EXHIBIT 10.1
FORM OF
BROOKLINE SAVINGS BANK
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made effective as of _________, 1997 by and between
Brookline Savings Bank (the "Bank"), a Massachusetts-chartered stock savings
bank, with its principal administrative office at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000 and ___________ (the "Executive"). Any
reference to "Company" herein shall mean Brookline Bancorp, Inc. the stock
holding company parent of the Bank or any successor thereto.
WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to assure itself of the continued services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to continue to serve in the employ of the
Bank on a full-time basis for said period.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby
agree as follows:
1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as
__________________________ of the Bank and the Company. During said period,
Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an officer and director of any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank. Failure to reelect Executive as
__________________ without the consent of the Executive during the term of this
Agreement shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES
(a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall begin
as of the date first above written and shall continue for a period of thirty-six
(36) full calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the first anniversary date
of this Agreement, and continuing at each anniversary date thereafter, the
Agreement shall renew for an additional year such that the remaining term shall
be three (3) years unless written notice is provided to Executive at least ten
(10) days and not more than thirty (30) days prior to any such anniversary date,
that his employment shall cease at the end of thirty-six (36) months following
such anniversary date. Prior to each notice period for non-renewal, the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Bank ("Board") will
conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation and review of the Executive for
purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement, and the results thereof
shall be included in the minutes of the Board's meeting.
(b) During the period of his employment hereunder, except for periods of
absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable
leaves of absence, Executive shall faithfully perform his duties hereunder
including activities and services related to the organization, operation and
management of the Bank.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT
(a) The compensation specified under this Agreement shall constitute the
salary and benefits paid for the duties described in Section 2(b). The Bank
shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of not less than $__________ per
year ("Base Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be payable biweekly. During the
period of this Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least
annually; the first such review will be made no later than ___________, 199_.
Such review shall be conducted by a Committee designated by the Board, and the
Board may increase, but not decrease, Executive's Base Salary (any increase in
Base Salary shall become the "Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement). In
addition to the Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall
provide Executive at no cost to Executive with all such other benefits as are
provided uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Bank.
(b) The Bank will provide Executive with employee benefit plans,
arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which
Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior
to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Bank will not, without
Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements
or perquisites which would adversely affect Executive's rights or benefits
thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this
Subsection (b), Executive will be entitled to participate in or receive benefits
under any employee benefit plans including but not limited to, retirement plans,
supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plans, health-and-
accident plans, medical coverage or any other employee benefit plan or
arrangement made available by the Bank in the future to its senior executives
and key management employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the
terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.
Executive will be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in
any plan of the Bank in which Executive is eligible to participate (and he shall
be entitled to a pro rata distribution under any incentive compensation or bonus
plan as to any year in which a termination of employment occurs, other than
termination for Cause). Nothing paid to the Executive under any such plan or
arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which the
Executive is entitled under this Agreement.
(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this
Section 3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel
and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive performing his obligations
under this Agreement (including but not limited to Rotary Club dues) and may
provide such additional compensation in such form and such amounts as the Board
may from time to time determine.
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(d) Compensation and reimbursement to be paid pursuant to paragraphs (a),
(b) and (c) of this Section 3 shall be paid by the Bank and the Company,
respectively, on a pro rata basis, based upon the amount of service the
Executive devotes to the Bank and Company, respectively.
(e) In addition to the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled to receive
fees for serving as a director of the Bank in the same amount and on the same
terms as fees are paid to other directors of the Bank.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION
The provisions of this Section shall in all respects be subject to the
terms and conditions stated in Sections 7 and 14.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply upon the occurrence of an
Event of Termination (as herein defined) during the Executive's term of
employment under this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of
Termination" shall mean and include any one or more of the following:
(i) the termination by the Bank or the Company of Executive's full-time
employment hereunder for any reason other than (A) Disability or Retirement, as
defined in Section 5 below, or (B) Termination for Cause as defined in Section 6
hereof; or
(ii) Executive's resignation from the Bank's employ, upon any
(A) failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive
as President and Chief Executive Officer,
(B) material change in Executive's function, duties, or
responsibilities, which change would cause Executive's position to
become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from the
position and attributes thereof described in Section 1, above,
(C) a relocation of Executive's principal place of employment by more
than 30 miles from its location at the effective date of this
Agreement, or a material reduction in the benefits and perquisites to
the Executive from those being provided as of the effective date of
this Agreement,
(D) liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or Company other than
liquidations or dissolutions that are caused by reorganizations that
do not affect the status of Executive, or
(E) breach of this Agreement by the Bank.
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Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (ii) (A), (B), (C), (D) or
(E), above, Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment
under this Agreement by resignation upon sixty (60) days prior written notice
given within a reasonable period of time not to exceed four calendar months
after the initial event giving rise to said right to elect. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, in the event of a continuing breach of this Agreement by the
Bank, the Executive, after giving due notice within the prescribed time frame of
an initial event specified above, shall not waive any of his rights solely under
this Agreement and this Section 4 by virtue of the fact that Executive has
submitted his resignation but has remained in the employment of the Bank and is
engaged in good faith discussions to resolve any occurrence of an event
described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) above.
