UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

SIERRA BANCORP

(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 22, 2019

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF SIERRA BANCORP:

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Sierra Bancorp will be held at the Main Office of Bank of the Sierra, 90 North Main Street, Porterville, California 93257 at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

At the annual meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on the following matters:

1. Election of Directors.  To elect the following five individuals to serve as Class II directors until the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified:

 

2.  Ratification of Appointment of Independent Accountants.  To ratify the appointment of Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co., LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.

3.  Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.  To approve, on an advisory and non‑binding basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

4.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting and any and all adjournments thereof.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the above nominees, and “FOR” Proposals 2 and 3.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 25, 2019 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting.  Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting or not, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the postage paid envelope provided, or vote your shares electronically or by telephone, so that as many shares as possible may be represented.  The vote of every shareholder is important and we will appreciate your cooperation in returning your executed proxy promptly.  Each proxy is revocable and will not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the annual meeting.  If you hold your shares in certificate or registered book entry form and attend the Meeting, you may simply revoke your previously submitted proxy and vote your shares at that time.  If your shares are held by a broker or otherwise not registered in your name, you will need additional documentation from your record holder to vote your shares personally at the Meeting.  If you hold your shares in certificate or registered book entry form, please indicate on the proxy whether or not you expect to attend.

We appreciate your continuing support and look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 22, 2019

This proxy statement and the Company’s 2018 Annual Report to Shareholders are available electronically at

www.sierrabancorp.com/financials

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SIERRA BANCORP
86 North Main Street
Porterville, California 93257
(559) 782-4900
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PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 22, 2019
____________________________________

INTRODUCTION

General

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Sierra Bancorp (the “Company”), to be held at the Main Office of Bank of the Sierra, 90 North Main Street, Porterville, California at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 and at any and all adjournments thereof.

We expect to mail this Proxy Statement and accompanying Notice to shareholders on approximately April 18, 2019.

The matters to be considered and voted upon at the Meeting will be:

1.  Election of Directors.  To elect five nominees to serve as Class II directors until the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified.

2.  Ratification of Appointment of Independent Accountants.  To ratify the appointment of Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co., LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.

3.  Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.  To approve, on an advisory and non‑binding basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

4.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting and any and all adjournments thereof.

Revocability of Proxies

A Proxy for use at the Meeting is enclosed.  Any shareholder who executes and delivers such Proxy has the right to revoke it at any time before it is exercised by filing with the Secretary of the Company an instrument revoking it or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person.  (Any shareholder who holds shares in certificate or registered book entry form and attends the Meeting may simply revoke his or her previously submitted proxy and vote their shares at that time.  Shareholders whose shares are held by a broker or are otherwise not registered in their own names will need additional documentation from their record holder to vote any shares personally at the Meeting.)  Subject to such revocation, all shares represented by a properly executed Proxy received in time for the Meeting will be voted by the proxy holders whose names are set forth in the accompanying Proxy in accordance with the instructions on the Proxy.  If no instruction is specified with respect to a matter to be acted upon, the shares represented by the Proxy will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees for directors set forth herein, “FOR” Proposals 2 and 3 and, if any other business is properly presented at the Meeting, in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.

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Solicitation of Proxies

The solicitation of the Proxy accompanying this Proxy Statement is made by our Board of Directors, and we will bear the costs of such solicitation, including preparation, printing and mailing costs.  The proxies will be solicited principally through the mails, but our officers, directors and regular employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone.  Arrangements will be made with brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward these proxy solicitation materials to shareholders whose stock in the Company is held of record by such entities, and we will reimburse such brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith.

VOTING SECURITIES

There were 15,327,830 shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding on March 25, 2019, which has been set as the record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.  The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting for the transaction of business.  Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the determination of the number of shares present for determining a quorum but are not counted on any matters brought before the Meeting.

Each shareholder is entitled to one vote on each proposal per share of common stock held as of the record date.  Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in connection with the election of directors.  The election of five directors to serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders requires approval by a “plurality” of the votes cast by the shares of common stock entitled to vote in the election.  This means that the five nominees who receive the highest number of properly cast votes will be elected as directors even if those nominees do not receive a majority of the votes cast.  Shares represented by proxies that are marked with instructions to “withhold authority” for the election of one or more director nominees or that are not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) will not be counted in determining the number of votes cast for those persons.

For all other matters, including the ratification of the appointment of our accountants and the advisory vote on executive compensation, a majority of votes cast shall decide the outcome of each matter submitted to the shareholders at the Meeting.  Abstentions will be included in the vote totals and, as such, will have the same effect on proposals as a negative vote.  Broker non-votes (i.e., the submission of a proxy by a broker or nominee specifically indicating the lack of discretionary authority to vote on the matter), if any, will not be included in vote totals and, as such, will have no effect on any proposal.

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Bylaws currently provide that the number of directors shall be not fewer than six nor more than 11 until changed by a bylaw amendment duly adopted by the vote or written consent of our shareholders.  The Bylaws further provide that the exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the foregoing range, by a bylaw or amendment thereof or by a resolution duly adopted by the vote or written consent of our shareholders or by our Board of Directors.  The exact number of directors is presently fixed at nine.

Pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is divided into two classes, designated Classes I and II.  The directors serve staggered two-year terms, so that directors of only one class are elected at each Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to elect the following five Class II directors whose terms expire this year, for an additional term of two years:

 

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Since shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of directors.  See “VOTING SECURITIES” above.  In the event that any of the nominees should be unable to serve as a director, it is intended that the Proxy will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee, if any, as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.  Management has no reason to believe that any nominee will become unavailable.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR”
each of the nominees listed in this proxy statement.

The following table sets forth information as of March 25, 2019 with respect to (i) each of the persons nominated by the Board of Directors for election as directors, all of whom are also directors of the Company, (ii) each of our directors and executive officers, and (iii) our directors and executive officers as a group.  Additional information concerning the experience and qualifications of the Company’s directors appears below under “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE – Director Nomination Procedures, Qualifications and Related Matters.”

 

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Mr. Christensen has been a partner in this law firm since 2014; previously he was an associate attorney at Call & Jensen, APC since 2010.

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Ms. Scearcy served as a tax professional/CPA at McKinley Scearcy Associates, an H&R Block Company, from November 2014, when McKinley Scearcy Associates was acquired by H&R Block, to November 2016; and as a part time consultant to H&R Block from November 2016 until her retirement in September 2017.  Prior to the acquisition, Ms. Scearcy was the tax partner at McKinley Scearcy Associates, Certified Public Accountants, since 1988.

Includes 50 shares held by a special needs trust of which Ms. Scearcy is successor trustee, as to which shares she has sole voting and dispositive power.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

General

The Board of Directors believes that it is important to encourage the highest level of corporate ethics and responsibility and has fully implemented the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Ethics which applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions.  The Code of Ethics requires that our directors, officers and employees avoid conflicts of interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner and otherwise act with integrity and in the Company’s best interests.  Under the terms of the Code of Ethics, directors, officers and employees are required to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of the Code of Ethics.  The Code of Ethics may be found on our web site, “www.sierrabancorp.com” on the “Investor Relations” tab under the topic “Governance Documents.”  We intend to post notice of any waiver from, or amendment to, any provision of our Code of Ethics on this web site.

Procedures for Reporting Concerns about Accounting, Internal Accounting Controls or Auditing Matters

As a mechanism to encourage compliance with the Code of Ethics, we have established procedures for (i) receiving, retaining and addressing complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters; (ii) allowing employees to anonymously report any problems they may detect with respect to such matters; and (iii) reporting any suspected violations of the Code or of law.  The Code of Ethics also prohibits the Company from retaliating against any director, officer or employee who makes a good faith report of a suspected violation of the Code or of law (even if the report is mistaken), or against anyone who assists in the investigation of a reported violation.

Director Independence

General.  The Board has determined that all of its directors, other than the Chief Executive Officer, are “independent” as that term is defined by Nasdaq rules.  The overwhelming majority of the members of our Board of Directors have historically been independent, and our Audit, Nominating and Governance, and Compensation Committees are comprised solely of independent directors in accordance with SEC and Nasdaq requirements.

Executive Sessions.  The independent directors meet regularly in executive session without any members of management present.

Director Attendance

Board and Committee Meeting Attendance.  During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, our Board of Directors held a total of 13 meetings.  Each incumbent director who served as a director during 2018 attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (a) the total number of such meetings and (b) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which such director served during 2018.

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Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders.  The Board believes it is important for all directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders in order to show their support for the Company and to provide an opportunity for shareholders to communicate any concerns to them.  The Company’s policy is to encourage, but not require, attendance by each director at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders.  All but two of our directors attended our Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2018.

Shareholder Communications with Board of Directors

Shareholders may communicate with the Board of Directors or with any individual director by mailing a communication to our principal executive offices addressed to the Board of Directors or to the individual director.  All of such communications, except those clearly of a marketing nature, will be forwarded unopened directly to the appropriate director or presented to the full Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.

