EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT
(“Agreement”) is made as of May 18, 2005, between HARLEYSVILLE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC (“HMS”),
a corporation having a place of business at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000; and
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
("Executive"), an individual residing at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, HMS is a
subsidiary of HARLEYSVILLE
NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (the
"Bank"), a national bank having a place of business at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000;
WHEREAS, Bank is
a subsidiary of HARLEYSVILLE
NATIONAL CORPORATION ("HNC"),
a Pennsylvania business corporation having a place of business at 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000;
WHEREAS,
HMS
desires to employ Executive as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of the Bank and HNC, effective May 18, 2005, under the terms and conditions set
forth herein;
WHEREAS,
Executive desires to accept that assignment under the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
AGREEMENT:
NOW,
THEREFORE, the
parties hereto intending to be legally bound hereby agree as
follows:
1. |
Employment.
HMS hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts employment with
HMS on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. |
2. |
Duties
of Employee.
Executive shall perform and discharge well and faithfully such duties as
an executive officer of the Bank and HNC as may be assigned to Executive
from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC. Executive
shall be Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and
HNC, and shall hold such other titles as may be given to him from time to
time by the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC. Executive shall devote
his full time, attention and energies to the business of the Bank and HNC
during the Employment Period (as defined in Section 3 of this Agreement);
provided however, that this Section 2 shall not be construed as preventing
Executive from (a) engaging in activities incident or necessary to
personal investments so long as such investment does not exceed 5% of the
outstanding shares of any publicly held company, (b) acting as a member of
the Board of Directors of any other corporation or as a member of the
Board of Trustees of any other organization, with the prior approval of
the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC. The Executive shall not engage
in any business or commercial activities, duties or pursuits that compete
with the business or commercial activities of HNC, or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, nor may
|
-7-
the Executive serve as a director or officer or in any other capacity in a
company that competes with HNC or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates.
3. Term
of Agreement.
(a) |
This
Agreement shall be for a two (2)
year period
(the "Employment Period") beginning on the date first mentioned above and
ending two (2) years later. The Employment Period shall be automatically
extended on the second anniversary date of commencement of the Employment
Term and on the same date of each subsequent year (the "Renewal Date") for
a period ending one (1) year from each Renewal Date, unless either party
shall give written notice of non-renewal to the other party at least
ninety (90) days prior to the Renewal Date, in which event this Agreement
shall terminate at the end of the then existing Employment
Period. |
(b) |
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
terminate automatically for Cause (as defined herein) upon written notice
from the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC to Executive. As used in
this Agreement, "Cause"
shall mean any of the following: |
(i) |
Executive's
conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony, a crime of
falsehood or a crime involving moral turpitude, or the actual
incarceration of Executive; |
(ii) |
Executive's
willful failure to follow the good faith lawful instructions of the Board
of Directors of the Bank and HNC with respect to the operations of the
Bank and HNC; or |
(iii) |
Executive's
willful failure to perform Executive's duties to the Bank and HNC (other
than a failure resulting from Executive's incapacity because of physical
or mental illness, as provided in subsection (d) of this Section 3), which
failure results in injury to the Bank and HNC, monetarily or
otherwise. |
(iv) |
Executive's
intentional violation of the provisions of this
Agreement; |
(v) |
dishonesty
or gross negligence of the Executive in the performance of his
duties; |
(vi) |
conduct
on the part of the Executive that brings public discredit to HNC or the
Bank; |
(vii) |
Executive's
breach of fiduciary duty involving personal
profit; |
(viii) |
Executive's
violation of any law, rule or regulation governing banks or bank officers
or any final cease and desist order issued by a bank regulatory
authority; |
-8-
(ix) |
Executive's
unlawful discrimination, including harassment, against employees,
customers, business associates, contractors or visitors of HNC or the
Bank; |
(x) |
Executive's
theft or abuse of HNC's or the Bank’s property or the property of
customers, employees, contractors, vendors or business associates of HNC
or the Bank; |
(xi) |
any
final removal or prohibition order to which the Executive is subject, by a
federal banking agency pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act; |
(xii) |
any
act of fraud or misappropriation by Executive;
or |
(xiii) |
intentional
misrepresentation of a material fact, or intentional omission of
information necessary to make the information supplied not materially
misleading, in any application or other information provided by the
Executive to HNC or the Bank or any representative of HNC or the Bank in
connection with the Executive's employment with HMS and the
Bank. |
If this
Agreement is terminated for Cause, Executive's rights under this Agreement shall
cease as of the effective date of such termination.
