DEF 14A 1 v407105_def14a.htm FORM DEF 14A

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant þ
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))
þ Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

 

DCB FINANCIAL CORP

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ 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: 

   

 

 
 

 

DCB Financial Corp (Blue-Black)

 

 

April 17, 2015

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of DCB Financial Corp at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2015. The meeting will be held at The Delaware County Bank and Trust Corporate Center, 110 Riverbend Avenue, Lewis Center, Ohio, 43035.

 

Along with the other members of the Board of Directors and management, I look forward to greeting those shareholders who are able to attend in person.

 

Thank you for your continued loyalty and support.

 

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

 

Seiffert Signature

Ronald J. Seiffert

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

DCB Financial Corp • 110 Riverbend Avenue • Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

 

 
 

 

DCB Financial Corp

110 Riverbend Avenue

Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

 

Notice Of Annual Meeting Of Shareholders

 

To Be Held MAY 28, 2015

 

To The Shareholders OF DCB Financial Corp:

 

You are hereby notified that the annual meeting of the shareholders of DCB Financial Corp (the “Company”) will be held on May 28, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. local time at The Delaware County Bank and Trust Company Corporate Center at 110 Riverbend Avenue, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035 (the “Annual Meeting”), for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following:

 

1.Election of Directors – To elect Class I directors to hold office until the expiration of their terms (3 years)
expiring at the annual meeting in 2018, or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.

 

2.Vote on Executive Compensation – To consider and approve a non-binding advisory vote on the Company’s executive compensation.

 

3.Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – To ratify the selection of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015.

 

4.Other Business – To transact any other business, which may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposals 1, 2 and 3.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed April 1, 2015, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”). As of the Record Date, the Company had outstanding 7,287,435 common shares with no par value.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 28, 2015.

 

Instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials, including our Annual Report, to each shareholder of record, we are also providing access to these materials via the Internet. This reduces the amount of paper necessary to produce these materials, as well as the costs associated with mailing these materials to all shareholders. On April 17, 2015, we began mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to shareholders of record as of April 1, 2015, and we posted our proxy materials on the website referenced in the Notice (www.proxyvote.com). As more fully described in the Notice, shareholders may choose to access our proxy materials at www.proxyvote.com or may request a printed set of our proxy materials. In addition, the Notice and website provide information regarding how you may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis. If you previously requested printed proxy materials or electronic materials on an ongoing basis, you will receive those materials as you requested.

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

Seiffert Signature

Ronald J. Seiffert

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Lewis Center, Ohio

April 17, 2015

 

Your vote is important. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, please vote your proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone or return the enclosed proxy as soon as possible.

You still have the right to revoke the proxy and vote in person at the meeting if you so choose.

If you have any questions please contact, J. Daniel Mohr, Corporate Secretary, DCB Financial Corp at 740-657-7900.

 

 
 

 

DCB Financial Corp

110 Riverbend Avenue

Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

(740) 657-7000

 

Proxy Statement

 

General Information

 

This Proxy Statement is first being made available to shareholders on or about April 17, 2015 in connection with the annual meeting of the shareholders of DCB Financial Corp to be held on May 28, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. local time at The Delaware County Bank & Trust Company Corporate Center, 110 Riverbend Avenue, Lewis Center, Ohio, 43035 in accordance with the foregoing notice (the “Annual Meeting”).

 

DCB Financial Corp is an Ohio corporation and a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act. DCB Financial Corp is at times hereinafter referred to as the “Company.” The Company is the sole shareholder of The Delaware County Bank and Trust Company, an Ohio-chartered banking organization (the “Bank”).

 

This solicitation of proxies is made on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company bears the costs of such solicitation. In addition to the use of the mail and the Internet, members of the Board of Directors and certain officers and employees of the Company or its subsidiaries may solicit the return of proxies by telephone, facsimile, and other electronic media or through personal contact. Proxies may be returned through the Internet, via telephone or by mail. The directors, officers and employees that participate in such solicitation will not receive additional compensation for such efforts, but will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses by the Company.

 

Any shareholder executing a proxy has the right to revoke it by the execution of a subsequently dated proxy, by written notice delivered to the Secretary of the Company prior to the exercise of the proxy, or in person by voting at the Annual Meeting. The shares will be voted in accordance with the direction of the shareholder as specified on the proxy. If no contrary instructions are given and the proxy does not represent a broker non-vote, each proxy received will be voted (1) FOR the nominees for director described herein, (2) FOR the approval of the Company’s executive compensation, (3) FOR the ratification of the selection of Plante & Moran PLLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2015, and (4) in accordance with the best judgment of the persons appointed as proxies upon the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

Voting Securities and Procedures

 

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2015 (the “Record Date”) will be eligible to attend and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. As of the Record Date, the Company had outstanding 7,287,435 common shares with no par value. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each common share owned as of the Record Date. Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors.

 

The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the outstanding common shares of the Company entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

 

The four nominees for director who receive the largest number of votes cast “For” will be elected as directors. Shares represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy but withheld or otherwise not cast for the election of directors, including abstentions and broker non-votes, are not counted and will have no impact on the outcome of the election for directors.

 

Approval of the proposal relating to the approval of the Company’s executive compensation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have an effect on the proposal.

 

1
 

 

The proposal to approve the Company’s executive compensation is advisory, so it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

 

Approval of the proposal relating to the ratification of the selection of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. As a result, abstentions will not have an effect on the proposal.

 

The proposal to ratify the selection of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not binding upon the Board of Directors. However, if the selection is not ratified by the shareholders, the Audit Committee may re-consider its selection of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015.

 

The proposal for the election of directors and the non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation are not “discretionary” items so, if you hold your shares in “street name,” you must provide instructions to your brokerage firm in order to cast a vote on these proposals. The ratification of the selection of Plante & Moran is considered a “discretionary” item, so if you hold your shares in “street name,” your brokerage firm may vote in its discretion on your behalf if you do not furnish voting instructions.

 

Proposal 1 - Election of Directors and Information with respect to Directors and Officers

 

The Code of Regulations for the Company provides that the directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. The number of current directors and year of term expiration for each class is as follows:

 

Class I 4 Directors Term Expiring 2015

Class II 3 Directors Term Expiring 2016

Class III 4 Directors Term Expiring 2017

 

The Board has nominated the following individuals for election as Class I directors for terms expiring at the annual meeting in 2018. Each nominee is a current Class I director of the Company whose term expires at the Annual Meeting. Information regarding these nominees is set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has held their principal occupation for more than five years. All of the directors of the Company are also directors of the Bank.

 

Nominations for Class I Directors

 

Name (Class)(1) Age Director Since Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
Adam Stevenson (I) 75 2001

Mr. Stevenson is the retired Director of Manufacturing of the Delaware Plant of PPG Industries, a multi-national company that specializes in coatings. Through his work experience, Mr. Stevenson has demonstrated excellent leadership and financial skills. Mr. Stevenson’s particular expertise in the manufacturing field, management experience and professional relationships are valuable assets to the Board of Directors.

