proxy.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
Filed
by the Registrant [X]
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the
appropriate box:
Prudential
Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania |
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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|
|
(Name of Person(s) Filing
Proxy Statement, if other than
Registrant) |
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[ ] |
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
|
(1)
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
_____________________________
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
_____________________________
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
_______________
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
____________________________________
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(5)
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Total
fee paid
__________________________________________________________________
|
[ ] |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials:
_________________________________
|
[ ] |
Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
|
(1)
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
_________________________________________________________________
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
________________________________________________
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(3)
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Filing
Party:
_____________________________________________________________
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(4)
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Date
Filed:_________________________________________
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January
8, 2010
Dear
Shareholder:
You are cordially invited
to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of
Pennsylvania. The meeting will be held at the
Holiday Inn – Philadelphia Stadium, located at 900 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern
time.
The Board of Directors
unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" election of our nominees for director for a
three-year term expiring in 2013, "FOR" the approval of the Plan of
Reorganization pursuant to which Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Mutual
Holding Company will become federally chartered companies and "FOR" ratification
of the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. Each
of these matters is more fully described in the accompanying
materials.
It is very important that
you be represented at the annual meeting regardless of the number of shares you
own or whether you are able to attend the meeting in person. We urge
you to mark, sign, and date your proxy card today and return it in the envelope
provided, even if you plan to attend the annual meeting. This will
not prevent you from voting in person, but will ensure that your vote is counted
if you are unable to attend.
Your continued support of
and interest in Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania is sincerely
appreciated.
Very truly
yours,
Thomas A.
Vento
President and Chief
Executive Officer
PRUDENTIAL
BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
1834
West Oregon Avenue
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19145
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NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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TIME
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11:00 a.m.,
Eastern time, Monday, February 8, 2010
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PLACE
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Holiday
Inn – Philadelphia Stadium
900
Packer Avenue
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
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ITEMS OF BUSINESS
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(1)
To elect two directors for a three-year term and until their successors
are elected and qualified;
(2)
To approve the Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which Prudential Bancorp
and Prudential Mutual Holding Company will become federally chartered
companies;
(3)
To ratify the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2010; and
(4)
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
at any adjournment thereof. We are not aware of any other such
business.
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RECORD DATE
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Holders
of Prudential Bancorp common stock of record at the close of business on
December 24, 2009 are entitled to vote at the meeting.
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ANNUAL REPORT
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Our
2009 Annual Report to Shareholders is enclosed but is not a part of the
proxy solicitation materials.
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PROXY VOTING
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It
is important that your shares be represented and voted at the
meeting. You are urged to vote your shares by completing and
returning the proxy card sent to you. Most shareholders whose
shares are held in "street" name can also vote their shares over the
Internet or by telephone. If Internet or telephone voting is
available to you, voting instructions are printed on your voting
instruction card. You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to
its exercise at the meeting by following the instructions in the
accompanying proxy statement.
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BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
January
8, 2010
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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About
the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
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1
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Information
with Respect to Nominees for Director, Continuing Directors and Executive
Officers
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4
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Election of Directors (Proposal
One)
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4
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Members of the Board of Directors
Continuing in
Office
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5
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Director
Nominations
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6
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Committees and Meetings of the
Board of
Directors
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6
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Directors' Attendance at Annual
Meetings
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7
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Directors'
Compensation
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7
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Compensation Committee Interlocks
and Insider
Participation
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8
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Executive Officers Who Are Not
Also
Directors
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9
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Report
of the Audit
Committee
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9
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Management
Compensation
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10
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Summary Compensation
Table
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10
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Outstanding Equity Awards at
Fiscal
Year-End
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11
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Employment
Agreements
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11
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Benefit
Plans
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12
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Beneficial
Ownership of Common Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management
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13
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Section 16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting
Compliance
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14
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Related Party
Transactions
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14
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Approval
of the Plan of Reorganization (Proposal
Two)
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15
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General
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15
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Reasons for Adopting the Plan of
Reorganization
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16
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Conditions to the Plan of
Reorganization
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18
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Impact of the Plan of
Reorganization on
Operations
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18
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Holding Company Powers and
Regulations
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18
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Indemnification of Officers and
Directors and Limitation of
Liability
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21
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Comparison of Shareholder Rights
and Certain Anti-Takeover
Provisions
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22
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Optional Exchange of Stock
Certificates
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23
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Tax
Consequences
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23
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Accounting
Consequences
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24
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Amendment or Termination of the
Plan of
Reorganization
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24
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Ratification
of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal
Three)
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24
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Change in
Auditors
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24
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Audit
Fees
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25
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Shareholder
Proposals, Nominations and Communications with the Board of
Directors
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26
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Annual
Reports
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27
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Other
Matters
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27
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Exhibit
A – Plan of
Reorganization
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A-1
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Exhibit
B – Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania Subsidiary Holding Company
Charter
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B-1
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Exhibit
C – Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania
Bylaws
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C-1
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MEETING
DIRECTIONS |
From
Points North and East:
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From
Points West:
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From
Points South:
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Take
I-76 West toward Camden/
Philadelphia
Take
exit 350 – Seventh Street
toward
Packer Avenue
Turn
right on Packer Avenue
End
at 900 Packer Avenue
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Take
I-76 East/Schuykill Expressway East
Take
exit 350 – Seventh Street toward
Packer
Avenue
Turn
right on Packer Avenue
End
at 900 Packer Avenue
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Take
I-95 North
Take
exit 17-SR611 North/S. Broad
Street
toward Pattison Ave.
Turn
right on Packer Avenue
End
at 900 Packer Avenue
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PROXY
STATEMENT
OF
PRUDENTIAL
BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
_____________________
ABOUT
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
|
General. This
proxy statement is furnished to holders of common stock of Prudential Bancorp,
Inc. of Pennsylvania, the parent holding company of Prudential Savings
Bank. Our Board of Directors is soliciting proxies to be used at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the Holiday Inn – Philadelphia
Stadium, located at 900 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Monday,
February 8, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, and any adjournment thereof, for
the purposes set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. This proxy statement is first being mailed to
shareholders on or about January 8, 2010.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting
to Be Held on February 8, 2010. This proxy statement and our
2009 Annual Report to Shareholders are available on our website at
www.prudentialsavingsbank.com under the "Investor Relations"
tab.
What
is the purpose of the annual meeting?
At our annual meeting, shareholders will act upon the
matters outlined in the notice of meeting consisting of the proposals
to:
·
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elect
two directors for a three-year term expiring in
2013;
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·
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approve
the Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which Prudential Bancorp will
reorganize as a federally chartered mid-tier stock company and Prudential
Mutual Holding Company will reorganize as a federally chartered mutual
holding company; and
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·
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ratify
the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. as our independent registered
public accounting firm for the year ending September 30,
2010.
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In addition, management may report on the performance of
Prudential Bancorp and respond to questions from
shareholders.
Who
is entitled to vote?
Only our shareholders of record as of the close of
business on the record date for the meeting, December 24, 2009, are entitled to
vote at the meeting. On the record date, we had 10,331,866 shares of common
stock issued and outstanding and no other class of equity securities
outstanding. For each issued and outstanding share of common stock
you own on the record date, you will be entitled to one vote on each matter to
be voted on at the meeting, in person or by proxy.
How
do I submit my proxy?
After you have carefully read this proxy statement,
indicate on your proxy form how you want your shares to be
voted. Then sign, date and mail your proxy form in the enclosed
prepaid return envelope as soon as possible. This will enable your
shares to be represented and voted at the annual meeting.
If
my shares are held in "street name" by my broker, could my broker automatically
vote my shares for me?
Your broker may not vote on the election of directors
and the approval of Prudential Bancorp's reorganization if you do not furnish
instructions for such proposals. You should use the voting
instruction card provided by the institution that holds your shares to instruct
your broker to vote your shares or else your shares will be considered "broker
non-votes."
Broker non-votes are shares held by brokers or nominees
as to which voting instructions have not been received from the beneficial
owners or the persons entitled to vote those shares and the broker or nominee
does not have discretionary voting power under rules applicable to
broker-dealers. Under these rules, the proposals to elect directors and approve
Prudential Bancorp's reorganization as a federal corporation are not items on
which brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on behalf of their clients if
such clients have not furnished voting instructions within ten days of the
annual meeting.
Your broker may vote in his or her discretion on the
ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting
firm if you do not furnish instructions.
Can
I attend the meeting and vote my shares in person?
All shareholders are invited to attend the annual
meeting. Shareholders of record can vote in person at the annual
meeting. If your shares are held in "street name," then you are not
the shareholder of record and you must ask your broker or other nominee how you
can vote at the annual meeting.
Can
I change my vote after I return my proxy card?
Yes. If you are a shareholder of record,
there are three ways you can change your vote or revoke your proxy after you
have sent in your proxy card.
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•
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First,
you may complete and submit a new proxy card before the annual
meeting. Any earlier proxies will be revoked
automatically.
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•
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Second,
you may send a written notice to our Corporate Secretary, Ms. Regina
Wilson, Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania, 1834 West Oregon Avenue,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19145, in advance of the annual meeting stating
that you would like to revoke your
proxy.
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•
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Third,
you may attend the annual meeting and vote in person. Any
earlier proxy will be revoked. However, attending the annual
meeting without voting in person will not revoke your
proxy.
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If your shares are held in street name and you have
instructed a broker or other nominee to vote your shares, you must follow
directions you receive from your broker or other nominee on how to change your
vote.
What
constitutes a quorum?
The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of
the holders of a majority of votes that all shareholders are entitled to cast on
a particular matter will constitute a quorum. Proxies received but
marked as abstentions will be included in the calculation of the number of votes
considered to be present at the meeting.
What
are the Board of Directors' recommendations?
The recommendations of the Board of Directors are set
forth under the description of each proposal in this proxy
statement. In summary, the Board of Directors recommends that you
vote FOR
the nominees for director described herein, FOR the
approval of the Plan of Reorganization of Prudential Bancorp and Prudential
Mutual Holding Company as federal corporations and FOR
ratification of the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. as our independent
registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2010.
The proxy solicited hereby, if properly signed and
returned to us and not revoked prior to its use, will be voted in accordance
with your instructions. If no contrary instructions are given, each
proxy signed and received will be voted in the manner recommended by the Board
of Directors and, upon the transaction of such other business as may properly
come before the meeting, in accordance with the best judgment of the persons
appointed as proxies. Proxies solicited hereby may be exercised only
at the annual meeting and any adjournment of the annual meeting and will not be
used for any other meeting.
What
are the reasons for adopting the Plan of Reorganization?
The Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp approved
the reorganization after considering several factors including the ability of
Prudential Mutual Holding Company to waive its receipt of cash dividends after
it converts to a federal charter, thereby avoiding double taxation of the
dividends, and the facilitation of a possible second-step conversion, which is
an integral part of Prudential Bancorp’s long-term strategic plan. As
previously announced, the Board of Directors has determined, subject to the
exercise of its fiduciary duties and the evaluation of market conditions, to
undertake a second-step conversion no later than the annual meeting of
shareholders in 2013. As a result of the reorganization, Prudential
Mutual Holding Company would be a federally chartered mutual holding company and
its second-step conversion application would be processed by the Office of
Thrift Supervision which has greater expertise and experience in second-step
conversion transactions than the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System. As such, we believe that a second-step conversion through the
Office of Thrift Supervision can be effected more expeditiously and more
cost-effectively than through the Federal Reserve Board and with less regulatory
uncertainty.
What
vote is required to approve each item?
The election of directors will be determined by a
plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting. The nominees for
director receiving the most "for" votes will be elected directors for a
three-year term expiring in 2013, and until their successors are elected and
qualified. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by
shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required for approval of
Prudential Bancorp's reorganization as a federal corporation and approval of the
proposal to ratify the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. for fiscal
2010. Under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law, abstentions do
not constitute votes cast and will not affect the vote required for the
proposals to approve the reorganization and ratify the appointment of the
independent registered public accounting firm.
As indicated below under "Beneficial Ownership of Common
Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management," Prudential Mutual Holding
Company owns a majority of our outstanding common stock. Prudential
Mutual Holding Company intends to vote all of the shares it owns for each of the
proposals, thereby ensuring a quorum at the annual meeting, and that each of
such proposals will be adopted.
On November 7, 2008, Prudential Mutual Holding Company,
Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Savings Bank entered into a Settlement
Agreement with Stilwell Value Partners I, L.P. and its
affiliates. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Stilwell
Value Partners and its affiliates agreed to terminate a lawsuit brought by
Stilwell Value Partners against Prudential Bancorp, Prudential Mutual Holding
Company and the directors of Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Mutual Holding
Company and to withdraw the demand that various actions be taken by Prudential
Bancorp. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Stilwell Value
Partners and its affiliates agreed to not vote the shares of common stock of
Prudential Bancorp they beneficially own for any nominee or nominees for
election to the Board of Directors other than those nominated or supported by
the Board of Directors or oppose, or make any statement in opposition to, any
proposal or director nomination submitted by Prudential Bancorp's Board of
Directors.
INFORMATION
WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR, CONTINUING
DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
Election
of Directors (Proposal One)
Our Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of
Directors shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as
possible. The directors are elected by our shareholders for staggered
terms and until their successors are elected and qualified. At this
annual meeting, you will be asked to elect two directors for a three-year term
expiring in 2013, and until their successors are elected and
qualified.
Our
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has recommended the re-election of
Messrs. Balka and Fanelli as directors. No director is related to any
other director or executive officer by blood, marriage or
adoption. Shareholders are not permitted to use cumulative voting for
the election of directors. Our Board of Directors has determined that
Messrs. Fanelli, Hosier, Mulcahy and Packer are independent directors as defined
in the Nasdaq listing standards.
Unless otherwise directed, each proxy signed and
returned by a shareholder will be voted for the election of the nominees for
director listed on the following page. If any person named as a
nominee should be unable or unwilling to stand for election at the time of the
annual meeting, the proxies will nominate and vote for any replacement nominee
or nominees recommended by our Board of Directors. At this time, the
Board of Directors knows of no reason why either of the nominees may not be able
to serve as a director if elected.
The
following tables present information concerning our nominees for director, and
our continuing directors, all of whom also serve as directors of Prudential
Savings Bank. For certain directors, the indicated period of service
as a director includes service as a director of Prudential Savings Bank prior to
the organization of Prudential Bancorp in 2004. Ages are reflected as of
September 30, 2009.
Nominees for Director for Three-Year Terms Expiring in
2013
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Position
with Prudential Bancorp and
Principal
Occupation During the Past Five Years
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Jerome
R. Balka, Esq.
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80
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Director. Solicitor
of Prudential Savings Bank. Partner, Balka & Balka, a law
firm, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chief Executive Officer of
Constitution Abstract Co., Inc., a title insurance company, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania since January 2009.
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2000
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A.
J. Fanelli
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72
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Director. Self-employed
owner of a public accounting practice, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
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2005
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The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR
election
of our nominees for director.
Members
of the Board of Directors Continuing in Office
Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2011
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Position
with Prudential Bancorp and
Principal
Occupation During the Past Five Years
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Francis
V. Mulcahy |
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76 |
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Director. Residential
real estate appraiser and broker, Media, Pennsylvania.
