UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.)
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PCB Bancorp
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PCB BANCORP
3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900
Los Angeles, CA 90010
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF PCB BANCORP:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to its bylaws and the call of its Board of Directors, the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of PCB Bancorp (the “Company”) will be held as follows:
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m., Pacific Time
Place: PCB Bancorp Headquarters
3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900
Los Angeles, California
At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked:
1.Election of Directors. To elect eight persons to the Board of Directors of the Company to serve until the next Annual Meeting and until their successors have been elected and have qualified. The Board of Directors has nominated the following persons for election:
| Kijun Ahn | Daniel Cho | ||||
| Haeyoung Cho | Janice Chung | ||||
| Sang Young Lee | Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park | ||||
| Don Rhee | Henry Kim | ||||
2.Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation. To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
3.Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation. To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, whether future shareholder advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers should be held every one, two or three years.
4.Bylaw Amendment. To approve an amendment to the Company’s bylaws authorizing a range of seven to 13 directors.
5.Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
6.Other Business. Any other matters that may properly be brought before the meeting.
Only those shareholders of record at the close of business on March 28, 2024 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials: On or about April 8, 2024, we mailed to our shareholders a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, or the Notice, containing instructions for how to access our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. As described in the Notice, the proxy statement and the 2023 Annual Report can be accessed online by visiting the website identified in the Notice and following the instructions. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote your shares electronically as well as how to request a paper copy of the proxy statement and 2023 Annual Report and vote your shares by mail using the proxy card.
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It is very important that every shareholder vote. We urge you to vote your shares electronically, or if you have received a paper proxy card, to sign and return it in the provided postage paid envelope as promptly as possible, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting and you wish to change your vote, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person at that time. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to its exercise.
Please indicate on the proxy card whether or not you expect to attend the meeting so we can provide adequate accommodations.
We appreciate your continuing support and look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |||||||||||
| Andrew Chung Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer and Corporate Secretary | |||||||||||
| Los Angeles, California | |||||||||||
| April 8, 2024 | |||||||||||
Please vote promptly.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||||
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PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 23, 2024
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
This proxy statement relates to the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of PCB Bancorp (the “Company” or “we”) to be held at the Company’s headquarters at 3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California on May 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time and at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, if you are a shareholder of record on March 28, 2024 (the “Record Date”), you may:
•Vote on the election of eight directors.
•Vote to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
•Vote, on a non-binding advisory basis, whether future shareholder advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers should be held every one, two or three years.
•Vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s bylaws authorizing a range of seven to 13 directors, an increase from the current range of five to nine.
•Vote on the ratification of the selection of the Company’s independent public accounting firm.
•Vote on any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
We first made this proxy statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and our proxy card available over the Internet on or about April 8, 2024 to all shareholders entitled to vote. If you owned common stock of the Company at the close of business on the Record Date, you are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules and regulations, we have elected to furnish our proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, primarily via the Internet. Accordingly, on or about April 8, 2024, we mailed to our shareholders a “Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials,” or the Notice, that contains instructions on how to access our proxy materials on the Internet, how to vote on the proposals to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting, and how to request paper copies of this proxy statement and the 2023 Annual Report. Shareholders may request to receive all future proxy materials from us in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail by following the instructions contained in the Notice. We encourage shareholders to take advantage of the availability of the proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the environmental impact of our annual shareholder meetings and to reduce our costs.
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING
Voting Securities and Required Quorum
There were 14,263,140 shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding on March 28, 2024, which has been set as the record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting for the transaction of business. Abstentions and broker non-votes (defined below) are included in the determination of the number of shares present for determining a quorum but are not counted as voting on any matters brought before the Annual Meeting.
Each shareholder is entitled to one vote on each proposal per share of common stock held as of the Record Date. Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in connection with the election of directors.
Votes Required For Approval of the Proposals
In the election of directors, the eight nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected as directors to serve until the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, even if those nominees do not receive a majority of the votes cast. Shares represented by proxies that are marked with instructions to “withhold authority” for the election of one or more director nominees or that are not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) will not be counted in determining the number of votes cast for those persons and will not affect the outcome of the election.
For the proposals to approve the compensation of our executive officers and the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm, the approval requires the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at the Annual Meeting, provided that such majority also represents a majority of the shares needed for quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will therefore have no effect on this vote, unless there are a number of abstentions or broker non-votes such that the votes in favor represent less than a majority of the shares needed for a quorum.
For the vote on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation, the option for holding an advisory vote every one year, two years, or three years receiving the greatest number of votes will be considered the preferred frequency of the shareholders. Therefore, broker non-votes and abstentions will not affect the outcome of this proposal.
The proposal to amend the Company’s bylaws requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding on the Record Date. Therefore, broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal.
Voting Shares Held by Brokers, Banks and Other Nominees
The Company asks brokers, banks and other nominee holders to obtain voting instructions from the beneficial owners of common stock. Proxies that are returned to us by brokers, banks or other nominee holders on your behalf will count toward a quorum and will be voted in accordance with the voting instructions you have sent to your broker, bank or other nominee holder. If, however, you want to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting, you will need to obtain a legal proxy or broker’s proxy card from your broker, bank or other nominee holder and bring it with you to the Annual Meeting. If you fail to provide voting instructions to, or you attend the Annual Meeting and do not obtain a legal proxy or broker’s proxy from, your broker, bank or other nominee, your shares will not be voted, except as provided below with respect to certain “routine” matters.
Under rules applicable to securities brokerage firms, a broker who holds shares in “street name” for a customer may generally vote your shares in its discretion on “routine” proposals, such as the ratification of the selection of the Company’s independent public accounting firm, but does not have the authority to vote those shares on any “non-routine” proposal, except in accordance with your voting instructions. Under New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules, if your shares are held by a member organization, as that term is defined under NYSE rules, responsibility for making a final determination as to whether a specific proposal constitutes a routine or non-routine matter rests with that organization, or third parties acting on its behalf. If your broker does not receive voting instructions from you, but chooses to vote your shares on a routine matter, then your shares will be deemed to be present by proxy and will count toward a quorum at the Annual Meeting, but will not be counted as having been voted on, and as a result will be deemed to constitute “broker non-votes” with respect to, non-routine proposals.
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Revocability of Proxies
Any shareholder who is the record owner of shares who executes and delivers a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time before it is exercised by filing with the Corporate Secretary of the Company an instrument revoking it or by filing a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. In addition, the powers of the proxy holder will be revoked if the person executing the proxy is present at the Annual Meeting, revokes such proxy, and elects to vote in person. Subject to such revocation, all shares represented by a properly executed proxy received in time for the Annual Meeting will be voted by the proxy holders in accordance with the instructions on the proxy.
However, if your shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee holder, you will need to contact your broker, bank or the nominee holder if you wish to change or revoke any voting instructions that you previously gave to your broker, bank or other nominee holder.
Recommendations of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of each director nominee named in this proxy statement; FOR approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers; for future advisory votes on executive compensation to be held every year; FOR approval of the bylaw amendment and FOR ratification of the selection of the Company’s independent public accounting firm.
Voting of Shares Represented by Proxy
If you grant us your proxy to vote your shares (whether by telephone or over the internet or by completing, signing and returning your proxy card by mail), and you do not revoke that proxy prior to the Annual Meeting, your shares will be voted as directed by you. If you grant us your proxy without providing any specific direction as to how your shares should be voted, your shares will be in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.
If any other matter should be properly presented at the Annual Meeting upon which a vote may be taken, the shares represented by your proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the holders of the proxy. Such persons also have discretionary authority to vote to adjourn the Annual Meeting, including for soliciting additional proxies to vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors on any of the above items.
