EXHIBIT 10.8
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as this
"AGREEMENT"), entered into this 1st day of June, 2001, by and among Xxxxxx
Financial Corporation, a savings and loan holding company incorporated under
Ohio law (hereinafter referred to as "WFC"), The Xxxxxx Savings and Loan Co., a
savings and loan association incorporated under Ohio law and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of WFC (hereinafter referred to as "XXXXXX"), and Xxxx X. Xxxxx, an
individual (hereinafter referred to as the "EMPLOYEE");
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the EMPLOYEE is currently employed as the Chief Financial
Officer of WFC and XXXXXX (hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"EMPLOYERS");
WHEREAS, as a result of the skill, knowledge and experience of the
EMPLOYEE, the Boards of Directors of the EMPLOYERS desire to retain the services
of the EMPLOYEE as the Chief Financial Officer of XXXXXX and WFC;
WHEREAS, the EMPLOYEE desires to continue to serve as the Chief
Financial Officer of XXXXXX and WFC; and
WHEREAS, the EMPLOYEE and the EMPLOYERS desire to enter into this
Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions of the employment relationship
between the EMPLOYERS and the EMPLOYEE;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the EMPLOYERS and the EMPLOYEE hereby agree as follows:
Section l. Employment and Term. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this AGREEMENT, the EMPLOYERS hereby employ the EMPLOYEE, and the
EMPLOYEE hereby accepts employment, as the Chief Financial Officer of XXXXXX and
of WFC. The term of this AGREEMENT shall commence on June 1, 2001 and shall end
on June 1, 2004 (hereinafter referred to as the "TERM'').
Section 2. Duties of EMPLOYEE.
(a) General Duties and Responsibilities. The EMPLOYEE shall serve as
the Chief Financial Officer of the EMPLOYERS. Subject to the direction of the
Boards of Directors of the EMPLOYERS, the EMPLOYEE shall perform all duties and
shall have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of Chief
Financial Officer or which, consistent therewith, are delegated to her by the
Board of Directors. Such duties may include, but shall not be limited to,
assisting in the development of policies and strategic objectives pertaining to
fiscal control and operating results, directing and coordinating the investment,
accounting and controlling activities of the EMPLOYERS, and preparation of
financial reports.
(b) Devotion of Entire Time to the Business of the EMPLOYERS. The
EMPLOYEE shall devote her entire productive time, ability and attention during
normal business hours throughout the TERM to the faithful performance of her
duties under this AGREEMENT. The EMPLOYEE shall not directly or indirectly
render any services of a business, commercial or professional nature to any
person or organization without the prior written consent of the Boards of
Directors of the EMPLOYERS; provided, however, that the EMPLOYEE shall not be
precluded from (i) vacations and other leave time in accordance with Section
3(e) hereof; (ii) reasonable participation in community, civic, charitable or
similar organizations; or (iii) the pursuit of personal investments which do not
interfere or conflict with the performance of the EMPLOYEE'S duties to the
EMPLOYERS.
Section 3. Compensation, Benefits and Reimbursements.
(a) Salary. The EMPLOYEE shall receive during the TERM an annual salary
payable in equal installments not less often than monthly. The amount of such
annual salary shall be $106,500 until changed by the Boards of Directors of the
EMPLOYERS in accordance with Section 3(b) of this AGREEMENT.
(b) Annual Salary Review. In December of each year throughout the TERM,
the annual salary of the EMPLOYEE shall be reviewed by the Boards of Directors
of the EMPLOYERS and shall be set, effective January l of the following year, at
an amount not less than $106,500, based upon the EMPLOYEE'S individual
performance and the overall profitability and financial condition of the
EMPLOYERS (hereinafter referred to as the "ANNUAL REVIEW"). The results of the
ANNUAL REVIEW shall be reflected in the minutes of the Boards of Directors of
the EMPLOYERS.
(c) Expenses. In addition to any compensation received under Section
3(a) or (b) of this AGREEMENT, the EMPLOYERS shall pay or reimburse the EMPLOYEE
for all reasonable travel, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of her duties under this AGREEMENT. Such
reimbursement shall be made in accordance with the existing policies and
procedures of the EMPLOYERS pertaining to reimbursement of expenses to senior
management officials.
