EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Table of Contents
Exhibit 10.5
September 11, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), between U.S. Century Bank, a Florida-chartered
commercial bank (the “Bank” or the “Employer”), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (the “Executive”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Bank desires to employ the Executive as Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer;
WHEREAS, the Employer desires to be ensured of the Executive’s active participation in
the business of the Employer; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to serve the Bank on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, and
upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the Employer and the Executive hereby
agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
below for the purposes of this Agreement:
(a)
Base Salary.
(b)
Cause.
termination because of (i) willful misconduct (including but not limited to misappropriation of
a material Bank business opportunity, material violation of a confidentiality or non-competition
obligation, or abuse of drugs or alcohol that results in the Executive being materially adversely
affected in the performance of his duties), or fraud by the Executive; (ii) conviction of (including
a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to) a felony which has a material effect on the Bank or the
Executive’s performance hereunder; and (iii) the failure to comply with any material obligation
imposed upon the Executive pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that if such failure
under clause (i) or (iii) above is susceptible of cure, “Cause” shall be deemed to exist only after
the failure has remained uncured for thirty (30) days following receipt by the Executive of
written notice from the Bank of the failure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive
disagrees with the good faith determination of the Bank that there is no cure after the 30-day
cure period, the Executive may request that such determination be submitted to binding arbitration
in accordance with Section 20 hereof (with each party responsible for its own fees and costs). If
the Executive makes such a request for arbitration, the termination of the Executive shall not
become effective unless and until it is upheld by a final decision issued through such arbitration
process; provided, that the Bank shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to relieve the Executive
of all or any portion of his duties during such arbitration period pending the arbitration decision
so long as the Bank continues to pay and provide to the Executive on a timely basis the
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compensation and benefits that it would otherwise owe to the Executive during such period under
this Agreement.
(c)
Change in Control.
the occurrence of an event described in (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) below:
(i)
Any person or group (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than the Bank, an
affiliate of the Bank or a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of the Bank or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Bank in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Bank, becomes the
beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly (which shall include securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or otherwise) of
securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Bank’s then-
outstanding securities entitled generally to vote for the election of directors;
(ii)
Consummation of an agreement to merge or consolidate with another entity
(other than a majority-controlled subsidiary of the Bank) unless the Bank’s stockholders
immediately before the merger or consolidation own more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the resulting entity’s voting securities (giving effect to the conversion or exchange of
securities issued in the merger consolidation to the other entity that are convertible or
exchangeable for voting securities) entitled generally to vote for the election of directors;
(iii)
Consummation of an agreement (including, without limitation, an
agreement of liquidation) to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the business or
assets of the Bank (or a subsidiary thereof); or
(iv)
Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of
the Bank (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose
election or nomination for election by the stockholders is approved by a vote of at least a
majority of directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be, for purposes of this
Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event shall constitute a Change in Control unless such
event shall also constitute a change in control as defined in Section 409A of the Code, as such term
is hereinafter defined.
(d)
Code.
(e)
Date of Termination.
employment is terminated for Cause, the date on which the Notice of Termination is given, and
(ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in such
Notice of Termination.
(f)
Disability.
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not
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less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less
than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Employer.
(g)
Good Reason.
“Good Reason” shall mean termination by the Executive based on:
(i) any material breach of this Agreement by the Employer, including without
limitation any of the following: (A) a material diminution in the Executive’s base compensation,
(B) a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities, or (C) any
requirement that the Executive report to a corporate officer or employee of the Bank instead of
reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer, other than from time to time with
respect to specified matters, or
(ii) change in excess of twenty-five (25) miles in the geographic location at
which the Executive must perform his services under this Agreement;
provided, however,
must first provide written notice to the Bank within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the
condition, describing the existence of such condition, and the Bank shall thereafter have the right
to remedy the condition within thirty (30) days of the date the Bank received the written notice
from the Executive. If the Bank remedies the condition within such thirty (30) day cure period,
then no Good Reason shall be deemed to exist with respect to such condition. If the Bank does
not remedy the condition within such thirty (30) day cure period, then the Executive may deliver
a Notice of Termination for Good Reason at any time within sixty (60) days following the
expiration of such cure period.
