-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, QiP5/xcyXjwbGCVQzxSsn1y3sRfP5G4sndceXb7cnE5k/iw97Ceh5XhvGprk26Sh GacU4BHdN6PKqoj/nbubSQ== 0001104659-08-025206.txt : 20080418 0001104659-08-025206.hdr.sgml : 20080418 20080418102200 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-08-025206 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEF 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080522 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080418 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080418 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20080418 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Fox Chase Bancorp Inc CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001359111 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: X1 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-32971 FILM NUMBER: 08763607 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4390 DAVISVILLE ROAD CITY: HATBORO STATE: PA ZIP: 19040 BUSINESS PHONE: 215-682-7400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4390 DAVISVILLE ROAD CITY: HATBORO STATE: PA ZIP: 19040 DEF 14A 1 a08-2878_4def14a.htm DEF 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

 

Filed by the Registrant  x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  o

 

Check the appropriate box:

o

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

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

x

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x

No fee required.

o

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

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

N/A

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

N/A

 

(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):

 

 

N/A

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

N/A

 

(5)

Total fee paid:

 

 

N/A

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:

 

 

N/A

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

N/A

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

 

N/A

 

(4)

Date Filed:

 

 

N/A

 



 

GRAPHIC

 

April 18, 2008

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc.  The meeting will be held at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time.

 

The notice of annual meeting and proxy statement appearing on the following pages describe the formal business to be transacted at the meeting.  Directors and officers of the Company, as well as representatives of KPMG LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, will be present to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

 

It is important that your shares are represented at this meeting, whether or not you attend the meeting in person and regardless of the number of shares you own.  To make sure your shares are represented, we urge you to complete and mail the enclosed proxy card promptly.  If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person even if you have previously mailed a proxy card.

 

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas M. Petro

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



 

GRAPHIC

 

4390 Davisville Road

Hatboro, Pennsylvania 19040

(215) 682-7400

 


 

NOTICE OF 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 


 

TIME AND DATE

 

9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2008

 

 

 

 

PLACE

 

Doubletree Guest Suites

 

 

640 West Germantown Pike

 

 

Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania

 

 

 

 

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

 

(1)

To elect three directors to serve for a term of three years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)

To ratify KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

 

 

RECORD DATE

 

To vote, you must have been a stockholder at the close of business on April 4, 2008.

 

 

 

PROXY VOTING

 

It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. You can vote your shares by completing and returning the proxy card or voting instruction card sent to you. You can revoke a proxy at any time before its exercise at the meeting by following the instructions in the proxy statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jerry D. Holbrook

 

 

 

Jerry D. Holbrook

 

 

Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

Hatboro, Pennsylvania

 

 

April 18, 2008

 

 

 



 

FOX CHASE BANCORP, INC.

 


 

PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

We are providing this proxy statement to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. for the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders and for any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.  In this proxy statement, we may also refer to Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. as “Fox Chase Bancorp,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us.”

 

Fox Chase Bancorp is the holding company for Fox Chase Bank.  In this proxy statement, we may also refer to Fox Chase Bank as the “Bank.”

 

We are holding the 2008 annual meeting at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time.

 

We intend to mail this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card to stockholders of record beginning on or about
April 18, 2008.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING

 

Who Can Vote at the Meeting

 

You are entitled to vote your shares of Fox Chase Bancorp common stock that you owned as of April 4, 2008.  As of the close of business on April 4, 2008, a total of 14,321,550 shares of Fox Chase Bancorp common stock were outstanding, including 8,148,915 shares of common stock held by Fox Chase MHC.  Each share of common stock has one vote.

 

The Company’s charter provides that, until September 29, 2011, record holders of the Company’s common stock, other than Fox Chase MHC, who beneficially own, either directly or indirectly, in excess of 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares are not entitled to any vote with respect to those shares held in excess of the 10% limit.

 

Ownership of Shares; Attending the Meeting

 

You may own shares of Fox Chase Bancorp in one of the following ways:

 

·      Directly in your name as the stockholder of record;

 

·      Indirectly through a broker, bank or other holder of record in “street name”; or

 

·      Indirectly in the Fox Chase Bancorp Stock Fund in our 401(k) Plan, the Fox Chase Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”) or the trust that holds restricted stock awards issued to directors and employees under the Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

 



 

If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are the holder of record of these shares and we are sending these proxy materials directly to you.  As the holder of record, you have the right to give your proxy directly to us or to vote in person at the meeting.

 

If you hold your shares in street name, your broker, bank or other holder of record is sending these proxy materials to you.  As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record how to vote by filling out a voting instruction form that accompanies your proxy materials.  Your broker, bank or other holder of record may allow you to provide voting instructions by telephone or by the Internet.  Please see the instruction form provided by your broker, bank or other holder of record that accompanies this proxy statement.  If you hold your shares in street name, you will need proof of ownership to be admitted to the meeting.  A recent brokerage statement or letter from a bank or broker are examples of proof of ownership.  If you want to vote your shares of Fox Chase Bancorp common stock held in street name in person at the meeting, you must obtain a written proxy in your name from the broker, bank or other nominee who is the record holder of your shares.

 

Quorum and Vote Required

 

Quorum.  We will have a quorum and will be able to conduct the business of the annual meeting if the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote are present at the meeting, either in person or by proxy.

 

Votes Required for Proposals.  At this year’s annual meeting, stockholders will elect three directors to serve for a term of three years.  In voting on the election of directors, you may vote in favor of the nominees, withhold votes as to all nominees or withhold votes as to specific nominees.  There is no cumulative voting for the election of directors.  Directors must be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting.  This means that the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected.

 

In voting on the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, you may vote in favor of the proposal, vote against the proposal or abstain from voting.  To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2008, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required.

 

Routine and Non-Routine Proposals.  The rules of the New York Stock Exchange determine whether proposals presented at stockholder meetings are routine or non-routine.  If a proposal is routine, a broker or other entity holding shares for an owner in street name may vote on the proposal without receiving voting instructions from the owner.  If a proposal is non-routine, the broker or other entity may vote on the proposal only if the owner has provided voting instructions.  A broker non-vote occurs when a broker or other entity is unable to vote on a particular proposal and the broker or other entity has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.  The election of directors and the ratification of KPMG LLP as our independent public accounting firm for 2008 are currently considered routine matters.

 

How We Count Votes.  If you return valid proxy instructions or attend the meeting in person, we will count your shares to determine whether there is quorum, even if you abstain from voting.  Broker non-votes also will be counted to determine the existence of a quorum.

 

In the election of directors, votes that are withheld and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the election.

 

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In counting votes on the proposal to ratify the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm, abstentions will have the same effect as a negative vote while broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

 

Because Fox Chase, MHC owns in excess of 50% of the outstanding shares of Fox Chase Bancorp common stock, the votes it casts will ensure the presence of a quorum and determine the outcome of Item 1 (Election of Directors) and Item 2 (Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm).

 

Voting by Proxy

 

The Company’s Board of Directors is sending you this proxy statement to request that you allow your shares of Company common stock to be represented at the annual meeting by the persons named in the enclosed proxy card.  All shares of Company common stock represented at the meeting by properly executed and dated proxies will be voted according to the instructions indicated on the proxy card.  If you sign, date and return a proxy card without giving voting instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Company’s Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

 

·      FOR each of the nominees for director; and

 

·      FOR ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

If any matters not described in this proxy statement are properly presented at the annual meeting, the persons named in the proxy card will use their judgment to determine how to vote your shares.  This includes a motion to adjourn or postpone the annual meeting to solicit additional proxies.  If the annual meeting is postponed or adjourned, your shares of Company common stock may be voted by the persons named in the proxy card on the new meeting date, provided that the new meeting occurs within 30 days of the annual meeting and you have not revoked your proxy.  The Company does not currently know of any other matters to be presented at the meeting.

 

You may revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the meeting.  To revoke your proxy, you must either advise the Corporate Secretary of the Company in writing before your common stock has been voted at the annual meeting, deliver a later dated proxy or attend the meeting and vote your shares in person.  Attendance at the annual meeting will not in itself constitute revocation of your proxy.

 

Participants in the ESOP, 401(k) Plan or Equity Incentive Plan

 

If you participate in the Fox Chase Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”) or our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan or if you invest in Company common stock through the Fox Chase Bancorp Stock Fund in our 401(k) Plan, you will receive a voting instruction card for each plan that reflects all shares you may direct the trustees to vote on your behalf under the respective plans.  Under the terms of the ESOP, all allocated shares of Fox Chase Bancorp common stock held by the ESOP are voted by the ESOP trustee, as directed by plan participants.  All unallocated shares of Company common stock held by the ESOP and all allocated shares for which no timely voting instructions are received are voted by the ESOP trustee in the same proportion as shares for which the trustee has received timely voting instructions, subject to the exercise of its fiduciary duties.  Under the terms of the 401(k) Plan, a participant may direct the Stock Fund trustee how to vote the shares in the Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. Stock Fund credited to his or her account.  The Stock Fund trustee will vote all shares for which it does not receive timely instructions from participants in the same proportion as shares for which the trustee

 

3



 

received voting instructions.  Under the Equity Incentive Plan, participants may direct the plan trustee how to vote their unvested restricted stock awards.  The plan trustee will vote all shares held in the trust for which it does not receive timely instructions as directed by Fox Chase Bancorp.  The deadline for returning your voting instructions is May 15, 2008.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Director Independence

 

The Company’s Board of Directors currently consists of seven members, all of whom are independent under the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market, except for Mr. Petro, who is President and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Chase Bancorp and Fox Chase Bank.

 

Corporate Governance Policies

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a corporate governance policy to govern certain activities, including: the duties and responsibilities of directors; the composition, responsibilities and operations of the Board of Directors; the establishment and operation of Board committees; succession planning; convening executive sessions of independent directors; the Board of Directors’ interaction with management and third parties; and the evaluation of the performance of the Board of Directors and of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

The following table identifies our standing committees and their members at December 31, 2007.  All members of each committee are independent in accordance with the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market, except for Mr. Petro, who sits on the Executive and Risk Management Committees.  Each committee operates under a written charter that is approved by the Board of Directors that governs its composition, responsibilities and operation.  Each committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of its charter at least annually.  The charters of all five committees are available in the Governance Documents portion of the Investor Relations section of our website (www.foxchasebank.com).

