EXHIBIT 10.3
NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
This Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Agreement (this "Agreement") is
entered into by and between FRONTIER BANK ("Frontier") and XXXXX X. SAS ("Sas")
(collectively referred to as "the Parties") and takes effect on the Effective
Date of the Merger of Frontier and NorthStar Bank ("NorthStar").
WHEREAS, Frontier Financial Corporation and NorthStar Financial
Corporation are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Mergers ("the Merger
Agreement"), pursuant to which NorthStar Financial Corporation will be merged
into Frontier Financial Corporation and NorthStar Bank will be merged into
Frontier Bank (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, Sas is currently employed as President and Chief Executive
Officer of NorthStar and has knowledge of certain confidential information of
NorthStar, and Frontier is executing the Merger Agreement conditioned upon Sas's
agreement not to compete with Frontier in King County, Washington, and not to
solicit employees and customers of Frontier (including the customers of
NorthStar who become customers of Frontier following the Merger), for a
specified period of time following the Merger, all as further described below;
and
WHEREAS, Frontier has made an offer of employment to Sas to commence upon
completion of the Merger, and Sas has indicated her intent to accept such offer:
NOW THEREFORE, Frontier and Sas agree as follows:
1. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective
Date of the Merger Agreement (the "Effective Date").
2. PRIOR AGREEMENTS. By entering into this Agreement, Sas does not
relinquish any rights to payments or benefits of any kind pursuant to her
Employment Agreement with NorthStar dated December 18, 2003, which shall
terminate on the Effective Date and upon payment by NorthStar of the benefits
due thereunder.
3. NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION. In consideration for this Agreement
and to protect the business and good will purchased by Frontier, Sas agrees that
she will NOT, by herself or through associates, agents, employees, or others,
directly or indirectly, do any of the following for a two-year period commencing
on the first day after the Effective Date:
a. Act as an employee or in any other capacity of any bank holding
company or financial holding company, state or national bank, state or federal
savings and loan association, mutual savings bank, or state or federal credit
union, trust company or mortgage company (including without limitation, any
start-up financial institution, trust company or mortgage company) ("Financial
Institution") located in King County, or have any responsibilities for a
Financial Institution's operations within King County, Washington; or
b. Become involved with, or serve, directly or indirectly, a
Financial Institution headquartered in King County in any manner, including,
without limitation, as a shareholder, member, partner, director, officer,
manager, investor, organizer, "founder,"
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employee, consultant, or agent; provided, however, that Sas may acquire and
passively own an interest not exceeding 2% of the total equity interest in any
Financial Institution headquartered in King County; or
c. Directly or indirectly, solicit or attempt to solicit: (1) any
employees of Frontier, or any of Frontier's subsidiaries, to leave their
employment, or (2) any customers of Frontier, or any of Frontier's subsidiaries,
to remove their business from Frontier. Solicitation prohibited under this
section includes solicitation by any means, including, without limitation,
meetings, letters or other mailings, electronic communications of any kind, and
internet communications.
4. NO EMPLOYEE CONTRACT RIGHTS. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
be construed to abrogate, limit or affect the powers, rights and privileges of
Frontier to remove Sas as an employee of Frontier, with or without the cause.
5. ENFORCEMENT OF NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION COVENANTS.
a. Frontier and Sas stipulate that, in light of all of the facts and
circumstances of the relationship between Frontier and Sas, the agreements
referred to in paragraph 3 (including without limitation their scope, duration
and geographic extent) are fair and reasonably necessary for the protection of
Frontier's confidential information, goodwill and other protectable interests.