(c) |
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
terminate automatically upon Executive's voluntary termination of
employment (other than in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement) for
Good Reason. The term "Good
Reason"
shall mean (i) the assignment of duties and responsibilities inconsistent
with Executive's status as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Bank and HNC, (ii) a reduction in salary or benefits,
except such reductions that are the result of a national financial
depression or national or bank emergency when such reduction has been
implemented by the Board of Directors for HNC and Bank's senior
management, or (iii) a reassignment which requires Executive to move his
principal office more than fifty (50) miles from the Bank's principal
executive office immediately prior to this Agreement. If such termination
occurs for Good Reason and upon execution of a mutual release, then HMS
will provide Executive with the following pay and benefits: (i) a payment
in an amount equal to the greater of: that portion of Executive’s Agreed
Compensation, as defined in subsection (g) of this Section 3, for the then
existing Employment Period that has not been paid to Executive as of the
date his employment terminates or 1.0 times the Executive's Agreed
Compensation. Such amount shall be payable in twelve (12) equal monthly
installments; and (ii) subject to plan terms, Executive’s continued
participation in HMS's employee benefit plans for twelve (12) months or
until Executive secures substantially similar benefits through other
employment, whichever shall first occur. If Executive is no longer
eligible to participate in an employee benefit plan because he is no
longer an employee, HMS will pay |
-9-
Executive the amount of money that it would have cost
HMS to provide the benefits to Executive.
However,
in the event the payments described herein, when added to all other amounts or
benefits provided to or on behalf of the Executive in connection with his
termination of employment, would result in the imposition of an excise tax under
Code Section 4999, such payments shall be retroactively (if necessary) reduced
to the extent necessary to avoid such excise tax imposition. Upon written notice
to Executive, together with calculations of HMS's independent auditors,
Executive shall remit to HMS the amount of the reduction
plus such interest as may be necessary to avoid the imposition of such excise
tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, if any portion of the amount herein payable to the Executive is
determined to be non-deductible pursuant to the regulations promulgated under
Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), then
HNC shall be required only to pay to Executive the amount determined to be
deductible under Section 280G.
Executive
shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this
Section 3(c) by seeking employment or otherwise. Unless otherwise agreed to in
writing, the amount of payment or benefit provided for in this section 3(c)
shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as the result of
employment by another employer or by reason of Executive’s receipt or right to
receive any retirement or other benefit after the date of termination of
employment or otherwise.
(d) |
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
terminate automatically upon Executive's Disability and Executive's rights
under this Agreement shall cease as of the date of such termination;
provided, however, that Executive shall nevertheless be absolutely
entitled to receive an amount equal to and no greater than seventy (70%)
of the Executive's Agreed Compensation as defined in subsection (g) of
this Section 3, less amounts payable under any disability plan of HMS,
until the earliest of (i) his return to employment, (ii) his attainment of
age 65, or (iii) his death. In addition, Executive shall be entitled to a
continuation of HMS's employee benefits for such period. If Executive is
no longer eligible to participate in an employee benefit plan because he
no longer is an employee, HMS will pay the Executive the amount of money
that it would have cost HMS to provide the benefits to Executive. For
purposes of this Agreement, Disability shall mean Executive's
incapacitation by accident, sickness or otherwise which renders Executive
mentally or physically incapable of performing all of the essential
functions of his job, taking into account any reasonable accommodation
required by law, without posing a direct threat to himself or others, for
a period of six (6) months. |
-10-
(e) |
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
terminate automatically upon Executive's death, and Executive’s rights
under this Agreement shall cease as of the date of such termination.
|
(f) |
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
terminate automatically upon Executive's voluntary termination of
employment absent Good Reason, except for the provisions of Sections 5 and
6 |
.
(g) |
The
term "Agreed
Compensation"
shall equal the Executive's highest Annual Base Salary under the
Agreement. |
(h) |
Executive
agrees that in the event his employment under this Agreement is
terminated, Executive shall resign as a director of HNC, or any affiliate
or subsidiary thereof, if he is then serving as a director of any such
entities. |
4. Employment
Period Compensation.
