years for Mr. Duncan and two years for each of Messrs. Main and Clancy), subject to an automatic “rolling” renewal each year, unless either the Company or the executive provides a notice of non-renewal, in which case the agreement will expire at the end of the then-current term.  Each of Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy is guaranteed a minimum base salary under the terms of his employment agreement:  $203,900 for Mr. Duncan; $193,920 for Mr. Main; and $350,000 for Mr. Clancy.

 

The amount of severance payments and benefits, if any, which may be due to any of the named executive officers under any of the agreements referenced above following any form of termination of the executive is summarized generally below and is further quantified in the table at page 32 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Under the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy, if the executive dies, his beneficiary will be paid a lump sum equal to one-half of his then-current annual base salary and his spouse and any other eligible dependents will continue to receive health and welfare benefits at no cost, subject to limitations described in the agreement; provided, however, that if the executive dies either within one year before or two years after the occurrence of a change in control of the Company (as defined in the agreement), then, in addition to such continuing health and welfare benefits, the executive’s beneficiary will be paid a lump sum equal to three times, in the case of Mr. Duncan, and two times, in the case of either Mr. Main or Mr. Clancy, the executive’s previous highest annual compensation (as defined in the agreement to include the sum

 

29



 

of the executive’s highest annual base salary and highest annual cash bonus paid at any time prior to the date of termination since January 1, 2004) (such lump sum payment being referred to herein as the “Lump Sum Payment”), subject to reduction for any prior lump sum payment that may have been paid following the death of the executive.

 

In addition to the foregoing death benefits payable to Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy under their employment agreements, the beneficiaries of each of the named executive officers will also be paid the death benefits provided under the executive’s supplemental life insurance agreement, the amounts of which are included in footnote 3 to the table at page 32 below.

 

Under the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy, if the executive is terminated at any time as a result of his long-term disability (as defined in the agreement), then for the remaining term of the agreement the executive will be paid an annual amount equal to 75% of his previous highest annual compensation, subject to reduction for any payments received by the executive during this payment period under any group long-term disability plan that may be maintained by the Company, and will be entitled to receive continuing health and welfare benefits on the same terms as were available to the executive as an employee.

 

Under the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy, if the executive retires on or after his specified retirement age (65 for Mr. Duncan, 63 for Mr. Main and 62 for Mr. Clancy), then the executive is entitled to receive continuing health and welfare benefits for twelve months on the same terms as were available to him as an employee, and, in addition, if the executive retires either within one year before or one year after the occurrence of a change in control, then the executive will be paid the Lump Sum Payment.

 

In addition to the retirement rights provided to Messrs. Duncan and Main under their employment agreements, the salary continuation agreements referenced above also provide additional annual compensation benefits payable to Messrs. Duncan and Main which vest over time, subject to acceleration upon a change in control (as defined in the agreement), and become payable to the executive over a 20-year period upon his reaching a specified age (68 for Mr. Duncan, which he reached on June 8, 2008, and 63 for Mr. Main, which he will reach on April 3, 2010), whether or not the executive has retired or remains employed with the Company at such time.  The amounts payable to each of Messrs. Duncan and Main under his salary continuation agreement are included in footnote 4 to the table at pages 32-33 below.

 

Under the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy, if the Company (including any successor) terminates the executive at any time for cause, whether before or after the occurrence of a change in control, then the executive will not be entitled to receive any severance payments or benefits.  However, if the Company (including any successor) terminates the executive at any time without cause, whether before or after the occurrence of a change in control, then the executive will be paid the Lump Sum Payment and will be entitled to receive continuing health benefits for 18 months at no cost to the executive.

 

Under the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy, if the executive chooses to terminate his employment at any time for good reason (as defined in the agreement to include, among several other reasons, a material reduction in the executive’s base salary or his authority, duties or responsibilities), whether before or after the occurrence of a change in control, then the executive will be paid the Lump Sum Payment and will be entitled to receive continuing health benefits for 18 months at no cost to the executive.  If the executive chooses to terminate his employment at any time without good reason, then he will not be entitled to receive any severance payments or benefits, unless the executive chooses to terminate his employment without good reason either within one year before or one year after the occurrence of a change in control, in which case the executive will be paid the Lump Sum Payment.

