106131
Exhibit 10(f)
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
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AGREEMENT made as of September 15, 1997, by and among HERITAGE
BANCORP, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and having its principal place of business in
Pottsville, Pennsylvania (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation"), and
XXXXX X. XXXXX, an individual residing at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (hereinafter referred to as "Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Executive is now serving as Vice President and
Treasurer of the Corporation and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Heritage National Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (the
"Bank"); and
WHEREAS, the Corporation and Executive desire to enter into
this Agreement whereby the Corporation will agree to make certain payments to
Executive upon termination under specific conditions, in order to induce
Executive to continue in employment with the Corporation.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the employment of
Executive and intending to be legally bound hereby, Executive and the
Corporation agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
TERMINATION PURSUANT TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL
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1.1 Definition: Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control.
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Any of the following events occurring during the period commencing with the date
of any "Change in Control" (as defined in ARTICLE II hereof) and ending on the
third anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control
transaction, shall constitute a "Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control":
(A) Executive's employment is terminated by the Corporation,
the Bank or an acquiror or successor of either without "Good Cause" (as
defined below); or
(B) Any of the following events occurs and Executive
thereafter terminates Executive's employment:
(i) the nature and scope of Executive's duties or
responsibilities with the Corporation, the Bank or an acquiror
or successor are materially reduced from that which Executive
enjoyed immediately prior to the Change in Control including,
without limitation, if Executive ceases to have the title and
duties of Vice President and Treasurer of the Corporation and
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank or an
acquiror or successor thereto; or
(ii) Executive's base salary immediately prior to the
Change in Control is reduced or material benefits then being
provided to Executive are reduced or eliminated (excluding
reduction or curtailment of benefits affecting all employees);
or
(iii) Executive is assigned, without Executive's consent,
to a principal place of employment which is more than thirty
(30) miles from Executive's principal place of employment
immediately prior to the Change in Control.
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For purposes of this Section 1.1, "Good Cause" shall mean (i)
the commission of gross malfeasance in office constituting dishonesty or the
commission of a crime involving fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement,
dishonesty or other violation of law of a similar nature and severity or (ii)
the willful breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or the Bank. No
act, or failure to act, on Executive's part shall be considered "willful" unless
done, or omitted to be done, by Executive, not in good faith and without
reasonable belief that Executive's action or omission was in the best interest
of the Corporation or the Bank. The burden of establishing the validity of any
termination for Good Cause shall rest upon the Corporation or the Bank.
1.2 Compensation Upon Termination Pursuant to a Change in
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Control. If Executive's employment is terminated and such termination is a
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Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control (as defined in Section 1.1), the
Corporation (or any acquiror or successor thereto) shall provide the following
to Executive:
(A) Executive's compensation shall be continued for a period
of three (3) years, commencing as of the Termination Pursuant to the
Change in Control, but not beyond the date on which Executive attains
age 65 or dies. For purposes of this Section 1.2, compensation shall
mean the greater of Executive's base salary in effect immediately prior
to the Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control and the base salary
in effect prior to the Change in Control, plus any cash bonuses or
annual incentive cash compensation earned by Executive with respect to
the calendar year immediately preceding the date of the Termination
Pursuant to a Change in Control; and
(B) Executive shall be provided, for a period of three (3)
years, commencing as of the Termination Pursuant to the Change in
Control, but not beyond the date on which Executive attains age 65 or
dies, with life, disability and accident and health insurance coverages
comparable to employer sponsored plan coverages in effect for Executive
immediately preceding the Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control.
Comparable life, disability and accident and
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health insurance coverages may be provided to Executive under: (1)
existing plans or programs in which the Executive participates, or (2)
through conversion of group coverage pursuant to any group policy in
effect, or (3) through other available commercial insurance
arrangements, if obtainable, for Executive; provided, however, that to
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the extent a specific coverage cannot be continued or obtained under
either (1), (2) or (3) above, Executive shall not be entitled to
continuation of that specific coverage. Executive shall continue to be
responsible for the cost of comparable insurance coverages following
his Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control to the same extent as
other similarly situated active employees of the Corporation or the
Bank as of the Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control or, if there
are no similarly situated employees, then to the same extent, on a
percentage of total cost basis, that Executive was responsible for the
cost of available insurance coverages prior to the Termination Pursuant
to a Change in Control. With respect to health insurance coverage,
Executive's spouse and/or eligible dependents, if covered under any
employer sponsored accident and health insurance plan in effect for
Executive as of Executive's Termination Pursuant to a Change in
Control, shall also be provided with health insurance coverage for the
three (3) year term set forth above (regardless of Executive's death or
attainment of age 65 prior to the end of the three (3) year term), and
under the same cost sharing method as described above.