(d) Employee Benefit Program.
(i) During the TERM, the EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to
participate in all formally established employee benefit, bonus,
pension and profit-sharing plans and similar programs that are
maintained by the EMPLOYERS from time to time, including programs in
respect of group health, disability or life insurance, reimbursement of
membership fees in civic, social and professional organizations and all
employee benefit plans or programs hereafter adopted in writing by the
Boards of Directors of the EMPLOYERS, for which senior management
personnel are eligible, including any employee stock ownership plan,
stock option plan or other stock benefit plan (hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "BENEFIT PLANS"). Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, the EMPLOYERS may discontinue or terminate at any time any
such BENEFIT PLANS, now existing or hereafter adopted, to the extent
permitted by the terms of such plans and shall not be required to
compensate the EMPLOYEE for such discontinuance or termination.
(ii) After the expiration of the TERM or the termination of
the employment of the EMPLOYEE for any reason other than JUST CAUSE (as
defined hereinafter), the EMPLOYERS shall provide a group health
insurance program in which the EMPLOYEE and her spouse will be eligible
to participate until both the EMPLOYEE and her spouse become 65 years
of age; provided, however that all premiums for such program shall be
paid by the EMPLOYEE and/or her spouse after the EMPLOYEE'S retirement;
provided further, however, that the EMPLOYEE and her spouse may only
participate in such program for as long as the EMPLOYERS make available
an employee group health insurance program which permits the EMPLOYERS
to make coverage available for similarly situated retirees.
(e) Vacation and Sick Leave. The EMPLOYEE shall be entitled,
without loss of pay, to be absent voluntarily from the performance of her duties
under this AGREEMENT, subject to the following conditions:
(i) The EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to an annual vacation in
accordance with the policies periodically established by the Boards of
Directors of the EMPLOYERS for senior management officials of the
EMPLOYERS, the duration of which shall not be less than four weeks each
calendar year;
(ii) Vacation time shall be scheduled by the EMPLOYEE in a
reasonable manner and shall be subject to approval by the Boards of
Directors of the EMPLOYERS. The EMPLOYEE shall not be entitled to
receive any additional compensation from the EMPLOYERS in the event of
her failure to take the full allotment of vacation time in any calendar
year; provided, however, that a maximum of one week of unused vacation
time in any calendar year may be carried over into any succeeding
calendar year; and
(iii) The EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to annual sick leave as
established by the Boards of Directors of the EMPLOYERS for senior
management officials of the EMPLOYERS. In the event that any sick leave
time shall not have been used during any calendar year, such leave
shall accrue to subsequent calendar years, only to the extent
authorized by the Boards of Directors of the EMPLOYERS. Upon
termination of employment, the EMPLOYEE shall not be entitled to
receive any additional compensation from the EMPLOYERS for unused sick
leave.
Section 4. Termination of Employment.
(a) General. The employment of the EMPLOYEE shall terminate at any time
during the TERM (i) at the option of the EMPLOYERS, upon the delivery by the
EMPLOYERS of written notice of termination to the EMPLOYEE, or (ii) at the
option of the EMPLOYEE, upon delivery by the EMPLOYEE of written notice of
termination to the EMPLOYERS if the present capacity or circumstances in which
the EMPLOYEE is employed are materially adversely changed, including, but not
limited to, a material reduction in responsibilities or authority, the
assignment of duties or responsibilities substantially inconsistent with those
normally associated with the EMPLOYEE'S position described in Section 2(a) of
this AGREEMENT, a change of title, the requirement that the EMPLOYEE regularly
perform her principal executive functions more than thirty-five (35) miles from
her primary office as of the date of this AGREEMENT or the reduction of the
EMPLOYEE'S benefits provided under this AGREEMENT, unless the benefit reductions
are part of a company-wide reduction. The following subsections (I), (II) and
(III) of this Section 4(a) shall govern the obligations of the EMPLOYERS to the
EMPLOYEE upon the occurrence of the events described in such subparagraphs:
(I) Termination for JUST CAUSE. In the event that the
EMPLOYERS terminate the employment of the EMPLOYEE during the TERM
because of the EMPLOYEE'S personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful
misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit,
intentional failure or refusal to perform the duties and
responsibilities assigned in this AGREEMENT, willful violation of any
law, rule, regulation or final cease-and-desist order (other than
traffic violations or similar offenses), conviction of a felony or for
fraud or embezzlement, or material breach of any provision of this
AGREEMENT (hereinafter collectively referred to as "JUST CAUSE"), the
EMPLOYEE shall not receive, and shall have no right to receive, any
compensation or other benefits for any period after such termination.
