Corporate Governance Guidelines
CPD Lachine Bank FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
Effective July 22, 2013
Director Qualification Standards
Board Qualifications - Board members are selected based on their character, judgment, business experience and acumen, and must be legally eligible and not subject to disqualification under New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), or Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") or
Federal Reserve Board ("FRB") requirements.
Size of the Board - The number of Board members is established from time to time by the Board, not to exceed the number specified (currently 25) in the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time.
A Majority of the Board of Directors Must be Independent - The Board will determine whether each director is considered independent for purposes of this requirement. "Independent" means that a director has no outstanding material relationship with CPD Lachine Bank, which includes all CPD Lachine Bank affiliated companies. A material relationship is a relationship that the Board determines, after a consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, compromises the director's independence from management. The Board will consider the issue not merely from the standpoint of the director, but also from that of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation. A material relationship can include commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships, among others. The Board's determination of independence will be consistent with all applicable requirements of the NYSE, SEC, FRB and OCC and any other applicable legal requirements. The Board may adopt specific standards or guidelines for independence in its discretion from time to time, consistent with those requirements.
Directors Who are Not Independent ("NYSE Automatic Disqualifiers")
A director is automatically deemed to be non-independent if the director has any one of the following relationships with CPD Lachine Bank:
- The director is or has been within the last three years an employee of CPD Lachine Bank, or a member of the director’s immediate family is or has been within the last three years an executive officer of CPD Lachine Bank;
- The director has received, or a member of the director’s immediate family has received, more than $120,000 during any twelve-month period within the last three years in direct compensation (not including dividends) from CPD Lachine Bank, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service);
- The director is a current partner or employee, or a member of the director’s immediate family is a current partner, of CPD Lachine Bank’s internal or external audit firm; a member of the director’s immediate family is an employee of CPD Lachine Bank’s internal or external audit firm and personally works on CPD Lachine Bank audit; or the director or a member of the director’s immediate family was within the last three years a partner or employee of CPD Lachine Bank’s internal or external audit firm and personally worked on CPD Lachine Bank’s audit within that time;
- The director or a member of the director’s immediate family is or has been within the last three years employed as an executive officer of another company where any present CPD Lachine Bank executive officers at the same time serve or served on that company's compensation committee; or
- The director is a current employee, or a member of the director’s immediate family is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, CPD Lachine Bank for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company's consolidated gross revenues. For the purpose of loans from CPD Lachine Bank, "payments to" CPD Lachine Bank equal interest payments only.
- Determining Independence for Directors Who Do Not Have Automatically Disqualifying Relationships. The Board of Directors has adopted the following categorical standards, for determining whether a director has a material relationship with CPD Lachine Bank:
- Regulation O-Approved Commercial Loans from CPD Lachine Bank to a Director's Business. Loans, leases and other extensions of credit from CPD Lachine Bank or a subsidiary to a director's company are not material if they are not automatically disqualifying under NYSE rules, are subject to approval under Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board (or are for an amount less than that requiring approval under Regulation O), and CPD Lachine Bank has not classified them as being in default.
- Transactions or Relationships Beneath Certain Thresholds and Not Automatically Disqualifying. Transactions or relationships between CPD Lachine Bank and a director and/or the director's related business or immediate family members are not material if they are not automatically disqualifying under NYSE rules, and the transaction (including employment) amounts are not in excess of $120,000 in a calendar year.
- Retail Banking Relationships: Home Mortgages, Consumer Loans and Retail Deposit Accounts. Home mortgages, consumer loans and retail deposit accounts at CPD Lachine Bank for a director or immediate family members of the director are not material if they are not automatically disqualifying under NYSE rules and are on ordinary retail consumer terms and conditions.
- Stockholder Ownership under 10%; Limited Partnerships; Service as Executive Officer. A director's ownership of less than 10% equity interest in a company, or a limited partnership interest in a company, is not sufficient to cause the company to be considered as an indirect interest of the director for purposes of determining material business relationships between the director and CPD Lachine Bank. However, a director’s service as executive officer of a company is sufficient to cause the company to be considered as an indirect interest of the director for purposes of determining material business relationships between the director and CPD Lachine Bank, even if the director has ownership of less than 10% equity interest in a company.
