EXHIBIT 10.4
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRST FEDERAL BANK
AND XXXXXX XXXXX
FIRST FEDERAL BANK
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made effective as of the ____ day of October, 1999 by
and between First Federal Bank (the "Bank"), a federally-chartered stock savings
bank, with its principal administrative office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxx 00000 and Xxxxxx Xxxxx (the "Executive"). Any reference to "Company" herein
shall mean First Federal Bankshares, Inc., a Delaware stock corporation or any
successor thereto.
WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to assure itself of the continued services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to continue to serve in the employ of the
Bank on a full-time basis for said period.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the
parties hereby agree as follows:
1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
During the period of her employment hereunder, Executive agrees to
serve as Senior Vice President of the Bank and the Company. During said period,
Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an officer and director of any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank. Failure to reelect Executive as Senior Vice
President without the consent of the Executive during the term of this Agreement
shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES
(a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall
begin as of the date first above written and shall continue for a period of
thirty-six (36) full calendar months thereafter ("Employment Period").
Commencing on each annual anniversary of the date of this Agreement (the date of
each annual anniversary hereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Anniversary Date"), unless the Employment Period has been previously
terminated, the Board shall, at least 60 days prior to each such Anniversary
Date, conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation and review of the Executive
for purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement and the results
thereof shall be included in the minutes of the Board meeting. The Board shall
give the Executive notice of its decision whether or not to extend the
Employment Period at least 60 days prior to the Anniversary Date, and if such
notice is that the Employment Period shall not be extended (a "Non-Renewal
Notice"), the Employment Period shall not be extended. In such case, the
Agreement shall terminate in accordance with its terms at the end of twenty-four
(24) months following such Anniversary Date.
(b) Executive's duties as Senior Vice President of the Bank are set
forth on Exhibit A attached hereto. During the Employment Period, except for
periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and
reasonable leaves of absence, Executive shall faithfully perform her duties
hereunder including activities and services related to the organization,
operation and management of the Bank. For these purposes, "reasonable" shall be
determined by reference to similarly situated financial institutions or in
accordance with industry standards.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT
(a) The compensation specified under this Agreement shall constitute
the salary and benefits paid for the duties described in Section 2(b). The Bank
shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of not less than $82,000 per year
("Base Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the normal
payroll practices of the Bank. During the Employment Period, Executive's Base
Salary shall be reviewed at least annually; the first such review will be made
no later than January 31, 2000. Such review shall be conducted by a Committee
designated by the Board, and the Board may increase, but not decrease,
Executive's Base Salary (any increase in Base Salary shall become the "Base
Salary" for purposes of this Agreement). In addition to the Base Salary provided
in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall provide Executive at no cost to Executive
with all such other benefits as are provided uniformly to permanent full-time
employees of the Bank.
(b) The Bank will provide Executive with employee benefit plans,
arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which
Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior
to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Bank will not, without
Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements
or perquisites which would adversely affect Executive's vested rights or
benefits thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions
of this Subsection (b), Executive will be entitled to participate in or receive
benefits under any employee benefit plans including but not limited to,
retirement plans, supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing
plans, stock option plans, stock award plans, health-and-accident plans, medical
coverage or any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the
Bank in the future to its senior executives and key management employees,
subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall
administration of such plans and arrangements. Executive will be entitled to
incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in any plan of the Bank in which
Executive is eligible to participate (and she shall be entitled to a pro rata
distribution under any incentive compensation or bonus plan as to any year in
which a termination of employment occurs, other than termination for Cause).
Nothing paid to the Executive under any such plan or arrangement will be deemed
to be in lieu of other compensation to which the Executive is entitled under
this Agreement.
