CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
THIS AGREEMENT entered into as of June 1, 2007, by and between GATEWAY BANK & TRUST CO., a
North Carolina banking corporation (the “Bank”) and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx (the “Employee”)
For and in consideration of their mutual promises, covenants and conditions hereinafter set
forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall be for the period commencing upon
the effective date of this Agreement and ending three calendar years from the effective date of
this Agreement. On each anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement, the term of this
Agreement shall automatically be extended for an additional one year period beyond the then
effective expiration date unless written notice from the Bank or the Employee is received 90 days
prior to an anniversary date advising the other that this Agreement shall not be further extended;
provided that the Bank shall review the Employee’s performance annually and make a specific
determination pursuant to such review to renew this Agreement prior to the 90 days’ notice.
2. Change in Control. (a) In the event of a termination of the Employee’s employment
with the Bank in connection with, or within twelve (12) months after, a “Change in Control” (as
defined in Subparagraph (e) below) of the Bank, for reason of a Termination Event other than for
“Cause” (as defined in Subparagraph (b) below), the Employee shall be entitled to receive from the
Bank the amount set forth in Subparagraph (d) below. Said sum shall be payable as provided in
Subparagraph (f) below.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, termination for “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.
(c) The Employee shall have the right to terminate employment with the Bank upon the
occurrence of any of the following events (the “Termination Events”) within twelve (12) months
following a Change in Control of the Bank:
(i) The Employee is assigned any duties and/or responsibilities that are
inconsistent with the Employee’s position, duties, responsibilities or status at the
time of the Change in Control or with the Employee’s reporting responsibilities or
titles with the Bank in effect at such time; or
(ii) The Employee’s annual base salary rate is reduced below the annual amount
in effect as of the effective date of a Change in Control or as the same shall have
been increased from time to time following such effective date; or
(iii) The Employee’s life insurance, medical or hospitalization insurance,
disability insurance, stock option plans, stock purchase plans, deferred
compensation plans, management retention plans, retirement plans or similar plans or
benefits being provided by the Bank to the Employee as of the effective date of the
Change in Control are reduced in their level, scope or coverage, or any such
insurance, plans or benefits are eliminated, unless such reduction or elimination
applies proportionately to all salaried employees of the Bank who participated in
such benefits prior to such Change in Control; or
(iv) The Employee is transferred to a location which is an unreasonable
distance
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from the Employee’s current principal work location, without the Employee’s
express written consent.
A Termination Event shall be deemed to have occurred on the date such action or event is
implemented or takes effect.
(d) In the event that the Employee’s employment is terminated as set forth in Paragraph 2(a)
or in the event that the Employee terminates employment pursuant to this Paragraph 2, the Bank will
be obligated to pay or cause to be paid to the Employee an amount equal to one half (1/2) times the
Employee’s annual “base amount” as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”).
(e) For the purpose of this Agreement, the term “Change in Control” shall mean:
(i) the acquisition in any manner by any person, group of persons, or entity or group of
entities, of the beneficial ownership of voting stock or irrevocable proxies, or any
combination of voting stock or irrevocable proxies, representing twenty-five percent
(25%) or more of any class of voting securities of the Bank, or of control of the
election of a majority of the directors of the Bank;
(ii) the Bank consolidates or merges with or into another corporation,
association, or entity, or is otherwise reorganized, where the Bank is not the
surviving corporation in such transaction; or
(iii) all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank are sold or otherwise
transferred to or are acquired by any other entity or group.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Paragraph 2, a transaction or event shall not be
considered a Change in Control if, prior to the consummation or occurrence of such transaction or
event, Employee and Bank agree in writing that the same shall not be treated as a Change in Control
for purposes of this Agreement.
(f) Such amounts payable pursuant to this Paragraph 2 shall be paid, at the option of the
Employee, either in one lump sum or in equal monthly payments over six months, such payment to be
made, or to begin, by the end of the month following the date of termination.
(g) Following a Termination Event which gives rise to the Employee’s rights hereunder, the
Employee shall have twelve (12) months from the date of the Change in Control to terminate
employment with the Bank pursuant to this Paragraph 2. Any such termination shall be deemed to
have occurred only upon delivery to the Bank (or to any successor corporation) of written notice of
termination that describes the Change in Control and Termination Event. If the Employee does not
so terminate employment within such twelve-month period following the date of the Change in
Control, the Employee shall thereafter have no further rights, if any, hereunder.
(h) It is the intent of the parties hereto that all payments made pursuant to this Agreement
be deductible by the Bank for federal income tax purposes and not result in the imposition of an
excise tax on the Employee. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
any payments to be made to or for the benefit of the Employee which are deemed to be “parachute
payments” as that term is defined in Section 280G of the Code shall be modified or reduced to the
extent deemed to be necessary by the Bank’s Board of Directors to avoid the imposition of excise
taxes on the Employee under Section 4999 of the Code or the disallowance of a deduction to the Bank
under Section 280G of the Code.
(i) In the event any dispute shall arise between the Employee and the Bank as to the terms or
interpretation of this Agreement, including this Paragraph 2, whether instituted by formal legal
proceedings or otherwise, including any action taken by the Employee to enforce the terms of this
Paragraph 2 or in defending against any action taken by the Bank, the Bank shall reimburse the
Employee for all costs and expenses incurred in such proceedings or actions, including reasonable
attorney’s fees, in the event the Employee prevails in any such action.
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3. Effect of Agreement on Employment Status of Employee. This Agreement shall not confer on the Employee any right to employment with the Bank or to a position as an officer or
an employee of the Bank, nor shall it limit the right of the Bank to remove the Employee from any
position held by the Employee or to terminate the Employee’s employment at any time.
4. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon any corporate or other successor of the Bank which shall acquire, directly or
indirectly, by conversion, merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or substantially all
of the assets of the Bank.
5. Modification; Waiver; Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and
signed by the Employee and the Bank, except as herein otherwise provided. No waiver by either
party hereto, at any time, of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with a
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. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed
by both parties, except as herein otherwise provided.
6. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects whether as to
validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise, by the law of North Carolina, except to
the extent that federal law shall be deemed to apply.
7. 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.
8. Previous Agreement. This Agreement replaces the change in control compensation
agreement between the Officer and The Bank of Richmond, N.A., the predecessor of the Bank, dated
October 20, 2006.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first
written above.
| GATEWAY BANK & TRUST CO. | ||||
| By: | /s/ D. Xxx Xxxxx | |||
| D. Xxx Xxxxx, Chief Executive Officer | ||||
| EMPLOYEE | ||||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
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