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2005
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Joseph
W. Packer, Jr.
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81
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Chairman
of the Board of Prudential Bancorp since 2004 and Prudential Savings Bank
since 1992. Presently retired. Former President and
Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Savings Bank.
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1979
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Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2012
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Position
with Prudential Bancorp and
Principal
Occupation During the Past Five Years
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Thomas
A. Vento
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75
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Director. President
and Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Bancorp since 2004; President of
Prudential Savings Bank since 1992 and President and Chief Executive
Officer since 1993.
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1992
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John
C. Hosier
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45
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Director. Commercial
Lines Account Executive with Montgomery Insurance Services, Inc., Media,
Pennsylvania since 1986, and Commercial Lines Manager of its affiliate,
Allman and Company, Inc., Fort Washington, Pennsylvania since 2007, two
full-service insurance agencies.
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2009
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Director
Nominations
Nominations for director of Prudential Bancorp are made
by the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors and are ratified by the
entire Board. The Board of Directors adopted a written charter which
is available on our website at www.prudentialsavingsbank.com. The
Charter sets forth certain criteria the committee may consider when recommending
individuals for nomination including: ensuring that the Board of Directors, as a
whole, is diverse and consists of individuals with various and relevant career
experience, relevant technical skills, industry knowledge and experience,
financial expertise (including expertise that could qualify a director as a
"financial expert," as that term is defined by the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission), local or community ties, minimum individual
qualifications, including strength of character, mature judgment, familiarity
with our business and industry, independence of thought and an ability to work
collegially. The committee also may consider the extent to which the
candidate would fill a present need on the Board of
Directors. Prudential Bancorp has adopted a policy that no person
shall be eligible for election to the Board if at the time of such election, the
nominee will be 80 years of age or older. However, this Policy does
not apply to those persons who were serving as directors of Prudential Bancorp
on the date the age limitation policy was adopted, September 7,
2005.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will
also consider candidates for director suggested by other directors, as well as
our management and shareholders. A shareholder who desires to
recommend a prospective nominee for the Board should notify our Secretary or any
member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in writing with
whatever supporting material the shareholder considers
appropriate. Any shareholder wishing to make a nomination must follow
our procedures for shareholder nominations, which are described under
"Shareholder Proposals, Nominations and Communications with the Board of
Directors."
Committees
and Meetings of the Board of Directors
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the
Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp met 15 times. No director of
Prudential Bancorp attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number
of Board meetings held during the period for which he has been a director and
the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he
served during the periods that he served.
Membership on
Certain Board Committees. The Board of Directors of Prudential
Bancorp has established an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and
Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. Each of the committees operates in
accordance with a written charter which is available on our website at
www.prudentialsavingsbank.com. The following table sets forth the
membership of such committees as of the date of this proxy
statement.
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Nominating |
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and
Corporate |
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Directors |
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Governance |
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Compensation |
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Audit |
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A.J.
Fanelli |
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** |
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* |
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** |
John C.
Hosier |
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* |
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* |
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* |
Francis V.
Mulcahy |
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* |
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* |
|
* |
Joseph W. Packer,
Jr. |
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* |
|
** |
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* |
___________________
* Member
** Chair
Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee reviews with management and the
independent registered public accounting firm the systems of internal control,
reviews the annual financial statements, including the Annual Report on Form
10-K and monitors Prudential Bancorp's adherence in accounting and financial
reporting to generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit
Committee is comprised of four directors, each of whom is an independent
director as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board of
Directors has determined that none of the members of the Audit Committee meet
the definition of Audit Committee financial expert, as such term is defined in
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, we
believe it is important to note that while no one individual member of the Audit
Committee has been determined to meet the technical requirements to be an Audit
Committee financial expert, each of the members has had significant involvement
in financial matters, one due to service as chief executive officer of a
financial institution. The Audit Committee met four times in fiscal
2009.
Compensation
Committee. It is the responsibility of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors to, among other things, oversee Prudential
Bancorp's compensation and incentive arrangements for management. No
member of the Compensation Committee is a current or, other than Mr. Packer,
former officer or employee of Prudential Bancorp, Prudential Savings Bank or any
subsidiary. Mr.
Packer served as an executive officer of Prudential Savings Bank prior to
1993. Each of
the members is independent as defined in the Nasdaq listing
standards. The Compensation Committee held one formal meeting in
fiscal 2009 and three informal telephonic meetings to consider management
compensation, including the award of grants under our new stock benefit
plans.
Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee reviews and makes nominations for the Board of Directors,
which are then sent to the full Board of Directors for their
ratification. Each of the members is independent as defined in the
Nasdaq listing standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee met once in fiscal 2009.
Directors'
Attendance at Annual Meetings
Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders absent a valid reason for not doing so. All of our
directors attended the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in February
2009.
Directors'
Compensation
The following table sets forth certain information
regarding the compensation paid to our non-employee directors during fiscal year
2009.
|
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
Other Compensation(2)
|
|
|
Jerome
R. Balka
|
|
$ 32,550
|
|
$18,606
|
|
$11,702
|
|
$57,275
|
|
$120,133
|
A.
J. Fanelli
|
|
37,590
|
|
18,606
|
|
11,702
|
|
--
|
|
67,898
|
John
C. Hosier
(Director
since July 2009)
|
|
5,670
|
|
--
|
|
--
|
|
--
|
|
5,670
|
Francis
V. Mulcahy
|
|
37,590
|
|
18,606
|
|
11,702
|
|
--
|
|
67,898
|
Joseph
W. Packer, Jr
|
|
116,490
|
|
18,606
|
|
11,702
|
|
32,532
|
|
179,330
|
________________
(1)
|
The
columns "Stock Awards" and "Option Awards" reflect expense recognized
during fiscal 2009 in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation
– Stock Compensation, related to grants of restricted stock and
stock options to non-employee directors under the 2008 Recognition and
Retention Plan and 2008 Stock Option Plan. Such grants and
awards vest pro rata over five years commencing on the first anniversary
of the grant date. Each of our non-employee directors, other
than Mr. Hosier, received awards of 11,307 shares of restricted stock and
28,268 stock options on January 5, 2009. All of such grants and
awards were unvested at September 30, 2009. The stock options
have an exercise price of $11.17 per
share.
|
(2)
|
Represents
for Mr. Balka, his annual retainer of $48,300 as solicitor of Prudential
Savings Bank and $8,975 for legal services, and for Mr. Packer, includes
life insurance premiums, health insurance premiums and reimbursement of
certain Philadelphia city taxes of $12,283, $16,146 and $4,103,
respectively.
|
We do not
pay separate compensation to directors for their service on the Board of
Directors of Prudential Bancorp. In fiscal 2009, members of
Prudential Savings Bank's Board of Directors received an annual retainer of
$22,680. Members also received $1,890 per special meeting
attended. For fiscal 2009, members of the Audit Committee, Executive
Committee, Compensation Committee
and Budget/Finance Committee received fees of $840 per meeting
attended. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Packer received an annual
retainer of $74,702 in fiscal 2009 in addition to board and committee meeting
fees. As solicitor of Prudential Savings Bank, Mr. Balka received in
fiscal 2009 an annual retainer of $48,300, which increased to $49,025 in fiscal
2010 and fees for additional legal services. He also received the
normal meeting fee for service on the Executive Committee and the normal annual
Board retainer of $22,680. As the owner of Constitution Abstract Co.,
Inc., Mr. Balka received an insignificant amount of compensation from Prudential
Savings Bank for title insurance related services. Board fees are
subject to periodic adjustment by the Board of Directors, however, no increase
in the annual retainer or meeting fees has been approved for fiscal
2010.
Amended and Restated
Post Retirement Agreement. In November 2004, Prudential
Savings Bank entered into an Amended and Restated Post Retirement Agreement with
Mr. Packer, Chairman of the Board and former President and Chief Executive
Officer of Prudential Savings Bank. Pursuant to the post retirement
agreement, Prudential Savings Bank agreed to provide Mr. Packer and his spouse
with continued health and life insurance comparable to that in effect at Mr.
Packer's retirement as an employee, as well as continued participation in a
split dollar life insurance plan. The post retirement agreement was
amended and restated in November 2008 to satisfy the requirements of Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code; no adjustment to the benefits provided under
the agreement was made.
Split Dollar
Insurance Agreements. Prudential Savings Bank maintains insurance
policies on the lives of Mr. Packer and his spouse, and entered into a
Collateral Assignment Agreement with Mr. Packer in 1993 and Split-Dollar
Agreement and related Collateral Assignment Agreement in June
1994. The policies are owned by Mr. Packer and are assigned to
Prudential Savings Bank, which pays the annual premiums on the
policies. Under the agreements, upon the death of Mr. Packer and his
spouse (except with respect to the 1993 Collateral Assignment Agreement, which
will be triggered by the death solely of Mr. Packer), Prudential Savings Bank
will receive an amount equal to the premiums paid on the policies less any fees
due to the insurer. The remaining death benefits under the insurance
policies will be paid to the beneficiaries. The Split-Dollar Agreements may be
terminated at any time by either Mr. Packer and his spouse or Prudential Savings
Bank with the consent of the other party. Amendments to the
Split-Dollar Agreement and Collateral Assignment Agreements were adopted in
November 2008 in order to render the agreements in compliance with Section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code; no changes in benefits were made as a result of
such amendments.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Determinations regarding compensation of our President
and Chief Executive Officer, our senior management and our employees are
reviewed and approved by Prudential Bancorp's Compensation
Committee. Messrs. Fanelli, Hosier, Mulcahy and Packer, who is the
Committee's Chairman, currently serve as members of the Compensation
Committee.
No person who served as a member of the Compensation
Committee during fiscal 2009 was a current or, other than Mr. Packer, former
officer or employee of Prudential Bancorp or Prudential Savings Bank or engaged
in certain transactions with Prudential Bancorp or Prudential Savings Bank
required to be disclosed by regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Mr.
Packer served as an executive officer of Prudential Savings Bank prior to
1993. Additionally,
there were no Compensation Committee "interlocks" during fiscal 2009, which
generally means that no executive officer of Prudential Bancorp served as a
director or member of the Compensation Committee of another entity, one of whose
executive officers served as a director or member of the Compensation
Committee.
Executive
Officers Who Are Not Also Directors
Set forth below is certain information with respect to
current executive officers of Prudential Bancorp and its subsidiaries who are
not directors. Ages are reflected as of September 30,
2009.
|
|
|
|
Principal
Occupation During the Past Five Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
R. Corrato
|
|
48
|
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Prudential Bancorp since
2004 and Prudential Savings Bank since 1997. Mr. Corrato joined
Prudential Savings Bank in 1978 and served in a variety of positions
including Treasurer and Controller prior to becoming Executive Vice
President in 1997.
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
H. Krauter
|
|
68
|
|
Vice
President and Chief Lending Officer of Prudential Bancorp since 2004 and
Prudential Savings Bank since 1999 and Vice President since
1992.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
E. Rothkopf
|
|
46
|
|
Controller
of Prudential Savings Bank since January 2006. Prior thereto,
Mr. Rothkopf served as Assistant Vice President of Popular Financial
Holdings, Marlton, New Jersey from October 2000 to January
2006.
|
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
|
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed
Prudential Bancorp's audited financial statements with
management. The Audit Committee has discussed with Prudential
Bancorp's independent registered public accounting firm, S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.,
the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards
("SAS") No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional
Standards, Vol. 1. AU Section 380) as adopted by the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee has
received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered
public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board regarding S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.'s communications with
the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with S.R.
Snodgrass, A.C., their independence. Based on the review and
discussions referred to above in this report, the Audit Committee recommended to
the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in
Prudential Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2009 for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Members of the Audit Committee
A. J. Fanelli, Chairman
Joseph W. Packer, Jr.
Francis V. Mulcahy
John C. Hosier
Summary
Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the total compensation
paid by Prudential Savings Bank (including amounts deferred, if any, to future
periods by the officers) for services rendered in all capacities during the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 to the principal executive
officer and the two other executive officers of Prudential Savings Bank during
fiscal 2009 whose total compensation exceeded $100,000, collectively referred to
as our "named executive officers." Prudential Bancorp and Prudential
Mutual Holding Company have not paid separate cash compensation to our officers
and directors.
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Fiscal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option
|
|
Change
in
Pension
Value
And
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation Earnings
|
|
All
Other Compensa-
tion(3)
|
|
|
Thomas
A. Vento
President
and
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
2009
2008
|
|
$283,815
270,300
|
|
$ --
18,166
|
|
$74,049
--
|
|
$46,808
--
|
|
$ 90,000
114,000
|
|
$63,338(4)
64,224
|
|
$558,010
466,690
|
Joseph
R. Corrato
Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
2009
2008
|
|
176,715
168,300
|
|
--
11,310
|
|
39,493
--
|
|
23,404
--
|
|
124,000
87,000
|
|
28,666
33,267
|
|
392,278
299,877
|
David
H. Krauter
Vice
President and
Chief
Lending Officer
|
|
2009
2008
|
|
126,582
120,554
|
|
--
5,064
|
|
24,683
--
|
|
14,042
--
|
|
106,000
46,000
|
|
17,819
25,690
|
|
289,127
197,308
|
___________________
(1)
|
Represents
bonuses earned in fiscal 2008 which were paid in the following fiscal
year. Under the Prudential Savings Bank 2008 Bonus Program,
each named executive officer was eligible to receive a fixed proportionate
allocation of the bonus pool for
employees.
|
(2)
|
Reflects
the amount expensed in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation
– Stock Compensation, during the fiscal year for awards of
restricted stock and stock options that vested during the fiscal year,
with respect to each of the named executive officers. The
valuation of the restricted stock awards is based on a grant date fair
value of $11.17. The assumptions used in valuing the stock
option awards are set forth in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements included in our 2009 Annual Report to
Shareholders.
|
(3)
|
Includes
the fair market value on December 31, 2008 of the 1,609, 1,306 and 937
shares deemed allocated to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan accounts of
Messrs. Vento, Corrato and Krauter, respectively, based on a value of
$10.26 per share, and the value of the use of automobiles by Messrs.