(a) |
Annual
Base Salary. For
services performed by Executive under this Agreement, HMS shall pay
Executive an Annual Base Salary in the aggregate during the Employment
Period at the rate of $150,000.00
per
year, payable at the same times as salaries are payable to other
executives of the Bank and HNC. HMS may, from time to time, increase
Executive's Annual Base Salary, and any and all such increases shall be
deemed to constitute amendments to this Section 4(a) to reflect the
increased amounts, effective as of the date established for such increases
by the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC or any committee of such
Board in the resolutions authorizing such
increases. |
(b) |
Incentive
Plans.
Executive
shall be entitled to participate in HMS’ Annual and Long Term Incentive
Plans which provide incentives based on goals and objectives as specified
by HMS. |
(c) |
Vacations.
During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to four (4)
weeks paid annual vacation in accordance with the policies as established
from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC. However,
Executive shall not be entitled to receive any additional compensation
from HMS for failure to take a vacation, nor shall Executive be able to
accumulate unused vacation time from one year to the next, except to the
extent authorized by the Board of Directors of the
Bank. |
(d) |
Employee
Benefit Plans.
During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to
participate in and receive the benefits of any Employee Benefit Plan
currently in effect at HMS at the level of comparable HMS executives,
until such time that the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC authorizes
a change in such benefits. Nothing paid to 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 Executive pursuant to
Section 4(a) hereof. |
-11-
(e) |
Business
Expenses.
During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to receive
prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by him, which
are properly accounted for, in accordance with the policies and procedures
established by the Board of Directors of the Bank and HNC for its
executive officers. |
(f) |
Options On
the effective date, HNC shall grant Executive 2,000 options to acquire HNC
common stock at the then market value. Such options shall vest equally
over a five (5) year period beginning on the date of
grant. |
5. Termination
of Employment Following Change
in
Control.
(a) If a
Change in Control (as defined in Section 5(b) of this Agreement) shall occur,
and if thereafter at any time during the term of this Agreement there shall
be:
(i) |
any
involuntary termination of Executive's employment (other than for the
reasons set forth in Section 3(b) or 3(d) of this
Agreement); |
(ii) |
any
reduction in Executive's title, responsibilities, including reporting
responsibilities, or authority, including such title, responsibilities or
authority as such title, responsibilities or authority may be increased
from time to time during the term of this
Agreement; |
(iii) |
the
assignment to Executive of duties inconsistent with Executive's office on
the date of the Change in Control or as the same may be increased from
time to time after the Change in Control; |
(iv) |
any
reassignment of Executive to a location greater than fifty (50) miles from
the location of Executive's office on the date of the Change in
Control; |
(v) |
any
reduction in Executive's Annual Base Salary in effect on the date of the
Change in Control or as the same may be increased from time to time after
the Change in Control; |
(vi) |
any
failure to provide Executive with benefits at least as favorable as those
enjoyed by Executive under any of HMS's retirement or pension, life
insurance, medical, health and accident, disability or other employee
plans in which Executive participated at the time of the Change in
Control, or the taking of any action that would materially reduce any of
such benefits in effect at the time of the Change in Control;
or |
-12-
(vii) |
any
requirement that Executive travel in performance of his duties on behalf
of the Bank or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for a significantly
greater period of time during any year than was required of Executive
during the year preceding the year in which the Change in Control
occurred. |
then, at
the option of Executive, exercisable by Executive within one hundred twenty
(120) days of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events, Executive may
resign from employment with HMS (or, if involuntarily terminated, give notice of
intention to collect benefits under this Agreement) by delivering such notice in
writing (the "Notice of Termination") to HMS and the provisions of Section 6 of
this Agreement shall apply.
(b) |
As
used in this Agreement, "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence of
any of the following: |
(i) |
(A)
a merger, consolidation or division involving HNC only (not the Bank), (B)
a sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of substantially all of
the assets of HNC only (not the Bank), or (c) a purchase by HNC only (not
the Bank) of substantially all of the assets of another entity, unless (x)
such merger, consolidation, division, sale, exchange, transfer, purchase
or disposition is approved in advance by seventy percent (70%) or more of
the members of the Board of Directors of HNC only (not the Bank) who are
not interested in the transaction and (y) a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors of the legal entity resulting from or existing after
any such transaction and of the Board of Directors of such entity's parent
corporation, if any, are former members of the Board of Directors of HNC
only (not the Bank); or |
(ii) |
any
other change in control of HNC only (not the Bank) similar in effect to
any of the foregoing. |
6. Rights
in Event of Termination of Employment Following Change in
Control.
