UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 20, 2005


DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware
 
0-27782
 
11-3297463
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)


209 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (718) 782-6200



None
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On January 20, 2005, the Board of Directors of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") approved adjustments in remuneration paid to outside directors, the freezing of benefits under the Retirement Plan for Board Members of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and the grant of stock options to its nine outside directors, all of which are detailed below. These adjustments were based upon the recommendations of a nationally recognized compensation-consulting firm, which the Company retains. The specific recommendations to the Company were based on a comparative analysis of ten to fifteen comparably sized and similarly located public banks.

On January 20, 2005, the Board of Directors of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") approved the following adjustment in remuneration paid to the nine outside directors of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries:

 
Remuneration Item
 
Previous
Level
 
Adjusted
Level
Annual retainer
 
$24,000
 
$30,000
Annual retainer for the Chairman of the Audit Committee
 
$-  
 
$5,000
Audit Committee meeting attendance fee
 
$600
 
$1,000
Meeting attendance fees - all other committees
 
$600
 
$700

On January 20, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company elected to freeze, effective March 31, 2005, all future benefits payable to its nine outside directors under the Retirement Plan for Board Members of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.



On January 20, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the grant of stock options   under the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan ("2004 Stock Incentive Plan") (filed as Exhibit 10.21 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004) to the outside directors of the Company as set forth below, at an exercise price per share of $16.45 and otherwise subject to the terms of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and the stock option agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference :

 
Name
 
Number of Stock
Options Grant
Anthony Bergamo
 
8,480
George L. Clark, Jr.
 
8,480
Steven D. Cohn
 
8,480
Patrick E. Curtin
 
8,480
Joseph H. Farrell
 
8,480
Fred P. Fehrenbach
 
8,480
John J. Flynn
 
8,480
Stanley Meisels
 
8,480
Louis V. Varone
 
8,480
TOTALS
 
76,320




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.



/s/ KENNETH J. MAHON
By: ___________________________________________
Kenneth J. Mahon
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Dated: March 29, 2005





Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number
 
 
Description
     
10.1
 
Form of stock option award agreement under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan


Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Outside Directors
 

 
     
Name of Optionee
 
 
Social Security Number
 

 
 
Street Address  
 
 
         
City
 
 
State
 
 
ZIP Code
 

 
This Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement is intended to set forth the terms and conditions on which a Non-Qualified Stock Option has been granted under the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Set forth below are the specific terms and conditions applicable to this Non-Qualified Stock Option. Attached as Exhibit A are its general terms and conditions.
 
Option Grant
 
Grant Date:
 
Class of Optioned Shares*
Common
Number of Optioned Shares*
 
Exercise Price per Share*
 
VESTING:
 
Earliest Exercise Date*
 
Option Expiration Date*
 
 
* Subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan and the General Terms and Conditions
 
By signing where indicated below, Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") grants this Non-Qualified Stock Option upon the specified terms and conditions, and the Optionee acknowledges receipt of this Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, including Exhibit A, and agrees to observe and be bound by the terms and conditions set forth herein.
 
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
 
Optionee
By
     
 
Name:   Vincent F. Palagiano
 
Name:
 
Title:   Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
   

Instructions: This page should be completed by or on behalf of the Compensation Committee. Any blank space intentionally left blank should be crossed out. An option grant consists of a number of optioned shares with uniform terms and conditions. Where options are granted on the same date with varying terms and conditions (for example, varying exercise prices or earliest exercise dates), the options should be recorded as a series of grants each with its own uniform terms and conditions.
 

EXHIBIT A
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Outside Directors
General Terms and Conditions
 
Section 1.    Non-Qualified Stock Option . The Company intends the Option evidenced hereby not to be an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
 
Section 2.    Option Period .   (a) Subject to section 5.4(b), the Optionee shall have the right to purchase all or any portion of the optioned Common Stock at any time during the period ("Option Period") commencing on the Earliest Exercise Date and expiring on the earliest of:
 
(i)  
removal for cause in accordance with the Company's bylaws;
 
(ii)  
the first anniversary of termination of service for the Company in all capacities (other than a termination resulting from removal for cause); or
 
(iii)  
the last day of the ten-year period commencing on the date on which the Option was granted.
 