(II) Termination after CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that,
before the expiration of the TERM and in connection with or within one
year of a CHANGE OF CONTROL (as defined hereinafter) of either one of
the EMPLOYERS, the employment of the EMPLOYEE is terminated for any
reason other than JUST CAUSE or is terminated by the EMPLOYEE as
provided in Section 4(a)(ii) above, then the following shall occur:
(A) The EMPLOYERS shall promptly pay to the EMPLOYEE
or to her beneficiaries, dependents or estate an amount equal
to the sum of (l) the amount of compensation to which the
EMPLOYEE would be entitled for the remainder of the TERM under
this AGREEMENT, plus (2) the difference between (x) the
product of three, multiplied by the greater of the annual
salary set forth in Section 3(a) of this AGREEMENT or the
annual salary payable to the EMPLOYEE as a result of any
ANNUAL REVIEW, less (xx) the amount paid to the EMPLOYEE
pursuant to clause (l) of this subparagraph (A);
(B) The EMPLOYEE, her dependents, beneficiaries and
estate shall continue to be covered under all BENEFIT PLANS of
the EMPLOYERS at the EMPLOYERS' expense as if the EMPLOYEE
were still employed under this AGREEMENT until the earliest of
the expiration of the TERM or the date on which the EMPLOYEE
is included in another employer's benefit plans as a full-time
employee; and
(C) The EMPLOYEE shall not be required to mitigate
the amount of any payment provided for in this AGREEMENT by
seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall any amounts
received from other employment or otherwise by the EMPLOYEE
offset in any manner the obligations of the EMPLOYERS
hereunder, except as specifically stated in subparagraph (B)
above.
In the event that payments pursuant to this subsection (II) would
result in the imposition of a penalty tax pursuant to Section
280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder (hereinafter collectively referred
to as "SECTION 280G"), such payments shall be reduced to the maximum
amount which may be paid under SECTION 280G without exceeding such
limits.
(III) Termination Without CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that
the employment of the EMPLOYEE is terminated before the expiration of
the TERM for any reason other than death, JUST CAUSE or in connection
with or within one year of a CHANGE OF CONTROL, the EMPLOYERS shall be
obligated to continue (A) to pay on a monthly basis to the EMPLOYEE,
her dependents, beneficiaries or estate, her annual salary provided
pursuant to Section 3(a) or (b) of this AGREEMENT until the expiration
of the TERM and (B) to provide to the EMPLOYEE, her dependents,
beneficiaries and estate at the EMPLOYERS' expense, health, life,
disability, and other benefits substantially equal to those being
provided to the EMPLOYEE at the date of termination of her employment
until the earliest to occur of the expiration of the TERM or the date
the EMPLOYEE becomes employed full-time by another employer. In the
event that payments pursuant to this subsection (III) would result in
the imposition of a penalty tax pursuant to SECTION 280G, such payments
shall be reduced to the maximum amount which may be paid under SECTION
280G without exceeding those limits. The EMPLOYEE shall not be required
to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this AGREEMENT by
seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall any amounts received
from other employment or otherwise by the EMPLOYEE offset in any manner
the obligations of the EMPLOYERS hereunder, except as specifically
stated in subparagraph (III)(B) above.
(b) Death of the EMPLOYEE. The TERM automatically terminates upon the
death of the EMPLOYEE. In the event of such death, the EMPLOYEE'S estate shall
be entitled to receive the compensation due the EMPLOYEE through the last day of
the calendar month in which the death occurred, except as otherwise specified
herein.