(a) |
In
the event that Executive delivers a Notice of Termination (as defined in
Section 5(a) of this Agreement) to HMS only (not the Bank), Executive
shall be absolutely entitled to receive the compensation and benefits set
forth below: |
If, at
the time of termination of Executive's employment, a "Change in Control" (as
defined in Section 5(b) of this Agreement) has also occurred, upon execution of
a release satisfactory to HMS, HMS will provide Executive with the following pay
and benefits: (i) a payment in an amount equal to and no greater than 1.0 times
the Executive's Agreed Compensation as defined in subsection (g) of Section 3,
which amount shall be payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments; and
(ii) subject to plan terms, Executive’s continued participation in HMS's
employee benefit plans for twelve (12) months or until Executive secures
substantially similar benefits through other employment, whichever shall first
-13-
occur. If
Executive is no longer eligible to participate in an employee benefit plan
because he no longer is an employee, HMS will pay Executive the amount of money
that it would have cost HMS to provide the benefits to Executive.
However,
in the event the payments described herein, when added to all other amounts or
benefits provided to or on behalf of the Executive in connection with his
termination of employment, would result in the imposition of an excise tax under
Code Section 4999, such payments shall be retroactively (if necessary) reduced
to the extent necessary to avoid such excise tax imposition. Upon written notice
to Executive, together with calculations of HMS's independent auditors,
Executive shall remit to HMS the amount of the reduction plus such interest as
maybe necessary to avoid the imposition of such excise tax. Notwithstanding the
foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any
portion of the amount herein payable to the Executive is determined to be
non-deductible pursuant to the regulations promulgated under Section 280G of the
Code, then HMS shall be required only to pay to Executive the amount determined
to be deductible under Section 280G.
(b) |
Executive
shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for
in this Section 6 by seeking other employment or otherwise. Unless
otherwise agreed to in writing, the amount of payment or the benefit
provided for in this Section 6 shall not be reduced by any compensation
earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or by
reason of Executive's receipt o£ or right to receive any retirement or
other benefits after the date of termination of employment or
otherwise. |
7. Rights
in
Event
of Termination of Employment Absent Change in Control.
(a) |
In
the event that Executive's employment is involuntarily terminated by HMS
without Cause and no Change in Control shall have occurred as of the date
of such termination, upon execution of a mutual release, HMS will provide
Executive with the following pay and benefits: (i) a payment in an amount
equal to the greater of: that portion of the Executive’s Agreed
Compensation for the then existing Employment Period that has not been
paid to Executive as of the date his employment terminates, or 1.0 times
the Executive’s Agreed Compensation. Such amount shall be payable in
twelve (12) equal monthly installments; and (ii) subject to plan terms,
Executive’s continued participation in HMS's employee benefit plans for
twelve (12) months or until Executive secures substantially similar
benefits through other employment, whichever shall first occur. If
Executive is no longer eligible to participate in an employee benefit plan
because he is no longer an employee, HMS will pay Executive the amount of
money that it would have cost HMS to provide the benefits to Executive.
|
However,
in the payments described herein, when added to all other amounts or benefits
provided to or on behalf of the Executive in connection with his termination of
employment, would result in the imposition of an excise tax under Code Section
4999, such payments shall be retroactively (if necessary) reduced to
-14-
the
extent necessary to avoid such imposition. Upon written notice to Executive,
together with calculations of HMS's independent auditors, Executive shall remit
to HMS the amount of the reduction plus such interest as may be necessary to
avoid the imposition of such excise tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any
other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any portion of the amount
herein payable to the Executive is determined to be non-deductible pursuant to
the regulations promulgated under Section 280G of the Code, then HMS shall be
required only to pay to Executive the amount determined to be deductible under
Section 280G.