Vento, Corrato and Krauter of $12,469, $14,985 and $8,078,
respectively. The value of the use of automobiles is based on
depreciation, insurance and fuel and maintenance
expense.
|
(4)
|
Includes
for Mr. Vento an aggregate of $28,350 paid in fiscal 2009 as board or
committee meeting fees and reimbursement of $994 in Philadelphia city wage
taxes.
|
The Compensation Committee approved a base salary of
$283,815 for Mr. Vento in fiscal 2009, which increased 1.5% to $288,072 in
fiscal 2010, as a cost of living adjustment. The dollar amount of his
base salary was generally determined by the Compensation Committee's review of
the local market for chief executive officer compensation and was intended to
ensure that Prudential Savings Bank remained competitive in attracting and
retaining a qualified chief executive officer. The Compensation
Committee determined not to award bonuses in 2009 to the named executive
officers, including Mr. Vento, due to the adoption of the new stock benefit
plans in January 2009. None of Prudential Savings Bank's employees
receiving awards under the new stock benefit plans received a bonus in
2009. In addition, in fiscal 2009, Mr. Vento received the use of an
automobile.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
Prudential Bancorp made awards of restricted stock and
grants of stock options during fiscal 2009 to its directors, executive officers
and other employees. The table below sets forth outstanding equity
awards at September 30, 2009 to our executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Awards |
|
|
|
|
Option
Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
Market
Value |
|
|
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of Shares |
|
|
of
Shares or |
|
|
|
|
Unexercised
Options |
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
or
Units of Stock |
|
|
Units
of Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise |
|
Expiration |
|
|
That
Have Not |
|
|
That
Have Not |
|
Name |
|
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Unexercisable(1) |
|
|
Price |
|
Date |
|
|
Vested(2) |
|
|
Vested(3) |
|
Thomas
A. Vento
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
113,074 |
|
|
$11.17 |
|
1/5/2019
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
$451,800 |
|
Joseph
R. Corrato
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
56,537 |
|
|
11.17 |
|
1/5/2019
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
240,960 |
|
David
H. Krauter
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
33,922 |
|
|
11.17 |
|
1/5/2019
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
150,600 |
|
___________________
(1)
|
Granted
pursuant to our 2008 Stock Option Plan and vest at a rate of 20% per year
commencing on January 5, 2010.
|
(2)
|
Granted
pursuant to our 2008 Recognition and Retention Plan and vest at a rate of
20% per year commencing on January 5,
2010.
|
(3)
|
Calculated
by multiplying the closing market price of our common stock on September
30, 2009, which was $10.04, by the applicable number of shares of common
stock underlying the executive officer's stock
awards.
|
Employment
Agreements
Prudential Savings Bank entered into employment
agreements with Messrs. Vento and Corrato that have a term of three years, with
respect to Mr. Vento, and two years, with respect to Mr. Corrato, in each case
beginning on March 29, 2005. The term is extended annually thereafter
unless either Prudential Savings Bank or the executive gives notice at least 30
days prior to the annual anniversary date that the agreement shall not be
extended. The terms of the employment agreements provide for an
initial annual base salary, which is reviewed annually by the Board of
Directors. The executives are also entitled to participate in our
benefit plans and programs and receive reimbursement for reasonable business
expenses. Each of the employment agreements is terminable with or
without cause by Prudential Savings Bank. The executives have no right to
compensation or other benefits pursuant to the employment agreements for any
period after voluntary termination by the executive without good cause, as
defined in the agreements, or termination by Prudential Savings Bank for cause,
disability, retirement or death.
In the event that the executive terminates his
employment because of failure to comply with any material provision of the
employment agreement by Prudential Savings Bank or the employment agreement is
terminated by Prudential Savings Bank other than for cause, disability,
retirement or death, Messrs. Vento and Corrato will be entitled to the payment
of two (Mr. Vento) and one (Mr. Corrato) times their respective average annual
cash compensation (salary and cash bonuses) as cash severance and the
maintenance until the earlier to occur of the passage of two years (Mr. Vento)
or one year (Mr. Corrato) or, until the executive's full time employment with
another employer, of the executive's participation in all employee benefit plans
in which the executive was entitled to participate or similar plans, programs or
arrangements if his continued participation is not
permissible.
In the event that the executive's employment is
terminated in connection with a change in control, as defined in the employment
agreements, for other than cause, disability, retirement or death or the
executive terminates his employment as a result of certain adverse actions which
are taken with respect to the executive's employment following a change in
control, as defined, Messrs. Vento or Corrato, as the case may be, will be
entitled to a cash severance payment equal to three and two times their
respective average annual cash compensation and the maintenance, as described
above, of the employee benefit plans for three and two years, respectively, or
until the executive's full-time employment with another employer that provides
similar benefits. Benefits under the employment agreements will be reduced to
the extent necessary to ensure that the executives do not receive any "parachute
payment" as such term is defined under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code.
The agreements were amended and restated in November
2008 to render them in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code; no change in the benefits provided by the agreements
occurred as a result of the amendments.
Benefit
Plans
Retirement
Plan. Prudential Savings Bank participates in the Financial
Institutions Retirement Fund, a multiple employer defined benefit plan intended
to satisfy the tax-qualification requirements of Section 401(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code. Full-time employees become eligible to participate in
the retirement plan upon the attainment of age 21 and the completion of one year
of eligibility service. For purposes of the retirement plan, a
full-time employee earns one year of eligibility service when he completes 1,000
hours of service within a one-year eligibility computation period. An
employee's first eligibility computation period is the one-year period beginning
on the employee's date of hire. Subsequent eligibility computation
periods begin on January 1 and end on December 31.
The retirement plan provides for a monthly benefit upon
a participant's retirement at or after the age of 65, or if later, the fifth
anniversary of the participant's initial participation in the retirement plan
(i.e., the participant's "normal retirement date"). A participant may
also receive a benefit on his early retirement date, which is the date on which
he attains age 45 and is partially or fully vested under the terms of the
retirement plan. Benefits received prior to a participant's normal
retirement date are reduced by certain factors set forth in the retirement
plan. Participants become fully vested in their benefits under the
retirement plan upon the completion of five years of vesting service as well as
upon the attainment of normal retirement age (age 65).
Endorsement Split
Dollar Agreements. Prudential Savings Bank purchased insurance
policies on the lives of its executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table above, and has entered into Endorsement Split Dollar
Agreements with each of those officers. The policies are owned by
Prudential Savings Bank. Under the agreements with the named
executive officers, upon an officer's death while he or she remains employed by
Prudential Savings Bank, the officer's beneficiary will receive two times the
officer's salary, other than Mr. Vento whose benefit totaled $163,743 for 2009,
as of the date of death. Pursuant to the terms of the agreements,
Prudential Savings Bank has elected to not extend such benefits after a
termination of employment. Such amounts will be funded from the
receipt of the death benefits under the insurance policies on such officer's
life in excess of the cash surrender value. Prudential Savings Bank
will receive the full cash surrender value, which is expected to reimburse
Prudential Savings Bank in full for its life insurance investment as well as the
remainder, if any, in excess of the net proceeds after payments to the officer's
beneficiaries.
The Endorsement Split Dollar Agreements may be
terminated at any time by Prudential Savings Bank or the officer or by
Prudential Savings Bank upon the officer's termination of service to Prudential
Savings Bank. Upon termination, Prudential Savings Bank may surrender
the policy and collect the cash surrender value.
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND
MANAGEMENT
|
The following table sets forth as of December 24, 2009,
the voting record date, certain information as to the common stock beneficially
owned by (i) each person or entity, including any "group" as that term is used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, who or which was
known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the issued and
outstanding common stock, (ii) the directors of Prudential Bancorp, (iii)
certain executive officers of Prudential Bancorp (including Prudential Savings
Bank); and (iv) all directors and executive officers of Prudential Bancorp as a
group.
Name
of Beneficial
Owner
or Number of
|
|
Amount
and Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership as of December 24, 2009(1)
|
|
Percent
of
|
Prudential Mutual
Holding Company
1834 West Oregon Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19145
|
|
7,328,062
|
|
70.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stilwell
Value Partners I, L.P. Stilwell Partners, L.P.,
Stilwell Value LLC, Joseph Stilwell and John
Stilwell
26 Broadway Street, 23rd
Floor
New York, New
York 10004
|
|
661,300(2)
|
|
6.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors:
|
|
|
|
|
Jerome R. Balka,
Esq.
|
|
32,030(3)(4)
|
|
*
|
A. J. Fanelli
|
|
19,060(4)(5)
|
|
*
|
John C. Hosier
|
|
3,000(6)
|
|
*
|
Francis V.
Mulcahy
|
|
18,960(4)
|
|
*
|
Joseph W. Packer,
Jr.
|
|
39,283(4)(7)
|
|
*
|
Thomas A.
Vento.
|
|
101,604(4)(8)
|
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Named Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph R.
Corrato
|
|
44,165(4)(9)
|
|
*
|
David H.
Krauter
|
|
27,592(4)(10)
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
Directors and Executive Officers as a group (9 persons)
|
|
299,542(4)
|
|
2.9
|
___________________
* Represents
less than one percent of Prudential Bancorp's outstanding common
stock.
(1)
|
Based
upon filings made pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
information furnished by the respective individuals. Under
regulations promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
shares of common stock are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if
he or she directly or indirectly has or shares (i) voting power, which
includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the shares, or (ii)
investment power, which includes the power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of the shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the
named beneficial owner has sole voting and dispositive power with respect
to the shares.
|
(2)
|
Based
on information contained in a Schedule 13D/A filed on June 19, 2009. The
individual and entities share the voting and dispositive power with
respect to all of the 661,300 shares they own, with the exception of John
Stilwell who has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 3,800
shares. The business address of Stilwell Value Partners I,
L.P., Stilwell Partners, L.P., Stilwell Associates, L.P., Stilwell Value
LLC and Joseph Stilwell is 26 Broadway, 23rd
Floor, New York, New York 10004.
|
(3)
|
Includes
5,000 shares held in Mr. Balka's individual retirement account and 70
shares held by the estate of Helen Klara for whom Mr. Balka is guardian.
Also includes 1,500 shares held by the Marie Montone Drazen Trust, 5,000
shares held by the Balka Grandchildren Trust and 500 shares held by the
Danielle Thomas Revocable Trust, over which Mr. Balka disclaims beneficial
ownership.
|
(Footnotes
continued on following page)
___________________
(4)
|
Includes
shares held in trust by Prudential Bancorp's 2008 Recognition and
Retention Plan ("RRP") which have been awarded to the directors and
officers and stock options which have been granted to the directors and
officers under Prudential Bancorp's 2008 Stock Option Plan and which are
exercisable within 60 days of the voting record date as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerome
R. Balka
|
|
11,307
|
|
5,653
|
A.J.
Fanelli
|
|
11,307
|
|
5,653
|
Francis
V. Mulcahy
|
|
11,307
|
|
5,653
|
Joseph
W. Packer, Jr.
|
|
11,307
|
|
5,653
|
Thomas
A. Vento
|
|
45,000
|
|
22,614
|
Joseph
R. Corrato
|
|
24,000
|
|
11,307
|
David
H. Krauter
|
|
15,000
|
|
6,784
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons)
|
|
137,728
|
|
67,274
|
(5)
|
Includes
2,000 shares held jointly with Mr. Fanelli's
spouse.
|
(6)
|
The
3,000 shares are held in Mr. Hosier's account in his 401(k)
plan.
|
(7)
|
Includes
10,000 shares held by Mr. Packer's
spouse.
|
(8)
|
Includes
27,469 shares and 6,521 shares allocated to Mr. Vento's accounts in
Prudential Savings Bank's 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan,
respectively, over which Mr. Vento has voting
power.
|
(9)
|
Includes
3,374 shares and 5,246 shares allocated to Mr. Corrato's accounts in
Prudential Savings Bank's 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan,
respectively, over which Mr. Corrato has voting power and 81 shares held
by Mr. Corrato as custodian for his
son.
|
(10)
|
Includes
2,078 shares and 3,730 shares held in Prudential Savings Bank's 401(k)
Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, respectively, over which Mr.
Krauter has voting power.
|
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, requires the officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10%
of Prudential Bancorp's common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers,
directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by regulation to
furnish Prudential Bancorp with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
file. We know of no person who owns 10% or more of our common stock
other than Prudential Mutual Holding Company.
Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms
furnished to us, or written representations from our officers and directors, we
believe that during, and with respect to, the fiscal year ended September 30,
2009, our officers and directors complied in all respects with the reporting
requirements promulgated under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 with the exception of Messrs. Balka and Packer who were each late in
reporting one transaction on Form 4.
Related
Party Transactions
In accordance with applicable federal laws and
regulations, Prudential Savings Bank offers mortgage loans to its directors,
officers and employees as well as members of their immediate families for the
financing of their primary residences and certain other loans. These
loans are generally made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at
the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated persons. It
is the belief of management that these loans neither involve more than the
normal risk of collectability nor present other unfavorable
features.
APPROVAL
OF THE PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (PROPOSAL
TWO)
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General
The Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp has
approved a Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which Prudential Bancorp,
Prudential Savings Bank and Prudential Mutual Holding Company will reorganize
such that as a result of the reorganization Prudential Savings Bank will be
operating as a subsidiary of a federally chartered mid-tier stock corporation
and indirect subsidiary of a federally chartered mutual holding
company. Upon completion of the reorganization, the new mid-tier
stock corporation will be chartered by the Office of Thrift Supervision and will
continue to operate under the corporate title "Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of
Pennsylvania." This action was taken by the Board of Directors after
evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of Prudential Bancorp being
regulated by either (i) both the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, or (ii) primarily by the
Office of Thrift Supervision. The Board of Directors of Prudential Mutual
Holding Company similarly determined to proceed with the reorganization such
that as a result of the reorganization a new federally chartered mutual holding
company will be formed which will be primarily regulated by the Office of Thrift
Supervision. In connection with the reorganization, Prudential
Savings Bank will make an election under Section 10(l) of the Home Owners' Loan
Act to be treated as a savings association and to have its holding companies
registered as savings and loan holding companies with the Office of Thrift
Supervision. However, Prudential Savings Bank will retain its state
savings bank charter. The Board of Directors may terminate the Plan of
Reorganization if we determine that termination is in Prudential Bancorp's best
interest.
Prudential Bancorp operates in what is commonly referred
to as the "two-tier" mutual holding company structure, whereby Prudential Mutual
Holding Company owns a majority of Prudential Bancorp's outstanding common stock
and Prudential Bancorp owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of Prudential
Savings Bank. Both Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Mutual Holding Company are
currently subject to regulation under Pennsylvania and federal
law. Prudential Mutual Holding Company is regulated by the
Pennsylvania Department of Banking as a mutual holding company and both
Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Mutual Holding Company are regulated as
Pennsylvania bank holding companies. Both Prudential Mutual Holding Company and
Prudential Bancorp are also regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System as bank holding companies. For the reasons discussed
below, Prudential Mutual Holding Company and Prudential Bancorp have determined
that it is in their best interests to be primarily regulated by a single
regulator, the Office of Thrift Supervision. Accordingly, Prudential
Bancorp is asking shareholders to approve the Plan of
Reorganization.
The reorganization will be accomplished as follows, or
in any other manner acceptable to the Board of Directors and applicable
regulatory authorities: (i) a new federally chartered mutual holding company
will be organized and Prudential Mutual Holding Company will merge with and into
the federal mutual holding company with the federal mutual holding company as
the surviving entity operating under the corporate title "Prudential Mutual
Holding Company;" (ii) a new federally chartered mid-tier stock holding company
subsidiary will be organized and Prudential Bancorp will merge with and into the
federal corporation with the federal corporation as the surviving entity,
operating under the corporate title "Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania;"
(iii) in connection with the reorganization, all of the issued and outstanding
shares of Prudential Bancorp common stock, as a Pennsylvania corporation, will
be canceled and converted into and become an equal number of shares of common
stock of Prudential Bancorp, as a federal corporation, by operation of law; and
(iv) Prudential Savings Bank will elect to be treated as a savings association
pursuant to the Home Owners' Loan Act, as amended. The description of
the Plan of Reorganization herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the plan attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Mutual Holding Company
have applied to the Office of Thrift Supervision for approval of the Plan of
Reorganization. Consummation of the Plan of Reorganization, even if
approved by shareholders of Prudential Bancorp, will be subject to approval by
the Office of Thrift Supervision. If Prudential Bancorp and
Prudential Mutual Holding Company fail to receive Office of Thrift Supervision
approval or if Office of Thrift Supervision approval is made subject to
conditions that the Board of Directors deems unacceptable, the Plan of
Reorganization will not be consummated.