Persons Making the Solicitation
This solicitation of proxies is being made by the Board of Directors of the Company. The expense of preparing, assembling, printing, and mailing the Notice and/or this proxy statement and the material used in the solicitation of proxies for the meeting will be borne by the Company. It is contemplated that proxies will be solicited principally through the use of the mail, but officers, directors, and employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, without receiving special compensation therefor. Although there is no formal agreement to do so, the Company may reimburse banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for their reasonable expense in forwarding these proxy materials to their principals.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
Summary
In accordance with the Company’s bylaws, the number of directors may be no less than five and no more than nine, with the specific number within the range set by resolution of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) or the shareholders. Currently, the Board has eight directors and eight directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting. Each director will hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
Unless authority to vote for the election of any directors is withheld, all proxies will be voted for the election of the eight nominees listed below and recommended by the Board. The nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to be voted for them shall be elected as directors. Abstentions, broker non-votes and votes cast against nominees have no effect on the election of directors. If any of the nominees should unexpectedly decline or be unable to act as a director, proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee to be designated by the Board or the Board may reduce the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Board has no reason to believe that any nominee will become unavailable and has no present intention to nominate persons in addition to or in lieu of those named below.
Director Nomination Process
The Board formed a Nominating and Governance Committee to, among other things, assist the Board in identifying appropriate candidates for Board membership. As specified in its charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee is appointed by the Board to help the Board identify qualified individuals to become members of the Board, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and to recommend to the Board the director nominees for the annual meetings of shareholders. All nominees for director identified in this proxy statement were approved and recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee will utilize the same standards for evaluating director candidates recommended by shareholders as it does for candidates proposed by the Board or members thereof.
The Nominating and Governance Committee considers many factors in nominating individuals to serve on the Board, including the following:
•satisfactory results of any background investigation;
•business and professional experience and expertise;
•financial resources;
•ability to devote the time and effort necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a director;
•involvement in community activities in the market areas served by the Company and its affiliates that may enhance the reputation of the Company and its affiliates;
•a candidate’s contribution to an appropriate balance on the Board of professional knowledge, business expertise, varied industry knowledge, and financial expertise;
•basic knowledge of the banking industry, financial regulatory system, and laws and regulation that govern the Company and its subsidiaries; and
•“independence” and “financial literacy,” as defined under applicable rules promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Shareholders who wish to make suggestions or recommendations about director nominations should forward their written suggestions to the Chairman of the Board addressed to PCB Bancorp, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010. Submission of a recommendation in this fashion does not constitute a formal nomination under the Company’s bylaws. See “Other Matters -- Shareholder Nominations and Proposals” below. While the Board carefully considers diversity of professional disciplines and backgrounds when evaluating director candidates, it has not adopted a formal diversity policy. At present, the Board does not engage a third party to identify and evaluate potential director candidates.
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Director Nominee Qualifications and Experience
The Board currently consists of eight members, each of whom is a nominee for election at the Annual Meeting. Each of the directors will be elected to serve a one-year term, until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Our directors are not required to be a shareholder of the Company in order to qualify to serve as a director. All current directors of the Company, except Don Rhee, also serve as directors of the Company’s subsidiary, PCB Bank (the “Bank”). As discussed in greater detail below, the Board has affirmatively determined that, during the last fiscal year, seven of our eight directors qualified as independent directors based upon the rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. There are no arrangements or understandings between any of the directors and any other person pursuant to which he or she was selected as a director.
The following table sets forth certain summary information about our current directors, including their names, ages, and the year in which they began serving as a director and any committee memberships they may hold. No current director has any family relationship, as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K, with any other director or with any of our executive officers. None of our directors has been involved in any bankruptcy or criminal proceedings, nor have there been any judgments or injunctions brought against any of our directors during the last ten years that we consider material to the evaluation of the ability and integrity of any director.
| Committee Membership | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name and Position | Age | Director Since | Audit | Compensation | Nominating and Governance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kijun Ahn, Ph.D. | 68 | 2007 (1) | Chair | Member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daniel Cho | 59 | 2020 | Member | Member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Haeyoung Cho | 69 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Janice Chung | 67 | 2021 | Member | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sang Young Lee, Chairman | 73 | 2007 | Member | Chair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park | 65 | 2015 | Chair (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Don Rhee | 68 | 2015 | Member | Member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry Kim, President & Chief Executive Officer | 57 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Dr. Ahn has been a director for the Company since 2007, except for the year of 2014.
(2)Mr. Park serves as the Audit Committee financial expert.
None of the Company’s directors is a director of any other company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of such Act or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, whose common stock is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The business experience of each of the current directors, who are nominees for election at the Annual Meeting is set forth below.
Kijun Ahn, Ph.D. As one of the founding members of the Boards of the Company and the Bank, Dr. Ahn has extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of civil engineering and construction and provides the Board with valuable insights with regards to the Bank’s customers and issues involving these industries. Dr. Ahn was a project manager at Moffatt and Nichol, a global infrastructure advisory firm that specializes in structural, coastal, and civil engineering; environmental sciences; economics analysis; inspection and rehabilitation; and program management solutions. Throughout his 30 plus years of experience in the construction and development field, Dr. Ahn managed many major projects, including public infrastructure projects in the state of California and Hawaii. Dr. Ahn earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Seoul National University in Seoul, Korea and Doctorate degree in Civil Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Daniel Cho. Mr. Cho has served on the Board of the Bank since April 2017 and on the Board of the Company since May 2020. Mr. Cho is a highly accomplished entrepreneur and a subject matter expert in Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering (“BSA/AML”) compliance and Fintech. Mr. Cho founded Banker’s Toolbox in 2000, which served over 750 banks and credit unions in the U.S as a leader in BSA/AML software. Mr. Cho sold Banker’s Toolbox in 2015. Prior to Banker’s Toolbox, Mr. Cho was a banker for 12 years working as an SBA loan manager and an IT manager. Mr. Cho has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Maya Tech since August 2016. Mr. Cho brings the Board valuable experience regarding BSA/AML compliance, banking and technology matters. Mr. Cho holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from University of California at Berkeley.
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Haeyoung Cho. Ms. Cho was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank from October 2011 until her retirement in December 2017. Ms. Cho is one of the founding executives of the Bank and played an instrumental role in successfully navigating the institution through the financial crisis and growing the Bank into an institution with over a billion dollars in assets. Ms. Cho began her banking career in 1983 and brings over 36 years of Korean-American community banking experience. As a career banking executive and the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Cho brings the Board deep banking expertise and insights regarding the Bank’s operations. Ms. Cho earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Duksung University in Seoul, Korea and a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Phoenix. Ms. Cho also attended the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in Denver, Colorado.
Janice Chung. Ms. Chung has served on the Boards of the Company and the Bank since November 2021. Ms. Chung is the Chief Executive Officer of BIC Technologies Group, a firm that specializes in providing technology and engineering services to companies processing rare metals, including titanium dioxide and base materials for solar cells and semi-conductors, primarily to global companies in South Korea and China, since 2016. Prior to BIC Technologies Group, from 1999 to 2002, Ms. Chung was the Chief Executive Officer of cyberPulse Network Group that provided innovation-focused management consulting services to South Korean public and private sectors including startup venture incubation, raising capital for the startups, strategic business planning, technology transfer, technology commercialization in the global market and structuring new business investments. From 1996 to 1998, Ms. Chung, as a Certified Public Accountant, was a partner at Coopers & Lybrand LLP, now known as, PricewaterhouseCoopers, at its International Tax Division in New York. Ms. Chung brings the Board valuable management, executive and accounting experience. Ms. Chung earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.
Henry Kim. Mr. Kim served as the Chief Credit Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary since the formation of the Bank in September 2003.In January 2018, Mr. Kim was promoted as the President and Chief Executive Officer of PCB Bancorp and PCB Bank. Mr. Kim is currently a member of the Board of Directors for both the Company and the Bank. As the Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Kim spearheaded the expansion of the Bank’s branch network in Southern California and into the greater New York City metropolitan market, and led the expansion of extensive loan production office network in seven different states. As the President and Chief Executive Officer, he successfully took the Company public in August 2018. Under Mr. Kim’s leadership and growth strategies, the Bank’s total assets consistently increased from $1.44 billion at December 31, 2017 to $2.79 billion at December 31, 2023, and the Company’s shareholders’ equity increased from $142.2 million to $348.9 million over that same time period. In addition to being an experienced banker, as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kim brings the Board valuable insights regarding the Company’s operations. Mr. Kim is a graduate of University of California at Santa Barbara with a BS degree in Applied Mathematics in 1989, and graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School in 2012.
