EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT entered into this 1st day of January, 1999 ("Effective
Date"), by and between Heritage Bank (the "Bank") and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the
"Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee has heretofore been employed by the Bank as Chief
Executive Officer and is experienced in all phases of the business of the Bank;
and
WHEREAS, the parties desire by this writing to set forth the continuing
employment relationship of the Bank and the Employee.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is AGREED as follows:
1. Employment. The Employee is employed in the capacity as the Chief
Executive Officer of the Bank. The Employee shall render such administrative and
management services to the Bank and any to- be-formed parent savings and loan
holding company ("Parent") as are currently rendered and as are customarily
performed by persons situated in a similar executive capacity. The Employee
shall also promote, by entertainment or otherwise, as and to the extent
permitted by law, the business of the Bank and Parent. The Employee's other
duties shall be such as the Board of Directors for the Bank (the "Board of
Directors" or "Board") may from time to time reasonably direct, including normal
duties as an officer of the Bank.
2. Base Compensation. As of the Effective Date, the Bank agrees to pay
the Employee during the term of this Agreement a salary at the rate of $110,000
per annum, payable in cash not less frequently than semi-monthly; provided, that
the rate of such base salary and total compensation shall be reviewed by the
Board of Directors not less often than annually, and Employee shall be entitled
to receive annually an increase in base salary at such percentage or in such an
amount as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may decide at such time
upon a determination and resolution of the Board of Directors that the
performance of the Employee has met the requirements and standards of the Board,
and that such base salary shall be increased. .
3. Discretionary Bonus. The Employee shall be entitled to participate
in an equitable manner with all other senior management employees of the Bank in
discretionary bonuses that may be authorized and declared by the Board of
Directors to its senior management employees from time to time. No other
compensation provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed a substitute for the
Employee's right to participate in such discretionary bonuses when and as
declared by the Board of Directors.
4. (a) Participation in Retirement and Medical Plans. The Employee
shall be entitled to participate in any plan of the Bank relating to pension,
profit-sharing, or other retirement benefits and medical coverage or
reimbursement plans that the Bank may adopt for the benefit of its employees.
(b) Employee Benefits; Expenses. The Employee shall be eligible to
participate in any fringe benefits which may be or may become applicable to the
Bank's senior management employees, including by example, participation in any
stock option or incentive plans adopted by the Board of Directors of Bank or
Parent, club memberships, a reasonable expense account, and any other benefits
which are commensurate with the responsibilities and functions to be performed
by the Employee under this Agreement. The Bank shall reimburse Employee for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses which Employee shall incur in connection with
his service for the Bank.
5. Term. The term of employment of Employee under this Agreement shall
be for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending three years
thereafter. Additionally, not later than on each annual anniversary date from
the Effective Date, the term of employment under this Agreement shall be
extended for an additional one year period beyond the then effective expiration
date upon a determination and resolution of the Board of Directors that the
performance of the Employee has met the requirements and standards of the Board,
and that the term of such Agreement shall be extended.
6. Loyalty; Noncompetition.
(a) The Employee shall devote his full time and attention to the
performance of his employment under this Agreement. During the term of
Employee's employment under this Agreement, the Employee shall not engage in any
business or activity contrary to the business affairs or interests of the Bank
or Parent.
(b) Nothing contained in this Paragraph 6 shall be deemed to prevent or
limit the right of Employee to invest in the capital stock or other securities
of any business dissimilar from that of the Bank or Parent, or, solely as a
passive or minority investor, in any business.
7. Standards. The Employee shall perform his duties under this
Agreement in accordance with such reasonable standards expected of employees
with comparable positions in comparable organizations and as may be established
from time to time by the Board of Directors.
8. Vacation and Sick Leave. At such reasonable times as the Board of
Directors shall in its discretion permit, the Employee shall be entitled,
without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the performance of his
employment under this Agreement, with all such voluntary absences to count as
vacation time; provided that:
(a) The Employee shall be entitled to annual vacation leave in
accordance with the policies as are periodically established by the Board of
Directors for senior management employees of the Bank.
(b) The Employee shall not be entitled to receive any additional
compensation from the Bank on account of his failure to take vacation leave and
Employee shall not be entitled to accumulate unused vacation from one fiscal
year to the next, except in either case to the extent authorized by the Board of
Directors for senior management employees of the Bank.