 

Director

 

Audit
Committee

 

Compensation
Committee

 

Executive
Committee

 

Nominating
and
Governance
Committee

 

Risk
Management
Committee

 

Roger H. Ballou

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Richard E. Bauer

 

X

 

X*

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Todd S. Benning

 

X*

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Richard M. Eisenstaedt

 

 

 

 

 

X*

 

X*

 

X

 

Anthony A. Nichols, Sr.

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X*

 

Peter A. Sears

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

Number of Meetings in 2007

 

8

 

8

 

3

 

1

 

7

 

 


* Denotes Chairperson

 

4



 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the Company’s accounting, auditing, internal control structure and financial reporting matters, the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial reports and the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations.  The Committee is also responsible for engaging the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and monitoring its conduct and independence.  The Board of Directors has designated Todd S. Benning as an audit committee financial expert under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Mr. Benning is independent under the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market applicable to audit committee members.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee approves the compensation objectives for the Company and the Bank, establishes the compensation for the Company’s senior management and conducts the performance review of the Chief Executive Officer.  The Compensation Committee reviews all components of compensation, including salaries, cash incentive plans, long-term incentive plans and various employee benefit matters.  Decisions by the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of executive officers are approved by the full Board of Directors.  The Committee also assists the Board of Directors in evaluating potential candidates for executive positions.  See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for a discussion of the role of management and compensation consultants in determining and/or recommending the amount or form of executive compensation.

 

Executive Committee

 

The Executive Committee discusses matters that require attention between regularly scheduled Board meetings and exercises the authority and power of the Board as permitted by law.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

 

The Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in: (1) identifying individuals qualified to become Board members, consistent with criteria approved by the Board; (2) recommending to the Board the director nominees for the next annual meeting; (3) implementing policies and practices relating to corporate governance, including implementation of and monitoring adherence to corporate governance guidelines; (4) leading the Board in its annual review of the Board’s performance; and (5) recommending director nominees for each committee.

 

Minimum Qualifications.  The Nominating and Governance Committee has adopted a set of criteria that it considers when it selects individuals to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors.  A candidate must meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the Company’s Bylaws, which include a requirement that the candidate not have been subject to certain criminal or regulatory actions.  A candidate also must meet any qualification requirements set forth in any Board or committee governing documents.

 

If the candidate is deemed eligible for election to the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Governance Committee will then evaluate the following criteria in selecting nominees:

 

·      contributions to the range of talent, skill and expertise for the Board;

 

5



 

·      financial, regulatory and business experience, knowledge of the banking and financial service industries, familiarity with the operations of public companies and ability to read and understand financial statements;

 

·      familiarity with the Company’s market area and participation in and ties to local business and local civic, charitable and religious organizations;

 

·      personal and professional integrity, honesty and reputation;

 

·      the ability to represent the best interests of the stockholders of the Company and the best interests of the institution;

 

·      the ability to devote sufficient time and energy to the performance of his or her duties;

 

·      independence under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission and listing definitions; and

 

·      current equity holdings in the Company.

 

The Committee also will consider any other factors the Nominating and Governance Committee deems relevant, including diversity, competition, size of the Board of Directors and regulatory disclosure obligations.

 

With respect to nominating an existing director for re-election to the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider and review an existing director’s board and committee attendance and performance; length of board service; the experience, skills and contributions that the existing director brings to the Board; and independence.

 

Director Nomination Process.  The process that the Nominating and Governance Committee follows to identify and evaluate individuals to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors is as follows:

 

For purposes of identifying nominees for the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Governance Committee relies on personal contacts of the committee members and other members of the Board of Directors, as well as its knowledge of members of the communities served by the Bank.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will also consider director candidates recommended by stockholders in accordance with the policy and procedures set forth below.  The Nominating and Governance Committee has not previously used an independent search firm to identify nominees.

 

In evaluating potential nominees, the Nominating and Governance Committee determines whether the candidate is eligible and qualified for service on the Board of Directors by evaluating the candidate under the criteria set forth above.  If such individual fulfills these criteria, the Nominating and Governance Committee will conduct a check of the individual’s background and interview the candidate to further assess the qualities of the prospective nominee and the contributions he or she would make to the Board.

 

Considerations of Recommendations by Stockholders.  It is the policy of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company to consider director candidates recommended by stockholders who appear to be qualified to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.  The Nominating and Governance Committee may choose not to consider an unsolicited recommendation if no vacancy exists on the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Governance Committee does not

 

6



 

perceive a need to increase the size of the Board of Directors.  To avoid the unnecessary use of the Nominating and Governance Committee’s resources, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider only those director candidates recommended in accordance with the procedures set forth below.

 

Procedures to be Followed by Stockholders.  To submit a recommendation of a director candidate to the Nominating and Governance Committee, a stockholder should submit the following information in writing, addressed to the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee, care of the Corporate Secretary, at the main office of the Company:

 

1.                                      The name of the person recommended as a director candidate;

 

2.                                      All information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

 

3.                                      The written consent of the person being recommended as a director candidate to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

 

4.                                      As to the stockholder making the recommendation, the name and address of such stockholder as they appear on the Company’s books; provided, however, that if the stockholder is not a registered holder of the Company’s common stock, the stockholder should submit his or her name and address along with a current written statement from the record holder of the shares that reflects ownership of the Company’s common stock; and

 

5.                                      A statement disclosing whether such stockholder is acting with or on behalf of any other person and, if applicable, the identity of such person.

 

In order for a director candidate to be considered for nomination at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, the recommendation must be received by the Nominating and Governance Committee at least 120 calendar days before the date the Company’s proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting, advanced by one year.

 

Risk Management Committee

 

The Risk Management Committee reviews and manages the Company’s material business risks by establishing and monitoring policies and procedures designated to identify, control, monitor and measure its material business risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, strategic risk and reputational risk.

 

Board and Committee Meetings

 

During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company held eleven meetings and the Board of Directors of the Bank held four meetings.  No director attended fewer than 75% of the total meetings of the Company’s and the Bank’s respective Boards of Directors and the committees on which such director served during fiscal 2007.

 

Director Attendance at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

The Board of Directors encourages each director to attend the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders.  All of the Company’s directors attended the Company’s 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

7



 

Code of Ethics and Business Conduct

 

Fox Chase Bancorp has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that is designed to ensure that the Company’s directors and employees meet the highest standards of ethical conduct.  The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, which applies to all employees and directors, addresses conflicts of interest, the treatment of confidential information, general employee conduct and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.  In addition, the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is designed to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, full and accurate disclosure and compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The Company’s management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and 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 and issuing an opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles.  The independent registered public accounting firm is also responsible for issuing an attestation report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s internal controls and financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors.

 

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. 114 (Communication With Those Charged With Governance), including the quality, and not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of the disclosures in the financial statements.

 

In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions With Audit Committees) and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the firm’s independence from the Company and its management.  In concluding that the registered public accounting firm is independent, the Audit Committee considered, among other factors, whether the non-audit services provided by the firm were compatible with its independence.

 

The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their audit.  The Audit Committee meets with the independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their evaluation of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

 

In performing all of these functions, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity.  In its oversight role, the Audit Committee relies on the work and assurances of the Company’s management, which has the primary responsibility for financial statements and reports, and of the independent registered public accounting firm who, in their report, express an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles.  The Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide it with an independent basis to determine that management has maintained

 

8



 

appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or policies, or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.  Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm do not assure that the Company’s financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, that the audit of the Company’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or that the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is “independent.”

 

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Audit Committee also has approved, subject to stockholder ratification, the selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of

Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc.

 

Todd S. Benning, Chairman

Roger H. Ballou

Richard E. Bauer

Anthony A. Nichols, Sr.

 

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that is required by the rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.  See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of

Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc.

 

Richard E. Bauer, Chairman

Roger H. Ballou

Todd S. Benning

Peter A. Sears

 

9



 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following table provides the compensation received by individuals who served as non-employee directors of the Company during the 2007 fiscal year.  The table excludes perquisites, which did not exceed $10,000 in the aggregate for each director.

 

Name

 

Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)

 

Stock Awards
($)(1)

 

Option Awards
($)(2)

 

Total
($)

 

Roger H. Ballou

 

$43,000

 

$9,904

 

$5,440

 

$58,344

 

Richard E. Bauer

 

55,500

 

9,904

 

5,440

 

70,844

 

Todd S. Benning

 

60,000

 

9,904

 

5,440

 

75,344

 

Richard M. Eisenstaedt

 

58,500

 

9,904

 

5,440

 

73,844

 

Laura M. Mercuri (3)

 

13,500

 

 

 

13,500

 

Anthony A. Nichols, Sr.

 

53,500

 

9,904

 

5,440

 

68,844

 

Peter A. Sears

 

37,000

 

9,904

 

5,440

 

52,344

 

 


(1)   Reflects the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with SFAS 123(R) on outstanding restricted stock for each director based upon the Company’s stock price of $12.38 as of the date of grant.  When shares become vested and are distributed from the trust in which they are held, the recipient will also receive an amount equal to accumulated cash and stock dividends (if any) paid with respect thereto, plus earnings thereon.  At December 31, 2007, the aggregate number of unvested restricted stock award shares held in trust was 12,000 for each of Messrs. Ballou, Bauer, Benning, Eisenstaedt, Nichols and Sears.

(2)   Reflects the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with SFAS 123(R) outstanding stock options for each of the non-employee directors, based upon a fair value of each option of $3.40 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  For information on the assumptions used to compute the fair value, see Note 10 to the Notes to the Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.  The actual value, if any, realized by a director from any option will depend on the extent to which the market value of the common stock exceeds the exercise price of the option on the date the option is exercised.  Accordingly, there is no assurance that the value realized by a director will be at or near the value estimated above.  The aggregate outstanding stock options at December 31, 2007 was 24,000 for each Messrs. Ballou, Bauer, Benning, Eisenstaedt, Nichols and Sears.

(3)   Resigned from the Company’s and the Bank’s Boards of Directors effective May 22, 2007.

 

Cash Retainer and Meeting Fees for Non-Employee Directors

 

The following table sets forth the applicable retainers and fees that will be paid to our non-employee directors for their service on our Board of Directors during 2008.

 

Annual Retainer

 

$

20,000

 

Annual Retainer for Audit Committee Chair

 

10,000

 

Annual Retainer for Chairman of Board

 

10,000

 

Annual Retainer for Executive Committee Members

 

4,000

 

Annual Retainer for Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committee Chairs

 

4,000

 

Fee per Board Meeting Attended

 

1,500

 

Fee per Committee Meeting Attended

 

1,000

 

 

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STOCK OWNERSHIP

 

The following table provides information as of April 4, 2008 with respect to persons known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.  A person may be considered to own any shares of common stock over which he or she has, directly or indirectly, sole or shared voting or investment power.