 

Each of the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy also provides that the parties may agree at any time to enter into a modified employment arrangement for the remaining term of the

 

30



 

agreement.  Under the terms of such arrangement, in exchange for the executive continuing to work at a level of at least 50% of the level worked during the preceding three years, the Company will pay the executive an annual salary equal to 50% of his previous highest annual compensation and will continue to provide the executive with full benefits.

 

Under each of the employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Main and Clancy, the executive is subject to confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions for up to two years after the termination of his employment for any reason if the termination occurs before a change in control.  The non-compete restrictions do not apply following any termination of the executive’s employment that occurs after a change in control, and any non-compete restrictions that may be in effect at the time of a change in control automatically expire upon such change in control.  If the executive breaches any applicable confidentiality, non-compete or non-solicitation covenants, then the Company may enforce a right to recoup any prior severance payments made to the executive.

 

Under the terms of the change in control/noncompetition agreement with Mr. Irish, he will be paid a lump sum equal to 1.5 times his previous highest annual compensation (as defined in the agreement to include the sum of his highest annual base salary and highest annual cash bonus paid within the most recent three years prior to the date of termination), together with certain other specified payments and benefits, including continuation of health and welfare benefits for 18 months on the same terms as were available to Mr. Irish as of the date of termination or, if more favorable, as of the date of the change in control, if his employment is terminated for any reason, whether at the initiative of the Company or of Mr. Irish and whether or not for cause, within two years after the date of a change in control of the Company.  If Mr. Irish’s employment is terminated for any reason within one year prior to the occurrence of a change in control, other than for cause, then he is entitled to receive all of the payments and benefits that he would have been entitled to receive if such termination had occurred within two years after the date of such change in control.

 

Mr. Irish is also subject to confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions for one year following a termination of employment for any reason prior to a change in control (and assuming a change in control does not occur within this one-year period).  If Mr. Irish’s termination in the absence of any change in control is initiated by the Company for any reason other than for cause, then he will be paid a lump sum equal to 75% of the sum of his then-current annual base salary and the amount of any annual incentive or other bonus paid to Mr. Irish with respect to the most recently completed fiscal year prior to the date of termination, subject to recoupment by the Company if Mr. Irish breaches any of the applicable confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation covenants.

 

The following table summarizes the estimated cost of executive benefits that would be incurred by the Company, as of December 31, 2009, under the various termination scenarios referenced in the table for each of the named executive officers.  The estimates shown below factor in base salary and incentive compensation payments, the value realized from accelerated vesting of stock options and restricted stock, the value realized from accelerated vesting of supplemental retirement benefits and other benefits and payments to be paid to the named executive officers under the terms of any agreement or plan that is not generally available to all employees.  The following calculations were made without giving consideration to any possible “cutback” or other reduction of payments or benefits that could be required under an executive’s employment or other contract:

 

31



 

Name

 

Change in
Control (1)

 

Voluntary
Termination
(Includes Early
Retirement) (2)

 

Involuntary Not for Cause
Termination by Company
or, if Applicable, Good
Reason Termination by
Employee

 

For Cause
Termination

 

Normal
Retirement
(2)

 

Death (2)(3)

 

Disability

 

George L. Duncan

 

$

1,302,557

 

$

0

(4)

$

864,557

(4)

$

0

 

$

13,423

(4)

$

1,775,394

 

$

496,396

 

Richard W. Main

 

$

649,610

 

$

0

(4)

$

588,848

(4)

$

0

 

$

13,423

(4)

$

1,054,116

 

$

340,986

 

John P. Clancy, Jr.