(b)    Upon the termination of the Optionee's service with the Company, any Option granted hereunder whose Earliest Exercise Date has not occurred is deemed forfeited. For purposes of the Plan, an Optionee's service shall be deemed to continue for so long as the Optionee is serving as an officer, employee, outside director, advisory director, emeritus director or consultant to the Company or is subject to and is observing the terms of a written agreement restricting his ability to compete or imposing other restrictive covenants.
 
Section 3.    Exercise Price . During the Option Period, and after the applicable Earliest Exercise Date, the Optionee shall have the right to purchase all or any portion of the Optioned Common Stock at the Exercise Price per Share; provided, however, that the Exercise Price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date on which the Option is granted.
 
Section 4.    Method of Exercise . The Optionee may, at any time during the Option Period provided by section 2, exercise his right to purchase all or any part of the optioned Common Stock then available for purchase; provided , however , that the minimum number of shares of optioned Common Stock which may be purchased shall be one hundred (100) or, if less, the total number of shares of optioned Common Stock then available for purchase. The Optionee shall exercise such right by:
 
(a)    giving written notice to the Committee, in the form attached hereto as Appendix A; and
 
(b)    delivering to the Committee full payment of the Exercise Price for the Optioned Shares to be purchased.
 
The date of exercise shall be the earliest date practicable following the date the requirements of this section 4 have been satisfied, but in no event more than three (3) days after such date. Payment shall be made (i) in United States dollars by certified check, money order or bank draft made payable to the order of Dime Community Banc, Inc., (ii) in Shares duly endorsed for transfer and with all necessary stock transfer tax stamps attached, already owned by the Optionee for a period of more than six months and having a fair market value equal to the Exercise Price, such fair market value to be determined in such manner as may be provided by the Committee or as may be required in order to comply with or conform to the requirements of any applicable laws or regulations, or (iii) in a combination of (i) and (ii).
 
Section 5.    Delivery and Registration of Optioned Shares . As soon as is practicable following the date on which the Optionee has satisfied the requirements of section 4, the Committee shall take such action as is necessary to cause the Company to issue a stock certificate evidencing the Optionee's ownership of the optioned Common Stock that has been purchased. The Optionee shall have no right to vote or to receive dividends, nor have any other rights with respect to optioned Common Stock, prior to the date as of which such optioned Common Stock is transferred to the Optionee on the stock transfer records of the Company, and no adjustments shall be made for any dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date as of which such transfer is effected. The obligation of the Company to deliver Common Stock under this Agreement shall, if the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment intention of the person to whom such Common Stock is to be delivered, in such form as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the provisions of applicable federal, state or local law. It may be provided that any such representation shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Common Stock or upon the occurrence of any other event eliminating the necessity of such representation. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Common Stock under this Agreement prior to (a) the admission of such Common Stock to listing on any stock exchange on which Common Stock may then be listed, or (b) the completion of such registration or other qualification under any state or federal law, rule or regulations as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
 
Section 6.    Adjustments in the Event of Reorganization . In the event of any merger, consolidation, or other business reorganization in which the Company is the surviving entity, and in the event of any stock split, stock dividend or other event generally affecting the number of shares of Common Stock held by each person who is then a shareholder of record, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option granted hereunder and the Exercise Price per share of such option shall be adjusted in accordance with section 9.3 of the Plan to account for such event. In the event of any merger, consolidation, or other business reorganization in which the Company is not the surviving entity, the option granted hereunder shall be canceled or adjusted in accordance with the Plan.
 