 

Name and Address

 

Number of Shares
Owned

 

Percent of Common
Stock Outstanding

 

Fox Chase MHC

 

8,148,915

 

56.9%

 

4390 Davisville Road Hatboro,

 

 

 

 

 

Pennsylvania 19040

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table provides information about the shares of Company common stock that may be considered to be owned by each director and director nominee of the Company, each executive officer named in “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table” and by all directors, director nominees and executive officers of the Company as a group as of April 4, 2008. A person may be considered to own any shares of common stock over which he or she has, directly or indirectly, sole or shared voting or investment power.  Unless otherwise indicated, each of the named individuals has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown.  The number of shares beneficially owned by all directors and executive officers as a group totaled 2.9% of our common stock as of April 4, 2008.  Each director, director nominee and named executive officer owned less than 1% of our outstanding common stock as of that date.

 

Name

 

Number of
Shares
Owned (1)

 

 

 

 

 

Directors and Director Nominees

 

 

 

Roger H. Ballou

 

32,771

 

Richard E. Bauer

 

14,350

 

Todd S. Benning

 

32,196

 (2)

Richard M. Eisenstaedt

 

22,484

 

Anthony A. Nichols, Sr.

 

13,530

 (3)

Thomas M. Petro

 

102,904

 

RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

 

 

Peter A. Sears

 

19,011

 

 

 

 

 

Named Executive Officers Who Are Not Also Directors

 

 

 

Jerry D. Holbrook

 

78,445

 (4)

David C. Kowalek

 

22,244

 (5)

Keiron G. Lynch

 

22,305

 

James V. Schermerhorn

 

15,192

 

 

 

 

 

All Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees as a Group (14 persons)

 

421,043

 

 

(footnotes on following page)

 

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(1)    This column includes the following:

 

 

 

Shares of Unvested
Restricted Stock
Held in Trust
Under the 2007
Equity Incentive
Plan

 

Shares Held Under
the Amended and
Restated Fox Chase
Bank Executive
Long-Term Incentive
Plan

 

Shares Allocated
Under the Fox Chase
Bank Employee
Stock Ownership
Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Ballou

 

12,000

 

 

 

Mr. Bauer

 

12,000

 

 

 

Mr. Benning

 

12,000

 

 

 

Mr. Eisenstaedt

 

12,000

 

 

 

Mr. Nichols.

 

12,000

 

 

 

Mr. Petro

 

49,000

 

15,512

 

2,692

 

Ms. Rosenthal

 

 

 

 

Mr. Sears

 

12,000

 

 

 

Mr. Holbrook

 

32,000

 

11,634

 

2,692

 

Mr. Kowalek

 

14,000

 

3,899

 

2,119

 

Mr. Lynch

 

14,000

 

5,811

 

2,208

 

Mr. Schermerhorn

 

 

6,763

 

2,485

 

 

(2)   Includes 16,000 shares held by Mr. Benning as the trustee for the Dunlap & Associates PC Retirement Plan.

(3)   Includes 765 shares owned by Cymry Limited Partnership I.

(4)   Includes 6,724 shares held by Mr. Holbrook’s spouse and 10,783 shares held in trust for Mr. Holbrook’s children.

(5)   Includes 39 shares allocated under the Fox Chase Bank 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust as to which Mr. Kowalek has voting but not investment power.

 

ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON BY STOCKHOLDERS

 

Item 1 — Election of Directors

 

The Company’s Board of Directors currently consists of seven members.  However, on March 12, 2008, the Board of Directors voted to increase the size of the Board to eight seats effective on April 23, 2008 and appoint RoseAnn B. Rosenthal to fill the vacancy created.  The Board is divided into three classes with three-year staggered terms, with approximately one-third of the directors elected each year.  The Board of Directors’ nominees for election this year, to serve for a three-year term or until their respective successors have been elected and qualified, are Thomas M. Petro, Todd S. Benning and RoseAnn B. Rosenthal.  As of the date of the annual meeting, each of the nominees will be a director of Fox Chase Bancorp and Fox Chase Bank.

 

Unless you indicate on the proxy card that your shares should not be voted for certain nominees, the Board of Directors intends that the proxies solicited by it will be voted for the election of both of the Board’s nominees.  If any nominee is unable to serve, the persons named in the proxy card would vote your shares to approve the election of any substitute proposed by the Board of Directors.  At this time, we know of no reason why any nominee might be unable to serve.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the election of both nominees.

 

Information regarding the Board of Directors’ nominees and the directors continuing in office is provided below.  Unless otherwise stated, each individual has held his current occupation for the last five years.  The age indicated for each individual is as of December 31, 2007.  The indicated period of service as a director includes the period of service as a director of Fox Chase Bank.

 

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Board Nominees for Terms Ending in 2011

 

Thomas M. Petro has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Chase Bank since June 2005.  Before joining Fox Chase Bank, Mr. Petro led the turnaround, as President and Chief Executive Officer, of Northeast Pennsylvania Financial Corp. and its principal subsidiary, First Federal Bank in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Before joining First Federal Bank, Mr. Petro was a principal with S.R. Snodgrass, LLC.  Mr. Petro also served as Executive Vice President of the Bryn Mawr Trust Company, President of the Bryn Mawr Brokerage Company and Chairman of Bryn Mawr Asset Management.  He began his banking career with Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Mr. Petro is a Trustee of Eastern University, St. David’s, Pennsylvania, and serves as the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees.  Mr. Petro is a graduate of Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and holds both a B.S. Business Management and an A.S. Banking.  Age 49.  Director since 2005.

 

Todd S. Benning is a founding shareholder of Dunlap & Associates, PC, a full-service certified public accounting firm located in Chalfont, Pennsylvania.  He serves as the firm’s Director of Taxation and has over twenty-five years of experience in public accounting. Mr. Benning earned a Master of Taxation degree from Villanova University and is a graduate of Geneva College where he earned degrees in Accounting and Business Administration.  Age 47.  Director since 2005.

 

RoseAnn B. Rosenthal is President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, which provides entrepreneurial support and financial assistance to technology firms and start-up companies. Ms. Rosenthal has thirty-seven years of experience in business investment, regional planning and economic development.  Before joining Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Ms. Rosenthal was Senior Vice President for Strategic Development at Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.  Ms. Rosenthal received a B.A. from Temple University and in 2007, was awarded an Honorary Ph.D. in Humane Letters from Philadelphia University.  Age 57.  On March 12, 2008, the Board of Directors appointed Ms. Rosenthal to join the Board of Directors effective April 23, 2008.

 

Directors with Terms Ending in 2009

 

Roger H. Ballou is President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of CDI Corporation (NYSE: CDI), a company that offers clients engineering, information technology and professional staffing solutions.  Before joining CDI, Mr. Ballou served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Vacation Group and as a senior advisor to Thayer Capital Partners.  Previously, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Alamo Rent-a-Car.  For more than 16 years before joining Alamo, he held several positions with American Express, culminating in his appointment as President of the Travel Services Group. Mr. Ballou is a director of Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS).  Mr. Ballou received a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and an M.B.A. from the Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck School.  Age 56.  Director since 2005.

 

Richard E. Bauer is a Senior Vice President and Board Member of the Columbian Financial Group, a provider of life and health insurance, located in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.  Before joining Columbian and its predecessor the PhilanThropic Companies in 1992, Mr. Bauer was an executive officer of several banking institutions, most notably Provident National Bank (now part of PNC Bank). Mr. Bauer is currently Chairman of Philanthropic Mutual Fire Insurance Company and a Director of The Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, Mutual Management Company, LLC and the Pennsylvania Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association.  Mr. Bauer graduated from Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in Psychology.  He is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Advanced Management Program.  Age 64.  Director since 2005.

 

13



 

Peter A. Sears is a consultant for Quaker BioVentures, a $280 million venture capital group headquartered in Philadelphia.  Previously, Mr. Sears held various executive positions with SmithKline (NYSE: GSK) including Assistant General Counsel, Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, General Manager of Japan and Korea Operations, Vice President for the Asia Pacific Region and Vice President of Corporate Development.  He founded S.R. One Limited, SmithKline’s venture capital arm where he served as its President and the Corporation’s Vice President for Business Investments.  Mr. Sears is a director of AVANT, Immune Control Pharmaceuticals and Vybion, Inc.  Mr. Sears is a graduate of Colgate University and Harvard Law School.  Age 69.  Director since 2005.

 

Directors with Terms Ending in 2010

 

Richard M. Eisenstaedt has served as the President of the Eastern University Foundation and General Counsel for Eastern University since July 2004. Before joining Eastern University, Mr. Eisenstaedt retired as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE: TGI).  Previously, he was General Counsel to Unisource Worldwide, Inc., a subsidiary of Alco Standard Corporation. Mr. Eisenstaedt graduated from Albany Law School and received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University. Age 62. Director since 2005.

 

Anthony A. Nichols, Sr. is Chairman Emeritus and Trustee of Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN).  Before working with Brandywine Realty Trust, Mr. Nichols founded The Nichols Company, a private real estate development company, through a corporate joint venture with Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. and was President and Chief Executive Officer.  Previously, Mr. Nichols was Senior Vice President of Colonial Mortgage Service Company (now GMAC Mortgage Corporation) and President of Colonial Advisors.  Mr. Nichols is a graduate of and currently serves as Vice Chairman and Trustee of St. Joseph’s University. Age 68. Director since 2005.

 

Item 2 — Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed KPMG LLP to be the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2008 fiscal year, subject to ratification by stockholders.  A representative of KPMG LLP is expected to be present at the annual meeting to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders and will have the opportunity to make a statement should he or she desire to do so.

 

If the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm is not approved by a majority of the shares represented at the annual meeting and entitled to vote, other independent registered public accounting firms may be considered by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm.

 

14



 

Audit Fees.  The following table sets forth the fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 by KPMG LLP.

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit Fees(1)

 

$

667,375

 

$

946,980

 

Audit Related Fees

 

 

 

Tax Fees(2)

 

37,939

 

30,580

 

All Other Fees

 

 

 

 


(1)   Includes professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and review of consolidated financial statements included in Forms 10-Q, or services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings (i.e., attest services required by FDICIA or Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), including out-of-pocket expenses.  For 2006, also includes $539,650 related to the Company’s minority stock offering and related securities registration statement.