 

Mark Shipps (I) 67 2009 Mr. Shipps is the volunteer Special Assistant to the President of Ohio Wesleyan University and is the former Vice President for University Relations. Prior to Ohio Wesleyan, Mr. Shipps was the President and founding member of the American Environmental Group, Ltd., a diversified environmental and energy services company. He continues with American Environmental (a Tetra Tech Company) in a strategic planning and corporate development role.  Mr. Shipps also serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association, and he is a board member of the Woltemade Center at Ohio Wesleyan.   The Board of Directors has benefited from Mr. Shipps’ expertise in strategic planning and small business leadership.

 

2
 

 

Name (Class)(1) Age Director Since Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
Michael A. Priest (I)

51

 

2013

Mr. Priest is the President of JMAC, Inc. and the Columbus Blue Jackets professional hockey club. As the President of JMAC, Inc., Mr. Priest oversees all of the financial, investment and philanthropic activities of the McConnell Family. In his role with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Mr. Priest oversees all aspects of the franchise operations and serves as the Alternate Governor for the club on all National Hockey League-related matters. Mr. Priest is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant, serves on the Executive Committee of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Finance Committee of Experience Columbus, and is active in numerous charitable activities. The Board of Directors benefits from Mr. Priest’s expertise in management, accounting and investments.

 

Tomislav Mitevski (I) 48 2013 Mr. Mitevski is the Executive Vice President of DGD Group, Inc., a privately owned holding and investment company since 2011. Previously, Mr. Mitevski was an Executive Vice President, Fifth Third Bank from 2001 to 2011. Mr. Mitevski has experience in investment management, commercial banking, corporate finance, private equity and real estate. Mr. Mitevski serves on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters Central Ohio and the American Cancer Society. His civic involvement and his professional experience and relationships are valuable assets to the Board.

 

(1)Each director is considered “independent” as that term is defined in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605.

 

While it is contemplated that all nominees will stand for election, and each nominee has confirmed this with the Company, if one or more of the nominees at the time of the Annual Meeting should be unavailable or unable to serve as a candidate for election as a director of the Company, the proxies reserve full discretion to vote the common shares represented by the proxies for the election of the remaining nominees and any substitute nominee(s) designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the above-mentioned persons will be unavailable or unable to serve if elected to the Board. Under Ohio law and the Company’s Code of Regulations, the four nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected as directors.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the election of ALL of the above nominees.

 

Class II and III Directors

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Class II and Class III Directors of the Company continuing their terms:

 

 

Name (Class)(1)

 

Age

Director

Since

 

Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

Bart E. Johnson (II)

 

49 2010

President and CEO of AgriCommunicators, Inc., a multi-channel communications firm specializing in the agricultural community. Mr. Johnson has expertise in marketing and expense control from his association with Agri Communicators. His background and association with the farm community provides a vital link between the Company and its agricultural related customers.

 

Donald J. Wolf (II)

 

71 2003

Chairman of Wolf, Rogers, Dickey & Co., a Certified Public Accounting and business consulting firm. Mr. Wolf has expertise in accounting, tax and business management, which provides the Board with expertise in those areas. Mr. Wolf’s professional background allows the Board to designate him as its “audit committee financial expert” as required by the Board’s governance policies, and allows him to Chair the Company’s Audit Committee.

 

 

3
 

 

 

Name (Class)(1)

 

Age

Director

Since

 

Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

Edward Powers (II)

 

 

 

 

 

 

69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1984(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

President, R.B. Powers Company, an awards manufacturing company.  Mr. Powers has expertise in business management, expense control and revenue production, developed from his many years in providing oversight to the company.  His involvement in the Delaware area community gives him strong insight into the communities in which the Company operates and provides a strong network of contacts.  
Dr. Gerald L. Kremer (III) 57 2009

Dr. Kremer is a Family Physician with OhioHealth and has practiced medicine in Delaware since 1990 and earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Through his medical practice, Dr. Kremer has demonstrated excellent communication, leadership and financial skills. He is a volunteer with St. Mary Catholic Church and serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Grady Memorial Hospital Medical Staff. His civic involvement and his professional relationships are valuable assets to the Board.

 

Vicki J. Lewis (III) 60 1997

Ms. Lewis has been Chair of the Board of Directors of the Company since 2010. Until 2014, she was the President responsible for two hospitals in the Aurora Health Care system, an integrated healthcare delivery system she worked at since 2010. She was Vice President, OhioHealth (Grady Memorial Hospital) from 1982 to 2010. Ms. Lewis has a wealth of experience in the leadership and operations of acute care hospitals and physician-owned practices. Her experience also includes training, coaching and development of medical staff leadership, compliance and policy formation through her decision-making, problem-solving and communication skills. She is a long-time resident of Delaware County. The Board has benefited from Ms. Lewis’s expertise in leadership, compensation and benefits.

 

Ronald J. Seiffert (III) 58 2011

Mr. Seiffert has served as President and CEO of the Bank and the Company since September 2011. He was the Interim President, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of University Resources, Ohio Dominican University from 2005 until 2010. Prior to his service with the University, Mr. Seiffert was the Vice Chairman of Huntington Bancshares and Executive Vice President of J.P. Morgan Chase. Mr. Seiffert provides the Board with the benefit of 30 years of banking and leadership experience in every major line of banking.

 

Jerome Harmeyer (III)(3) 75 2014 President, Liberty Casting Company, which operates five foundries in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors benefits from Mr. Harmeyer’s strong business experience and his significant knowledge of the Company from his prior service on the Company’s board.

____________________________

(1)Each director is considered “independent” as that term is defined in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605, excluding Ronald J. Seiffert, the President and CEO of the Company and the Bank.
(2)Includes time served as a director of the Bank prior to the organization of the Company in 1997.
(3)Mr. Harmeyer was appointed to the Board of Directors on October 30, 2014. He was previously a member of the Board of Directors from August 15, 2013 to May 30, 2014 and from 1990 to 2009.

 

4
 

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the executive officers of the Company and certain executive officers of the Bank other than Mr. Seiffert:

 

Name Age Officer Since Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years
J. Daniel Mohr 49 2013

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary of the Company and the Bank; previously Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alliance Financial Corporation from 2006 until 2013; served in various executive-level positions with Partners Trust Financial Group, Inc.; served as Senior Auditor with KPMG, LLC in Syracuse, NY.

 

Charles O. Moore 53 2012

Executive Vice President, Consumer Lending of the Bank; previously Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Commerce and Deputy Superintendent of the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions from 2011 until 2012; President and CEO of Regency Finance and affiliates for the First National Bank Corporation from 2008 until 2010; President and Chief Executive Officer, US Bank Consumer Finance – Dealers’ Financial Services from 2001 until 2008.

 

David R. Archibald 63 2012

Senior Vice President, Retail Banking and Marketing of the Bank; previously Vice President, Ohio Dominican University from 2001 until 2011; served in various commercial banking roles for a combined 23 years at BankOne, SunTrust (Crestar), and Huntington Bancshares.

 

Daniel M. Roberts 51 2012

Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank; previously Senior Lending Officer, Putnam County Bank from 2002 to 2012.

 

Roger A. Lossing 60 2012 Senior Vice President Wealth Management of the Bank since 2012; previously Senior Trust Officer in the Wealth Management/Trust Services Division of PNC Bank from 2003 to 2012; served as a financial advisor for several other institutions between 1977 and 2003, including JP Morgan Chase, Ernst & Young LLP, Smith Barney and Deloitte.

