SUN BANCORP, INC. CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT As Amended and Restated
SUN
BANCORP, INC.
As
Amended and Restated
THIS
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT ("Agreement") entered into this 18th day of October, 2007 ("Effective
Date"), by and between Sun Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
(the "Executive").
WHEREAS,
the Executive is currently
employed by the Company as Vice Chairman and is experienced in all phases of
the
business of the Company; and
WHEREAS,
the parties desire by this
writing to set forth the continuing rights and responsibilities of the Company
and Executive if the Company should undergo a change in control (as defined
hereinafter in the Agreement) after the Effective Date.
NOW,
THEREFORE, it is AGREED as
follows:
1.Employment. The
Executive is employed in the capacity as Vice Chairman of the
Company. The Executive shall render such administrative and
management services to the Company and Sun National Bank ("Bank"), as
are currently rendered and as are customarily performed by persons situated
in a
similar executive capacity. The Executive's other duties shall be
such as the Board of Directors for the Company (the "Board of Directors" or
"Board") may from time to time reasonably direct, including normal duties as
an
officer of the Company and the Bank.
2.Term
of
Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall be for the period
commencing on the Effective Date and ending thirty-six (36) months thereafter
("Term"). Additionally, as of each December 31, thereafter, the
Term of this Agreement shall be extended for an additional period such that
the
Term of the Agreement as of such date of extension shall be for a new period
of
thirty-six months thereafter; provided, however, such Term shall not be
automatically extended as of December 31 of any given year if the Board shall
give the Executive written notice not later October 1 immediately prior to
such
December 31 date that the Board has made a determination by an affirmative
vote
of not less than a majority of the members of the full Board then in office
that
such Agreement shall not be extended thereafter absent a future affirmative
determination and resolution of the Board of Directors that the Term of such
Agreement shall be extended beyond the then in effect expiration date of such
Agreement. The Term shall refer to the initial Term or any subsequent
extension of such Term thereafter.
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3.Termination
of Employment in Connection with or Subsequent to a Change in
Control.
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(a)Notwithstanding
any provision herein
to the contrary, in the event of the involuntary termination of Executive's
employment with the Company during the term of this Agreement following any
Change in Control of the Company or Bank, or within 24 months thereafter of
such
Change in Control, absent Just Cause, Executive shall be paid an
amount equal to the product of 2.999 times the Executive's average annual
aggregate taxable compensation paid by the Company as reported, or to be
reported, on the IRS Form W-2, box 1, or IRS Form 1099 for the most
recently completed five calendar years ending on, or before, the date of such
Change in Control. Said sum shall be paid by the Company to the
Executive in one (1) lump sum not later than the date of Executive's termination
of service. In addition, the Executive and his dependents shall be
eligible to continue coverage under the Company's (or its
successor's) medical and dental insurance reimbursement plans similar to that
in
effect on the date of termination of employment at the participants' election
and expense. Notwithstanding the forgoing, all sums payable hereunder shall
be
reduced in such manner and to such extent that the Bank shall have made payments
to the Executive upon termination of employment in accordance with any
Employment Agreement between the Executive and the Bank related to such Change
in Control. The term"Change in Control" shall refer to (i) the sale
of all, or a material portion, of the assets of the Company or the Bank; (ii)
the merger or recapitalization of the Company or the Bank whereby the Company
or
the Bank is not the surviving entity; (iii) a change in control of
the Company or the Bank, as otherwise defined or determined by the Office of
the
Comptroller of the Currency or regulations promulgated by it; or (iv) the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, of the beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of that term as it is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or
the
Bank by any person, trust, entity or group. The term "person" means
an individual other than the Executive, or a corporation, partnership, trust,
association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated
organization or any other form of entity not specifically listed
herein. The provisions of this Section 3(a) shall survive
the expiration of this Agreement occurring after a Change in
Control.
(b)Notwithstanding
any other provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, Executive may voluntarily terminate his
employment during the term of this Agreement following a Change in Control
of
the Company or Bank, or within twenty-four months following such Change in
Control, and Executive shall thereupon be entitled to receive the payment
described in Section 3(a) of this Agreement, upon the occurrence, or within
six
months thereafter, of any of the following events, which have not been consented
to in advance by the Executive in writing: (i) if Executive would be required
to
move his personal residence or perform his principal executive functions more
than thirty-five (35) miles from the Executive's primary office as of the
signing of this Agreement; (ii) if in the organizational structure of the
Company, Executive would be required to report to a person or persons other
than
the Board of Directors of the Company or its Chairman; (iii) if the Company
should fail to maintain Executive's base compensation in effect as of the date
of the Change in Control and the existing Executive benefits plans, including
material fringe benefit, stock option and retirement plans; (iv) if Executive
would be assigned duties and responsibilities other than those normally
associated with his position as referenced at Section 1, herein; (v) if
Executive's responsibilities or authority have in any way been materially
diminished or reduced; or (vi) if Executive would not be reelected to the Board
of Directors of the Company. The
provisions of this Section 3(b) shall survive the expiration of this
Agreement occurring after a Change in Control.
(c)Additional
Payments by the Company related to Section 280G of the Code.