 

$

939,136

 

$

0

 

$

863,625

 

$

0

 

$

13,423

 

$

725,553

 

$

408,146

 

Stephen J. Irish

 

$

422,499

 

$

0

 

$

159,517

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

154,077

 

$

0

 

James A. Marcotte

 

$

94,506

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

170,500

 

$

0

 

 


(1)     With respect to each of Messrs. Duncan, Main, Clancy and Irish, the amount shown includes the amount payable, including the estimated expense of continuing benefits, under various termination scenarios either preceding or following a change in control under the executive’s employment agreement or, in the case of Mr. Irish, his change in control/noncompetition agreement, which are described in further detail under the heading “Agreements With Named Executive Officers at pages 29-31 above.

 

The amounts shown also include the present value attributable to accelerated vesting of death benefit payable under the Bank’s executive supplemental life insurance plan, which is $37,185 for Mr. Clancy, $35,900 for Mr. Irish and $35,356 for Mr. Marcotte, and the value attributable to the accelerated vesting of outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock, which is $438,000 for Mr. Duncan, $38,325 for Mr. Clancy, $59,150 for Mr. Irish and $59,150 for Mr. Marcotte.  The value of any outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock is based upon the value of the Common Stock on December 31, 2009, which equals the closing market price of the stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on that date.

 

(2)     With respect to each of Messrs. Duncan, Main, Clancy and Irish, assumes that termination has not occurred within the time periods before or after a change in control specified in his employment agreement or change in control/noncompetition agreement as applicable.

 

(3)     Includes amounts payable under supplemental life insurance benefits, which equal the following amounts for each of the executives:  $1,556,056 for Mr. Duncan; $791,496 for Mr. Main; $190,080 for Mr. Clancy; and the entire amount shown in the table for Messrs. Irish and Marcotte.

 

32



 

(4)     Does not include annual amounts payable over twenty-year period under the executive’s salary continuation agreement.  The annual amounts payable to each of the executives upon his reaching his specified retirement age are as follows:  $149,500 for Mr. Duncan and $95,300 for Mr. Main.  Reduced benefits are paid following any early retirement based upon the extent to which the benefit has vested at the time of such early retirement.  During 2008, Mr. Duncan reached his specified retirement age and commenced receiving payments under his salary continuation agreement.  In 2009, he received the fully vested annual amount due under the agreement as detailed in the table that follows below.

 

The following table sets forth additional information concerning the supplemental retirement benefits as of December 31, 2009 which are provided to Messrs. Duncan and Main:

 

Name

 

Plan Name

 

Number of Years of
Credited Service (#)

 

Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit ($) (1)

 

Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year ($)

 

George L. Duncan

 

Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan

 

21

 

$

1,668,241

 

$

149,500

 

Richard W. Main

 

Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan

 

21

 

$

1,031,711

 

$

0

 

 


(1)     The present value of accumulated benefit was valued at the established present value of the payments to be received by the executives upon reaching the specified ages noted above at a discount rate of 6%.  The annual benefit will be payable in twelve monthly installments.

 

DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS AND SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS

 

Proposed director nominees are recommended to the Board of Directors for its approval by the Company’s Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee (“CGNC”). The CGNC is comprised of six directors, five of whom are deemed to be independent and one, Mr. Lerner, the committee’s chairman, who is temporarily deemed not to be independent as described further under the heading “Independence of Board of Directors” at pages 11-12 above. In determining the independence of the CGNC members, the Board of Directors has used the definition of independence contained in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market and has applied this definition consistently to all members of the CGNC.

 

A copy of the CGNC’s Charter and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines can be found on the Company’s website (www.enterprisebanking.com). The Charter and Guidelines outline director qualifications, appointment to and removal from the Board of Directors and its various committees, structure and operations of the Board of Directors and its various committees and the CGNC’s reporting function to the Board of Directors.

 

The CGNC has reviewed, refined and formalized criteria for the selection of new directors to the Board of Directors. In evaluating candidates, the committee considers independence, experience relevant to the needs of the Company, leadership qualities and the ability to represent the broad interests of shareholders. In selecting new directors, consideration is given to both the personal qualities and abilities of individual candidates and the existing collective skills and aptitudes of the Board of Directors as a whole.

 

33



 

Although it does not have a formal diversity policy, in addition to the criteria described above, the Board and the Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee also consider professional, personal and geographic diversity in their review of candidates.  Overall, candidates are selected based on a review of qualifications that are considered in the best interest of the shareholders.