Set forth below is a discussion of the reasons for the
reorganization, the impact of the reorganization on Prudential Bancorp, and a
comparison of regulatory differences and differences in shareholders' rights
that will result from the reorganization. The following discussion
includes a discussion of the material differences between Prudential Bancorp's
current Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and the proposed
charter and bylaws of the new mid-tier federal stock corporation. The
following discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to these
corporate documents. Shareholders are urged to review these documents for
additional details. The proposed federal charter and bylaws are attached to this
proxy statement as Exhibit
B and Exhibit
C, respectively.
Reasons
for Adopting the Plan of Reorganization
The Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp believes
that the reorganization is advisable and in the best interests of Prudential
Bancorp and its shareholders. As described in more detail below, the
Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp considered several factors including
the ability of Prudential Mutual Holding Company after it converts to a federal
charter to waive its receipt of cash dividends, thereby avoiding double taxation
of the dividends, and the facilitation of a possible second-step conversion,
which is an integral part of Prudential Bancorp’s long-term strategic
plan. While the Office of Thrift Supervision permits the waiver of
dividends by a mutual holding company, the Federal Reserve Board as a matter of
policy has not permitted such waivers. As previously announced, the Board of
Directors has determined, subject to the exercise of its fiduciary duties and
the evaluation of market conditions, to undertake a second-step conversion no
later than the annual meeting of shareholders in 2013. As a result of
the reorganization, Prudential Mutual Holding Company would be a federally
chartered mutual holding company and its second-step conversion application
would be processed by the Office of Thrift Supervision which has greater
expertise and experience in second-step conversion transactions than the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. As such, we believe that
a second-step conversion through the Office of Thrift Supervision can be
effected more expeditiously and more cost-effectively than through the Federal
Reserve Board and with less regulatory uncertainty. The factors
considered by the Board of Directors in approving the Plan of Reorganization
included the following:
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The
Office of Thrift Supervision has significant experience and expertise with
the mutual holding company charter and has adopted regulations that the
Board of Directors believes enhance the attractiveness of the federal
mutual holding company charter and will benefit Prudential Bancorp and its
shareholders. In particular, the Office of Thrift Supervision has rules
that facilitate ongoing operations, capital raising, acquisition
flexibility and stock benefits that make mutual holding companies more
competitive with stock holding companies. The Office of Thrift Supervision
has expressed its interest generally in increasing the flexibility of the
mutual holding company charter.
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·
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The
Office of Thrift Supervision rules will permit Prudential Mutual Holding
Company to waive the receipt of dividends paid by Prudential Bancorp. By
contrast, the Federal Reserve Board has not, as a matter of policy,
permitted mutual holding companies to waive the receipt of dividends. The
Board of Directors believes that it is important for Prudential Mutual
Holding Company to be able to waive the receipt of dividends because it
has no immediate need for additional capital. Moreover, if
Prudential Mutual Holding Company waives the receipt of dividends from
Prudential Bancorp, there will be no tax payable on the waived
dividends.
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·
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The
Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp also believes that the Office of
Thrift Supervision, among federal banking regulators, has the greatest
expertise in processing mutual holding company transactions, which
typically raise more complex issues than transactions by stock holding
companies. The Board of Directors wishes to take advantage of this
expertise so that Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Savings Bank may
pursue potential transactions with a higher level of certainty. However,
there are no such transactions that are currently contemplated by
Prudential Bancorp other than a potential second-step conversion of
Prudential Mutual Holding Company as has been previously
disclosed.
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·
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The
mutual holding company reorganization will result in Prudential Savings
Bank operating as a subsidiary of a federally chartered mid-tier stock
company and an indirect subsidiary of a federally chartered mutual holding
company, both of which are primarily regulated by the Office of Thrift
Supervision. The new federal mutual holding company and
mid-tier federal stock corporation will be considered holding companies
for Pennsylvania banking law purposes. Currently, Prudential
Mutual Holding Company and Prudential Bancorp are regulated by both the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Pennsylvania
Department of Banking.
|
Committees in both houses of Congress have recently
proposed legislation that may have a significant impact on the regulation of
Prudential Bancorp and Prudential Mutual Holding Company including the factors
considered by the Board of Directors in approving the Plan of
Reorganization. The House Financial Services Committee released draft
legislation in October 2009 that would combine the Office of Thrift Supervision
and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. After the
consolidation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will identify which
existing regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision will be
enforced. Savings and loan holding companies would be subject to
supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System. This draft legislation also may result in additional
restrictions on the waiver of dividends by Prudential Mutual Holding
Company. Proposed legislation released by the Senate Banking
Committee in November 2009 would create a single federal prudential regulator,
the Financial Institutions Regulatory Administration, that would combine the
functions of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of
Thrift Supervision, as well as the state bank supervisory functions of the FDIC
and Federal Reserve Board, and the bank holding company supervision authority of
the Federal Reserve Board. The new agency would include a separate
division to regulate small national and state banks, and small federal and state
savings associations, as defined by the new agency.
The Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp also
considered the potential disadvantages of the Plan of Reorganization. Among the
potential disadvantages is the additional cost associated with being regulated
by the Office of Thrift Supervision as a federal mid-tier stock holding
company. However, management believes that the cost of such
regulation will be immaterial, and that the additional cost will be outweighed
by the benefits of being chartered and regulated by the Office of Thrift
Supervision. The Board of Directors may terminate the Plan of
Reorganization at any time prior to the meeting of shareholders to consider the
plan, if we determine that termination is in our best interest and after such
meeting, with the approval of the Office of Thrift Supervision and/or the
Pennsylvania Department of Banking, if required.
Conditions
to the Plan of Reorganization
The transactions contemplated by the Plan of
Reorganization will not be completed unless: (i) the Plan of Reorganization is
approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by shares
entitled to vote at the meeting; (ii) Prudential Bancorp receives a favorable
opinion of counsel as to the federal income tax consequences of the
reorganization; (iii) Prudential Bancorp continues to believe that the
reorganization is in its best interests and those of its shareholders; and (iv)
the Office of Thrift Supervision approves the reorganization without imposing
conditions that Prudential Bancorp finds unacceptable.
Prudential Mutual Holding Company, which owns a majority
of the outstanding shares of common stock, intends to vote its shares in favor
of the Plan of Reorganization. In addition, members of the Board of Directors
and management of Prudential Bancorp intend to vote their shares in favor of the
Plan of Reorganization. If Prudential Mutual Holding Company votes
all of its shares in favor of the Plan of Reorganization, the shareholder
approval of the Plan of Reorganization will be assured.
Impact
of the Plan of Reorganization on Operations
The reorganization will have no impact on the day-to-day
operations of Prudential Bancorp, Prudential Savings Bank or Prudential Mutual
Holding Company. Prudential Savings Bank will continue to be a Pennsylvania
savings bank, and will continue its operations at the same locations, with the
same management, and subject to all the rights, obligations and liabilities of
Prudential Savings Bank existing immediately prior to the reorganization. The
reorganization is not expected to result in any material increased expenses or
regulatory burden to Prudential Bancorp, Prudential Savings Bank or Prudential
Mutual Holding Company. Following the reorganization, Prudential
Bancorp will continue to file periodic reports and proxy materials with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Holding
Company Powers and Regulation
The following is a description of the powers and
regulation of bank holding companies and mutual holding companies regulated by
the Federal Reserve Board and savings and loan holding companies and mutual
holding companies regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision. This
description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the applicable laws and regulations.
Regulatory
Authority. Currently, Prudential Bancorp is regulated as a
bank holding company by the Federal Reserve Board under the Bank Holding Company
Act and the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve Board
also has extensive enforcement authority over bank holding companies, including,
among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease
and desist or removal orders and to require that a holding company divest
subsidiaries (including its bank subsidiaries). In general, enforcement actions
may be initiated for violations of law and regulations and for unsafe or unsound
practices.
Following the reorganization, Prudential Bancorp (the
new federally chartered mid-tier holding company) will be regulated as a savings
and loan holding company under the Home Owners' Loan Act, and will be required
to register with and be subject to Office of Thrift Supervision examination and
supervision, as well as certain Office of Thrift Supervision reporting
requirements. Among other things, this authority permits the Office of Thrift
Supervision to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a
serious risk to Prudential Savings Bank.
Permissible
Activities. The Bank Holding Company Act generally prohibits a
bank holding company (including a mutual holding company regulated as a bank
holding company) from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than
those directly related to or incidental to banking, managing or controlling
banks, or providing services for its subsidiaries. The principal exceptions to
these prohibitions involve certain non-bank activities which, by statute or
Federal Reserve Board regulation or order, have been identified as activities
closely related to the business of banking or managing or controlling banks. The
list of activities permitted by the Federal Reserve Board includes, among other
things: owning a savings association, mortgage company, finance company, credit
card company or factoring company; performing certain data processing
operations; providing certain investment and financial advice; underwriting and
acting as an insurance agent for certain types of credit-related insurance;
leasing property on a full payout, non-operating basis; selling money orders,
travelers' checks and United States savings bonds; appraising real estate and
personal property; providing tax planning and preparation services; and, subject
to certain limitations, providing securities brokerage services for customers.
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act expanded the permissible activities of bank holding
companies that elect to be regulated as "financial holding companies." Financial
holding companies are companies that elect to be so treated and that meet
certain safety and soundness and management requirements, and have a
"satisfactory" rating under the Community Reinvestment Act. Financial holding
companies may engage in all activities that are permissible for bank holding
companies as well as additional activities that are determined to be "financial
in nature" or complementary or incidental to such activities, including
insurance and securities underwriting activities. Prudential Bancorp has not
elected to be regulated as a financial holding company.
Under the Home Owners' Loan Act and Office of Thrift
Supervision regulations, a federal mutual holding company is permitted to, among
other things: (i) own a savings association or savings bank; (ii) acquire a
mutual institution; (iii) merge with or acquire another mutual holding company,
one of whose subsidiaries is a savings institution; (iv) acquire non-controlling
amounts of the stock of savings institutions and savings institution holding
companies, subject to certain restrictions; (v) invest in any corporation that a
savings association may invest in under federal law or under the law of any
state where the savings association has its home office; (vi) furnish or perform
management services for a savings institution subsidiary; (vii) hold, manage or
liquidate assets owned or acquired from a savings institution subsidiary of such
company; (viii) hold or manage properties used or occupied by a savings
institution subsidiary of such company; and (ix) act as a trustee under deed or
trust. In addition, a federal mutual holding company may engage in any other
activity that is permissible for bank holding companies under the Bank Holding
Company Act, or in which multiple savings and loan holding companies may engage.
Finally, federal mutual holding companies may engage in any activity in which a
financial holding company may engage, including maintaining an insurance agency,
escrow business and underwriting securities and insurance. Moreover, a federal
mutual holding company may engage in the activities of a financial holding
company without having to make the financial holding company election that is
applicable to bank holding companies.
Mergers and
Acquisitions. As a bank holding company, Prudential Bancorp
currently is required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board
before: (i) acquiring, directly or indirectly, the ownership or control of any
voting securities of another bank or bank holding company if, after such
acquisition, it would own or control more than 5% of such shares; (ii) acquiring
all or substantially all of the assets of another bank or bank holding company;
or (iii) merging or consolidating with another bank holding company. The Bank
Holding Company Act also prohibits a bank holding company, with certain
exceptions, from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than
5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding
company. The Home Owners' Loan Act prohibits a savings and loan holding company
from, directly or indirectly, acquiring more than 5% of the voting stock of
another savings association or savings and loan holding company, or from
acquiring such an institution or company by merger, consolidation, or purchase
of its assets, without the prior written approval of the Office of Thrift
Supervision. In evaluating applications by holding companies to
acquire other financial institutions, both the Office of Thrift Supervision and
the Federal Reserve Board consider the financial and managerial resources and
future prospects of the acquiror and the merging institution, the convenience
and needs of the community and competitive factors.
Payment of Cash
Dividends. The Federal Reserve Board has issued a policy
statement on payment of cash dividends by bank holding companies that states
that a bank holding company should pay cash dividends only to the extent that
the holding company's net income for the past year is sufficient to cover both
the cash dividends and a rate of earnings retention that is consistent with the
holding company's capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition.
The Federal Reserve Board has also indicated that it would be inappropriate for
a company experiencing serious financial problems to borrow funds to pay
dividends. Office of Thrift Supervision regulations generally do not
restrict the ability of a savings and loan holding company to pay
dividends. Under the prompt corrective action regulations adopted by
both the Federal Reserve Board and the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal
Reserve Board or the Office of Thrift Supervision may prohibit a bank holding
company or savings and loan holding company, respectively, from paying any
dividends if the holding company's subsidiary is classified as
"undercapitalized."
Stock
Repurchases. A bank holding company is required to give the
Federal Reserve Board prior written notice of any purchase or redemption of its
outstanding equity securities if the gross consideration for the purchase or
redemption, when combined with the net consideration paid for all such purchases
or redemptions during the preceding 12 months, is equal to 10% or more of its
consolidated net worth. The Federal Reserve Board may disapprove such a purchase
or redemption if it determines that the proposal would constitute an unsafe or
unsound practice or would violate any law, regulation, Federal Reserve Board
order, or any condition imposed by, or written agreement with, the Federal
Reserve Board. This notification requirement does not apply to any company that
is well-capitalized both before and immediately after the redemption or
purchase, is well-managed and is not subject to any unresolved supervisory
issues. Holding companies of recently converted savings institutions, regardless
of whether they are holding companies regulated by the Office of Thrift
Supervision or Federal Reserve Board, are restricted in their ability to
repurchase shares of common stock for one year after the conversion. Prudential
Savings Bank converted to the mutual holding company form of organization on
March 29, 2005, and Prudential Bancorp is not subject to these post-conversion
repurchase restrictions, nor will it be subject to them after the
reorganization. Included in the approval of the conversion, the
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia required that any repurchases of securities
by Prudential Bancorp be at the current market price.
Qualified Thrift
Lender Test. In order for Prudential Bancorp to be regulated
as a savings and loan holding company by the Office of Thrift Supervision,
Prudential Savings Bank must qualify as a "qualified thrift lender" under Office
of Thrift Supervision regulations or satisfy the "domestic building and loan
association" test under the Internal Revenue Code. Under the qualified thrift
lender test, a savings institution is required to maintain at least 65% of its
"portfolio assets" (total assets less: (i) specified liquid assets up to 20% of
total assets; (ii) intangibles, including goodwill; and (iii) the value of
property used to conduct business) in certain "qualified thrift investments"
(primarily residential mortgages and related investments, including certain
mortgage-backed and related securities) in at least nine months out of each 12
month period. Prudential Savings Bank currently maintains the majority of its
portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments and would have met the
qualified thrift lender test in each of the last 12 months had Prudential
Savings Bank been subject to this test.