Sang Young Lee. Mr. Lee is one of the founding members of the Boards of the Company and the Bank, and the current Chairman of the Boards of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Lee has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lee’s Gold & Diamond Import, Inc. since 1988. Founded in 1988, Lee’s Gold & Diamond Import, Inc. specializes in wholesale distribution of various jewelry products in the greater Los Angeles area. Mr. Lee provides the Board with extensive insight into the trade industry and also possesses the business acumen and knowledge of the economic environment in that industry which is a tremendous asset to the Board. Mr. Lee also previously served as the Chairman of the Boards of the Company and the Bank from 2009 to 2012. Mr. Lee earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in law from Han Yang University and a Master of Business Administration degree in International Trade from Korea University in Seoul, Korea.
Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park. Mr. Park has served on the Boards of the Company and the Bank since 2015. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a partner of KNP, LLP, a greater Los Angeles-based accounting firm, where he has served both international and domestic middle market companies since 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Park was a partner of CKP, LLP, an accounting firm, from 2012 to 2016. Mr. Park brings over 30 years of business and accounting experience to the Board, having previously served with such prestigious accounting firms as Ernst & Young, Arthur Andersen, PwC, Deloitte & Touche, and also served as the Chief Financial Officer of several private companies. Mr. Park’s in-depth knowledge of accounting principles and auditing standards generally accepted in the U.S., as well as his valuable perspective on various industries, is a tremendous asset to the Board. Mr. Park is currently a member of AICPA and the California CPA Society. He had also served over 15 years on the Board of Governors at City Club Los Angeles. Mr. Park earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business from University of California at Los Angeles.
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Don Rhee. Mr. Rhee has served on the Board of the Company since 2015. In 1988, Mr. Rhee founded Active USA, Inc., a Los Angeles-based apparel manufacturer, where he currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rhee is a prominent leader in the Korean-American apparel business owners’ community, becoming the President of San Pedro Fashion Mart Association in 2013 and Chief Executive Officer of The World Korean Business Convention in 2015. From 1999 to 2011, Mr. Rhee was a director at Saehan Bancorp, which merged into a bank that eventually became a part of Bank of Hope. Mr. Rhee has extensive experience in the apparel manufacturing industry and a deep understanding of the commercial customers’ banking needs. In February 2023, Mr. Rhee was awarded the Dongbaek (Camellia) Medal of the Order of Civil Merit, one of the highest civilian awards, from the Korean government for his many philanthropic activities and significant meritorious contributions to the field of education. Mr. Rhee earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture and an honorary Doctorate in business administration from Yeungnam University in Korea.
Compensation of Directors
The following table sets forth information regarding 2023 compensation for each of our non-employee directors.
| Name | Fees Earned and Paid in Cash (1) | Equity Awards | All Other Compensation (2) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kijun Ahn | $ | 67,000 | $ | — | $ | 24,000 | $ | 91,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Daniel Cho | $ | 79,000 | $ | — | $ | 21,523 | $ | 100,523 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Haeyoung Cho | $ | 67,000 | $ | — | $ | 84,000 | $ | 151,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Janice Chung | $ | 67,000 | $ | — | $ | 24,000 | $ | 91,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sang Young Lee, Chairman | $ | 79,000 | $ | — | $ | 24,000 | $ | 103,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kyun ”Daniel” Park | $ | 67,000 | $ | — | $ | 19,504 | $ | 86,504 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Don Rhee | $ | 49,000 | $ | — | $ | 24,000 | $ | 73,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
(1)Amounts shown include payment of Board membership retainer fees for the Company and the Bank Board meetings, committee membership fees and specific purpose committee membership fees.
(2)All Other Compensation reflects health insurance benefits. For Haeyoung Cho, includes $60,000 in consulting fees.
Non-employee director fees for 2023 reflect fees for service on both the Boards of the Company and the Bank. Non-employee directors of the Bank were paid a monthly retainer of $6,000, while the Chairman of the Board of the Bank was paid a monthly retainer of $7,500. In addition, non-executive directors of the Bank that also served on the director’s loan committee were paid an additional monthly retainer of $500 and chair of the Bank’s Risk and Compliance Committee (Director Daniel Cho), were paid an additional monthly retainer of $1,000. The member of the Board of the Company who did not also serve on the Board of the Bank (Director Don Rhee) was paid a monthly retainer of $5,000.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each of the
directors nominated for election in Proposal 1.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS
Corporate Governance Guidelines
We are committed to having sound corporate governance principles, which are essential to running our business efficiently and maintaining our integrity in the marketplace. The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which set forth the framework within which the Board, assisted by the committees of the Board, oversees the affairs of our organization. The Corporate Governance Guidelines address, among other things, the composition and functions of the Board, director independence, compensation of directors, management succession and review, committees of the Board and selection of new directors. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at www.mypcbbank.com, by clicking “About Us,” then “Investor Relations,” then “Corporate Governance” and then “Governance Documents.”
Director Qualifications
We believe that our directors should have the highest professional and personal ethics and values. They should have broad experience at the policy-making level in business, government or banking. They should be committed to enhancing shareholder value and should have sufficient time to carry out their duties and to provide insight and practical wisdom based on experience. Their service on boards of other companies should be limited to a number that permits them, given their individual circumstances, to perform responsibly all the Company director duties. Each director must represent the interests of all shareholders. When considering potential director candidates, the Board also considers the candidate’s character, judgment, diversity of professional disciplines and backgrounds, skill sets, specific business background and global or international experience in the context of our needs and those of the Board.
Director Independence
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and, as a result, we are required to comply with the rules of Nasdaq with respect to the independence of directors who serve on the Board and its committees. Under the rules of Nasdaq, independent directors must comprise a majority of the Board. The rules of Nasdaq, as well as those of the SEC, also impose several other requirements with respect to the independence of our directors.
The Board has evaluated the independence of its members based upon the rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. Applying these standards, the Board has affirmatively determined that seven of our eight current directors and nominees qualify as independent directors: Kijun Ahn, Daniel Cho, Haeyoung Cho, Janice Chung, Sang Young Lee, Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park, and Don Rhee. Henry Kim does not qualify as an independent director because he is an executive officer of the Company and the Bank. The Board has deemed it appropriate to have two separate individuals serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and that the Chairman satisfy the requirements for an independent director under the Nasdaq rules.
Board Diversity
Board Diversity Matrix (As of April 8, 2024) | |||||||||||
| Female | Male | ||||||||||
| Total Number of Directors | 8 | ||||||||||
| Part I: Gender Identity | |||||||||||
| Directors | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
| Part II: Demographic Background | |||||||||||
| Asian | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
11
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, which became effective September 22, 2016, and undergoes periodic review and revision. This code, which applies to all of our directors and employees, serves as our “code of ethics” within the meaning of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and our “code of conduct” for purposes of Nasdaq’s listing standards. The code provides fundamental ethical principles to which these individuals are expected to adhere to and operates as a tool to help our directors, officers and employees understand the high ethical standards required for employment by, or association with, the Company. In addition, the code specifically prohibits all forms of unlawful securities trading and hedging transactions, such as puts, calls, short sales, and other similar transactions involving securities issued by the Company. Our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available on our website at www.mypcbbank.com, by clicking “About Us,” then “Investor Relations,” then “Corporate Governance” and then “Governance Documents.” To the extent required by applicable SEC rules, Nasdaq’s listing standards or our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, we will disclose any waivers of the requirements of the code that may be granted to our executive officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or persons performing similar functions, on our website.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of our Compensation Committee (i) is or has ever been an employee of ours, (ii) was, during the last completed fiscal year, a participant in any related party transaction requiring disclosure under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” except with respect to loans made to such committee members in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated parties or (iii) had, during the last completed fiscal year, any other interlocking relationship requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulations S-K concerning related party transactions. In 2023, none of our executive officers served on the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that had one or more of its executive officers serving on our Board or its Compensation Committee.
Risk Management and Oversight
The Board oversees our risk management process, which is a company-wide approach to risk management that is carried out by our management. The Board determines the appropriate risk for us generally, assesses the specific risks faced by us, and reviews the steps taken by management to manage those risks. While the Board maintains the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, its committees oversee risk within their particular area of concern. In particular, our Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to our executive compensation plans and arrangements, and the incentives created by the compensation awards it administers. Our Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks associated with, among other things, related party transactions, internal controls and financial reporting. Our Nominating and Governance Committee oversees risks related to the nominees for election as directors as well as candidates for senior management positions, the functioning of our standing committees, and the compliance with our corporate governance guidelines. The Board monitors capital adequacy in relation to risk. Pursuant to the Board’s instruction, management regularly reports on applicable risks to the relevant committee or the Board, as appropriate, with additional review or reporting on risks conducted as needed or as requested by the Board and its committees.