 

Nominees for election to the Board of Directors may be identified and submitted to the CGNC for its consideration by directors, shareholders and/or management. The CGNC may also retain a professional search firm to assist with the identification of qualified candidates.

 

The Chairman of the CGNC and the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall extend an invitation to join the Board of Directors, subject to election by the Company’s shareholders, to those nominees who are recommended by the CGNC and approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also retains the right, as outlined in the Company’s by-laws, to appoint directors as needed throughout the year.

 

Directors are required to attend the Company’s annual meeting. Absences will be allowed for serious personal or business obligations that cannot be rescheduled. All of the Company’s directors, excluding Mr. Stavropoulos, attended the 2009 annual meeting.

 

Shareholders may submit nominations for candidates for election to the Board of Directors in accordance with the applicable requirements contained in the Company’s by-laws to the attention of the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s principal office located at 222 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852. Shareholders may also communicate directly with members of the Board of Directors by sending such communications to a specified director or group of directors or to the Board of Directors in its entirety, addressed c/o the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office at the foregoing address. There have been no changes to these procedures since the Company last described these procedures in its proxy statement relating to the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) is comprised of five independent directors and operates under a written charter.  A copy of the Audit Committee’s Charter can be found on the Company’s website (www.enterprisebanking.com).  The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the Audit Committee charter on an annual basis.  The Board of Directors has determined that both Nickolas Stavropoulos and Carol Reid, who are two of these five independent directors, qualify to serve as an Audit Committee Financial Expert (as such term is defined under applicable SEC rules).  The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, which reports directly to the Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee held eight meetings in 2009 and met in executive session at five meetings.  The Committee also held five executive sessions with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in 2009, at which time discussions of financial management, accounting, and internal controls took place.

 

In determining the independence of the Audit Committee members, the Board of Directors has used, as required for a company with shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, the definition of independence contained in Section 5605(a)(2) of the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market as well as the additional independence requirements contained in Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Commission, and has applied such definition and additional criteria consistently to all members of the Audit Committee.

 

34



 

Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting process.  The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and for auditing whether the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal controls over financial reporting and for issuing reports thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.  The Audit Committee’s responsibilities also include resolving any disagreements that may arise between management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.  In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of financial reporting and establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of any complaints that may be received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of any concerns that may arise regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

The Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.  Management has represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.  The Audit Committee has discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under the professional standards of the AICPA and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has also provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee has discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm that firm’s independence.

 

Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and the Audit Committee’s review of the representation of management and the reports of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 as filed with the SEC.

 

Nickolas Stavropoulos (Chairperson)

Carol L. Reid (Vice Chairperson)

Carole A Cowan

Lucy A. Flynn

John P. Harrington

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS

 

The Audit Committee reviews disclosures made in this Proxy Statement and all other reports and filings of the Company required under the federal securities laws regarding all related-party transactions that are required to be disclosed under the requirements of Item 404 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K.  The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which can be found on the Company’s website (www.enterprisebanking.com), provides procedures for the Board of Directors’ review and approval of transactions involving the Company and related parties.  Any transactions involving the Company (including any subsidiaries) and members of the Board of Directors, officers holding a title of senior vice president or above or any family members or affiliated entities of any such directors or officers must be conducted on an

 

35



 

arms’-length basis and any consideration paid or received by the Company in connection with any such transaction shall be on terms no less favorable to the Company than terms that would be available under the same or similar circumstances with an unaffiliated third party.  With respect to any such transaction, the director’s or officer’s interest is disclosed to the Board of Directors prior to any action being taken by the Board to approve the transaction.