(iii) Executive's voluntary resignation from the Bank's employ on the
effective date of, or at any time following a Change in Control during the term
of this Agreement. For these purposes, a Change in Control of the Bank or the
Company shall mean a change in control of a nature that: (i) would be required
to be reported in response to Item 1(a) of the current report on Form 8-K, as in
effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 0000 (xxx "Xxxxxxxx Xxx"); or (ii) results in a Change in
Control of the Bank or the Company within the meaning of the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, as in effect at the time of the Change in Control
(collectively, the "BHCA"); or (iii) without limitation such a Change in Control
shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (a) any "person" (as the term
is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the
combined voting power of Company's outstanding securities except for any
securities purchased by the Bank's employee stock ownership plan or trust; or
(b) individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the "Incumbent
Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided
that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election
was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising
the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee serving under an
Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (b), considered as though
he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (c) a plan of reorganization,
merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Bank
or the Company or similar transaction in which the Bank or Company is not the
surviving institution occurs; or (d) a proxy statement soliciting proxies from
stockholders of the Company, by someone other than the current management of the
Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of reorganization, merger or
consolidation of the Company or similar transaction with one or more
corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the class of
securities then subject to the Plan are to be exchanged for or converted into
cash or property or securities not issued by the Company; or (e) a tender offer
is made for 25% or more of the voting securities of the Company and the
shareholders owning beneficially or of record 25% or more of the outstanding
securities of the Company have tendered or offered to sell their shares pursuant
to such tender offer and such tendered shares have been accepted by the tender
offeror.
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(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 7, the Bank shall pay Executive, or, in the
event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate,
as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal
to three (3) times the sum of (i) Base Salary and (ii) the highest rate of bonus
awarded to the Executive during the prior three years. At the election of the
Executive, which election is to be made on an annual basis during the month of
January, and which election is irrevocable for the year in which made and upon
the occurrence of an Event of Termination, any payments shall be made in a lump
sum or paid monthly during the remaining term of this Agreement following the
Executive's termination. In the event that no election is made, payment to the
Executive will be made on a monthly basis during the remaining term of this
Agreement. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event the Executive obtains
other employment following termination of employment.
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause to
be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially
identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his
termination. Such coverage shall continue for 36 months from the Date of
Termination.
(d) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 4, in the
event that:
(i) the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to
Executive under said paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits")
would be deemed to include an "excess parachute payment" under
Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereto, and
(ii) if such Termination Benefits were reduced to an amount (the
"Non-Triggering Amount"), the value of which is one dollar
($1.00) less than an amount equal to the total amount of
payments permissible under Section 280G of the Code or any
successor thereto.
then the Termination Benefits to be paid to Executive shall be so
reduced so as to be a Non-Triggering Amount.
5. TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR DEATH
Termination by the Bank of the Executive based on "Retirement" shall mean
termination in accordance with the Bank's retirement policy or in accordance
with any retirement arrangement established with Executive's consent with
respect to him. Upon termination of Executive upon Retirement, Executive shall
be entitled to all benefits under any retirement plan of the Bank and other
plans to which Executive is a party.
In the event Executive is unable to perform his duties under this Agreement
on a full-time basis for a period of six (6) consecutive months by reason of
illness or other physical or mental disability, the Employer may terminate this
Agreement, provided that the Employer shall continue
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to be obligated to pay the Executive his Base Salary for the remaining term of
the Agreement, or one year, whichever is the longer period of time, and provided
further that any amounts actually paid to Executive pursuant to any disability
insurance or other similar such program which the Employer has provided or may
provide on behalf of its employees or pursuant to any xxxxxxx'x or social
security disability program shall reduce the compensation to be paid to the
Executive pursuant to this paragraph.
In the event of Executive's death during the term of the Agreement, his
estate, legal representatives or named beneficiaries (as directed by Executive
in writing) shall be paid Executive's Base Salary as defined in Paragraph 3(a)
at the rate in effect at the time Executive's death for a period of one (1) year
from the date of the Executive's death, and the Employers will continue to
provide medical, dental, family and other benefits normally provided for an
Executive's family for one (1) year after the Executive's death.
6. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of the
Executive's personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, any breach of fiduciary
duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties,
willful violation of any law, rule, or regulation (other than traffic violations
or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any
provision of this Agreement. In determining incompetence, the acts or omissions
shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the savings
institutions industry. For purposes of this paragraph, no act or failure to act
on the part of Executive shall be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted
to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief
that the Executive's action or omission was in the best interest of the Bank.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been
Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-fourths of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and
held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity
for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in
the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying
Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. The
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after Termination for Cause. Any stock options granted to Executive
under any stock option plan of the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or
affiliate thereof, shall become null and void effective upon Executive's receipt
of Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 7 hereof, and shall not
be exercisable by Executive at any time subsequent to such Termination for
Cause.
7. NOTICE
(a) Any purported termination by the Bank or by Executive shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
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claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the
provision so indicated.
