EXHIBIT 10.8
AGREEMENT
This Agreement (the "Agreement") made the 24th day of May 2002, by and
between AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (the "Company"), a Pennsylvania corporation,
having its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Post Office Xxx
000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000, and XXX X. XXXXXX ("Executive").
WHEREAS, the Executive is the Senior Vice President, Marketing & Retail
Banking of the Company.
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that it is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders
to ensure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as
defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish
the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal
uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change in Control and
to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company
currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change in Control, and
to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a
Change in Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations
of the Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other
corporations.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
1. Term. This Agreement shall be for a three (3) year period commencing on
the date first set forth above and shall be automatically renewed on the first
and on each subsequent annual anniversary of the above day and month ("Annual
Renewal Date") for a period ending three (3) years from each Annual Renewal Date
unless either party shall give written notice of non-renewal at least sixty (60)
days prior to the Annual Renewal Date.
2. Change in Control. As used in this Agreement, Change in Control shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following:
(a) any "person" or "group" (as those terms are defined or used in
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"),
as enacted and in force on the date hereof) is or becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, as
enacted and in force on the date hereof) of securities of the Company
representing 24.99% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
securities then outstanding;
(b) there occurs a merger, consolidation, share exchange, division
or other reorganization involving the Company and another entity in which
Company shareholders do not continue to hold a majority of the capital
stock of the resulting entity, or a sale, exchange, transfer, or other
disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another
entity or other person; or
(c) there occurs a contested proxy solicitation or solicitations of
the Company's shareholders which results in the contesting party or
parties obtaining the ability to elect a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors standing for election at one or more meetings of the
Company's shareholders.
3. Triggering Events. If a Change in Control shall occur and if
thereafter, at any time during the term of this Agreement there shall be:
(a) any involuntary termination of the Executive by the Company,
other than for Cause as defined in Section 4 below;
(b) any reduction in the Executive's title, responsibilities,
including reporting responsibilities, or authority, including such title,
responsibilities, or authority as such may be increased from time to time
during the term of this Agreement;
(c) the assignment to the Executive of duties inconsistent with the
Executive's office as such duties existed on the day immediately prior to
the date of a Change in Control;
(d) any reduction in the Executive's annual base salary in effect on
the day immediately prior to the date of
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a Change in Control;
(e) any failure to continue the Executive's participation, on
substantially similar terms, in any incentive compensation or bonus plans
of the Company in which the Executive participated in immediately prior to
the Change in Control, or any change or amendment to any of the
substantive provisions of any of such plans which would materially
decrease the potential benefits to the Executive under any of such plans;
(f) any failure to provide the Executive with benefits at least as
favorable as those enjoyed by the Executive under any pension, life
insurance, medical, health and accident, disability or other employee
plans of the Company in which the Executive participated in immediately
prior to 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, unless such reduction relates to a reduction in
benefits applicable to all employees generally; or
(g) any breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Company,
which breach shall not have been cured by the Company within thirty (30)
days of the Company's receipt from the Executive or his agent of written
notice specifying in reasonable detail the nature of the Company's breach;
then Executive, at his sole discretion, may upon no less than ninety (90) days
written notice to Company, resign from
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employment with the Company (or, if involuntarily terminated, give notice of
intention to collect benefits under this Agreement) by delivering written notice
to the Company at any time during the term of this Agreement.
4. Termination of Executive for Cause. Upon or following a Change in
Control, the Company shall have the right at any time to terminate the
Executive's employment for Cause. In such event, the Company shall give prompt
notice to the Executive, specifying in reasonable detail the basis for such
termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean the following
conduct of the Executive:
(a) Material breach of any provision of this Agreement, which breach
Executive shall have failed to cure within thirty (30) days after
Employee's receipt of written notice from the Company specifying the
specific nature of the Executive's breach;
(b) Willful misconduct of Executive that is materially inimical to
the best interests, monetary or otherwise, of the Company;
(c) Conviction of a felony or of any crime involving moral
turpitude, fraud or deceit;
(d) Adjudication as a bankrupt under the United States Bankruptcy
Code.
5. Compensation and Benefits. Upon the occurrence of an
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event set forth in Section 3 hereof and the delivery of a notice of termination
to the Company pursuant to Section 3 hereof, the Executive shall be absolutely
entitled to receive the compensation and benefits set forth below:
(a) the Executive shall select, in his absolute discretion, and
receive either (i) monthly installments equal to one thirty-sixth (1/36)
of an amount equal to 2.99 times the following: (x) During the initial
three-year term of this Agreement (the "Initial Term") commencing on the
date hereof, the highest combined base salary and bonus paid or payable to
the Executive in the then current year or in any one of the last five
fiscal years preceding the Executive's delivery of a notice of
termination; or (y) After the expiration of the Initial Term, the quotient
obtained by dividing the sum of the Executive's combined salary and
bonuses in the five years preceding the Executive's delivery of a notice
of termination by five, such monthly installments shall be payable for a
period of one year (the "Payment Period") commencing on the first day of
the first calendar month after Executive's delivery of notice of
termination, or (ii) a one time lump sum payment equal to the
non-discounted sum of the twelve (12) monthly payments provided for in
Section 5(a)(i) immediately above;
(b) from the date of the notice of termination through and including
the last day of the Payment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
continue to participate in
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the employee retirement plan(s) of the Company and any supplemental
executive retirement plan(s) (including deferred profit sharing plan) or
other plan in effect during the term of this Agreement designed to
supplement payments made under such employee retirement plan, as the case
may be, as if the Executive's employment had not terminated;
(c) from the date of the notice of termination through and including
the last day of the Payment Period, the Executive shall be provided with
life, disability, and medical insurance benefits at levels equivalent to
the highest levels in effect for the Executive during any one of the three
(3) calendar years preceding the year in which the notice of termination
is delivered; and
(d) on the date of the notice of termination, all options held by
the Executive to acquire common stock of the Company, to the extent not
immediately exercisable by their terms, shall become immediately
exercisable, and such options shall be exercisable by the Executive at any
time prior to the earlier of the expiration date(s) of such stock options
or the date which is ninety (90) days after the Executive's termination of
employment with the Company.