(h)
Notice of Termination.
employment by the Employer for any reason, including without limitation for Cause, Disability or
Retirement, or by the Executive for any reason, including without limitation for Good Reason,
shall be communicated by a written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto. For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination ” shall mean a dated notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, (iii) specifies a Date of Termination,
which shall be not less than thirty (30) nor more than ninety (90) days after such Notice of
Termination is given, except in the case of the termination of the Executive’s employment for
Cause, which shall be effective immediately, and (iv) is given in the manner specified in Section
11 hereof.
(i)
Retirement.
termination of employment, as applicable, upon reaching at least age 65, but shall not include an
involuntary termination for Cause.
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2. Term of Employment.
(a) The Bank hereby employs the Executive as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer and the Executive hereby accepts said employment and agrees to render such
services to the Employer on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The term of
employment under this Agreement shall be for three years beginning on the Effective Date (the
“Initial Term”).
Not less than sixty (60) days prior to the second annual anniversary of the Effective
Date and each annual anniversary thereafter, the Board of Directors of the Bank shall consider and
review (with appropriate corporate documentation thereof, and after taking into account all
relevant factors, including the Executive’s performance hereunder) a one-year extension of the
term of this Agreement. If the Board of Directors approves such an extension, then the term of this
Agreement shall be so extended as of the relevant annual anniversary of the Effective Date unless
the Executive gives written notice to the Employer of the Executive’s election not to extend the
term, with such written notice to be given not less than sixty (60) days prior to any such relevant
annual anniversary of the Effective Date. If the Board of Directors elects not to extend the term, it
shall give written notice of such decision to the Executive as soon as the decision is made but in
no case no less than sixty (60) days prior to any such annual anniversary of the Effective Date. If
any party gives timely notice that the term will not be extended as of any annual anniversary of
the Effective Date, then this Agreement and the rights and obligations provided herein shall
terminate at the conclusion of its remaining term, except to the extent set forth in Section 7.
References herein to the term of this Agreement shall refer both to the Initial Term and successive
terms.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall perform such executive
services for the Bank as may be consistent with his titles and from time to time assigned to him by
the Bank’s Board of Directors and/or the President and Chief Executive Officer.
(c) The Executive represents and warrants that his entering into this Agreement, and
his performance of his duties as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank,
will not breach or give rise to any cause of action against the Executive or the Bank under the
terms of any agreements between the Executive and any prior employer (a “Prior Agreement”).
The Executive shall comply with any surviving terms of any Prior Agreement, including terms
concerning competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality.
3. Compensation and Benefits.
(a) The Employer shall compensate and pay the Executive for his services during the
term of this Agreement at a minimum base salary of $325,000 per year (“Base Salary”), which
may be increased from time to time in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Employer and may not be decreased without the Executive’s express written
consent.
(b)
The Bank shall pay Executive a sign-on bonus (the “Sign-On Bonus”) in the amount
of $100,000 in the first payroll period following the Effective Date;
provided, however,
that in the
event that Executive resigns Executive’s employment with the Bank without Good Reason or is
terminated by the Bank for Cause within one (1) year following the Effective Date, Executive shall
repay to the Bank within ten (10) days following Executive’s final day of work the Sign-On Bonus,
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pro-rated based on the number of calendar months remaining between the date that Executive’s
employment is terminated and the one (1) year anniversary of the Effective Date. For purposes of
clarity, and by way of example only, if Executive resigns without Good Reason three months after
the Effective Date, he shall be obligated to repay to the Bank $75,000 (i.e., seventy-five percent
(75%)) of the Sign-On Bonus). The Bank shall deduct from the Sign-On Bonus all amounts
required to be deducted or withheld under applicable law.
(c)
In addition to his Base Salary, the Executive shall be entitled to receive during the
term of this Agreement such bonus payments (“Bonus”) as may be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Employer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for calendar year 2021,
the Executive may earn a Bonus of up to fifty percent (50%) of the Executive’s Base Salary, as
outlined in the Bank’s Management Annual Incentive Plan.
(d)
During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in
and receive the benefits of any pension or other retirement benefit plan, profit sharing, stock
incentive, or other plans, benefits and privileges given to employees and executives of the
Employer, to the extent commensurate with his then duties and responsibilities, as fixed by the
Board of Directors of the Bank. The Bank shall not make any changes in such plans, benefits or
privileges which would adversely affect the Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder, unless such
change occurs pursuant to a program applicable to all executive officers of the Employer and does
not result in a proportionately greater adverse change in the rights of or benefits to the Executive
as compared with any other executive officer of the Employer. Nothing paid to the Executive
under any plan or arrangement presently in effect or made available in the future shall be deemed
to be in lieu of the salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof.