Federal Securities
Laws. Prudential Bancorp's common stock currently is
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Prudential Bancorp complies with the information, proxy
solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements under this
act. The reorganization will not change the registration of the common stock
under this act, as Prudential Bancorp (the new federal corporation) will
continue to comply with the requirements of this act following the
reorganization.
Indemnification
of Officers and Directors and Limitation of Liability
Pennsylvania
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Prudential Bancorp's
current Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws seek to ensure that
the ability of directors and executive officers to exercise their best business
judgment in managing corporate affairs, subject to their continuing fiduciary
duties of loyalty to Prudential Bancorp and its shareholders, is not
unreasonably impeded by exposure to the potentially high personal costs or other
uncertainties of litigation. Prudential Bancorp's current Pennsylvania Bylaws
include a detailed description of the circumstances in which a person will be
indemnified. In general, the Bylaws require Prudential Bancorp to indemnify
officers and directors against all expense, liability and loss, including fees
and expenses reasonably incurred by him because he was a director or officer. In
order to be indemnified, the officer or director must have acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Prudential
Bancorp. As regards criminal proceedings, the officer or director must not have
had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
Our Pennsylvania Bylaws require that the determination
that indemnification of the representative is proper in the circumstances shall
be made:
·
|
by
the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
directors who were not parties to the action, suit or
proceeding;
|
·
|
if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or if obtainable and a majority vote of a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion; or
|
Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in
defending any action or proceeding shall be paid by Prudential Bancorp in
advance of the final disposition of the action or proceeding. To receive advance
payment, the officer or director must submit an undertaking to Prudential
Bancorp to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not
entitled to be indemnified by Prudential Bancorp as authorized by the
Bylaws.
Federal Charter and
Bylaws. The proposed federal charter and bylaws do not
similarly provide for indemnification of directors and executive officers or for
limitation of liability of these persons. However, the Office of Thrift
Supervision has indicated that as a matter of policy, mid-tier stock holding
companies are subject to the same regulations with respect to indemnification to
which federal savings associations are subject. Office of Thrift Supervision
regulations require a federal savings association to indemnify its directors,
officers and employees against legal and other expenses incurred in defending
lawsuits brought or threatened against them by reason of their performance as
directors, officers, or employees. Indemnification may be made only if final
judgment on the merits is in his favor or in case of (i) settlement, (ii) final
judgment against him, or (iii) final judgment in his favor other than on the
merits, if a majority of the disinterested directors of the savings association
determines that he was acting in good faith within the scope of his employment
or authority as he could reasonably have perceived it under the circumstances
and for a purpose he could have reasonably believed under the circumstances was
in the best interests of the savings bank or its shareholders. If a majority of
the disinterested directors of the savings association concludes that in
connection with an action any person ultimately may become entitled to
indemnification, the directors may authorize payment of reasonable costs and
expenses arising from defense or settlement of such action. A savings
association is required to give the Office of Thrift Supervision at least 60
days' notice of its intention to make indemnification and no indemnification
shall be made if the Office of Thrift Supervision objects to the savings
association in writing.
To the best of management's knowledge, there is
currently no pending or threatened litigation for which indemnification may be
sought.
Comparison
of Shareholder Rights and Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions
As a result of the reorganization, holders of the common
stock, whose rights are presently governed by federal and Pennsylvania law and
Prudential Bancorp's Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, will
become shareholders of the new federally chartered Prudential Bancorp whose
rights will be governed by federal law and the proposed federal charter and
bylaws.
Capital
Stock. Both the Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation and the
proposed federal charter authorize Prudential Bancorp to issue 40,000,000 shares
of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of serial
preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Cumulative
Voting. Neither the Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation nor
the federal charter provide for cumulative voting.
Preemptive
Rights. Under both the Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation
and the proposed federal charter, holders of common stock are not entitled to
preemptive rights with respect to any shares that may be
issued.
Vacancies on the
Board of Directors. Under the Pennsylvania Articles of
Incorporation, a majority vote of directors then in office may appoint new
directors to fill vacancies on the Board and directors so chosen shall hold
office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders at which the
term of office of the class to which they have been chosen expires. In contrast,
the proposed federal bylaws provides that any director appointed by a majority
of the remaining directors to fill a vacancy shall serve for a term of office
continuing only until the next election of directors by
shareholders.
Number and Term of
Directors. The Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation provide
that the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the
Board of Directors and that the directors shall be divided into three classes.
The Pennsylvania Bylaws provide that the number of directors shall be not less
than five nor more than 10. The federal charter provides that the number of
directors shall be not fewer than five nor more than 15, unless the Office of
Thrift Supervision approves a greater or lesser number. The federal bylaws
specify that the number of directors shall be six. The federal bylaws also
provide for the Board of Directors to be classified into three classes as nearly
equal in number as possible.
Presentation of New
Business at Meetings of Shareholders. The Pennsylvania Bylaws
generally provide that for a shareholder to properly bring business before an
annual meeting of shareholders, he must deliver notice not less than 120 days
prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of the proxy statement in
connection with the previous year's annual meeting. In addition, the
Pennsylvania Bylaws provide that notice of shareholder nominations to the Board
of Directors be delivered not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary date
of the mailing of the proxy statement in connection with the previous year's
annual meeting.
The federal bylaws provide that any new business to be
taken up at an annual meeting of shareholders must be filed with the Secretary
at least five days prior to the date of the annual meeting. Such bylaws also
provide that no nominations for directors by shareholders shall be considered at
an annual meeting unless made by shareholders in writing and delivered to the
Secretary at least five days prior to the date of the annual
meeting.
Amendment of
Chartering Instrument and Bylaws. Amendments to the
Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation must be approved by a majority vote of
the Board of Directors and, to the extent required by law, by a majority of the
outstanding shares of the voting stock. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Board of Directors may amend the Pennsylvania Bylaws by a majority
vote. Shareholders may amend the Pennsylvania Bylaws by a majority vote of the
shares generally entitled to vote in an election of
directors.
The federal charter may be amended if such amendment is
proposed by the Board of Directors and approved by shareholders by a majority of
the votes eligible to be cast, unless a higher vote is required by the Office of
Thrift Supervision. The federal bylaws may be amended upon approval by a
majority vote of the authorized Board of Directors or by a majority vote of the
votes cast by shareholders of Prudential Bancorp, and upon receipt of approval
by the Office of Thrift Supervision, if applicable.
Limitation on Voting
Rights. The Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation provide
that no person other than Prudential Mutual Holding Company, may directly or
indirectly offer to acquire or acquire the beneficial ownership of more than 10%
of the issued and outstanding shares of any class of an equity security of
Prudential Bancorp. This restriction does not apply to any employee benefit plan
or arrangement established by Prudential Bancorp or a subsidiary of Prudential
Bancorp, or any other offer or acquisition approved in advance by the
affirmative vote of 80% of the members of Prudential Bancorp's Board of
Directors. If shares are acquired in violation of this provision, all shares
beneficially owned by any person in excess of 10% shall not be counted as shares
entitled to vote and shall not be voted in connection with any matters submitted
to shareholders for a vote. The proposed federal charter does not contain a
similar provision regarding the voting of excess shares.
Optional
Exchange of Stock Certificates
After the reorganization is effected, stock certificates
evidencing shares of Prudential Bancorp's common stock under Prudential
Bancorp's current Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws will
represent, by operation of law, the same number of shares of Prudential
Bancorp's common stock under the federal charter and bylaws. Holders of common
stock certificate will not be required to exchange their existing stock
certificates for certificates of the federal corporation, but will have the
option to do so. Please
do not send your stock certificates to Prudential Bancorp at this
time.
Tax
Consequences
Prudential Bancorp has received opinions of its special
counsel, Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick L.L.P., Washington, D.C., and its
independent registered public accounting firm, S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., that the
reorganization constitutes a reorganization under Section 368 of the Internal
Revenue Code, and that no gain or loss will be recognized by Prudential Bancorp
shareholders as a result of the reorganization for federal income tax purposes
and that no additional income tax liabilities will result under the Pennsylvania
Corporate Net Income Tax, respectively. It should be noted that these
opinions are not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service. Each Prudential
Bancorp shareholder should consult his own tax counsel as to specific federal,
state and local tax consequences of the reorganization, if any, to such
shareholder.
Accounting
Consequences
We believe that there will be no material accounting
consequences as a result of the reorganization.
Amendment
or Termination of the Plan of Reorganization
The Board of Directors of Prudential Bancorp may cause
the Plan of Reorganization to be amended or terminated if the Board determines
for any reason that such amendment or termination would be advisable; provided,
that if such amendment or termination occurs after the solicitation of proxies
from shareholders to vote on the Plan, such amendment or termination may require
the concurrence of the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Pennsylvania
Department of Banking.
The Board of Directors
believes that the reorganization is in the
best interests of
Prudential Bancorp and its shareholders and recommends
a vote FOR the Plan of
Reorganization.
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (PROPOSAL
THREE)
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The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of
Prudential Bancorp has appointed S.R. Snodgrass, A.C., an independent registered
public accounting firm, to perform the audit of our financial statements for the
year ending September 30, 2010, and further directed that the appointment of
S.R. Snodgrass as our auditors be submitted for ratification by the shareholders
at the annual meeting.
We have been advised by S.R. Snodgrass that neither that
firm nor any of its associates has any relationship with Prudential Bancorp or
its subsidiaries other than the usual relationship that exists between an
independent registered public accounting firm and its clients. S.R.
Snodgrass will have one or more representatives at the annual meeting who will
have an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
In determining whether to appoint S.R. Snodgrass as our
independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee considered
whether the provision of services, other than auditing services, by S.R.
Snodgrass is compatible with maintaining its independence. In
addition to performing auditing services, our independent registered public
accounting firm reviewed our public filings. The Audit Committee
believes that S.R. Snodgrass's performance of these other services is compatible
with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm's
independence.
The Board of Directors
recommends that you vote FOR the ratification of the
appointment
of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. as our independent registered public accounting
firm
for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2010.
Change
in Auditors
Prudential
Bancorp's financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 were
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. In May 2009, the engagement of
Deloitte & Touche was terminated by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors and S.R. Snodgrass was engaged as the independent registered public
accounting firm of Prudential Bancorp. In connection with their audit
for the year ended September 2008 and during the subsequent interim period
preceding the replacement of Deloitte & Touche, there were no disagreements
with Deloitte & Touche on any matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosures, or auditing scope or procedure. Deloitte &
Touche’s report on the financial statements for fiscal 2008 did not contain an
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During fiscal
2008, Deloitte & Touche did not advise, and has not indicated to Prudential
Bancorp that it had reason to advise, Prudential Bancorp of any reportable
event, as defined in Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange
Act. During fiscal 2008, Prudential Bancorp had not consulted S.R.
Snodgrass regarding the application of accounting principles, either
contemplated or proposed, the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on
Prudential Bancorp's financial statements or any other matters that would be
required to be reported herein.
Audit
Fees
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees paid
by us to S.R. Snodgrass for professional services in connection with the audit
of Prudential Bancorp’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2009 and
the fees paid by us to S.R. Snodgrass for audit-related services, tax services
and all other services during fiscal 2009 and as well as the fees paid by us to
Deloitte & Touche for services rendered in connection with the audit of
Prudential Bancorp’s financial statements for fiscal 2008. No fees were paid by
us to Deloitte & Touche for audit-related services, tax services or any
other services rendered by Deloitte & Touche during fiscal
2008.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
fees
(1)(2)
|
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$ |
89,253 |
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|
$ |
297,500 |
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Audit-related
fees
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
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Tax
fees
|
|
|
22,803 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
All
other
fees
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
112,056 |
|
|
$ |
297,500 |
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___________________
(1)
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Audit
fees consist of fees incurred in connection with the audit of our annual
financial statements and the review of the interim financial statements
included in our quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as well as work generally only the independent auditor can
reasonably be expected to provide, such as statutory audits, consents and
assistance with and review of documents filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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(2)
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Reflects
audit fees paid to S.R. Snodgrass with respect to the quarter ended June
30, 2009 and the year ended September 30,
2009.
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(3)
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Tax
fees consist of compliance fees for the preparation of tax returns during
fiscal 2009.
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The Audit Committee selects our independent registered
public accounting firm and pre-approves all audit services to be provided by it
to Prudential Bancorp. The Audit Committee also reviews and
pre-approves all audit-related and non-audit related services rendered by our
independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the Audit
Committee's charter. In its review of these services and related fees
and terms, the Audit Committee considers, among other things, the possible
effect of the performance of such services on the independence of our
independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee
pre-approves certain audit-related services and certain non-audit related tax
services which are specifically described by the Audit Committee on an annual
basis and separately approves other individual engagements as
necessary. The Chair of the Audit Committee has been delegated the
authority to approve non-audit related services in lieu of the full Audit
Committee. On a quarterly basis, the Chair of the Audit Committee
presents any previously-approved engagements to the full Audit
Committee.
Each new engagement of S.R. Snodgrass was approved in
advance by the Audit Committee or its Chair, and none of those engagements made
use of the de minimis exception to pre-approval contained in the Securities and
Exchange Commission's rules.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS, NOMINATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
WITH
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Shareholder
Proposals. Any proposal which a shareholder wishes to have
included in the proxy materials of Prudential Bancorp relating to the next
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Prudential Bancorp, which is expected to be
held in February 2011, must be received at the principal executive offices of
Prudential Bancorp, 1834 West Oregon Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19145,
Attention: Joseph R. Corrato, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, no later than September 10, 2010. If such proposal is in
compliance with all of the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, it will be included in the proxy statement and
set forth on the form of proxy issued for such annual meeting of
shareholders. It is urged that any such proposals be sent certified
mail, return receipt requested. We did not receive any shareholder proposals for
this Annual Meeting.
Shareholder proposals which are not submitted for
inclusion in Prudential Bancorp's proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 may be
brought before an annual meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of Prudential
Bancorp's Bylaws. Notice of the proposal must be given in writing and
delivered to, or mailed and received at, our principal executive offices by
September 10, 2010. The notice must include the information required
by Section 2.10 of our Bylaws.
If the Plan of Reorganization is approved by our
shareholders and we complete the reorganization prior to the next annual meeting
of shareholders, the proposed Bylaws of Prudential Bancorp, Inc., our successor
corporation, provide that notice, satisfying the provisions of Article II,
Section 15 of Prudential Bancorp's Bylaws, must be received at the address
indicated above at least five days before the date of the next annual
meeting.
Shareholder
Nominations. Our Bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of
the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common
stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, all nominations for election to the
Board of Directors, other than those made by the Board or a committee thereof,
shall be made by a shareholder who has complied with the notice and information
requirements contained in Section 3.12 of our Bylaws. Written notice
of a shareholder nomination generally must be communicated to the attention of
the Secretary and either delivered to, or mailed and received at, our principal
executive offices not later than, with respect to an annual meeting of
shareholders, 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of proxy
materials by us in connection with the immediately preceding annual meeting of
shareholders or, in the case of the 2011 annual meeting, by September 10,
2010. If we complete the reorganization prior to the next annual
meeting of shareholders, the proposed Bylaws of Prudential Bancorp, Inc., our
successor corporation, provide that nominations must be received at least five
days before the date of the next annual meeting. We did not receive
any shareholder nominations for this Annual Meeting.