(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of
this Section 3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable
travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive performing her
obligations under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in
such form and such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION
The provisions of this Section shall in all respects be subject to the
terms and conditions stated in Sections 7 and 15.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply upon the occurrence of
an Event of Termination (as herein defined) during the Employment Period. As
used in this Agreement, an "Event of Termination" shall mean and include any one
or more of the following:
(i) the termination by the Bank or the Company of Executive's full-time
employment hereunder for any reason other than (A) Disability or Retirement, as
defined in Section 5 below, or (B) Termination for Cause as defined in Section 6
hereof; or
(ii) Executive's resignation from the Bank's employ, upon any
(A) failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint
Executive as Senior Vice President or failure to nominate
Executive as a Director of the Bank,
(B) material change in Executive's function, duties, or
responsibilities, which change would cause Executive's
position to become one of lesser responsibility, importance,
or scope from the position and attributes thereof described in
Section 1, above,
(C) a relocation of Executive's principal place of employment
by more than 30 miles from its location at the effective date
of this Agreement, or a material reduction in the benefits and
perquisites to the Executive from those being provided as of
the effective date of this Agreement,
(D) liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or Company other
than liquidations or dissolutions that are caused by
reorganizations that do not affect the status of Executive, or
(E) breach of this Agreement by the Bank.
Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (ii) (A), (B), (C), (D) or
(E), above, Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate her employment
under this Agreement by resignation upon sixty (60) days prior written notice
given within a reasonable period of time not to exceed four calendar months
after the initial event giving rise to said right to elect. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, in the event of a continuing breach of this Agreement by the
Bank, the Executive, after giving due notice within the prescribed time frame of
an initial event specified above, shall not waive any of her rights solely under
this Agreement and this Section 4 by virtue of the fact that Executive has
submitted her resignation but has remained in the employment of the Bank and is
engaged in good faith discussions to resolve any occurrence of an event
described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) above.
(iii) Executive's voluntary resignation from the Bank's employ on the
effective date of, or at any time within six (6) months following a Change in
Control. For these purposes, a Change in Control of the Bank or the Company
shall mean a change in control of a nature that: (i) would be required to be
reported in response to Item 1(a) of the current report on Form 8-K, as in
effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 0000 (xxx "Xxxxxxxx Xxx"); or (ii) results in a Change in
Control of the Bank or the Company within the meaning of the Home Owners' Loan
Act and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Office of Thrift
Supervision (or its predecessor agency), as in effect on the date hereof; or
(iii) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have
occurred at such time as (a) any "Person" (as the term is used in Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Bank or the Company representing 25% or more of the Bank's or the Company's
outstanding securities, except for any securities of the Bank purchased by the
Company in connection with the second step conversion of the mutual holding
company parent of the Bank to the stock form and any securities purchased by the
Bank's employee stock ownership plan and trust; or (b) individuals who
constitute the Board on the date hereof (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided, however, that this
sub-section (b) shall not apply if the Incumbent Board is replaced by the
appointment by a Federal banking agency of a conservator or receiver for the
Bank and, provided further that any person becoming a director subsequent to the
date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors comprising the Incumbent Board or whose nomination for election by the
Company's stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee serving
under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (b), considered
as though she were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (c) a proxy statement
soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Company, by someone other than the
current management of the Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or Bank or similar
transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding
shares of the class of securities then subject to such plan or transaction are
exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the
Bank or the Company shall be distributed and the requisite number of proxies
approving such plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or
Bank are received and voted in favor of such transactions; or (d) a tender offer
is made for 25% or more of the outstanding securities of the Bank or Company and
shareholders owning beneficially or of record 25% or more of the outstanding
securities of the Bank or Company have tendered or offered to sell their shares
pursuant to such tender offer and such tendered shares have been accepted by the
tender offeror.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 7, the Bank shall pay Executive, or, in the
event of her subsequent death, her beneficiary or beneficiaries, or her estate,
as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal
to 299% of the Executive's "base amount" of compensation, as defined in Section
280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code"). At the election of the
Executive, which election is to be made on an annual basis during the month of
January, and which election is irrevocable for the year in which made and upon
the occurrence of an Event of Termination, any payments shall be made in a lump
sum or paid monthly during the remaining term of this Agreement following the
Executive's termination. In the event that no election is made, payment to the
Executive will be made on a monthly basis during the remaining term of this
Agreement. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event the Executive obtains
other employment following termination of employment.
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause
to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially
identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to her
termination. Such coverage shall continue for 36 months from the Date of
Termination.