12
Board Meetings and Committees
Meetings and Attendance
Directors are expected to attend all Board meetings, all meetings of committees on which they serve, and the annual shareholders’ meeting. There were four regular meetings and three special meetings of the Board of the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Each director standing for re-election to the Board attended at least 83% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he or she served. All current directors attended our 2023 annual shareholders meeting.
Board Committees
The Board currently has three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Governance Committee. Each committee is comprised solely of directors that meet the definition of “independent director” under the Nasdaq rules, and each member of the Audit Committee is independent under the SEC and Nasdaq independence rules that apply to audit committee members. Each of the committees of the Board meets at such times as determined to be necessary.
The Board also may establish such other committees as it deems appropriate, in accordance with applicable law and regulations and our articles and bylaws. We are not considered a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee currently consists of Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park (Chairperson), Daniel Cho, and Janice Chung. The Board has affirmatively determined that each member of the Audit Committee also satisfies the additional independence standards under the Nasdaq rules and applicable SEC rules for audit committee service and has the ability to read and understand fundamental financial statements. In addition, the Board has determined that Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined under the applicable SEC rules.
The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter, which sets forth the committee’s duties and responsibilities. As described in its charter, the Audit Committee has responsibility for, among other things:
•selecting and reviewing the performance of our independent auditors and approving, in advance, all engagements and fee arrangements;
•reviewing the independence of our independent auditors;
•reviewing actions by management on recommendations of the independent auditors and internal auditors; meeting with management, the internal auditors and the independent auditors to review their effectiveness;
•reviewing our system of internal control and internal audit procedures and results;
•reviewing earnings releases, financial statements and reports to be filed with the SEC or otherwise;
•reviewing and approving transactions involving potential conflicts of interest under our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct; and
•preparing an audit committee report and handling other such matters that are specifically delegated to the Audit Committee by the Board from time to time.
The committee held nine meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
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Nominating and Governance Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee currently consists of Sang Young Lee (Chairperson), Kijun Ahn and Don Rhee. Each of the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee is “independent” as defined by our policy and Nasdaq rules. The Nominating and Governance Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
The Nominating and Governance Committee has adopted a written charter, which sets forth the committee’s duties and responsibilities. The Nominating and Governance Committee has responsibility for, among other things:
•recommending persons to be selected by the Board as nominees for election as directors or to fill any vacancies on the Board;
•assisting the Board with identifying, reviewing, and recommending individuals qualified to fill senior management positions at both the Company and the Bank levels;
•monitoring the functioning of our standing committees and recommending any changes, including the creation or elimination of any committee;
•conducting annual performance evaluations of the Board, including through requests and comments from all directors of the Board;
•developing, reviewing and monitoring compliance with our corporate governance guidelines, requirements of applicable laws, regulations, the Nasdaq rules, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and other federal banking laws;
•reviewing annually the composition of the Board and committees as a whole and making recommendations on the qualifications, independence, structure, and reporting of the same;
•reviewing Company’s shareholder proposals properly submitted, including any proposed amendments to our articles of incorporation or bylaws; and
•handling such other matters that are specifically delegated to the Nominating and Governance Committee by the Board from time to time.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Kijun Ahn (Chairperson), Daniel Cho, Sang Young Lee and Don Rhee. The Compensation Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Each of the members serving on the Compensation Committee has been determined by the Board to be “independent” as such term is defined by Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq’s listing rules.
The Compensation Committee has adopted a written charter, which sets forth the committee’s duties and responsibilities. The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to its Chairperson, a subcommittee or others to the extent permitted by law and has granted the Chief Executive Officer the authority to approve, within specified limits, equity grants to new hires other than those who will be executive officers for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act. As described in its charter, the Compensation Committee has responsibility for, among other things:
•reviewing, monitoring and approving our overall compensation structure, policies and programs (including benefit plans) and assessing whether the compensation structure establishes appropriate incentives for our executive officers and other employees and meets our corporate objectives;
•determining the annual compensation of our Chief Executive Officer;
•establishing subjective and objective criteria to serve as the basis for other executive officers’ compensation and reviewing the compensation decisions made by our Chief Executive Officer with respect to our other named executive officers;
•reviewing the talent development and executive succession planning process with our Chief Executive Officer;
•overseeing the administration of our equity plans and other incentive compensation plans and programs and preparing recommendations and periodic reports to the Board relating to these matters;
•preparing the Compensation Committee report required by the SEC rules to be included in our annual report; and
•handling such other matters that are specifically delegated to the Compensation Committee by the Board from time to time.
14
Board Committee Charters
The Compensation, Audit, and Nominating and Governance Committee charters are available on the Company’s website at www.mypcbbank.com, by clicking “About Us,” then “Investor Relations,” then “Corporate Governance” and then “Governance Documents.”
Board Leadership Structure
It is the role of the Nominating and Governance Committee to annually review, and when appropriate make recommendations to the Board concerning board composition, structure, and functions. The Board has deemed it appropriate to have two separate individuals serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. According to the Company’s bylaws, the Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Board and shareholders and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him or her by the Board. The bylaws further provide that the President of the Company will be the Chief Executive Officer and shall, subject to the control of the Board, have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and the officers of the Company. As the oversight responsibilities of the Board grows, the Board believes it is beneficial to have an independent Chairman with the sole job of leading the Board, while allowing the President to focus his efforts on the day-to-day management of the Company and the Bank. The Board does believe that it is important to have the President as a director. The Company aims to foster an appropriate level of separation between these two distinct levels of leadership of the Company. In addition to the Chairman, leadership is also provided through the respective chairs of the Board’s various committees.
15
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership as of March 28, 2024, of (1) each person who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock; (2) each of the executive officers (as defined below); (3) each of the Company’s directors; and (4) all directors and executive officers(1) of the Company as a group. Beneficial ownership includes shared voting or dispositive power and options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. All of the shares shown in the following table are owned both of record and beneficially except as indicated in the notes to the table.
Name, Address of Beneficial Owner, and Relationship with Company (2) | Common Stock | Number of Exercisable Options Within 60 Days | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (3) | Percent of Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kijun Ahn, Director | 141,666 | (4) | — | 141,666 | ** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Daniel Cho, Director | 123,000 | (5) | — | 123,000 | ** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Haeyoung Cho, Director | 241,104 | (6) | — | 241,104 | 1.69% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Janice Chung, Director | 9,700 | (7) | — | 9,700 | ** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sang Young Lee, Chairman of the Board | 1,887,555 | (8) | — | 1,887,555 | 13.23% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park, Director | 24,200 | — | 24,200 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Don Rhee, Director | 723,829 | (9) | — | 723,829 | 5.07% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Henry Kim, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | 244,263 | (10) | 74,734 | 318,997 | 2.22% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy Chang, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 43,725 | (11) | 27,000 | 70,725 | ** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
David W. Kim, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer | 1,000 | 8,000 | 9,000 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew Chung, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer | 2,000 | (12) | 20,000 | 22,000 | ** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brian Bang, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer | 16,230 | (13) | 15,126 | 31,356 | ** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All directors and executive officers combined (As a group of 12) | 3,458,272 | 144,860 | 3,603,132 | 25.01% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BlackRock, Inc. | 819,182 | (14) | — | 819,182 | 5.74% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
** Represents less than 1% of outstanding.
(1)As used throughout, the term “executive officers” means the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer, the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, and the Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. The Chairman of the Board and our other officers are not treated as executive officers.
(2)Unless otherwise indicated, the address for all persons listed is c/o PCB Bank, 3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010.
(3)The table includes all shares beneficially owned on March 28, 2024, whether directly or indirectly, individually or together with associates, jointly or as community property with a spouse, unvested restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), which he or she has voting power, as well as any shares, including through the exercise of stock options, as to which beneficial ownership may be acquired within 60 days of March 28, 2024. The options are described in more detail in “Executive Compensation,” below.
