AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.15
AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 23rd day of December, 2021, by and between C&F FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Virginia corporation (the “Holding Company”), CITIZENS AND FARMERS BANK, a Virginia banking corporation (the “Bank”) (collectively Holding Company and Bank shall be referred to herein as “Company”), and Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (the “Executive”).
RECITALS
I.The Executive currently serves as Chief Credit Officer of the Bank, is a key member of management of the Company and its affiliates, and his services and knowledge are valuable to the Company and its affiliates.
II.The Board and Bank Board (as defined below) have determined that it is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company and its affiliates will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined below). The Board and the Bank Board believe 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 and its affiliates currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change in Control. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board and the Bank Board have caused the Holding Company and the Bank to enter into this Agreement.
III.This Agreement amends and restates the agreement between the Company and the Executive dated October 9, 2012.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1.CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
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For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to the Executive in accordance with Section 11(c) of this Agreement and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive has engaged in the conduct described in paragraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
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(ii) any event or condition described in paragraph (i) of this Section 1(h) which occurs on or after the Agreement Effective Date, but prior to a Change in Control, but was at the request of a third party who effectuates the Change in Control, notwithstanding that it occurred prior to the Change in Control, but such event or condition shall not be considered to actually have occurred until the Change in Control Date.
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2.CHANGE IN CONTROL.
A “Change in Control” means a change in the ownership, a change in the effective control, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets, in each case of the Holding Company, the Bank or one of their affiliates as provided in Section 2(a) below, consistent with and interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) and applicable regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“Code Section 409A”), and specifically defined as follows:
(a)General Rules. In order to constitute a Change in Control as to the Executive, the Change in Control shall relate to:
(i)The corporation for whom the Executive is performing services at the time of the Change in Control; or
(ii)The corporation that is liable for the payment of the deferred compensation (or all corporations liable for the payment if more than one corporation is liable) but only if either the deferred compensation is attributable to the performance of service by the Executive for such corporation (or corporations) or there is a bona fide business purpose for such corporation or corporations to be liable for such payment and, in either case, no significant purpose of making such corporation or corporations liable for such payment is the avoidance of Federal income tax; or
(iii)A corporation that is a majority shareholder of a corporation identified in either paragraph (i) or (ii), or any corporation in a chain of corporations in which each corporation is a majority shareholder of another corporation in the chain, ending in a corporation identified in either paragraph (i) or (ii) above.
(b)Change In Ownership. A change in the ownership of a corporation shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of such corporation. However, if any person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of a corporation, then the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons shall not be considered to cause a change in the ownership of the corporation (or to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation).
(c)Change In Effective Control. Notwithstanding the fact that a corporation has not undergone a change in ownership as described above, a change in the effective control of a corporation shall occur only on the date that either:
(i)Any one person or more than one person acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the corporation possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of such corporation; or
(ii)A majority of members of the corporation’s Board of Directors is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the corporation’s Board of Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election, provided that for purposes of this paragraph (ii), the term “corporation” refers solely to the relevant corporation identified above, for which no other corporation is a majority shareholder.
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(d)Change In Ownership of Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the corporation immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, “gross fair market value” shall mean the value of the assets of the corporation, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
A transfer of assets by a corporation shall not be treated as a change in the ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to:
(i)A shareholder of the corporation (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock; or
(ii)An entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation; or
(iii)A person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the corporation; or
(iv)An entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person who is a “related person” under applicable Treasury Regulations.
There shall be no Change in Control when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the transfer.
The Executive agrees that in the event any person or group attempts a Change in Control, he shall not voluntarily leave the employ of the Company without Good Reason (i) until such attempted Change in Control terminates or (ii) if a Change in Control shall occur, until the Change in Control Date. For purposes of the foregoing clause (i), Good Reason shall be determined as if a Change in Control had occurred when such attempted Change in Control became known to the Board.
(a)Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by the Executive, other than by reason of death, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given. For purposes hereof:
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(b)Obligations of the Company in a Covered Termination. If the Executive’s employment shall cease by reason of a Covered Termination, subject to the delay provided under Section 7, if applicable, then the following shall be paid or provided (the payments and benefits described in (i), (ii) and (iii) below may hereinafter sometimes be referred to as the “Change in Control Benefit” or “Change in Control Benefits”):
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(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the requirements of Section 1(e) are met regarding the Executive’s termination prior to a Change in Control, the Change in Control Benefits shall be paid within thirty (30) days after the date of a Change in Control (not the Date of Termination).
(d)Obligations of the Company in a Noncovered Termination. If the Executive’s employment shall cease by reason of a Noncovered Termination, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation timely to pay or cause to be paid or provide or cause to be provided to the Executive his Other Benefits.
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(i)“Net After-tax Benefit” shall mean the Present Value of a Payment net of all taxes (including any Excise Tax imposed on the Executive) with respect thereto, determined by applying the highest marginal rate(s) applicable to an individual for the Executive’s taxable year in which the Change in Control occurs.