Section 7.    No Right to Continued Service . Nothing in this Agreement nor any action of the Board or Committee with respect to this Agreement shall be held or construed to confer upon the Optionee any right to a continuation of service by the Company. The Optionee may be dismissed or otherwise dealt with as though this Agreement had not been entered into.
 
Section 8.    Taxes . The Company shall have the right to deduct from all amounts paid by the Company in cash with respect to an Option under the Plan any taxes required by law to be withheld. Where any person is entitled to receive shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option granted hereunder, the Company shall have the right to require such person to pay to the Company the amount of any tax which the Company is required to withhold with respect to such shares, or, in lieu thereof, to retain, or to sell without notice, a sufficient number of shares to cover the amount required to be withheld.
 
Section 9.    Notices . Any communication required or permitted to be given under the Plan, including any notice, direction, designation, comment, instruction, objection or waiver, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given at such time as it is delivered personally or five (5) days after mailing if mailed, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to such party at the address listed below, or at such other address as one such party may by written notice specify to the other party:
 
(a)    If to the Committee:
 
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
                       c/o The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh
                       209 Havemeyer Street
                       Brooklyn, New York 11211
                          Attention: Corporate Secretary
 
(b)    If to the Optionee, to the Optionee's address as shown in the Company's personnel records.
 
Section 10.    Restrictions on Transfer . The option granted hereunder shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation or assignment, nor shall such option be liable for or subject to debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts, nor shall it be transferable by the Optionee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise permitted by the Plan.
 
Section 11.    Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company and the Optionee and their respective heirs, successors and assigns.
 
Section 12.    Construction of Language . Whenever appropriate in the Agreement, words used in the singular may be read in the plural, words used in the plural may be read in the singular, and words importing the masculine gender may be read as referring equally to the feminine or the neuter. Any reference to a section shall be a reference to a section of this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them under the Plan.
 
Section 13.    Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed, administered and enforced according to the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof, except to the extent that such laws are preempted by the federal law.
 
Section 14.    Amendment . This Agreement may be amended, in whole or in part and in any manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, at any time and from time to time, by written agreement between the Company and the Optionee.
 
Section 15.    Plan Provisions Control . This Agreement and the rights and obligations created hereunder shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Agreement, the terms of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference, shall control. By signing this Agreement, the Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.
 
Appendix A to   Stock Option Agreement
  Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
 
Notice of Exercise of Stock Option
 
Use this Notice to inform Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. that you are exercising your right to purchase shares of common stock ("Shares") of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. pursuant to an option ("Option") granted under the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). If you are not the person to whom the Option was granted (“Option Recipient"), you must attach to this Notice proof of your right to exercise the Option granted under the Stock Option Agreement entered into between the Company and the Option Recipient (“Agreement”) . This Notice should be personally delivered or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested to: Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., c/o The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, 209 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The effective date of the exercise of the Option shall be the earliest date practicable following the date this Notice is received by Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. but in no event more than three days after such date ("Effective Date"). Except as specifically provided to the contrary herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to them under the Plan . This Notice is subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Agreement.
 
OPTION INFORMATION     Identify below the Option that you are exercising by providing the following information from the Stock Option Agreement.
 
Name of Option Recipient:    
 
Option Grant Date:   ________________, __________   Exercise Price per share:     $________________.____
(Month and Day)   (Year)
 
EXERCISE PRICE Compute the Exercise Price below and select a method of payment .
 
Total Exercise Price   ________________ x $__________.______ =       $_______________
(No. of Shares)   (Exercise Price)   Total Exercise Price
Method of Payment
   
¨
I enclose a certified check, money order, or bank draft payable to the order of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. in the amount of
$  
   
¨
I enclose Shares duly endorsed for transfer to Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. with all stamps attached and having a fair market value of
$  
     
Total Exercise Price
 
$  
ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES
 
I hereby direct that the stock certificates representing the Shares purchased pursuant to section 2 above be issued to the following person(s) in the amount specified below:
 
Name and Address
Social Security No.
  No. of Shares
 
 
-   -  
 
 
 
