EXHIBIT 99.1
AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
FC Banc Corp. ("FC") and its subsidiary, The Farmers Citizens Bank (the
"Bank") (FC and the Bank hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Company")
and X. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx ("Xx. Xxxxxx"), in exchange for and in consideration of
the promises, representations, covenants, and agreements set forth herein, enter
into this Agreement and General Release ("Agreement"), which consists of five
(5) consecutively numbered pages, as follows:
1. The Company and Xx. Xxxxxx mutually wish and agree to compromise,
resolve, and settle all possible disputes and claims pertaining to or arising
from Xx. Xxxxxx'x employment and discontinuation of employment effective
February 19, 2002 with the Company as an employee, officer, or as a member of
the boards of directors.
2. Xx. Xxxxxx hereby does unconditionally release, acquit, and
forever discharge any right or claim, known or unknown, that Xx. Xxxxxx may have
in connection with Xx. Xxxxxx'x employment with the Company, under any federal,
state, local law or judicial or administrative action of any kind, including,
but not limited to, any claim for breach of contract, including but not limited
to, his Employment Agreement dated March 31, 1998, Amended and Restated Salary
Continuation Agreement dated July 10, 2001, Split Dollar Agreement dated
February 20, 1997, and Split Dollar Agreement dated July 10, 2001, each as may
have been amended from time to time, wrongful discharge, infliction of emotional
distress, defamation, or violation of civil rights, including in the latter
respect, but not limited to, any right or claim arising under the Federal Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Older Workers Benefit
Protection Act, attorneys' fees and costs against the Company, or its
successors, assigns, agents, board members, officers, employees, and
representatives, and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with
any of them (collectively "Releasees"), on or at any time prior to the date Xx.
Xxxxxx executes this Agreement. The releases set forth herein do not extend to
rights or claims that may arise from events occurring after execution of this
Agreement, including, but not limited to claims for the enforcement of this
Agreement, or to Xx. Xxxxxx'x right to exercise Xx. Xxxxxx'x rights under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 to continued insurance,
if applicable.
3. Xx. Xxxxxx acknowledges and agrees that the release set forth
herein is a general release and that the release includes a release of all
claims against the Releasees. Xx. Xxxxxx expressly waives all claims for damages
which exist as of this date, but of which Xx. Xxxxxx does not now know or
suspect to exist, whether through ignorance, oversight, error, negligence, or
otherwise, and which, if known would materially affect Xx. Xxxxxx'x decision to
enter into this Agreement. Xx. Xxxxxx further agrees that Xx. Xxxxxx accepts the
payment of the sum specified in paragraph 5 as a complete compromise of matters
involving disputed issues of law and fact and Xx. Xxxxxx has assumed the risk
that the facts and law may be other than Xx. Xxxxxx believes.
4. Xx. Xxxxxx represents and agrees that Xx. Xxxxxx has not filed
any complaints or charges against any of the Releasees with any federal, state,
or local agency or court.
5. In consideration for Xx. Xxxxxx'x signing this Agreement and
agreeing to the commitments herein, the Company agrees to:
(a) Pay Xx. Xxxxxx $232,041.34, which represents the amount of
compensation which would have remained to be paid under the current term of his
Employment Agreement if Xx. Xxxxxx had not been terminated, which then current
term would have expired on March 31, 2004, plus an additional amount of
$47,500.00, in severance pay, with such payment being subject to all applicable
legal deductions on the date of payment, and paid within five (5) business days
of the expiration of the revocation period set forth herein;
(b) Pay Xx. Xxxxxx $11,056.80, which represents Xx. Xxxxxx'x 2001
bonus, with such payment being subject to all applicable legal deductions on the
date of payment, and paid within five (5) business days of the expiration of the
revocation period set forth herein;
(c) Continue for ninety (90) days from February 19, 2002 (that is,
until May 20, 2002), Xx. Xxxxxx'x employee benefits, specifically:
1. His health insurance benefits;
2. His YMCA dues (which the parties agree are due and payable
in the amount of $80.00 on April 1, 2002);
3. His long term disability insurance; and
4. His golf club membership (it being understood and agreed
that the Company will not seek a refund of membership dues
previously paid).
(d) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 6, pay to Xx. Xxxxxx an
Early Termination Annual Benefit equal to $47,131.00 per year for the fifteen
(15) year period beginning on December 31, 2011 and ending on November 30, 2026
(the "Benefit Period"), with each such Ear1y Termination Annual Benefit being
payable in twelve (12) equal installments on the last day of each calendar month
falling within the Benefit Period (so that the first of such installment
payments is due and payable on December 31, 2011, and the last of such
installment payments is due and payable on November 30, 2026), and being subject
to all applicable legal deductions on the date of payment.
These payments shall not be eligible for any of the Company's
retirement savings plans.