(i)Anything
in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment
or distribution by the Company or otherwise to or for the benefit of the
Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant
to
the terms of this Agreement or by any other compensation plan or arrangement
of
the Company or the Bank (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 all federal, state and local tax and 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 any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code
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; provided
that for purposes of determining the amount of any Gross-Up Payment, the
Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal
rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up
Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal
rate of taxation in the state and locality of residence of the Executive on
the
date the Payment is made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes
that could reasonably be obtained from the deduction of such state and local
taxes related to such Gross-up Payment.
(ii)Subject
to the provisions of this
Section 3(c), all determinations required to be made under this Section 3(c),
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 a certified public accounting firm (the
“Accounting Firm”) reasonably acceptable to the Executive as may be designated
by the Company which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to
the
Company 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 the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall
be
borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to
this Section 3(c), shall be paid by the Company to the Executive, or withheld
on
the Executive’s behalf, within five days of the later of (A) the due date for
the payment of any Excise Tax, and (B) the receipt of the Accounting Firm's
determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon
the Company 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 Gross-Up Payments which will
not
have been made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent
with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the
Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 3(c) and the Executive
thereafter is 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 the Company to or for the benefit of
the
Executive.
(iii)The
Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal
Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company
of
the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable
but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed in writing
of such claim and shall apprise the Company 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 the 30-day period following the date
on
which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on
the
date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the
Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period
that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(A)give
the Company any information
reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim,
(B)take
such action in connection with
contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from
time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation
with
respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the
Company,
(C)cooperate
with the Company in good
faith in order effectively to contest such claim, and
(D)permit
the Company to participate
in any proceedings relating to such claim;
provided,
however, that the Company 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
3(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such
contest and, at its 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 its 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 the Company shall
determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to
pay
such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall (to the extent permitted
by
law) 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,
the
Company'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 the Company pursuant
to Section 3(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with
respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's complying
with the requirements of Section 3(c)) promptly pay to the Company 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 the Company pursuant to Section 3(c), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim
and
the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest
such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, 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 Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
(v)The
Executive shall cooperate in good faith with all reasonable requests by the
Company to assist the Company in minimizing the effect of Section 4999 and
Section 280G of the Code, provided that the Executive shall not be required
to
take actions that adversely affect his rights hereunder.
4.Other
Changes in Employment Status. Except as provided for at Section
3, herein, the Board of Directors may terminate the Executive's employment
at
any time, but any termination by the Board of Directors other than termination
for Just Cause, shall not prejudice the Executive's right to compensation or
other benefits under the Agreement. The Executive shall have no right
to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after termination
for
Just Cause. Termination for "Just Cause" shall include termination
because of the Executive's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful
misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional
failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule or
regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final
cease-and-desist order issued by a federal banking regulatory having regulatory
authority over the Company or Bank, or a material breach of any provision of
the
Agreement.
5.Regulatory
Exclusions.
(a)Notwithstanding
anything herein to
the contrary, any payments made to the Executive pursuant to the Agreement,
or
otherwise, shall be subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 USC
'1828(k)
and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(b)Notwithstanding
anything herein to
the contrary, any payments to be made in accordance with Sections 3 or 4 of
the
Agreement shall not be made prior to the date that is 183 calendar days from
the
date of termination of employment, or such later date as determined in good
faith by the Bank or Company (“Payment Date”), if it is determined by the Bank
or the Company in good faith that the Executive is a “specified employee” within
the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, that such payments to be made to such
Executive are subject to the limitations at Section 409A of the Code and
regulations promulgated thereunder, and payments made in advance of such Payment
Date would result in the requirement for the Executive to pay additional
interest and taxes to be imposed in accordance with Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of
the
Code.
0.Xx
Duty to
Mitigate. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment of severance benefits if he or she accepts other
compensation for employment with another entity.
7.Successors
and
Assigns.
(a)This
Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon any corporate or other successor of the Company
which shall acquire, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, purchase
or otherwise, all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the
Company.
(b)The
Executive shall be precluded
from assigning or delegating his rights or duties hereunder without first
obtaining the written consent of the Company.
8.Amendments. No
amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties
hereto unless made in writing and signed by both parties, except as herein
otherwise specifically provided.
9.Applicable
Law. This agreement shall be governed by all respects whether as
to validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise, by the laws
of
the State of New Jersey, except to the extent that Federal law shall be deemed
to apply.
10.Severability. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
11.Arbitration. Any
controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach
thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules then
in
effect of the district office of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA")
nearest to the home office of the Company, and judgment upon the award rendered
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof, except to the extend
that the parties may otherwise reach a mutual settlement of such
issue. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable costs
and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from such dispute,
proceedings or actions, following the delivery of the decision of the arbitrator
that the Executive's claim has merit, whether or not the arbitrator finds in
favor of the Executive. The provisions of this Section 11
shall survive the expiration of this Agreement occurring after a Change in
Control.
12.Non-Disclosure. Executive
will not, during or after the Term of this Agreement, directly or indirectly,
disseminate or disclose to any person, firm or entity, except to his or her
legal advisor, the terms of this Agreement without the written
consent of the Company.
13.Entire
Agreement. This Agreement together with any understanding or
modifications thereof as agreed to in writing by the parties, shall constitute
the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter herein.