Exhibit 10
GREAT AMERICAN FEDERAL
TWO YEAR CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT is made effective as of June 25, 2001 and among Great
American Federal(the "Institution"), a federally chartered savings institution,
with its principal administrative office at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx ("Executive"), and GA Financial, Inc. (the
"Holding Company"), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware which is the holding company of the Institution.
WHEREAS, the Institution anticipates the substantial contribution
Executive will make to the Institution and wishes to protect Executive's
position therewith for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive has agreed to serve in the employ of the
Institution.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the contribution and
responsibilities of Executive, and upon the other terms and conditions
hereinafter provided, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
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The term of the Great American Federal Two Year Change in Control
Agreement (the "Agreement") shall be deemed to have commenced as of the date
first above written and shall continue for a period of twenty-four (24) full
calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the first anniversary date of this
Agreement and continuing at each anniversary date thereafter, the Board of
Directors of the Institution ("Board") may extend the Agreement for an
additional year. The Board will review the Agreement and Executive's performance
annually for purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement, and the
results thereof shall be included in the minutes of the Board's meeting.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
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(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Institution or
the Holding Company (as herein defined) followed at any time during the term of
this Agreement by the termination of Executive's employment, other than for
Cause, as defined in Section 2(c) hereof, the provisions of Section 3 shall
apply. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive shall have the
right to elect to voluntarily terminate his employment at any time during the
term of this Agreement following any demotion, loss of title, office or
significant authority, reduction in his
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annual compensation or benefits, or relocation of his principal place of
employment by more than 25 miles from its location immediately prior to the
Change in Control; provided, however, the Executive may consent in writing to
any such demotion, loss, reduction or relocation. The effect of any written
consent of the Executive under this Section 2(a) shall be strictly limited to
the terms specified in such written consent.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the
Institution or Holding Company shall mean an event of a nature that: (i) would
be required to be reported in response to Item 1 of the current report on Form
8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); or (ii)
results in a Change in Control of the Institution or the Holding Company within
the meaning of the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Office of
Thrift Supervision ("OTS")(or its predecessor agency), as in effect on the date
hereof (provided, that in applying the definition of change in control as set
forth under the rules and regulations of the OTS, the Board shall substitute its
judgment for that of the OTS); or (iii) without limitation such a Change in
Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (A) any "person" (as
the 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 voting securities of the Institution or the Holding
Company representing 25% or more of the Institution's or the Holding Company's
outstanding voting securities or right to acquire such securities except for any
voting securities of the Institution purchased by the Holding Company and any
voting securities purchased by any employee benefit plan of the Institution or
the Holding Company, or (B) individuals who constitute the Board on the date
hereof(the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the
date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of
the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election
by the Holding Company's stockholders was approved by the same Nominating
Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this
clause (B), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board, or (C)
a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all the assets of the Institution or the Holding Company or similar transaction
occurs in which the Institution or Holding Company is not the resulting entity;
provided, however, that such an event listed above will be deemed to have
occurred or to have been effectuated upon the receipt of all required regulatory
approvals not including the lapse of any statutory waiting periods.
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(c) Executive shall not have the right to receive termination benefits
pursuant to Section 3 hereof upon Termination for Cause. The term "Termination
for Cause" shall mean termination because of Executive's personal dishonesty,
incompetence, willful misconduct, any breach of 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to
have been Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered
to him a Notice of Termination which shall include a copy of a resolution duly
adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the members of
the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after
reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for him, together with
counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion
of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying Termination for Cause
and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Executive shall not have the
right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after Termination
for Cause. During the period beginning on the date of the Notice of Termination
for Cause pursuant to Section 4 hereof through the Date of Termination, stock
options and related limited rights granted to Executive under any stock option
plan shall not be exercisable nor shall any unvested awards granted to Executive
under any stock benefit plan of the Institution, the Holding Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof vest. At the Date of Termination, such stock
options and related limited rights and such unvested awards shall become null
and void and shall not be exercisable by or delivered to Executive at any time
subsequent to such Date of Termination for Cause.