 

5
 

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The table below sets forth the number and percentage of common shares owned by the directors and named executive officers of the Company, and the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group, each as of April 1, 2015. Unless otherwise noted below, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table is c/o DCB Financial Corp, 110 Riverbend Avenue, Lewis Center, OH 43035.

 

Each of the persons named in the following table possesses sole voting and investment power, except as otherwise shown in the footnotes to the following table.

 

   Amount and Nature     
Name  of Beneficial Ownership   Percentage(10) 
Jerome Harmeyer   204,381(1)   2.8%
Bart Johnson   37,444(2)   * 
Dr. Gerald L. Kremer   15,189    * 
Vicki J. Lewis   54,622(3)   * 
Tomislav Mitevski   555,981(4)   7.6%
Edward Powers   41,542    * 
Michael A. Priest   529,202(5)   7.3%
Ronald J. Seiffert   128,342(6)   1.8%
Mark Shipps   42,339    * 
Adam Stevenson   20,966(7)   * 
Donald J. Wolf   34,314(8)   * 
J. Daniel Mohr   13,921    * 
Daniel M. Roberts   9,944    * 
All directors and executive officers as a group (16 in number)   1,779,246(9)   24.4%
           

*Ownership is less than 1%

 

(1)Includes: (i) 82,679 shares owned by a trust for which Mr. Harmeyer and his spouse serve as co-trustees with shared voting and dispositive power, (ii) 59,197 shares owned by a trust for which Mr. Harmeyer and his spouse serve as co-trustees with shared voting and dispositive power, and (iii) 513 shares owned by Mr. Harmeyer’s spouse, of which Mr. Harmeyer has no voting or dispositive power.
(2)Includes 398 shares owned by children.
(3)Includes 15,700 shares owned by spouse, of which Ms. Lewis has no voting or dispositive power.
(4)Includes 526,316 shares owned by DGD Group, Inc., for which Mr. Mitevski is the Executive Vice President.
(5)Includes 526,316 shares owned by JMAC, Inc., for which Mr. Priest is the President and Director.
(6)Includes 1,840 shares owned by children.
(7)Includes 14,718 shares owned jointly with spouse, of which Mr. Stevenson has shared voting and dispositive power.
(8)Includes 1,141 shares owned by spouse, of which Mr. Wolf has no voting or dispositive power.
(9)Includes 1,289 shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of outstanding options.
(10)Based on 7,287,435 common shares outstanding on April 1, 2015.

 

6
 

 

As of the Record Date, we knew of no person who was the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common shares, except for Messrs. Mitevski and Priest as set forth in the table above, and except as follows:

 

   Common Shares     
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner  Beneficially Owned   Percentage 
Banc Funds Co., LLC   630,941(11)   8.7%
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3300          
Chicago, IL 60606          
           
JMAC, Inc.   526,316    7.2%
200 W. Nationwide Blvd.          
Columbus, OH 43215          
           
DGD Group, Inc.   526,316    7.2%
41 S. High Street          
Suite 3500          
Columbus, OH 43215          
           
Elizabeth Park Capital Advisors, Ltd.   379,356(12)   5.2%
29525 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 318          
Pepper Pike, OH 44122          

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(11)Based solely upon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed by Banc Funds Co., LLC with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2015.
(12)Based solely upon information contained in a Schedule 13G filed by Elizabeth Park Capital Advisors, Ltd. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2015.

 

Board of Directors and Selected Committees

 

The Board of Directors conducts its business through meetings of the Board and through its committees. The Board of Directors of the Company has appointed and maintains an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee, among other committees.

 

DCB Financial Corp has developed an executive structure which provides both independence from the management of the business and the ability to monitor the risks of the Company through the Board’s oversight function.

 

The Board of DCB Financial Corp is made up of ten independent directors and one inside director. The Chair of the Board and the principal executive officer positions are held by two separate individuals. The chair is occupied by an independent director, which allows for oversight of the principal executive officer and creates a separation between management and Board functions. The Chair monitors the strategies, risks and progress towards the goals of the Company through regular Board meetings, which are also attended by management. Additionally, the Chair manages the Board committees through ongoing committee reporting at Board of Directors meetings and through interaction with the committee chairs.

 

There are six Board committees that have been developed to oversee the various functions of the Company and the Bank. This allows for additional detailed oversight and the ability to more closely monitor the risks of the Company. The six board committees are: Audit Committee; Nominating and Governance Committee; Compensation Committee; Director’s Loan Committee; Trust Committee; and Strategic Alternatives Committee. Each of these committees is charged with ensuring that management is fulfilling the expectations of the Board, managing its business risks and making adequate progress towards achieving the Company’s business strategies and goals. The Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Compensation Committee consist of only independent directors, while the other Board committees are chaired by independent directors and consist of both inside and independent directors.

 

The structure developed by the Board supports the Board’s risk management oversight by allowing for direct interaction with management on a variety of levels. Typically, senior officers meet with the entire Board at each regular Board meeting to provide direct reporting on their specific responsibilities. Senior and mid-level officers also meet directly with Board committees on a regular basis to discuss more specific details of the Bank’s operations such as lending, audit and compliance.

 

7
 

 

Three key risks within banking consist of credit risk, internal controls management risk and regulatory compliance risk. The Board closely monitors these risks through the Director’s Loan Committee (“DLC”) and the Audit Committee. The Chief Credit Officer meets with the DLC on a regular basis to discuss both credit trends and individual credit issues and provides recommendations to the DLC on ways to reduce the overall credit risk structure of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer is the corporate liaison to the Audit Committee which provides an open venue to discuss internal controls, regulatory reporting and other business risks with the Audit Committee. Additionally, the Company’s Compliance Officer also reports directly to the Audit Committee regarding compliance with rules and regulations specific to the banking industry.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee selects and engages the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee reviews with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the audit plan, the scope and results of their audit engagement and the accompanying management letter, if any; reviews the scope and results of the Company’s internal auditing procedures; consults with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and management with regard to the Company’s accounting methods and the adequacy of its internal accounting controls; approves professional services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm; reviews the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviews the range of the independent registered public accounting firm’s audit and non-audit fees. The Audit Committee also has been charged with the enforcement of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, as discussed below. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which may be found on the Company’s website at www.dcbfinancialcorp.com. The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. Wolf (Chair), Powers, Harmeyer, and Kremer and Ms. Lewis. The Audit Committee met six times during 2014. The Board of Directors has determined that Donald J. Wolf, a certified public accountant and one of the members of the Audit Committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Wolf and all of the other members of the Audit Committee have been determined by the Board of Directors to be “independent” under the listing standards adopted by the NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the administration of the Company’s employee benefit plans, establishing the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, approving senior management’s compensation, reviewing the compensation of all other officers, reviewing the criteria that forms the basis for management’s officer and employee compensation recommendations, and reviewing management’s recommendations in this regard and evaluating and establishing directors’ compensation. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which may be found on the Company’s website at www.dcbfinancialcorp.com. The charter does not provide the Compensation Committee with any delegation authority regarding its duties. The Compensation Committee is comprised of Mr. Stevenson (Chair) and Messrs. Wolf and Kremer and Ms. Lewis. All members of the Compensation Committee are independent under the listing standards adopted by the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Compensation Committee met six times during 2014.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

 

The Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board nominees for election to the Board of Directors and, from time to time, making recommendations to the Board for appointments to fill vacancies created prior to the expiration of a director’s term. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Governance Committee, which may be found on the Company’s website at www.dcbfinancialcorp.com. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. The procedure for nominating an individual as a director is set forth below under the heading “Nominations for Members of the Board of Directors.” Though the Nominating Committee has no specific requirement regarding the diversity of its Board members, the committee evaluates all directors on the basis of their depth and breadth of business and civic experience in leadership positions, their ties to the Company’s geographic markets, involvement in the community, and their skills or expertise relevant to the Company’s business that would enhance the overall composition of the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee is comprised of Messrs. Stevenson (Chair), Wolf and Powers and Ms. Lewis. The Committee also is responsible for overseeing the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and other corporate governance policies, practices and procedures, as detailed below. The Nominating and Governance Committee met once during 2014.