(C) If (i) any payment or benefit received or receivable
hereunder by Executive would not be deductible in whole or in part by
the payor as a result of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code") and (ii) a reduction in such payment or
benefit of no greater than 5% would result in full deductibility of all
payments and benefits, then such payment or benefit shall be reduced up
to the maximum amount, not exceeding 5%, necessary to achieve full
deductibility. If a 5% reduction is not sufficient to achieve full
deductibility, then no reduction shall be made. If at any time it is
determined that any reduction imposed pursuant to this paragraph was
not sufficient to achieve full deductibility, then the Executive shall
be entitled to immediately receive payment in an amount equal to the
reduction.
(D) Should the total of all payments made hereunder to
Executive upon a Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control, together
with any other payments which Executive has a right to receive from the
Corporation, the Bank, any of the other subsidiaries of the
Corporation, or any successors of any of the foregoing, result in the
imposition of an excise tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 4999
(or any successor thereto), Executive shall be entitled to an
additional "excise tax" adjustment payment in an amount such that,
after the payment of all federal and state income and excise taxes,
Executive will be in the same after-tax position as if no excise tax
had been imposed. Any payment or benefit which is
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required to be included under Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G or
4999 (or any successor provisions thereto) for purposes of determining
whether an excise tax is payable shall be deemed a payment "made to
Executive" or a payment "which Executive has a right to receive" for
purposes of this provision. The Corporation (or its successor) shall be
responsible for the costs of calculation of the deductibility of
payments and benefits and the excise tax by the Corporation's
independent certified accountant and tax counsel and shall notify
Executive of the amount of excise tax due prior to the time such excise
tax is due. If at any time it is determined that the additional "excise
tax" adjustment payment previously made to Executive was insufficient
to cover the effect of the excise tax, the gross- up payment pursuant
to this provision shall be increased to make Executive whole, including
an amount to cover the payment of any penalties resulting from any
incorrect or late payment of the excise tax resulting from the prior
calculation.
1.3 Other Benefits. The payments provided by this ARTICLE I
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shall not affect Executive's rights to receive any payments or benefits to which
Executive may be or become entitled under any other existing or future agreement
or arrangement of the Corporation, the Bank or any successor with the Executive,
or under any existing or future benefit plan or arrangement of the Corporation,
the Bank or any successor in which Executive is or becomes a participant, or
under which Executive has or obtains rights, including without limitation, any
qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation or retirement plans or programs
or any outstanding stock options or similar agreements. Any such rights of
Executive shall be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
applicable agreement, arrangement or plan and applicable law, provided, however,
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that Executive shall not be entitled to any severance payments in addition to
those provided hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Termination
Pursuant to a Change in Control occurs at a time when an employment agreement
between Executive and the Corporation is in effect and Executive would
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otherwise be entitled to benefits under such employment agreement as a result of
termination of employment, the benefits to be provided under this Agreement as a
result of the Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control shall control and
Executive shall not be entitled to also receive termination benefits under such
employment agreement.
1.4 Withholding for Taxes. All payments required to be made
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under this Agreement will be made in accordance with the Corporation's or
payor's normal payroll schedule and will be subject to withholding of such
amounts relating to tax and/or other payroll deductions as may be required by
law.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITION OF CHANGE IN CONTROL
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2.1 For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Change in
Control" shall mean any of the following:
(A) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")),
other than the Corporation, a subsidiary of the Corporation, an
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Corporation or a direct
or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation becomes the beneficial owner
(as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing more than
10% of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding
securities or announces a tender offer or exchange offer for securities
of the Corporation representing more than 10% of the combined voting
power of the Corporation's then outstanding securities; or
(B) the occurrence of, or execution of an agreement providing
for, a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation or the Bank to an entity which is not a direct or indirect
subsidiary of the Corporation; or
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(C) the occurrence of, or execution of an agreement providing
for, a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or similar transaction
involving the Corporation or the Bank excluding, however, the merger or
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consolidation of the Bank with the Corporation or the merger or
consolidation of the Bank with and into any other wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Corporation; or
(D) any other event which is at any time designated as a
"Change in Control" for purposes of this Agreement by a resolution
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation with the
affirmative vote of a majority of the non-employee directors in office
at the time the resolution is adopted; in the event any such resolution
is adopted, the Change in Control event specified thereby shall be
deemed incorporated herein by reference and thereafter may not be
amended, modified or revoked without the written agreement of
Executive.