(e)
During the term of this Agreement and beginning in the year of 2021, the Executive
shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid annual vacation, on a calendar basis, to be taken at such
time or times agreed upon by the Executive and the President and Chief Executive Officer. In
addition, Executive shall be entitled to six (6) days of personal/sick leave per calendar year
;
provided, however
, for calendar 2020, Executive shall be entitled to two (2) days for personal/sick
leave for the remainder of such calendar year. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive any
additional compensation from the Employer for failure to take a vacation or use his personal/sick
leave, nor shall the Executive be able to accumulate unused vacation time or unused personal/sick
leave from one year to the next, except to the extent authorized by the President and Chief
Executive Officer.
(f)
The Board of Directors will grant to the Executive (pursuant to a written grant
agreement) non-qualified stock options to purchase one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000)
shares of common stock of the Bank (the “Option Grant”), with an exercise price per share equal
to the Fair Market Value, as such term is defined in the Bank’s Amended and Restated 2015 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “2015 Equity Incentive Plan”), with such options to be designed in a manner
to cause them to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code under Section
1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) of the United States Department of the Treasury Regulations. This grant shall
vest as follows: options covering 50,000 shares of common stock of the Bank shall vest on the first
anniversary of the Effective Date; options covering 50,000 shares of common stock of the Bank
shall vest on the second anniversary of the Effective Date; and options covering 50,000 shares of
common stock of the Bank shall vest on the third anniversary of the Effective Date. Options may
be exercised after they become vested and prior to the expiration of the term of the options,
provided such exercise does not constitute an “ownership change” for the Bank within the meaning
of Section 382 of the Code. In addition to the other vesting dates/events set forth in such grant,
such Option Grant shall provide for accelerated vesting upon a Change in Control. The other terms
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of the Option Grant award shall comply with the Bank’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
(g)
Executive shall receive an automobile allowance at the rate of $750 per month
during the term of this Agreement. This transportation allowance will serve to cover all
transportation expenses of Executive in the South Florida area including, but not limited to,
transportation, gas and car maintenance.
(h)
Executive shall be reimbursed up to a maximum of $50,000 (the “Moving
Allowance”) for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket travel and other expenses incurred by
the Executive moving to the Miami, Florida metropolitan area;
provided, however,
that in the event
that Executive resigns Executive’s employment with the Bank without Good Reason or is
terminated by the Bank for Cause within one (1) year following the Effective Date, Executive shall
repay to the Bank within ten (10) days following Executive’s final day of work the full amount of
the Moving Allowance. At the Executive’s option, the Executive may be reimbursed for such
expenses or may cause the provider of such services to xxxx the Bank directly.
4. Expenses.
or pay for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in furtherance of or in connection
with the business of the Employer, including, but not by way of limitation, travel expenses, and
all reasonable entertainment expenses, subject to such reasonable documentation and other
limitations as may be established by the Board of Directors of the Bank. If such expenses are paid
in the first instance by the Executive, the Employer shall reimburse the Executive therefor. Such
reimbursement shall be paid promptly by the Bank and in any event no later than March 15
th
the year immediately following the year in which such expenses were incurred.
5. Termination.
(a) The Employer shall have the right, at any time upon prior Notice of Termination,
to terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason, including, without limitation,
termination for Cause, Disability or Retirement, and the Executive shall have the right, upon prior
Notice of Termination, to terminate his employment hereunder for any reason.
(b) In the event that (i) the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Employer for
Cause or (ii) the Executive terminates his employment hereunder other than for Disability,
Retirement, death or Good Reason, the Executive shall have no right pursuant to this Agreement
to compensation or other benefits for any period after the applicable Date of Termination.
(c) In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of Disability
or Retirement, the Executive shall have no right pursuant to this Agreement to compensation or
other benefits for any period after the applicable Date of Termination.
(d) In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated due to death during the
term of this Agreement, the Executive shall have no right pursuant to this Agreement for
compensation or other benefits for any period after the applicable Date of Termination except to
pay to the Executive’s designated beneficiary (or estate or his personal representative, as the case
may be, if no beneficiary has been designated) (i) that portion, if any, of the Base Salary that
remains unpaid for the period prior to the date of his death, and (ii) a lump sum cash payment
equal to one-half (1/2) of the Executive’s Base Salary, plus the continuation of medical and dental
benefits for his then spouse and/or dependents at the Bank’s expense for a period of six (6) months
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after the date of his death. Upon the Executive’s death, he shall vest in any outstanding unvested
options granted under the Option Award pursuant to Section 3(f) (and the terms of the awards
granted under Section 3(f) shall so provide).