Director Nomination Procedures, Qualifications and Related Matters

Procedure for Consideration of Director Nominees.  Prior to making any recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the nomination of directors for each year’s annual meeting, the Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”) shall (i) evaluate the performance, attendance records of, and any loans or other transactions between the Company or the Bank and each of the current Board members proposed for reelection, and on that basis consider the appropriateness of such members standing for reelection; (ii) review the composition and size of the Board in order to ensure that the Board is comprised of members reflecting the proper expertise, skills, attributes and personal and professional backgrounds for service as directors of the Company; (iii) consider the need to augment the Board for any specific purpose; (iv) review and consider any additional requests from outside parties to serve as directors; (v) if a new nominee is needed, determine the specific skills and experience desired in a new director; and (vi) in such case, identify potential nominees who have such skills and experience, determine whether the potential nominees are shareholders of the Company, investigate the potential nominee's background, develop personal knowledge about the candidate, develop a consensus of the committee members with respect to which potential nominee would be best suited for the position, determine whether the candidate is interested, and vote on the recommendation.

The Governance Committee shall consider recommendations from directors, officers and employees of the Company and the Bank, as well as persons recommended by shareholders of the Company, and shall evaluate persons recommended by directors, officers or employees in the same manner as those recommended by shareholders in selecting Board nominees.

Director Qualifications.  In considering a possible candidate for election as a director, the Governance Committee shall be guided by the principle that each director should: (i) be an individual of the highest ethical character and integrity; (ii) have substantial experience which is of particular relevance to the Company; (iii) have the ability and willingness to devote sufficient time to the affairs of the Company; (iv) have a meaningful financial stake in the Company so as to assure that every director’s interests are aligned with those of the shareholders; (v) be knowledgeable about the business activities and market areas in which the Company and its subsidiaries engage; (vi) have a general appreciation regarding major issues facing public companies of a size and operational scope similar to the Company, including contemporary governance concerns, regulatory obligations of a public issuer, strategic business planning, competition in a global economy, and basic concepts of corporate accounting and finance; (vii) live or work within 25 miles of an existing or proposed office of the Bank; (viii) have an excellent personal and professional reputation in and commitment to one or more communities in which the Company does business; (ix) serve or have served as chief executive officer or in another position of active leadership with a business or professional interest located within the market areas served by the Company and its subsidiaries; (x) have an inquiring mind, a willingness to ask hard questions, and the ability to work constructively with others; (xi) have the ability and desire to exercise independent thinking when considering matters brought before the Board, and not be unduly influenced by the opinions of others; (xii) have no conflict of interest that would interfere with his or her performance as a director; and (xiii) have the capacity and desire to represent the best interests of the shareholders as a whole and not primarily a specific interest group or constituency.

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While the Board and the Governance Committee believe that every director should possess as many of the foregoing attributes as possible, the Governance Committee has not recommended, and the Board has not established, any specific group of such attributes to be considered “minimum qualifications” for serving as a director.

In considering the desirability of any particular candidate as a potential director, the Governance Committee shall also consider the contributions that a candidate can be expected to make to the collective functioning of the Board based upon the totality of the candidate’s credentials, experience and expertise, the composition of the Board at the time, and other relevant circumstances, including the fit of the individual's skills and personality with those of other directors and potential directors in building a Board that is effective, collegial and responsive to the needs of the Company.

Board Diversity, Qualifications and Experience.  As currently comprised, the Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals drawn from various market sectors and industry groups with a presence in the Company’s markets.  The Board considers diversity as one of many factors in evaluating the composition of the Board but has no set policy in this regard.  Board members are individuals with knowledge and experience who serve and represent the communities we serve.  Current Board representation provides backgrounds in accounting, banking, farming, legal, manufacturing, and retail.  The expertise of these individuals covers accounting and financial reporting, corporate management, strategic planning, business acquisitions, legal matters, marketing, retail, and small business operations.  What follows is a brief description of the particular experience, attributes and qualifications of each member of the Company’s Board of Directors that led to the conclusion that these individuals should serve as directors of the Company.

Morris A. Tharp is an original proponent of the Bank and has served as Chairman of the Board of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp since their formations in 1977 and 2000, respectively.  He has served on the Audit, Compliance and CRA Committee (the “Audit Committee”) and the Governance Committee for many years, and is also an ex officio member of all other Board committees.  Mr. Tharp is a native of Porterville and following his schooling, joined his father in the family business of E.M. Tharp, Inc.  Over the years, he has purchased the family business and is now sole owner.  For many years he has been very involved in community activities.  In selecting Mr. Tharp as a nominee, the Board considered the following: his involvement in the formation of the Bank, his lengthy experience as a bank director and accumulated knowledge of the Company’s operations, his leadership qualities and management expertise gained by owning and running his own company, and his involvement in the local community.

Albert L. Berra has been a director of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp since their formations in 1977 and 2000, respectively.  He has served on numerous committees of the Bank and the Company throughout that time and is currently Chairman of both the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee and a member of the Governance Committee.  A native of Porterville, Dr. Berra attended the University of California, Berkeley after high school and went on to St. Louis University to complete his dental and orthodontic training.  After service in the U.S. Army, Dr. Berra returned to Porterville to establish his orthodontic practice, which he operated continuously since his return until he retired and sold his practice in 2014.  He also runs a farming operation in the area.  Dr. Berra is involved in many community activities.  Dr. Berra was selected to serve on the Board because of his involvement in the formation of the Bank, his lengthy experience as a bank director and accumulated knowledge of the Company’s operations, his experience operating his own business, his agricultural expertise, and his active involvement in the local community.

Vonn R. Christenson was appointed to the Boards of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp effective September 15, 2016, and was simultaneously appointed to serve on the Governance Committee and the Investment Committee.  He graduated from Brigham Young University with honors in 2003, and earned his J.D. at Harvard Law School in 2006.  After working for a time as an attorney in Orange County, California, Mr. Christenson joined the Christenson Law Firm in Porterville, California, specializing in business and contract disputes, personal injury, medical malpractice, and intellectual property litigation.  He currently resides in Porterville and is actively involved in the community including with the Porterville Optimist Club, the Porterville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Porterville Unified School District Academy of Law, Justice & Ethics Advisory Board.  Mr. Christenson was selected to serve on the Board due in part to his active involvement in the local community, his stellar educational background, and his ability to add a unique legal perspective to Board discussions.

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Laurence S. Dutto, Ph.D., was appointed to the Boards of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp effective September 15, 2016, at which time he was also appointed to serve on the Governance Committee and the Insurance Committee.  Dr. Dutto, a resident of Visalia, California, is a retired college administrator with extensive hands-on agricultural experience.  His decorated 30-year career at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California includes service as Provost of the Tulare College Center, Dean of Academic Services, Dean of Technical Education, Agriculture Division Chair, and Faculty Academic Senate President.  His prior experience includes 15 years working on his family’s dairy farm, and he currently is in a partnership with his sister growing almonds.  He was appointed to the Board due in part to his management and administrative expertise and his community connections, and to help strengthen the Bank’s ties to the local agricultural community.

Robb Evans was appointed to the Boards of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp effective September 15, 2016, at which time he was also appointed to serve on the Governance Committee and the Audit Committee.  He is currently designated as an audit committee financial expert.  Mr. Evans is the Chairman of Robb Evans & Associates LLC, which acts as a fiduciary or advisor in complex corporate and financial matters.  He was formerly Chairman of the Board of Coast Bancorp and Coast National Bank, which were acquired by Sierra Bancorp in July 2016, and he helped facilitate the post-acquisition integration of Coast by maintaining board-level ties to our new market area.  He also has extensive executive-level banking experience, including prior service as Chief Executive Officer at four different California banks, three international banking corporations chartered by the Federal Reserve, and a Hong Kong merchant bank.  Mr. Evans has served as a California Special Deputy Commissioner of Financial Institutions and Special Deputy Superintendent of Banks.  He maintains residences in both Bakersfield and Cambria, California.  He was appointed to the Board because of his broad-ranging association with banking industry experts and regulators and his extensive financial and management expertise in the banking arena, including a familiarity with opportunities and challenges facing our industry.

James C. Holly is a founding Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of both the Bank and Sierra Bancorp, and currently serves as Chairman of the Senior Loan Committee and as a member of all other Board Committees.  He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of both entities from their formations in 1977 and 2000, respectively, until January 1, 2014, when Mr. McPhaill was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of both entities.  Mr. Holly continued to serve as Chief Executive Officer of both entities until he retired on March 31, 2015, and was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board effective April 1, 2015.  He was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin and received both a BBA and an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin.  Mr. Holly is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and served as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army (Armor).  He began his banking career with United California Bank, now Wells Fargo Bank.  After 10 years as a branch manager, Mr. Holly left United California Bank and joined in the effort to organize Bank of the Sierra of which he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from its inception in 1977 until January 1, 2014, and served as Chief Executive Officer until his retirement in March 2015.  He is a current director of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy, a philanthropic and educational organization, and a director of River Island Country Club.  In selecting Mr. Holly as a nominee, the Board considered the following: his leadership capabilities; his long tenure and strong track record as President and CEO of the Bank; his deep understanding of bank lending, operations, and financial management resulting from his banking background; his extensive network in the banking industry; his knowledge of the local economy; and his involvement in the local community.

