1
Exhibit 10.3
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated this ____ day of _____ 1997, between Staten Island
Savings Bank (the "Bank"), a federally chartered savings bank, and
________________ (the "Executive").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Executive is presently an officer of Staten Island
Bancorp, Inc. (the "Corporation") and the Bank (together, the "Employers");
WHEREAS, the Employers desire to be ensured of the Executive's
continued active participation in the business of the Employers;
WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Bank desire to enter into separate
agreements with the Executive with respect to his employment by each of the
Employers; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of
the Employers and in consideration of the Executive's agreeing to remain in the
employ of the Employers, the parties desire to specify the severance benefits
which shall be due the Executive by the Bank in the event that his employment
with the Bank is terminated under specified circumstances;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein
contained, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the
parties hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. The following words and terms shall have the
meanings set forth below for the purposes of this Agreement:
(a) AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPENSATION. The Executive's "Average Annual
Compensation" for purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to mean the
average level of compensation paid to the Executive by the Employers or any
subsidiary thereof during the most recent five taxable years preceding the Date
of Termination and which was either (i) included in the Executive's gross
income for tax purposes, including but not limited to Base Salary, bonuses and
amounts taxable to the Executive under any qualified or non-qualified employee
benefit plans of the Employers, or (ii) deferred at the election of the
Executive.
(b) BASE SALARY. "Base Salary" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a) hereof.
(c) CAUSE. Termination of the Executive's employment for "Cause"
shall mean termination because of personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful
misconduct, breach of
2
2
fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated
duties, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic
violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order or material
breach of any provision of this Agreement.
(d) CHANGE IN CONTROL OF THE CORPORATION. "Change in Control of
the Corporation" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the
acquisition of control of the Corporation as defined in 12 C.F.R. Section
574.4, unless a presumption of control is successfully rebutted or unless the
transaction is exempted by 12 C.F.R. Section 574.3(c)(vii), or any successor to
such sections; (ii) an event that would be required to be reported in response
to Item 1(a) of Form 8-K or Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"),
or any successor thereto, whether or not any class of securities of the
Corporation is registered under the Exchange Act; (iii) any "person" (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 20% or more of the
combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding securities; or (iv)
during any period of three consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning
of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Corporation cease for
any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof unless the election, or
the nomination for election by stockholders, of each new director was approved
by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of the period.
(e) CODE. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.
(f) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if
the Executive's employment is terminated for Cause or for Disability, the date
specified in the Notice of Termination, and (ii) if the Executive's employment
is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination
is given or as specified in such Notice.
(g) DISABILITY. Termination by the Bank of the Executive's
employment based on "Disability" shall mean termination because of any physical
or mental impairment which qualifies the Executive for disability benefits
under the applicable long-term disability plan maintained by the Employers or
any subsidiary or, if no such plan applies, which would qualify the Executive
for disability benefits under the Federal Social Security System.
(h) GOOD REASON. Termination by the Executive of the Executive's
employment for "Good Reason" shall mean termination by the Executive following
a Change in Control of the Corporation based on:
(i) Without the Executive's express written consent, the
failure to elect or to re-elect or to appoint or to
re-appoint the Executive to the office of
_______________________ of the Employers or a
material adverse change made by the Employers in the
Executive's functions, duties or responsibilities as
_______________________ of the Employers;
3
3
(ii) Without the Executive's express written consent, a
reduction by either of the Employers in the
Executive's Base Salary as the same may be increased
from time to time or, except to the extent permitted
by Section 3(b) hereof, a reduction in the package
of fringe benefits provided to the Executive, taken
as a whole;
(iii) The principal executive office of either of the
Employers is relocated outside of the Stapleton, New
York area or, without the Executive's express
written consent, either of the Employers require the
Executive to be based anywhere other than an area in
which the Employers' principal executive office is
located, except for required travel on business of
the Employers to an extent substantially consistent
with the Executive's present business travel
obligations;
(iv) Any purported termination of the Executive's
employment for Cause, Disability or Retirement which
is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination
satisfying the requirements of paragraph (j) below;
or
(v) The failure by the Bank to obtain the assumption of
and agreement to perform this Agreement by any
successor as contemplated in Section 9 hereof.
(i) IRS. IRS shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
(j) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any purported termination of the
Executive's employment by the Bank for any reason, including without limitation
for Cause, Disability or Retirement, or by the Executive for any reason,
including without limitation for Good Reason, shall be communicated by written
"Notice of Termination" to the other party hereto. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a dated notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon,
(ii) sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision
so indicated, (iii) specifies a Date of Termination, which shall be not less
than thirty (30) nor more than ninety (90) days after such Notice of
Termination is given, except in the case of the Bank's termination of
Executive's employment for Cause, which shall be effective immediately; and
(iv) is given in the manner specified in Section 10 hereof.