(2)   Represents services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including the preparation of the annual tax returns and quarterly tax payments.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.  The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing, setting the compensation and overseeing the work of the independent registered public accounting firm.  In accordance with its charter, the Audit Committee approves, in advance, all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditor.  Such approval process ensures that the external auditor does not provide any non-audit services to the Company that are prohibited by law or regulation.

 

In addition, the Audit Committee has established a policy regarding pre-approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm.  Requests for services by the independent registered public accounting firm for compliance with the auditor services policy must be specific as to the particular services to be provided.  The request may be made with respect to either specific services or a type of service for predictable or recurring services.  During the year ended December 31, 2007, all services were approved, in advance, by the Audit Committee in compliance with these procedures.

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Our Philosophy on Executive Compensation

 

Our goal is to drive sustainable increases in the value of the Company and the Bank by profitably serving an expanding base of satisfied clients.  Our competitive advantage is the caliber of our people.  It is people who deliver exceptional care to our clients and dynamically align business processes to deliver what clients care about most.  Our people-driven strategy demands that we attract, develop and retain a highly competent team while aligning compensation with business results.

 

Within this context, the three major objectives for our executive compensation program are:

 

·      Alignment:  Link executive compensation with increases in stockholder value and align stockholder and executive interests by requiring meaningful executive stock ownership levels.

 

·      Motivation:  Motivate executives to be accountable for achievement of our strategic and financial objectives.

 

15



 

·      Retention and Attraction:  Retain and attract senior executives, as well as other management.

 

To achieve these objectives, we have structured a compensation and benefit program that provides our named executive officers with the following:

 

·      Salary levels and merit salary increases that reflect position responsibilities, competitive market rates, strategic importance of the position and individual performance.

 

·      Annual cash incentive (i.e., bonus) payments that are based on the Company’s annual financial performance as defined by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board and achievement of certain strategic non-financial performance objectives.  The Board of Directors has complete discretion over the payment of such cash awards.

 

·      Long-term equity-based incentives that reward outstanding performance with incentives that focus our management team on creating shareholder value over the long term.  By increasing the equity holdings of our named executive officers, we provide them with a continuing stake in our long-term success.

 

·      Benefit programs that provide our executives with access to health and welfare benefits.  In addition, our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan and employee stock ownership plan, along with our Equity Incentive Plan.

 

·      Perquisites - we generally provide no special perquisites such as country club memberships and automobiles since the other elements of pay are sufficient when performance is acceptable to enable the executive to purchase such perquisites.

 

·      Employment or Change in Control Agreements that assure stability in management and provide change in control protection in a consolidating industry.

 

The various elements of the total benefit package for our named executive officers are designed to achieve different specific purposes, which are complementary, but include:  motivating appropriate behavior; rewarding different aspects of performance or meeting corporate objectives; and attracting and retaining the talent needed to successfully lead the Company and maximize stockholder value.

 

Our executive compensation philosophy is implemented through compensation programs based on the following guiding principles:

 

·    Pay for Performance:  The following key elements are ways we link pay to performance:

 

·      Emphasis on Motivation:  Pay is used to motivate management to focus on key financial and strategic goals by providing pay for outstanding annual and long-term performance.

 

·      Performance Management:  Performance assessment criteria for each executive are clearly communicated each year and are consistent with areas of performance identified by the Board.

 

·      Controllability:  Financial performance measures that management has the ability to impact and influence are used in the annual incentive plan and the long-term incentive program.

 

16



 

·      Explicitness:  Compensation opportunities and performance expectations are communicated to each executive.  Goals and payout schedules are established in advance for all incentive plans.

 

·      Differentiation:  Pay is managed to ensure that compensation reflects different levels of performance.

 

·    Performance Measures and Measurement:  Performance measurement is a critical component of our compensation philosophy.  For annual incentive payments, financial and non-financial performance measures are used to vary pay for individual executives.

 

·      Financial Measures:  The Board establishes financial objectives through both longer-term strategic plans and annual profit plans.

 

·      Individual Measures:  Assessment versus pre-established individual performance expectations for:

 

·      Financial and strategic non-financial goals and objectives to drive earnings growth, value creation and execution;

 

·      Financial and operational controls that maintain prudent risk management practices; and

 

·      People goals and objectives to promote the development of human capital, instill our core values and create a results-oriented environment.

 

·    Competitive Framework:  We compare our management compensation levels with industry specific compensation surveys and analyze the compensation paid to comparable executives for a selected peer group.

 

·    Pay Positioning:  The total compensation (salary, annual incentive, long-term incentives) and benefits package for our named executive officers is positioned around median competitive levels, taking into account the relative responsibilities of our named executive officers involved.  Actual total compensation in any given year may be above or below the target level based on individual and corporate performance.

 

·    Decision-Making Authority:  Decision-making for our compensation program is shared among the Board, the Compensation Committee, the chief executive officer and the human resources director.  The Board approves compensation for the chief executive officer and the Compensation Committee approves compensation for senior executive officers, after reviewing recommendations provided by the chief executive officer and the human resources director.

 

·    Communication:  Full communication of our compensation philosophy, annual and long-term incentive program designs and the goal-setting process is necessary to achieve program objectives. Full communication before and during defined performance periods will:

 

·      Allow executives to understand how their performance will be evaluated and how their compensation will be determined;

 

17



 

·      Demonstrate the alignment between compensation and strategic business initiatives and creating stockholder value; and

 

·      Ensure accountability of all executives for individual and business performance.

 

The Role of the Compensation Committee in Determining Executive Compensation

 

Compensation for the named executive officers is determined under programs reviewed by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.  The Compensation Committee approves executive officer salary increases and annual and long-term incentive award levels, except for the chief executive officer, whose salary increases and annual and long-term incentive award levels are approved by the Board.  The Committee also oversees the Company’s employee benefit plans and assesses executive performance results in determining awards under the annual and long-term incentive plans.  Additionally, the Compensation Committee approves executive employment or severance agreements, except for the chief executive officer, whose agreement is approved by the Board.  Finally, the Compensation Committee reviews compensation arrangements for the non-management directors and makes recommendations to the full Board of Directors as appropriate.

 

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter that establishes the Compensation Committee’s responsibilities.  The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors review the Charter annually to ensure that the scope of the Charter is consistent with the Compensation Committee’s expected role.  Under the Charter, the Compensation Committee is charged with general responsibility for the oversight and administration of our compensation program.  The Charter also authorizes the Compensation Committee to engage consultants and other professionals without management approval to the extent deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities.

 

Outside Consultants

 

In developing and monitoring our compensation programs in 2007, the Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer and Partners, a national compensation consulting firm.  Pearl Meyer reported directly to the Committee and provided the Committee with advice on equity award allocations, merit pay increases and Director/officer stock ownership guidelines.

 

Role of Management

 

The chief executive officer, in conjunction with representatives of the Compensation Committee and the Human Resources Department, develops recommendations regarding the appropriate mix and level of compensation for our management team.  The recommendations consider the objectives of our compensation philosophy and the range of compensation programs authorized by the Compensation Committee.  The chief executive officer meets with the Compensation Committee to discuss the compensation recommendations for the named executive officers.  The chief executive officer does not participate in Compensation Committee discussions relating to the determination of his compensation.

 

18



 

Our Peer Group

 

In 2007, the Company utilized the following peer group to determine the granting of equity awards:

 

Abington Bancorp, Inc.

 

 

Bank Financial Corporation

 

 

Benjamin Franklin Bancorp, Inc.

 

 

Clifton Savings Bancorp, Inc.

 

 

Kearny Financial Corp.

 

 

Legacy Bancorp, Inc.

 

 

Magyar Bancorp, Inc.

 

 

Ocean Shore Holding Company

 

 

Rainier Pacific Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

Rockville Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

SI Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

United Financial Bancorp, Inc.

 

 

 

The institutions were selected in consultation with Pearl Meyer because: (1) they have recently converted to a mutual holding company form of ownership or have recently completed a standard conversion from mutual to public ownership; (2) are primarily located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Region of the U.S.; and (3) have assets between $400 million and $2 billion.  The Compensation Committee has not determined if it will use this peer group to determine cash compensation for future periods.

 

Policy Regarding Base Salaries

 

In general, the Company targets base salaries at the median competitive levels relative to comparable positions in our peer group, taking into account the comparative responsibilities and performance of the executive officers involved.  Where the responsibilities of executive positions at Fox Chase Bank are different from those typically found among other banks, or where executives are new to their responsibilities or play a particularly critical role at the Company, base salaries may be targeted above or below median competitive levels.  The Compensation Committee used the cash compensation survey data prepared by Gough Management Company in 2006 to benchmark base salaries for our named executive officers.  During fiscal 2007, the Compensation Committee consulted with Pearl Meyer and based on their input, approved Company-wide average merit pay increases of 3.5% in base pay in 2008.

 

Policy Regarding Annual Incentive Pay

 

We maintain the Profit Incentive Plan for all employees, including our named executive officers.  Under the plan, a target incentive pool is determined annually based on applying a defined percentage to each employee’s salary rate.  The defined percentages range between 2.5% for non-exempt employees to 50% for the chief executive officer and two other officers approved by the Compensation Committee.  At the beginning of each year, the Board approves the Company’s business plan for the coming year that establishes a goal for corporate performance under the performance incentive plan.  If the Company achieves the goal, then the incentive pool for the year is fully funded.  If a minimally acceptable level of earnings is achieved, the incentive pool is funded at the target level for only non-exempt employees and only non-exempt employees are eligible for annual incentive pay based on individual performance.  For earnings above the minimally acceptable level but less than the goal, pool dollars are funded at the pro rata level of the target incentive pool.  Pool dollars are first applied to non-exempt employees at target funding and each employee group thereafter in order of priority (from lowest level to highest level) until the pool is exhausted.  For earnings above the goal the incentive pool is funded at the target pool level plus an additional pro rata amount.  Actual bonus awards to individuals are adjusted for corporate and individual performance.  In 2007, the Company’s earnings were above the minimally acceptable level but less than the goal.

 

For 2007, the Committee recognized the Company’s annual financial performance, continued improvements in asset quality and the continued execution of our long-term strategy.  After considering

 

19



 

the total compensation paid each named executive officer for 2007, including the grants of equity awards made in August 2007, the Committee believes the named executive officers were satisfactorily rewarded for their performance and compensated at a level commensurate with peers during 2007 and, therefore, did not approve cash payments under the performance incentive plan in 2007.