(c) In addition to the aforesaid paid vacations, the Employee shall be
entitled without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the performance
of his employment with the Bank for such additional periods of time and for such
valid and legitimate reasons as the Board of Directors in its discretion may
determine. Further, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to grant to the
Employee a leave or leaves of absence with or without pay at such time or times
and upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors in its discretion
may determine.
(d) In addition, the Employee shall be entitled to an annual sick leave
benefit as established by the Board of Directors for senior management employees
of the Bank. In the event that any sick leave benefit shall not have been used
during any year, such leave shall accrue to subsequent years only to the extent
authorized by the Board of Directors for employees of the Bank.
9. Termination and Termination Pay.
The Employee's employment under this Agreement shall be terminated upon
any of the following occurrences:
(a) The death of the Employee during the term of this Agreement, in
which event the Employee's estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation
due the Employee through the last day of the calendar month in which Employee's
death shall have occurred.
(b) The Board of Directors may terminate the Employee's employment at
any time, but any termination by the Board of Directors other than termination
for Just Cause, shall not prejudice the Employee's right to compensation or
other benefits under the Agreement. The Employee shall have no right to receive
compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Just Cause.
Termination for "Just Cause" shall include termination because of the Employee's
personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, 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 the Agreement.
(c) Except as provided pursuant to Section 12 herein, in the event
Employee's employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Board of
Directors without Just Cause, the Bank shall be obligated to continue to pay the
Employee the salary provided pursuant to Section 2 herein, up to the date of
termination of the term (including any renewal term) of this Agreement and the
cost of Employee obtaining all health, life, disability, and other benefits
which the Employee would be eligible to participate in through such date based
upon the benefit levels substantially equal to those being provided Employee at
the date of termination of employment.
(d) If the Employee is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order issued under
Sections 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA") (12
U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) and (g)(1)), all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement
shall terminate, as of the effective date of the order, but the vested rights of
the parties shall not be affected.
(e) If the Bank is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of FDIA)
all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default,
but this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting
parties.
(f) All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to
the extent determined that continuation of this Agreement is necessary for the
continued operation of the Bank: (i) by the Georgia Department of Banking and
Finance, or their designee, at the time that 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 FDIA; or
(ii) by the Director of the FDIC, or his or her designee, at the time that the
Director of the FDIC, or his or 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 FDIC to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights
of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such
action.
(g) The voluntary termination by the Employee during the term of this
Agreement with the delivery of no less than 60 days written notice to the Board
of Directors, other than pursuant to Section 12(b), in which case the Employee
shall be entitled to receive only the compensation, vested rights, and all
employee benefits up to the date of such termination.
(h) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any payments made
to the Employee pursuant to the Agreement, or otherwise, shall be subject to and
conditioned upon compliance with 12 USC ss.1828(k) and any regulations
promulgated thereunder.
10. Suspension of Employment . If the Employee is suspended and/or
temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs
by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C.
1818(e)(3) and (g)(1)), the Bank's obligations under the Agreement shall be
suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings.
If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Bank shall, (i) pay the Employee
all or part of the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were
suspended and (ii) reinstate any of its obligations which were suspended.
11. Disability. If the Employee shall become disabled or incapacitated
to the extent that he is unable to perform his duties hereunder, by reason of
medically determinable physical or mental impairment, as determined by a doctor
engaged by the Board of Directors, Employee shall nevertheless continue to
receive the compensation and benefits provided under the terms of this Agreement
as follows: 100% of such compensation and benefits for a period of 12 months,
but not exceeding the remaining term of the Agreement, and 65% thereafter for
the remainder of the term of the Agreement. Such benefits noted herein shall be
reduced by any benefits otherwise provided to the Employee during such period
under the provisions of disability insurance coverage in effect for Bank
employees. Thereafter, Employee shall be eligible to receive benefits provided
by the Bank under the provisions of disability insurance coverage in effect for
Bank employees. Upon returning to active full-time employment, the Employee's
full compensation as set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as of the
date of commencement of such activities. In the event that the Employee
returns to active employment on other than a full-time basis, then his
compensation (as set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement) shall be reduced in
proportion to the time spent in said employment, or as shall otherwise be agreed
to by the parties.