Kevin J. McPhaill has been a director of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp since January 1, 2015 and was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank effective April 1, 2015.  He also serves on the Senior Loan Committee and the Investment Committee.  Mr. McPhaill is a native and current resident of Visalia, California, and his educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Fresno Pacific University, a master’s degree in business administration from Fresno State, and the successful completion of post-graduate training at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.  He has been employed by Bank of the Sierra since June 2001, starting as the regional manager of the Hanford area, then progressing to Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer of the Company and the Bank in 2006, to President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and the Bank in 2014, and to his current positions on April 1, 2015.  Mr. McPhaill is involved in the local community, and is active in financial education outreach efforts to primary and secondary schools in the Bank’s market areas.  Mr. McPhaill was selected to serve on the Board because of his leadership abilities; his extensive experience at the Bank and other financial institutions; his knowledge of the Bank’s culture; his lending, operations, and management experience; and his insight into key factors that drive the Bank’s financial success.

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Lynda B. Scearcy has been a director of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp since December 2007.  She has been a valuable member of the Audit Committee since that time and is currently designated as an audit committee financial expert.  She also serves on the Senior Loan Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Investment Committee, and the Governance Committee.  Ms. Scearcy received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and her Master’s Degree in Taxation from San Joaquin College of Law.  Ms. Scearcy is a retired tax professional.  She was previously the tax partner at McKinley Scearcy Associates, an accounting and consulting firm which she joined in 1983.  McKinley Scearcy Associates sold to H&R Block in November 2014, and Ms. Scearcy retired from the firm in September 2017.  She is deeply committed to the community, as demonstrated by her involvement with, among others, the Rotary Club of Porterville (Past President), Porterville Chamber of Commerce (Past Treasurer), Tule River Economic Development Corporation (Past Treasurer) and Tulare County Office of Education Foundation (Board Member).  In selecting Ms. Scearcy as a nominee, the Board considered the following: her strong educational background, her experience as a partner and leader at her accounting and consulting firm, her deep understanding of accounting and tax issues, her financial acumen, and her strong commitment to and involvement in the local community.

Gordon T. Woods was an original proponent of the Bank and has been a director of the Bank and of Sierra Bancorp since their formations in 1977 and 2000, respectively.  He has served on the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee for many years, and is currently Chairman of the Insurance Committee and the Investment Committee.  He attended Arizona State University and the University of Arizona on scholarship, majoring in chemical engineering, and is a U.S. Army veteran.  His professional experience includes employment as a chemical engineer, as well as executive positions with divisions of Gulf Oil Company and Ford Motor Company.  In 1969 he moved to Porterville and established Hydrokleen Systems, a designer and manufacturer of water and waste treatment systems, and in 1989 he established Gordon T. Woods Construction, an engineering construction company building industrial and municipal water and waste water systems.  He is currently CEO of both of those companies.  Mr. Woods has been active in numerous service organizations in Porterville and has also served on the Porterville City Council, including two years as Mayor and two years as Mayor Pro‑Tem.  Mr. Woods was selected to serve on the Board because of his involvement in the formation of the Bank, his lengthy experience as a bank director and accumulated knowledge of the Company’s operations, his experience in executive positions at international companies, his success at owning and operating his own businesses, his financial acumen, and his involvement in the local community.

Consideration of Shareholder Recommendations.  In considering any additional requests from outside parties to serve as directors, including parties recommended by shareholders, the Governance Committee shall follow the same principles outlined above, and shall request of any potential nominee such information, including a completed Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaire of the same type completed by each of the Company’s existing directors and executive officers each year in connection with the preparation of the Company’s proxy materials, as the committee deems necessary to enable it to properly evaluate such person’s qualifications and to be aware of any information concerning such person which might require disclosure to shareholders pursuant to SEC rules concerning proxy statements.

A shareholder wishing to submit recommendations for director candidates for election at an annual meeting of shareholders must do so in writing by December 15^th of the previous calendar year, and must include the following in the written recommendation: (i) a statement that the writer is a shareholder and is proposing a candidate for consideration; (ii) the name and contact information for the candidate; (iii) a statement of the candidate’s business and educational experience; (iv) information regarding the candidate’s qualifications to be a director; (v) the number of shares of the Company’s stock owned either beneficially or of record by the candidate and the length of time such shares have been so owned; (vi) the written consent of the candidate to serve as a director if nominated and elected; (vii) information regarding any relationship or understanding between the proposing shareholder and the candidate; (viii) a statement that the proposed candidate has agreed to furnish to the Company all information (including a completed Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaire as described above) as the Company deems necessary to evaluate such candidate’s qualifications to serve as a director; and (ix) as to the shareholder giving the notice, the name and address of the shareholder and the number of shares of the Company’s stock which are owned beneficially or of record by the shareholder.

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Nominations by Shareholders.  The procedure and requirements for shareholders to nominate directors (as opposed to making recommendations as described above) are set forth in our Bylaws, which provide in pertinent part as follows:

“Nominations for election of members of the Board of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors.  Notice of intention to make any nominations by a shareholder shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to and received by the Secretary of the Corporation not less than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in advance of the date corresponding to that on which the Corporation’s proxy statement was released to the shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, notice by the shareholder must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of (i) one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to such annual meeting; or (ii) ten (10) days after the date the notice of such meeting is sent to shareholders pursuant to Section 2.2(d) of these Bylaws…. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder: (a) the name and address of each proposed nominee; (b) the principal occupation of each proposed nominee; (c) the number of shares of voting stock of the Corporation owned by each proposed nominee; (d) the name and residence address of the notifying shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made; and (e) the number of shares of voting stock of the Corporation owned beneficially and of record by the notifying shareholder and such beneficial owner.”

For our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, written notice of intention to make any nominations must be received no later than December 20, 2019.

Board Leadership Structure.  The Company is focused on corporate governance practices, and independent Board oversight is valued as an essential component of strong corporate performance to enhance shareholder value. Our commitment to independent oversight is demonstrated by the fact that all but two of our directors are independent.  In addition, all of the members of the Board’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance Committee are independent.

The Company currently has an independent Chairman separate from the Chief Executive Officer, and our corporate governance guidelines specify that these two positions should be kept separate except in unusual circumstances.  Such circumstances have not occurred in the Company's history.  The Board believes it is important to maintain flexibility in its leadership structure, but firmly supports having an independent director in a board leadership position.  If for any reason it were necessary for the Chairman to also hold the office of Chief Executive Officer temporarily, the Board would appoint an independent lead director to serve in an independent leadership position during this time.  Having an independent Chairman or lead director enables non-management directors to raise issues and concerns for Board consideration without immediately involving management.  The Chairman provides independent leadership of the Board and also serves as a liaison between the Board and senior management.  The Board has determined that the current structure, an independent Chair, separate from the Chief Executive Officer, is the most appropriate structure at this time, while ensuring that, at all times, there will be an independent director in a Board leadership position.

Board Role in Risk Oversight.  Risk is inherent with every business, and how well a business manages risk can ultimately determine its success.  We face a number of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, financial reporting risk, operational risk, strategic risk and reputational risk.  Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of these risks, while the Board, as a whole and through its committees, particularly the Audit and Senior Loan Committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management and consideration of the Company’s entire risk profile.  The Board considers the most significant risks facing the Company and the Company’s general risk management strategy, to ensure that risks undertaken by the Company are consistent with the Board’s objectives. In its risk oversight role, the Board of Directors has the responsibility to satisfy itself that the risk management processes designed and implemented by management are adequate and functioning as designed.

The Senior Loan Committee (comprised of directors), of which Mr. Holly is chairman, is responsible for monitoring and controlling risks associated with lending.  This committee meets twice a month, and the Chief Credit Officer presents detailed reports to the committee at least once per month (including loan concentration reports, details on nonperforming loans and foreclosed assets, etc.).

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The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting risk and the entire audit function, and it evaluates the effectiveness of internal and external audit efforts.  It receives a status report from the Company’s Internal Audit Coordinator on at least a quarterly basis regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control systems, and from the Company’s Risk Manager regarding the Company’s overall risk management and compliance efforts.