(ii)“Present Value” shall mean such value determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code.
(iii)“Limited Payment Amount” shall be an amount expressed as a Present Value which maximizes the aggregate Present Value of Payments without causing any Payment to be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code or the deduction limitation of Section 280G of the Code (without taking into account any limitation on deductions under Section 162(m) of the Code).
In the event the Payments are to be reduced, the Company shall reduce or eliminate the Payments to the Executive by first reducing or eliminating those payments or benefits which are payable in cash and then by reducing or eliminating those payments which are not payable in cash, in each case in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid or provided the farthest in time from the Change in Control Date. Any reduction pursuant to the preceding sentence shall take precedence over the provisions of any other plan, arrangement or agreement governing the Executive’s rights and entitlements to any benefits or compensation.
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(a) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Code Section 409A or comply with an exemption from the application of Code Section 409A and, accordingly, all provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Code Section 409A.
(b)Neither the Executive nor the Company shall take any action to accelerate or delay the payment of any monies and/or provision of any benefits in any matter which would not be in compliance with Code Section 409A.
(c)A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the form or timing of payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement under which (and to the extent) deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A is paid, references to a “termination” or “termination of employment” or like references shall mean separation from service. A “separation from service” shall not occur under Code Section 409A unless the Executive has completely severed Executive’s relationship with the Company or the Executive has permanently decreased Executive’s services to twenty percent (20%) or less of the average level of bona fide services over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period (or the full period if the Executive has been providing services for less than thirty-six (36) months). A leave of absence shall only trigger a termination of employment that constitutes a separation from service at the time required under Code Section 409A. If the Executive is deemed on the date of separation from service with the Company to be a “specified employee”, within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B) and using the
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identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time, or if none, the default methodology, then with regard to any payment or benefit that is required to be delayed for six (6) months in compliance with Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), such payment or benefit (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed in a lump sum with interest on the earlier of (i) the first day of the seventh (7th) month measured from the date of the Executive’s separation from service or (ii) the date of the Executive’s death, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein. The amount of interest to be paid shall be based on the prime rate of interest in effect on the first day of the month following the Executive's separation from service as reported in the Wall Street Journal. In the case of benefits required to be delayed under Code Section 409A, however, the Executive may pay the cost of benefit coverage, and thereby obtain benefits, during such six (6) month delay period and then be reimbursed by the Company thereafter on the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date of the Executive’s separation from service or, if earlier, on the date of the Executive’s death.
(d)With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Code Section 409A, (i) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year, provided that the foregoing clause (ii) shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect. All reimbursements shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement policies but in no event later than the calendar year following the calendar year in which the related expense is incurred.
(e)If under this Agreement, an amount is to be paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Code Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.
(f) When, if ever, a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within ten (10) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company or, if within the control of the Executive and payable over two calendar years, shall always be paid in the later calendar year. In the event any payment payable upon termination of employment would be exempt from Code Section 409A under Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) but for the amount of such payment, the determination of the payments to Executive that are exempt under such provision shall be made by applying the exemption to payments based on chronological order beginning with the payments paid closest in time on or after such termination of employment.
(g)Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall not be liable to the Executive if any payment or benefit which is to be provided pursuant to this Agreement and which is considered deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A otherwise fails to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Code Section 409A.
This Agreement shall be effective as of the Agreement Effective Date and shall normally continue until the later of the Agreement Regular Termination Date or, if a Change in Control has occurred, until the end of the Coverage Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall terminate in any event upon the Executive’s cessation of employment in a Noncovered Termination.
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Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive or the Executive’s counsel from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiry from, volunteering information to, or providing testimony before a self-regulatory authority or a governmental, law enforcement or other regulatory authority, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Congress, and any Office of Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), from participating in any reporting of, investigation into, or proceeding regarding suspected violations of law, or from making other disclosures that are protected under or from receiving an award for information provided under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in such communications with the Regulators, respond to such inquiries from the Regulators, provide confidential information or documents containing confidential information to the Regulators, or make any such reports or disclosures to the Regulators. The Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such communications with the Regulators. The Executive recognizes and agrees that, in connection with any such activity outlined above, the Executive must inform the Regulators that the information the Executive is providing is confidential.
Federal law provides certain protections to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances. Specifically, federal law provides that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret under either of the following conditions:
● | Where the disclosure is made (a) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (b) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or |
● | Where the disclosure is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. |
Federal law also provides that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (a) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (b) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
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If to the Executive:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
C&F Financial Corporation
0000 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Toano, Virginia 23168
If to the Company (the Holding Company and/or the Bank):
President, C&F Financial Corporation
0000 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Toano, Virginia 23168
Copy to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx XXX
Xxxxxx Law PLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx - P.O. Box 231
West Point, Virginia 23181
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx C&F Financial Corporation By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Its: President and CEO |
| Citizens and Farmers Bank By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Its: President and CEO |
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