AMENDED AND RESTATED SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Severance Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of this day of , 2003, by and between Middlefield Banc Corp., an Ohio
corporation (“Middlefield”), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Middlefield (the “Executive”), amends and restates in its entirety the Severance Agreement dated
November 28, 2001 by and between Middlefield and the Executive.
Whereas, the Executive is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Middlefield,
the Executive is employed by Middlefield and its subsidiary The Middlefield Banking Company, an
Ohio-chartered, FDIC-insured nonmember bank, and the Executive has made and is expected to continue
to make major contributions to the profitability, growth, and financial strength of Middlefield and
its subsidiaries,
Whereas, Middlefield’s board of directors has approved an amendment of section
2(a)(1) of the November 28, 2001 Severance Agreement for the purpose of increasing the lump sum
cash severance payment from two times the Executive’s annual compensation to 2.5 times annual
compensation, without intending to modify or amend any other provisions of this Agreement,
including but not limited to the term of the Agreement stated in section 5.
(1) | Termination by Middlefield or Subsidiary: the Executive’s employment with Middlefield or its Subsidiary(ies) is involuntarily terminated within two years after a Change in Control, except for termination under Section 4 of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Subsidiary” means an entity in which Middlefield directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or | ||
(2) | Termination by the Executive for Good Reason: the Executive terminates his employment with Middlefield or Subsidiary(ies) for Good Reason (as defined in Section 3) within two years after a Change in Control. |
If the Executive is removed from office or if his employment terminates after discussions with
a third party regarding a Change in Control commence, and if those discussions ultimately conclude
with a Change in Control, then for purposes of this Agreement the removal of the Executive or
termination of his employment shall be deemed to have occurred after the Change in Control.
(1) | Merger: Middlefield merges into or consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into Middlefield, and as a result less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were the holders of Middlefield’s voting securities immediately before the merger or consolidation. For purposes of this Agreement, the term person means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization or other entity, | ||
(2) | Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership: a report on Schedule 13D, Schedule TO, or another form or schedule (other than Schedule 13G), is filed or is required to be filed under Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of a class of Middlefield’s voting securities (but this clause (2) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of voting shares held by a Subsidiary in a fiduciary capacity), | ||
(3) | Change in Board Composition: during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute Middlefield’s board of directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided, however, that — for purposes of this clause (3) — each director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board for election by stockholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds (⅔) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the period shall be deemed to have been a director at the beginning of the two-year period, or | ||
(4) | Sale of Assets: Middlefield sells to a third party substantially all of Middlefield’s assets. For purposes of this Agreement, sale of substantially all of Middlefield’s assets includes sale of The Middlefield Banking Company. |
(1) | Lump Sum Payment: Middlefield shall make a lump sum payment to the Executive in an amount in cash equal to 2.5 times the Executive’s annual compensation. For purposes of this Agreement, annual compensation means (a) the Executive’s annual base salary on the date of the Change in Control or the Executive’s termination of employment (at whichever date the Executive’s current annual base salary is greater), plus (b) the average of the bonuses and incentive compensation earned for the three calendar years immediately preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurs, regardless of when the bonus or incentive compensation is paid. Middlefield recognizes that the bonus and incentive compensation earned by the Executive for a particular year’s service might be paid in the year after the calendar year in which the bonus or incentive compensation is earned. The amount payable to the Executive hereunder shall not be reduced to account for the |
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time value of money or discounted to present value. The payment required under this Section 2(a)(1) is payable no later than 5 business days after the date the Executive’s employment terminates. If the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, the date of termination shall be the date specified by the Executive in his notice of termination. |
(2) | Benefit Plans: Middlefield shall cause the Executive to become fully vested in any qualified and non-qualified plans, programs or arrangements in which the Executive participated if the plan, program, or arrangement does not address the effect of a change in control. Middlefield also shall contribute or cause a Subsidiary to contribute to the Executive’s Middlefield Banking Company 401(k) Employee Savings and Investment Plan account the matching and voluntary contributions, if any, that would have been made had the Executive’s employment not terminated before the end of the plan year. | ||
(3) | Insurance Coverage: Middlefield shall cause to be continued life, health and disability insurance coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained for the Executive before his termination. The insurance coverage may cease when the Executive becomes employed by another employer or 24 months after the Executive’s termination, whichever occurs first. At the end of the 24-month period, the Executive shall have the option to continue health insurance coverage at his own expense for a period not less than the number of months by which the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation period exceeds 24 months. |
3. | Good Reason |
For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the events or
conditions described in clauses (a) through (f) hereof without the Executive’s express written
consent —
(a) Change in Office or Position or Termination as a Director: failure to elect or reelect
or otherwise to maintain the Executive in the office or position, or a substantially equivalent
office or position, of or with Middlefield and Subsidiary(ies) that the Executive held immediately
before the Change in Control, or the removal or failure to nominate the Executive as a director of
Middlefield (or any successor thereto) if the Executive shall have been a director of Middlefield
immediately before the Change in Control,
(1) | a significant adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties associated with the Executive’s position with Middlefield compared to the nature or scope of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties associated with the position immediately before the Change in Control, | ||
(2) | a reduction in the aggregate of the Executive’s annual compensation received from Middlefield, or | ||
(3) | the termination or denial of the Executive’s rights to benefits under Middlefield’s or Subsidiary’s(ies’) benefit, compensation and incentive plans and arrangements or a reduction in |
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the scope or value thereof, which situation is not remedied within 10 calendar days after written notice to Middlefield from the Executive, |
(f) Breach of this Agreement: without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing,
any material breach of this Agreement by Middlefield or any successor thereto.
