“Family Member” means a person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, brothers- and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares the person’s home.
The Board has determined that each director serving during 2022 was, and each current director is, independent of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and categorical standards, except for Mr. O’Grady, who currently serves as the Corporation’s Chairman and CEO.
In addition to the categorical standards, the Board considered that the Corporation or its subsidiaries provided financial services to each of its directors, or persons or entities affiliated with such directors, except for Ms. Klevorn and Mr. Tribbett, including trust and related services, brokerage services, investment management, asset servicing, asset management, credit services and other banking services. These transactions were undertaken in the ordinary course of business and were made on substantially the same terms (including interest rates and collateral for loan transactions) as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons not related to the Corporation or any affiliated entities involved in the transactions. None of these transactions involved more than the normal risk of collectability or presented other unfavorable features, and any extensions of credit to directors and executive officers of the Corporation were permitted under the provisions of Section 13(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). None of these transactions or any transactions in which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries sold or purchased products and services to or from any of the Corporation’s directors, or persons or entities affiliated with its directors, were material to the Corporation or any affiliated entities involved in the transactions. With respect to Mr. Henderson, the Board also considered the related party transaction reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the Corporation’s Related Person Transactions Policy described below. In each case, the Board determined that these relationships did not affect any director’s ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a director.
Related Person Transactions Policy
The Board, through its Audit Committee, has adopted a written Related Person Transactions Policy to govern the review, approval, and ratification of any transaction, arrangement or relationship in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries are party, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related persons have a direct or indirect material interest. “Related persons” means the Corporation’s directors, nominees for director, executive officers, greater than five percent beneficial owners, members of their immediate family and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing their household.
Any related person proposing to enter into a potential related party transaction with the Corporation or its subsidiaries must notify the Corporate Secretary of the facts and circumstances of the proposed transaction. If the Corporate Secretary finds that the transaction would constitute a related party transaction, it must be reviewed and approved or ratified by the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee Chair. In considering related person transactions, the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee Chair will consider all relevant facts and circumstances and approve only those related person transactions that are in, or otherwise not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Kathleen Henderson, Mr. Henderson’s daughter, has been employed by the Bank since 2005, currently serving as a Senior Vice President within the Wealth Management business of the Bank. In such role, Ms. Henderson earned compensation in excess of $120,000 in 2022, and received retirement, health and wellness benefits, all on comparable terms as those provided for other employees of the Bank. Pursuant to the Related Person Transactions Policy, our Audit Committee considers and approves Ms. Henderson’s employment on an annual basis. Mr. Henderson recuses himself from consideration of such matters.
Based on information contained in Schedule 13G filings with the SEC, The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”) reported that it beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock as of December 31, 2022. In the ordinary course of business during 2022, the Bank provided and is expected to continue to provide custody, asset servicing, and brokerage services to Vanguard and its related entities and funds involving amounts in excess of $120,000. These and other routine business transactions, including extensions of credit, were entered into on an arm’s-length basis and contain customary terms and conditions. The Corporation and its subsidiaries may also, in the ordinary course, invest in Vanguard funds or other products.
Executive Sessions
The independent directors of the Corporation met in executive sessions separate from management seven times during 2022. The Lead Director or, in his absence, another independent director designated by the Lead Director, presides at executive sessions of the independent directors. The standing committees of the Board also regularly held executive sessions during 2022. These sessions were led by the respective independent committee Chairs.