Other Shareholder
Communications. Shareholders who wish to communicate with the
Board may do so by sending written communications addressed to the Board of
Directors of Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania, c/o Regina Wilson,
Corporate Secretary, at 1834 West Oregon Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19145. Ms. Wilson will forward such communications to the director or
directors to whom they are addressed.
A copy of Prudential Bancorp's Annual Report to
Shareholders, which includes the Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2009, accompanies this proxy statement. Such annual report is not
part of the proxy solicitation materials.
Upon receipt of a written request, we will furnish to
any shareholder a copy of the exhibits to the Annual Report on Form
10-K. Such written requests should be directed to Mr. Joseph R.
Corrato, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Prudential
Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania, 1834 West Oregon Avenue, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19145.
Management is not aware of any business to come before
the annual meeting other than the matters described above in this proxy
statement. However, if any other matters should properly come before
the meeting, it is intended that the proxies solicited hereby will be voted with
respect to those other matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons
voting the proxies.
Solicitation of
Proxies. The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne
by Prudential Bancorp. Prudential Bancorp will reimburse brokerage
firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses
incurred by them in sending the proxy materials to the beneficial owners of
Prudential Bancorp's common stock. In addition to solicitations by
mail, directors, officers and employees of Prudential Bancorp may solicit
proxies personally or by telephone without additional
compensation.
Exhibit A
PLAN
OF REORGANIZATION
of
PRUDENTIAL
MUTUAL HOLDING COMPANY,
PRUDENTIAL
BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
and
PRUDENTIAL
SAVINGS BANK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
Number
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Page
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1. |
Introduction |
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A-1 |
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2. |
Definitions |
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A-1 |
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3. |
General Procedure
for Reorganization |
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A-3 |
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4. |
Effective
Date |
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A-3 |
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5. |
Amendment or
Termination of the Plan |
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A-4 |
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6. |
Interpretation of
the Plan |
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A-4 |
1. INTRODUCTION.
For purposes of this section, all capitalized terms have
the meaning ascribed to them in Section 2.
On March
29, 2005, Prudential Bank, a mutually chartered bank, reorganized into the
mutual holding company form of organization. To accomplish this
transaction, Prudential Bank converted to a stock bank and became a wholly owned
subsidiary of a newly formed Pennsylvania-chartered stock-form mid-tier holding
company known as Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania. The
Mid-Tier Holding Company simultaneously issued a majority of its shares of
common stock to a newly formed Pennsylvania-chartered mutual holding company
known as Prudential Mutual Holding Company and sold additional shares of its
common stock to depositors of the Bank, employee stock benefit plans of the Bank
and members of the general public.
The Boards of Directors of the Primary Parties believe
that this Plan of Reorganization which will result in the Bank operating as a
subsidiary of a federally chartered mid-tier stock company and an indirect
subsidiary of a federally chartered mutual holding company is in the best
interests of the Primary Parties, as well as the best interests of depositors
and Shareholders. As a Pennsylvania-chartered mutual holding company
regulated by the FRB, Prudential Mutual Holding Company cannot waive its right
to receive cash dividends paid by the Mid-Tier Holding Company. The
Reorganization will among other things, (1) permit the Federal Mutual Holding
Company to waive its receipt of cash dividends, thereby avoiding double taxation
of the dividends; and (2) facilitate the possible second-step conversion, which
may be undertaken in the next several years. A second step conversion
by a federally chartered mutual holding company is processed by the OTS which
has greater expertise and experience in second-step conversion transactions than
the FRB. As such, it is believed that a second step conversion
through the OTS can be effected more expeditiously and more cost-effectively
than through the FRB and with less regulatory uncertainty.
The Plan
of Reorganization provides for the merger of Prudential Mutual Holding Company
and the Mid-Tier Holding Company, each of which are Pennsylvania-chartered
companies, with and into newly chartered federal companies in order to permit
the resulting companies to be federally chartered. The Plan provides
for the merger transactions rather than a simple plan of charter conversion
because the authority to effect a charter conversion of a Pennsylvania mutual
holding company to a federal mutual holding company and a Pennsylvania mid-tier
holding company to a federal mid-tier holding company is unclear.
This Plan
is subject to the approval of the OTS and, if required, the
Department. This Plan also must be approved by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, by all Shareholders
entitled to vote, at the Shareholders’ Meeting. After the
Reorganization, the Bank will continue to be regulated by the Department, as its
chartering authority, and by the FDIC. The OTS will replace the FRB
as the primary federal regulator of the Mutual Holding Company and the Mid-Tier
Holding Company, following their respective mergers with and into the Federal
Mutual Holding Company and the Federal Mid-Tier Holding Company. In
addition, the Bank will continue to be a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank
System and all insured savings deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC
up to the maximum provided by law.
This Plan
was adopted by the Boards of Directors of the Primary Parties on November 18,
2009.
2. DEFINITIONS.
As used
in this Plan, the terms set forth below have the following meaning:
2.1 Bank
means Prudential Savings Bank, a Pennsylvania-chartered stock savings
bank.
2.2 Department
means the Department of Banking for the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
2.3 FDIC
means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successor
thereto.
2.4 Federal
Mutual Holding Company or Federal
MHC means the newly organized federal mutual holding company which upon
consummation of the merger of the Mutual Holding Company into it shall operate
under the name “Prudential Mutual Holding Company.”
2.5 Federal
Mid-Tier Holding Company or Federal
Mid-Tier means the newly organized federal mid-tier holding company which
upon consummation of the merger of the Mid-Tier Holding Company into it shall
operate under the name “Prudential Mutual Holding Company.”
2.6 Federal
Mid-Tier Holding Company Common Stock means the common stock of the
Federal Mid-Tier Holding Company, par value $0.01 per
share, which stock is not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental
entity.
2.7 FRB
means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
2.8 Mid-Tier
Holding Company or Mid-Tier
means Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania, an existing
Pennsylvania-chartered stock corporation.
2.9 Mid-Tier
Holding Company Common Stock means the common stock of the Mid-Tier
Holding Company, par value $0.01 per share, which stock is not insured by the
FDIC or any other governmental entity.
2.10 Mid-Tier
Merger means the merger of the Mid-Tier Holding Company with and into the
Federal Mid Tier Holding Company pursuant to the Plan of Merger included as
Annex A hereto.
2.11 Mutual
Holding Company or MHC
means Prudential Mutual Holding Company, an existing Pennsylvania-chartered
mutual entity.
2.12 Mutual
Holding Company Merger means the merger of the Mutual Holding Company
with and into the Federal Mutual Holding Company pursuant to the Plan of Merger
included as Annex B hereto.
2.13 OTS
means the Office of Thrift Supervision or any successor thereto.
2.14 Primary
Parties mean the Mutual Holding Company, the Mid-Tier Holding Company and
the Bank.
2.15 Plan
means this Plan of Reorganization.
2.16 Reorganization
means the series of transactions provided for in this Plan, including but not
limited to (i) the Mutual Holding Company Merger and (ii) the Mid-Tier
Merger.
2.17 SEC
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2.18 Shareholders
mean those persons who own shares of Mid-Tier Holding Company Common
Stock.
2.19 Shareholders’
Meeting means the annual or special meeting of Shareholders of the
Mid-Tier Holding Company called for the purpose of submitting this Plan to the
Shareholders for their consideration and approval, including any adjournments of
such meeting.
3. GENERAL
PROCEDURE FOR REORGANIZATION.
(a) The
Reorganization will be comprised of a number of substantially simultaneous
transactions, described below, which will result in the conversion of the Mutual
Holding Company and the Mid-Tier Holding Company to federal charters and each of
them becoming a savings and loan holding company.
(b) The
Primary Parties shall submit or cause to be submitted to the OTS and the
Department, as applicable, all holding company, merger and other applications or
notices necessary for the Reorganization. All notices required to be
published in connection with such applications shall be published at the times
required.
(c) The
Mid-Tier Holding Company shall file preliminary proxy materials with the SEC
and, if required, the OTS and the Department, in order to seek the approval of
the Plan by the Shareholders. Promptly following clearance of such
proxy materials and the receipt of any other requisite approval of the OTS and,
if applicable, the Department, the Mid-Tier Holding Company will mail definitive
proxy materials to Shareholders, in accordance with the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Mid-Tier Holding Company, for their
consideration and approval of this Plan at the Shareholders’
Meeting. The Plan must be approved by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the
votes cast, in person or by proxy, by all Shareholders entitled to vote at the
Shareholders’ Meeting.
(d) The
effective date of the Reorganization shall be the date set forth in Section 4
hereof. Upon the effective date, the following transactions shall
occur: (i) the Federal Mutual Holding Company, a new federally
chartered mutual holding company, will be organized and the Mutual Holding
Company will merge with and into the Federal Mutual Holding Company with the
Federal Mutual Holding Company surviving, (ii) the Federal Mid-Tier Holding
Company, a new federally chartered mid-tier holding company, will be organized
and the Mid-Tier Holding Company will be merged with and into the Federal
Mid-Tier Holding Company with the Federal Mid-Tier Holding Company surviving and
(iii) the Bank’s election to be treated as a savings association pursuant to
Section 10(l) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, shall become
effective.
(e) As
a result of the Mid-Tier Merger, the shares of Mid-Tier Holding Company Common
Stock held by the Shareholders shall be converted into shares of Federal
Mid-Tier Holding Company Common Stock on a one-for-one basis. In
addition, as a result of the Mid-Tier Merger, options to purchase shares of
Mid-Tier Holding Company Common Stock which are outstanding immediately prior to
consummation of the Reorganization shall be converted into options to purchase
shares of Federal Mid-Tier Holding Company Common Stock with the number of
shares subject to the option, the exercise price per share
thereof and the duration of the option remaining
unchanged.
(f) The
Primary Parties may retain and pay for the services of financial and other
advisors to assist in connection with any or all aspects of the
Reorganization. All fees, expenses, retainers and similar items shall
be reasonable.
The
effective date of the Reorganization shall be the date upon which the last of
the following actions occurs: (i) the filing of Articles of Combination with the
OTS with respect to the Mid-Tier Merger and (ii) the filing of Articles of
Combination with the OTS with respect to the Mutual Holding Company
Merger. The filing of Articles of Combination relating to the Mutual
Holding Company Merger and the Mid-Tier Merger shall not occur until all
requisite regulatory and Shareholder approvals have been obtained. It
is intended that the closing of the Mutual Holding Company Merger and the
Mid-Tier Merger shall occur consecutively and substantially
simultaneously.
5. AMENDMENT
OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
If deemed
necessary or desirable by the Boards of Directors of the Primary Parties, this
Plan may be substantively amended, as a result of comments from regulatory
authorities or otherwise, at any time prior to the solicitation of proxies from
Shareholders to vote on the Plan and at any time thereafter with the concurrence
of the OTS and, if required, the Department. Any amendment to this
Plan made after approval by the Shareholders with the concurrence of the OTS
and, if required, the Department, shall not necessitate further approval by the
Shareholders unless otherwise required by the OTS. Prior to the
Shareholders’ Meeting, this Plan may be terminated by the Boards of Directors of
the Primary Parties without approval of the OTS or the Department.
6. INTERPRETATION
OF THE PLAN.
All
interpretations of this Plan and application of its provisions to particular
circumstances by a majority of each of the Boards of Directors of the Primary
Parties shall be final, subject to the authority of the OTS and the
Department.
Exhibit B
SUBSIDIARY
HOLDING COMPANY CHARTER
OF
PRUDENTIAL
BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
Section
1. Corporate
Title. The full corporate title of the MHC subsidiary holding
company is Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania (the
"Company").
Section
2. Domicile. The
domicile of the Company shall be in the city of Philadelphia, in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Section
3. Duration. The
duration of the Company is perpetual.
Section
4. Purpose and
Powers. The purpose of the Company is to pursue any or all of
the lawful objectives of a federal mutual holding company chartered under
Section 10(o) of the Home Owners' Loan Act, 12 U.S.C. §1467a(o), and to exercise
all of the express, implied, and incidental powers conferred thereby and by all
acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, subject to the Constitution
and laws of the United States as they are now in effect, or as they may
hereafter be amended, and subject to all lawful and applicable rules,
regulations, and orders of the Office of Thrift Supervision (the
"Office").
Section
5. Capital
Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of the
capital stock that the Company has the authority to issue is 50,000,000, of
which 40,000,000 shares shall be common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and of
which 10,000,000 shares shall be preferred stock. The shares may be
issued from time to time as authorized by the board of directors without the
approval of the shareholders, except as otherwise provided in this Section 5 or
to the extent that such approval is required by governing law, rule, or
regulation. The consideration for the issuance of the shares shall be
paid in full before their issuance and shall not be less than the par
value. Neither promissory notes nor future services shall constitute
payment or part payment for the issuance of shares of the
Company. The consideration for the shares shall be cash, tangible or
intangible property (to the extent direct investment in such property would be
permitted to the Company), labor or services actually performed for the Company,
or any combination of the foregoing. In the absence of actual fraud
in the transaction, the value of such property, labor, or services, as
determined by the board of directors of the Company, shall be
conclusive. Upon payment of such consideration, such shares shall be
deemed to be fully paid and nonassessable. In the case of a stock
dividend, that part of the retained earnings of the Company which is transferred
to common stock or paid-in capital accounts upon the issuance of shares as a
share dividend shall be deemed to be the consideration for their
issuance.
Except for shares issued in the initial organization of
the Company, no shares of capital stock (including shares issuable upon
conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities) shall be issued, directly
or indirectly, to officers, directors, or controlling persons (except for shares
issued to Prudential Mutual Holding Company (the "MHC"), the parent mutual
holding company of the Company) of the Company other than as part of a general
public offering or as qualifying shares to a director, unless their issuance or
the plan under which they would be issued has been approved by a majority of the
total votes eligible to be cast at a legal meeting.
Nothing contained in this Section 5 (or in any
supplementary sections hereto) shall entitle the holders of any class or series
of capital stock to vote as a separate class or series or to more than one vote
per share; provided,
that this restriction on voting separately by class or series shall not
apply:
(i) To
any provision which would authorize the holders of preferred stock, voting as a
class or series, to elect some members of the board of directors, less than a
majority thereof, in the event of default in the payment of dividends on any
class or series of preferred stock;
(ii) To
any provision which would require the holders of preferred stock, voting as a
class or series, to approve the merger or consolidation of the Company with
another corporation or the sale, lease or conveyance (other than by mortgage or
pledge) of properties or business in exchange for securities of a corporation
other than the Company if the preferred stock is exchanged for securities of
such other corporation; provided,
that no provision may require such approval for transactions undertaken with the
assistance or pursuant to the direction of the Office or the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation;
(iii) To
any amendment which would adversely change the specific terms of any class or
series of capital stock as set forth in this Section 5 (or in any supplementary
sections hereto), including any amendment which would create or enlarge any
class or series ranking prior thereto in rights and preferences. An
amendment which increases the number of authorized shares of any class or series
of capital stock, or substitutes the surviving entity in a merger or
consolidation for the Company, shall not be considered to be such an adverse
change.