 

8
 

 

Corporate Governance

 

Although the corporate governance requirements set forth in the NASDAQ listing standards are not applicable to the Company because it is not listed on NASDAQ, the Company has elected to implement certain of the corporate governance practices required of NASDAQ-listed companies to encourage appropriate conduct among its directors, officers and employees and to assure that the Company operates in an ethical manner.

 

The Board of Directors has established Corporate Governance Guidelines for the Company. A copy of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the Company’s website at www.dcbfinancialcorp.com. Although not required, a majority of the directors of the Company are currently independent, as defined by NASDAQ listing standards.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, which is available on the Company’s website at www.dcbfinancialcorp.com. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available to any shareholder free of charge upon request. Shareholders desiring a copy of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct should address written requests to J. Daniel Mohr, Secretary of the Company, at the Company’s offices, 110 Riverbend Avenue, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company generally meets nine times a year for its regularly scheduled meetings and upon call for special meetings. During 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company met nine times for regular board meetings. All directors of the Company attended at least 75% of the Board and Committee Meetings that were held during 2014.

 

While the Company has no specific policy requiring attendance at the annual meeting of shareholders by directors, such attendance is expected. At the 2014 annual meeting, all directors attended.

  

Audit Committee Report

 

The Audit Committee of DCB Financial Corp is comprised of five directors, each of whom is independent under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors and selects and appoints the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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 generally accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee the process.

 

In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees).

 

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm also provided to the Audit Committee the letter and written disclosures required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed the firm’s independence with the accounting firm. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Company and its subsidiaries is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

9
 

 

Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussion with management and the independent registered accounting firm and the Audit Committee’s review of the representations of management and the report of the independent registered 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, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Members of this committee are as follows:

 

Donald J. Wolf, Chair

Edward Powers

Vicki J. Lewis

Gerald Kremer

Jerome Harmeyer

 

Nominations for Members of the Board of Directors

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors recommends director candidates to the Board of Directors for nomination in accordance with the Company’s Code of Regulations. The Committee will investigate and assess the background and skills of potential candidates. Director Candidates may be identified by existing directors and executive management of the Company and its subsidiaries. Additionally, the Nominating and Governance Committee is empowered to engage a third party search firm to assist it in identifying director candidates in their discretion. Upon identifying a candidate for serious consideration, one or more members of the Nominating and Governance Committee would initially interview such candidate. If a candidate merited further consideration, the candidate would subsequently interview with all other Nominating and Governance Committee members (individually or as a group), meet the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, and ultimately meet many of the other directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee would elicit feedback from all persons who met the candidate and then determine whether or not to recommend the candidate to the Board of Directors for nomination.

 

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Ethics and Business Conduct set forth the following criteria for directors: independence (a majority of the directors must be independent); honesty and integrity; willingness to devote sufficient time to fulfilling duties as a director; particular experience, skills or expertise relevant to the Company’s business; depth and breadth of business and civic experience in leadership positions; and ties to the Company’s geographic markets. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that shareholders may propose nominees by submitting the names and qualifications of such persons to the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Submissions are to be addressed to the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee at the Company’s executive offices, which submissions will then be forwarded to the Chair. The Nominating and Governance Committee would then evaluate the possible nominee using the criteria outlined above and would consider such person in comparison to all other candidates. The submission must be made no later than 90 days prior to the annual meeting for consideration in regard to the next annual meeting of shareholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee is not obligated to recommend to the Board, nor is the Board obligated to nominate, any such individual for election.

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee did not hire any director search firm in 2014 and, accordingly, has paid no fees to any such company. As indicated above, however, the Nominating and Governance Committee may do so in the future if deemed appropriate.

 

 

Executive Compensation and Other Information

 

The Compensation Committee has developed a compensation philosophy that it believes best supports the Company’s strategies and goals consistent with safe and sound operations and does not incent inappropriate or excessive risk. Ultimately, the goal of the compensation program is to align the executive officers’ financial interest with those of the shareholders in order to create shareholder value through the execution of our long-term strategies consistent with the foregoing philosophy.

 

10
 

 

The objectives of the Company’s executive compensation program are to:

 

·support the achievement of desired goals of the Company;

 

·provide compensation that will attract and retain superior talent and reward performance;

 

·align the executive officers’ interests with those of shareholders by placing a significant portion of pay at risk, with payout dependent upon corporate performance, both on a short-term and long-term basis; and

 

·provide a flexible compensation program that appropriately reflects and rewards under changing business conditions and priorities consistent with the stated philosophy.

 

The executive compensation program goal is to provide an overall level of compensation opportunity that is competitive within the banking industry. Actual compensation levels may be greater or less than average competitive levels in surveyed companies based upon annual and long-term performance of the Company. The Compensation Committee also uses its discretion to set executive compensation based upon individual performance and the ability to influence Company performance.

 

Compensation Process

 

The Compensation Committee develops and administers the compensation programs based on the Company’s strategies and financial goals developed during the strategic planning and budgeting process. The salaries and other forms of compensation are based upon the Company’s review of compensation levels for management performing similar functions at other banking companies of similar size and operations. The Compensation Committee also analyzes the risks associated with various compensation and incentive plans and evaluates those risks in terms of overall strategic goals and expected results.

 

The performance of the Company for the purpose of determining the discretionary annual bonuses to be paid to the executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, is generally based on earnings per share, the efficiency ratio (net interest income plus non-interest income divided by non-interest expense), analysis of credit quality, net interest margin, and rates of return. The Compensation Committee also uses its discretion to set executive compensation based upon individual performance and the ability to influence Company performance.

 

Executive Officer Compensation Program

 

The Company’s executive officer compensation program is comprised of base salary, discretionary annual incentive compensation, and long-term incentive compensation in the form of options, restricted stock, a deferred compensation program and various benefits. The make-up of these forms of compensation is based on third-party surveys and analysis, as well as comparison to banking institutions of similar size and complexity of operation. The executive officer compensation program is evaluated by the Compensation Committee to determine the appropriateness of the various components of the program in relation to the total compensation.

 

In respect to the limits on deductibility for federal income tax purposes of compensation paid an executive officer in excess of $1 million, the Company intends to strive to structure components of its executive compensation to achieve maximum deductibility, while at the same time considering the goals of its executive compensation philosophy.

 

Base Salary

 

Base salary levels for the Company’s executive officers are set relative to companies in the banking industry of similar size and complexity of operations, as described above. In determining base salaries, the Compensation Committee also takes into account individual experience and performance, Company performance, and specific issues particular to the Company.

