Exhibit 10.1
GREAT AMERICAN FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of April 30, 2000, by and
among Great American Federal Savings and Loan Association (the "Association"), a
federally chartered savings institution, with its principal administrative
office at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000, GA
Financial, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware, the holding company for the Association (the "Holding Company"), and
Xxxx X. Cover ("Executive").
WHEREAS, the Association wishes to assure itself of the services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Association 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
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Association.
Executive shall render administrative and management services to the Association
such as are customarily performed by persons situated in a similar executive
capacity. During said period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an
officer of the Holding Company or any subsidiary of the Association.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES.
(a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be
deemed to have commenced as of April 1, 2000, and shall continue for a period of
twenty-four (24) full calendar months thereafter. Commencing on or about April
30, 2001, and continuing on each April 30th thereafter, the disinterested
members of the board of directors of the Association (the "Board") may extend
the Agreement for a period of time such that the remaining term of the Agreement
shall be two (2) years unless Executive elects not to extend the term of this
Agreement by giving written notice in accordance with Section 8 of this
Agreement. The Board will review the Agreement and Executive's performance
annually for purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement and the
rationale and results thereof shall be included in the minutes of the Board's
meeting. The Board shall give notice to Executive as soon as possible after
such review as to whether the Agreement is to be extended.
(b) During the period of Executive's employment hereunder, except for
periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and
reasonable leaves of absence,
Executive shall devote substantially all his business time, attention, skill,
and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder including
activities and services related to the organization, operation and management of
the Association and participation in community and civic organizations;
provided, however, that, with the approval of the Board, as evidenced by a
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resolution of such Board, from time to time, Executive may serve, or continue to
serve, on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices or positions
in, companies or organizations, which, in such Board's judgment, will not
present any conflict of interest with the Association, or materially affect the
performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Executive's employment with the Association may be terminated by the Association
or Executive during the term of this Agreement, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Association shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of
$140,000 per year ("Base Salary"). Base Salary shall include any amounts of
compensation deferred by Executive under any qualified or nonqualified plan
maintained by the Association. Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance
with the Association's regular payroll practices. 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 one year from the date of this
Agreement. Such review shall be conducted by the Board or by a Committee of the
Board, delegated such responsibility by the Board. The Committee or the Board
may increase 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 Subsection 3(a), the Association shall also provide
Executive, at no premium cost to Executive, with all such other benefits as are
provided uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Association.
(b) Executive shall be entitled to participate in any 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 Association will not,
without Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans,
arrangements or perquisites which would materially adversely affect Executive's
rights or benefits thereunder; except to the extent such changes are made
applicable to all Association employees on a non-discriminatory basis. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Subsection (b),
Executive shall 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 Association 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 shall be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses
as provided for in any plan of the Association in which Executive is eligible to
participate. Nothing paid to Executive under any such plan or arrangement will
be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which Executive is entitled
under this Agreement.
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(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this
Section 3 and other compensation provided for by paragraph (b) of this Section
3, the Association shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel
and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive performing his obligations
under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form
and such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as defined in this
Agreement) during Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the
provisions of this Section 4 shall apply. 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 Association of Executive's full-time employment hereunder
for any reason other than a termination governed by Subsection 5(a) of this
Agreement, or Termination for Cause, as defined in Section 7 of this Agreement;
(ii) Executive's resignation from the Association's employ upon any (A) failure
to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive as Executive Vice
President and/or Chief Operating Officer, unless consented to by Executive, (B)
a 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 of this Agreement, unless consented to by Executive, (C) a relocation
of Executive's principal place of employment by more than 25 miles from its
location at the effective date of this Agreement, unless consented to by
Executive, (D) a material reduction in the benefits and perquisites to Executive
from those being provided as of the effective date of this Agreement, unless
consented to by Executive, or (E) a liquidation or dissolution of the
Association or Holding Company, or (F) breach of this Agreement by the
Association. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A), (B),
(C), (D), (E) or (F), above, Executive shall have the right to elect to
terminate his employment under this Agreement by resignation upon not less than
sixty (60) days prior written notice given within six full months after the
event giving rise to said right to elect.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 8 of this Agreement, the Association shall be
obligated to pay Executive, or, in the event of his subsequent death, his
beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be an amount equal
to the sum of: (i) the amount of the remaining payments that Executive would
have earned if he had continued his employment with the Association during the
remaining term of this Agreement at Executive's Base Salary at the Date of
Termination; and (ii) the amount equal to the annual contributions that would
have been made on Executive's behalf to any employee benefit plans of the
Association during the remaining term of this Agreement based on contributions
made (on an annualized basis) at the Date of Termination; provided, however,
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that any payments pursuant to this Subsection 4(b) and Subsection 4(c) below
shall not, in the aggregate, exceed three times Executive's average annual
compensation for the five most recent taxable years that Executive has been
employed by the Association or such lesser number of years in the event that
Executive shall have been employed by the Association for less than five years.