3. TERMINATION BENEFITS.
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(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, followed at any time
during the term of this Agreement by termination of the Executive's employment
due to: (1) Executive's dismissal or (2) Executive's voluntary termination
pursuant to Section 2(a), unless such termination is due to Termination for
Cause, the Institution and the Holding Company shall pay Executive, or in the
event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate,
as the case may be, a sum equal to two (2) times Executive's average annual
compensation for the five most recent taxable years that Executive has been
employed by the Institution or such lesser number of years in the event that
Executive shall have been employed by the Institution for less than five years,
such average annual compensation shall include any bonuses, and any other
compensation paid or to be paid to Executive in any such
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year, the amount of benefits paid or accrued to Executive pursuant to any
employee benefit plan maintained by the Institution of Holding Company in any
such year and the amount of any contributions made or to be made on behalf of
Executive pursuant to any employee benefit plan maintained by the Institution or
the Holding Company in any such year. At the election of Executive, which
election is to be made prior to a Change in Control, such payment shall be made
in a lump sum. In the event that no election is made, payment to Executive will
be made on a monthly basis in approximately equal installments during the
remaining term of this Agreement.
(b) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Institution or
the Holding Company followed at any time during the term of this Agreement by
Executive's voluntary or involuntary termination of employment, other than for
Termination for Cause, the Institution shall cause to be continued life, medical
and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by
the Institution or Holding Company for Executive prior to his severance, except
to the extent such coverage may be changed in its application to all Institution
or Holding Company employees on a nondiscriminatory basis. Such coverage and
payments shall cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) full calendar months
from the Date of Termination.
(c) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 3, in no
event shall the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to
Executive under said paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits") constitute an
"excess parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, or any successor thereto, and in order to avoid such a result
Termination Benefits will be reduced, if necessary, to an amount (the
"Non-Triggering Amount"), the value of which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an
amount equal to three (3) times Executive's "base amount," as determined in
accordance with said Section 280G. The allocation of the reduction required
hereby among the Termination Benefits provided by the preceding paragraphs of
this Section 3 shall be determined by Executive.
4. NOTICE OF TERMINATION
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(a) Any purported termination by the Institution or by Executive in
connection with a Change in Control shall be communicated by Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice
of Termination" shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of Executive's employment under the provision so indicated.
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(b) "Date of Termination" shall mean the date specified in the Notice
of Termination (which, in the instance of Termination for Cause, shall not be
less than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).
(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is
given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party
that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall
be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written
agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final
judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for
appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected) and
provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of
dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such
notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.
Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute in connection with a Change in
Control, in the event that the Executive is terminated for reasons other than
Termination for Cause, the Institution will continue to pay Executive his full
compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given
(including, but not limited to his annual salary) and continue him as a
participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which he was
participating when the notice of dispute was given, until the earlier of: (1)
the resolution of the dispute in accordance with this Agreement; or (2) the
expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement as determined as of the Date
of Termination.
5. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.
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It is intended by the parties hereto that all payments provided in this
Agreement shall be paid in cash or check from the general funds of the
Institution. Further, the Holding Company guarantees such payment and provision
of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to Executive and, if such amounts and
benefits due from the Institution are not timely paid or provided by the
Institution, such amounts and benefits shall be paid or provided by the Holding
Company.
6. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFIT PLANS.
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This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior agreement between the Institution and Executive,
except that this Agreement shall not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or
compensation inuring to Executive of a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of
this Agreement shall be interpreted to mean that Executive is subject
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to receiving fewer benefits than those available to him without reference to
this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Executive the right to
continue in the employ of Institution or shall impose on the Institution any
obligation to employ or retain Executive in its employ for any period.
7. NO ATTACHMENT.
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(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this
Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale,
assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution,
attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive, the Institution and their respective successors and assigns.
8. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
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(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an
instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver
unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as
to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that
specifically waived.
9. REQUIRED REGULATORY PROVISIONS.
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(a) The board of directors may terminate Executive's employment at any
time, but any termination by the board of directors, other than Termination for
Cause, shall not prejudice Executive's right to compensation or other benefits
under this Agreement. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation
or other benefits for any period after Termination for Cause as defined in
Section 2 hereinabove.