(b) |
Executive
shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for
in this Section 7 by seeking other employment or otherwise. The amount of
payment or the benefit provided for in this Section 7 shall not be reduced
by any compensation earned by Executive as the result of employment by
another employer or by reason of Executive's receipt of or right to
receive any retirement or other benefits after the date of termination of
employment or otherwise. |
(c) |
The
amounts payable pursuant to this Section 7 shall constitute Executive's
sole and exclusive remedy in the event of involuntary termination of
Executive's employment by HMS without cause in the absence of a Change in
Control. |
8. Covenant
Not to Compete
(a) |
Executive
hereby acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the
business of HNC and the Bank and accordingly agrees that, during his
employment and for a period of one year following the date of termination
of Executive’s employment, regardless of the reason for termination,
Executive shall not: |
(i) |
in
any county in which, at any time during the Employment Period or as of the
date of termination of the Executive's employment, a branch, office or
other facility of HNC or any of its subsidiaries is located, or in any
county contiguous to such a county, including contiguous counties located
outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the "Non-Competition Area")
be engaged, directly or indirectly, either for his own account or as agent
consultant, employee, partner, officer, director, proprietor, investor
(except as an investor owning less than 5% of the stock of a publicly
owned company) or otherwise of any person, firm, corporation or enterprise
engaged in the banking (including bank and financial holding company) or
financial services industry, or any other activity in which HNC or any of
its subsidiaries are engaged during the Employment Period;
or |
(ii) |
in
the Non-Competition area provide financial or other assistance to any
person, firm, corporation, or enterprise engaged in the banking (including
bank and financial holding company) or financial services industry, or
|
-15-
any other activity in which HNC or any of its
subsidiaries are engaged during the Employment Period; or
(iii) |
directly
or indirectly contact, solicit or attempt to induce any person,
corporation or other entity who or which is a customer or referral source
of HNC, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, during the term of
Executive's employment or on the date of termination of Executive's
employment, to become a customer or referral source of any person or
entity other then HNC or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates;
or |
(iv) |
directly
or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any employee of HNC or any of
its subsidiaries or affiliates, who is employed during the term of
Executive's employment or on the date of termination of Executive’s
employment, to leave the employ of HNC or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates, or to seek, obtain or accept employment with any person or
entity other than HNC or any of their subsidiaries or
affiliates. |
(b) |
It
is expressly understood and agreed that, although Executive and HNC
consider the restrictions contained in Section 8(a) hereof reasonable for
the purpose of preserving for HNC and its subsidiaries their good will and
other proprietary rights, if a final judicial determination is made by a
court having jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other
restriction contained in Section 8(a) hereof is an unreasonable or
otherwise unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of
Section 8(a) hereof shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended
to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such other extent as
such court may judicially determine or indicate to be
reasonable. |
9. |
Unauthorized
Disclosure.
During the term of his employment hereunder, or at any later time, the
Executive shall not, without the written consent of the Board of Directors
of the Bank and HNC or a person authorized thereby, knowingly disclose to
any person, other than an employee of the Bank, HNC or a person to whom
disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the
performance by the Executive of his duties as an executive of the Bank,
any material confidential information obtained by him while in the employ
of HMS with respect to any of HNC's or the Bank’s services, products,
improvements, formulas, designs or styles, processes, customers, methods
of business or any business practices the disclosure of which could be or
will be damaging to HNC or the Bank; provided, however, that confidential
information shall not include any information known generally to the
public (other than as a result of unauthorized disclosure by the Executive
or any person with the assistance, consent or direction of the Executive)
or any information of a type not otherwise considered confidential by
persons engaged in the same business of a business similar to that
conducted by HNC or the Bank or any information that must be disclosed as
required by law. |
10. |
Work
Made for Hire.
Any work performed by the Executive under this Agreement should be
considered a "Work Made for Hire" as that phrase is defined by the U.S.
patent laws and its subsidiaries and affiliates. In the event it should be
established that such |
-16-
work does not qualify as a Work Made for Hire, the
Executive agrees to and does hereby assign to HNC and its affiliates and
subsidiaries, all of his rights, title, and/or interest in such work product,
including, but not limited to, all copyrights, patents, trademarks, and property
rights.
11. |
Return
of Company Property and Documents. The
Executive agrees that, at the time of termination of his employment,
regardless of the reason for termination, he will deliver to the Bank, any
and all Bank, HNC or HMS property, including, but not limited to,
automobiles, keys, security codes or passes, mobile telephones, pagers,
computers, devices, confidential information, records, data, notes,
reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings,
blueprints, sketches, software programs, equipment, other documents or
property, or reproductions of any of the aforementioned items developed or
obtained by the Executive during the course of his
employment. |
12. |
Liability
Insurance.