(d) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 4, in the
event that:
(i) the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or
afforded to Executive under said paragraphs (the
"Termination Benefits") would be deemed to include an
"excess parachute payment" under Section 280G of the
Code or any successor thereto, and
(ii) if such Termination Benefits were reduced to an
amount (the "Non-Triggering Amount"), the value of
which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal
to the total amount of payments permissible under
Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereto,
then the Termination Benefits to be paid to Executive
shall be so reduced so as to be a Non-Triggering
Amount.
5. TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR DEATH
Termination by the Bank of the Executive based on "Retirement" shall
mean termination in accordance with the Bank's retirement policy or in
accordance with any retirement arrangement established with Executive's consent
with respect to him. Upon termination of Executive upon Retirement, Executive
shall be entitled to all benefits under any retirement plan of the Bank and
other plans to which Executive is a party.
In the event Executive is unable to perform her duties under this
Agreement on a full-time basis for a period of six (6) consecutive months by
reason of illness or other physical or mental disability, the Employer may
terminate this Agreement, provided that the Employer shall continue to be
obligated to pay the Executive her Base Salary for the remaining term of the
Agreement, or one year, whichever is the longer period of time, and provided
further that any amounts actually paid to Executive pursuant to any disability
insurance or other similar such program which the Employer has provided or may
provide on behalf of its employees or pursuant to any xxxxxxx'x or social
security disability program shall reduce the compensation to be paid to the
Executive pursuant to this paragraph.
In the event of Executive's death during the term of the Agreement, her
estate, legal representatives or named beneficiaries (as directed by Executive
in writing) shall be paid Executive's Base Salary as defined in Paragraph 3(a)
at the rate in effect at the time Executive's death for a period of one (1) year
from the date of the Executive's death, and the Employers will continue to
provide medical, dental, family and other benefits normally provided for an
Executive's family for one (1) year after the Executive's death.
6. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of the
Executive's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, any 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 this Agreement. In determining incompetence, the acts
or omissions shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the
savings institutions industry. For purposes of this paragraph, no act or failure
to act on the part of Executive shall be considered "willful" unless done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable
belief that the Executive's action or omission was in the best interest of the
Bank. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been
Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to her a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board at a meeting of the Board
called and held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an
opportunity for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board),
finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of
conduct justifying Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof
in detail. For these purposes, reasonable notice shall be deemed to have been
provided if delivered in person or by registered mail, telegram, or courier to
the principal residence of the Executive no less than five (5) business days
prior to such Board meeting. Notwithstanding the above, the Board shall have the
right to place Executive on paid administrative leave until the Board meeting at
which Termination for Cause is determined, if to do so would be in the best
interest of the Bank. If in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive
is guilty of conduct justifying Termination for Cause, a Notice of Termination
shall be issued to Executive in accordance with Section 7 hereof. The Executive
shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any
period after Termination for Cause, except in the event that a dispute
concerning the Termination for Cause is resolved in favor of the Executive, in
accordance with Section 7(c). Any stock options granted to Executive under any
stock option plan of the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate
thereof, shall become null and void effective upon Executive's receipt of Notice
of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 7 hereof, and shall not be
exercisable by Executive at any time subsequent to such Termination for Cause,
except in the event that a dispute concerning the Termination for Cause is
resolved in favor of the Executive, in accordance with Section 7(c) hereof.
7. NOTICE
(a) Any purported termination by the Bank or by Executive shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated. Notice of Termination must be delivered, in person, by registered
mail, telegram or courier to the principal administrative office of the Bank, in
the case of Notice given by the Executive, and in the case of Notice of
Termination of the Executive, to the Executive's principal place of residence
within 72 hours of the determination of termination.
(b) "Date of Termination" shall mean (A) if Executive's employment is
terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is
given (provided that she shall not have returned to the performance of her
duties on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if her
employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice
of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, may be immediate
if, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, immediate termination is
in the best interest of the Bank).