The full Board takes responsibility for ensuring that other risks are monitored and controlled, including liquidity and interest rate risk, and the Chief Financial Officer presents quarterly reports to the Board to assist with this responsibility.  In addition, to accomplish the Board’s overall risk management strategy, the Board works closely, and meets frequently and as necessary, with senior management to discuss strategy and risks facing the Company.  Senior management attends appropriate portions of the Board meetings and is available to address any questions or concerns raised by the Board on risk management and any other matters.  The Chairman of the Board and other independent directors work together to provide strong, independent oversight of the Company’s management and affairs directly and through its standing committees and, when necessary, special meetings of independent directors.  While we believe that this division of responsibility is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing our Company, we will continue to re-examine our Board leadership structure on a regular basis, recognizing that different structures may be appropriate in different situations faced by the Company.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Audit Committee

General.  The Board of Directors has, among others, a standing Audit, Compliance and CRA Committee (the “Audit Committee”), composed of directors Berra (Chairman), Evans, Holly (effective January 17, 2019), Scearcy, Tharp and Woods, each of whom is an independent director as defined by the rules of Nasdaq.  Each member of the Audit Committee also meets the independence criteria prescribed by applicable law and the rules of the SEC for Audit Committee membership.  Each Audit Committee member meets Nasdaq’s financial knowledge requirements and has substantial experience as the chief executive officer or equivalent of his or her respective business or profession.  In addition, at least one member of the Audit Committee has the requisite financial sophistication required under the rules of Nasdaq for one such member.  The Board has designated Lynda Scearcy and Robb Evans as “audit committee financial experts” under SEC rules.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Audit Committee held a total of 12 meetings.  The purpose of this committee, with respect to its audit duties, is to meet with the Company’s outside auditors in order to fulfill the legal and technical requirements necessary to adequately protect the Company’s directors, shareholders, employees and depositors.  It is also the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and to make certain that this firm has the necessary freedom and independence to freely examine all Company records.  Further, the Audit Committee pre‑approves all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by the independent public accountants, with certain de minimis exceptions.  Each year the committee reviews the risk management assessment of the Company’s branches, credit centers and operating units and assigns priorities for the coming year to have independent reviews conducted by loan, operational, information systems and compliance teams hired by the committee.  The committee meets with such independent review consultants on at least an annual basis and approves the contractual basis of each engagement letter and arrangement under consideration.  Further, as part of its regular meeting schedule, the committee reviews annual and quarterly SEC reports and discusses those reports with Management and the independent accountants as appropriate.  The committee also meets with the accounting audit partner in charge of the engagement, who presents the audited consolidated financial reports to the committee upon completion of the annual engagement.  The committee receives and reviews management letters and all reports of external independent firms which have been contracted to perform agreed upon procedures for the benefit of the Company and the committee.  Additionally, the committee reviews all Reports of Examination prepared by regulators regarding safety and soundness, compliance, or other examinations performed by such agencies.  As part of its responsibilities, the committee also reviews and approves any and all management-initiated responses to engagements conducted by independent consultant firms or regulatory agencies, prior to their submission to such firm or agency.  Finally, the Audit Committee has ultimate responsibility for determining matters of interpretation with respect to the audit and accounting related portions of our Code of Ethics, and for making all final decisions concerning any disciplinary actions relating to those portions of the Code.

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Audit Committee Charter.  The Board of Directors has adopted an Audit Committee charter, which outlines the purpose of the Audit Committee, delineates the membership requirements, and addresses the key responsibilities of the committee.  The charter may be found on our web site, “www.sierrabancorp.com” on the “Investor Relations” tab under the topic “Governance Documents.”

Audit Committee Report.  The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.  The committee has discussed with our independent public accountants, which are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of our audited consolidated financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114, including their judgments as to the quality of our financial reporting.  The committee has received written disclosures and a letter from our independent public accountants as required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Rule 3526, and discussed with the independent public accountants the firm’s independence from management and from the Company.  In considering the independence of our independent public accountants, the committee took into consideration the amount and nature of the fees paid the firm for non-audit services, as described on page 29 below.  The Audit Committee also reviewed management’s report on its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

In reliance on the review and discussions described above, the committee recommends to the Board of Directors that the year‑end audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for filing with the SEC.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

General.  The Board has a standing Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”), comprised of directors Tharp (Chairman), Berra, Christenson, Dutto, Evans, Holly (effective January 17, 2019), Scearcy, and Woods, each of whom qualifies as an independent director under the Nasdaq rules.  The Governance Committee met once during 2018.  The primary functions of this committee are to (i) identify qualified candidates for director, evaluate the incumbent directors whose terms expire at each upcoming annual meeting, and recommend to the Board the director nominees for each annual meeting of shareholders; (ii) determine desired Board member skills and attributes and annually review and update the criteria for evaluating candidates for directors; (iii) annually evaluate the size and composition of the Board and each committee in light of the Company’s operating requirements and existing corporate governance trends; (iv) conduct searches as needed for prospective directors with the desired skills and attributes, and conduct reviews as appropriate into the background and qualifications of director candidates; (v) consider bona fide candidates recommended by shareholders for nomination for election to the Board in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth in the Governance Committee’s charter; (vi) retain and compensate third party search firms to assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees to the Board, if necessary; (vii) assess and report annually to the Board concerning the effectiveness and performance of the Board and Board committees as well as the effectiveness of the relationship between the Board and management, and identify areas in which the Governance Committee or management believes the Board could improve; (viii) monitor the orientation and continuing education program for directors; (ix) annually review and assess the adequacy of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines in light of applicable legal and regulatory requirements; (x) annually review and assess the adequacy of the Company’s Code of Ethics; (xi) have ultimate responsibility for determining matters of interpretation with respect to the non‑audit related portions of the Code of Ethics and for making all final decisions concerning any disciplinary actions relating to those portions of the Code; (xii) review and oversee matters relating to the independence of Board and committee members; and (xiii) periodically review the Company’s succession plans and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to management and director succession.

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We do not pay fees to any third party to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees.  The Board and the Governance Committee have adopted specific policies and procedures concerning the director nomination process, in accordance with which the Governance Committee considers various matters and criteria and on that basis recommends the proposed slate of nominees to the full Board.  The specific procedures and criteria which the Governance Committee follows and considers in making its decisions concerning recommended nominations for directors are described above under “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE – Director Nomination Procedures, Qualifications and Related Matters.”

Governance Committee Charter.  The Board of Directors has adopted a Nominating and Governance Committee charter, which outlines the purpose of the Governance Committee, delineates the membership requirements, and addresses the key responsibilities of the committee.  The charter may be found on our web site, “www.sierrabancorp.com” on the “Investor Relations” tab under the topic “Governance Documents.”

Compensation Committee

General.  The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee, of which directors Berra (Chairman), Holly (effective January 17, 2019), Scearcy, Tharp and Woods are members.  The Compensation Committee met twice during 2018.  All of the current and former members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors under Nasdaq rules.  The primary functions of this committee are to (i) consider and make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the Company’s incentive compensation plans and equity‑based plans in which directors and executive officers may participate; (ii) approve option grants or restricted stock awards to the Company’s “Named Executive Officers” unless the Board of Directors, in its discretion, should decide to take such actions instead of the Committee with respect to any such awards; (iii) annually evaluate the performance of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”)  in light of the goals and objectives of the Company’s executive compensation plans and the CEO’s individual performance goals, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning his compensation levels based on this evaluation; (iv) annually review and make recommendations to the Board concerning the compensation arrangements for all executive officers; (v) monitor compensation trends, solicit independent advice where appropriate, and ensure that executive compensation plans are sufficient to attract and retain high quality executives; (vi) review and make recommendations to the Board concerning any salary continuation agreements or other contractual arrangements with any officers; (vii) annually review the compensation paid to non-employee directors and make recommendations to the Board regarding such compensation, provided that no member of the Committee may act to fix his or her own compensation except for uniform compensation paid to directors for their services as a director; (viii) review executive officer compensation for compliance with applicable laws and regulations; (ix) have the authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant to be used to assist in the evaluation of the CEO, other executive officers, and director compensation; (x) produce an annual report on executive compensation, and review and approve the Compensation Discussion and Analysis appearing in the Proxy Statement; (xi) review and make recommendations to the Board concerning salary ranges for graded personnel, as well as personnel policies and any similar documents relating to personnel matters which require Board approval; and (xii) annually review group health insurance and workers compensation insurance, and make recommendations to the Board with regard to carriers and potential changes in coverage.

Compensation Committee Charter.  The Board of Directors has adopted a Compensation Committee charter, which outlines the purpose of the Compensation Committee, delineates the membership requirements, and addresses the key responsibilities of the Committee.  The charter may be found on our web site, “www.sierrabancorp.com” on the “Investor Relations” tab under the topic “Governance Documents.”

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation Decisions.  The persons named above were the only persons who served on the Compensation Committee during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.  None of these individuals has been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries within the past three fiscal years.  None of our executive officers serves as a member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or our Compensation Committee.

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Compensation Committee Report.  In performing its oversight role, the Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this Proxy Statement with management.  Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement to be filed on Schedule 14A with the SEC.

In addition, the Compensation Committee reviewed the compensation structure for employees of the Company and concluded that none of the elements comprising such compensation encourages behavior that would lead to excessive risks for the Company.

Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Our primary objectives with respect to executive compensation are to attract and retain the most talented and dedicated executives possible, and to align their interests with those of our shareholders.  To that end, we strive to maintain compensation plans that are competitive relative to those of similar publicly-traded banking institutions, and to provide a substantial level of at-risk compensation for our executives that depends in part on the Company’s financial performance.  Compensation for our Named Executive Officers consists primarily of the following elements, which are discussed in greater detail below:  base salary; annual discretionary bonuses based on performance guidelines; and longer-term incentive awards including stock option grants, salary continuation agreements, and split-dollar life insurance benefits.  The Compensation Committee periodically evaluates and adjusts the weighting of these components to support Company objectives.  The Compensation Committee and the Board also believe it is important to ensure that the compensation of the CEO is equitable and reasonable in relation to that of the other Named Executive Officers, and that the compensation of the other Named Executive Officers is reasonable in relation to each other given their respective duties and responsibilities, experience, and certain other relevant factors.  In late 2018 we entered into employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers, and a similar agreement was entered into with our Chief Risk Officer upon commencement of his employment with the Company in March 2019.  Those agreements are discussed in greater detail below.  In some instances we also provide salary continuation agreements as described below.