 

The Bank leases its headquarters from a realty trust, the sole beneficiary of which is a limited partnership in which Mr. Putziger holds a 13.7% limited partnership interest.  The Bank paid a total of $250,302 in lease payments to the trust in 2009, of which Mr. Putziger personally received $34,391 through his limited partnership interest.  The Board of Directors believes that the terms of this lease, including the amounts paid by the Bank, are substantially similar to such terms as would be included in a comparable lease transaction entered into at the time of such lease with a party who is not affiliated with the Bank or any of its Directors.  The Bank is currently in the process of negotiating the purchase of this building from the realty trust for $2 million.  Based on Mr. Putziger’s interest in the partnership, his proportional interest in the gross proceeds to be paid by the Bank for the purchase of the building will be $274,800.  Taking into account debt obligations on the building that will be satisfied prior to any distributions being made by the trust to any of the partners of the partnership, the amount that will actually be received by Mr. Putziger in connection with this proposed transaction is not expected to be material.

 

Certain Directors and executive officers of the Company are also customers of the Bank and have entered into loan, trust and brokerage and deposit transactions with the Bank in the ordinary course of business. In addition, certain Directors are also directors, trustees, officers or stockholders of corporations and non-profit entities or members of partnerships that are customers of the Bank and that enter into loan and other transactions with the Bank in the ordinary course of business. Such loan transactions with Directors and executive officers of the Bank and with such corporations, non-profit entities and partnerships are on such terms, including interest rates, repayment terms and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons who are not affiliated with the Bank and do not involve more than a normal risk of collectability or present other features unfavorable to the Bank.

 

SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth stock ownership information with respect to Directors, Named Executive Officers, all Directors and executive officers as a group and all other persons known to the Company who are the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Common Stock. All such information is as of March 8, 2010. This information includes the total number of shares of the Common Stock known by the Company to be beneficially owned by each such person and group and the percentage of the Common Stock each such person and group beneficially owns. All shares are owned of record and beneficially, and each person and group identified has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares, except as otherwise noted.

 

Directors

 

Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned (1)(2)

 

Percent of Total
Common Stock (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth S. Ansin (4)

 

156,732

 

1.72

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

John P. Clancy, Jr. (5)

 

121,782

 

1.33

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

John R. Clementi (6)

 

108,410

 

1.19

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

James F. Conway, III (7)

 

29,496

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carole A. Cowan

 

6,588

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy L. Donahue (8)

 

54,932

 

*

 

 

36



 

George L. Duncan (9)
710 Andover Street
Lowell, MA 01852

 

499,878

 

5.43

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy A. Flynn (10)

 

10,485

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric W. Hanson

 

453,786

 

4.97

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

John P. Harrington (11)

 

16,006

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold S. Lerner (12)
155 Pine Hill Road
Hollis, NH 03049

 

521,453

 

5.71

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard W. Main (13)

 

260,941

 

2.84

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael T. Putziger (14)

 

114,761

 

1.26

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carol L. Reid

 

9,469

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael A. Spinelli

 

279,144

 

3.06

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nickolas Stavropoulos (15)

 

8,428

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Named Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen J. Irish (16)

 

51,685

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James A. Marcotte (17)

 

29,250

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (22 Persons)

 

2,925,799

 

31.06

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other 5% Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronald M. Ansin
132 Littleton Road
Harvard, MA 01451

 

857,402

 

9.39

%

 


*              Named individual beneficially owns less than 1% of total Common Stock.

 

(1)           The information as to the Common Stock beneficially owned has been furnished by each such stockholder.

 

(2)           Includes shares subject to options exercisable within sixty days as follows: Mr. Clancy, 47,750; Mr. Duncan, 79,000; Mr. Main, 42,000; Mr. Irish, 22,625; Mr. Marcotte, 20,250; and all Directors and executive officers as a group, 287,875.

 

(3)           The percentage ownership interest of each director, named executive officer and all directors and executive officers as a group is calculated on the basis of 9,132,063 shares outstanding as of the Record Date plus, in each such calculation, the number of shares that may be purchased pursuant to

 

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vested options held by the individual director or named executive officer or all directors and executive officers as a group, as the case may be.

 

(4)           Includes 45,823 shares owned jointly with Mr. Ansin’s wife, 11,200 shares owned by Mr. Ansin’s children and 2,000 shares owned by trusts for which Mr. Ansin is the trustee.