 

Policy Regarding Long-Term Equity-Based Incentives; Timing Issues

 

The Compensation Committee considers whether to make stock option grants and/or award other forms of equity on an annual basis.  The Compensation Committee considers peer group data prepared by Pearl Meyer, as well as the recommendations of the chief executive officer and other executive officers with respect to awards contemplated for their subordinates.

 

The Compensation Committee’s process with respect to the determination of grant dates or the stock option exercise prices is made after carefully considering the Company’s timing of earnings releases and/or other material nonpublic information to ensure that there is no manipulation of the market to the executive’s benefit.  The Compensation Committee’s decisions are reviewed and ratified by the full Board of Directors.  Similarly, the Company never times the release of material nonpublic information with the purpose or intent to affect the value of executive compensation.  In general, the release of such information reflects established timetables for the disclosure of material nonpublic information such as earnings reports or, with respect to other events reportable under federal securities laws, the applicable requirements of such laws with respect to timing of disclosure.

 

The Compensation Committee sets the exercise price of stock options solely by reference to the applicable provisions of the equity plan.  At the 2007 annual meeting, shareholders approved the Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.  Under the terms of the 2007 Plan, options are granted at an exercise price equal to the closing sales price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the date of grant.  On August 31, 2007, the Compensation Committee recommended and the full Board approved stock option and restricted stock awards to our named executive officers.  See “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” for specifics regarding the 2007 equity awards.

 

Employment Agreements

 

We currently maintain employment agreements with all of our named executive officers that are consistent with the agreements provided to senior executive officers in the banking industry.  Employment agreements assist us in attracting and retaining top executives in the industry.   See “Employment Agreements” and “Potential Post-Termination Payments” for a description of the terms of the agreements and the termination benefits payable to each named executive officer.

 

Tax and Accounting Considerations

 

In consultation with our advisors, we evaluate the tax and accounting treatment of each of our compensation programs at the time of adoption and annually to ensure that we understand the financial impact of each program on the Company and its subsidiaries.  Our analysis includes a review of recently adopted and pending changes in tax and accounting requirements.

 

Stock Ownership Guidelines

 

In October 2007, the Compensation Committee established stock ownership guidelines for the named executive officers and members of our Board of Directors.  The guidelines state that each non-employee member of the Board of Directors must obtain ownership levels in the Company equal to three times their 2007 annual retainer.  Our chief executive officer is required to acquire stock ownership levels

 

20



 

equal to four times his 2007 base salary.  The remaining named executive officers must acquire stock ownership levels of two times their 2007 base salaries.  These guidelines provide that all executives have five years to obtain such ownership levels.  If ownership levels are not achieved, the Compensation Committee may elect to divert future cash compensation to some form of equity-based compensation.

 

Compensation for Named Executive Officers for the 2007 Fiscal Year

 

Chief Executive Officer Compensation.  In determining Mr. Petro’s compensation, the Compensation Committee conducted a performance appraisal that reviewed Mr. Petro’s financial, strategic and operational achievements.  In its review, the Compensation Committee noted that Mr. Petro exhibits strong leadership skills and is moving the Company in a direction that has the potential to enhance long-term shareholder value.  Mr. Petro’s efforts have ensured that systems are maintained to protect our assets, provide effective control over operations, achieve our financial targets and further strengthen the management team.  Mr. Petro has also served as our chief spokesperson, communicating effectively with shareholders, as well as the customers of Fox Chase Bank.  The Committee assesses Mr. Petro’s performance by completing an annual written performance review.  Mr. Petro also completes a self-evaluation of his performance and submits it to the Committee.  The Committee Chairman and the Chairman of the Board then meet with Mr. Petro to discuss and review these written performance appraisals and to establish written goals and objectives for 2008.  In light of the committee’s assessment of Mr. Petro’s performance and the Company’s financial performance for 2007, Mr. Petro was awarded a salary increase of $10,249, which represents a 3.7% increase in his base salary. The Compensation Committee targets overall cash compensation for our chief executive officer at or above the median of our peer group. Mr. Petro’s salary increase became effective on March 3, 2008.  In connection with Mr. Petro’s performance and overall compensation review, the Compensation Committee renewed Mr. Petro’s employment agreement for an additional year.  In August 2007, the Compensation Committee recommended and the Board approved equity awards for Mr. Petro under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.  See “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” for information on Mr. Petro’s option grant and stock awards.  We believe that Mr. Petro’s overall compensation structure is consistent with our objective to reward, align, motivate and challenge Mr. Petro to continue to lead our company successfully.

 

Compensation for the Other Named Executive Officers.  In determining compensation for Messrs. Holbrook, Schermerhorn, Lynch and Kowalek, the Compensation Committee reviewed the performance of each officer for 2007 including the performance appraisals presented by the chief executive officer.  After discussion, the Committee approved increases in each of their base salaries of 3.85%, 3.00%, 3.50% and 3.50%, respectively. Based on these adjustments, Messrs. Holbrook, Schermerhorn, Lynch and Kowalek, currently receive a base salary of $216,008, $186,430, $171,810 and $161,460, respectively.  The Compensation Committee targets overall cash compensation for our other named executive officers at the median or above the median of our peer group depending on the individual’s level of experience and performance.  The salary increases became effective on March 3, 2008.  In addition to a salary increase, the Compensation Committee also renewed each of the executive’s employment agreements for an additional year, except for the agreement with Mr. Schermerhorn, reflecting Mr. Schermerhorn’s desire to retire at the end of October 2008.  In August 2007, the Compensation Committee recommended and the Board approved equity awards for Holbrook, Lynch and Kowalek under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.  See “Grants of Plan Based Awards” for additional information on the option grants and stock awards made to the other named executive officers.  In lieu of an equity award, the Bank entered into a retention incentive agreement with Mr. Schermerhorn pursuant to which Mr. Schermerhorn will receive $130,000 at the end of October 2008 (the month in which he becomes 65 years of age) provided that he remains employed with the Bank until that time.  We believe that the overall compensation structure for Messrs. Holbrook, Schermerhorn, Lynch and Kowalek is consistent with our compensation objectives and that each named executive officer is compensated at a level commensurate with our peers.

 

21



 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table provides information concerning total compensation earned or paid to the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company and our three other most highly compensated executives.  These five officers are referred to as the named executive officers in this proxy statement.

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary

 

Bonus

 

Stock
Awards (1)

 

Option
Awards (2)

 

All Other
Compensation (3)

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

2007

 

$

276,539

 

$

 

$

40,441

 

$

29,467

 

$

14,803

 

$

361,250

 

President and Chief Executive

 

2006

 

265,000

 

65,000

 

 

 

24,067

 

354,067

 

Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerry D. Holbrook

 

2007

 

207,692

 

 

26,411

 

17,000

 

19,128

 

270,231

 

Executive Vice President and

 

2006

 

200,000

 

60,000

 

 

 

22,956

 

282,956

 

Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James V. Schermerhorn

 

2007

 

180,769

 

 

 

 

87,567

(4)

268,336

 

Executive Vice President and Chief

 

2006

 

175,000

 

3,000

 

 

 

20,568

 

228,568

 

Lending Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keiron G. Lynch

 

2007

 

165,769

 

 

11,555

 

7,253

 

17,055

 

201,632

 

Executive Vice President and Chief

 

2006

 

160,000

 

33,000

 

 

 

47,851

 

240,851

 

Administration Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David C. Kowalek

 

2007

 

155,769

 

 

11,555

 

7,253

 

16,197

 

190,774

 

Executive Vice President and Chief

 

2006

 

150,000

 

33,000

 

 

 

39,478

 

222,478

 

Credit Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)    Reflects the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with SFAS 123(R) on outstanding restricted stock awards for each of the named executive officers.  The amounts were calculated based on the Company’s stock price of $12.38 as of the date of grant.  When shares become vested and are distributed from the trust in which they are held, the recipient will also receive an amount equal to accumulated cash and stock dividends (if any) paid with respect thereto, plus earnings thereon.

(2)   Reflects the compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with SFAS 123(R) for outstanding stock option awards for each of the named executive officers.  The grant date fair value for options granted in 2007 was $3.40.  The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate its compensation cost for stock option awards.  For further information on the assumptions used to compute the fair value, see Note 10 to the Notes to the Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.  The actual value, if any, realized by an executive officer from any option will depend on the extent to which the market value of the common stock exceeds the exercise price of the option on the date the option is exercised.  Accordingly, there is no assurance that the value realized by an executive officer will be at or near the value estimated above.

(3)   Details of the amounts reported in the “All Other Compensation” column for 2007 are provided in the table below.  The      table excludes perquisites, which did not exceed $10,000 in the aggregate for each named executive officer.

 

 

 

Mr. Petro

 

Mr. Holbrook

 

Mr. Schermerhorn

 

Mr. Lynch

 

Mr. Kowalek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contributions to 401(k) plan

 

$

 

$

4,325

 

$

3,503

 

$

3,978

 

$

3,778

 

Market value of ESOP contributions

 

14,803

 

14,803

 

14,064

 

13,077

 

12,419

 

 

(4)   Includes $70,000 earned by Mr. Schermerhorn under the Amended and Restated Fox Chase Bank Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

Employment Agreements

 

Fox Chase Bancorp and Fox Chase Bank maintain an employment agreement with each of Thomas M. Petro, Jerry D. Holbrook, James V. Schermerhorn, Keiron G. Lynch and David C. Kowalek.  The employment agreements were entered into effective September 29, 2006 and had an initial term of three years.  On each anniversary of the date of the agreement the board of directors may extend the agreement for an additional year, unless the executive elects not to extend the term.  As a result of an

 

22



 

extension approved by the board of directors, each executive’s employment agreement (except for Mr. Schermerhorn’s agreement) currently has a term through September 26, 2010.  Mr. Schermerhorn’s agreement has a term through September 26, 2009.  Among other things, the agreements provide for a minimum annual salary, participation in discretionary bonuses or other incentive compensation provided to senior management, and participation in stock benefit plans and other fringe benefits applicable to executive personnel.