 

11
 

 

Discretionary Annual Incentive Compensation

 

The purpose of the Company’s annual incentive compensation program is to provide direct financial incentives in the form of an annual cash bonus and Company shares to executives who achieve the Company’s annual goals. The Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors selected, return on equity, earnings per share, and the level of non-performing loans of the Company as the measurements of the Company’s performance, with a threshold goal set for each performance measure for determining bonus opportunities for executive officers. Company performance exceeding the threshold produces a ratable increase in the bonus amount based upon that particular performance measure. Individual goals are also established for each executive officer; however, each executive officer’s bonus opportunity is determined by weighting individual and company goals. The amount distributed to each participant is based on his or her base salary and is weighted to reflect each participant’s ability to affect the performance of the Company. Incentive compensation plans are analyzed to assure consistency with the Compensation Committee’s underlying compensation philosophy. Notwithstanding the achievement of any of the performance goals by any executive officer of the Company, any award under the annual incentive compensation program is completely discretionary in the judgment of the Compensation Committee.

 

Long-Term Incentives

 

Stock options awarded under the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan constituted the Company’s long-term incentive plan for executive officers for part of 2014. The objectives of the stock option awards are to align executive and shareholder long-term interests by creating a strong and direct link between executive pay and shareholder return, and to enable executives to develop and maintain a long-term ownership position in the Company’s common shares.

 

The 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan terminated pursuant to its terms on May 20, 2014, the tenth anniversary of the date on which the Company’s shareholders approved the 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan. Accordingly, no new stock options may be awarded under the 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan after May 20, 2014. However, stock options issued prior to the termination of the 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

 

On October 30, 2014, the Company’s shareholders approved the Company’s 2014 Restricted Stock Plan. Restricted stock awarded under the Company’s 2014 Restricted Stock Plan constitutes the Company’s long-term incentive plan for executive officers for the period following October 30, 2014. The objectives of the restricted stock awards are to align executive and shareholder long-term interests by creating a strong and direct link between executive pay and shareholder return, and to enable executives to develop and maintain a long-term ownership position in the Company’s common shares.

 

The Compensation Committee administers the 2014 Restricted Stock Plan and has the authority to grant awards of restricted stock and determine terms and conditions of such awards. The restricted stock awards will typically vest over five years, unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise and specifies such in the award notice.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Under the terms of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan, executive officers and other senior managers selected by the Compensation Committee may elect to defer the receipt of up to 80% of base salary and 100% of annual bonus amounts. The Deferred Compensation Plan also provides that in the Board’s discretion, the Company may contribute annually an additional amount to the participant’s deferral account, targeted at up to 10% of the participant’s base salary, but which may be greater or less than the targeted 10%, at the Board’s discretion.

 

Benefits

 

The Company provides medical and other employee benefits to its executive officers. These benefits are generally available to all full time employees of the Company, and are provided at similar cost structures.

 

12
 

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth the compensation for those persons who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the two other highest paid executive officers during 2014 (“Named Executive Officers”).

 

2014 Summary Compensation Table

                                 
Name and Principal Position  Year  

Salary(1)

($)

   Bonus(2) ($)  

Non-Equity(3)

Incentive Plan Compensation ($)

  

Stock(4)

Awards

($)

   Option(5)
Awards
($)
  

All Other(6)

Compensation ($)

   Total
($)
 
Ronald J. Seiffert   2014   $235,950   $49,950   $-   $10,950   $-   $43,507   $340,357 
President and Chief Executive Officer   2013   $237,894   $75,000   $225,000   $12,894   $24,028   $39,142   $613,958 
                                         
J. Daniel Mohr (7)   2014   $185,000   $24,050   $-   $-   $-   $64,014   $273,064 
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
   2013   $33,442   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $33,442 
                                         
Daniel Roberts   2014   $168,490   $16,913   $-   $-   $-   $28,816   $214,219 
Senior Vice President/Chief
Credit Officer
   2013   $165,000   $11,550   $-   $-   $-   $22,952   $199,502 

 

 

(1)Salary amounts for Mr. Seiffert include $10,950 paid to Mr. Seiffert in 2014 for his membership as a director on the Company’s board and certain board committees.
(2)Amounts reported for 2014 were earned in 2014 and paid in April 2015.
(3)In 2013, Mr. Seiffert was paid $225,000 pursuant to his employment agreement, which provided that Mr. Seiffert shall be paid a bonus equal to one year base salary upon the termination of regulatory agreements between the Bank, the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions and the FDIC. The regulatory orders were terminated in September and October 2013.
(4)Stock awards for Mr. Seiffert include $10,950 paid to Mr. Seiffert in Company shares in 2014 and $12,894 in 2013 for his membership as a director on the Company’s board and certain board committees. In 2014 and 2013, 50% of the director’s fees were paid in shares of Company stock at the completion of each fiscal quarter. The Company stock is purchased by the Company on the open market at market price on behalf of and for the account of each director, including Mr. Seiffert. Amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.
(5)The amounts of the option awards reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 for the fiscal year in which the option was granted. For more information concerning the assumptions used for these computations, please refer to the Notes to the Financial Statements contained in the 2014 and 2013 Annual Reports on Form 10-K.
(6)The amounts shown in this column for the most recently completed fiscal year were derived from the following: (a) the economic benefit of life insurance coverage provided for the Named Executive Officers: Mr. Seiffert $2,044, Mr. Mohr $104 and Mr. Roberts $1,025, (b) Company portion of health and dental insurance: Mr. Seiffert $22,520, Mr. Mohr $18,036, and Mr. Roberts $22,736, (d) 401k employer matching contributions: Mr. Seiffert $6,750, Mr. Mohr $1,387 and Mr. Roberts $5,055, (e) auto reimbursement of $7,200 for Mr. Seiffert, (f) Company stock purchase match in the amount of $4,993 for Mr. Seiffert, and (g) reimbursement of relocation, travel between Syracuse, New York and Lewis Center, Ohio, and temporary living expenses of $44,487 for Mr. Mohr.
(7)Mr. Mohr was hired as Chief Financial Officer of the Company in October 2013.

  

Employment Agreements

 

On September 29, 2011, Mr. Seiffert entered into an employment agreement with the Company and the Bank (the “2011 Employment Agreement”) for a period ending December 31, 2013. The Company and the Bank subsequently entered into an amendment to the 2011 Employment Agreement on December 12, 2013 (the 2011 Employment Agreement as amended is referred to herein as the “2013 Amended Employment Agreement”).

 

The 2013 Amended Employment Agreement provided for a base salary of $225,000, with incentive opportunities of up to $200,000 based on goals defined by the Board of Directors. The incentive would be paid 50% in cash and 50% in options awarded under the Company’s 2004 Long-term Stock Incentive Plan and having a five-year vesting schedule. The agreement also provided for a car lease allowance of $600 per month. The agreement also entitled Mr. Seiffert to matching share awards, with a value of up to $15,000 per year, if Mr. Seiffert purchased shares of the Company.