 

(5)           Includes 2,240 shares owned by Mr. Clancy’s children and 67,999 shares owned jointly with Mr. Clancy’s wife.  Also included are 3,500 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested, but of which Mr. Clancy has voting power.

 

(6)           All shares are held by Mr. Clementi through trusts.

 

(7)           Includes 27,338 shares owned jointly with Mr. Conway’s wife.

 

(8)           Includes 10,000 shares held in trust for which Ms. Donahue’s husband is the trustee and 3,251 shares owned by Ms. Donahue’s husband.

 

(9)           Includes 18,933 shares owned by Mr. Duncan’s wife and 27,540 shares owned jointly by Mr. Duncan’s wife and his adult children. Also included are 40,000 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested, but of which Mr. Duncan has voting power. 20,000 shares of the restricted stock will be vested as of March 17, 2010.

 

(10)         Includes 4,000 shares owned by Ms. Flynn’s husband.

 

(11)         Includes 4,139 shares owned by Mr. Harrington’s wife.

 

(12)         Includes 218,647 shares owned by Mr. Lerner’s wife, for which Mr. Lerner disclaims beneficial ownership. Also included are 13,033 shares owned by a trust for the Lerner Family.

 

(13)         Includes 95,043 shares held by Mr. Main through trusts, and 78,000 shares owned jointly with Mr. Main’s wife.  36,000 shares owned by Mr. Main are pledged as collateral.

 

(14)         Includes 13,745 shares owned by trusts for which Mr. Putziger is the trustee and 952 shares owned by Mr. Putziger’s wife.  97,898 shares owned by Mr. Putziger are pledged as collateral.

 

(15)         All shares are owned jointly with Mr. Stavropoulos’ wife.

 

(16)         Includes 23,652 shares held by Mr. Irish through trusts and 408 shares owned by Mr. Irish’s minor grandchildren for whom Mr. Irish acts as custodian. Also included are 5,000 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested, but of which Mr. Irish has voting power. 1,250 shares of the restricted stock will be vested as of March 17, 2010.

 

(17)         Includes 4,000 shares owned jointly with Mr. Marcotte’s wife. Also included are 5,000 shares of restricted stock that are not vested, but of which Mr. Marcotte has voting power. 1,250 shares of the restricted stock will be vested as of March 17, 2010.

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

Under applicable rules of the SEC, proposals of stockholders of the Company intended to be presented at the Company’s 2011 annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the Company no later than December 2, 2010 to be included in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. If the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the date of the Annual Meeting, the date by which stockholder proposals to be presented at the 2011 meeting must be received by the Company to be included in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting will change from the date indicated in the preceding sentence. If this occurs, the Company will inform stockholders of such change by including a notice to such effect in its earliest possible quarterly report on Form 10-Q as filed by the Company with the SEC.

 

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In addition to the foregoing SEC rules, pursuant to the Company’s articles of organization and by-laws, any stockholder wishing to have any Director nomination or stockholder proposal considered at the Annual Meeting (although not otherwise included in this Proxy Statement) must provide written notice of such nomination or proposal to the Secretary of the Company in accordance with the requirements of the articles of organization and by-laws of the Company at its principal executive offices by no later than April 11, 2010.

 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the Company’s Directors and executive officers and any other persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and subsequent reports of changes of ownership with respect to their beneficial ownership of the Common Stock. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all such Section 16(a) reports that they may be required to file.  Mr. Duncan’s son sold 2,000 shares from an account that is held jointly with Mr. Duncan’s wife on June 16, 2009, for which a Form 4 was not filed until June 23, 2009.  Mr. Irish gifted 16,256 shares to a trust on December 31, 2008, for which a Form 5 was not filed until December 31, 2009.  Mr. Irish also purchased 2,305 shares through the Company’s rights offering on November 19, 2009, for which a Form 4 was not filed until December 31, 2009.  Mrs. Donahue filed a Form 4 on February 1, 2010 which included the purchase of 3,000 shares by her husband on March 2, 2005, the purchase of 9,216 shares by Mrs. Donahue through the Company’s rights offering on November 19, 2009, and the purchase of 251 shares by Mrs. Donahue’s husband through the Company’s rights offering on November 19, 2009.

