EXHIBIT 10.7
AMENDED & RESTATED
CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement
("Agreement") dated June 28, 1999, is entered into by and between BSB Bancorp,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Corporation"), and its wholly-owned subsidiary
BSB Bank & Trust Company, as successor to Binghamton Savings Bank ("Employer"),
a New York stock savings bank, and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx ("Executive"). This
Agreement amends and restates the Change of Control Severance Agreement dated as
of January 22, 1996, as amended, by and among the parties and such Agreement, as
amended, shall be of no further force or effect after the date of this
Agreement.
WITNESSETH:
Whereas, Executive is currently employed by Employer as an Executive
Vice President and Retail Banking Officer; and
Whereas, Corporation, Employer and Executive entered into a Change of
Control Severance Agreement as of January 22, 1996; and
Whereas, the parties desire to amend the agreement; and
Whereas, the parties desire to restate the full agreement;
Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree to this Amendment and
Restatement as follows:
1. Term. The initial term of this Agreement extends for a period of
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three years from the date of this Agreement, provided that the term of the
Agreement shall be extended automatically for one additional year on each annual
anniversary date of this Agreement, unless either the Board of Directors of
Employer or Executive provide contrary written notice to the other not less than
180 days in advance of any such anniversary date. In the event either Employer
or Executive provide such written notice, then the term hereof shall not be
extended, but the then current term shall continue for the period remaining
thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall automatically
expire and terminate on Executive's normal retirement date at age 65 or on
Executive's early retirement under the Special Service Retirement provision of
Employer's pension plan if Executive elects to take such early retirement. The
initial term of employment and all such renewed terms of employment under this
Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the "term of this Agreement."
2. Benefits Upon Termination of Employment. (a) If, before a Change in
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Control at the request or direction of the acquiring party or at any time during
the 12-month period following a Change in Control, (1)the employment of
Executive with Employer is terminated by Employer for any reason other than Good
Cause, or (2) Executive terminates his employment with Employer for Good Reason,
Employer shall, during the Severance Period, continue to pay Executive an amount
equal to Executive's Base Salary.
Such amount will be paid during the Severance Period in monthly or other
installments, similar to those being received by Executive at the date of the
Change in Control, and will commence as soon as practicable following the date
of termination of employment. Executive shall receive any and all vested
benefits accrued under any Incentive Plans and Retirement Plans to the date of
termination of employment, the amount, form and time of payment of such benefits
to be determined by the terms of such Incentive Plans and Retirement Plans and
such benefits shall not be reduced by amounts payable under this Agreement.
(b) If upon the date of termination of Executive's employment, Executive
holds any options with respect to stock of Corporation, all such options will
immediately become exercisable upon such date and will be exercisable for not
less than 90 days thereafter. To the extent such acceleration of vesting or
exercisability of such options is not permissible under the terms of any plan
pursuant to which the options were granted, Employer will pay to Executive, in a
lump sum, within 90 days after termination of employment, an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of the aggregate fair market value of all stock of Corporation
subject to such options, determined on the date of termination of employment,
over the aggregate option price of such stock, and Executive will surrender all
such options unexercised. For the purposes of this Agreement, in the event that
such stock is listed on an established national or regional stock exchange, is
admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System, or is publicly traded in an established securities
market, in determining the fair market value of the stock, Employer shall use
the average of the closing prices of such stock on such exchange or System or in
such market (the highest such closing price if there is more than one such
exchange or market) on the five trading dates immediately before the date of
termination (or, if there is no such closing price, then the Board shall use the
mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices or between the high and low
prices on such
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date), or, if no sale of the Stock has been made on one or more of such dates,
on the next preceding day on which any such sale shall have been made.
(c) During the Severance Period, Executive and his spouse will continue to
be covered by all Welfare Plans, maintained by Employer in which he or his
spouse were participating immediately prior to the date of his termination as if
he continued to be an employee of Employer; provided that, if participation in
any one or more of such Welfare Plans is not possible under the terms thereof,
Employer will provide substantially identical benefits. If, however, Executive
obtains employment with another employer during the Severance Period, such
coverage shall be provided only to the extent that the coverage exceeds the
coverage of any substantially similar plans provided by his new employer.
3. No Setoff. No payment or benefits payable to or with respect to
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Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced by any amount Executive or
his spouse may earn or receive from employment with another employer or from any
other source, except as expressly provided in subsection 2(c) of this Agreement.
4. Death. If Executive dies during the Severance Period:
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(a) All amounts payable hereunder to Executive shall, during the remainder
of the Severance Period, be paid to his surviving spouse.
(b) The spouse of Executive shall, during the remainder of the Severance
Period, be covered under all Welfare Plans made available by Employer to
Executive or his spouse immediately prior to the date of his death; provided
that, if participation in any one or more of such plans and arrangements is not
possible under the terms thereof, Employer will provide substantially identical
benefits.
Any benefits payable under this Section 4 are in addition to any other
benefit due to Executive or his spouse or beneficiaries from Employer,
including, but not limited to, payments under any of the Incentive or Retirement
Plans.