-   -  
 
 
WITHHOLDING ELECTIONS   For Employee Option Recipients with Non-Qualified Stock Options only. Outside Directors and Beneficiaries should not complete.
I understand that I am responsible for the amount of federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld with respect to the Shares to be issued to me pursuant to this Notice, but that I may request Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., to retain or sell a sufficient number of such Shares to cover the amount to be withheld. I hereby request that any taxes required to be withheld be paid in the following manner [check one]:
 
   
¨
With a certified or bank check that I will deliver to the Administrator on the day after the Effective Date of my Option exercise.
   
¨
With the proceeds from a sale of Shares that would otherwise be distributed to me.
   
¨
Retain shares that would otherwise be distributed to me.
I understand that the withholding elections I have made on this form are not binding on the Committee, and that the Committee will decide the amount to be withheld and the method of withholding and advise me of its decision prior to the Effective Date. I further understand that the Committee may request additional information or assurances regarding the manner and time at which I will report the income attributable to the distribution to be made to me. I further understand that if I have elected to have Shares sold to satisfy tax withholding, I may be asked to pay a minimal amount of such taxes in cash in order to avoid the sale of more Shares than are necessary.
 
COMPLIANCE WITH TAX AND SECURITIES LAWS
S
I
G
N
H
E
R
E
I understand that I must rely on, and consult with, my own tax and legal counsel (and not Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.) regarding the application of all laws -- particularly tax and securities laws -- to the transactions to be effected pursuant to my Option and this Notice. I understand that I will be responsible for paying any federal, state and local taxes that may become due upon the sale (including a sale pursuant to a "cashless exercise") or other disposition of Shares issued pursuant to this Notice and that I must consult with my own tax advisor regarding how and when such income will be reportable.
 
Signature   Date
Address
  Internal Use Only    
 
Received [ check one ]:   ¨ By Hand   ¨ By Mail Post Marked    
Date of Post Mark
By      
Authorized Signature   Date of Receipt

 


Appendix B to Stock Option Agreement
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
 
Beneficiary Designation Form
 
GENERAL
 
INFORMATION
 
Use this form to designate the Beneficiary(ies) who will receive vested stock options outstanding to you at the time of your death.
 
Name of Person
Making Designation______________________________________________________________
 
 
 
Social Security Number ______—_____—______
 
BENEFICIARY
 
DESIGNATION
 
Complete sections A and B. If no percentage shares are specified, each Beneficiary in the same class (primary or contingent) shall have an equal share. If any designated Beneficiary predeceases you, the shares of each remaining Beneficiary in the same class (primary or contingent) shall be increased proportionately.
 
A. PRIMARY BENEFICIARY(IES). I hereby designate the following person as my primary Beneficiary, reserving the right to change or revoke this designation at any time prior to my death:
 
Name
 
Address
 
Relationship
 
Birth Date
 
Share
 
       
 
%
       
 
%
       
 
%
Total = 100%
 
B. CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY(IES). I hereby designate the following person(s) as my contingent Beneficiary(ies) to receive benefits only if all of my primary Beneficiaries should predecease me, reserving the right to change or revoke this designation at any time prior to my death with respect to all outstanding Stock Option:
 
Name
 
Address
 
Relationship
 
Birth Date
 
Share
 
       
 
%
       
 
%
       
 
%
Total = 100%
 
S
 
I
 
G
 
N
 
H
 
E
 
R
 
E
 
I understand that this Beneficiary Designation shall be effective only if properly completed and received by the Corporate Secretary of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. prior to my death. I also understand that an effective Beneficiary designation revokes my prior designation(s) with respect to all outstanding Stock Options.
 
______________________________________                            ____________________
Your Signature                                                              Date
 
  Internal Use Only  
This Beneficiary Designation was received by the Corporate Secretary of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. on the date indicated.
 
By          
          __________________________                  _________
          Authorized Signature                                Date
          
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