(4)Includes 16,129 shares held by his children.
(5)Includes 123,000 shares held jointly by him and his spouse.
(6)Includes 217,541 shares held by her trust and 23,563 shares held by her IRA.
(7)Includes 1,000 shares held by her IRA.
(8)Includes 1,466,699 shares held by his family trust and 416,016 shares held by Lee’s Gold and Diamond Import, Inc.
(9)Includes 409,014 shares held by his family trust and 314,815 shares held by Rhee Family Venture LLC.
(10)Includes 59,992 shares held jointly by him and his spouse, 19,785 shares held by his IRA, 21,013 shares held by his spouse's IRA, and 17,000 shares of unvested RSAs.
(11)Includes 25,824 shared held jointly by him and his spouse and 1,000 shares of unvested RSAs.
(12)Includes 400 shares of unvested RSAs.
(13)Includes 600 shares of unvested RSAs.
(14)Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) on January 29, 2024 indicating that as of December 31, 2023, BlackRock had sole dispositive power over 819,182 shares and sole voting power over 804,608 shares. BlackRock's address is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055
16
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Officers
Our executive officers are:
| Name | Age | Position | ||||||||||||
| Henry Kim | 57 | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||
| Timothy Chang | 55 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||
| David W. Kim | 58 | Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer | ||||||||||||
| Andrew Chung | 61 | Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer | ||||||||||||
| Brian Bang | 49 | Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer | ||||||||||||
The business experience of each of the executives who are not directors of the Company is set forth below.
Timothy Chang. Mr. Chang serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Chang has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank since he joined us in 2010. In this role, he oversees all aspects of financial reporting including strategic planning, asset/liability management, taxation and regulatory filings. Mr. Chang has over 23 years of commercial banking experience. Prior to joining us, Mr. Chang served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mirae Bank, the Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer of Hanmi Bank, and the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Nara Bank. Mr. Chang is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and earned his Bachelor of Art degree in Economics from University of California, Los Angeles.
David W. Kim. Mr. Kim serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer of the Bank since he joined us in January 2022. Mr. Kim is responsible for oversight of the Bank’s retail branches and certain lending units. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Kim served as Executive Vice President and Regional President of Bank of Hope’s Midwest Region from July 2019 to December 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Kim served as Executive Vice President and Chief Retail Bank Officer of Bank of Hope from May 2017 to June 2019 and other various leadership positions of Bank of Hope from April 2014, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of United Central Bank, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Commonwealth Business Bank, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Wilshire State Bank, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Hanmi Bank. Mr. Kim began his banking career with Chase Bank in New York and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kim earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Public Policy from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School.
Andrew Chung. Mr. Chung serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Bank since he joined us in April 2018. Mr. Chung also serves as the Corporate Secretary of the Company. Mr. Chung has over 27 years of experience in banking and financial services. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Chung served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Uniti Financial Corporation and Uniti Bank from November 2013 to April 2018, the Senior Vice President and Controller of Wilshire Bank from July 2011 to October 2013, and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank from October 2005 to April 2010. Mr. Chung is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California and Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.
Brian Bang. Mr. Bang serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank since January 2022. Mr. Bang joined the Bank in 2005, and served as the Senior Vice President & Deputy Chief Credit Officer between 2014 and 2017 and Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer between 2018 and 2021. Prior to 2014, Mr. Bang served as Senior Loan Officer and Credit Administration Manager. Mr. Bang also held loan officer positions in other Korean-American banks in Southern California. He has extensive experience in community banking as commercial, consumer, SBA lender and credit administrator. Mr. Bang received his Bachelor of Art degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton. Mr. Bang also graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School, in partnership with the Graduate School of Business at University of Washington.
17
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information regarding the total compensation for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 of our Chief Executive Officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2023, who we refer to as our “named executive officers.”
| Name | Year | Base Salary | Short Term Cash Incentive | Restricted Stock Awards (1) | Stock Option Award | All Other Compensation (2) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry Kim | 2023 | $ | 498,077 | $ | 450,000 | $ | — | $ | 66,156 | $ | 83,923 | $ | 1,098,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 448,077 | $ | 400,000 | $ | 549,000 | $ | — | $ | 86,243 | $ | 1,483,320 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timothy Chang | 2023 | $ | 297,692 | $ | 120,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 40,145 | $ | 457,837 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 278,425 | $ | 120,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 39,636 | $ | 438,061 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David W. Kim | 2023 | $ | 292,385 | $ | 70,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 29,543 | $ | 391,928 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 269,231 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 102,162 | $ | 87,692 | $ | 459,085 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The amount represents the grant date fair value of the RSAs granted, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Fair values of stock awards were valued at the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date of the awards.
(2) “All Other Compensation” for the named executive officers during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is summarized below.
| Name | Year | Auto Allowance | Company 401(k) Match (i) | Dividends on Unvested RSAs | Cellphone Reimbursement | Other (ii) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry Kim | 2023 | $ | 20,184 | $ | 22,500 | 23,610 | $ | 1,054 | $ | 16,575 | $ | 83,923 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 18,730 | $ | 20,249 | $ | 31,558 | $ | 1,076 | $ | 14,630 | $ | 86,243 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timothy Chang | 2023 | $ | 20,112 | $ | 17,862 | $ | 1,071 | $ | 1,100 | $ | — | $ | 40,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 20,126 | $ | 16,705 | $ | 1,605 | $ | 1,200 | $ | — | $ | 39,636 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David W. Kim | 2023 | $ | 12,000 | $ | 17,543 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 29,543 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 11,539 | $ | 16,153 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 60,000 | $ | 87,692 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(i) Amount reflects the Company matching contribution under the 401(k) Plan.
(ii) Amount for Mr. Henry Kim reflects club dues and amount for Mr. David W. Kim reflects a signing bonus paid to him as a part of his employment terms.
18
Narrative Discussion of Compensation
General
We compensate our named executive officers through a combination of base salary, annual bonuses, equity awards, and other benefits. Our Compensation Committee believes the executive compensation packages that we provide to our executives, including the named executive officers, should include both cash and equity compensation that reward performance as measured against established corporate goals. Each element of compensation is designed to achieve a specific purpose and to contribute to a total package that is competitive with similar packages provided by other institutions that compete for the services of individuals like our named executive officers.
Base Salary
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves base salaries of our named executive officers and sets the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer. Base salary is the fixed portion of cash compensation and is intended to reward the day-to-day aspects of an executive’s roles and responsibilities. Our executives’ annual salaries originally are set at the time they were first hired. The initial salaries were established by taking into account several factors including, but not limited to, the executive’s experience, responsibilities, management abilities and past job performance. The Compensation Committee also retains independent consultants as it deems appropriate to advise on executive and employee compensation matters. Salary levels are typically considered annually as part of our performance review process and upon a promotion or other change in job responsibility. Our President and Chief Executive Officer is the only executive officer who has an employment agreement with the Company. No other executive officers have employment agreements with the Company.
Short Term Cash Incentive
Short term cash incentives in the form of annual cash bonuses are approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board annually. Generally, the Compensation Committee and the Board review performance against pre-established financial and non-financial goals on an annual basis to determine the short-term cash incentive compensation of our executive officers. The annual short-term cash incentive payable to our President and Chief Executive Officer is provided for in his employment agreement and is equal to the lesser of 1.5% of pre-tax profit for that year or his then current base salary, plus discretionary bonuses to be determined by the Board, if any. There are no agreements controlling the participation of our other named executive officers in the annual cash bonus pool and bonuses are subject to the Board’s discretion.
Equity Awards
Equity awards, such as stock options and restricted stock, are the third key component of our executive officers’ total compensation. The Board believes that employee stock ownership is a significant incentive for our executive officers to build shareholders wealth, thereby aligning the interests of employees and shareholders. The Board also believes that equity-based compensation complements the short-term cash incentive compensation by forcing executives to recognize the impact their short-term decisions might have on long-term outcomes. This compensation approach limits an executive’s ability to reap short-term gains at the expense of the Company’s long-term success. This is also an important tool in retaining executive officers.