(k) RETIREMENT. "Retirement" shall mean voluntary termination by
the Executive in accordance with the Employers' retirement policies, including
early retirement, generally applicable to their salaried employees.
4
4
2. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) The Bank hereby employs the Executive as
____________________________ and the Executive hereby accepts said employment
and agrees to render such services to the Bank on the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement. The term of employment under this Agreement shall be
for three years, commencing on the date of this Agreement and, upon approval of
the Board of Directors of the Bank, shall extend for an additional year on each
annual anniversary of the date of this Agreement such that at any time the
remaining term of this Agreement shall be from two to three years. Prior to the
first annual anniversary of the date of this Agreement and each annual
anniversary thereafter, the Board of Directors of the Bank shall consider and
review (after taking into account all relevant factors, including the
Executive's performance hereunder) an extension of the term of this Agreement,
and the term shall continue to extend each year if the Board of Directors
approves such extension unless the Executive gives written notice to the
Employers of the Executive's election not to extend the term, with such written
notice to be given not less than thirty (30) days prior to any such anniversary
date. If the Board of Directors elects not to extend the term, it shall give
written notice of such decision to the Executive not less than thirty (30) days
prior to any such anniversary date. If any party gives timely notice that the
term will not be extended as of any annual anniversary date, then this
Agreement shall terminate at the conclusion of its remaining term. References
herein to the term of this Agreement shall refer both to the initial term and
successive terms.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall
perform such executive services for the Bank as may be consistent with his
titles and from time to time assigned to him by the Bank's Board of Directors.
3. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.
(a) The Employers shall compensate and pay the Executive for his
services during the term of this Agreement at a minimum base salary of $_______
per year ("Base Salary"), which may be increased from time to time in such
amounts as may be determined by the Boards of Directors of the Employers and
may not be decreased without the Executive's express written consent. In
addition to his Base Salary, the Executive shall be entitled to receive during
the term of this Agreement such bonus payments as may be determined by the
Boards of Directors of the Employers.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be
entitled to participate in and receive the benefits of any pension or other
retirement benefit plan, profit sharing, stock option, employee stock
ownership, or other plans, benefits and privileges given to employees and
executives of the Employers, to the extent commensurate with his then duties
and responsibilities, as fixed by the Boards of Directors of the Employers.
The Bank shall not make any changes in such plans, benefits or privileges which
would adversely affect the Executive's rights or benefits thereunder, unless
such change occurs pursuant to a program applicable to all executive officers
of the Bank and does not result in a
5
5
proportionately greater adverse change in the rights of or benefits to the
Executive as compared with any other executive officer of the Bank. Nothing
paid to the Executive under any plan or arrangement presently in effect or made
available in the future shall be deemed to be in lieu of the salary payable to
the Executive pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof.
(c) During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be
entitled to paid annual vacation in accordance with the policies as established
from time to time by the Boards of Directors of the Employers. The Executive
shall not be entitled to receive any additional compensation from the Employers
for failure to take a vacation, nor shall the Executive be able to accumulate
unused vacation time from one year to the next, except to the extent authorized
by the Boards of Directors of the Employers.
(d) In the event the Executive's employment is terminated due to
Disability or Retirement, the Employers shall provide continued life, medical,
dental and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage
maintained by the Employers for the Executive immediately prior to his
termination. Such coverage shall cease upon the expiration of the remaining
term of this Agreement.
(e) In the event of the Executive's death during the term of this
Agreement, the Employers shall provide to the Executive's spouse for the life
of such spouse continued medical and dental coverage substantially identical to
the coverage maintained by the Employers for the Executive immediately prior to
his death.
(f) The Executive's compensation, benefits and expenses shall be
paid by the Corporation and the Bank in the same proportion as the time and
services actually expended by the Executive on behalf of each respective
Employer.
4. EXPENSES. The Employers shall reimburse the Executive or
otherwise provide for or pay for all reasonable expenses incurred by the
Executive in furtherance of or in connection with the business of the
Employers, including, but not by way of limitation, automobile expenses and
other traveling expenses, and all reasonable entertainment expenses (whether
incurred at the Executive's residence, while traveling or otherwise), subject
to such reasonable documentation and other limitations as may be established by
the Boards of Directors of the Employers. If such expenses are paid in the
first instance by the Executive, the Employers shall reimburse the Executive
therefor.