6. (a) If a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs at any time
during the Benefit Period, and if at the time of the Change of Control Xx.
Xxxxxx is receiving benefits pursuant to paragraph 5(d), the Bank shall pay the
remaining salary continuation benefits to Xx. Xxxxxx in a lump sum within three
(3) days after the Change in Control. The lump sum payment due to Xx. Xxxxxx as
a result of a Change in Contro1 shall be an amount equal to $185,159.00 (the
"Accrual Balance") after (i) deduction of any benefits already paid pursuant to
paragraph 5(d) and (ii) addition of simple interest at the rate of 8.0% per
annum on the amount of the Accrual Balance not yet paid for the period from
February 19, 2002 to the date of payment of the lump sum amount, and shall be
subject to all applicable legal deductions on the date of payment. If payment of
the remaining Accrual Balance is paid in a single lump sum pursuant to this
paragraph 6(a), the Bank shall have no further obligation under paragraph 5(d)
of the Agreement.
(b) Xx. Xxxxxx may petition the Board of Directors of the Bank to have
the Accrual Balance amount paid to Xx. Xxxxxx in a single lump sum after (i)
deduction of any benefits already paid pursuant to paragraph 5(d) and (ii)
addition of simple interest at the rate of 8.0% per annum on the accrual balance
not yet paid for the period from February 19, 2002 until the date of payment of
the lump sum amount. The Board of Directors of the Bank shall have sole and
absolute discretion about whether to pay the remaining Accrual Balance in a lump
sum. If payment of the remaining Accrual Balance, which shall be subject to all
applicable legal deductions on the date of payment, is paid in a single lump sum
pursuant to this paragraph 6(b), the Bank shall have no further obligation under
paragraph 5(d) of the Agreement.
(c) In the event that Xx. Xxxxxx dies, the Company's obligation to pay
any benefits pursuant to paragraph 5(d) or this paragraph 6, or any payments in
lieu thereof, shall cease; except that if Xx. Xxxxxx shall die after the
occurrence of a Change in Control which triggers the lump sum payment obligation
provided for in paragraph 6(a) but before such lump sum payment has been made,
the Company agrees that it shall make such lump sum payment to Xx. Xxxxxx'x
heirs, beneficiaries or estate.
(d) As used herein, the term "Change of Control" means that any one of
the following events occurs:
1. Merger: FC merges into or consolidates with another
corporation, or merges another corporation into FC, and as a result
less than 65% of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation
immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who
were stockholders of FC immediately before the merger or consolidation;
2. Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership: a report on
Schedule 13D 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
FC's voting securities, but this clause 2 shall not apply to beneficial
ownership of FC voting shares held in a fiduciary capacity by an entity
of which FC directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of its
outstanding voting securities;
3. Change in Board Composition: during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who constitute FC's Board of Directors
at the beginning of the two year period cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of FC's Board of Directors; 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 (2/3rds) 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: FC sells to a third party all or
substantially all of FC's assets.
(e) The Company shall not pay any benefit under paragraph 5 (or this
paragraph 6) if Xx. Xxxxxx has made any material misstatement of fact
on any application for life insurance purchased on his life by the
Company.
7. Xx. Xxxxxx shall purchase from the Company the palm pilot
provided to Xx. Xxxxxx by the Company prior to his termination, for a purchase
price of $100.00. The Company and Xx. Xxxxxx agree and understand that the
Company will deduct the purchase price of $100.00 from the payment made under
paragraph 5(a).
8. Xx. Xxxxxx agrees and acknowledges that he has declined to
purchase any of the life insurance held on his 1ife by the Company, that the
Company is the sole owner and beneficiary of all such life insurance, and that
the Company may, in its discretion, exercise all the rights of ownership with
respect to such life insurance policies, including without limitation
terminating any or all of such policies or continuing to insure Xx. Xxxxxx'x
life thereunder and collecting all proceeds as beneficiary thereof upon the
event of Xx. Xxxxxx'x death.
9. If the Superintendent of the Ohio Division of Financial
Institutions appoints the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver for
the Bank under Ohio Revised Code Section 1125.20 (or any successor provision
thereto), or if the Bank is prohibited by regulatory order or under applicable
law from paying any benefits hereunder, then the obligations of the Company
under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of the Bank's declared
insolvency, the date of the regulatory order, or the date on which the
prohibiting law becomes applicable to the Bank, as the case may be.
10. The Company and Xx. Xxxxxx agree and acknowledge that Xx.
Xxxxxx shall have the right to exercise any vested stock options for the
purchase of FC common stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of FC's
1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
11. Xx. Xxxxxx agrees and acknowledges that Principal Financial
Group shares received by the Company in connection with the demutualization of
Principal Financial Group are not an asset of the Company's 401(k) retirement
savings plan.