The Bank shall use its best efforts to obtain insurance coverage for the
Executive under an insurance policy covering officers and directors of the
Bank against lawsuits, arbitrations or other legal or regulatory
proceedings; however nothing herein shall be construed to require the Bank
to obtain such insurance, if the Board of Directors of the Bank determines
that such coverage cannot be obtained at a reasonable
price. |
13. |
Notices.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any notice required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be deemed properly given
if in writing and if mailed by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid with return receipt requested, to Executive's residence, in the
case of notices to Executive; to the principal executive offices of the
Bank, in the case of notices to the Bank, and to the principal executive
offices of HNC, in the case of notices to
HNC. |
14. |
Waiver. No
provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless
such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed
by Executive and an executive officer specifically designated by the Board
of Directors of the Bank. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of
any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition
or provision of this Agreement to similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent
time. |
15. |
Assignment.
This
Agreement shall not be assignable by any party, except by HNC and the Bank
to any successor in interest to their respective
businesses. |
16. |
Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes
all other agreements, written or oral, between the parties relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement; provided however, that such rights as
Executive may have under HNC’s Notice of Grant of Incentive Stock Options
to Executive dated February 23, 2004 are not affected by this
Agreement. |
-17-
17. Successors,
Binding Agreement.
(a) |
The
Bank will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase,
merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
businesses and/or assets of the Bank to expressly assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Bank would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken
place. Failure by the Bank to obtain such assumption and agreement prior
to the effectiveness of any such succession shall constitute a breach of
this Agreement and the provisions of Section 3 of this Agreement shall
apply. As used in this Agreement "HNC" and “Bank” shall mean HNC and Bank,
as defined previously and any successor to its respective businesses
and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this
Agreement by operation of law or otherwise. |
(b) |
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive's
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees. If Executive should die after he has
delivered a Notice of Termination to HMS pursuant to Section 5 above, or
following HMS’s termination of Executive's employment without Cause, such
amounts that would have been payable to Executive under this Agreement if
Executive had continued to live, shall be paid in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement to Executive's devisee, legatee, or other
designee, or, if there is no such designee, to Executive's
estate. |
18. |
Arbitration.
The Bank, HMS and Executive recognize that in the event a dispute should
arise between them concerning the interpretation or implementation of this
Agreement, lengthy and expensive litigation will not afford a practical
resolution of the issues within a reasonable period of time. Consequently,
each party agrees that all disputes, disagreements and questions of
interpretation concerning this Agreement (except for any enforcement
sought with respect to Sections 8, 9, 10 or 11, which maybe litigated in
court through an action for an injunction or other relief) are to be
submitted for resolution, in Xxxxxxxxxx County, Pennsylvania, to the
American Arbitration Association (the "Association") in accordance with
the Association's National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes
or other applicable rules then in effect ("Rules"). The Bank, HMS or
Executive may initiate an arbitration proceeding at any time by giving
notice to the other in accordance with the Rules. The Bank, HMS and
Executive may, as a matter or right, mutually agree on the appointment of
a particular arbitrator from the Association's pool. The arbitrator shall
not be bound by the rules of evidence and procedure of the courts of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania but shall be bound by the substantive law
applicable to this Agreement. The decision of the arbitrator, absent
fraud, duress, incompetence or gross and obvious error of fact, shall be
final and binding upon the parties and shall be enforceable in courts of
proper jurisdiction. Following written notice of a request for
arbitration, the Bank, HMS and Executive shall be entitled to an
injunction restraining all further proceedings in any pending or
subsequently filed litigation concerning this Agreement, except as
otherwise provided herein or any |
-18-
enforcement sought with respect to Sections 8, 9, 10
or 11, which may be litigated through an action for injunction or other
relief.
19. |
Validity.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of
this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect. |
20. |
Applicable
Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
domestic, internal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without
regard to its conflicts of laws principles. |
21. |
Headings.
The section headings of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction or limit the scope or
intent of any of the provisions of this
Agreement. |
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
ATTEST: HARLEYSVILLE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC
/s/
XxXxx X. Xxxxx By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. High
Title:
Treasurer
WITNESS:
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxx
-19-