(c) "Golden Parachute" Provision. Any payments made to the EMPLOYEE
pursuant to this AGREEMENT, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon
their compliance with 12 U.S.C.ss.1828(k) and FDIC regulation 12 C.F.R. Part
359, Golden Parachute and Indemnification Payments.
(d) Definition of "CHANGE OF CONTROL". A "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean
any one of the following events: (i) the acquisition of ownership or power to
vote more than 25% of the voting stock of either of the EMPLOYERS; (ii) the
acquisition of the ability to control the election of a majority of the
directors of either of the EMPLOYERS; (iii) during any period of two consecutive
years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of
Directors of WFC or WINTON cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof; provided, however, that any individual whose election or
nomination for election as a member of the Board of Directors of WFC or XXXXXX
was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office
shall be considered to have continued to be a member of the Board of Directors
of WFC or XXXXXX; or (iv) the acquisition by any person or entity of "conclusive
control" of XXXXXX within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. ss.574.4(a), or the
acquisition by any person or entity of "rebuttable control" within the meaning
of 12 C.F.R. ss.574.4(b) that has not been rebutted in accordance with 12 C.F.R.
ss.574.4(c). For purposes of this paragraph, the term "person" refers to an
individual or corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other
organization, but does not include the EMPLOYEE and any person or persons with
whom the EMPLOYEE is "acting in concert" within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Part
574.
(e) Termination by EMPLOYEE. If the EMPLOYEE terminates this AGREEMENT
without the written consent of the EMPLOYERS, other than pursuant to Section
4(a)(ii) of this AGREEMENT, the EMPLOYEE shall not engage in the financial
institutions business as a director, officer, employee or consultant for any
business or enterprise which competes with the principal business of the
EMPLOYERS or any of their subsidiaries within Xxxxxxxx County or any other
geographic area in which XXXXXX or WFC is doing business for the unexpired TERM
of this AGREEMENT. This provision shall not apply in the event of the
termination of the employment of the EMPLOYEE by the EMPLOYERS prior to the
expiration of the TERM or the termination of the employment of the EMPLOYEE by
the EMPLOYEE pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) of this AGREEMENT.
Section 5. Special Regulatory Events. Notwithstanding Section 4
of this AGREEMENT, the obligations of the EMPLOYERS to the EMPLOYEE shall be as
follows in the event of the following circumstances:
(a) If the EMPLOYEE is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the EMPLOYERS' affairs by a notice served under
Section 8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (hereinafter
referred to as the "FDIA"), the EMPLOYERS' obligations under this AGREEMENT
shall be suspended as of the date of service of such notice, unless stayed by
appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the
EMPLOYERS may, in their discretion, pay the EMPLOYEE all or part of the
compensation withheld while the obligations in this AGREEMENT were suspended and
reinstate, in whole or in part, any of the obligations that were suspended.
(b) If the EMPLOYEE is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the EMPLOYERS' affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e)(4) or (g)(l) of the FDIA, all obligations of the EMPLOYERS under
this AGREEMENT shall terminate as of the effective date of such order; provided,
however, that vested rights of the EMPLOYEE shall not be affected by such
termination.
(c) If the EMPLOYERS are in default, as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of
the FDIA, all obligations under this AGREEMENT shall terminate as of the date of
default; provided, however, that vested rights of the EMPLOYEE shall not be
affected.
(d) All obligations under this AGREEMENT shall be terminated, except to
the extent of a determination that the continuation of this AGREEMENT is
necessary for the continued operation of the EMPLOYERS, (i) by the Director of
the Office of Thrift Supervision (hereinafter referred to as the "OTS"), or his
or her designee, at the time that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the EMPLOYERS
under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA; or (ii) by the
Director of the OTS, or his or her designee, at any time the Director of the
OTS, or his or her designee, approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems
related to the operation of the EMPLOYERS or when the EMPLOYERS are determined
by the Director of the OTS to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. No vested
rights of the EMPLOYEE shall be affected by any such action.