 

See “Potential Post-Termination Benefits” for a discussion of the benefits and payments each executive may receive under his employment agreement upon his termination of employment.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table provides information concerning all stock and option awards granted to the named executive officers in 2007 under the Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Name

 

Grant Date

 

All Other Stock
Awards: Number of
Shares of Stock or
Units (1)

 

All Other Option
Awards: Number of
Securities Underlying
Options (1)

 

Exercise or
Base Price of
Option Awards

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

8/31/2007

 

49,000

 

130,000

 

$

12.38

 

$

1,048,620

 

Jerry D. Holbrook

 

8/31/2007

 

32,000

 

75,000

 

12.38

 

651,160

 

James V. Schermerhorn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keiron G. Lynch

 

8/31/2007

 

14,000

 

32,000

 

12.38

 

282,120

 

David C. Kowalek

 

8/31/2007

 

14,000

 

32,000

 

12.38

 

282,120

 

 


(1)   Vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.

(2)   Sets forth the grant date fair value of stock and option awards calculated in accordance with FAS 123(R).  The grant date fair value of all stock awards is equal to the number of awards multiplied by $12.38, the closing price for the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.  The grant date fair value for option awards is equal to the number of options multiplied by a fair value of $3.40, which was computed using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. For further information regarding the assumptions used to calculate fair value, see footnote 10 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

23



 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

 

The following table provides information concerning unexercised options and stock awards that have not vested for each named executive officer outstanding as of December 31, 2007.

 

Name

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable (1)

 

Option Exercise
Price

 

Option
Expiration
Date

 

Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
(1)

 

Market Value of
Shares or Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested
(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

 

130,000

 

$

12.38

 

8/31/2017

 

49,000

 

$

558,600

 

Jerry D. Holbrook

 

 

75,000

 

12.38

 

8/31/2017

 

32,000

 

364,800

 

James V. Schermerhorn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keiron G. Lynch

 

 

32,000

 

12.38

 

8/31/2017

 

14,000

 

159,600

 

David C. Kowalek

 

 

32,000

 

12.38

 

8/31/2017

 

14,000

 

159,600

 

 


(1)   Vest in five equal annual installments beginning one year from the date of grant, which for all awards and options was
August 31, 2007.

(2)           Based upon the Company’s closing stock price of $11.40 on December 31, 2007.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

The following table provides information with respect to each deferred compensation plan in which the named executive officers participated in 2007.

 

 

 

Aggregate Balance
at Last
Fiscal Year End (1)

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

$

200,000

 

Jerry D. Holbrook

 

150,000

 

James V. Schermerhorn

 

 

Keiron G. Lynch

 

70,000

 

David C. Kowalek

 

70,000

 

 


(1)   Includes amounts granted in 2006 under the Amended and Restated Fox Chase Bank Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan, which vest as described below.  The amount granted to Mr. Schermerhorn vested in 2007.  See “Summary Compensation Table.”

 

The Bank maintains the Fox Chase Bank Amended and Restated Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan to retain and attract key officers who contribute to the financial and business success of the Bank.  On an annual basis, our Board of Directors considers granting a long-term incentive award to our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Executive Officer determines the awards for all other plan participants. Currently, all the named executive officers participate in the plan, along with three other officers.  Substantially all of the awards vest over a five year period with 60% of the award vesting on the third anniversary of the plan year to which the award was granted, 80% on the fourth anniversary and 100% on the fifth anniversary.  See “Potential Post-Termination Benefits” for a discussion of the payments each executive may receive under this plan upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

24



 

Retirement Benefits

 

Retention Incentive Agreement.  The Bank has entered into a retention incentive agreement with Mr. Schermerhorn pursuant to which Mr. Schermerhorn will receive a lump sum payment of $130,000, less applicable tax withholding, provided that he remains employed with the Bank in his present position through the last day of the month in which he reaches age 65.  In addition, if before the scheduled payment date, Mr. Schermerhorn’s employment is terminated because of his death or disability (as defined in the agreement), or by the Bank without cause (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Schermerhorn will receive the retention incentive payment within thirty days of his termination date.  Mr. Schermerhorn is not entitled to the payment if his employment is terminated by the Bank for cause.

 

Potential Post-Termination Payments

 

Payments Made Upon Termination for Cause.  The employment agreements contain a narrow definition of cause for which the executives’ employment may be terminated.  If any of the executives is terminated for cause, he will receive his base salary through the date of termination and retain the rights to any vested benefits subject to the terms of the plan or arrangement under which those benefits are provided.

 

Payments Made Upon Termination Without Cause.  If the Bank or the Company terminates an executive’s employment for reasons other than for cause or a change in control, or if an executive resigns from the Bank or the Company after specified circumstances set forth in the agreements that would constitute constructive termination, the employment agreements provide that the executive or, if he dies, his beneficiary, would be entitled to receive his base salary and health and life insurance coverage for the remaining term of this agreement.  In addition, the executive would be entitled to receive, for the remaining term of the agreement, all benefits he would have received during the remaining term of the agreement under any retirement program (tax-qualified or non-qualified) in which the executive participated before his termination of employment.  Upon termination of the executive’s employment for reasons other than cause or a change in control, the executive must adhere to a one year non-competition restriction.

 

Payments Made Upon Disability.  The employment agreements provide each executive with a disability benefit equal to two-thirds of the executive’s monthly rate of base salary as of his termination date.  An executive will cease to receive disability payments upon the earlier of:  (1) the date the executive returns to full-time employment; (2) the death of the executive; or (3) executive’s attainment of age 65.  In addition, the executive would continue to be covered, to the greatest extent possible, under all benefit plans in which the executive participated before his disability as if he were actively employed by us.  Disability payments are reduced by any disability benefits paid to an executive under any policy or program maintained by the Bank.

 

The vesting of awards under the Bank’s Amended and Restated Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan accelerate if a participant is terminated due to disability.

 

Upon an executive’s termination due to disability, outstanding stock options granted pursuant to our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan automatically vest and remain exercisable until the earlier of one year from the date of termination due to disability or the expiration of the stock options.  Restricted stock awards granted to an executive under the plan also vest in full upon the executive’s termination due to disability.

 

Payments Made Upon Death.  Under the employment agreements, the executive’s estate is entitled to receive any salary and bonus accrued but unpaid as of the date of the executive’s death.  We

 

25



 

would also continue to provide the executive’s dependents with the medical insurance benefits existing on the date of the executive’s death for a period of six months.

 

The vesting of awards under the Bank’s Amended and Restated Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan also accelerate upon a participant’s death.

 

Upon an executive’s death, outstanding stock options granted pursuant to our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan automatically vest and remain exercisable until the earlier of one year from the date the executive dies or the expiration of the stock options.  Restricted stock awards granted to the executives under the plan also vest in full upon the executive’s death.

 

Payments Made Upon a Change in Control.  Following a change in control of the Bank or the Company, under the terms of the employment agreements, if an executive voluntarily terminates (upon circumstances discussed in the agreement) or involuntarily terminates employment, the executive or, if the executive dies, the executive’s beneficiary, would be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to the greater of: (1) the payments and benefits due for the remaining term of the agreement or (2) three times the executive’s average base salary for the three preceding taxable years or (3) three times the executive’s base salary (as defined in the agreement) for the most recent taxable year (or portion of the taxable year).  The Bank would also continue to pay or provide for life, medical and dental coverage for executive and his dependents for 36 months following his termination of employment.

 

Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code provides that severance payments that equal or exceed three times an individual’s base amount are deemed to be “excess parachute payments” if they are contingent upon a change in control (the “Section 280G Limitation”).  An individual’s base amount is equal to an average of the individual’s Form W-2 compensation for the five years preceding the year a change in control occurs (or such lesser number of years if the individual has not been employed for five years).  Individuals receiving excess parachute payments are subject to a 20% excise tax on the amount of the payment in excess of the base amount, and the employer may not deduct such amount for federal tax purposes.  The employments agreements limit payments made to the executives in connection with a change in control to amounts that will not exceed the limits imposed by Section 280G.

 

The vesting of awards under the Bank’s Amended and Restated Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan also accelerate upon a change in control of the Bank.

 

Under the terms of our employee stock ownership plan, upon a change in control (as defined in the plan), the plan will terminate and the plan trustee will repay in full any outstanding acquisition loan.  After repayment of the acquisition loan, all remaining shares of Company common stock held in the loan suspense account, all other stock or securities, and any cash proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any shares of Company common stock held in the loan suspense account will be allocated among the accounts of all participants in the plan who were employed on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the change in control.  The allocations of shares or cash proceeds shall be credited to each eligible participant in proportion to the opening balances in their accounts as of the first day of the valuation period in which the change in control occurred.  Payments under our employee stock ownership plan are not categorized as parachute payments and, therefore, do not count towards each executive’s Section 280G Limitation.

 

In the event of a change in control of the Company or the Bank, outstanding stock options granted pursuant to our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan automatically vest and, if the option holder is terminated other than for cause within 12 months of the change in control, will remain exercisable until the expiration date of the stock options.  Restricted stock awards granted to the executives under the plan also vest in full

 

26



 

upon a change in control.  The value of the accelerated options and restricted stock grants count towards the executives’ Section 280G Limitations.

 

The following table provides the amount of compensation payable to Mr. Petro for each of the situations listed below.

 

 

 

Payments Due Upon

 

 

 

Termination
For Cause

 

Termination
Without
Cause 

 

Change in Control
With Termination
of Employment

 

Disability (1)

 

Death

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base Salary

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,954,681

 

$

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefit plan contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance payments and benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base salary

 

 

760,482

 

 

829,617

 

 

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

 

195,000

 

 

 

401(k) matching contribution and ESOP benefit

 

 

40,708

 

 

44,409

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

23,366

 

 

24,399

 

 

 

Value of acceleration of unvested equity awards

 

 

558,600

 

 

558,600

 

558,600

 

558,600

 

Value of acceleration of Vesting of Long-Term Incentive Plan award

 

 

200,000

 

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

Total severance payments before Section 280G Limit (2)

 

 

 

 

1,852,025

 

 

 

Less amount over Section 280G Limit

 

 

 

 

(1,098,081

)

 

 

Total severance payment

 

 

 

 

753,944

 

 

 

 


(1)   Assumes disability payment equal to two-thirds of the executive’s monthly rate of base salary as of his termination date is continued until executive reaches 65 years of age.

(2)   In the event the executive is terminated following a change in control, payment and benefits he is entitled to receive will be reduced to $1 less than his 280G Limit.  See “Payments Made Upon Change in Control” for a description on how the executive’s 280G Limit is calculated.

 

27



 

The following table provides the amount of compensation payable to Mr. Holbrook for each of the situations listed below.