Benefits
401(k) Plan. The 401(k) Plan is designed to provide retirement benefits to all eligible full-time and part-time employees (including those of our subsidiaries). The 401(k) Plan provides employees with the opportunity to save for retirement on a tax-favored basis. Named executive officers, all of whom were eligible, may elect to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the same basis as all other employees. Employees may defer between 1% and 100% of their compensation to the 401(k) Plan, up to the applicable Internal Revenue Service limit. We currently match, dollar for dollar, 75% of the first 8% of an employee’s contribution to the 401(k) Plan. Our match is contributed in the form of cash and is invested according to the employee’s current investment allocation.
Health and Welfare Benefits. Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our standard health and welfare benefits program, which offers medical, dental, vision, life, accident, and disability coverage to all of our eligible employees. We do not provide the named executive officers with any health and welfare benefits that are not generally available to our other employees.
Perquisites. We pay monthly dues and assessments for country club memberships for the CEO which he uses primarily to entertain current and prospective customers. Our named executive officers also receive an auto allowance. We do not provide any other perquisites to our other named executive officers.
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CEO Employment Agreement
On January 1, 2018, Mr. Kim was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer after serving as the Bank’s Chief Credit Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the prior 14 years. Upon his appointment, the Company and the Bank entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Kim, which was most recently amended on December 28, 2021. The current term of Mr. Kim’s employment agreement extends through December 31, 2026, unless sooner terminated. He receives an annual base salary, which is reviewed at least annually by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee and adjusted based upon job performance and the Bank’s financial condition and performance provided that in no event shall the annual base salary be less than $450,000 and such adjustments, if any, are in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. For 2024, Mr. Kim’s annual base salary is $500,000. Mr. Kim’s employment agreement also provides for an annual incentive bonus equal to the lesser of 1.5% of pre-tax profit for that year or his then current base salary. Pursuant to the December 28, 2022 amendment, the Company granted Mr. Kim 25,000 shares of restricted stock on January 1, 2022, with vesting to occur ratably over five years with the first 20% vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date. In addition, Mr. Kim is eligible for discretionary bonuses to be determined by the Board of Directors, if any. The employment agreement also entitles Mr. Kim to participate in any retirement, profit-sharing, salary deferral and other similar plans at such time as the Bank offers these benefits to its employees. Mr. Kim is also entitled to the use of a company car or an auto allowance.
Mr. Kim’s employment agreement provides that if he is terminated without “cause,” as defined in the employment agreement, the Company shall continue to provide Mr. Kim his base salary then in effect, upon terms and at such times as described in the employment agreement, as follows: (i) if at least six months are remaining in the term of the employment agreement, his salary shall continue for a period not to exceed one year; and (ii) if fewer than six months are remaining in the term of his employment agreement, his salary shall continue for six months. If Mr. Kim’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Kim for “good reason” while a “change of control” (as such terms are defined in the employment agreement) is pending or within 12 months after a change of control is completed, then Mr. Kim will be entitled to receive an amount equal to his base salary as paid through the end of the term of the employment agreement. Mr. Kim’s receipt of a severance payment is conditioned upon his signing a release in favor the Company and the Bank and the amount of the payment is subject reduction to the extent it and other benefits payable to Mr. Kim would exceed the dollar limit provided in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, if applicable (generally, this dollar limit is equal to three times the five-year historical average of Mr. Kim’s annual compensation as reported on Form W-2).
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Equity Compensation Plans
The Company grants equity based incentive awards through the 2023 Equity Based Compensation Plan (the “2023 Equity Plan”), which was approved by shareholders at the 2023 Annual Meeting. The 2023 Equity Plan replaces the replaces the 2013 Equity Based Compensation Plan (the “2013 Equity Plan”). As of the effective date of the 2023 Equity Plan, no further awards will be granted under the 2013 Equity Plan. However, previously outstanding equity awards granted under the 2013 Equity Plan remain subject to the terms of such plan.
The 2023 Equity Plan provides for grants of the stock options and shares of restricted stock to employees and directors. The 2023 Equity Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. Grants of stock options may be either of incentive stock options or non-qualified options. The exercise price of all stock options may not be less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value (determined at the date of grant) of the stock subject to all incentive stock options held by an optionee that vest in any single calendar year cannot exceed $100,000. Except in limited circumstances, neither the Board nor the Compensation Committee may reduce the exercise price of any option granted under the 2023 Equity Plan. The Compensation Committee may grant one or more restricted stock awards to plan participants, and at the time of grant shall determine the consideration to be paid, if any, and the period over which the restrictions shall lapse, however, the restrictions may not lapse with respect to any restricted stock award over a period of less than six months. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, an employee receiving a restricted stock award shall be entitled to cash dividend and voting rights for all restricted shares issued even though still subject to forfeiture, provided that such rights shall terminate immediately as to any shares of restricted stock which cease to be eligible for vesting. Any award may include financial criteria or other performance measures that must be met in order for the award to vest and/or become exercisable. The Compensation Committee may provide for full or partial credit for the satisfaction of criteria before the end of the period of time specified or the attainment of the specified goal, in the event of the employee’s death, retirement or disability or under such circumstances as the Compensation Committee may determine.
The Compensation Committee has the authority to determine the effect of various events on awards granted under the 2023 Equity Plan. The Compensation Committee will determine the effect of the termination of employment on awards, depending on the nature of the termination, including changing the exercise period or the number of shares for which an award is vested or exercisable at the time of termination or thereafter. In the event of an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a stock split or a stock dividend, the Compensation Committee may proportionately adjust the shares subject to the 2023 Equity Plan and outstanding awards as to the number or kind of shares to which they relate, the price payable upon the exercise of awards or the applicable performance standards or criteria. Upon the giving of notice of a change in control event, as defined in the 2023 Equity Plan, in which the Company is not the surviving Company, then all outstanding options become exercisable and all restricted stock award restrictions lapse, unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, in which event the Compensation Committee will make provision for continuation and, if required, assumption of the 2013 Equity Plan and outstanding awards or for the substitution of new awards therefor. The 2023 Equity Plan also provides for the issuance of substitute awards in the event the Company acquires another entity and the terms of the acquisition require issuance of substitute awards for existing equity compensation of the acquired Company.
The 2013 Equity Plan is similar to the 2023 Equity Plan in most respects.
During 2023, the Company granted 3,300 shares of restricted stock under the 2023 Equity Plan with the weighted-average closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date of $15.80, which vest over three years. In addition, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of shares of 208,000 common stock with the weighted-average exercise price of $15.04. The term of each option is 10 years, vests in three equal annual installments on each of the following anniversary dates or 60% to vest on the third anniversary date and 20% to vest on each of the following two anniversary dates.
As of March 28, 2024, there were a total of 611,364 stock options outstanding, and 25,400 shares of unvested restricted stock outstanding under the 2023 Equity Plan and the 2013 Equity Plan, and 489,000 shares remained available for grant under the 2023 Equity Plan.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table provides information for each of our named executive officers regarding outstanding awards held by the officers as of December 31, 2023, as adjusted for stock splits. Market values are presented as of the end of 2023 (based on the assumed per share fair market value of our common stock of $18.43 on December 29, 2023).
| Option Awards | RSAs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (1) | Number of Shares of Unvested RSAs (1) | Market Value of Shares of Unvested RSAs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Grant Date | Expiration Date | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercise Price | Intrinsic Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry Kim | 10/28/2015 | 10/28/2025 | 24,734 | — | $ | 10.33 | $ | 200,345 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/02/2018 | 01/02/2028 | 50,000 | — | $ | 14.75 | $ | 184,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10/25/2023 | 10/25/2033 | — | 21,000 | $ | 15.04 | $ | 71,190 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/01/2019 | 2,000 | $ | 36,860 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/14/2021 | 11,261 | $ | 207,540 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/01/2022 | 20,000 | $ | 368,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timothy Chang | 10/28/2015 | 10/28/2025 | 27,000 | — | $ | 10.33 | $ | 218,700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/01/2019 | 1,000 | $ | 18,430 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David W. Kim | 01/03/2022 | 01/03/2032 | 4,000 | 16,000 | $ | 22.29 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) All unexercised options are subject to vesting; 20% to vest on each anniversary date for options granted on January 3, 2022 and vest in three equal annual installment on each anniversary for options granted on October 25, 2023.
(2) RSAs granted on August 1, 2019 and January 1, 2022 to vest equally over five years and RSAs granted on January 14, 2021 will vest equally over three years.