5. TERMINATION.
(a) The Bank shall have the right, at any time upon prior Notice
of Termination, to terminate the Executive's employment hereunder for any
reason, including without limitation termination for Cause, Disability or
Retirement, and the Executive shall have the right, upon prior Notice of
Termination, to terminate his employment hereunder for any reason.
6
6
(b) In the event that (i) the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Bank for Cause or (ii) the Executive terminates his
employment hereunder other than for Disability, Retirement, death or Good
Reason, the Executive shall have no right pursuant to this Agreement to
compensation or other benefits for any period after the applicable Date of
Termination.
(c) In the event that the Executive's employment is terminated as
a result of Disability, Retirement or the Executive's death during the term of
this Agreement, the Executive shall have no right pursuant to this Agreement to
compensation or other benefits for any period after the applicable Date of
Termination, except as provided for in Sections 3(d) and 3(e) hereof.
(d) In the event that (i) the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Bank for other than Cause, Disability, Retirement or the
Executive's death or (ii) such employment is terminated by the Executive (a)
due to a material breach of this Agreement by the Bank, which breach has not
been cured within fifteen (15) days after a written notice of non-compliance
has been given by the Executive to the Employers, or (b) for Good Reason, then
the Bank shall, subject to the provisions of Section 6 hereof, if applicable
(A) pay to the Executive, in either thirty-six (36)
equal monthly installments beginning with the first business day of
the month following the Date of Termination or in a lump sum within
five business days of the Date of Termination (at the Executive's
election), a cash severance amount equal to three (3) times that
portion of the Executive's Average Annual Compensation paid by the
Bank, and
(B) maintain and provide for a period ending at the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the remaining term of employment
pursuant hereto prior to the Notice of Termination or (ii) the date of
the Executive's full-time employment by another employer (provided
that the Executive is entitled under the terms of such employment to
benefits substantially similar to those described in this subparagraph
(B)), at no cost to the Executive, the Executive's continued
participation in all group insurance, life insurance, health and
accident insurance, disability insurance and other employee benefit
plans, programs and arrangements offered by the Bank in which the
Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of
Termination (excluding (x) stock option and restricted stock plans of
the Employers, (y) bonuses and other items of cash compensation
included in Average Annual Compensation and (z) other benefits, or
portions thereof, included in Average Annual Compensation), provided
that in the event that the Executive's participation in any plan,
program or arrangement as provided in this subparagraph (B) is barred,
or during such period any such plan, program or arrangement is
discontinued or the benefits thereunder are materially reduced, the
Bank shall arrange to provide the Executive with benefits
substantially similar to those which the Executive was entitled to
receive under such plans, programs and arrangements immediately prior
to the Date of Termination.
7
7
6. LIMITATION OF BENEFITS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. If the
payments and benefits pursuant to Section 5 hereof, either alone or together
with other payments and benefits which the Executive has the right to receive
from the Bank, would constitute a "parachute payment" under Section 280G of the
Code, the payments and benefits payable by the Bank pursuant to Section 5
hereof shall be reduced, in the manner determined by the Executive, by the
amount, if any, which is the minimum necessary to result in no portion of the
payments and benefits payable by the Bank under Section 5 being non-deductible
to the Bank pursuant to Section 280G of the Code and subject to the excise tax
imposed under Section 4999 of the Code. The parties hereto agree that the
present value of the payments and benefits payable pursuant to this Agreement
to the Executive upon termination shall be limited to three times the
Executive's Average Annual Compensation. The determination of any reduction in
the payments and benefits to be made pursuant to Section 5 shall be based upon
the opinion of independent counsel selected by the Bank's independent public
accountants and paid by the Bank. Such counsel shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Bank and the Executive; shall promptly prepare the foregoing opinion,
but in no event later than thirty (30) days from the Date of Termination; and
may use such actuaries as such counsel deems necessary or advisable for the
purpose. Nothing contained herein shall result in a reduction of any payments
or benefits to which the Executive may be entitled upon termination of
employment under any circumstances other than as specified in this Section 6,
or a reduction in the payments and benefits specified in Section 5 below zero.
7. MITIGATION; EXCLUSIVITY OF BENEFITS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any benefits hereunder by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the
amount of any such benefits be reduced by any compensation earned by the
Executive as a result of employment by another employer after the Date of
Termination or otherwise.
(b) The specific arrangements referred to herein are not intended
to exclude any other benefits which may be available to the Executive upon a
termination of employment with the Employers pursuant to employee benefit plans
of the Employers or otherwise.