2.2 Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, if (i) an agreement is executed by the Corporation or the Bank
providing for any of the transactions or events constituting a Change in Control
pursuant to this ARTICLE II or an announcement concerning a tender offer or
exchange offer is made constituting a Change in Control pursuant to this Article
II, and the agreement, tender offer or exchange offer subsequently expires or is
terminated without the transaction or event being consummated, and (ii) a
"Termination Pursuant to a Change in Control" (as defined in ARTICLE I hereof)
has not occurred prior to such expiration or termination, then for purposes of
this Agreement (including, without limitation, ARTICLE I hereof) it shall be as
though such agreement was never executed or such tender offer or exchange offer
was never announced and no Change in Control event shall be deemed to have
occurred as a result.
2.3 The expiration of the three-year period after any Change
in Control event without the occurrence of a Termination Pursuant to a Change in
Control shall not have any effect on this Agreement, which shall remain in full
force and effect until its termination by
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written agreement of the parties or the earlier termination of Executive's
employment under circumstances not constituting a Termination Pursuant to a
Change in Control.
ARTICLE III
EXPENSES
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3.1 Legal Action. If Executive determines in good faith that
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the Corporation or any successor has failed to comply with its obligations under
this Agreement, or if the Corporation or any successor or any other person takes
any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any
legal action or arbitration proceeding with respect to this Agreement, the
Corporation hereby irrevocably authorizes Executive from time to time to retain
counsel of Executive's choice, at the expense of the Corporation or such
successor, to represent Executive in connection with any and all actions and
proceedings, whether by or against the Corporation, any acquiror or successor,
or any director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated with any of the
foregoing, which may adversely affect Executive's rights hereunder.
3.2 Excise Tax Matters. It is the intention of the Corporation
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that Executive not be required to incur any expenses associated with
determination of the amount of any "excess parachute payment" under Internal
Revenue Code Section 280G or the amount of any excise tax imposed on Executive
pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 4999 (or any successor provisions
thereto). Therefore, the Corporation agrees to pay all expenses, including the
expenses of the Corporation's independent certified accountant and tax counsel,
related to the determination of any excess parachute payment and excise tax, and
to pay the legal costs and
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expenses of any tax audit of Executive to the extent such expenses relate to the
amount of the excise tax determined by the Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
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4.1 Termination of Employment. This Agreement shall not in any
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way obligate either the Corporation or the Bank to continue the employment of
Executive, nor shall this Agreement limit the right of the Corporation or the
Bank to terminate Executive's employment for any reason.
4.2 Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be
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binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respective
heirs, executors, administrators, successors and, to the extent permitted
hereunder, assigns. All of the obligations of the Corporation hereunder shall be
legally binding on any successor to the Corporation, including without
limitation, any successor as a result of the consummation of a Change in
Control. The right of Executive to receive payments hereunder may not be
assigned, alienated, pledged or otherwise encumbered by Executive and any
attempt to do so shall be void and of no force or effect.
4.3 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement represents the
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entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof and may be amended only by an instrument in writing signed by the
parties hereto.
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4.4 Jurisdiction. The parties hereto consent to the exclusive
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jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in any and all
actions arising hereunder.
4.5 Governing Laws. This Agreement shall be governed and
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construed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to
the conflict of laws principles thereof.
4.6 Unfunded Obligations. The obligations to make payments
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hereunder shall be unfunded and Executive's rights to receive any payments
hereunder shall be the same as those of any other unsecured general creditor.
4.7 Individual Agreement. This Agreement constitutes an
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agreement solely between the Corporation and Executive named herein. This
Agreement is intended to constitute a non-qualified arrangement for the benefit
of a key management employee and shall be construed and interpreted in a manner
consistent with such intention.
4.8 Headings. All headings preceding the text of the several
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paragraphs hereof are inserted solely for reference and shall not constitute a
part of this Agreement, nor affect its meaning, construction or effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement
to be executed and attested to on its behalf by its duly authorized officer, and
Executive hereunto has set his hand and seal as of the day and year first above
written.
ATTEST: HERITAGE BANCORP, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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(Assistant) Secretary
(SEAL)
WITNESS: EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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