(e) In the event that prior to a Change in Control the Executive’s employment is
terminated by (i) the Employer for other than Cause, Disability, Retirement or the Executive’s
death during the term of this Agreement or (ii) the Executive for Good Reason during the term of
this Agreement, then the Employer shall, in consideration of the Executive’s agreements in Section
7 below and subject to the provisions of Sections 5(g), 5(h), 6, 18 and 19 hereof, if applicable, pay
to the Executive a cash severance amount equal to the aggregate of (A) one (1) times the
Executive’s then current annual Base Salary and (B) the amount accrued with respect to the Bonus
for the year in which the termination occurs (the “Severance Payment”). The Severance Payment
shall be paid in two installments. The first payment consisting of 50% of the Severance Payment
will be paid in a lump sum thirty (30) days following the later of the Date of Termination or the
expiration of the revocation period provided for in the general release to be executed by the
Executive pursuant to Section 5(g) below with the remaining 50% of the Severance Payment to be
paid in a lump sum within ten (10) days after the expiration of the Restricted Period as set forth in
Section 7 hereof. In addition, the Executive shall receive continued medical and dental benefits
as provided by the Bank from time to time for its employees, at the Bank’s expense, for the period
of time equal to the shorter of one (1) year or the maximum period of COBRA continuation
coverage provided under Section 4980B(f) of the Code (with such coverage to be treated as
COBRA coverage). With respect to the Bank’s payment of Executive’s COBRA expenses, the
Bank will pay to the Executive an additional amount such that after payment by the Executive
of all applicable local, state and federal income and payroll taxes imposed on him with respect
to such additional amount, the Executive retains an amount equal to all applicable local, state
and federal income and payroll taxes imposed upon him with respect to such COBRA payments.
Such payment shall be made on or before Xxxxx 00
xx
which the COBRA payments were made. Except as provided herein, the Severance Payment shall
be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any Base Salary or other compensation or benefits that would
have been paid under Sections 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 3(e) above in the absence of a termination
of employment, and the Executive shall have no rights pursuant to this Agreement to any Base
Salary or other benefits for any period after the applicable Date of Termination.
(f) In the event that concurrently with or within twelve (12) months subsequent to a
Change in Control the Executive’s employment is terminated by (i) the Employer for other than
Cause, Disability, Retirement or the Executive’s death during the term of this Agreement or (ii)
the Executive for Good Reason during the term of this Agreement, then the Employer shall, in
consideration of the Executive’s agreements in Section 7 below and subject to the provisions of
Sections 5(g), 5(h), 6, 18 and 19 hereof, if applicable, pay to the Executive a cash severance amount
equal to two (2) times the Executive’s then current annual Base Salary (the “Enhanced Severance
Payment”). The Enhanced Severance Payment shall be paid in two installments. The first payment
consisting of 50% of the Enhanced Severance Payment will be paid in a lump sum thirty (30) days
following the later of the Date of Termination or the expiration of the revocation period provided
for in the general release to be executed by the Executive pursuant to Section 5(g) below with the
remaining 50% of the Enhanced Severance Payment to be paid in a lump sum within ten (10) days
after the expiration of the Restricted Period as set forth in Section 7 hereof
. In
addition, the
Executive shall receive continued medical and dental benefits as provided by the Bank from
time to time for its employees, at the Bank’s expense, for the period of time equal to the shorter
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of eighteen (18) months or the maximum period of COBRA continuation coverage provided under
Section 4980B(f) of the Code (with such coverage to be treated as COBRA coverage). With
respect to the Bank’s payment of Executive’s COBRA expenses, the Bank will pay to the
Executive an additional amount such that after payment by the Executive of all applicable local,
state and federal income and payroll taxes imposed on him with respect to such additional
amount, the Executive retains an amount equal to all applicable local, state and federal income
and payroll taxes imposed upon him with respect to such COBRA payments. Such payment shall
be made on or before Xxxxx 00
xx
payments were made. Except as provided herein, the Enhanced Severance Payment shall be in
lieu of, and not in addition to, any Base Salary or other compensation or benefits that would have
been paid under Sections 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 3(e) above in the absence of a termination of
employment, and the Executive shall have no rights pursuant to this Agreement to any Base Salary
or other benefits for any period after the applicable Date of Termination.