8. WITHHOLDING. All payments required to be made by the Bank
hereunder to the Executive shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts,
if any, relating to tax and other payroll deductions as the Bank may reasonably
determine should be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
9. ASSIGNABILITY. The Bank may assign this Agreement and its
rights and obligations hereunder in whole, but not in part, to any corporation,
bank or other entity with or into which the Bank may hereafter merge or
consolidate or to which the Bank may transfer all or substantially all of its
assets, if in any such case said corporation, bank or other entity shall by
operation of law or expressly in writing assume all obligations of the Bank
hereunder as fully as if it had been originally made a party hereto, but may
not
8
8
otherwise assign this Agreement or its rights and obligations hereunder. The
Executive may not assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder.
10. NOTICE. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by certified
or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
respective addresses set forth below:
To the Bank: Secretary
Staten Island Savings Bank
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
To the Corporation: Secretary
Staten Island Bancorp, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
To the Executive: [EXECUTIVE'S NAME AND ADDRESS]
11. AMENDMENT; WAIVER. No provisions of this Agreement may be
modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer or officers
as may be specifically designated by the Board of Directors of the Bank to sign
on its behalf. No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach by any
other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or
subsequent time.
12. GOVERNING LAW. The validity, interpretation, construction
and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the United
States where applicable and otherwise by the substantive laws of the State of
New York.
13. NATURE OF OBLIGATIONS. Nothing contained herein shall create
or require the Bank to create a trust of any kind to fund any benefits which
may be payable hereunder, and to the extent that the Executive acquires a right
to receive benefits from the Bank hereunder, such right shall be no greater
than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Bank.
14. HEADINGS. The section headings contained in this Agreement
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
9
9
15. VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
17. REGULATORY ACTIONS. The following provisions shall be
applicable to the parties to the extent that they are required to be included
in employment agreements between a savings association and its employees
pursuant to Section 563.39(b) of the Regulations Applicable to All Savings
Associations, 12 C.F.R. Section 563.39(b), or any successor thereto, and shall
be controlling in the event of a conflict with any other provision of this
Agreement, including without limitation Section 5 hereof.
(a) If the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily
prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Employers' affairs pursuant
to notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or Section 8(g)(1) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA") (12 U.S.C. Sections 1818(e)(3) and 1818(g)(1)),
the Employers' obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the
date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in
the notice are dismissed, the Employers may, in their discretion: (i) pay the
Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while its obligations under
this Agreement were suspended, and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of
its obligations which were suspended.
(b) If the Executive is removed from office and/or permanently
prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Employers' affairs by an
order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or Section 8(g)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C.
Sections 1818(e)(4) and (g)(1)), all obligations of the Employers under this
Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested
rights of the Executive and the Employers as of the date of termination shall
not be affected.
(c) If the Bank is in default, as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of
the FDIA (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(x)(1)), all obligations under this Agreement
shall terminate as of the date of default, but vested rights of the Executive
and the Employers as of the date of termination shall not be affected.
(d) All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated
pursuant to 12 C.F.R. Section 563.39(b)(5) (except to the extent that it is
determined that continuation of the Agreement for the continued operation of
the Employers is necessary): (i) by the Director of the Office of Thrift
Supervision ("OTS"), or his/her designee, at the time the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") enters into an agreement to provide assistance
to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of
the FDIA (12 U.S.C. Section 1823(c)); or (ii) by the Director of the OTS, or
his/her designee, at the time the
10
10
Director or his/her designee approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems
related to operation of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the Director
of the OTS to be in an unsafe or unsound condition, but vested rights of the
Executive and the Employers as of the date of termination shall not be
affected.
18. REGULATORY PROHIBITION. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, any payments made to the Executive pursuant
to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their
compliance with Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.
Section 1828(k)) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, including 12
C.F.R. Part 359.
19. PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES AND REINSTATEMENT OF
BENEFITS. In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with the Executive's termination is resolved in favor of the
Executive, whether by judgment, arbitration or settlement, the Executive shall
be entitled to the payment of (a) all legal fees incurred by the Executive in
resolving such dispute or controversy, and (2) any back-pay, including Base
Salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation, fringe benefits and any
compensation and benefits due to the Executive under this Agreement.
20. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement between the Bank and the Executive with respect to the matters agreed
to herein. All prior agreements between the Bank and the Executive with
respect to the matters agreed to herein are hereby superseded and shall have no
force or effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this
Agreement shall affect the agreement of even date being entered into between
the Corporation and the Executive.
11
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date
first above written.
Attest: STATEN ISLAND SAVINGS BANK
By:
------------------------- --------------------------------
---------------------, Director
EXECUTIVE
By:
-------------------------------
--------------------