EX-99.5 6 tm241232d9_ex99-5.htm EXHIBIT 99.5

Exhibit 99.5

 

The Board of Directors of The Toronto-Dominion Bank

Board Charter

 

In this Charter, "Bank" means The Toronto-Dominion Bank on a consolidated basis.

 

The Board of Directors is responsible for supervising the management of the business and affairs of the Bank.

 

Main Responsibilities:

 

We provide the supervision necessary for:

 

1.Approval of Strategy and Major Policy Decisions of the Bank – we must understand and approve the Bank's strategy and business objectives, be kept current on its progress towards those objectives and be part of and approve any major strategy and policy decisions

 

2.Approval of the Bank's Enterprise Risk Appetite Statement – we must be satisfied that there is a framework in place so that the Bank only takes risks in accordance with its Risk Appetite and Enterprise Risk Framework; and we must approve the Enterprise Risk Appetite Statement and monitor the Bank's risk profile and performance

 

3.Evaluation, Compensation, Talent Development and Succession – we must be satisfied that there are processes in place to identify, attract, evaluate, develop and retain the right people to enable the bank to meet its strategic ambitions and safeguard its unique and inclusive culture; and we must also monitor and evaluate individuals in key management roles, and be satisfied that they are appropriately compensated for contribution to the Bank’s long-term success

 

4.Oversight of the Management of Capital, Liquidity, Risks and Internal Controls – we must be satisfied that policies are in place to enable the Bank to maintain sufficient capital and liquidity and to protect the Bank's assets and reputation; and we must also be satisfied that our risk culture, compensation policies and practices, and control functions enable the Bank to operate within the confines of its Board approved Risk Appetite Statement

 

5.Disclosure of Reliable and Timely Information to Investors – we must be satisfied that the Bank is providing its investors with accurate and balanced information in a timely manner

 

6.Effective Board Governance – we must function effectively as a Board in order to meet our stewardship responsibilities; our Board needs to be comprised of strong members with the appropriate skills and experience, and the right information

 

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Independence is Key:

 

We understand that the Board of Directors must be independent of the management of the Bank. To ensure that this is the case, we have implemented the following practices:

 

·a majority of the members of the Board must be independent and all Committees shall be composed solely of independent directors, pursuant to the Director Independence Policy

·the Board and its Committees may, at their option, meet independently of management at any time

·the Board and its Committees may engage their own independent advisors

·the non-management directors shall annually appoint a strong, independent Board Chair with a clear mandate to provide leadership to the independent directors

·all non-management directors are required to hold Bank shares or equivalents with a value of six times their respective annual cash retainer

·an understanding that management is responsible for ensuring that directors receive the right information to perform their duties on a timely basis

·directors are provided with orientation when newly elected and thereafter with continuing education opportunities and unfettered access to management

 

We know independence requires more than these practices – it requires preparation for meetings, understanding of the issues, strength of character, integrity and an inquiring mind.

 

Our Composition

 

The number of directors will be as provided for in the Bank's by-laws from time to time and will comply with the Board composition provisions as set out in the Bank’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. Each director shall possess the qualities set out in the Position Description for Directors.

 

The Board will create Committees from time to time and delegate certain functions to them as set out in their respective Charters. The Committee Charters will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated and amended as often as needed to respond to the evolving regulatory and market environments in which the Bank and its subsidiaries operate.

 

Independent Functioning of Board and Committees

 

The Board is responsible for establishing the appropriate policies and procedures to enable the Board, its Committees and individual directors to function independently of management. The Board and each Committee may retain and terminate independent professionals, and each has the sole authority to approve fees payable to an independent professional. Any director may retain and terminate an independent professional with the prior approval of the Corporate Governance Committee.

 

Each Committee and the Board may conduct all or part of any meeting in the absence of management and should include such a session on the agenda for each regularly scheduled meeting. Each director may request such a Committee or Board meeting by contacting the applicable chair.

 

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In the event that the Board is constituted with one or more non-management non-independent directors, any independent director may request that the non-management non-independent director(s) be excluded from any such session, and the Board will conduct at least one session a year in the absence of management and the non-management non-independent director(s).

 

Meetings

 

The Board will meet at least four times per year as required by the Bank Act (Canada); meetings will be scheduled by the Board Chair in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer and the Corporate Secretary. For regularly scheduled meetings, an agenda for each Board meeting and other documents for consideration are provided to all directors about one week in advance of each meeting. For special meetings of the Board, best efforts will be made to distribute materials to the directors as far in advance as practicable. Supplemental materials may be provided to directors at, or prior to, the commencement of each meeting.

 

The Board will meet with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (“OSFI”) to review and discuss the results of OSFI’s annual supervisory examination of the Bank (unless OSFI directs otherwise).

 

A Committee may invite to its meetings any director, member of management of the Bank or such other persons it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities. A Committee may also exclude from its meetings any persons it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities.

 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

 

The Board fulfills its role directly and through the Committees to which it delegates certain responsibilities, in whole or in part, with ongoing reporting by the Committees to the Board. In this context, the Board is responsible for the following specific duties:

 

Tone at the Top”

 

The Board relies on and holds Senior Management accountable for implementing and enforcing the Board-approved policies, setting the tone at the top as it relates to integrity and culture, status, incentives, talent, and communicating and reinforcing the compliance culture throughout the Bank. The Board expects the highest level of personal and professional integrity from the Chief Executive Officer, other executive officers and all employees of the Bank. The Board also oversees the establishment of such a culture through appropriate mechanisms, including assessing the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers of the Bank against this expectation, providing oversight of frameworks and policies with respect to ethical personal, business and market conduct (including the Bank’s Code of Conduct and Ethics, Culture Framework, Conduct Risk Management Policy, Financial Consumer Protection Framework Policy, Raising Conduct and Ethics Concerns Policy and Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy) and approving the Bank's Enterprise Risk Appetite Statement and monitoring the Bank's risk profile and performance relative to its Risk Appetite.