Audit Committee Members - Additional Independence Requirements - In addition to the independence requirements above, all Audit Committee members will meet any additional requirements for Audit Committee membership established by the NYSE, SEC, OCC or FRB (including requirements of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act ("FDICIA")) and any other applicable legal requirements. The Board may adopt specific standards or guidelines for Audit Committee independence in its discretion from time to time, consistent with those requirements.
Compensation, Nominating, And Corporate Governance Committee Members – Additional Independence Requirements - In addition to the independence requirements above, all Compensation, Nominating, And Corporate Governance Committee members will meet any additional requirements for Compensation Committee or Nominating Committee membership established by the NYSE, SEC, OCC or FRB and any other applicable legal requirements, and will meet all membership requirements set forth in the Committee Charter attached hereto as Appendix B. A subcommittee of this Committee comprised of at least two members of this Committee will qualify as independent for purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and SEC Rule 16b-3. The Board may adopt specific standards or guidelines for Committee independence in its discretion from time to time, consistent with applicable legal requirements for independence.
Tenure and Retirement
Outside Directors - Directors are considered to be retired from the Board upon any voluntary termination of Board service after age 68. Outside directors should tender their resignation upon any change in their professional status, such as retirement, or termination of other principal occupation or business association. If a director has a loan with CPD Lachine Bank, and there is an event of default, the director must tender his or her resignation. Otherwise, there are no tenure or retirement limits/requirements.
Inside Directors - Inside directors should tender their resignation upon any termination of employment and are required to do so if their employment with CPD Lachine Bank is involuntarily terminated.
Succession - Upon any Board vacancy the Board has authority to elect a replacement, to reduce the number of directors, or to take such other action as authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Director Responsibilities
In General - The Board is responsible for the general direction and supervision of management of the company. The Board undertakes the duties set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and in the Committee Charters, all as adopted and amended from time to time. Pursuant to these undertakings, the Board's activities and Committee activities include the following from time to time: review and approve the Company's mission and strategies; select and evaluate the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and establish executive compensation; approve major transactions that are beyond the authority of corporate executive management; and monitor the following: (a) the Company's compliance with legal requirements and ethical standards, (b) the performance of the Company in relation to its mission, strategies, financial and non-financial objectives, and competitors; (c) the performance and effectiveness of the CEO and management, and (d) the Company's financial reporting processes and internal controls.
Meetings - Board members are expected to attend regularly scheduled meetings and special meetings. Directors receive materials in advance of board meetings and are expected to review them prior to the meeting. The Chairman of the Board establishes the Board agenda for Board meetings. Agenda items include those items necessary for corporate governance and for operational oversight such as strategic plans and budgets. Committee responsibilities are identified in their Charters, and reports and minutes of Committee meetings are given to the full Board, which acts on their recommendations, as appropriate.
Lead Director
The independent directors may, from time to time, appoint an independent director to serve as Lead Director. The Lead Director will have the power and authority to (i) chair Board meetings when the Chairman of the Board is not present, including presiding at executive sessions of the Board; (ii) work with management to determine the information and materials provided to Board members; (iii) consult with the Chairman of the Board on such other matters as are pertinent to the Board and the Company; (iv) call meetings of the independent directors; (v) communicate and consult directly with regulators upon request; and (vi) serve as a liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the other independent directors.
Except where because of special expertise, experience, pending matters or similar circumstances it would not be in the interests of CPD Lachine Bank, the Lead Director will serve for a period of two years in order to facilitate the rotation of the Lead Director position while maintaining experienced leadership.
Director Access to Management and Independent Advisors
Management - Directors may and are encouraged to contact any member of management, any time, and about any matter, without prior or subsequent notice or permission from the Chief Executive Officer or other executive officer.