 

To the Company’s knowledge, all other reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act that any of its Directors or executive officers has been required to file during the year ended December 31, 2009 and through March 8, 2010 have been filed on a timely basis.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

Shares represented by proxies in the enclosed form that are properly executed and delivered and proxies that are properly delivered electronically or by telephone will be voted as stockholders direct. Properly delivered proxies that contain no directions to the contrary will be voted (1) FOR the election of the five nominees to serve as Directors of the Company and (2) FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. At the time of preparation of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. As stated in the accompanying proxy card, if any other business should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the proxies named therein have discretionary authority to vote the shares according to their best judgment.

 

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (without exhibits) is included with the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders, and is being furnished to shareholders of record together with this Proxy Statement. Requests for additional copies may be directed to: Enterprise Bancorp, Inc., 222 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852, Attention: Michael A Spinelli, Secretary.

 

ADDITIONAL COPIES OF ANNUAL REPORT AND PROXY STATEMENT

AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS SHARING COMMON MAILING ADDRESS

 

Unless the Company has received instructions to the contrary, two or more shareholders of record who share a common mailing address may receive one Annual Report to Stockholders and one copy of this Proxy

 

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Statement, together with a separate proxy card for each such shareholder, in a single package addressed to such shareholders. Any shareholder of record who shares a common mailing address with one or more other shareholders of record and has received a single Annual Report to Stockholders and Proxy Statement as provided herein, may request a separate Annual Report to Stockholders and Proxy Statement either by directing such request in writing to the Secretary of the Company at the address given in the preceding paragraph or by making such request by phone, directed to Jim Marcotte at (978) 656-5614. If you are a shareholder of record who shares a common mailing address with one or more other shareholders of record, you may ensure future delivery of the desired number of Annual Reports to Stockholders and Proxy Statements (whether a single copy or multiple copies) by requesting such either in writing or by phone in accordance with the foregoing instructions.

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE EITHER DELIVER YOUR PROXY ELECTRONICALLY OR BY PHONE BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH YOUR PROXY CARD OR COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MAY WITHDRAW ANY PROXY GIVEN BY YOU AND VOTE YOUR SHARES IN PERSON.

 

April 1, 2010

 

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<STOCK#> 000004 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 ADD 5 ADD 6 NNNNNNN MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE 140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext C123456789 C 1234567890 J N T 0 2 4 5 2 7 1 1234 5678 9012 345 Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. X 01553A 1 U P X + Annual Meeting Proxy Card + Meeting Attendance Mark box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. Change of Address — Please print new address below. 01 - George L. Duncan 02 - Eric W. Hanson 03 - Michael T. Putziger 04 - Carol L. Reid 05 - Michael A. Spinelli Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below C Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. B Non-Voting Items A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposal 2. 1. Election of Directors: For Against Abstain 2. To ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. 01 02 03 04 05 Mark here to WITHHOLD vote from all nominees Mark here to vote FOR all nominees For All EXCEPT - To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, mark the box to the left and the corresponding numbered box(es) to the right. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Electronic Voting Instructions You can vote by Internet or telephone! Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on May 5, 2010. Vote by Internet • Log on to the Internet and go to www.envisionreports.com/ebtc • Follow the steps outlined on the secured website. Vote by telephone • Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call. • Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message.

 


This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposals 1 and 2. This proxy, when properly executed on the reverse side, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. If no direction is given, this proxy, if otherwise properly executed, will be voted FOR Proposals 1 and 2. The undersigned, a stockholder of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), revoking all prior proxies, hereby appoint(s) Michael A. Spinelli and Arnold S. Lerner, and each of them with full power of substitution, the attorneys, agents and proxies of the undersigned to represent and vote all shares of stock of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company and any adjournments or postponements thereof, to be held at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 East Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 4:00 P.M. as specified herein as to each of the proposals. Please mark, date and sign exactly as your name appears on the reverse side and return in the enclosed envelope. Proxy — Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.