5. Termination for Good Cause or Without Good Reason. If the employment
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of Executive with Employer is terminated (a) for any reason prior to a Change in
Control other than at the request or direction of an acquiror in connection with
a Change in Control, or (b) after a Change in Control by Employer for Good
Cause, or by the voluntary action of Executive without Good Reason, Executive's
Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date of termination) shall be paid
through the date of termination, and Employer shall have no further obligation
to Executive or his spouse under this Agreement, except for benefits accrued
under Incentive Plans pursuant to subsection 2(a) above.
6. Section 280G Gross-Up Payment.
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(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except
as set forth below in this Section 6(i), in the event it shall be determined
that any payment or distribution by Employer, or any other member of the
affiliated group (as determined for purposes of Sections 280G and 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") of which Employer or
Corporation is a member, to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or
payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required
under this Section 6) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed
by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the
Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any
such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional
payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the
Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect
to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any
interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon
the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(i), if it shall be determined that the Executive is
entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Executive, after taking into
account the Payments and the Gross-Up Payment, would not receive a net after-tax
benefit of at least $10,000 (taking into account both income taxes and any
Excise Tax) as compared to the net after-tax proceeds to the Executive resulting
from an elimination of the Gross-Up Payment and a reduction of the Payments, in
the aggregate, to an amount (the "Reduced Amount") such that the receipt of
Payments would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall
be made to the Executive and the Payments, in the aggregate, shall be reduced to
the Reduced Amount.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 6(iii), all determinations
required to be made under this Section 6, including whether and when a Gross-Up
Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions
to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by
PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP such other certified public accounting firm
reasonably acceptable to Employer as may be designated in writing by the
Executive (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting
calculations both to Employer and the Executive within 15 business days of the
receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such
earlier time as is requested by Employer. In the event that the Accounting Firm
is serving as accountant or auditor
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for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change of Control, the
Executive shall appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm reasonably
acceptable to Employer to make the determinations required hereunder (which
accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All
fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by Employer. Any
Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 6, shall be paid by
Employer to the Executive within five business days of the receipt of the
Accounting Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall
be binding upon Employer and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in
the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial
determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the initial
Gross-Up Payments made by Employer will be inadequate and that additional Gross-
Up Payments by Employer should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with
the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that Employer
exhaust its remedies pursuant to Section 6(iii) and the Executive thereafter are
required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall
determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such
Underpayment shall be promptly paid by Employer to or for the benefit of the
Executive.
(iii) The Executive shall notify Employer in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by
Employer of a Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as
practicable but no later than 10 business days after the Executive receives
written notice of such claim and shall apprise Employer of the nature of such
claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive
shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of 30 days following the date
on which the Executive gives such notice to Employer (or such shorter period
ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due).
If Employer notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such
period that they desire to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(a) give Employer any information reasonably requested by
Employer relating to such claim,
(b) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as
Employer shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including,
without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by
an attorney selected by Employer and reasonably acceptable to the Executive,
(c) cooperate with Employer in good faith in order effectively
to contest such claim, and
(d) permit Employer to participate in any proceedings relating
to such claim; provided, however, that Employer shall bear and pay directly all
costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in
connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive
harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including
interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such
representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the
foregoing provisions of this Section 6(iii), Employer shall control all
proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at their sole option, may
pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at their
sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a
refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees
to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal,
in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as
Employer shall determine; provided, however, that if Employer directs the
Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, Employer shall advance the
amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any
Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto)
imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with
respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of the statute
of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the
Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is
limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, Employer's control of the
contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment
would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or
contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue
Service or any other taxing authority.
(iv) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by
Employer pursuant to Section 6(iii), the Executive becomes entitled to receive
any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to
Employer's continued compliance with the requirements of this Section 6)
promptly pay to Employer the amount of such refund (together with any interest
paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt
by the Executive of an amount advanced by Employer pursuant to Section 6(iii), a
determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund
with respect to such claim and Employer does not notify the Executive in writing
of their intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30
days after such determination (or if any such contest shall be finally
determined in a manner adverse to such refund being allowed), then such advance
shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such
advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of the Gross-Up Payment
required to be paid.
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7. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
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(a) "Base Salary" shall mean the higher of Executive's annual
base salary at the rate in effect on the date of a Change in Control or the rate
in effect on the date of termination of employment.
(b) "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if
there has been a change of control of a nature that would be required to be
reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), or such
item thereof which may hereafter pertain to the same subject; provided that, and
notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have
occurred if (i) any "person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of Corporation or Employer representing 25% or more of
the combined voting power of Corporation's then outstanding securities, (ii)
during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of
such period constituted the Boards of Directors of Corporation and Employer
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof unless the
election of each Director, who was not a Director at the beginning of the
period, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then
still in office who were Directors at the beginning of the period, (iii)
Corporation shall cease to be a publicly owned corporation, or (iv) any merger
or consolidation of Corporation with or into another entity shall occur as a
result of which the stockholders of Corporation do not retain or acquire 75% or
more of the capital stock of the resulting entity.