A description of the different classes and series (if
any) of the Company's capital stock and a statement of the designations, and the
relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each class of and
series (if any) of capital stock are as follows:
A. Common
Stock. Except as provided in this Section 5 (or in any
supplementary sections hereto) the holders of the common stock shall exclusively
possess all voting power. Each holder of shares of common stock shall
be entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder, and there shall be
no cumulative voting for the election of directors.
Whenever there shall have been paid, or declared and set
aside for payment, to the holders of the outstanding shares of any class of
stock having preference over the common stock as to payment of dividends, the
full amount of dividends and of sinking fund, retirement fund or other
retirement payments, if any, to which such holders are respectively entitled in
preference to the common stock, then dividends may be paid on the common stock
and on any class or series of stock entitled to participate therewith as to
dividends out of any assets legally available for the payment of
dividends.
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Company, the holders of the common stock (and the holders of any class
or series of stock entitled to participate with the common stock in the
distribution of assets) shall be entitled to receive, in cash or in kind, the
assets of the Company available for distribution remaining after: (i) payment or
provision for payment of the Company's debts and liabilities; (ii) distributions
or provisions for distributions in settlement of any liquidation account; and
(iii) distributions or provisions for distributions to holders of any class or
series of stock having preference over the common stock in the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company. Each share of common stock
shall have the same rights as and be identical in all respects with all the
other shares of common stock.
B. Preferred
Stock. The Company may provide in supplementary sections to
its charter for one or more classes of preferred stock, which shall be
separately identified. The shares of any class may be divided into
and issued in series, with each series separately designated so as to
distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and
classes. The terms of each series shall be set forth in a
supplementary section to the charter. All shares of the same class
shall be identical, except as to the following relative rights and preferences,
as to which there may be variations between different
series:
(a) The
distinctive serial designation and the number of shares constituting such
series;
(b) The
dividend rate or the amount of dividends to be paid on the shares of such
series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date(s),
the payment date(s) for dividends, and the participating or other special
rights, if any, with respect to dividends;
(c) The
voting powers, full or limited, if any, of shares of such
series;
(d) Whether
the shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if so, the price(s) at which,
and the terms and conditions on which, such shares may be
redeemed;
(e) The
amount(s) payable upon the shares of such series in the event of voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the
Company;
(f) Whether
the shares of such series shall be entitled to the benefit of a sinking or
retirement fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares, and
if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the manner of its application,
including the price(s) at which such shares may be redeemed or purchased through
the application of such fund;
(g) Whether
the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares
of any other class or classes of stock of the Company and, if so, the conversion
price(s) or the rate(s) of exchange, and the adjustments thereof, if any, at
which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and
conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(h) The
price or other consideration for which the shares of such series shall be
issued; and
(i) Whether
the shares of such series which are redeemed or converted shall have the status
of authorized but unissued shares of serial preferred stock and whether such
shares may be reissued as shares of the same or any other series of serial
preferred stock.
Each share of each series of serial preferred stock
shall have the same relative rights as and be identical in all respects with all
the other shares of the same series.
The board of directors shall have authority to divide,
by the adoption of supplementary charter sections, any authorized class of
preferred stock into series and, within the limitations set forth in this
section and the remainder of this charter, fix and determine the relative rights
and preferences of the shares of any series so established.
Prior to the issuance of any preferred shares of a
series established by a supplementary charter section adopted by the board of
directors, the Company shall file with the Secretary of the Office a dated copy
of that supplementary section of this charter establishing and designating the
series and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences
thereof.
Section
6. Preemptive
Rights. Holders of the capital stock of the Company shall not
be entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the Company which
may be issued.
Section
7. Directors. The
Company shall be under the direction of a board of directors. The
authorized number of directors, as stated in the Company's bylaws, shall not be
fewer than five nor more than 15, except when a lesser or greater number is
approved by the Director of the Office, or his or her
delegate.
Section
8. Amendment of
Charter. Except as provided in Section 5, no amendment,
addition, alteration, change or repeal of this charter shall be made, unless
such is proposed by the board of directors of the Company, approved by the
shareholders by a majority of the votes eligible to be cast at a legal meeting,
unless a higher vote is otherwise required, and approved or preapproved by the
Office.
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PRUDENTIAL BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
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Attest:
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By:
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Regina
Wilson
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Thomas
A. Vento
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Corporate
Secretary
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION
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Attest:
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By:
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Corporate
Secretary of the
Office
of Thrift Supervision
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Acting
Director of the
Office
of Thrift Supervision
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Effective
Date:
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Exhibit C
BYLAWS
OF
PRUDENTIAL
BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
ARTICLE
I - Home Office
The home office of Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of
Pennsylvania (the "Company") shall be at 1834 West Oregon Avenue in the city of
Philadelphia in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE
II - Shareholders
Section
1. Place of Meetings. All annual and special
meetings of shareholders shall be held at the home office of the Company or at
such other place as the board of directors may determine.
Section
2. Annual Meeting. A meeting of the shareholders of
the Company for the election of directors and for the transaction of any other
business of the Company shall be held annually within 150 days after the end of
the Company’s fiscal year on the first Monday in February, if not a legal
holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next day following which is not a
legal holiday, at 11:00
a.m., or at such other date and time within such 150-day period as the board of
directors may determine.
Section
3. Special Meetings. Special
meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise
prescribed by the regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision (the
"Office"), may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the
president, or a majority of the board of directors, and shall be called by the
chairman of the board, the president, or the secretary upon the written request
of the holders of not less than one-tenth of all of the outstanding capital
stock of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting. Such written
request shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting and shall be
delivered to the home office of the Company addressed to the chairman of the
board, the president, or the secretary.
Section
4. Conduct of Meetings. Annual and special meetings
shall be conducted in accordance with the most current edition of Robert’s Rules
of Order unless otherwise prescribed by regulations of the Office or these
bylaws or the board of directors adopts another written procedure for the
conduct of meetings. The board of directors shall designate, when
present, either the chairman of the board or president to preside at such
meetings.
Section
5. Notice of Meetings. Written notice stating the
place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose(s) for which the meeting is
called shall be delivered not fewer than 20 nor more than 50 days before the
date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the
chairman of the board, the president, or the secretary, or the directors calling
the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such
meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when
deposited in the mail, addressed to the shareholder at the address as it appears
on the stock transfer books or records of the Company as of the record date
prescribed in Section 6 of this Article II with postage prepaid. When
any shareholders’ meeting, either annual or special, is adjourned for 30 days or
more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an
original meeting. It shall not be necessary to give any notice of the
time and place of any meeting adjourned for less than 30 days or of the business
to be transacted at the meeting, other than an announcement at the meeting at
which such adjournment is taken.
Section
6. Fixing of Record Date. For the purpose of
determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders or any adjournment, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of
any dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other
proper purpose, the board of directors shall fix in advance a date as the record
date for any such determination of shareholders. Such date in any
case shall be not more than 60 days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders,
not fewer than 10 days prior to the date on which the particular action,
requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken. When a
determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders
has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any
adjournment.
Section
7. Voting Lists. At least 20 days before each
meeting of the shareholders, the officer or agent having charge of the stock
transfer books for shares of the Company shall make a complete list of the
shareholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment
thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address and the number of
shares held by each. This list of shareholders shall be kept on file
at the home office of the Company and shall be subject to inspection by any
shareholder of record or the shareholder’s agent at any time during usual
business hours for a period of 20 days prior to such meeting. Such
list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting
and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder of record or any
shareholder’s agent during the entire time of the meeting. The
original stock transfer book shall constitute prima facie
evidence of the shareholders entitled to examine such list or transfer books or
to vote at any meeting of shareholders. In lieu of making the
shareholder list available for inspection by shareholders as provided in the
preceding paragraph, the board of directors may elect to follow the procedures
prescribed in § 552.6(d) of the Office’s regulations as now or hereafter in
effect.
Section
8. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding shares of
the Company entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders. If less than a
majority of the outstanding shares is represented at a meeting, a majority of
the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without
further notice. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be
present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally notified. The shareholders
present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until
adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to constitute
less than a quorum. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of
the majority of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on
the subject matter shall be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a
greater number of shareholders voting together or voting by classes is required
by law or the charter. Directors, however, are elected by a plurality
of the votes cast at an election of directors.
Section
9. Proxies. At all meetings of shareholders, a
shareholder may vote by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his
or her duly authorized attorney in fact. Proxies may be given
telephonically or electronically as long as the holder uses a procedure for
verifying the identity of the shareholder. Proxies solicited on
behalf of the management shall be voted as directed by the shareholder or, in
the absence of such direction, as determined by a majority of the board of
directors. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months from the
date of its execution except for a proxy coupled with an
interest.
Section
10. Voting of Shares in the Name of Two or More
Persons. When ownership stands in the name of two or more
persons, in the absence of written directions to the Company to the contrary, at
any meeting of the shareholders of the Company, any one or more of such
shareholders may cast, in person or by proxy, all votes to which such ownership
is entitled. In the event an attempt is made to cast conflicting
votes, in person or by proxy, by the several persons in whose names shares of
stock stand, the vote or votes to which those persons are entitled shall be cast
as directed by a majority of those holding such stock and present in person or
by proxy at such meeting, but no votes shall be cast for such stock if a
majority cannot agree.
Section
11. Voting of Shares by Certain Holders. Shares
standing in the name of another corporation may be voted by any officer, agent,
or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may prescribe, or, in the absence of
such provision, as the board of directors of such corporation may
determine. Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian, or
conservator may be voted by him or her, either in person or by proxy, without a
transfer of such shares into his or her name. Shares standing in the
name of a trustee may be voted by him or her, either in person or by proxy, but
no trustee shall be entitled to vote shares held by him or her without a
transfer of such shares into his or her name. Shares standing in the
name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver, and shares held by or under
the control of a receiver may be voted by such receiver without the transfer
into his or her name if authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order
of the court or other public authority by which such receiver was
appointed.
A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled
to vote such shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the
pledgee, and thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so
transferred.
Neither treasury shares of its own stock held by the
Company nor shares held by another corporation, if a majority of the shares
entitled to vote for the election of directors of such other corporation are
held by the Company, shall be voted at any meeting or counted in determining the
total number of outstanding shares at any given time for purposes of any
meeting.
Section
12. Cumulative Voting. Shareholders shall not be
permitted to cumulate votes in the election of directors.
Section 13.
Inspectors of
Election. In advance of any meeting of shareholders, the board
of directors may appoint any person other than nominees for office as inspectors
of election to act at such meeting or any adjournment. The number of
inspectors shall be either one or three. Any such appointment shall
not be altered at the meeting. If inspectors of election are not so
appointed, the chairman of the board or the president may, or on the request of
not fewer than 10 percent of the votes represented at the meeting shall, make
such appointment at the meeting. If appointed at the meeting, the
majority of the votes present shall determine whether one or three inspectors
are to be appointed. In case any person appointed as inspector fails
to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment
by the board of directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the
chairman of the board or the president.
Unless otherwise prescribed by regulations of the
Office, the duties of such inspectors shall include: determining the
number of shares and the voting power of each share, the shares represented at
the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity and
effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots, or consents; hearing and
determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with
the rights to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents; determining
the results; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with
fairness to all shareholders.
Section
14. Nominating Committee. The board of directors
shall act as a nominating committee for selecting the management nominees for
election as directors. Except in the case of a nominee substituted as
a result of the death or other incapacity of a management nominee, the
nominating committee shall deliver written nominations to the secretary at least
20 days prior to the date of the annual meeting. Upon delivery, such
nominations shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each office of the
Company. No nominations for directors except those made by the
nominating committee shall be voted upon at the annual meeting unless other
nominations by shareholders are made in writing and delivered to the secretary
of the Company at least five days prior to the date of the annual
meeting. Upon delivery, such nominations shall be posted in a
conspicuous place in each office of the Company. Ballots bearing the
names of all persons nominated by the nominating committee and by shareholders
shall be provided for use at the annual meeting. However, if the
nominating committee shall fail or refuse to act at least 20 days prior to the
annual meeting, nominations for directors may be made at the annual meeting by
any shareholder entitled to vote and shall be voted upon.
Section
15. New Business. Any new business to be taken up at the
annual meeting shall be stated in writing and filed with the secretary of the
Company at least five days before the date of the annual meeting, and all
business so stated, proposed, and filed shall be considered at the annual
meeting; but no other proposal shall be acted upon at the annual
meeting. Any shareholder may make any other proposal at the annual
meeting and the same may be discussed and considered, but unless stated in
writing and filed with the secretary at least five days before the meeting, such
proposal shall be laid over for action at an adjourned, special, or annual
meeting of the shareholders taking place 30 days or more
thereafter. This provision shall not prevent the consideration and
approval or disapproval at the annual meeting of reports of officers, directors
and committees; but in connection with such reports, no new business shall be
acted upon at such annual meeting unless stated and filed as herein
provided.
Section
16. Informal Action by Shareholders. Any action
required to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders, or any other action which
may be taken at a meeting of shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if
consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be given by all of
the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject
matter.
ARTICLE
III - Board of Directors
Section
1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the
Company shall be under the direction of its board of directors. The
board of directors shall annually elect a chairman of the board and a president
from among its members and shall designate, when present, either the chairman of
the board or the president to preside at its meetings.
Section
2. Number, Term and Qualification. The board of
directors shall consist of six members, and shall be divided into three classes
as nearly equal in number as possible. The members of each class
shall be elected for a term of three years and until their successors are
elected and qualified. One class shall be elected by ballot
annually.
Section
3. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the board
of directors shall be held without other notice than this bylaw following the
annual meeting of shareholders. The board of directors may provide,
by resolution, the time and place, for the holding of additional regular
meetings without other notice than such resolution. Directors may
participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar
communications device through which all persons participating can hear each
other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute
presence in person for all purposes.
Section
4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board
of directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board,
the president, or one-third of the directors. The persons authorized
to call special meetings of the board of directors may fix any place as the
place for holding any special meeting of the board of directors called by such
persons. Members of the board of directors may participate in special
meetings by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each
other. Such participation shall constitute presence in person for all
purposes.
Section
5. Notice. Written notice of any special meeting
shall be given to each director at least 24 hours prior thereto when delivered
personally or by telegram or at least five days prior thereto when delivered by
mail at the address at which the director is most likely to be
reached. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited
in the mail so addressed, with postage prepaid if mailed, when delivered to the
telegraph company if sent by telegram, or when the Company receives notice of
delivery if electronically transmitted. Any director may waive notice
of any meeting by a writing filed with the secretary. The attendance
of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting,
except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting
to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose
of, any meeting of the board of directors need be specified in the notice or
waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section
6. Quorum. A majority of the number of directors
fixed by Section 2 of this Article III shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at any meeting of the board of directors; but if less
than such majority is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present
may adjourn the meeting from time to time. Notice of any adjourned
meeting shall be given in the same manner as prescribed by Section 5 of this
Article III.
Section
7. Manner of Acting. The act of the majority of the
directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of
the board of directors, unless a greater number is prescribed by regulation of
the Office or by these bylaws.