Process for Making Compensation Decisions

Roles of the Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee reviews executive compensation, and makes recommendations to the Board with regard to appropriate target compensation levels and compensation component weightings for all of the Named Executive Officers in alignment with our compensation philosophy and consistent with employment agreements.  Compensation includes the primary components listed in the previous paragraph, as well as any perquisites, or special or supplemental benefits.  In making its recommendations to the Board, the Compensation Committee evaluates compensation arrangements for comparable positions at peer institutions (where such data is publicly available), the relative financial performance of the Company, recommendations of the CEO (in the case of the other Named Executive Officers), internal fairness, the past performance and future goals of the CEO, and independent analysis performed by the committee.  The specific factors considered are detailed below under “Targeted Compensation” and “Elements of Executive Compensation.”  The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage consultants and request other information as needed to fairly measure and evaluate the overall compensation of the Named Executive Officers.  The Compensation Committee did not retain a consultant in 2018; rather, it directed Company personnel to utilize publicly available data to update a peer compensation study completed for the Company in the past by a professional compensation consulting firm.

Role of the Chief Executive Officer.  The CEO annually reviews the performance of the Named Executive Officers other than himself, and presents his conclusions and recommendations based on those reviews to the Compensation Committee.  In 2018, the CEO considered the updated peer compensation study and the stated objectives of the Compensation Committee and the Board in formulating his recommendations for base salary adjustments, target bonus amounts, and equity awards.  The Compensation Committee can exercise its discretion in modifying the CEO’s recommendations before making its recommendations to the Board, but generally accepts them as presented.  The CEO is not a member of the Compensation Committee, but is invited to attend meetings of the committee as necessary to provide input and recommendations on compensation for the other Named Executive Officers.  The CEO is not involved with any aspect of determining his own pay.

Targeted Compensation

As noted, a peer compensation study is used to assist in establishing targeted compensation levels for all Named Executive Officers.  For the most recently completed study, the peer group was comprised of 17 publicly-traded bank holding companies or banks headquartered in Western states, with total assets ranging from approximately

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50% to 200% of those of the Company and a median asset size of $2.2 billion (the “Peer Group”).²¹ The Peer Group will be subject to modification for future studies to ensure that it continues to meet the desired comparison criteria.  The study provides an analysis of base salary, short-term incentives (including incentive bonuses), and long-term incentives (including the value of stock option awards and increases in pension values) (collectively, “Total Direct Compensation”), for Peer Group officers with positions equivalent to the Named Executive Officers for whom compensation information is publicly disclosed.  Because the most recent available peer compensation data is from 2017, an adjusted Total Direct Compensation figure was also calculated for Peer Group officers which conservatively assumes increases of 5% per year since 2017.

Another element in assessing appropriate levels of Total Direct Compensation for the Named Executive Officers is the Company’s financial performance relative to peer institutions.  Some of our peer financial institutions were acquired during 2018 and did not have comparable financial results available.  Nevertheless, using information that was obtainable for the second quarter of 2018, the Company’s return on average assets and return on average equity for the trailing twelve month period were both at the 53rd percentile relative to peer institutions, and our total risk-based capital ratio was at the 59th percentile at June 30, 2018.

Based on favorable trends in the Company’s net income and financial performance metrics, financial performance relative to peer institutions, compensation data in the peer study, recommendations of the CEO (in the case of the other Named Executive Officers), individual performance, and other independent analysis performed by the Compensation Committee, the committee selected a range encompassing the 50th to 70th percentiles of adjusted Total Direct Compensation for Peer Group officers as a general target for Total Direct Compensation for the Named Executive Officers.  Nevertheless, after applying the principle of internal equity and in consideration of prior position-specific experience, Total Direct Compensation established by the Compensation Committee for an individual Named Executive Officer might exceed or fall short of the target range.  With regard to the components of Total Direct Compensation, the goal of the Compensation Committee was to maintain a substantial level of “at risk” compensation while striving to ensure that neither base salary nor potential short-term incentive compensation are substantially below the Peer Group median.

The aforementioned variables being duly analyzed and considered, the Compensation Committee came to a unanimous conclusion concerning appropriate 2019 targets for base salaries and short-term incentive compensation for the Named Executive Officers.  The Compensation Committee then presented its recommendations to the Board, which unanimously approved those recommendations.  This ultimately resulted in base salary increases of 11% for the Chief Executive Officer, 7% for the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Credit Officer, and 10% for the Chief Banking Officer relative to their base salaries paid during 2018.  For 2018 over 2017, base salary increases totaled 9% for the CEO, 6% for the CFO and the CCO, and 11% for the CBO.  The incentive bonus potential for 2019 was established as 75% of base salary for the CEO and 50% of base salary for the other Named Executive Officers, which is unchanged from 2018.  When factoring in base salaries and the estimated fair value of stock options granted in the first quarter of 2019, and assuming a full incentive bonus payout, the potential Total Direct Compensation for Named Executive Officers for 2019 would be at the following percentile rankings relative to the Peer Group’s adjusted compensation data (as noted above, the adjusted Peer estimate incorporates 5% annual increases):  the 43rd percentile for the CEO, the 68th percentile for the CFO, the 60th percentile for the CCO, and the 63rd percentile for the CBO.  As a validity check, the Company also measured 2017 compensation for our Named Executive Officers relative to the Peer Group’s unadjusted 2017 compensation data, which places the CEO at the 40th percentile, the CFO at the 68th percentile, the CCO at the 51st percentile, and the CBO at the 48th percentile.

Employment Agreements

In late December 2018, the Company and the Bank entered into an employment agreement with each executive officer of the Company.  The agreements became effective on January 1, 2019 and have initial terms of

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three years, with automatic renewals for one-year terms unless cancelled by either party.  A similar agreement was entered into with the Company’s Chief Risk Officer (Mr. Macia) effective upon commencement of his employment in March 2019.  The agreements specify minimum annual base salaries of $525,000 for Mr. McPhaill, $360,000 for Messrs. Taylor and Gardunio, and $330,000 for Messrs. Olague and Macia, as well as annual discretionary bonuses of up to 75% of annual base salary for Mr. McPhaill and 50% of annual base salary for the other Named Executive Officers.

Other material terms of the employment agreements are outlined below under “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION – Employment Agreements; and – Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Elements of Executive Compensation

Base Salary.  Base salaries for our executives are dependent on the scope of their responsibilities, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by similar companies for comparable positions.  Base salaries are reviewed and adjusted annually, as necessary, to realign them with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, work experience and job performance.

Discretionary Annual Incentive Bonus.  The Board of Directors has the authority to award discretionary annual cash bonuses to the Named Executive Officers based on the recommendations of the Compensation Committee.  The Board has adopted an incentive bonus plan for Named Executive Officers that is dependent on individual performance, as determined by the Compensation Committee and the Board with input from the CEO in the case of the other Named Executive Officers, and the Company’s financial performance relative to Board-approved targets.  Earnings targets and individual performance goals are carefully established to provide a challenge, while at the same time being realistically achievable without engaging in activities posing excessive risk.  The Board establishes potential levels for incentive bonuses at the start of each fiscal year, based on the recommendations of the Compensation Committee.

Bonuses for any given calendar year are typically accrued as an expense by the Company during the year for which they are applicable but are not paid until March of the following year, subsequent to our receipt of the final audit report and after the review and approval of bonus recommendations made by the Compensation Committee to the Board of Directors.  For 2018, the Company’s incentive bonus plan specified a potential bonus level of 75% of base salary for the President/CEO, and 50% of base salary for other Named Executive Officers.  However, the plan also specified that the potential levels were guidelines only, and that all payments made pursuant to the plan are ultimately made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  The earnings targets established for 2018 required the Company to achieve net income of at least $29.4 million for a potential full bonus payout, and minimum net income of $14.7 million for any bonus payment.  If actual net income was between those two targets, the potential payout ratio would have been equal to net income for the year divided by $29.4 million.  Based on the favorable variance in net income relative to our 2018 earnings targets and the fulfillment of individual performance goals, the Company’s Named Executive Officers were approved for and received discretionary bonuses equal to their maximum potential short-term incentive pay that had been established for the year.  In early 2019, a new incentive bonus plan was adopted for 2019 through 2021, which is similar to the previous plan in every material respect except that a 70% weighting is established for Company performance targets and a 30% weighting is assigned to individual performance with regard to potential bonus payout levels for Named Executive Officers.

Equity Incentives and Stock Ownership.  Our 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) authorizes the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee in their discretion to grant directors, consultants and employees of the Company restricted stock awards and/or options to purchase shares of our common stock.  We have not issued, nor do we currently have plans to issue, restricted stock awards.  Rather, we expect to continue to use stock options as our primary long-term equity incentive vehicle as has been our past practice.  The Board and the Compensation Committee feel that stock options align the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders, provide a balance to the shorter-term nature of base salary and discretionary annual bonuses, and are the best form of equity compensation from the standpoint of encouraging executive retention.