(b) "Date of Termination" shall mean (A) if Executive's employment is
terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is
given (provided that he shall not have returned to the performance of his duties
on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if his
employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice
of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less
than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).
(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given,
the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a
dispute exists concerning the termination, except upon the voluntary termination
by the Executive in which case the Date of Termination shall be the date
specified in the Notice, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the
dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the
parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree
of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal having expired and no
appeal having been perfected) and provided further that the Date of Termination
shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good
faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute
with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the
Bank will continue to pay Executive his full compensation in effect when the
notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, Base
Salary) and continue Executive as a participant in all compensation, benefit and
insurance plans in which he was participating when the notice of dispute was
given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Agreement,
provided such dispute is resolved within the term of this Agreement. If such
dispute is not resolved within the term of the Agreement, the Bank shall not be
obligated, upon final resolution of such dispute, to pay Executive compensation
and other payments accruing beyond the term of the Agreement. Amounts paid
under this Section shall be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under
this Agreement.
8. POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS
(a) All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be
subject to Executive's compliance with paragraph (b) of this Section 8 during
the term of this Agreement and for one (1) full year after the expiration or
termination hereof.
(b) Executive shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information and
assistance to the Bank as may reasonably be required by the Bank in connection
with any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or
may become, a party.
9. NON-COMPETITION
(a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder as a result
of which the Association is paying Executive benefits under Section 4 of this
Agreement, Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank and/or the Company for
a period of one (1) year following such
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termination in any city, town or county in which the Bank and/or the Company has
an office or has filed an application for regulatory approval to establish an
office, determined as of the effective date of such termination, except as
agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board. Executive agrees
that during such period and within said cities, towns and counties, Executive
shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise serve with, directly or
indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with the depository,
lending or other business activities of the Bank and/or the Company. The parties
hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will result to the Bank and/or the
Company, its business and property in the event of Executive's breach of this
Subsection 9(a) agree that in the event of any such breach by Executive, the
Bank and/or the Company will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and
damages available, to an injunction to restrain the violation hereof by
Executive, Executive's partners, agents, servants, employers, employees and all
persons acting for or with Executive. Executive represents and admits that
Executive's experience and capabilities are such that Executive can obtain
employment in a business engaged in other lines and/or of a different nature
than the Bank and/or the Company, and that the enforcement of a remedy by way of
injunction will not prevent Executive from earning a livelihood. Nothing herein
will be construed as prohibiting the Bank and/or the Company from pursuing any
other remedies available to the Bank and/or the Company for such breach or
threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.
(b) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the
business activities and plans for business activities of the Bank and affiliates
thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique
asset of the business of the Bank. Executive will not, during or after the term
of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present, planned or
considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof to any person,
firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever (except
for such disclosure as may be required to be provided to any federal banking
agency with jurisdiction over the Bank or Executive). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking, financial and/or
economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively
derived from the business plans and activities of the Bank, and Executive may
disclose any information regarding the Bank or the Company which is otherwise
publicly available. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
Executive of the provisions of this Section 9, the Bank will be entitled to an
injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or in part, the
knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the
Bank or affiliates thereof, or from rendering any services to any person, firm,
corporation, other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been
disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein will be construed as
prohibiting the Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for
such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from
Executive.
10. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS
All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Bank. The Company, however, guarantees
payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to Executive
and, if such amounts and benefits due from the
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Bank are not timely paid or provided by the Bank, such amounts and benefits
shall be paid or provided by the Company.
11. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not
affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to the Executive
of a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits than
those available to him without reference to this Agreement.
12. NO ATTACHMENT
(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this
Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale,
assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution,
attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive and the Bank and their respective successors and assigns.
13. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.
(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver
unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as
to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically
waived.
14. SEVERABILITY
If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.
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15. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY
The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.
16. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Massachusetts
but only to the extent not superseded by federal law.
17. ARBITRATION
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by the employee within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that
Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid
until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement.
18. PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES
All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any
dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid
or reimbursed by the Bank, provided that the dispute or interpretation has been
settled by Executive and the Bank or resolved in the Executive's favor.
19. INDEMNIFICATION
The Bank shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and
administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy at its expense, and shall indemnify Executive (and
his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted under
federal law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may
be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the Bank
(whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to
include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs and attorneys' fees and
the cost of reasonable settlements (such settlements must be approved by the
Board of Directors of the Bank). If such action, suit or proceeding is brought
against Executive in his capacity as an officer or director of the Bank,
however, such indemnification shall not extend to matters as to which Executive
is finally adjudged to be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of
his duties.
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20. SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK
The Bank shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Bank or the Company, expressly
and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank's obligations under
this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Bank would be
required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and the Company have caused this Agreement to
be executed and their seals to be affixed hereunto by their duly authorized
officers, and Executives have signed this Agreement, on the day and date first
above written.
ATTEST: BROOKLINE SAVINGS BANK
__________________________ By: _____________________________________
Secretary Chairman of the Board
WITNESS: EXECUTIVE:
__________________________ By: _____________________________________
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