If a court of competent jurisdiction should decline to enforce any of those
covenants and agreements, Frontier and Sas request the court to reform these
provisions to restrict Sas's use of confidential information and Sas's ability
to compete with Frontier to the maximum extent, in time, scope of activities and
geography, the court finds enforceable.
b. Sas acknowledges that Frontier will suffer immediate and
irreparable harm that will not be compensable by damages alone, if Sas
repudiates or breaches any of the provisions of paragraph 3 or threatens or
attempts to do so. For this reason, under these circumstances, Frontier, in
addition to and without limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages
available to it at law or in equity, will be entitled to obtain temporary,
preliminary and permanent injunctions in order to prevent or restrain the
breach, and Frontier will not be required to post a bond as a condition for the
granting of this relief.
6. ARBITRATION.
a. Arbitration. At either Party's request, the Parties must submit
any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with, or
relating to, this Agreement or any breach or alleged breach of this Agreement,
to arbitration under the American Arbitration Association's rules then in effect
(or under any other form of arbitration mutually acceptable to the parties). A
single arbitrator agreed on by the parties will conduct the arbitration. If the
parties cannot agree on a single arbitrator, each party must select one
arbitrator and those two arbitrators will select a third arbitrator. This third
arbitrator will hear the dispute. The arbitrator's decision is final (except as
otherwise specifically provided by law) and binds the parties, and either party
may request any court having jurisdiction to enter a judgment and to enforce the
arbitrator's decision. The arbitrator will provide the parties with a written
decision naming the substantially prevailing party in the action. This
prevailing party is entitled to
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reimbursement from the other party for its costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees.
b. Governing Law. All proceedings will be held at a place designated
by the arbitrator in King County, Washington. The arbitrator, in rendering a
decision as to any state law claims, will apply Washington law.
c. Exception to Arbitration. Notwithstanding the above, if Sas
violates paragraph 3 above, Frontier will have the right to initiate the court
proceedings described in paragraph 5.b above, in lieu of an arbitration
proceeding under this paragraph 6. Frontier may initiate these proceedings
wherever appropriate within Washington state; but Sas will consent to venue and
jurisdiction in King County, Washington.
7. ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION. Sas specifically acknowledges the receipt of
adequate consideration for the covenants contained in paragraph 3 above and that
Frontier is entitled to require her to comply with said paragraph 3, which
paragraph will survive termination of this Agreement. Sas represents that if her
employment is terminated, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, she has the
experience and capabilities sufficient to enable her to obtain employment in
areas which do not violate this Agreement, and that Frontier's enforcement of a
remedy by way of injunction will not prevent Sas from earning a livelihood.
8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
a. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used as defined terms, but not
defined in this Agreement, will have the meanings assigned to those terms in the
Merger Agreement.
b. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
understanding between the Parties concerning its subject matter and supersedes
all prior agreements.
c. Independent Legal Counsel. Sas acknowledges that she has had the
opportunity to review and consult with her own personal legal counsel regarding
this Agreement.
d. Binding Effect. This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit
of Frontier's and Sas's heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
e. Litigation Expenses. If either Party successfully seeks to
enforce any provision of this Agreement or to collect any amount claimed to be
due under it, this Party will be entitled to reimbursement from the other Party
for any and all of its out-of-pocket expenses and costs including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in connection with the
enforcement or collection.
f. Waiver. No waiver of any term, condition or provision shall be
effective for any purpose whatsoever unless such waiver is in writing and signed
by the Parties.
g. Amendment. The Parties may not modify or amend this Agreement
unless such amendment is in writing and is signed by the Parties.
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h. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. The
invalidity of any provision will not affect the validity of other provisions of
this Agreement.
i. Notice. Any notice to be delivered under this Agreement shall be
given in writing and delivered personally or by certified mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to Frontier or to Sas at their last known address.
j. Governing Law. All proceedings will be held at a place designated
by the arbitrator in King County, Washington. The arbitrator, in rendering a
decision as to any state law claims, will apply Washington law.
k. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which taken
together will constitute one and the same document.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have set their hands as of the date
first written above.
FRONTIER BANK
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx /s/ XXXXX X. SAS
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Xxxx Xxxxxxx, CEO XXXXX X. SAS
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