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The Company granted options to purchase 5,000 common shares to the CEO, CCO, and CBO in the first quarter of 2019, with a vesting period of one year.  Named Executive Officers also received stock option grants of 5,000 shares each in the first quarter of 2018, with a vesting period of one year, and 5,000 shares each in the first quarter of 2017 which vested immediately on the grant date.  In April 2019, the Chief Risk Officer was granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with graded vesting over five years.  Stock options will normally be granted during open trading windows (i.e., at times when directors and executive officers are permitted to trade personally) pursuant to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, and no options may be granted to anyone if material nonpublic information is available to the Board at the proposed grant date.  Additional details concerning the 2017 Plan and options held at December 31, 2018 by the Named Executive Officers are set forth below under “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION – Grants of Plan-Based Awards” and “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End.”  We do not have requirements for our executives with regard to specific levels of stock ownership.

Salary Continuation Agreements.  We have entered into salary continuation agreements with some of our Named Executive Officers that provide annual benefits of up to $150,000 per year for periods of up to 15 years, with payments commencing after retirement from the Company.  The benefit amounts and terms are determined by the individual’s position and scope of responsibility, as well as the amount of the annual expense accrual required to accumulate the appropriate liability for payment obligations.  Expense accruals associated with salary continuation agreements are reflected in compensation tables as a change in pension value for the applicable officer.  No benefits are payable in the event of a voluntary termination prior to a specified retirement date, or an involuntary termination for cause.  However, the salary continuation benefit becomes fully vested and payable upon a change in control if followed by resignation or other termination of employment.  The material terms of the salary continuation agreements for each of the Named Executive Officers are described below under “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION – Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control – Salary Continuation and Split Dollar Agreements.”  At the time these agreements were executed, the Board had determined that providing this benefit was a competitive necessity, as virtually all comparable institutions offered similar agreements to their executive officers.

Split-Dollar Life Insurance.  We also have split-dollar life insurance agreements with some of our Named Executive Officers.  In connection with those agreements, the Company purchased life insurance policies on the lives of the executives.  The Company owns the insurance policies, is entitled to their cash surrender value, and is responsible for paying the cost of the insurance.  In the event of the executive’s death, the split-dollar agreements provide that a portion of the policy proceeds shall be paid to the executive’s designated beneficiaries.  In some cases, but not all, the split-dollar allocation continues after the executive’s retirement.  The executive is responsible for taxes on the imputed value of the split-dollar life insurance benefit, except for certain agreements entered into prior to 2005 where the Company pays the executive an annual “bonus” in an after-tax amount sufficient for the executive to reimburse the Company for the imputed value of the insurance.  The Company also provides a small amount of additional life insurance coverage to the Named Executive Officers under its group term life insurance program, which is provided to all employees.

Deferred Compensation Plan.  Executive officers are eligible to participate in a non‑qualified deferred compensation plan, the “409A Plan,” whereby they can elect to defer all or part of their cash compensation for payment after retirement or termination of employment.  Deferred compensation amounts are not taxed until received by the participant.  Deferred compensation balances are unsecured obligations of the Company, and are credited/charged by the Company for gains/losses pegged to participant-directed investment allocations.  Investment allocation options include equity funds, real estate funds, bond funds and a fixed income alternative.  The Company offsets deferred compensation accruals with tax-advantaged income/losses on separate account Company-owned life insurance that is invested in options similar to those selected by deferred compensation plan participants.  No above‑market or preferential earnings are provided by the Company with respect to these plans.  Further details on the 409A Plan are described below under “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION – Deferred Compensation.”

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Perquisites and Other Programs.  The Company provides its executive officers with perquisites and personal benefits that it believes are reasonable and consistent with its overall compensation strategy to attract and retain qualified executives and facilitate the performance of their duties.  The Company maintains a 401(k) employee savings and retirement plan, which is offered to all employees.  After the end of each calendar year a discretionary contribution to the 401(k) plan is considered by the Board of Directors.  This has typically resulted in a Company contribution to plan participants in the range of 50% to 75% of the lesser of the following:  the participant’s actual contribution; 6% of the participant’s gross cash compensation during the preceding calendar year; or, 6% of the IRS annual compensation limit for purposes of company contributions ($275,000 in 2018).  Other benefits available to all employees include medical, dental, and vision insurance.  Executive officers may also be provided with club memberships, an automobile allowance, mileage reimbursement, use of a Company-owned automobile, and/or use of a cell phone or a cell-phone allowance.  Reportable annual benefits of $10,000 or more are described in the Summary Compensation Table below.

Conclusion.  The Compensation Committee intends to continue to link executive compensation to corporate performance and shareholder return, while avoiding forms of compensation that might encourage behavior which could have an adverse impact on the Company.  The various pay vehicles offered to our executives are balanced to compensate them for current performance and provide motivation for them to contribute to our overall future success, and we believe that our executive compensation policies and programs serve the best interests of our Company and our shareholders.

 

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Summary Executive Compensation Information

The following table sets forth certain summary compensation information with respect to our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, and our only other executive officers whose total compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 exceeded $100,000 (the “Named Executive Officers”):

Summary Compensation

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

There were no plan-based non-equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2018.  The following table furnishes information regarding stock options granted to the Named Executive Officers during 2018, which were the only plan-based equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2018:

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth outstanding stock options, which were the only form of equity awards held by the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2018:

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table provides information regarding options exercised by the only Named Executive Officers who exercised options during 2018, and the value realized thereon.  No information is provided concerning stock awards, as the Named Executive Officers did not have any stock awards as of December 31, 2018.

 

Option Exercises in 2018

 

Employment Agreements

In late December 2018, the Company and the Bank entered into an employment agreement with each of the Named Executive Officers.  The agreements became effective on January 1, 2019 and have initial terms of three years, with automatic renewals for one-year terms subsequent to the initial term unless either the executive or the Company provides notification of non-renewal to the other party at least six months in advance of the renewal date.  A similar agreement was entered into with the Company’s Chief Risk Officer (Mr. Macia) effective upon commencement of his employment in March 2019.  The agreements specify minimum annual base salaries of $525,000 for Mr. McPhaill, $360,000 for Messrs. Taylor and Gardunio, and $330,000 for Messrs. Olague and Macia, as well as annual discretionary bonuses of up to 75% of annual base salary for Mr. McPhaill and 50% of annual base salary for the other Named Executive Officers.  The agreements also note the basic terms and conditions of other benefits, delineate permitted outside activities, and provide indemnification for the executives for certain circumstances.  Each agreement includes noncompetition, non-solicitation and nondisclosure conditions applicable to the executives.

The employment agreements automatically terminate in certain circumstances, including the following:  the death or incapacity of the executive; termination of the executive’s employment for cause; or, a change in control of Sierra Bancorp.  For such automatic terminations, there is no further obligation on the part of the Company to make payments or provide any benefits pursuant to an agreement except in the case of a change in control of the Company.  Furthermore, the agreements stipulate that the Company may terminate the employment of the named executive officer with 30 days prior written notice to the executive, and the executive may terminate his agreement and his employment with the Company at any time with 90 days prior written notice to the Company.  In the event of a change in control, or if the Company initiates termination of employment for a reason other than one which constitutes an automatic

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termination, the Company will provide the executive(s) with the payments and benefits that are outlined under “– Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”  An executive’s receipt of severance benefits of any kind pursuant to his employment agreement is conditioned upon his execution of the full and complete release of any and all claims against Sierra Bancorp and Bank of the Sierra and their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, insurers, and successors in interest, arising from or in any way related to executive’s employment or termination of executive’s employment.

Pension Benefits

The table below shows the present value of accumulated benefits payable to each Named Executive Officer with a Salary Continuation Agreement.  Detailed information concerning the material provisions of such agreements appears below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control – Salary Continuation and Split Dollar Agreements.”

401(k) Plan

The Company has a 401(k) Plan which permits all employees to contribute a portion of their annual compensation on a pre-tax basis.  To ensure that the 401(k) Plan maintains its qualified status, contributions made by highly compensated employees are limited to the lesser of statutory maximum amounts or approximately 6% of their annual compensation on a pre-tax basis.  Annual employer contributions may also be made to the 401(k) Plan at the discretion of the Board of Directors, for distribution to plan participants as a specified percentage of the lesser of their individual contribution or 6% of their annual compensation (subject to IRS limitations).  The recipients of employer matching contributions are not vested in those amounts during their first year of employment but vest at the rate of 20% per year thereafter, so that by the end of their sixth year of employment they are fully vested in all employer contributions.  Employer matching contributions are included as part of “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table.  Highly compensated employees are also allowed to defer up to 100% of their annual compensation pursuant to a non-qualified 409A Plan, although no matching employer contributions are made to that plan.  The 409A Plan is described below under “Deferred Compensation.”