 

13
 

 

Under the 2013 Amended Employment Agreement, the Company could terminate Mr. Seiffert’s employment at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. If Mr. Seiffert’s employment was terminated for “just cause” (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Seiffert would have no right to payment for any period after termination and any stock options not yet vested would be forfeited. Similarly, if Mr. Seiffert resigned or retired for any reason other than in connection with a merger or acquisition of the Bank or a similar transaction, Mr. Seiffert would have no right to payment for any period after termination and unvested options would be forfeited unless the Bank decided otherwise. If the Bank terminated Mr. Seiffert’s employment other than for just cause and not in connection with a merger or acquisition or upon Mr. Seiffert’s death, disability, resignation or retirement, Mr. Seiffert would be entitled to be paid an amount equal to his average annual total base salary for the previous two calendar years, reduced by the amount of compensation he received from another source for services rendered during that year following termination. All post-termination payments were subject to applicable limitations of certain regulations under the Internal Revenue Code and banking regulations that prohibit severance payments under certain special regulatory circumstances. The agreement also contained a non-compete provision for one year following termination of employment.

 

On August 11, 2014, the Bank and the Company entered into an employment agreement with each of Mr. Seiffert, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and the Company (the “2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement”), and J. Daniel Mohr, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and the Company (the “2014 Mohr Employment Agreement”). These employment agreements supersede and replace any existing employment or change of control agreements with these executives, including without limitation the 2013 Amended Employment agreement with Mr. Seiffert. A summary of the 2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement and the 2014 Mohr Employment Agreement follows below.

 

Both of the 2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement and the 2014 Mohr Employment Agreement are effective as of August 11, 2014, and have an initial term ending on December 31, 2015. Thereafter, both the 2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement and the 2014 Mohr Employment Agreement will automatically extend for successive two year terms, unless previously terminated, or unless either the Company or the executive provides timely written notice that the term will not be extended. Mr. Seiffert will receive a base annual salary of $225,000 and Mr. Mohr will receive a base annual salary of $185,000. In addition to the base annual salary, both the 2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement and the 2014 Mohr Employment Agreement provide for, among other things, participation in incentive programs and other employee benefit plans and other fringe benefits applicable to executive employees.

 

The 2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement and the 2014 Mohr Employment Agreement also provide for a clawback of any incentive paid to, credit to an account on behalf of, or vested to the executive within the prior twenty-four (24) months under certain circumstances if it is later determined that the incentive is directly attributable to materially misleading financial statements. In addition, the executives have agreed not to compete with the Company and the Bank for a period of one (1) year following termination of employment anywhere in Delaware County, Ohio, or within a five (5) mile radius of any of the Bank’s branches.

 

14
 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The Compensation Committee attempts to align the financial interests of executive officers with those of the shareholders by providing a long-term incentive plan in the form of option and restricted share grants. The goals of the program are to create shareholder value through the long-term execution of sound banking strategies that allow for profitable growth.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End 2014

   Option Awards(1)   Stock Awards 
Name  Number of securities underlying unexercised options
(#) exercisable
   Number of securities underlying unexercised options
(#) unexercisable
   Option exercise price ($)   Option expiration date   Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#)   Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($)(2) 
                         
Ronald J. Seiffert   -    -    -    -    2,920   $20,440 
                        9,917   $69,419 
                               
J. Daniel Mohr   -    -    -    -    1,303   $9,121 
                               
Daniel M. Roberts   -    2,200   $4.50    12/21/2022   -    - 
                               

(1)Options are incentive stock options, granted under the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, which generally vest ratably over a 5-year period. Options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. The terms of the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan provide that all options become exercisable in full in the event of a change in control as defined in the 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan.
(2)Restricted share awards were made pursuant to the terms of the employment offers for Messrs. Seiffert, Mohr and Roberts. For Mr. Seiffert, the 2,920 shares vest ratably on an annual basis through 2016. For Messrs. Mohr and Roberts, the 1,303 and 1,277 shares, respectively will vest ratably on an annual basis through 2017 and 2018, respectively. Mr. Seiffert also acquired 9,917 restricted shares on December 23, 2014 pursuant to the Company’s option exchange offer, which will vest ratably on an annual basis through 2019.

 

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

 

In 2004, the Company established The Delaware County Bank and Trust Company Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended on December 20, 2007 and December 17, 2008 (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”). Under the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan, executive officers and other senior managers selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may elect to defer the receipt of up to 80% of base salary and 100% of annual bonus amounts. The Deferred Compensation Plan also provides that in the Board’s discretion, the Bank may contribute annually an additional amount to the participant’s deferral account, targeted at up to 10% of the participant’s base salary, but which may be more or less in the Board’s discretion. Participants direct the investment of their deferrals into various investment options offered by the Deferred Compensation Plan. For 2014, the Board of Directors elected not to make a contribution to the Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

Amounts deferred by the participant vest immediately. Contributions made by the Bank to the participant’s deferral account vest based on the participant’s years of service with the Bank with 75% vested after 5 years of service, 80% vested after 6 years of service, 85% vested after 7 years of service, 90% vested after 8 years of service, 95% vested after 9 years of service and 100% vested after 10 years of service. All Bank contributions vest for each participant employed by the Bank at age 62, regardless of the vesting schedule. Interest is credited annually to each participant’s account, computed at the Bank’s one-year certificate of deposit rate in effect on January 1st every year and paid on the balance of the participant’s deferred account at the end of the year.

 

15
 

 

Each participant is entitled to withdraw the balance of his or her account upon retirement after reaching age 62. Upon termination of employment prior to age 62 for any reason other than termination for “cause,” or involuntary termination following a change in control of the Company, the participant is entitled to withdraw the vested portion of his or her deferral account. Upon termination of employment due to the participant’s disability, the participant is entitled to withdraw the vested portion of his or her deferral account. Upon termination of employment because of death, the participant’s beneficiary is entitled to withdraw the vested portion of the participant’s deferral account. Upon “involuntary” termination within 12 months following a change in control of the Company, including a reduction in base salary or material reduction in benefits, the participant may withdraw the balance of his or her deferral account, providing that to the extent any benefit would create an excise tax under the excess parachute rules of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, the benefit paid under the Deferred Compensation Plan will be reduced so as not to be an “excess parachute payment” as defined by Section 280G. Upon “Termination for Cause” as defined in the Plan, the participant will not be entitled to withdraw any amount in excess of the participant’s deferrals.

 

Participants may elect to make withdrawals from their deferral accounts in either a lump sum or in equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed 10 years. If a participant dies while employed by the Bank, the participant’s beneficiary receives a lump sum payment of the participant’s vested deferred account within 30 days of the participant’s death.

 

Amounts in participant deferral accounts are unsecured obligation of the Bank. The Bank may amend or terminate the Deferred Compensation Plan at any time at the discretion of the Board of Directors. No amendment may decrease the value of any participant’s vested deferral account balance. Upon termination of the Deferred Compensation Plan, all vested deferred account balances will be paid in a lump sum distribution regardless of any contrary participant election.

 

Severance and Change of Control Payments

 

Severance and Change of Control Payments for Mr. Seiffert and Mr. Mohr

In the event of an involuntary termination without “cause” or a voluntary termination with “good reason,” the 2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement and the 2014 Mohr Employment Agreement each provide a severance benefit equal to the greater of (i) the unpaid compensation and benefits that would have been paid under the terms of the employment agreement if the executive had remained employed, or (ii) the unpaid compensation and benefits that would have been paid under the terms of the employment agreement (including any accrued bonus) for a period of one year following the termination.