In the event the Executive is ineligible to continue participation in the
employee retirement plan of the Company and/or any supplemental executive
retirement plan (including deferred profit sharing plan) or other plan in effect
during the term of this Agreement designed to supplement payments made under
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such employee retirement plan or in any of Company's life, disability or medical
insurance plans or programs, the Company shall, in lieu of such participation,
pay the Executive a dollar amount equal to the dollar amount of the benefit
forfeited by the Executive as a result of such ineligibility or a dollar amount
equal to the cost to the Executive to obtain such benefits in the case of any
life, disability or medical insurance plans or programs.
6. Beneficiary. Should the Executive die after entitlement but prior to
payment in full of amounts due pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) hereof, such monthly
payments shall continue (if such payment option was so elected by Executive) to
the Executive's designated beneficiary or his estate until such entitlement has
been paid in full.
7. Employment at Will. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof and,
subject to the provisions of any other agreement between the Executive and the
Company, the Executive shall remain an employee at will and nothing herein shall
confer upon the Executive any right to continued employment and shall not affect
the right of the Company to terminate the Executive for any reason not
prohibited by law; provided, however, that any such removal shall be without
prejudice to any
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rights the Executive may have to compensation and benefits as provided for in
Section 5 hereof.
8. Arbitration. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event of any
controversy, dispute or claim arising out of, or relating to this Agreement, or
the breach thereof, the parties may seek recourse only for temporary or
preliminary injunctive relief to the courts having jurisdiction thereof. If any
relief other than injunctive relief is sought, the Company and the Executive
agree that such underlying controversy, dispute or claim shall be settled by
arbitration conducted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in accordance with this
Section 8 and the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association ("AAA"). The matter shall be heard and decided, and awards rendered,
by a panel of three (3) arbitrators (the "Arbitration Panel"). The Company and
Executive shall each select one arbitrator from the AAA National Panel of
Commercial Arbitrators (the "Commercial Panel") and AAA shall select a third
arbitrator from the Commercial Panel. The award rendered by the Arbitration
Panel shall be final and binding as between the parties hereto and their heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and judgment on the award may
be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall pay their
professional fees, expenses and costs incurred in connection with the resolution
of any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of, or relating to this
Agreement.
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9. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company, and the Company shall
require any successor to expressly acknowledge and assume its obligation
hereunder. This Agreement shall inure to the extent provided hereunder to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive or his/her legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and
legatees. The Executive may not delegate any of his/her duties,
responsibilities, obligations or positions hereunder to any person and any such
purported delegation by him/her shall be void and of no force and effect.
10. Prior Termination. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs either (a) by the Company
other than for Cause or (b) by the Executive for any one of the reasons set
forth in Section 3 hereof, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such
termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third party who has taken
steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change in Control or (ii) otherwise
arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change in Control, then for all
purposes of this Agreement the termination shall deemed to have occurred upon a
Change in Control and the Executive will be entitled to the compensation and
benefits provided for in Section 5 hereof.
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11. Release. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that prior to
the occurrence of the Executive's or his dependent's right to receive from the
Company or any of its representatives or agents any compensation or benefit to
be paid or provided to him or his dependents pursuant to Section 5 of this
Agreement, the Executive may be required by the Company, in its sole discretion,
to execute a release in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, which
releases any and all claims the Executive has or may have against the Company or
its subsidiaries, agents, officers, directors, successors or assigns.
12. Compliance with Laws. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that
this Agreement and each party's enforcement of their rights hereunder are
subject to the Comprehensive Thrift and Bank Fraud Prosecutions Act of 1990 (12
USC 1828) as enacted and in force on the date hereof.
13. Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this
Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing, and if personally delivered or when
sent by first class certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested -- in the case of the Executive, to his residence address as
set forth below, and in the case of the Company, to the address of its principal
place of business, in care of the Board -- or to such other person or at such
other address with respect to each party as such party shall notify the other in
writing.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
Attest: AmeriServ Financial, Inc.
__/s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx _____________ By:/s/Orlando B. Hanselman____
Secretary Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Chairman, President & CEO
___/s/Xxx X. Hummel________(SEAL)
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Address: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
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