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Pay Versus Performance Table
The following table provides information about the relationship between compensation actually paid to our Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”), Mr. Henry Kim, and other non-PEO Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) and certain financial performance metrics of the Company using a methodology that has been prescribed by the SEC.
| Fiscal Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return | Net Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | $ | 1,098,156 | $ | 1,170,270 | $ | 424,883 | $ | 427,490 | $ | 108.08 | $ | 30,705,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 1,483,320 | $ | 1,285,784 | $ | 448,573 | $ | 418,966 | $ | 83.29 | $ | 34,987,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | $ | 822,677 | $ | 1,396,921 | $ | 307,671 | $ | 381,577 | $ | 221.56 | $ | 40,103,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The names of non-PEO NEOs included for purposes of calculating the average amounts in each applicable year are as follows: (i) for 2023 and 2022, Timothy Chang and David W. Kim, and (ii) for 2021, Timothy Chang and Andrew Chung.
The following table presents amounts that were deducted from or added to Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”) total compensation to calculate Compensation Actually Paid (“CAP”) to our PEO and average CAP to our non-PEO NEOs. The fair value of stock option awards was determined using methodologies and assumptions developed in a manner substantively consistent with those used to determine the grant date fair value of such awards.
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of PEO SCT Total to CAP | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PEO SCT total | $ | 1,098,156 | $ | 1,483,320 | $ | 822,677 | ||||||||||||||
| Deduct: amounts reported under the “Restricted Stock Awards” column in the SCT | (66,156) | (549,000) | (350,002) | |||||||||||||||||
| Add: year-end fair value of awards granted in the covered fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | 109,578 | 442,250 | 741,897 | |||||||||||||||||
| Add: amount of change in fair value as of the end of the covered fiscal year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | 4,079 | (113,249) | 163,788 | |||||||||||||||||
| Add: amount of change in fair value from the end of the prior fiscal year to the vesting date for awards granted in prior years that vest in the covered fiscal year. | 24,613 | 22,463 | 18,561 | |||||||||||||||||
| PEO CAP | $ | 1,170,270 | $ | 1,285,784 | $ | 1,396,921 | ||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Non-PEO NEO Average SCT Total to Average CAP | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average SCT total | $ | 424,883 | $ | 448,573 | $ | 307,671 | ||||||||||||||
| Deduct: amounts reported under the “Stock Option Awards” column in the SCT | — | (51,081) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Add: year-end fair value of awards granted in the covered fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | — | 27,119 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Add: amount of change in fair value as of the end of the covered fiscal year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | 2,085 | (4,484) | 54,506 | |||||||||||||||||
| Add: amount of change in fair value from the end of the prior fiscal year to the vesting date for awards granted in prior years that vest in the covered fiscal year. | 522 | (1,161) | 19,400 | |||||||||||||||||
| Average Non-PEO NEO CAP | $ | 427,490 | $ | 418,966 | $ | 381,577 | ||||||||||||||
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Narrative Discussion of Pay Versus Performance
PEO and Non-PEO NEO CAP and Total Shareholder’s Return (“TSR”)
The amount of PEO CAP and the average Non-PEO NEO CAP is generally aligned with the Company’s TSR over the periods presented in the table. The alignment of CAP with the Company’s TSR is because a significant portion of the PEO CAP is comprised of equity awards and fair value changes of Non-PEO NEOs’ existing equity awards are closely related to the Company’s TSR. There were no equity awards granted to Non-PEO NEOs in 2023, 2022 or 2021, other than the stock option awards granted for Mr. David W. Kim as a part of his initial employment terms. In addition, Mr. David W. Kim received a signing bonus of $60,000 as a part of his employment terms.
PEO and Non-PEO NEO CAP and Net Income
The amount of PEO CAP and the average Non-PEO NEO CAP is generally aligned with the Company’s net income over the periods presented in the table, as the Company uses net income as a performance measure in the overall executive compensation program among other financial and non-financial measures. The Company’s annual short-term cash incentive payable to our PEO is provided for in his employment agreement and is equal to the lesser of 1.5% of pre-tax profit for that year or his then current base salary, plus discretionary bonuses to be determined by the Board, if any. The short-term cash incentives for Non-PEO NEOs’ are discretionary. In addition, Mr. David W. Kim received a signing bonus of $60,000 and stock option awards as a part of his employment terms.
PEO and Non-PEO NEO CAP and SCT
Compensation amount of equity awards on SCT is based on the grant date value of equity awards granted during the fiscal year whereas CAP is based on the fair value of equity awards granted during the year valued at year end and the change in value of prior year’s awards, including awards granted in prior fiscal years. Thus, CAP reflects all outstanding equity awards while SCT is based on only the equity award issued in the same year.
The Company’s stock price increased in 2023 and decreased in 2022 compared from the prior year-end, resulting in SCT and CAP being very comparable. In 2021, a significant portion of the PEO and Non-PEO NEOs’ CAP increased compared to SCT due to increases in the fair value of the equity awards and the Company’s stock price at year end.
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TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS, AND CERTAIN CONTROL PERSONS
In accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and acting upon all related party transactions required to be disclosed by Item 404 of Regulation S-K for potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, the Company’s Code of Ethical Conduct provides rules that restrict transactions with affiliated persons.
In determining whether to approve a related party transaction, the Audit Committee will consider, among other things, the following:
•Whether the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company;
•Whether the transaction is material to the Company;
•The importance of the related person to the transaction;
•The role the related person has played in arranging the transaction;
•The structure of the transaction; and,
•The interests of all related persons in the transaction.
The Company will only enter into a related party transaction if the Audit Committee determines that any interested director has abstained from voting on the matter and that the transaction is beneficial to the Company, and the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company.
The Company did not have any transactions which exceed the lesser of $120,000, or 1% of the Company’s assets, with its directors or executive officers or any shareholder owning of record or beneficially 5% or more of our common stock, or their affiliates.
The Bank has had and expects in the future to have banking transactions in the ordinary course of its business with many of the Company’s and the Bank’s directors and officers and their associates, including transactions with corporations of which such persons are directors, officers or controlling shareholders, on substantially the same terms (including interest rates and collateral) as those prevailing for comparable transactions with others. Management believes that in 2023 such transactions comprising loans did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. Loans to executive officers of the Bank are subject to limitations as to amount and purposes prescribed in part by the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, the regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the California Financial Code. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $111 thousand of such loans outstanding.
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s directors, certain of its officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10 percent of the Company’s common stock, to report to the SEC their initial ownership of the Company’s equity securities and any subsequent changes in that ownership. Specific due dates for these reports have been established by the SEC and the Company is required to disclose in this report any late filings or known failures to file.
To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on our review of such reports filed with the SEC and written representations that no other reports were required during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to the Company’s officers and directors during 2023 were met, except that director Don Rhee did not file a timely Form 4 with respect to two transactions on November 1, 2023.
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PROPOSAL 2
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), we are asking shareholders to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. This proposal allows our shareholders the opportunity to approve our executive compensation program through the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in its definitive proxy statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, is hereby approved.”
The approval of a majority of the shares represented and voting at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, provided that such majority also represents a majority of the shares needed for quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will therefore have no effect on this vote, unless there are a number of abstentions or broker non-votes such that the votes in favor represent less than a majority of the shares needed for a quorum.
As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding upon the Board or the Company. The Compensation Committee, however, values the opinions expressed by shareholders in their vote on this proposal and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for the named executive officers. The Board believes that the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers is appropriate and should be approved on an advisory basis by the Company’s shareholders.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” approval, on a non-binding advisory basis,
of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
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PROPOSAL 3
FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are asking shareholders to vote, on a non-binding advisory basis, on the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
As described in Proposal 2 above, at the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders have the opportunity to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as detailed in this Proxy Statement. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders can also specify whether they would prefer future non-binding advisory votes on compensation of our named executive officers to be held every one, two or three years, or whether they wish to abstain from voting on the matter.