In the event the Association is not in compliance with its minimum capital
requirements or if such payments pursuant to this Subsection 4(b) would cause
the Association's capital to be reduced below its minimum regulatory capital
requirements, such payments shall be deferred until such time as the Association
or successor thereto is in capital compliance. At the election of Executive,
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which election is to be made prior to an Event of Termination, such payments
shall be made in a lump sum as of Executive's Date of Termination. In the event
that no election is made, payment to Executive will be made on a monthly basis
in approximately equal installments during the remaining term of the Agreement.
Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains other
employment following termination of employment.
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Association will
cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage
substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Association for
Executive prior to his termination at no premium cost to Executive, except to
the extent such coverage may be changed in its application to all Association
employees. Such coverage shall cease upon the expiration of the remaining term
of this Agreement.
5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the
Association or Holding Company shall mean an event of a nature that: (i) would
be required to be reported in response to Item 1 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 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); (ii) results
in a Change in Control of the Association or the Holding Company within the
meaning of the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended, the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Office of Thrift
Supervision ("OTS") (or its predecessor agency), as in effect on the date hereof
(provided, that in applying the definition of change in control as set forth
under the rules and regulations of the OTS, the Board shall substitute its
judgment for that of the OTS); 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 voting securities of the Association or the Holding
Company representing 25% or more of the Association's or the Holding Company's
outstanding voting securities or right to acquire such securities except for any
voting securities of the Association purchased by the Holding Company and any
voting securities purchased by any employee benefit plan of the Association or
the Holding Company, 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 Holding 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 Association or the Holding Company or similar transaction
occurs in which the Association or Holding Company is not the resulting entity;
provided, however, that such an event listed above will be deemed to have
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occurred or to have been effectuated upon the receipt of all required regulatory
approvals not including the lapse of any statutory waiting periods.
(b) If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Subsection 5(a) of
this Agreement or the Board has determined that a Change in Control has
occurred, Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in paragraphs
(c), and (d) of this Section 5 upon his subsequent termination
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of employment at any time during the term of this Agreement due to: (1)
Executive's dismissal or (2) Executive's voluntary resignation following any
demotion, loss of title, office or significant authority or responsibility,
material reduction in annual compensation or benefits or relocation of his
principal place of employment by more than 25 miles from its location
immediately prior to the Change in Control, unless such termination is because
of his death, disability, retirement or Termination for Cause.