 

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Strategic Planning

 

Approving the strategy and business objectives of the Bank and overseeing their execution. This oversight includes reviewing and approving all major strategy and policy recommendations including the Bank's annual strategic plan and annual financial plan which include the capital, liquidity and funding plans, as well as specific requests for major capital expenditures and the monitoring of adequate levels of capital and liquidity. The Board assesses the Bank's major opportunities and the risk impact of such strategic decisions being contemplated, including considering whether they are aligned with the Bank's purpose and within the Board-approved Risk Appetite Statement established for the Bank and its individual business and corporate segments. The Board also oversees the strategic planning process, implementation of strategic plans, and monitoring of performance against such plans.

 

Risk Management

 

Overseeing the Bank's risk culture and approving and overseeing strategies, frameworks and policies designed to protect the assets of the Bank and its continued viability. The Board is also responsible for overseeing the timely identification and monitoring of the top and emerging risks affecting the Bank's businesses, and satisfying itself that appropriate policies, procedures and practices are in place for the effective and independent management of these risks in accordance with the Bank’s Enterprise Risk Framework. This responsibility includes reviewing and approving the Bank’s Enterprise Risk Appetite Statement and reviewing the Bank's risk profile and performance. In addition, the Board oversees the Bank’s crisis management recovery and resolution plans, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

Capital and Liquidity Oversight

 

Overseeing the Bank’s capital adequacy and management by annually reviewing and approving the Capital Adequacy Risk Management Policy and the capital limits therein. As part of this responsibility, the Board is also responsible for declaring dividends and approving the issuance, redemption or repurchase of any capital, if appropriate and permitted by applicable law and regulations. In addition, the Board oversees the implementation of the Bank's liquidity frameworks and policies, and annually reviews the Bank's liquidity and funding plans.

 

Internal Controls and Management Information Systems

 

Overseeing and monitoring the integrity and effectiveness of the Bank's internal controls and management information systems. The Board is also responsible for overseeing adherence to applicable legal, audit, compliance, regulatory, accounting and reporting requirements. Through this process, the Board also must be satisfied that the financial reporting and financial control systems are designed and operating appropriately.

 

Communications Policy

 

Establishing a communications policy for the Bank and overseeing the maintenance of effective shareholder relations through the Bank's communications policy and programs so that accurate, balanced and timely information is disseminated to, and feedback is received from, shareholders.

 

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Shareholders may communicate with the independent directors through the Board Chair. Instructions for how to communicate with the independent directors shall be publicly available through appropriate disclosure mechanisms, such as the Bank’s proxy circular, annual report and/or website.

 

Director Orientation and Assessment

 

Overseeing an appropriate, formal, orientation program for new directors and for annually assessing the contribution and effectiveness of the Board, Committees and all directors.

 

Evaluation, Compensation, Talent Development and Succession

 

Overseeing the Bank's talent management strategy and satisfying itself that there are processes in place to identify, attract, evaluate, develop and retain the right people to meet the strategic ambitions of the Bank and to safeguard its unique and inclusive culture.

 

Overseeing the effective operation of the Bank by appointing, and if necessary, dismissing the senior officers of the Bank, including the Chief Executive Officer, and overseeing their performance assessment, compensation and succession planning. This responsibility includes the Board being satisfied that development planning takes place for senior bank officers. The Board must be satisfied that the senior management team and other responsible persons at the Bank have the appropriate qualities and competencies to meet the expectations set by the Board and regulators. This includes being satisfied as to the integrity of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive Bank officers, and as to their effectiveness in fostering the desired risk, integrity and compliance culture throughout the Bank. The Board is also responsible for overseeing the compensation structure of the senior management team and the compensation policies of the Bank. This includes approving a position description for the Chief Executive Officer and policies which define the limits of management's authority. The Board is responsible for approving the corporate goals and objectives of the Chief Executive Officer, monitoring progress against those goals and objectives, and the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. The Board biennially reviews and approves the adequacy and form of compensation of directors.

 

Oversight of Subsidiaries

 

Overseeing the governance and activities of all subsidiaries enterprise-wide. For certain US subsidiaries this includes overseeing the selection by the Bank’s senior management (acting in the role as shareholder) of the directors of the boards of TD Group US Holdings LLC, its subsidiary TD Bank US Holding Company ("TDBUSH") and TDBUSH's subsidiaries TD Bank, N.A. and TD Bank USA, N.A. (and any successors thereto) (collectively the "TD U.S. Boards"). The Board biennially reviews and approves (subject to ratification by the TD U.S. Boards) the adequacy and form of compensation for the non-management directors of the TD U.S. Boards.

 

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General

 

Monitoring the effectiveness of the Bank's corporate governance practices and approving any necessary changes, as required. The Board is responsible for establishing general Bank policies and performing other tasks required by law and regulations, including ensuring minutes and other records of meetings and activities of the Bank are kept.

 

Posted: February 2024