Deferred Compensation

The Company has a 409A Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “409A Plan”), pursuant to which the Named Executive Officers among others may elect to defer all or part of their annual salary and/or bonus.  The Company does not make contributions to the plan.  The 409A Plan is unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of ERISA.  The Company maintains an account for each 409A Plan participant that includes deferred compensation and any earnings thereon.  All amounts in these accounts represent unsecured liabilities of the Company.  Each account is credited (or charged) every calendar quarter in an amount equal to the average account balance multiplied by returns (positive or negative) on participant-designated indices.  The indices are based on funds available to the investing public, including a money market fund, a bond fund, a real estate fund, and numerous equity and hybrid funds.  There are no above-market or preferential earnings on the 409A Plan accounts, and no employer matching credits or

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performance incentive credits have been added to any account.  The Company hedges participant earnings with income from Company-owned life insurance that is invested in the same funds that participant-directed indices are based upon, and with deferred tax assets associated with participant accounts.  Deferral amounts are selected by the participant in accordance with applicable legal requirements.  Payouts may be either lump sum or paid out over time upon retirement or other termination of employment, at the election of the participant subject to various legal requirements and restrictions.

The following table sets forth information concerning activity under the 409A Plan for the Named Executive Officers as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018:

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

 

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The following discussion summarizes the compensation and benefits payable to the Named Executive Officers in the event of a termination of employment under various circumstances, assuming that a termination of employment had occurred on December 31, 2018.  The benefits which would be triggered in the event of a change in control of the Company’s common stock include: (i) acceleration of unvested stock options; (ii) amounts due under employment agreements; and (iii) accelerated vesting and payment of benefits under salary continuation agreements.  For the salary continuation benefits to be triggered, the individuals must also either resign or be terminated following the change in control.

If a change in control had occurred on December 31, 2018, any unvested stock options for the Named Executive Officers would have become vested and exercisable.  Based on the closing market price of $24.03 per share for the Company’s stock on the last business day in 2018, the intrinsic value of in-the-money unvested options for Mr. McPhaill totaled $74,800 as of that date.  Messrs. Taylor, Gardunio and Olague had no unvested options that were in-the-money as of December 31, 2018.

The material terms of employment agreements and salary continuation agreements with the Named Executive Officers, including payments due upon termination or change in control, are described in detail below.

Executive Employment Agreements.  As discussed above under “– Employment Agreements,” the Company has entered into employment agreements with each of its executive officers.  In the event of a change in control, the agreements specify that the executive shall receive a cash payment in an amount equal to his annualized base salary that is in effect during the year the termination occurs, plus his maximum bonus potential for the year.  The executive shall also receive a continuation of group health, vision and dental insurance coverages, and reimbursement for 50% of the cost of insurance for the executive’s dependents, for a period of 12 months from the date of termination.  If the Company terminates the executive’s employment for a reason other than a change in control, the death or incapacity of the executive, or for cause, the agreements specify that the executive shall receive a cash payment in an amount equal to the executive’s annualized base salary during the year the termination occurs, as well as a continuation of group health, vision and dental insurance coverages and reimbursement for 50% of the cost of insurance for executive’s dependents, for a period of 12 months from the date of termination.

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Salary Continuation and Split Dollar Agreements.  The Company entered into a salary continuation agreement with Mr. McPhaill in January 2007 (amended in April 2015 in conjunction with his promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer), which entitles him to an annual benefit of $150,000 for 15 years subsequent to his retirement at age 65 or later, subject to certain restrictions.  No benefits are payable in the event of a voluntary termination prior to his 65^th birthday (except in connection with a change in control as discussed below), or termination for cause.  In the event of cessation of employment due to disability or termination without cause prior to his designated retirement age, Mr. McPhaill’s benefit would be a lump sum payment equal to the amount accrued on the Company’s books for such liability as of the end of the month preceding termination of employment.  The actual accrual balance at December 31, 2018 is shown in the Pension Benefits table above.  This accrual balance is currently expected to reach $273,000 by the end of 2020 and $811,000 by the end of 2030, but is subject to change depending on the discount rate utilized.  Mr. McPhaill’s benefit will be fully accrued in May 2037, at which time it will be $1.489 million.  Mr. McPhaill’s revised salary continuation agreement also provides a lump sum death benefit of $1.489 million in the event of his death prior to retirement from the Company; or, in the event of death after salary continuation benefits have commenced or after he becomes eligible for such benefits to be paid, there will be no lump sum death benefit but his beneficiary will receive, or continue to receive, the same benefits under his salary continuation agreement to which he was entitled at the time of his death.  In the event of a change in control of the Company’s common stock followed within 12 months by Mr. McPhaill’s resignation or termination of his employment for any reason other than death, he would be fully vested in his retirement benefits and would begin to receive such benefits within the month following termination (subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code).

The Company also entered into a salary continuation agreement with Mr. Taylor in October 2002 (amended in January 2007 and January 2014), which provides an annual benefit of $100,000 per year for 15 years upon retirement on or after December 31, 2019, subject to certain conditions.  No benefits are payable in the event of voluntary termination prior to December 31, 2019 (except in connection with a change in control as discussed below), or termination for cause.  In the event of cessation of employment due to disability or termination without cause prior to December 31, 2019, Mr. Taylor would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to the amount accrued on the Company’s books for such liability as of the end of the month preceding termination of employment.  The accrual balance at December 31, 2018 is shown in the Pension Benefits table above.  This amount can change depending on the discount rate utilized, but is currently expected to increase to $992,000 when the benefit is fully vested and accrued on December 31, 2019.  The Company also entered into a split dollar agreement with Mr. Taylor in October 2002 which provides for certain payments in the event of death, in addition to a death benefit provided in his salary continuation agreement.  The two agreements together provide for a combined lump sum death benefit in the amount of $992,000 in the event of death prior to retirement while still employed by the Company.  In the event of death after retirement or other termination of employment where Mr. Taylor is eligible for salary continuation payments, Mr. Taylor’s beneficiary will receive a lump sum death benefit of $658,000 under his split dollar agreement in addition to the salary continuation payments.  In the event of a change in control of the Company’s common stock followed within 12 months by Mr. Taylor’s resignation or termination of his employment for any reason other than death, he would be fully vested in his retirement benefits and would begin to receive such benefits within the month following termination (subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code).

The Company also entered into a salary continuation agreement and a split dollar agreement with Mr. Gardunio in August 2005, which entitles him to an annual benefit of $75,000 for 10 years upon retirement, subject to certain restrictions.  No benefits are payable in the event of termination for cause.  A lump sum death benefit of $581,000 is provided under the split dollar agreement, and once a death benefit is paid the Company is released from its obligation to pay any remaining retirement benefits that would otherwise be due under Mr. Gardunio’s salary continuation agreement.  Mr. Gardunio reached the normal retirement age under his agreement in August 2015 and can now retire at any time and receive benefit payments, with the timing of such payments subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, although he has not indicated to the Company that retirement plans are imminent.  The balance shown for Mr. Gardunio in the Pension Benefits table above represents his fully-accrued salary continuation benefit as of December 31, 2018.  Because Mr. Gardunio had already reached his retirement age prior to December 31 2018, this does not represent an additional benefit resulting from a change in control.

The Company accrues monthly for post-retirement benefit obligations under the salary continuation agreements in a systematic and orderly way using an appropriate discount rate.  The Company also purchased single premium life insurance policies when the salary continuation agreements were originally established, in part to provide tax advantaged income to offset the annual cost of the accruals.  These policies name the Company as beneficiary and

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the proceeds or cash surrender value of the policies will ultimately reimburse the Company for the original investments in the policies, as well as for payments made under the salary continuation agreements.  The Company may purchase additional life insurance from time to time such that the aggregate amount is appropriate in relation to the accruals and ultimate obligations under the salary continuation agreements.  The amounts expensed in 2018 for the Named Executive Officers for salary continuation arrangements are included as part of “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table, and were more than offset by income from Company‑owned life insurance policies.

Compensation of Directors

Non-employee directors received $1,200 per meeting for their attendance at Board meetings in 2018 and $600 per meeting for committee meetings attended, except for the Chairman of the Board who received $1,900 per Board meeting, and the Audit Committee and Senior Loan Committee Chairmen who each received $1,200 per committee meeting chaired.  In addition, all directors received an annual retainer of $22,160.  The President/CEO received the annual retainer applicable to all directors as well as the standard per meeting fee for attendance at Board of Directors meetings, but no fees for attending committee meetings.  For 2019, the annual retainer was increased by 5% to $23,268, while meeting fees remain the same as in 2018.

The Company instituted a Director Retirement Plan on October 1, 2002, and entered into associated agreements with its non‑employee directors at that time.  A supplemental plan for independent directors was adopted effective January 1, 2007.  Current directors who qualify as plan participants are directors Tharp, Berra and Woods.  The plans provide a combined annual benefit of $50,000 to each participant for a period of 10 years, commencing at retirement, disability, or a “change in control.”  In the event of death prior to any of those events, the plans provide a combined death benefit of $377,232, which is equal to the Company’s accrued liability for each plan participant. In case of death after the commencement of any benefit payments made pursuant to retirement disability, or a change in control, the death benefit is bifurcated according to the different terms of the 2002 and 2007 agreements.  The earlier agreements provide for the payment of a lump sum benefit equal to the present value of the remaining payments under those agreements, discounted at 8%, while the latter agreements stipulate that the normal benefit due under those agreements will continue to be paid.  The Company’s liability for potential payments under the director retirement agreements is fully accrued, and directors with retirement agreements are completely vested and eligible for their full benefits under those agreements.