(c) Upon Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Subsection 5(b)
of this Agreement, the Association shall pay Executive, or in the event of his
subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case
may be, a sum equal to the greater of: (1) the payments due for the remaining
term of the Agreement; or 2) two (2) times Executive's average annual
compensation for the five (5) most recent taxable years that Executive has been
employed by the Association or such lesser number of years in the event that
Executive shall have been employed by the Association for less than five (5)
years. Such average annual compensation shall include Base Salary, commissions,
bonuses, contributions on Executive's behalf to any pension and/or profit
sharing plan, retirement payments, and fringe benefits paid or to be paid to
Executive in any such year and payment of any expense items without
accountability or business purpose or that do not meet the Internal Revenue
Service requirements for deductibility by the Association; provided however,
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that any payment under this provision and Subsection 5(d) below shall not exceed
three (3) times Executive's average annual compensation. In the event the
Association is not in compliance with its minimum capital requirements or if
such payments would cause the Association's capital to be reduced below its
minimum regulatory capital requirements, such payments shall be deferred until
such time as the Association or successor thereto is in capital compliance. At
the election of Executive, which election is to be made prior to a Change in
Control, such payment shall be made in a lump sum as of Executive's Date of
Termination. In the event that no election is made, payment to Executive will be
made in approximately equal installments on a monthly basis over a period of
twenty-four (24) months following Executive's termination. Such payments shall
not be reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following
termination of employment.
(d) Upon Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Subsection 5(b)
of this Agreement, the Association will cause to be continued life, medical,
dental and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage
maintained by the Association for Executive prior to his severance at no premium
cost to Executive, except to the extent that such coverage may be changed in its
application for all Association employees on a non-discriminatory basis. Such
coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration of twenty-four (24) months
following the Date of Termination.
6. CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, in no event
shall the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to Executive
under said paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits") constitute an "excess
parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor thereto, and in order to avoid such a result,
Termination Benefits will be reduced, if necessary, to an amount (the "Non-
Triggering Amount"), the value of which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an
amount equal to three (3) times
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Executive's "base amount," as determined in accordance with said Section 280G.
The allocation of the reduction required hereby among the Termination Benefits
provided by Section 5 of this Agreement shall be determined by Executive.
7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.
The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of
Executive's personal dishonesty, incompetence, 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. 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 Notice of Termination which shall
include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less
than a majority 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.
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after the Date of Termination for Cause. During the period beginning
on the date of the Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 8 of this
Agreement through the Date of Termination for Cause, stock options granted to
Executive under any stock option plan shall not be exercisable nor shall any
unvested stock awards granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan of the
Association, the Holding Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest.
At the Date of Termination for Cause, such stock options and any unvested stock
awards shall become null and void and shall not be exercisable by or delivered
to Executive at any time subsequent to such Termination for Cause.
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8. NOTICE.
(a) Any purported termination by the Association 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 claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.
(b) "Date of Termination" shall mean 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, 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 therefrom 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, in the event Executive is
terminated for reasons other than Termination for Cause, the Association will
continue to pay Executive his Base Salary in effect when the notice giving rise
to the dispute was given until the earlier of: 1) the resolution of the dispute
in accordance with this Agreement or 2) the expiration of the remaining term of
this Agreement as determined as of the Date of Termination. Amounts paid under
this Section 8 are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and
shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this
Agreement.
9. POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS.
All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be
subject to Executive's compliance with this Section 9 for one (1) full year
after the earlier of the expiration of this Agreement or termination of
Executive's employment with the Association. Executive shall, upon reasonable
notice, furnish such information and assistance to the Association as may
reasonably be required by the Association in connection with any litigation in
which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a party.
10. NON-COMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE OF ASSOCIATION BUSINESS.
(a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder pursuant to
Section 4 of this Agreement, Executive agrees not to compete with the
Association for a period of one (1) year following such termination in any city,
town or county in which Executive's normal business office is located and the
Association 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
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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 Association. The parties hereto, recognizing that
irreparable injury will result to the Association, its business and property in
the event of Executive's breach of this Subsection 10(a) agree that in the event
of any such breach by Executive, the Association, 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, employees
and all persons acting for or under the direction of Executive. Nothing herein
will be construed as prohibiting the Association from pursuing any other
remedies available to the Association 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 Association and
affiliates thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special
and unique asset of the business of the Association. 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 Association or
affiliates thereof to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for any
reason or purpose whatsoever. 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 Association. Further, Executive may disclose
information regarding the business activities of the Association to the OTS and
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") pursuant to a formal
regulatory request. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive
of the provisions of this Subsection 10(b), the Association 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
Association 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 Association from pursuing any other remedies
available to the Association for such breach or threatened breach, including the
recovery of damages from Executive.
11. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.
All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Association. The Holding Company, however,
unconditionally guarantees payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due
hereunder to Executive and, if such amounts and benefits due from the
Association are not timely paid or provided by the Association, such amounts and
benefits shall be paid or provided by the Holding Company.
12. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFIT PLANS.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Association or any
predecessor of the Association and Executive, except that this Agreement shall
not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to Executive
of a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of this
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Agreement shall be interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving
fewer benefits than those available to him without reference to this Agreement.
13. 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 Association and their respective successors and assigns.
14. 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.
15. REQUIRED PROVISIONS.
(a) The Association may terminate Executive's employment at any time, but
any termination by the Association, other than Termination for Cause, shall not
prejudice Executive's right to compensation or other benefits under this
Agreement. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other
benefits for any period after Termination for Cause as defined in Section 7
hereinabove.
(b) If Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited
from participating in the conduct of the Association's affairs by a notice
served under Section 8(e)(3) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12
U.S.C. (S)1818(e)(3) or (g)(1); the Association's obligations under this
contract shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by
appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the
Association may in its discretion: (i) pay Executive all or part of the
compensation withheld while their contract obligations were suspended; and (ii)
reinstate (in whole or in part) any of the obligations which were suspended.
(c) If Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Association's affairs by an order issued
under Section 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C.
(S)1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), all obligations of the Association
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under this contract shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but
vested rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.
(d) If the Association is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. (S)1813(x)(1) all obligations of the
Association under this contract shall terminate as of the date of default, but
this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.
(e) All obligations of the Association under this contract shall be
terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of the contract is
necessary for the continued operation of the institution: (i) by the Director
of the OTS (or his designee), the FDIC or the Resolution Trust Corporation, at
the time the FDIC enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf
of the Association under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. (S)1823(c); or (ii) by the Director of the OTS
(or his designee) at the time the Director (or his designee) approves a
supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the operations of the
Association or when the Association is determined by the Director to be in an
unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already
vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.
(f) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or
otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C.
(S)1828(k) and 12 C.F.R. (S)545.121 and any rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
16. REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS UNDER SUBSECTION 15(b).
In the event Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Association's affairs by a notice described
in Subsection 15(b) of this Agreement (the "Notice") during the term of this
Agreement and a Change in Control, as defined in this Agreement, occurs, the
Association will assume its obligation to pay and Executive will be entitled to
receive all of the termination benefits provided for under Section 5 of this
Agreement upon the Association's receipt of a dismissal of charges in the
Notice.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. GOVERNING LAW.
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The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, but only to the extent
not superseded by federal law.
20. 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 Executive within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Association, 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
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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.
In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
Executive's termination is resolved in favor of Executive, whether by judgment,
arbitration or settlement, Executive shall be entitled to the payment of all
back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation, fringe
benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive under this Agreement.
21. PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES.
All reasonable costs and 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 Association if Executive is successful on the merits
pursuant to a legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.
22. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Association shall provide Executive (including his heirs,
executors and administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and
officers' liability insurance policy at its expense, or in lieu thereof, shall
indemnify Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) as 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
Association (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.
(b) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Section 22 are subject
to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 C.F.R. (S)545.121 and any rules or
regulations promulgated thereunder.
23. SUCCESSOR TO THE ASSOCIATION.
The Association 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
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Association or the Holding Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and
agree to perform the Association's obligations under this Agreement, in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Association would be required to perform
if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
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SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Great American Federal Savings and Loan Association and
GA Financial, Inc. have caused this Agreement to be executed and their seals to
be affixed hereunto by their duly authorized officers and directors, and
Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 6th day of September, 2000.
ATTEST: GREAT AMERICAN FEDERAL
SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx
For The Entire Board of Directors
[SEAL]
ATTEST: GA FINANCIAL, INC.
(Guarantor)
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx
For The Entire Board of Directors
[SEAL]
WITNESS: EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------
/s/ Xxxx X. Cover
---------------------------------
Xxxx X. Cover
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