(g) The Executive’s right to receive the severance benefits set forth in Sections 5(e)
and 5(f) above shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s execution of a general release which
releases the Employer and their directors, officers and employees from any claims that the
Executive may have under various laws and regulations and the expiration of any right the
Executive may have to revoke such general release, with such revocation right not being exercised.
If either the time period for paying the severance set forth in Sections 5(e) or 5(f), as applicable,
or the time period that the Executive has to consider the terms of the general release (including
any revocation period under such release) commences in one calendar year and ends in the
succeeding calendar year, then the severance payment set forth in Sections 5(e) or 5(f), as
applicable, above shall not be paid until the succeeding calendar year.
(h) If, prior to the Executive’s receipt of the Severance Payment or the Enhanced
Severance Payment set forth in Sections 5(e) or 5(f), as applicable, respectively, above due to his
termination of employment (including termination for Good Reason) and at such time the Bank is
deemed to be in “troubled condition” as defined in 12 C.F.R. §303.101(c), it is determined that the
Executive (i) committed any fraudulent act or omission, breach of trust or fiduciary duty, or insider
abuse with regard to the Employer that has had or is likely to have a material adverse effect on the
Employer, (ii) is substantially responsible for the insolvency of, the appointment of a conservator
or receiver for, or the troubled condition, as defined by applicable regulations of the appropriate
federal banking agency, of the Employer, (iii) has materially violated any applicable federal or
state banking law or regulation that has had or is likely to have a material adverse effect on the
Employer, or (iv) has violated or conspired to violate Sections 215, 656, 657, 1005, 1006, 1007,
1014, 1302 or 1344 of Title 18 of the United State Code, or Sections 1341 or 1343 of Title 18
affecting the Bank, then the Severance Payment or the Enhanced Severance Payment, as
applicable, shall not be provided to the Executive. If it is determined after the Executive receives
the Severance Payment or the Enhanced Severance Payment, as applicable, that any of the matters
set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 5(h) are applicable to the Executive, then the
Executive shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) business days following written notice
to the Executive) return an amount equal to the Severance Payment or the Enhanced Severance
Payment, as applicable, to the Employer in immediately available funds.
6. Limitation of Benefits under Certain Circumstances.
to Section 5(f) hereof, either alone or together with other payments and benefits which the
Executive has the right to receive from the Employer, would constitute a “parachute payment”
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under Section 280G of the Code, then the amount payable by the Employer pursuant to Section
5(d) hereof shall be reduced by the minimum amount necessary to result in no portion of the
amount payable by the Employer under Section 5(f) being non-deductible to the Employer
pursuant to Section 280G of the Code and subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of
the Code. The determination of any reduction in the amount payable pursuant to Section 5(d) shall
be based upon the opinion of independent tax counsel selected by the Employer and paid for by
the Employer. Such counsel shall promptly prepare the foregoing opinion, but in no event later
than ten (10) days from the Date of Termination, and may use such actuaries as such counsel deems
necessary or advisable for the purpose. Nothing contained herein shall result in a reduction of any
payments or benefits to which the Executive may be entitled upon termination of employment
under any circumstances other than as specified in this Section 6, or a reduction in the payment
specified in Section 5(f) below zero.
7. Restrictive Covenants
(a)
Trade Secrets
. The Executive acknowledges that he has had, and will have, access
to confidential information of the Bank (including, but not limited to, current and prospective
confidential know-how, customer lists, marketing plans, business plans, financial and pricing
information, and information regarding acquisitions, mergers and/or joint ventures) concerning the
business, customers, contacts, prospects, and assets of the Bank that is unique, valuable and not
generally known outside the Bank, and that was obtained from the Bank or which was learned as
a result of the performance of services by the Executive on behalf of the Bank (“Trade Secrets”).