12. Change in Control.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the event
of the involuntary termination of Employee's employment under this Agreement,
absent Just Cause, in connection with, or within twelve (12) months after, any
change in control of the Bank or Parent, Employee shall be paid an amount equal
to the product of 2.99 times the Employee's "base amount" as defined in Section
280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and
regulations promulgated thereunder. Said sum shall be paid, at the option of
Employee, either in one (1) lump sum within thirty (30) days of such termination
discounted to the present value of such payment using as the discount rate the
"prime rate" as published in the Wall Street Journal Eastern Edition as of the
date of such payment, or in periodic payments over the next 36 months or the
remaining term of this Agreement whichever is less, as if Employee's employment
had not been terminated, and such payments shall be in lieu of any other future
payments which the Employee would be otherwise entitled to receive under Section
9 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, all sums payable hereunder
shall be reduced in such manner and to such extent so that no such payments made
hereunder when aggregated with all other payments to be made to the Employee by
the Bank or the Parent shall be deemed an "excess parachute payment" in
accordance with Section 280G of the Code and be subject to the excise tax
provided at Section 4999(a) of the Code. The term "control" shall refer to the
ownership, holding or power to vote more than 25% of the Parent's or Bank's
voting stock, the control of the election of a majority of the Parent's or
Bank's directors, or the exercise of a controlling influence over the management
or policies of the Parent or Bank by any person or by persons acting as a group
within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The
term "person" means an individual other than the Employee, or a corporation,
partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole
proprietorship, unincorporated organization or any other form of entity not
specifically listed herein.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, Employee may voluntary terminate his employment under this Agreement
within twelve (12) months following a change in control of the Bank or Parent,
and Employee shall thereupon be entitled to receive the payment described in
Section 12(a) of this Agreement, upon the occurrence, or within ninety (90) days
thereafter, of any of the following events, which have not been consented to in
advance by the Employee in writing: (i) if Employee would be required to move
his personal residence or perform his principal executive functions more than
thirty-five (35) miles from the Employee's primary office as of the signing of
this Agreement; (ii) if in the organizational structure of the Bank or Parent,
Employee would be required to report to a person or persons other than the Board
of the Bank or Parent; (iii) if the Bank or Parent should fail to maintain
Employee's base compensation in effect as of the date of the Change in Control
and the existing employee benefits plans, including material fringe benefit,
stock option and retirement plans; (iv) if Employee would be assigned duties and
responsibilities other than those normally associated with his position as
referenced at Section 1, herein; (v) if Employee would not be
elected or reelected to the Board of Directors of the Bank; or (vi) if
Employee's responsibilities or authority have in any way been materially
diminished or reduced.
(c) In the event any dispute shall arise between the Employee and the
Bank as to the terms or interpretation of this Agreement, including this Section
12, whether instituted by formal legal proceedings or otherwise, including any
action taken by Employee to enforce the terms of this Section 12 or in defending
against any action taken by the Bank or Parent, the Bank or Parent shall
reimburse Employee for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys'
fees, arising from such dispute, proceedings or actions following issuance of a
legal judgement by a court of competent jurisdiction finding in favor of the
Employee or the settlement of the dispute by the parties. Such settlement to be
approved by the Board of the Bank or the Parent may include a provision for the
reimbursement by the Bank or Parent to the Employee for all costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from such dispute, proceedings or
actions, or the Board of the Bank or the Parent shall authorize such
reimbursement of such costs and expenses by separate action upon a written
action and determination of the Board that payment of such costs and expenses is
not detrimental to the Bank or the Parent. Such reimbursement shall be paid
within ten (10) days of Employee furnishing to the Bank or Parent evidence,
which may be in the form, among other things, of a canceled check or receipt, of
any costs or expenses incurred by Employee.
13. Successors and Assigns.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
any corporate or other successor of the Bank or Parent which shall acquire,
directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or
substantially all of the assets or stock of the Bank or Parent.
(b) Since the Bank is contracting for the unique and personal skills of
the Employee, the Employee shall be precluded from assigning or delegating his
rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the
Bank.
14. Amendments. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be
binding upon the parties hereto unless made in writing and signed by both
parties, except as herein otherwise specifically provided.
15. Applicable Law. This agreement shall be governed by all respects
whether as to validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise, by the
laws of the State of Georgia, the extent that Federal law shall be deemed to
apply.
16. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with any understanding
or modifications thereof as agreed to in writing by the parties, shall
constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day
and first hereinabove written.
Heritage Bank
ATTEST: By:/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Secretary
WITNESS:
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Employee