(1) | Cause Means Commission of Any of the Following Acts: For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means the Executive shall have committed any of the following acts — |
(a) | Fraud, Embezzlement, Theft or Other Crime: an act of fraud, embezzlement or theft in connection with his duties or in the course of his employment with Middlefield or a Subsidiary, or commission of a felony or commission of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, | ||
(b) | Negligence, Disloyalty or Violation of Law or Policy: the Executive’s gross negligence or gross neglect of duties, disloyalty, dishonesty, or willful violation of any law or significant policy of Middlefield committed in connection with the Executive’s employment and resulting in an adverse effect on Middlefield or a Subsidiary, | ||
(c) | Disclosure of Trade Secrets: intentional wrongful disclosure of secret processes or confidential information of Middlefield or a Subsidiary, causing material harm to Middlefield or the Subsidiary, |
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(d) | Competing with Middlefield: intentional wrongful engagement in any competitive activity. For purposes of this Agreement, competitive activity means the Executive’s participation, without the written consent of a senior executive officer of Middlefield, in the management of any business enterprise if (1) the enterprise engages in substantial and direct competition with Middlefield, (2) the enterprise’s revenues derived from any product or service competitive with any product or service of Middlefield or Subsidiary(ies) amounted to 10% or more of the enterprise’s revenues for its most recently completed fiscal year, and (3) Middlefield’s revenues from the product or service amounted to 10% of Middlefield’s revenues for its most recently completed fiscal year. A competitive activity does not include mere ownership of securities in an enterprise and the exercise of rights appurtenant thereto, provided the Executive’s share ownership does not give him practical or legal control of the enterprise. For this purpose, ownership of less than 5% of the enterprise’s outstanding voting securities shall conclusively be presumed to be insufficient for practical or legal control, and ownership of more than 50% shall conclusively be presumed to constitute practical and legal control. | ||
If the Executive is now or hereafter becomes subject to an agreement not to compete with Middlefield or Subsidiary(ies), a breach by the Executive of that other noncompetition agreement shall be grounds for denial of severance and termination benefits for Cause under this clause (d) of Section 4(a)(1). But if the Executive engages in a competitive activity under circumstances justifying denial of severance or termination benefits for Cause under this clause (d), that shall not necessarily be grounds for concluding that the Executive has also breached the other noncompetition agreement to which he is or may become subject. This clause (d) is not intended to and shall not be construed to supersede or amend any provision of an employment or noncompetition agreement to which the Executive is or may become subject. This clause (d) does not grant to the Executive any right or privilege to engage in other activities or enterprises, whether in competition with Middlefield or otherwise, or | |||
(e) | Termination for Cause under an Employment Agreement: any actions that have caused the Executive to be terminated for cause under any employment agreement existing on the date hereof or hereafter entered into between the Executive and Middlefield or a Subsidiary. |
(2) | Definition of “Intentional”: For purposes of this Agreement, no act or failure to act on the part of the Executive shall be deemed to have been intentional if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence. An act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be considered intentional if it is not in good faith and if it is without a reasonable belief that the action or failure to act is in the best interests of Middlefield. | ||
(3) | Termination for Cause Can Occur Solely by Formal Board Action. The Executive shall not be deemed under this Agreement to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) of the directors of Middlefield then in office at a meeting of the board of directors called and held for such purpose, which resolution shall (a) contain findings that, in the good faith opinion of the board, the Executive has committed an act constituting Cause and (b) specify the particulars thereof in detail. Notice of that meeting and the proposed determination of Cause shall be given to the Executive a reasonable amount of time before the board’s meeting. The Executive and his counsel (if the Executive chooses to have counsel present) shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard by the board at the meeting. Nothing in this Agreement limits the Executive’s or his beneficiaries’ right to contest the validity or propriety of the board’s determination of Cause, and they shall have the right to contest the validity or propriety of the board’s determination of Cause even if that right does not exist under any employment agreement of the Executive. |
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(1) | Death: the Executive dies while actively employed by Middlefield or a Subsidiary, or | ||
(2) | Disability: the Executive becomes totally disabled while actively employed by Middlefield or a Subsidiary. For purposes of this agreement, the term “totally disabled” means that because of injury or sickness, the Executive is unable to perform his duties. |
The benefits, if any, payable to the Executive or his beneficiary(ies) or estate relating to
his death or disability shall be determined solely by such benefit plans or arrangements as
Middlefield or Subsidiary may have with the Executive relating to death or disability, not by this
Agreement.