Trade Secrets shall not include any information that: (i) is now, or hereafter becomes, through no
act or failure to act on the part of the Executive that constitutes a breach of this Section 7, generally
known or available to the public; (ii) is known to the Executive at the time such information was
obtained from the Bank; (iii) is hereafter furnished without restriction on disclosure to the
Executive by a third party, other than an employee or agent of the Bank, who is not under any
obligation of confidentiality to the Bank or an Affiliate; (iv) is disclosed with the written approval
of the Bank; or (v) is required to be disclosed or provided by law, court order, order of any
regulatory agency having jurisdiction or similar compulsion, including pursuant to or in connection
with any legal proceeding involving the parties hereto; provided however, that such disclosure
shall be limited to the extent so required or compelled; and provided further, however, that if the
Executive is required to disclose such confidential information, he shall give the Bank notice of
such disclosure and cooperate in seeking suitable protections. Other than in the course of
performing services for the Bank, the Executive will not, at any time, directly or indirectly use,
divulge, furnish or make accessible to any person any Trade Secrets, but instead will keep all Trade
Secrets strictly and absolutely confidential. The Executive will deliver promptly to the Bank , at
the termination of his employment or at any other time at the request of the Employer, without
retaining any copies, all documents and other materials in his possession relating, directly or
indirectly, to any Trad e Secrets.
(b)
Non-Competition
. If the Executive’s employment is terminated during the term of
this Agreement for Cause or without Cause, before or after a Change in Control, or the Executive
terminates his employment hereunder other than for Disability during the term of the Agreement,
then for a period of twelve (12) months after termination of employment (the “Restricted Period”),
the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, (i) become a director, officer, employee, principal,
agent, shareholder, consultant or independent contractor of any insured depository institution, trust
company or parent holding company of any such institution or company or other entity engaging
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in the banking business which has an office in the State of Florida (“Competing Business”); (ii) as
agent or principal, carrying on or engaging in any activities or negotiations with respect to the
acquisition or disposition of a Competing Business; (iii) extending credit for the purpose of
establishing or operating a Competing Business; (iv) lending or allowing the Executive’s name or
reputation to be used in a Competing Business; and (v) otherwise allowing the Executive’s skill,
knowledge or experience to be used in a Competing Business. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Executive from owning for passive investment
purposes not intended to circumvent this Agreement, less than five percent (5%) of the publicly
traded voting securities of any company engaged in the banking, financial services or other
business similar to or competitive with the Employer (so long as the Executive has no power to
manage, operate, advise, consult with or control the competing enterprise and no power, alone or
in conjunction with other affiliated parties, to select a director, manager, general partner, or similar
governing official of the competing enterprise other than in connection with the normal and
customary voting powers afforded the Executive in connection with any permissible equity
ownership).
(c)
Non-Solicitation of Employees.
consent of the Bank, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce or hire, or attempt
to solicit, induce or hire, any current employee of the Employer, or any individual who becomes
an employee during the Restricted Period, to leave his or her employment with the Employer or
join or become affiliated with any other business or entity, or in any way interfere with the
employment relationship between any employee and the Employer.
(d)
Non-Solicitation of Customers
. During the Restricted Period, without the written
consent of the Bank, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or induce, or attempt to
solicit or induce, any customer, any person being then solicited by the Bank to be a customer,
lender, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation of the Employer to terminate its
relationship or contract with the Employer, to cease doing business with the Employer, or in any
way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, lender, supplier, licensee or
business relation and the Employer (including making any negative or derogatory statements or
communications concerning the Employer or its directors, officers or employees).
(e)
Intellectual Property
. Executive will disclose to Employer all work, products
including ideas, inventions, literary property, music, lyrics, scripts, themes, slogans, titles, copy,
art and any other relevant material which could reasonably be used by Employer or any of its
clients (herein collectively called “Intellectual Property”) which he may create any time during the
term of employment, whether created during or after working hours. Employer and Executive
agree that all Intellectual Property shall be deemed to be "works made for hire" and the sole
property of Employer. Executive agrees to execute and deliver all documents which Employer
may deem necessary or advisable in order to confirm such ownership or to register Intellectual
Property in the name of Employer or any of its clients in the United States and all foreign countries.
(f)
Non-Disparagement.
The Executive agrees that he shall not make, or cause to be
made, any disparaging or critical remarks, comments or statements about or against the Bank or
its subsidiaries or affiliates or any director, officer, employee or customer of any such entities at
any time in the future, except for any statements by him made pursuant to lawful subpoena or legal
process. Executive acknowledges that the Employer’s reputation and image in the market is one
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of its principal assets and that Employer has expended substantial time, effort and money in
building this reputation and image and that, accordingly, any action or comment by the Executive
which is damaging to or in any way diminishes such image or reputation will cause Employer
irreparable injury.