12. Xx. Xxxxxx shall keep the terms and facts of this Agreement
completely confidential. Xx. Xxxxxx acknowledges that he has not disclosed, and
shall not hereafter disclose, any information concerning this Agreement to
anyone. It is understood that this Agreement shall be subject to exceptions for,
and hence not apply to Xx. Xxxxxx revealing the terms of this Agreement to Xx.
Xxxxxx'x attorney, financial advisor, or immediate family on the condition of
confidentiality or as otherwise required by law or court order.
13. Xx. Xxxxxx represents and agrees that he has been afforded a
reasonable amount of time to review this Agreement, to understand its contents,
to voluntarily enter into this Agreement and to be bound by its specific, stated
obligations and has been advised to consult with, and has consulted with, an
attorney prior to executing this Agreement.
14. Xx. Xxxxxx agrees and acknowledges that (a) he will not apply
in the future for employment with the Company and/or the Releasees; (b) should
he seek or apply for any future employment
with the Company, then in such event the Company and the Releasees shall not
incur liability of any kind or nature by virtue of its/their refusal to consider
his request for employment; and (c) any such application will constitute a
breach of this Agreement.
15. Xx. Xxxxxx represents and warrants that as a result of Xx.
Xxxxxx'x employment with the Company that he has had access to, and became
familiar with, the Company's trade secrets and proprietary information that the
Company maintains as confidential ("Confidential Information"), which includes
such information as, but is not limited to, employee information, client lists,
product information, pricing information, or any other trade secret as defined
in O.R.C. Section 1333.61, and agrees not to use or disclose that Confidential
Information for the benefit of himself or anyone else as defined by or in
violation of O.R.C. Sections 1333.61 through 1333.69. Xx. Xxxxxx further
represents and warrants that he has returned all such Confidential Information
and has not made, allowed to be made, caused to be made or maintained any copies
in any media (i.e., documents, computer disks or tapes, or any other storage
medium) of any Confidential Information. Xx. Xxxxxx further represents and
warrants that he has returned any and all other property provided to Xx. Xxxxxx
by the Company.
16. The preceding paragraphs provide Xx. Xxxxxx due consideration
for the promises that Xx. Xxxxxx is being asked to enter into in this Agreement.
Xx. Xxxxxx'x signature at the conclusion of this document signifies his complete
agreement with the promises and with the sufficiency of this consideration for
Xx. Xxxxxx'x and the Company's mutual obligations contained in this document.
17. Xx. Xxxxxx understands that this Agreement shall not in any way
be construed as an admission by the Company or any other Releasee of any
wrongdoing whatsoever against Xx. Xxxxxx and the Company specifically disclaims
any liability for any wrongdoing against Xx. Xxxxxx, and denies any such
wrongdoing, on the part of itself or any of the other Releasees.
18. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and Xx.
Xxxxxx'x heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, and
assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Releasees and each of them, and
to their heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, and
assigns.
19. This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced,
and governed under the laws of the United States and the State of Ohio. The
language of all parts of this Agreement shall in all cases be construed as a
whole, according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any of the
parties.
20. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared or be
determined by any Court to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining
parts, terms or provisions shall not be affected thereby, and said illegal or
invalid part, term, or provision shaI1 be deemed not to be a part of this
Agreement.
21. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the
Company and Xx. Xxxxxx, and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or
understandings whether written or oral between such parties pertaining to the
subject matter hereof, and all such prior agreements (including without
limitation, the Employment Agreement, Amended and Restated Salary Continuation
Agreement and Split Dollar Agreements referenced in paragraph 2) are null, void
and of no further effect by this Agreement.
22. Xx. Xxxxxx (a) shall have a period of twenty-one (21) days
from the date of delivery of this Agreement to accept this Agreement, and (b)
shall have seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement during which
he may revoke the Agreement by providing the Company written notice of his
revocation. Any such acceptance or revocation must be addressed to Xxxxxx X.
Xxxx, Chairman, FC Banc Corp., Farmers Citizens Bank Building, 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X. Xxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000 and received by 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time within the applicable time period. The twenty-one (21) day
period is waivable by Xx. Xxxxxx, the seven (7) day period is not waivable. If
this Agreement is not revoked by Xx. Xxxxxx during said seven (7) day period, it
shall be deemed accepted. The Agreement shall not be effective or enforceable
until the revocation period has expired.
Agreement hand-delivered to Xx. Xxxxxx in care of his legal counsel, Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx, Esq., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, on April
29, 2002.
X. XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx 4/29/02
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/s/ X. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx 4/29/02 Witness
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FC BANC CORP
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx 5/7/02
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Date
Chairman of the Board
THE FARMERS CITIZEN BANK
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx 5/7/02
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Date
Chairman of the Board