 

Upon the termination of the executive without cause or the voluntary termination by the executive with good reason within twenty-four (24) months following a “change of control,” the executive will receive a lump sum payment equivalent to a multiple of the average annual cash compensation amount paid to the executive during the three (3) full taxable years preceding the change of control. The multiple is three (3) times such average annual amount in the case of Mr. Seiffert and two (2) times the average annual amount in the case of Mr. Mohr. In addition, under such circumstances, each executive will also receive a lump sum payment equal to a multiple of the Company’s annual cost of providing health, life and long-term disability coverages and other fringe benefits equal to three (3) times such amount in the case of Mr. Seiffert and equal to two (2) times such amount in the case of Mr. Mohr. Further, if there is a change of control, then all forms of equity-based compensation, including unexpired stock options and unvested restricted stock, shall accelerate and become fully vested and, in the case of options, exercisable. In the event that any amounts payable under the 2014 Seiffert Employment Agreement or the 2014 Mohr Employment Agreement would be nondeductible to the Company or the Bank by reason of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), then such amounts shall be reduced to the extent necessary that such payments will no longer be ineligible for deduction by reason of Section 280G of the Code.

 

Change of Control Agreement with Mr. Roberts

On August 11, 2014, the Company entered into a change of control agreement with Daniel M. Roberts, Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, who is a Named Executive Officer of the Company. The following description of the change of control agreement is a summary of its material terms.

 

Under the change of control agreement, upon the termination of Mr. Roberts’s employment other than for “cause” or voluntary termination by Mr. Roberts as a result of a “constructive termination,” Mr. Roberts will receive a lump sum payment equivalent to 100% of his annual base salary in effect at the date of termination. In addition, all of Mr. Roberts’s unvested stock options and restricted stock shall accelerate and become fully vested and, in the case of options, fully exercisable. Further, Mr. Roberts shall be entitled to be reimbursed for his share of COBRA premiums for health care coverage until the earlier of (i) the date that he is no longer eligible to receive continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA, (ii) twenty-four (24) months following termination of his employment, or (iii) such shorter period of time until he obtains new employment offering health insurance coverage. In the event that any amounts payable under the change of control agreement would be nondeductible to the Company or the Bank by reason of Section 280G of the Code, then such amounts shall be reduced to the extent necessary that such payments will no longer be ineligible for deduction by reason of Section 280G of the Code.

 

16
 

 

2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan

 

In 2004, the Company and its shareholders adopted the 2004 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). A total of 300,000 shares have been reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan. The Incentive Plan provides for the award of stock options, shares or restricted shares and performance awards consisting of shares, cash or a combination of shares and cash to any director, officer, or employee designated by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which administers the Incentive Plan. The Committee’s authority includes the power to (a) determine who will receive awards under the Incentive Plan, (b) establish the terms and conditions of awards and the schedule on which options become exercisable (or other awards vest), subject to the terms of the Incentive Plan, (c) determine the amount and form of awards, (d) interpret the Incentive Plan and terms of awards, and (e) adopt rules for administration of the Incentive Plan.

 

The Incentive Plan terminated pursuant to its terms on May 20, 2014, the tenth anniversary of the date on which the Company’s shareholders approved the Incentive Plan. Accordingly, no new stock options may be awarded under the Incentive Plan after May 20, 2014. However, stock options issued prior to the termination of the Incentive Plan remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

 

Stock options awarded under the Incentive Plan have terms of up to 10 years and may be “incentive” or nonqualified stock options, meaning stock options that do not qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code for the special tax treatment available for qualified, or “incentive,” stock options. Nonqualified stock options may be granted to any eligible Incentive Plan participant, but incentive stock options may be granted solely to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. The exercise price of stock options may not be less than the fair market value of the Company’s common shares on the date of grant.

 

An option may only be exercised while the optionee is employed by the Company or a subsidiary or within 30 days after cessation of the optionee’s employment if the reason for cessation of employment is other than disability, retirement, death or termination for gross misconduct. In the case of disability or normal retirement, an option may be exercised to the extent it was exercisable on the date the optionee ceased to be employed by the Company for the lesser of three years after termination of employment or the remaining term of the option (such three-year period is reduced to a one-year period in the case of early retirement or death). In the case of termination for gross misconduct, the option may not be exercised after termination of employment. In the event of a change of control of the Company (as defined in the Plan), any option that is not then exercisable automatically becomes exercisable.

 

2014 Restricted Stock Plan

 

On October 30, 2014, the Company and its shareholders adopted the 2014 Restricted Stock Plan (the “Restricted Stock Plan”). A total of 350,000 shares have been reserved for issuance under the Restricted Stock Plan. The Restricted Stock Plan provides for the award of restricted stock to any director, officer, or employee designated by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee administers the Restricted Stock Plan and has the authority to grant awards of restricted stock and determine terms and conditions of such awards. The restricted stock awards will typically vest over five years, unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise and specifies such in the award notice.

 

If a participant ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason or no reason, with or without cause, other than death or disability (as defined in the Restricted Stock Plan), any unvested restricted stock will be forfeited by such participant. In the event of the death or disability of a participant (as defined in the Restricted Stock Plan) or the change of control of the Company (as defined in the Restricted Stock Plan), any unvested restricted stock will become 100% vested.

 

17
 

 

Proposal 2 – NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC under the Dodd-Frank Act, require that the Company’s shareholders have an opportunity to approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. Our Named Executive Officers are those individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement. The compensation being approved is the compensation required to be disclosed in this proxy statement by the rules of the SEC, including the compensation described in the “Executive Compensation and Other Information” section, accompanying tables, and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement.

 

The vote is advisory in nature and therefore will not bind the Board of Directors to take any particular action. Nevertheless, if there is a significant vote against approval of the compensation, the Board of Directors intends to attempt to determine the reason for such negative votes and may make changes to executive compensation based on its findings.

 

The Board of Directors has structured the Company’s executive compensation program with the following objectives in mind: compensation should be directly linked to corporate operating performance, and all officers should receive fair and equitable compensation for their respective levels of responsibility and supervisory authority compared to their peers within the Company as well as their peers within the financial services industry. The Board of Directors urges you to read the “Executive Compensation and Other Information” section and the related compensation tables and narrative contained in this proxy statement.

 

The Board of Directors is asking you to approve the following resolution, which will be submitted for a shareholder vote at the Annual Meeting:

 

“Resolved, that the shareholders approve the compensation of DCB Financial Corp’s named executive officers as named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s 2015 Proxy Statement, as described in the ‘Executive Compensation and Other Information’ section, the compensation tables, and the related disclosure in the Proxy Statement.”

 

Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors, overrule any decision made by the Board of Directors, or create or imply any additional fiduciary duty by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee may, however, take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of dcb financial corp’S executive compensation

 

Director Compensation

 

In 2014, directors were paid in accordance with the following fee schedule:

 

   Monthly Retainer   Board Meeting   Governance Committee   Trust Committee   Loan Committee   Audit Committee   Strategic Alternatives Committee   Compensation Committee 
Chair  $1,050   $600   $200   $200   $300   $400   $400   $400 
Director  $750   $600   $150   $150   $300   $300   $300   $300 

 

In 2015, directors will be paid in accordance with the same fee schedule.