Section 6. Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. Nothing in this
AGREEMENT shall preclude the EMPLOYERS from consolidating with, merging into, or
transferring all, or substantially all, of their assets to another corporation
that assumes all of the EMPLOYERS' obligations and undertakings hereunder. Upon
such a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets, the term "EMPLOYERS" as used
herein, shall mean such other corporation or entity, and this AGREEMENT shall
continue in full force and effect.
Section 7. Confidential Information. The EMPLOYEE acknowledges that
during her employment she will learn and have access to confidential information
regarding the EMPLOYERS and their customers and businesses. The EMPLOYEE agrees
and covenants not to disclose or use for her own benefit, or the benefit of any
other person or entity, any confidential information, unless or until the
EMPLOYERS consent to such disclosure or use or such information becomes common
knowledge in the industry or is otherwise legally in the public domain. The
EMPLOYEE shall not knowingly disclose or reveal to any unauthorized person any
confidential information relating to the EMPLOYERS, their subsidiaries or
affiliates, or to any of the businesses operated by them, and the EMPLOYEE
confirms that such information constitutes the exclusive property of the
EMPLOYERS. The EMPLOYEE shall not otherwise knowingly act or conduct himself (a)
to the material detriment of the EMPLOYERS, their subsidiaries, or affiliates,
or (b) in a manner which is inimical or contrary to the interests of the
EMPLOYERS.
Section 8. Nonassignability. Neither this AGREEMENT nor any right or
interest hereunder shall be assignable by the EMPLOYEE, her beneficiaries, or
legal representatives without the EMPLOYERS' prior written consent; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 8 shall preclude (a) the EMPLOYEE from
designating a beneficiary to receive any benefits payable hereunder upon her
death, or (b) the executors, administrators, or other legal representatives of
the EMPLOYEE or her estate from assigning any rights hereunder to the person or
persons entitled thereto.
Section 9. No Attachment. Except as required by law, no right to
receive payment 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 of
assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to
effect any such action shall be null, void and of no effect.
Section l0. Binding Agreement. This AGREEMENT shall be binding upon,
and inure to the benefit of, the EMPLOYEE and the EMPLOYERS and their respective
permitted successors and assigns.
Section 11. Amendment of AGREEMENT. This AGREEMENT may not be
modified or amended, except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties
hereto.
Section 12. Waiver. No term or condition of this AGREEMENT shall be
deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be an 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 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 or as to any act
other than the act specifically waived.
Section 13. Severability. If, for any reason, any provision of this
AGREEMENT is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions
of this AGREEMENT not held so invalid, and each such other provision shall, to
the full extent consistent with applicable law, continue in full force and
effect. If this AGREEMENT is held invalid or cannot be enforced, then any prior
AGREEMENT between the EMPLOYERS (or any predecessor thereof) and the EMPLOYEE
shall be deemed reinstated to the full extent permitted by law, as if this
AGREEMENT had not been executed.
Section 14. Headings. The headings of the 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.
Section 15. Governing Law. This AGREEMENT has been executed and
delivered in the State of Ohio and its validity, interpretation, performance,
and enforcement shall be governed by the laws of this State of Ohio, except to
the extent that federal law is governing.
Section 16. Effect of Prior Agreements. This AGREEMENT contains the
entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior
employment agreement between the EMPLOYERS and the EMPLOYEE, each of which is
hereby terminated and is of no further force or effect.
Section 17. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted pursuant to this AGREEMENT shall be deemed delivered if such notice or
communication is in writing and is delivered personally or by facsimile
transmission or is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to Xxxxxx Financial Corporation and/or The Xxxxxx Savings & Loan Company:
Xxxxxx Financial Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
With copies to:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Vorys, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx LLP
Suite 2100, Atrium Two
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
If to the EMPLOYEE to:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the EMPLOYERS have caused this AGREEMENT to be
executed by their duly authorized officers, and the EMPLOYEE has signed this
AGREEMENT, each as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: XXXXXX FINANCIAL CORPORATION
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
its President
Attest: THE XXXXXX SAVINGS AND LOAN CO.
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
its President
Attest:
/s/ Xxx Xxxx * /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