(c) "Good Cause" shall be deemed to exist if, and only if: (1)
Executive engages in acts or omissions constituting dishonesty, intentional
breach of fiduciary obligation or intentional wrongdoing or malfeasance; (2)
Executive is convicted of a criminal violation involving fraud or dishonesty; or
(3) Executive materially breaches the Agreement (other than by engaging in acts
or omissions enumerated in paragraphs (1) and (2) above), or materially fails to
satisfy the conditions and requirements of his employment with Employer, and
such breach or failure by its nature is incapable of being cured, or such breach
or failure remains uncured for more than 30 days following receipt by Executive
of written notice from Employer specifying the nature of the breach of this
paragraph (3), inattention by Executive to his duties shall be deemed a breach
or failure capable of cure.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following
shall not constitute Good Cause: any personal or policy disagreement between
Executive and Employer or any member of the Board of Directors of Employer; or
any action taken by Executive in connection with his duties if Executive acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, and not opposed
to, the best interest of Employer and had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event
Employer shall terminate the employment of Executive for Good Cause hereunder,
Employer shall give at least 30 days prior written notice to Executive
specifying in detail the reason or reasons for Executive's termination.
(d) "Good Reason" shall exist if:
(1) there is a significant change in the nature or the
scope of Executive's authority;
(2) there is a reduction in Executive's base salary from
the rate in effect during the fiscal year before the Change in Control;
(3) Employer changes the principal location in which
Executive is required to perform services to one which is more than 50 miles
from his current location;
(4) there is a reasonable determination by Executive that,
as a result of a change in circumstances significantly affecting his position,
he is unable to exercise the authority, powers, function or duties attached to
his position;
(e) "Incentive Plans" shall mean any incentive, bonus
deferred compensation or similar plan or arrangement currently or hereafter made
available by Corporation or Employer in which Executive is eligible to
participate.
(f) "Retirement Plans" shall mean any qualified or
supplemental defined benefit retirement plan or defined contribution retirement
plan, currently or hereinafter made available by Corporation or Employer in
which Executive is eligible to participate.
(g) "Severance Period" shall mean the period beginning on
the date Executive's employment with Employer terminates under circumstances
described in Section 2 above and ending on the first to occur of: (1) the date
24 months thereafter, or (2) the date Executive attains or would have attained
age 65.
(h) "Welfare Plan" shall mean any health and dental plan,
disability plan, survivor income plan and life insurance plan or arrangement
currently or hereafter made available by Employer in which Executive is eligible
to participate.
8. Benefits Unfunded. All rights of Executive and his spouse or other
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beneficiary under this Agreement shall at all times be entirely unfunded and no
provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating any assets of
Corporation or Employer for payment of any amounts due hereunder. Neither
Executive nor his spouse or other
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beneficiary shall have any interest in or rights against any specific assets of
Corporation or Employer, and Executive and his spouse or other beneficiary shall
have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of Employer.
9. Litigation Expense. Employer shall pay Executive's out of-pocket
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expenses, including attorney's fees, in connection with any judicial proceeding
to enforce this Agreement or to construe or determine the validity of this
Agreement or otherwise in connection herewith if Executive is successful in such
litigation.
10. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted
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pursuant to the laws of the State of New York.
11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire Agreement
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between Employer and Executive and supersedes any and all previous agreements,
written or oral, among the parties relating to his or her employment by
Employer. No amendment or modification of the terms of this Agreement shall be
binding upon the parties hereto unless reduced to writing and signed by Employer
and Executive. This Agreement is the exclusive agreement between Corporation,
Employer and Executive regarding payments to Executive in the event of a change
in control of Corporation or Employer. During the term of this Agreement,
Executive shall not participate in or benefit from any other change of control
severance plan or policy which may be adopted by Corporation or Employer,
provided that thereafter Executive shall participate in such plan or policy if
one has been established by Corporation or Employer.
12. No Employment Contract. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
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be construed to be an employment contract between Executive and Employer.
Executive is employed at will and Employer may terminate his employment at any
time, with or without cause.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
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which shall be deemed an original.
14. Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement is held
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illegal or invalid, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected thereby.
15. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
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benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, representatives and
successors.
16. Notice. Notices required under this Agreement shall be in writing and
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sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the following addresses or
to such other address as the party being notified may have previously furnished
to the others by written notice.
If to Employer: Attention: Xxxx X. XxXxxxxx
BSB Bank & Trust Company
00-00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000
If to Executive:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
17. Board Approval. The obligations of Employer under this Agreement are
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contingent upon the approval or ratification by its Board of Directors of the
execution of this 'Agreement on its behalf.
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In Witness Whereof, Executive has hereunto set his hand, and Corporation and
Employer have caused this agreement to be executed in their name and on their
behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.
BSB BANCORP INC.
BSB BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxx X. XxXxxxxx
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Xxxx X. XxXxxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Vice President
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