 

 

 

Payments Due Upon

 

 

 

Termination
For Cause

 

Termination
Without
Cause

 

Change in Control
With Termination
of Employment

 

Disability (1)

 

Death

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base Salary

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,802,676

 

$

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefit plan contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance payments and benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base salary

 

 

571,153

 

 

623,076

 

 

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

 

180,000

 

 

 

401(k) matching contribution and ESOP benefit

 

 

52,601

 

 

57,384

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

2,876

 

 

3,138

 

 

 

Value of acceleration of unvested equity awards

 

 

364,800

 

 

364,800

 

364,800

 

364,800

 

Value of acceleration of Vesting of Long-Term Incentive Plan award

 

 

150,000

 

 

150,000

 

150,000

 

150,000

 

Total severance payments before Section 280G Limit (2)

 

 

 

 

1,378,398

 

 

 

Less amount over Section 280G Limit

 

 

 

 

(801,867

)

 

 

Total severance payment

 

 

 

 

576,531

 

 

 

 


(1)           Assumes disability payment is continued until executive reaches 65 years of age.

(2)   In the event the executive is terminated following a change in control, payment and benefits he is entitled to receive will be reduced to $1 less than his 280G Limit.  See “Payments Made Upon Change in Control” for a description on how the executive’s 280G Limit is calculated.

 

28



 

The following table provides the amount of compensation payable to Mr. Schermerhorn for each of the situations listed below.

 

 

 

Payments Due Upon

 

 

 

Termination
For Cause

 

Termination
Without
Cause

 

Change in Control
With Termination
of Employment

 

Disability (1)

 

Death

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base Salary

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

100,556

 

$

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefit plan contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance payments and benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base salary

 

 

497,115

 

542,307

 

 

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

99,000

 

 

 

401(k) matching contribution and ESOP benefit

 

 

48,310

 

52,701

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

20,710

 

22,593

 

 

 

Total severance payments before Section 280G Limit (2)

 

 

 

716,601

 

 

 

Less amount over Section 280G Limit

 

 

 

(289,003

)

 

 

Total severance payment

 

 

 

427,597

 

 

 

Retention Incentive Agreement payment

 

 

130,000

 

 

130,000

 

130,000

 

 


(1)           Assumes disability payment is continued until executive reaches 65 years of age.

(2)   In the event the executive is terminated following a change in control, payment and benefits he is entitled to receive will be reduced to $1 less than his 280G Limit.  See “Payments Made Upon Change in Control” for a description on how the executive’s 280G Limit is calculated.

 

29



 

The following table provides the amount of compensation payable to Mr. Lynch for each of the situations listed below.

 

 

 

Payments Due Upon

 

 

 

Termination
For Cause

 

Termination
Without
Cause

 

Change in Control
With Termination
of Employment

 

Disability (1)

 

Death

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base Salary

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,549,341

 

$

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefit plan contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance payments and benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base salary

 

 

455,865

 

497,307

 

 

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

99,000

 

 

 

401(k) matching contribution and ESOP benefit

 

 

46,900

 

51,165

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

20,710

 

22,593

 

 

 

Value of acceleration of unvested equity awards

 

 

159,600

 

159,600

 

159,600

 

159,600

 

Value of acceleration of Vesting of Long-Term Incentive Plan award

 

 

70,000

 

70,000

 

70,000

 

70,000

 

Total severance payments before Section 280G Limit (2)

 

 

 

899,665

 

 

 

Less amount over Section 280G Limit

 

 

 

(441,151

)

 

 

Total severance payment

 

 

 

458,514

 

 

 

 


(1)           Assumes disability payment is continued until executive reaches 65 years of age.

(2)   In the event the executive is terminated following a change in control, payment and benefits he is entitled to receive will be reduced to $1 less than his 280G Limit.  See “Payments Made Upon Change in Control” for a description on how the executive’s 280G Limit is calculated.

 

30



 

The following table provides the amount of compensation payable to Mr. Kowalek for each of the situations listed below.

 

 

 

Payments Due Upon

 

 

 

Termination
For Cause

 

Termination
Without
Cause

 

Change in Control
With Termination
of Employment

 

Disability

 

Retirement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base Salary

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,144,006

 

$

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefit plan contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severance payments and benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base salary

 

 

428,365

 

467,307

 

 

 

Bonuses

 

 

 

99,000

 

 

 

401(k) matching contribution and ESOP benefit

 

 

44,539

 

48,591

 

 

 

Health and welfare benefits

 

 

2,876

 

3,138

 

 

 

Value of acceleration of unvested equity awards

 

 

159,600

 

159,600

 

159,600

 

159,600

 

Value of acceleration of Vesting of Long-Term Incentive Plan award

 

 

70,000

 

70,000

 

70,000

 

70,000

 

Total severance payments before Section 280G Limit (2)

 

 

 

847,636

 

 

 

Less amount over Section 280G Limit

 

 

 

(403,174

)

 

 

Total severance payment

 

 

 

444,462

 

 

 

 


(1)           Assumes disability payment is continued until executive reaches 65 years of age.

(2)   In the event the executive is terminated following a change in control, payment and benefits he is entitled to receive will be reduced to $1 less than his 280G Limit.  See “Payments Made Upon Change in Control” for a description on how the executive’s 280G Limit is calculated.

 

31



 

OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of any registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  These individuals are required by regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

 

Based solely on its review of the copies of the reports it has received and written representations provided to the Company from the individuals required to file the reports, the Company believes that each of its executive officers and directors has complied with applicable reporting requirements for transactions in Company common stock during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, except for one late report filed by each of Richard J. Fuchs, Richard E. Bauer and Thomas M. Petro, each regarding a purchase of Company common stock and one late report filed by Anthony A. Nichols, Sr. regarding a sale of Company common stock.

 

Policies and Procedures for Approval of Related Persons Transactions

 

We maintain a Policy and Procedures Governing Related Party Transactions, which is a written policy and set of procedures for the review and approval or ratification of transactions involving related persons.  Under the policy, related persons consist of directors, director nominees, executive officers, persons or entities known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of any outstanding class of voting securities of the Company, or immediate family members or certain affiliated entities of any of the foregoing persons.

 

Transactions covered by the policy consist of any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which:

 

·              the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $50,000 in any calendar year;

 

·              the Company is, will or may be expected to be a participant; and

 

·              any related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

The policy excludes certain transactions, including:

 

·              any compensation paid to an executive officer of the Company if the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved (or recommended that the Board approve) such compensation;

 

·              any compensation paid to a director of the Company if the Board or an authorized committee of the Board approved such compensation; and

 

·              any transaction with a related person involving consumer and investor financial products and services provided in the ordinary course of the Company’s business and on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable services

 

32



 

provided to unrelated third parties or to the Company’s employees on a broad basis (and, in the case of loans, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).

 

Related person transactions will be approved or ratified by the Audit Committee.  In determining whether to approve or ratify a related person transaction, the Audit Committee will consider all relevant factors, including:

 

·              whether the terms of the proposed transaction are at least as favorable to the Company as those that might be achieved with an unaffiliated third party;

 

·              the size of the transaction and the amount of consideration payable to the related person;

 

·              the nature of the interest of the related person;

 

·              whether the transaction may involve a conflict of interest; and

 

·              whether the transaction involves the provision of goods and services to the Company that are available from unaffiliated third parties.

 

A member of the Audit Committee who has an interest in the transaction will abstain from voting on the approval of the transaction but may, if so requested by the Chair of the Audit Committee, participate in some or all of the discussion relating to the transaction.

 

Transactions with Related Persons

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 generally prohibits loans by the Company to its executive officers and directors.  However, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act contains a specific exemption from such prohibition for loans by the Bank to its executive officers and directors in compliance with federal banking regulations.  Federal regulations require that all loans or extensions of credit to executive officers and directors of insured financial institutions must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.  The Bank is therefore prohibited from making any new loans or extensions of credit to executive officers and directors at different rates or terms than those offered to the general public.  Notwithstanding this rule, federal regulations permit the Bank to make loans to executive officers and directors at reduced interest rates if the loan is made under a benefit program generally available to all other employees and does not give preference to any executive officer or director over any other employee, although the Bank does not currently have such a program in place.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s Audit Committee Charter,  the Audit Committee periodically reviews, no less frequently than quarterly, a summary of the Company’s transactions with directors and executive officers of the Company and with firms that employ directors, as well as any other related person transactions, for the purpose of recommending to the disinterested members of the Board of Directors that the transactions are fair, reasonable and within Company policy and should be ratified and approved.  Also, in accordance with banking regulations and its policy, the Board of Directors reviews all loans made to a director or executive officer in an amount that, when aggregated with the amount of all other loans to such person and his or her related interests, exceed the greater of $25,000 or 5% of the Company’s capital and surplus (up to a maximum of $500,000) and such loan must be approved in advance by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors.  Additionally, pursuant to the Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, all executive officers and directors of the Company

 

33



 

must disclose any existing or potential conflicts of interest to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  Such potential conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the Company conducting business with or competing against an organization in which a family member of an executive officer or director has an ownership or employment interest and (2) the ownership of more than 5% of the outstanding securities or 5% of total assets of any business entity that does business with or is in competition with the Company.

 

SUBMISSION OF BUSINESS PROPOSALS AND STOCKHOLDER NOMINATIONS

 

The Company must receive proposals that stockholders seek to include in the proxy statement for the Company’s next annual meeting no later than December 19, 2008.  If next year’s annual meeting is held on a date more than 30 calendar days from May 22, 2009, a stockholder proposal must be received by a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail its proxy solicitation for such annual meeting.  Any stockholder proposals will be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Company’s Bylaws provide that, in order for a stockholder to make nominations for the election of directors or proposals for business to be brought before the annual meeting, a stockholder must deliver notice of such nominations and/or proposals to the Secretary not less than 30 days before the date of the annual meeting.  However, if less than 40 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is given to stockholders, such notice must be received not later than the close of business of the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed to stockholders or prior public disclosure of the meeting date was made.  A copy of the Bylaws may be obtained from the Company.