Independent Advisors - Independent directors, acting as a group by majority vote taken with or without management and non-independent directors present, as they deem appropriate, may retain any independent advisor they deem necessary to carry out their duties, and CPD Lachine Bank will be responsible for the expenses of any advisor so retained.
Regular Separate Independent Director Meetings
The independent directors will meet separately in executive sessions on the same days as and immediately after the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Lead Director, if one shall have been elected, or, in the absence of the Lead Director or if a Lead Director shall not have been elected, another independent director chosen by a majority of the independent directors present, shall act as chair of each executive session and preside thereat. Minutes will be kept of each such meeting as determined by the Board, which shall be retained by a designated director.
Committees
The Board may establish such Committees as it deems appropriate from time to time, as authorized by the Bylaws.
Rotation of Committee Assignments and Committee Chairs
The Board, on the recommendation of the Compensation, Nominating, And Corporate Governance Committee, annually elects Board members to its Committees and elects a Chair of each Committee. The Board does not have a formal policy of rotating Committee assignments, however in assigning Directors to Committees, the Board considers the benefits of getting new perspectives from membership rotation, the unique talents, experience and other attributes of each Director, as well as director independence and applicable listing standards.
To assure familiarity with the issues facing the Committee, the Chair of a Committee generally should have served at least one year on the Committee prior to becoming the Chair. Except where because of special expertise, experience, pending matters or similar circumstances it would not be in the interests of CPD Lachine Bank, a Committee Chair will serve for a period of two years in order to facilitate the rotation of the Committee Chair position while maintaining experienced leadership of the Committee.
Director Compensation
The form and amount of compensation of directors will be guided by the following principles:
- What is customary for similar organizations.
- The amount of time required to fulfill the duties of a director.
- The risks and duties assumed by a director.
Director Orientation and Continuing Education
Newly elected directors will receive an orientation briefing from the Corporate Secretary or General Counsel covering the Company's organizational and governance documents and other related matters.
Periodically, directors will receive a briefing from the Corporate Secretary or General Counsel covering:
- Director duties
- New developments and best practices in corporate governance.
Management Evaluation and Succession
General - The Compensation/Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee shall perform such evaluations and duties relative to management evaluation and succession as are provided in the Committee's Charter, attached hereto as Appendix B.
Emergency Succession/CEO - In the event the CEO's position becomes vacant due to an emergency, the Board will meet on an emergency basis to fill the position.
Annual Performance Evaluation of the Board
The Board will evaluate its own performance once a year to determine the Board's effectiveness in (1) ensuring the company's progress in achieving financial goals, (2) supervising management, (3) reviewing and appraising strategic goals and strategies, (4) reviewing significant corporate risks.
CEO Annual NYSE Certification
The Chief Executive Officer and other CPD Lachine Bank officers will certify to the NYSE annually, or otherwise as required, CPD Lachine Bank's compliance with the NYSE rules.
Shareholder Communications with Directors CPD Lachine Bank has adopted a separate Policy on Shareholder Communications with Directors. CPD Lachine Bank's Board of Directors, non-management directors, and independent directors designate CPD Lachine Bank's Corporate Secretary as their agent for receiving and processing all letters on their behalf in accordance with NYSE Rule and the Policy on Shareholder Communications with Directors.
Director Share Ownership
CPD Lachine Bank has adopted separate stock ownership guidelines applicable to the directors.
Equity Compensation Plans
Equity compensation plans and material revisions to such plans will be subject to shareholder vote and approval as required by the NYSE, SEC, OCC, or FRB rules.
Incorporation of Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Committee Charters
The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and the following Committee Charters, as currently adopted and as duly amended from time to time thereafter, are hereby incorporated by reference in these Guidelines:
Appendix A: Audit Committee Charter
Appendix B: Compensation/Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee Charter
These Guidelines are subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Committee Charters and are intended to be interpreted consistently with them. In the case of determining director independence, these Guidelines are intended to supplement them. In the event of any conflict between these Guidelines and the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or Committee Charters, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Committee Charters shall supersede and control.