(b) If Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited
from participating in the conduct of the Institution's affairs by a notice
served under Section 8(e)(3) or
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8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. ss.1818(e)(3) or (g)(1),
the Institution's obligations under this contract shall be suspended as of the
date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the
notice are dismissed, the Institution may in its discretion (i) pay Executive
all or part of the compensation withheld while their contract obligations were
suspended and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of the obligations which
were suspended.
(c) If Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Institution's affairs by an order issued
under Section 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.
ss.1818(e)(4) or (g)(1)), all obligations of the Institution under this contract
shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the
contracting parties shall not be affected.
(d) If the Institution is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, all obligations of the Institution under this
contract shall terminate as of the date of default, but this paragraph shall not
affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.
(e) All obligations under this contract shall be terminated, except to
the extent determined that continuation of the contract is necessary for the
continued operation of the institution: (i) by the Director of the Office of
Thrift Supervision (or his or her designee) at the time the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on
behalf of the Institution under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act; or (ii) by the Director of the Office of Thrift
Supervision (or his or her designee) at the time the Director (or his or her
designee) approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to operation
of the Institution or when the Institution is determined by the Director to be
in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any right of the parties that have already
vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.
(f) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or
otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12
U.S.C.ss.1828(k) and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
10. REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS UNDER SECTION 9(b).
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In the event Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Institution's affairs by a notice described
in Section 9(b) hereof (the "Notice") during the term of this Agreement and a
Change of
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Control, as defined herein, occurs, the Institution will assume its obligation
to pay and Executive will be entitled to receive all of the termination benefits
provided for under Section 3 of this Agreement upon the Institution's receipt of
a dismissal of charges in the Notice of Termination.
11. SEVERABILITY.
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If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.
12. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
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The hearings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, references to the
masculine shall apply equally to the feminine.
13. GOVERNING LAW.
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The validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware but only to the
extent not preempted by Federal law.
14. ARBITRATION.
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Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by Executive within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Institution's main office, in accordance
with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment
may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction;
provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance
of his right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any
dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.
15. PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES.
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All reasonable costs and legal fees paid or incurred by Executive
pursuant to any dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement
shall be paid or reimbursed by the
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Institution (which payments are guaranteed by the Holding Company pursuant to
Section 5 hereof) if Executive is successful on the merits pursuant to a legal
judgment, arbitration or settlement.
16. INDEMNIFICATION.
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The Institution shall provide Executive (including his or her legal
representatives, successors and assigns) with coverage under a standard
directors' and officers' liability insurance policy at its expense, or in lieu
thereof, shall indemnify Executive (including his or her legal representatives,
successors and assigns) for reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Executive
in defending or settling any judicial or administrative proceeding, or
threatened proceeding, whether civil, criminal or otherwise, including any
appeal or other proceeding for review.
Indemnification by the Institution shall be made only upon the final
judgment on the merits in the favor of Executive, in case of settlement, in case
of final judgment against Executive or in the case of final judgment in favor of
Executive other than on the merits, if a majority of the disinterested directors
of the Institution determine Executive was acting in good faith within the scope
of Executive's employment or authority in accordance with 12 C.F.R. section
545.121(c)(iii).
Any such indemnification of Executive must conform with the notice
provisions of 12 C.F.R. Section 545.121(c)(iii) to indemnify Executive to the
fullest for such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be limited to,
judgments, court costs and attorneys' fees and the cost of reasonable
settlements, such settlements to be approved by the Board of Directors of the
Institution, if such action is brought against Executive in his or her capacity
as a officer or director of the Institution, however, shall not extend to
matters as to which Executive is finally adjudged to be liable for willful
misconduct in the performance of his or her duties.
17. SUCCESSOR TO THE INSTITUTION.
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The Institution shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct
or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Institution, expressly and
unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Institution's obligations
under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Institution would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had
taken place.
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SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Great American Federal and GA Financial, Inc. have
caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers, and
Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 25th day of June, 2001.
ATTEST: GREAT AMERICAN FEDERAL
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxx X. Xxxx
Acting Secretary Chief Executive Officer
SEAL
ATTEST: GA FINANCIAL, INC.
(Guarantor)
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxx X. Xxxx
Acting Secretary Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
SEAL
WITNESS:
/s/ Xxxx X. Cover /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Executive
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