The Company also purchased single‑premium life insurance policies covering most of the non‑employee directors when the Director Retirement Plan was first implemented, in part to provide tax advantaged income to offset the annual cost of the expense accruals.  Those policies name the Company as beneficiary and the proceeds or cash surrender value of the policies will ultimately reimburse the Company for its original investment in the policies, as well as for certain payments made under the retirement agreements.  The Company may purchase additional life insurance from time to time such that the aggregate amount is appropriate in relation to the accruals and ultimate obligations under the retirement agreements.

The table below summarizes the compensation paid to non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2018.  Compensation paid to Mr. McPhaill, the only director who is also a Named Executive Officer, is set forth above in the various sections concerning compensation paid to Named Executive Officers.

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Director Summary Compensation Table

 

CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure

This section is provided to satisfy the provisions of the SEC’s pay ratio disclosure rule (Item 402(u) of Reg S-K), which requires the disclosure of the ratio of the total annual compensation of the Company’s CEO to the median of the total annual compensation of all other employees of the Company.  To determine the median employee of the Company based on total compensation, we utilized a list of all active employees of the Company at December 31, 2018 excluding the CEO.  The compensation calculated for each of those employees includes wages paid during 2018 and, if applicable, incentive compensation, the grant date fair value of stock options, employer contributions to the employee’s 401(k) plan, and the value of any other compensation or perquisites not generally available to all employees, if material.  Base wages were annualized for employees who had not been with the Company for the full year.  Based on our analysis of this data, total compensation for the Company’s median employee was $40,560 for 2018.  As disclosed in “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION – Summary Executive Compensation Information,” the total annual compensation for our CEO was $949,875 in 2018.  Total compensation for our CEO was thus determined to be 23 times that of our median employee.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Management knows of no person who owned beneficially more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of March 25, 2019, except for the persons listed in the table below.  Information concerning the stock ownership of the Company’s executive officers, directors and nominees for director is set forth above under “ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.”  The following table furnishes information regarding the known holders of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock:

 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company during and with respect to its 2018 fiscal year, with the exception of director Dutto, who inadvertently failed to timely file one Form 4 three business days late with respect to one small purchase in February 2018; and director Holly, who failed to timely file one Form 5 with respect to one gift of shares in December 2018; no director or executive officer failed to file, on a timely basis, reports required during or with respect to 2018 by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

RELATED PARTY Transactions

Some of our executive officers and directors and the companies with which they are associated have been customers of, and have had banking transactions with, Bank of the Sierra (the “Bank”) in the ordinary course of the Bank’s business since January 1, 2018, and the Bank expects to continue to have such banking transactions in the future.  All loans and commitments to lend included in such transactions were made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with persons not related to the Bank, and in the opinion of the Board of Directors, did not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present any other unfavorable features.

 

 

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PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

General

The Audit Committee has appointed Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co., LLP (“Vavrinek”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.  Vavrinek audited the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.  Although not required to do so, the Board of Directors has chosen to submit this proposal to the vote of the shareholders in order to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Vavrinek.  It is the intention of the persons named in the Proxy to vote such Proxy “FOR” the ratification of this appointment.  If the Company’s shareholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain Vavrinek, but may still retain them.  Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Representatives of Vavrinek are expected to be present at the Meeting.  They will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Vavrinek for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, were as follows:

 

 

None of the fees paid to Vavrinek during 2018 and 2017 were paid under the de minimis safe harbor exception from Audit Committee pre-approval requirements.  The Audit Committee has concluded that the provision of the non-audit services listed above is compatible with maintaining Vavrinek’s independence.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation and Required Vote

The proposal will be ratified if the votes cast favoring the appointment exceed the votes cast opposing it.

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal 2.

 

 

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PROPOSAL 3

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, the Board of Directors is submitting for shareholder approval, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the tabular disclosure regarding executive compensation (together with the accompanying narrative disclosure) above.  As previously disclosed by the Company, the Board of Directors has determined, and the shareholders have agreed, that it will hold an advisory vote on executive compensation on an annual basis.

This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives the Company’s shareholders the opportunity to endorse or not endorse the Company’s executive pay program and policies, and to express their views on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed herein.  This vote shall not be binding on the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee and will not be construed as overruling a decision by, nor create or imply any additional fiduciary duty by, the Board or the Compensation Committee.  Furthermore, because this non-binding advisory vote relates primarily to compensation that has already been paid or contractually committed for the Company's named executive officers, there is generally no opportunity for the Board to revisit those decisions.  However, the Compensation Committee intends to take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

Board of Directors’ Recommendation and Required Vote

The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee believe that the Company’s compensation practices and procedures are (i) designed to accomplish the objectives stated in the Company’s compensation philosophy; (ii) competitive, reasonable and effective; and (iii) appropriately aligned with the long-term success of the Company and the interests of its shareholders.

This proposal will be approved if the votes cast in favor exceed the votes cast against it.

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the disclosure rules of the SEC.

PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Under certain circumstances, shareholders are entitled to present proposals at shareholder meetings.  Any such proposal concerning our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be submitted by a shareholder prior to December 20, 2019, in order to qualify for inclusion in the proxy statement relating to such meeting.  The submission by a shareholder of a proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in the proxy statement.  Shareholder proposals are subject to certain regulations and requirements under federal securities laws.

The persons named as proxies for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will have discretionary authority to vote on any shareholder proposal which is not included in our proxy materials for the meeting, unless we receive notice of the proposal by March 4, 2020.  If we receive proper notice by that date, the proxy holders will not have discretionary voting authority except as provided in federal regulations governing shareholder proposals.

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OTHER MATTERS

Management does not know of any matters to be presented to the Meeting other than those set forth above.  However, if other matters properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention of the proxy holders to vote said Proxy in accordance with the recommendations of your Board of Directors, and authority to do so is included in the Proxy.

 

A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S 2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (BUT WITHOUT EXHIBITS) FILED WITH THE SEC IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS WHICH IS BEING SENT TO SHAREHOLDERS TOGETHER WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT.  IF A SHAREHOLDER DESIRES COPIES OF THE EXHIBITS TO THE REPORT, THEY WILL BE PROVIDED UPON PAYMENT BY THE SHAREHOLDER OF THE COST OF FURNISHING THE EXHIBITS TOGETHER WITH A WRITTEN REQUEST TO KENNETH R. TAYLOR, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AT 86 NORTH MAIN STREET, PORTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA 93257.

 

 

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Your vote matters – here’s how to vote!   You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card.    Votes submitted electronically must be  received by 11:59 p.m. ET, May 21, 2019.   Online  Go to www.investorvote.com/BSRR or scan  the QR code — login details are located in  the shaded bar below.   Phone  Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within  the USA, US territories and Canada    Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example.  Please do not write outside the designated areas.   2019 Annual Meeting Proxy Card    •  IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. •    Proposals — The Board of Directors recommend a vote FOR all the nominees listed on Proposal 1, "FOR" Proposals 2 and 3. A  1. Election of Directors: To elect the following five individuals to serve as Class II directors until the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected  and qualified:  +    01 - Albert L. Berra 02 - Vonn R. Christenson 03 - Laurence S. Dutto  04 - Kevin J. McPhaill 05 - Gordon T. Woods   Mark here to vote FOR all nominees   Mark here to WITHHOLD vote from all nominees   01 02030405  For All EXCEPT - To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, mark the  box to the left and the corresponding numbered box(es) to the right.   For Against Abstain For Against Abstain   2. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Accountants. 3. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.  To ratify the appointment of Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co., LLP as the To approve, on an advisory and non binding basis, the  Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2019, compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as  as described in the Company’s Proxy Statement dated April 18, 2019. described in the Company’s Proxy Statement dated April 18, 2019.  4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the  Meeting and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.  Management at present knows of no other business to be  presented by or on behalf of Sierra Bancorp or its Board of  Directors at the Meeting.   Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to count. Please date and sign below. B  Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.  Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.    1UPX  +    0317ED

 

 

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Important notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  The material is available at: www.sierrabancorp.com/financials   •  IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. •    Revocable Proxy — SIERRA BANCORP   +    ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - MAY 22, 2019   The undersigned shareholder(s) of Sierra Bancorp (the “Company”) hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints Morris A. Tharp, James C. Holly and Kevin J.  McPhaill, and each of them, the attorney, agent and proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all share of the Company which the  undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the”Meeting”) of the Company to be held at the Main Office of Bank of the Sierra,  90 North Main Street, Porterville, California 93257 on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. PT and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, as fully and  with the same force and effect as the undersigned might or could do if personally present thereat, as stated on the reverse side.   THIS PROXY SHALL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, THE PROXY CONFERS AUTHORITY TO AND SHALL  BE VOTED “FOR” ALL NOMINEES LISTED ON PROPOSAL 1, AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3.   IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING, THIS PROXY SHALL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MAY BE REVOKED PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.   PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE.   (Items to be voted appear on reverse side)   Non-Voting Items C  Change of Address — Please print new address below. Comments — Please print your comments below.   Meeting Attendance  Mark box to the right if  you plan to attend the  Annual Meeting.    +