The initial term of this Agreement shall be for a period of three years, commencing November
28, 2001. On the first anniversary of the November 28, 2001 effective date of this Agreement, and
on each anniversary thereafter, the Agreement shall be extended automatically for one additional
year unless Middlefield’s board of directors gives notice to the Executive in writing at least 90
days before the anniversary that the term of this Agreement will not be extended. If the board of
directors determines not to extend the term, it shall promptly notify the Executive. References
herein to the term of this Agreement mean the initial term and extensions of the initial term.
Unless terminated earlier, this Agreement shall terminate when the Executive reaches age 65. If
the board of directors decides not to extend the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in force until its term expires. The board’s decision not to extend the term
of this Agreement shall not — by itself — give the Executive any rights under this Agreement to
claim an adverse change in his position, compensation or circumstances or otherwise to claim
entitlement to severance or termination benefits under this Agreement.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) this Agreement is not a management or
employment agreement and (b) nothing in this Agreement shall give the Executive any rights or
impose any obligations to continued employment by Middlefield or any Subsidiary or successor of
Middlefield, nor shall it give Middlefield any rights or impose any obligations for the continued
performance of duties by the Executive for Middlefield or any Subsidiary or successor of
Middlefield.
Middlefield desires that the Executive not be required to incur legal fees and the related
costs and expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Executive’s rights
under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise, because the amounts thereof would substantially
detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Executive under this Agreement.
Therefore, even if the Executive does not prevail in whole or in part in litigation or other legal
action associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Executive’s rights under this
Agreement, Middlefield hereby agrees to pay and be solely financially responsible for any and all
attorneys’ and related fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Executive in the litigation or
other legal action, up to a maximum of $500,000. The fees and expenses of counsel selected by the
Executive shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive by Middlefield on a regular, periodic basis,
upon presentation by the Executive of a statement or statements prepared by such counsel in
accordance with counsel’s customary practices. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding,
nothing in this Agreement authorizes Middlefield to pay or the Executive to demand payment of fees,
costs and expenses if and to the extent payment of fees, costs and expenses constitutes a
“prohibited indemnification payment” within the meaning of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Rule 359.1(l)(1) [12 CFR 359.1(l)(1)]. Middlefield’s obligation in this Section 7 to pay the
Executive’s legal fees operates separately from and in addition to any legal fee reimbursement
obligation Middlefield or a Subsidiary may have under any separate employment or other agreement
between the Executive and Middlefield.
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Middlefield irrevocably authorizes the Executive to retain from time to time counsel of
Executive’s choice to advise and represent him in the interpretation, enforcement or defense of the
parties’ rights and responsibilities under this Agreement, if —
(1) | the Executive concludes that Middlefield has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement, or | ||
(2) | if Middlefield or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Executive the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Executive under this Agreement, |
including without limitation the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action,
whether by or against Middlefield or any director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated
with Middlefield, in any jurisdiction.
Middlefield may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all Federal, state,
local or other taxes as may be required by law, governmental regulation or ruling.
10. | Notices |
All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid to the following addresses or to such other
address as either party may designate by like notice.
(a)If to Middlefield, to: | Middlefield Banc Corp. | |||
00000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxx 00 |
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Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000 |
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Attn: Corporate Secretary |
(b) If to the Executive, to: Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
00000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
and to such other or additional person or persons as either party shall have designated to the
other party in writing by like notice.
The headings and subheadings used in this Agreement are included solely for convenience and
shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver,
modification or discharge is agreed to in a writing or writings signed by the Executive and by
Middlefield. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto
or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any
prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or
implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set
forth expressly in this Agreement.
13. | Severability |
The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other
provisions of this Agreement. Any provision held to be invalid or unenforceable shall be reformed
to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
14. | Governing Law |
The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Ohio, without giving
effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such State.
15. | Entire Agreement |
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Middlefield and the Executive
concerning the subject matter hereof. No rights are granted to the Executive under this Agreement
other than those specifically set forth herein.
Witnesses: Middlefield Banc Corp.
By: | ||||
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, XX | ||||
Its: | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
Witnesses: Executive
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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County of Geauga
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State of Ohio
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Before me this day of , 2003, personally appeared
the above named Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, XX, and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, who acknowledged that they did sign
the foregoing instrument and that the same was their free act and deed.
(Notary Seal)
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Notary Public | |||
My Commission Expires: |
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