The Board determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation that occurs every year is appropriate for the Company. The Board concluded that the annual advisory vote allows our shareholders to provide frequent guidance on our executive compensation and is consistent with our annual shareholder outreach efforts regarding executive compensation and other matters. As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on the Company, but the Compensation Committee values the opinions expressed by shareholders and will give consideration to the frequency option that receives the highest number of votes cast. We expect to hold the next shareholder vote on say-on-pay frequency at our 2030 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
In the absence of majority support for any option, a plurality of the votes cast for an option under Proposal 3 will determine the shareholders’ preferred frequency for holding an advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. This means that the option for holding an advisory vote every 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years receiving the greatest number of votes will be considered the preferred frequency of the shareholders.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote of “1 YEAR” on the frequency of future advisory
votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
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PROPOSAL 4
BYLAW AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE RANGE OF AUTHORIZED DIRECTORS
Background and Reasons for the Bylaw Amendment
The Company’s Bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors of the Company shall not be less than five nor more than nine, with the number of directors within such range to be fixed by resolution of the Board or the shareholders.
The Board has unanimously determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to amend the Bylaws to increase the minimum and maximum number of authorized directors by providing for a range of not less than seven nor more than 13 directors. The Board is asking the Company’s shareholders to approve this amendment to the Bylaws at the Meeting.
There are currently eight directors serving on the Board and in recent years, the Board has generally been comprised of nine directors. The Board believes that it would be advantageous to have the flexibility to add additional directors to the Board if circumstances warrant.
The Board has no current plans to increase the number of directors. In the future, however, and as the Company grows and expands its market area, the Board might determine that the Company and its shareholders would benefit from the addition of additional directors with special expertise or business experience, for example. In addition, if we do not fully pay dividends on our Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C for six or more quarters, we would be required allow the holders of such preferred stock to elect two directors to our Board under the terms of such preferred stock. With eight directors already serving, the Board would be unable to add more than one additional director without having an existing director resign or not stand for reelection.
While the Board generally has the authority to amend the Bylaws by vote of the Board alone, the Bylaws and California law require that a Bylaw amendment changing the range of authorized directors be approved by the shareholders.
If the amendment is approved, it will become effective immediately, without further action by the Company or the Board.
The Text of the Proposed Bylaw Amendment
If shareholders approve this proposal, Section 3.2 of the Company’s bylaws will be amended and restated in its entirety as set forth below. To highlight the proposed changes to the current Section 3.2, the text below shows the proposed additions as underlined text and proposed deletions as struck-through text.
3.2 Number of Directors. The authorized number of directors shall not be less than seven (7)five (5) nor more than thirteen (13)nine (9). The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the limits specified in this Section 3.2 by a duly adopted resolution of the board of directors or the shareholders. The initial number of directors within the foregoing limits is hereby fixed at eight (8).
Vote Required
To adopted, the proposed Bylaw amendment must be approved by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding on the Record Date. Therefore, votes withheld and broker nonvotes will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the amendment to the Bylaws
authorizing a range of seven to 13 directors.
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PROPOSAL 5
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We are asking shareholders to ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP (“Crowe”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. Crowe served as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Crowe advised the Company that Crowe has no direct or indirect financial interest in either the Company or the Bank.
It is anticipated that a representative of Crowe will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be available to answer appropriate questions.
Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
The Audit Committee oversees relevant accounting, risk assessment, risk management and regulatory matters. It meets with the Bank’s and the Company’s internal auditors and the independent auditors to review the scope of their work as well as to review quarterly and annual consolidated financial statements and regulatory and public disclosures with the officers in charge of financial reporting, control and disclosure functions. After reviewing the independent auditor’s qualifications, partner rotation and independence, the Audit Committee also makes an annual decision regarding selection of the independent auditors. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews reports of examination conducted by regulatory agencies and follows up with management concerning recommendations and required corrective action.
The Audit Committee reports regularly to the Boards of the Bank and the Company and has the authority to select, retain, terminate and approve the fees and other retention terms of special counsel or other experts or consultants as it deems appropriate and necessary to perform its duties.
In performing its functions, the Audit Committee acts in an oversight capacity and necessarily relies on the work and assurances of management, which has the primary responsibility for consolidated financial statements and reports, and of the independent auditors, who, in their report, express an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles.
In connection with the December 31, 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company, the Audit Committee: (i) reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements with management and the independent auditors; (ii) discussed the matters required to be discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm by applicable Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) rules regarding “Communication with Audit Committees” and the applicable rules of the SEC and (iii) received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Respectfully Submitted,
Hong Kyun “Daniel” Park (Chairperson)
Daniel Cho
Janice Chung
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Independent Auditor Fees
The following table sets forth information regarding the aggregate fees incurred for professional services rendered by Crowe for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
Audit Fees (1) | $ | 559,436 | $ | 481,861 | ||||||||||
Tax Fees (2) | 51,130 | 63,750 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 610,566 | $ | 545,611 | ||||||||||
(1)Includes fees incurred for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
(2)Includes fees incurred for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 for tax compliance, tax advice, and preparation of corporation income tax return.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Board considered and deemed the services provided by Crowe compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence. The Audit Committee approved all services described above in the discussion of fees paid to Crowe.
Preapproval of Services By Independent Auditor
The Audit Committee will consider annually and, if appropriate, approve audit services by its independent auditor. In addition, the Audit Committee will consider and, if appropriate, preapprove certain defined audit and non-audit services. The Audit Committee will also consider on a case-by-case basis and, if appropriate, approve specific engagements. The services rendered by Crowe during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 were audit services and preparation of corporation income tax return. All services performed by Crowe for the 2023 audit engagement were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, in accordance with the Committee’s procedures.
Vote Required
The approval of a majority of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the selection of Crowe, provided that such majority also represents a majority of the shares needed for quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will therefore have no effect on this vote, unless there are a number of abstentions or broker non-votes such that the votes in favor represent less than a majority of the shares needed for a quorum.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Crowe LLP as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
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OTHER MATTERS
If any other matters come before the Annual Meeting, not referred to in the enclosed proxy, including matters incident to the conduct of the meeting, the proxy holders will vote the shares represented by the proxies in accordance with their best judgment. Management is not aware of any other business to come before the Annual Meeting, and as of the date of the preparation of this proxy statement, no shareholder has submitted to management any proposal to be acted upon at the meeting.
Shareholder Nominations and Proposals
Shareholder Nominations
If a shareholder intends to formally nominate someone for election to the Board, they must follow the procedures set forth in Section 2.14 of our bylaws. That section provides that nominations for election to the Board may be made by a shareholder of the Company’s stock entitled to vote for the election of directors. Nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management of the Company, must be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to the president of the Company not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days’ notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nomination shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the Company not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known by the notifying shareholder: (a) the name and address of each proposed nominee; (b) the principal occupation of each proposed nominee; (c) the total number of shares of common stock of the corporation that will be voted for each proposed nominee; (d) the name and residence address of the notifying shareholder; and (e) the number of shares of common stock of the corporation owned by the notifying shareholder. Nominations not made in accordance with Section 2.14 of our bylaws shall, in the chairman’s discretion, be disregarded by the chairman of the meeting, and upon his instructions, the inspectors of election shall disregard all votes cast for each such nominee.
In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under our bylaws, for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to comply with the SEC’s “universal proxy” rules, shareholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees must provide notice to the Company at its corporate office not later than March 24, 2025. Such notice must include the additional information required by SEC Rule 14a-19 and the bylaws.
Shareholder Proposals
If a shareholder intends to present any proposal for consideration at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and wishes for that proposal to be included in the Company’s proxy materials, the proposal must be received by the Company at its corporate office not later than December 12, 2024, if such meeting is within 30 days of May 23, 2025.
Shareholder Communication
Any shareholder may communicate directly to members of the Board, or to any individual member of the Board, by sending correspondence or communication addressed to the particular member or members in care of PCB Bancorp, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
The Company’s Annual Report for 2023 on Form 10-K, which is required to be filed with the SEC, is available to any shareholder without charge. The report may be obtained by written request to Corporate Secretary, PCB Bancorp, 3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010. It is also available on the Company’s website at www.mypcbbank.com, by clicking “About Us,” then “Investor Relations,” then “SEC Filings” and then “Annual Reports.” The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K also serves as the Bank’s annual disclosure statement under part 350 of FDIC rules.
| PCB Bancorp | |||||||||||
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |||||||||||
| Henry Kim President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
| Los Angeles, California | |||||||||||
| April 8, 2024 | |||||||||||
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