Section
8. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or
permitted to be taken by the board of directors at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by all of the directors.
Section
9. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time
by sending a written notice of such resignation to the home office of the
Company addressed to the chairman of the board or the
president. Unless otherwise specified, such resignation shall take
effect upon receipt by the chairman of the board or the
president. More than three consecutive absences from regular meetings
of the board of directors, unless excused by resolution of the board of
directors, shall automatically constitute a resignation, effective when such
resignation is accepted by the board of directors.
Section
10. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the board
of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors although less than a quorum of the board of
directors. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected to
serve only until the next election of directors by the
shareholders. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase
in the number of directors may be filled by election by the board of directors
for a term of office continuing only until the next election of directors by the
shareholders.
Section
11. Compensation. Directors, as such, may receive a
stated salary for their services. By resolution of the board of
directors, a reasonable fixed sum, and reasonable expenses of attendance, if
any, may be allowed for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the
board of directors. Members of either standing or special committees
may be allowed such compensation for attendance at committee meetings as the
board of directors may determine.
Section
12. Presumption of Assent. A director of the
Company who is present at a meeting of the board of directors at which action on
any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action
taken unless his or her dissent or abstention shall be entered in the minutes of
the meeting or unless he or she shall file a written dissent to such action with
the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof
or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the secretary of the Company
within five days after the date a copy of the minutes of the meeting is
received. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who
voted in favor of such action.
Section
13. Removal of Directors. At a meeting of
shareholders called expressly for that purpose, any director may be removed only
for cause by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to
vote at an election of directors. Whenever the holders of the shares
of any class are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of
the charter or supplemental sections thereto, the provisions of this section
shall apply, in respect to the removal of a director or directors so elected, to
the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class and not to the
vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.
ARTICLE
IV - Executive and Other Committees
Section
1. Appointment. The board of directors, by
resolution adopted by a majority of the full board, may designate the chief
executive officer and two or more of the other directors to constitute an
executive committee. The designation of any committee pursuant to
this Article IV and the delegation of authority shall not operate to relieve the
board of directors, or any director, of any responsibility imposed by law or
regulation.
Section
2. Authority. The executive committee, when the
board of directors is not in session, shall have and may exercise all of the
authority of the board of directors, except to the extent if any, that such
authority shall be limited by the resolution appointing the executive committee;
and except also that the executive committee shall not have the authority of the
board of directors with reference to: the declaration of dividends;
the amendment of the charter or bylaws of the Company, or recommending to the
shareholders a plan of merger, consolidation, or conversion; the sale, lease, or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the
Company otherwise than in the usual and regular course of its business; a
voluntary dissolution of the Company; a revocation of any of the foregoing; or
the approval of a transaction in which any member of the executive committee,
directly or indirectly, has any material beneficial
interest.
Section
3. Tenure. Subject to the provisions of Section 8
of this Article IV, each member of the executive committee shall hold office
until the next regular annual meeting of the board of directors following his or
her designation and until a successor is designated as a member of the executive
committee.
Section
4. Meetings. Regular meetings of the executive
committee may be held without notice at such times and places as the executive
committee may fix from time to time by resolution. Special meetings
of the executive committee may be called by any member thereof upon not less
than one day’s notice stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting, which
notice may be written or oral. Any member of the executive committee
may waive notice of any meeting and no notice of any meeting need be given to
any member thereof who attends in person. The notice of a meeting of
the executive committee need not state the business proposed to be transacted at
the meeting.
Section
5. Quorum. A majority of the members of the
executive committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
any meeting thereof, and action of the executive committee must be authorized by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which
a quorum is present.
Section
6. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or
permitted to be taken by the executive committee at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by all of the members of the executive
committee.
Section
7. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the executive
committee may be filled by a resolution adopted by a majority of the full board
of directors.
Section
8. Resignations and Removal. Any member of the
executive committee may be removed at any time with or without cause by
resolution adopted by a majority of the full board of directors. Any
member of the executive committee may resign from the executive committee at any
time by giving written notice to the president or secretary of the
Company. Unless otherwise specified, such resignation shall take
effect upon its receipt; the acceptance of such resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective.
Section
9. Procedure. The executive committee shall elect a
presiding officer from its members and may fix its own rules of procedure which
shall not be inconsistent with these bylaws. It shall keep regular
minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the board of directors for its
information at the meeting held next after the proceedings shall have
occurred.
Section
10. Other Committees. The board of directors may by
resolution establish an audit, loan, or other committee composed of directors as
they may determine to be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the
business of the Company and may prescribe the duties, constitution, and
procedures thereof.
ARTICLE
V - Officers
Section
1. Positions. The officers of the Company shall be
a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer or
comptroller, each of whom shall be elected by the board of
directors. The board of directors may also designate the chairman of
the board as an officer. The offices of the secretary and treasurer
or comptroller may be held by the same person and a vice president may also be
either the secretary or the treasurer or comptroller. The board of
directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president
or senior vice president. The board of directors may also elect or
authorize the appointment of such other officers as the business of the Company
may require. The officers shall have such authority and perform such
duties as the board of directors may from time to time authorize or
determine. In the absence of action by the board of directors, the
officers shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their
respective offices.
Section
2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the
Company shall be elected annually at the first meeting of the board of directors
held after each annual meeting of the shareholders. If the election
of officers is not held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon
thereafter as possible. Each officer shall hold office until a
successor has been duly elected and qualified or until the officer’s death,
resignation, or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Election
or appointment of an officer, employee, or agent shall not of itself create
contractual rights. The board of directors may authorize the Company
to enter into an employment contract with any officer in accordance with
regulations of the Office; but no such contract shall impair the right of the
board of directors to remove any officer at any time in accordance with Section
3 of this Article V.
Section
3. Removal. Any officer may be removed by the board
of directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be
served thereby, but such removal, other than for cause, shall be without
prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so
removed.
Section
4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, may be filled by
the board of directors for the unexpired portion of the
term.
Section
5. Remuneration. The remuneration of the officers
shall be fixed from time to time by the board of directors.
ARTICLE
VI - Contracts, Loans, Checks, and Deposits
Section
1. Contracts. To the extent permitted by
regulations of the Office, and except as otherwise prescribed by these bylaws
with respect to certificates for shares, the board of directors may authorize
any officer, employee, or agent of the Company to enter into any contract or
execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
Company. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
Section
2. Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of
the Company and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless
authorized by the board of directors. Such authority may be general
or confined to specific instances.
Section
3. Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts, or
other orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness
issued in the name of the Company shall be signed by one or more officers,
employees or agents of the Company in such manner as shall from time to time be
determined by the board of directors.
Section
4. Deposits. All funds of the Company not otherwise
employed may be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company in any
duly authorized depositories as the board of directors may
select.
ARTICLE
VII - Certificates for Shares and Their Transfer
Section
1. Certificates for Shares. Certificates
representing shares of capital stock of the Company shall be in such form as
shall be determined by the board of directors and approved by the
Office. Such certificates shall be signed by the chief executive
officer or by any other officer of the Company authorized by the board of
directors, attested by the secretary or an assistant secretary, and sealed with
the corporate seal or a facsimile thereof. The signatures of such
officers upon a certificate may be facsimiles if the certificate is manually
signed on behalf of a transfer agent or a registrar other than the Company
itself or one of its employees. Each certificate for shares of
capital stock shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise
identified. The name and address of the person to whom the shares are
issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the
stock transfer books of the Company. All certificates surrendered to
the Company for transfer shall be canceled and no new certificate shall be
issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares has been
surrendered and canceled, except that in the case of a lost or destroyed
certificate, a new certificate may be issued upon such terms and indemnity to
the Company as the board of directors may prescribe.
Section
2. Transfer of Shares. Transfer of shares of
capital stock of the Company shall be made only on its stock transfer
books. Authority for such transfer shall be given only by the holder
of record or by his or her legal representative, who shall furnish proper
evidence of such authority, or by his or her attorney authorized by a duly
executed power of attorney and filed with the Company. Such transfer
shall be made only on surrender for cancellation of the certificate for such
shares. The person in whose name shares of capital stock stand on the
books of the Company shall be deemed by the Company to be the owner for all
purposes.
ARTICLE
VIII - Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Company shall end on the 30th day
of September of each year. The appointment of accountants shall be
subject to annual ratification by the shareholders.
ARTICLE
IX - Dividends
Subject to the terms of the Company’s charter and the
regulations and orders of the Office, the board of directors may, from time to
time, declare, and the Company may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares of
capital stock.
ARTICLE
X - Corporate Seal
The board of directors shall provide a Company seal
which shall be two concentric circles between which shall be the name of the
Company. The year of incorporation or an emblem may appear in the
center.
ARTICLE
XI - Amendments
These bylaws may be amended in a manner consistent with
regulations of the Office and shall be effective after: (i) approval of the
amendment by a majority vote of the authorized board of directors, or by a
majority vote of the votes cast by the shareholders of the Company at any legal
meeting, and (ii) receipt of any applicable regulatory approval. When
the Company fails to meet its quorum requirements, solely due to vacancies on
the board, then the affirmative vote of a majority of the sitting board will be
required to amend the bylaws.
[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
|
REVOCABLE
PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
PRUDENTIAL
BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
|
|
THIS PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IS SOLICITED ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PRUDENTIAL BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR
USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 8, 2010 AND AT
ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
The undersigned hereby appoints the Board of Directors
of Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania or any successors thereto, as
proxies with full powers of substitution, and the trustees of the ESOP and
401(k) Plan, as applicable, to represent and vote, as designated below, all the
shares of common stock of Prudential Bancorp, Inc. held of record by or
allocated to the ESOP or 401(k) Plan account of the undersigned as of December
24, 2009 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the Holiday Inn –
Philadelphia Stadium, located at 900 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
on Monday, February 8, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, or at any adjournment
thereof.
1. ELECTION
of directors.
[ ]
FOR [
] WITHHOLD
NOMINEES
for three-year term expiring in 2013: Jerome R. Balka, Esq. and A.J.
Fanelli
INSTRUCTIONS: To
withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark "Withhold" and write
that nominee's name in the space provided below.
2. PROPOSAL
to approve of the Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which Prudential Bancorp
will become a federally chartered mid-tier stock company and Prudential Mutual
Holding Company will become a federally chartered mutual holding
company.
[ ]
FOR
[
] AGAINST [
] ABSTAIN
3. PROPOSAL
to ratify the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. as Prudential Bancorp's
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2010.
[
]
FOR
[
] AGAINST [
] ABSTAIN
4. In
their discretion, the proxies/trustees are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR"
the nominees listed above, "FOR" the Plan of Reorganization and "FOR" the
ratification of the appointment of S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.
The shares of Prudential Bancorp's common stock will be
voted as specified. If not otherwise specified, this proxy/voting
instruction card will be voted FOR the nominees to the Board of Directors, FOR
the Plan of Reorganization and FOR the ratification of Prudential Bancorp's
independent registered public accounting firm, and otherwise at the discretion
of the proxies/trustees. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior
to the time it is voted at the Annual Meeting and your voting instruction card
prior to February 1, 2010.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of
Pennsylvania and the accompanying Proxy Statement and Annual Report for the year
ended September 30, 2009, prior to the signing of this proxy/voting instruction
card.
Please
be sure to date and sign this
proxy/voting
instruction card in the box below
|
Date
|
|
Shareholder/Participant
sign above
|
|
|
|
•
|
Detach
above card, sign, date and mail in postage paid envelope
provided.
|
•
|
PRUDENTIAL
BANCORP, INC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
|
PLEASE
ACT PROMPTLY
PLEASE
COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTIONS CARD
PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
This
card also constitutes your voting instructions for any shares held in the
Employees' Savings & Profit Sharing Plan ("401(k) Plan") and the
Prudential Savings Bank ESOP and the undersigned hereby authorizes the
respective trustees of such Plans to vote the shares allocated to the
undersigned's account(s) as provided herein. Shares held in the
ESOP and 401(k) Plan allocated to participants' accounts will generally
not be voted unless the proxy/voting instruction card is
returned. With respect to any other matter that properly comes
before the meeting, the trustees are authorized to vote the shares as
directed by Prudential Bancorp.
Please
sign this proxy/voting instruction card exactly as your name(s) appear(s)
on this proxy/voting instruction card. When signing in a
representative capacity, please give title. When shares are
held jointly, only one holder need
sign.
|
MEETING
DIRECTIONS
|
From Points North and
East:
|
From Points
West:
|
From Points
South:
|
Take
I-76 West toward Camden/
Philadelphia
Take
exit 350 – Seventh Street
toward
Packer Avenue
Turn
right on Packer Avenue
End
at 900 Packer Avenue
|
Take
I-76 East/Schuykill Expressway East
Take
exit 350 – Seventh Street toward
Packer
Avenue
Turn
right on Packer Avenue
End
at 900 Packer Avenue
|
Take
I-95 North
Take
exit 17-SR611 North/S.
Broad
Street toward Pattison Ave.
Turn
right on Packer Avenue
End
at 900 Packer Avenue
|
IF YOUR
ADDRESS HAS CHANGED, PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW AND
RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IN THE ENVELOPE
PROVIDED.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder
Meeting to Be Held on
February
8, 2010.
|
The
proxy statement and our 2009 Annual Report to Shareholders are available
on Prudential Bancorp's website at www.prudentialsavingsbank.com under the
"Investor Relations" tab.
|
|
January
8, 2010
To:
|
Participants
in the Prudential Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP")
and/or Employees' Savings & Profit Sharing Plan (the "401(k)
Plan")
|
Re: Instructions
for voting shares of Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania
As described in the enclosed materials, proxies are
being solicited in connection with the proposals to be considered at the
upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Prudential Bancorp,
Inc. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to direct the
manner in which shares of common stock of Prudential Bancorp allocated to your
account(s) in the Prudential Savings Bank ESOP and/or 401(k) Plan will be
voted.
Enclosed with this letter is the Proxy Statement, which
describes the matters to be voted upon, the Annual Report to Shareholders and, a
Proxy/Voting Instruction Card. After you have reviewed the Proxy
Statement, we urge you to vote your allocated shares held in the ESOP and/or
401(k) Plan by marking, dating, signing and returning the enclosed Proxy/Voting
Instruction Card in the envelope provided. In order to be
effective, your Proxy/Voting Instruction Card must be received by Registrar and
Transfer Company no later than February 1, 2010. Registrar and
Transfer Company will tabulate the votes for the purpose of having those shares
voted by the Trustees.
We urge each of you to vote, as a means of participating
in the governance of the affairs of Prudential Bancorp. If your
voting instructions are not received, the shares allocated to your ESOP and/or
401(k) Plan account(s) generally will not be voted by the
Trustees. While I hope that you will vote in the manner recommended
by the Board of Directors, the most important thing is that you vote in whatever
manner you deem appropriate. Please take a moment to do
so.
Please note that the enclosed material relates only to
those shares which have been allocated to you in your accounts under the ESOP
and/or 401(k) Plan. If you also own shares of Prudential Bancorp
common stock outside of the ESOP and/or 401(k) Plan, you should receive other
voting material for those shares owned by you individually. Please
return all
your voting material so that all your shares may be voted.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Vento
President and Chief Executive
Officer