 

STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS

 

The Company encourages stockholder communications to the Board of Directors and/or individual directors.  All communications from stockholders should be addressed to Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc., 4390 Davisville Road, Hatboro, Pennsylvania 19040.  Communications to the Board of Directors should be in the care of Jerry D. Holbrook, Corporate Secretary.  Communications to individual directors should be sent to such director at the Company’s address.  Stockholders who wish to communicate with a Committee of the Board should send their communications to the care of the Chair of the particular committee, with a copy to Richard M. Eisenstaedt, the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.  It is in the discretion of the Nominating and Governance Committee whether any communication sent to the full Board should be brought before the full Board.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

The Company will pay the cost of this proxy solicitation.  The Company will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the Company.  Additionally, directors, officers and other employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone.  None of these persons will receive additional compensation for these activities.

 

The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders has been included with this proxy statement.  Any stockholder who has not received a copy of the Annual Report may obtain a copy by writing to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.  The Annual Report is not to be treated as part of the proxy solicitation material or as having been incorporated by reference into this proxy statement.

 

34



 

If you and others who share your address own your shares in “street name,” your broker or other holder of record may be sending only one annual report and proxy statement to your address.  This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce our printing and postage costs.  However, if a stockholder residing at such an address wishes to receive a separate annual report or proxy statement in the future, he or she should contact the broker or other holder of record.  If you own your shares in “street name” and are receiving multiple copies of our annual report and proxy statement, you can request householding by contacting your broker or other holder of record.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please vote by marking, signing, dating and promptly returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope.

 

35



 

REVOCABLE PROXY

FOX CHASE BANCORP, INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

May 22, 2008

9:00 a.m., Local Time

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The undersigned hereby appoints the official proxy committee of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), consisting of Roger H. Ballou and Richard E. Bauer or either of them, with full power of substitution in each, to act as proxy for the undersigned, and to vote all shares of common stock of the Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote only at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 22, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania and at any adjournments thereof, with all of the powers the undersigned would possess if personally present at such meeting as follows:

 

1.             The election as directors of all nominees listed (unless the “For All Except” box is marked and the instructions below are complied with).

 

Thomas M. Petro, Todd S. Benning and RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR ALL

 

FOR

 

WITHHOLD

 

EXCEPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any individual nominee, mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write that nominee’s name on the line provided below.

 

 

 

 

 

2.             The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.

 



 

This proxy is revocable and will be voted as directed, but if no instructions are specified, this proxy, properly signed and dated, will be voted “FOR” each of the proposals listed.  If any other business is presented at the Annual Meeting, including whether or not to adjourn the meeting, this proxy will be voted by the proxies in their judgment.  At the present time, the Board of Directors knows of no other business to be presented at the Annual Meeting.  This proxy also confers discretionary authority on the Proxy Committee of the Board of Directors to vote (1) with respect to the election of any person as director, where the nominees are unable to serve or for good cause will not serve and (2) matters incident to the conduct of the meeting.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE OF CO-HOLDER (IF ANY)

 

Please sign exactly as your name appears on this card.  When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full title.  If shares are held jointly, each holder may sign but only one signature is required.

 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.

 



 

GRAPHIC

 

Dear 401(k) Plan Participant:

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), I am forwarding you the attached GREEN vote authorization form to convey your voting instructions to RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) on the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. to be held on May 22, 2008.  Also enclosed is a Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. and a copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders.

 

As a holder of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. common stock through the Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. Stock Fund in the Fox Chase Bank 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, you are entitled to direct the Trustee how to vote the shares of common stock credited to your account as of April 4, 2008, the record date for the Annual Meeting.  If the Trustee does not receive your instructions by May 15, 2008, the Trustee will vote your shares in a manner calculated to most accurately reflect the instructions received from other 401(k) Plan participants.

 

Please complete, sign and return the enclosed GREEN vote authorization form in the postage paid envelope provided by RSGroup Trust Company. Your vote will not be revealed, directly or indirectly, to any employee or director of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. or Fox Chase Bank.

 

If you participate in several employer-sponsored stock-based benefit plans you will receive multiple vote authorization forms.  Please submit all of the vote authorization forms you receive.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas M. Petro

 

 

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



 

401(k) PLAN

VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM

 

FOX CHASE BANCORP, INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

May 22, 2008

9:00 a.m., Local Time

 

I understand that RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) is the holder of record and custodian of all shares of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) common stock under the Fox Chase Bank 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust (the “Plan”).  I understand that my voting instructions are solicited on behalf of the Company’s Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 22, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.

 

You are to vote my shares as follows:

 

1.             The election as directors of all nominees listed (unless the “For All Except” box is marked and the instructions below are complied with).

 

Thomas M. Petro, Todd S. Benning and RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR ALL

 

FOR

 

WITHHOLD

 

EXCEPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any individual nominee, mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write that nominee’s name on the line provided below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.             The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to vote all shares of Company common stock credited to my Plan account as indicated above.

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

Signature

 



 

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THIS VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE BY MAY 15, 2008.

 



 

GRAPHIC

 

Dear ESOP Participant:

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), I am forwarding you the attached BLUE vote authorization form to convey your voting instructions to RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) on the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. to be held on May 22, 2008.  Also enclosed is a Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. and a copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders.

 

As a participant in the Fox Chase Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”), you are entitled to vote all shares of Company common stock allocated to your account as of April 4, 2008, the record date for the Annual Meeting.   All allocated shares of Company common stock will be voted as directed by participants, so long as participant instructions are received by the Trustee on or before May 15, 2008.  If you do not direct the Trustee how to vote the shares of Company common stock allocated to your ESOP account, the Trustee will vote your shares in a manner calculated to most accurately reflect the instructions it receives from other participants, subject to its fiduciary duties.

 

Please complete, sign and return the enclosed BLUE vote authorization form in the postage paid envelope provided by RSGroup Trust Company.  Your vote will not be revealed, directly or indirectly, to any employee or director of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. or Fox Chase Bank.

 

If you participate in several employer-sponsored stock-based benefit plans you will receive multiple vote authorization forms.  Please submit all of the vote authorization forms you receive.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas M. Petro

 

 

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



 

ESOP

VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM

 

FOX CHASE BANCORP, INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

May 22, 2008

9:00 a.m., Local Time

 

I understand that RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) is the holder of record and custodian of all shares of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) common stock under the Fox Chase Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”).  I understand that my voting instructions are solicited on behalf of the Company’s Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 22, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.

 

You are to vote my shares as follows:

 

1.             The election as directors of all nominees listed (unless the “For All Except” box is marked and the instructions below are complied with).

 

Thomas M. Petro, Todd S. Benning and RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR ALL

 

FOR

 

WITHHOLD

 

EXCEPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any individual nominee, mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write that nominee’s name on the line provided below.

 

 

 

 

 

2.             The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to vote all shares of Company common stock allocated to my Plan account as indicated above.

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THIS VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE BY MAY 15, 2008.

 



 

GRAPHIC

 

Dear Equity Incentive Plan Participant:

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), I am forwarding you the attached YELLOW vote authorization form to convey your voting instructions to RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) on the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. to be held on May 22, 2008.  Also enclosed is a Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. and a copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders.

 

As a participant in the Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), you are entitled to vote all unvested shares of Company common stock awarded to you under the Plan as of April 4, 2008, the record date for the Annual Meeting.   All unvested shares of Company common stock awarded to participants will be voted as directed by participants, so long as participant instructions are received by the Trustee on or before May 15, 2008.  If you do not direct the Trustee how to vote your unvested shares of Company common stock, the Company will direct the Trustee how to vote the shares.

 

Please complete, sign and return the enclosed YELLOW vote authorization form in the postage paid envelope provided by RSGroup Trust Company.  Your vote will not be revealed, directly or indirectly, to any employee or director of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. or Fox Chase Bank.

 

If you participate in several employer-sponsored stock-based benefit plans you will receive multiple vote authorization forms.  Please submit all of the vote authorization forms you receive.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas M. Petro

 

 

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



 

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM

 

FOX CHASE BANCORP, INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

May 22, 2008

9:00 a.m., Local Time

 

I understand that RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) is the holder of record and custodian of all shares of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) common stock under the Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  I understand that my voting instructions are solicited on behalf of the Company’s Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 22, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.

 

You are to vote my shares as follows:

 

1.             The election as directors of all nominees listed (unless the “For All Except” box is marked and the instructions below are complied with).

 

Thomas M. Petro, Todd S. Benning and RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR ALL

 

FOR

 

WITHHOLD

 

EXCEPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any individual nominee, mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write that nominee’s name on the line provided below.

 

 

 

 

 

2.             The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to vote all unvested shares of Company common stock awarded to me under the Plan as indicated above.

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THIS VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE BY MAY 15, 2008.

 



 

GRAPHIC

 

Dear Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan Participant:

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), I am forwarding you the attached RED vote authorization form to convey your voting instructions to RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) on the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. to be held on May 22, 2008.  Also enclosed is a Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. and a copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders.

 

As a participant in the Amended and Restated Fox Chase Bank Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), you are entitled to vote all shares of Company common stock credited to your account as of April 4, 2008, the record date for the Annual Meeting.   All shares of Company common stock held in the Plan trust will be voted as directed by participants, so long as participant instructions are received by the Trustee on or before May 15, 2008.  If you do not direct the Trustee how to vote the shares of Company common stock credited to your Plan account, the Trustee will vote your shares as directed by the Company.

 

Please complete, sign and return the enclosed RED vote authorization form in the postage paid envelope provided by RSGroup Trust Company.  Your vote will not be revealed, directly or indirectly, to any employee or director of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. or Fox Chase Bank.

 

If you participate in several employer-sponsored stock-based benefit plans you will receive multiple vote authorization forms.  Please submit all of the vote authorization forms you receive.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas M. Petro

 

 

 

Thomas M. Petro

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



 

EXECUTIVE LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM

 

FOX CHASE BANCORP, INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

May 22, 2008

9:00 a.m., Local Time

 

I understand that RSGroup Trust Company (the “Trustee”) is the holder of record and custodian of all shares of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) common stock under the Amended and Restated Fox Chase Bank Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  I understand that my voting instructions are solicited on behalf of the Company’s Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 22, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.

 

You are to vote my shares as follows:

 

1.             The election as directors of all nominees listed (unless the “For All Except” box is marked and the instructions below are complied with).

 

Thomas M. Petro, Todd S. Benning and RoseAnn B. Rosenthal

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR ALL

 

FOR

 

WITHHOLD

 

EXCEPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any individual nominee, mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write that nominee’s name on the line provided below.

 

 

 

 

 

2.             The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  o

 

o

 

o

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to vote all shares of Company common stock credited to my Plan account as indicated above.

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THIS VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE BY MAY 15, 2008.

 


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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----