(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is
given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party
that a dispute exists concerning the termination (except upon the voluntary
termination by the Executive or in the event of Termination for Cause, in which
case the Date of Termination shall be the date specified in the Notice), the
Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally
determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding
arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal having expired and no appeal having
been perfected) and provided further that the Date of Termination shall be
extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and
the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with
reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, except
in the case of voluntary termination by the Executive or Termination for Cause,
the Bank will continue to pay Executive her full compensation in effect when the
notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, Base
Salary) and continue Executive as a participant in all compensation, benefit and
insurance plans in which she was participating, until the dispute is finally
resolved in accordance with this Agreement, provided such dispute is resolved
within the term of this Agreement. In the event of Termination for Cause, no
compensation shall be paid to the Executive during the pendency of any dispute,
provided, however, that in the event such dispute is finally determined (by
mutual written agreement of the parties, binding arbitration or final judgement,
order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) in favor of the Executive,
the Executive shall be entitled to all compensation previously withheld
(including Base Salary, incentive compensation, stock options, and contributions
to qualified and nonqualifed benefit plans) and reimbursement for any insurance
coverage purchased by the Executive to replace coverage previously provided by
the Bank pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. If such dispute is not
resolved within the term of this Agreement, the Bank shall not be obligated,
upon final resolution of such dispute, to pay Executive compensation and other
payments accruing beyond the term of this Agreement. Amounts paid under this
Section shall be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this
Agreement.
8. POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS
(a) All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall
be subject to Executive's compliance with paragraph (b) of this Section 8 during
the term of this Agreement and for one (1) full year after the expiration or
termination hereof.
(b) Executive shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information
and assistance to the Bank as may reasonably be required by the Bank in
connection with any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates is, or may become, a party.
9. NON-COMPETITION
(a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder as a
result of which the Bank is paying Executive benefits under Section 4 of this
Agreement, other than a termination coincident to or following a Change in
Control, Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank and/or the Company for a
period of one (1) year following such termination in any city, town or county in
which the Bank and/or the Company has an office or has filed an application for
regulatory approval to establish an office, determined as of the effective date
of such termination, except as agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted
by the Board. Executive agrees that during such period and within said cities,
towns and counties, Executive shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise
serve with, directly or indirectly, any entity whose business materially
competes with the depository, lending or other business activities of the Bank
and/or the Company. The parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will
result to the Bank and/or the Company, its business and property in the event of
Executive's breach of this Subsection 9(a) agree that in the event of any such
breach by Executive, the Bank and/or the Company will be entitled, in addition
to any other remedies and damages available, to an injunction to restrain the
violation hereof by Executive, Executive's partners, agents, servants,
employers, employees and all persons acting for or with Executive. Executive
represents and admits that Executive's experience and capabilities are such that
Executive can obtain employment in a business engaged in other lines and/or of a
different nature than the Bank and/or the Company, and that the enforcement of a
remedy by way of injunction will not prevent Executive from earning a
livelihood. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank and/or the
Company from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank and/or the
Company for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages
from Executive.
(b) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the
business activities and plans for business activities of the Bank and affiliates
thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique
asset of the business of the Bank. Executive will not, during or after the term
of her employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present, planned or
considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof to any person,
firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever (except
for such disclosure as may be required to be provided to any federal banking
agency with jurisdiction over the Bank or Executive). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking, financial and/or
economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively
derived from the business plans and activities of the Bank, and Executive may
disclose any information regarding the Bank or the Company which is otherwise
publicly available. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
Executive of the provisions of this Section 9, the Bank will be entitled to an
injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or in part, the
knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the
Bank or affiliates thereof, or from rendering any services to any person, firm,
corporation, other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been
disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein will be construed as
prohibiting the Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for
such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from
Executive.
10. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS
All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Bank. The Company, however, guarantees
payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to Executive
and, if such amounts and benefits due from the Bank are not timely paid or
provided by the Bank, such amounts and benefits shall be paid or provided by the
Company.
11. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not
affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to the Executive
of a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits than
those available to her without reference to this Agreement.
12. NO ATTACHMENT
(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this
Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale,
assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution,
attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive and the Bank and their respective successors and assigns.
13. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an
instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver
unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as
to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically
waived.