(g)
Irreparable Harm
. The Executive acknowledges that: (i) the Executive’s
compliance with Section 7 of this Agreement is necessary to preserve and protect the proprietary
rights, Trade Secrets, and the goodwill of the Employer as a going concern, and (ii) any failure by
the Executive to comply with the provisions of this Agreement will result in irreparable and
continuing injury for which there will be no adequate remedy at law. In the event that the Executive
fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the obligations of the Employer
to pay the severance benefits set forth in Section 5 shall cease, and the Employer will be entitled,
in addition to other relief that may be proper, to all types of equitable relief (including, but not
limited to, the issuance of an injunction and/or temporary restraining order and the recoupment of
any severance previously paid) that may be necessary to cause the Executive to comply with this
Agreement, to restore to the Employer their property, and to make the Employer whole.
(h)
Survival.
this Agreement.
(i)
Scope Limitations
. If the scope, period of time or area of restriction specified in
this Section 7 are or would be judged to be unreasonable in any court proceeding, then the period
of time, scope or area of restriction will be reduced or limited in the manner and to the extent
necessary to make the restriction reasonable, so that the restriction may be enforced in those areas,
during the period of time and in the scope that are or would be judged to be reasonable.
8. Mitigation; Exclusivity of Benefits.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any benefits
hereunder by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any such benefits
be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as a result of employment by another
employer after the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The specific arrangements referred to herein are not intended to exclude any other
benefits which may be available to the Executive upon a termination of employment with the
Employer pursuant to employee benefit plans of the Employer or otherwise.
9. Withholding.
Executive shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts, if any, relating to tax and other
payroll deductions as the Employer may reasonably determine should be withheld pursuant to any
applicable law or regulation.
10. Assignability.
hereunder in whole, but not in part, to any corporation, bank or other entity with or into which the
Bank may hereafter merge or consolidate or to which the Bank may transfer all or substantially all
of its assets, if in any such case said corporation, bank or other entity shall by operation of law or
expressly in writing assume all obligations of the Employer hereunder as fully as if it had been
originally made a party hereto, but may not otherwise assign this Agreement or their rights and
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obligations hereunder. The Executive may not assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder.
11. Notice.
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when delivered or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed to the respective addresses set forth below:
0000 X.X. 00
xx
the personnel records of the Employer
12. Amendment; Waiver.
or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the
Executive and such officer or officers as may be specifically designated by the Board of Directors
of the Employer to sign on their behalf. No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach
by any other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to
be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
13. Governing Law.
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the United States where applicable and otherwise by
the substantive laws of the State of Florida.
14. Nature of Obligations.
Employer to create a trust of any kind to fund any benefits which may be payable hereunder, and
to the extent that the Executive acquires a right to receive benefits from the Employer hereunder,
such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Employer.
15. Headings.
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
16. Validity.
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall
remain in full force and effect.
17. Counterparts.
of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the
same instrument.
18. Regulatory Actions.
hereto or any successor thereto, and shall be controlling in the event of a conflict with any other
provision of this Agreement, including without limitation Section 5 hereof.
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(a) If the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs pursuant to notice served under Section 8(e)(3)
or Section 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”)(12 U.S.C. §§1818(e)(3) and
1818(g)(1)), the Bank’s obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of
service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the
Bank will: (i) pay the Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while its obligations
under this Agreement were suspended, and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations
which were suspended.
(b) If the Executive is removed from office and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or
Section 8(g)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. §§1818(e)(4) and (g)(1)), all obligations of the Bank under
this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the
Executive and the Bank as of the date of termination shall not be affected.
(c) If the Bank is in default, as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C.
§1813(x)(1)), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but
vested rights of the Executive and the Bank as of the date of termination shall not be affected.
19. Regulatory Prohibition.
to the contrary, any payments made to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are
subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with Section 18(k) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C.
§1828(k)) and 12 C.F.R. Part 359.
20.
Arbitration.
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration before a single arbitrator in accordance with
the rules then existing under the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules of the American
Arbitration Association (“AAA”) conducted at the district office of the AAA located nearest to the
home office of the Bank, and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof, except to the extent that the parties may otherwise reach a mutual
settlement of such issue. Each party to the arbitration shall bear its own expenses.
21. Entire Agreement.
Employer and the Executive with respect to the matters agreed to herein. All prior agreements
between the Employer and the Executive with respect to the matters agreed to herein are hereby
superseded and shall have no force or effect.
[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written
above.