 

18
 

 

The following table shows the compensation paid to our non-employee directors for 2014. Director compensation paid to Mr. Seiffert is included in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Director Compensation

 

Name  Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
  

Stock Awards(1)

($)

   Total
($)
 
Bart Johnson  $10,200   $10,200   $20,400 
Dr. Gerald Kremer  $8,700   $8,700   $17,400 
Vicki J. Lewis  $12,750   $12,750   $25,500 
Edward A. Powers  $11,550   $11,550   $23,100 
Mark H. Shipps  $10,275   $10,275   $20,550 
Adam Stevenson  $11,275   $11,275   $22,550 
Donald J. Wolf  $9,275   $9,275   $18,550 
Jerome Harmeyer  $8,850   $8,850   $17,700 
Tomislav Mitevski  $9,900   $9,900   $19,800 
Michael Priest  $7,875   $7,875   $15,750 

 

(1)In 2014, 50% of the director’s fees were paid in shares of Company stock at the completion of each fiscal quarter. The Company stock is purchased by the Company on the open market at market price on behalf of and for the account of each director. The remaining 50% of the director’s fees are paid in cash.

 

Certain Relationships and Related PARTY Transactions and Director Independence

 

General

 

Some of the directors and executive officers of the Company, as well as companies with which they are associated and their immediate family members, are customers of, and have had banking transactions with the Bank in the ordinary course of the Bank’s business and the Bank expects to have such ordinary banking transactions with such persons in the future. In the opinion of management of the Company and the Bank, all loans and commitments to lend included in such transactions since January 1, 2014, were made in compliance with applicable laws on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing for comparable transactions with other persons not related to the Bank and did not involve more than a normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.

 

Additionally, Adam Hansberry, the Company’s Senior Vice President - Commercial Banking, is the son-in-law of Jerome Harmeyer, a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Hansberry’s total compensation received from the Company was $145,125 in 2014.

 

The Board of Directors has considered such transactions in determining that the directors with such transactions, other than Mr. Seiffert, are independent.

 

Procedure for Review of Related Party Transactions

 

The procedure for reviewing related party transactions is set forth in writing in the Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. Under this procedure, the Company and its affiliates may do business and have financial dealings with directors, officers and employees and their respective spouses, family members and associates if:

 

·such business or financial dealings involve the Company or the Bank providing banking or financial services to such person in the ordinary course of business upon terms and conditions generally available to the public, to the extent such arrangements are made in compliance with all applicable banking and securities laws and regulations; or

 

·the terms and conditions of any material relationship have been presented to and approved by the Audit Committee or the Bank’s board of directors. If any member of the Audit Committee, or any associate or family member of such member, proposes to provide products or services to the Company, he or she shall recuse themselves from the discussion and decision about the appropriateness of such arrangement.

 

19
 

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s executive officers, directors and more than ten percent shareholders (“Insiders”) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Company reports of their ownership of the Company’s securities. Based upon written representations and copies of reports furnished to the Company by Insiders, all Section 16 reporting requirements applicable to Insiders during 2014 were satisfied on a timely basis.

 

 

Proposal 3 – Ratification of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the

year ending December 31, 2015.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed Plante & Moran PLLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015. Services provided to the Company and its subsidiaries by Plante & Moran PLLC in fiscal 2014 are described below.

 

The Board of Directors is asking our shareholders to ratify the selection of Plante & Moran PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our Code of Regulations or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of Plante & Moran PLLC to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company engaged the services of Plante & Moran, PLLC as its independent registered public accounting firm beginning in 2010. Plante & Moran, PLLC is engaged to provide independent audit services for the Company and to provide certain non-audit services including advice on accounting, tax, and reporting matters. Representatives of Plante & Moran, PLLC will be in attendance at the Annual Meeting, and such representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

Information Regarding Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 by the Company’s principal accounting firm:

 

   December 31, 
   2014   2013 
Audit Fees  $196,000   $185,900 
Audit-Related Fees   -    - 
Tax Fees(1)   16,500    16,000 
All Other Fees   -    - 
Total Fees  $212,500   $201,900 

 

(1) Includes fees for services related to tax compliance and tax planning.

 

The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by its independent auditors, except as described below.

 

The Audit Committee establishes general guidelines for the permissible scope and nature of any permitted non-audit services in connection with its annual review of the audit plan and will review such guidelines with the Board of Directors. Pre-approval may be granted by action of the full Audit Committee or, in the absence of such Audit Committee action, by the Audit Committee Chair whose action shall be considered to be that of the entire Committee. Pre-approval shall not be required for the provision of non-audit services if (1) the aggregate amount of all such non-audit services constitutes no more than 5% of the total revenues paid by the Company to the auditors during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided, (2) such services were not recognized by the Company at the time of engagement to be non-audit services, and (3) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved prior to the completion of the audit. No services were provided pursuant to these exceptions in 2014.

 

20
 

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PLANTE & MORAN PLLC AS THE Independent registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

Shareholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting

 

In order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement distributed to shareholders prior to the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder proposal in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act must be received by the Company no later than December 14, 2015. Any shareholder proposal received after December 14, 2015 will be considered untimely pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act and the Company will not be required to submit such proposals to a vote at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders. Written requests for inclusion should be addressed to: DCB Financial Corp, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 110 Riverbend Avenue, Lewis Center, OH 43035. It is suggested that you mail your proposal by certified mail, return receipt requested.

 

If a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders without including the proposal in the proxy materials related to that meeting, the Company must receive the proposal at the address above by no later than 60 days prior to the annual meeting date. The proxies designated by the Board of Directors of the Company for the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders may vote in their discretion on any such proposal any shares for which they have been appointed proxies without mention of such matter in the proxy statement or on the proxy card for such meeting.

 

If a shareholder intends to submit director nominations for inclusion in the proxy statement distributed to shareholders prior to the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, the Company must receive the proposal at the address above by no later than 90 days prior to the annual meeting date.

 

Shareholder Communications

 

Shareholders of the Company may send communications to the Board of Directors through the Company’s office of Corporate Secretary, DCB Financial Corp, 110 Riverbend Avenue, Lewis Center, OH 43035. Communications sent by shareholders for proper, non-commercial purposes will be transmitted to the Board of Directors or the appropriate committee, as soon as practicable.

 

Other Matters

 

The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting. However, the enclosed Proxy will confer discretionary authority with respect to matters which are not known to the Board of Directors at the time of printing and which may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

 

21
 

 

Delivery of Documents to Shareholders Sharing an Address

 

Each shareholder of record will receive a separate mailing of the Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and, at a later date, a copy of that Notice, a proxy, and a return envelope. Each shareholder of record desiring a printed copy of the proxy materials must request such shareholder’s own copy. Any shareholders presently sharing an address who are receiving multiple copies of the Proxy Statement and Annual Report, pursuant to a request for paper copies, and who would like to receive a single copy, and shareholders receiving a single copy who would like separate copies, may do so by directing their request to the Company in the manner provided in the Notice. Beneficial shareholders whose shares are held by a bank, broker or other holder of record should request information about document delivery from such record holder.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors of DCB Financial Corp,

 

Seiffert Signature.jpg

Ronald J. Seiffert

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

We urge you to vote your proxy electronically or via telephone, or by sending the Proxy card to:

Vote Processing, 51 Mercedes Way, Edge Wood, NY 11717

 

22