14. REQUIRED PROVISIONS
(a) The Bank's Board of Directors may terminate the Executive's
employment at any time, but any termination by the Bank's Board of Directors,
other than Termination for Cause, shall not prejudice Executive's right to
compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Executive shall not have
the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after
Termination for Cause as defined in Section 7 herein above.
(b) If the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily
prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice
served under Section 8(e)(3) (12 U.S.C. xx.xx. 1818(e)(3)) or 8(g) (12 U.S.C.
ss. 1818(g)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, the Bank's
obligations under this contract shall be suspended as of the date of service,
unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are
dismissed, the Bank may in its discretion (i) pay the Executive all or part of
the compensation withheld while their contract obligations were suspended and
(ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of the obligations which were
suspended.
(c) If the Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e) (12 U.S.C. xx.xx. 1818(e)) or 8(g) (12 U.S.C. ss. 1818(g)) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial Institutions Reform,
Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, all obligations of the Bank under this
contract shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested
rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.
(d) If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x) (12 U.S.C. ss.
1813(x)(1)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, all obligations of
the Bank under this contract shall terminate as of the date of default, but this
paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.
(e) All obligations of the Bank under this contract shall be
terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of the contract is
necessary for the continued operation of the institution, (i) by the Director,
at the time Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") or the Resolution
Trust Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf
of the Bank; or (ii) by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") at the time the
OTS or its District Director approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems
related to the operations of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the OTS
or 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.
(f) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or
otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 USC
Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
15. SEVERABILITY
If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.
16. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY
The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.
17. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Iowa but
only to the extent not superseded by federal law.
18. ARBITRATION
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by the employee within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association ("AAA") applicable to commercial arbitrations
(the "Rules") except as modified by this Section. The Executive shall appoint
one arbitrator, the Bank shall appoint one arbitrator, and the third shall be
appointed by the two arbitrators appointed by the parties. The third arbitrator
shall serve as chairman of the panel. The parties shall appoint their
arbitrators within thirty (30) days after the demand for arbitration is served,
failing which the AAA promptly shall appoint a defaulting party's arbitrator,
and the two arbitrators shall select the third arbitrator within fifteen (15)
days after their appointment, or if they cannot agree or fail to so appoint,
then the AAA promptly shall appoint the third arbitrator. The arbitrators shall
render their decision in writing within thirty (30) days after the close of
evidence or other termination of the proceedings by the panel, and the decision
of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding upon the parties.
The Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having
jurisdiction; provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to seek
specific performance of her right to be paid until the Date of Termination
during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection
with this Agreement. The costs of arbitration, including the fees of AAA, shall
be borne as directed by decision of the panel.
19. PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES
All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any
dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid
or reimbursed by the Bank, provided that the dispute or interpretation has been
settled by Executive and the Bank or resolved in the Executive's favor.
20. INDEMNIFICATION
The Bank shall provide Executive (including her heirs, executors and
administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy at its expense, and shall indemnify Executive (and
her heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted under
federal law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by her in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which she
may be involved by reason of her having been a trustee, director or officer of
the Bank (whether or not she continues to be a trustee, director or officer at
the time of incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and
liabilities to include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs and
reasonable attorneys' fees and the cost of reasonable settlements (such
settlements must be approved by the Bank's Board). If such action, suit or
proceeding is brought against Executive in her capacity as an officer, trustee,
or director of the Bank, however, such indemnification shall not extend to
matters as to which Executive is finally adjudged to be liable for willful
misconduct in the performance of her duties.
21. SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK
The Bank shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Bank or the Company, expressly
and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank's obligations under
this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Bank would be
required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and the Company have caused this Agreement
to be executed and their seals to be affixed hereunto by their duly authorized
officers, and Executives have signed this Agreement, on the day and date first
above written.
ATTEST: FIRST FEDERAL BANK
By:
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Secretary Name:
Title:
ATTEST: FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC.
By:
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Secretary Name:
Title:
WITNESS: EXECUTIVE:
By:
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Exhibit A
Duties of the Senior Vice President:
Conducts and supervises broad activities involved in promotion and
handling of savings accounts. Supervises work of savings officers and, in
general, the handling of all account holders. May coordinate branch savings
operations and many supervise other departments.
