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Exhibit 10
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 23rd day of April, 1997, by and
between Potters Financial Corporation, a savings and loan holding company
incorporated under Ohio law (hereinafter referred to as "PFC"); The Potters
Savings and Loan Company, a savings and loan association incorporated under
Ohio law and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFC (hereinafter referred to as
"PSL"); and Xxxx X. Xxxxx, an individual (hereinafter referred to as the
"ASM");
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, ASM is an officer of PFC and PSL (hereinafter collectively
referred to as "POTTERS");
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of POTTERS desire to retain the
services of ASM as an officer of POTTERS;
WHEREAS, ASM desires to continue to serve as an officer of POTTERS;
and
WHEREAS, ASM and POTTERS desire to enter into this Agreement to set
forth the rights and obligations of ASM and POTTERS in the event of the
termination of ASM's employment under the circumstances set forth in this
Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, POTTERS and ASM hereby agree as follows:
Section l. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) In the event of the termination of the employment of ASM (i)
without ASM's prior written consent, (ii) for any reason other than JUST CAUSE
(hereafter defined) and (iii) in connection with or within one year of a CHANGE
OF CONTROL (hereinafter defined) of POTTERS, then the following shall occur:
(I) POTTERS shall pay to ASM or, in the event of the
death of ASM, to the estate of ASM, an amount equal to the
SEVERANCE PAYMENT, subject to standard withholding, within
ten (10) days after such termination;
(II) To the extent permitted by the benefit plans of
POTTERS, ASM and her dependents shall continue to be covered
under all such plans
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at POTTERS' expense as if ASM were still employed by POTTERS
until the earliest of the expiration of the TERM (hereinafter
defined) or the date on which ASM is included in another
employer's benefit plans as a full-time employee; and
(III) ASM shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by
seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall any amounts
received from other employment or otherwise by ASM offset in
any manner the obligations of POTTERS hereunder, except as
specifically stated in subparagraph (II).
In the event that payments pursuant to this Section 1(a) would result in the
imposition of a penalty tax pursuant to Section 280G(b) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
such payments shall be reduced to the maximum amount which may be paid under
Section 280G without exceeding such limits.
(b) In the event of the occurrence of any of the following events (i)
without the prior written consent of ASM and (ii) within one year following a
CHANGE OF CONTROL of POTTERS, ASM may voluntarily terminate her employment with
POTTERS:
(i) The requirement that ASM move her personal
residence more than thirty-five (35) miles from her residence
as of the date of this Agreement;
(ii) A reduction in ASM's base compensation as in
effect on the date of this Agreement or as the same may have
been increased from time to time;
(iii) The failure by POTTERS to continue to provide
ASM with compensation and benefits substantially similar to
those provided to her under any of the employee benefit plans
in which ASM becomes a participant or the taking of any
action by POTTERS which would directly or indirectly reduce
any of such benefits or deprive ASM of any material fringe
benefit potentially enjoyed by her at the time of the CHANGE
OF CONTROL;
(iv) The assignment to ASM of material duties and
responsibilities other than those normally associated with
her position as referenced in the recitals above; or
(v) A material diminution or reduction in ASM's
responsibilities or authority (including reporting
responsibilities) in connection with her employment with
POTTERS.
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Within ten (10) days after the voluntary termination of ASM's employment in
accordance with this Section 1(b), POTTERS shall pay to ASM or, in the event of
the death of ASM, to the estate of ASM, an amount equal to the SEVERANCE
PAYMENT, subject to standard withholding.
(c) In the event the employment of ASM is terminated under
circumstances other than as set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section
1, ASM shall not be entitled to any severance pay or benefits. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing sentence, ASM acknowledges that this Agreement
is not a contract of employment; that ASM has no guaranteed term of employment;
and that ASM is an employee at will, subject to termination at any time, with
or without notice or cause.
Section 2. DEFINITIONS. (a) A "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall be deemed to
have occurred in the event that, at any time during the TERM, either any person
or entity obtains "conclusive control" of POTTERS within the meaning of 12
C.F.R. ss.574.4(a), or any person or entity obtains "rebuttable control" of
POTTERS within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. ss.574.4(b) and has not rebutted
control in accordance with 12 C.F.R. ss.574.4(e).
(b) "JUST CAUSE" shall mean personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful
misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, failure or
refusal to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned by the Boards of
Directors of POTTERS, violation of any law, rule, regulation or final
cease-and-desist order (other than traffic violations or similar offenses),
conviction of a felony or for fraud or embezzlement, or material breach of any
provision of this Agreement.
(c) "SEVERANCE PAYMENT" shall mean the TOTAL REMUNERATION paid by
POTTERS to ASM for the calendar year preceding termination of employment.
(d) "TOTAL REMUNERATION" shall mean the sum of (i) base salary, (ii)
bonuses, (iii) incentives, (iv) commissions and (v) other benefits, including,
but not limited to, health and life insurance, club dues, contributions made by
POTTERS to the 401-K plan and the Employee Stock Ownership Plan and the taxable
value of an employer-provided automobile, if any.
Section 3. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date
first above written and shall continue for a period of three (3) years
thereafter (herein referred to as the "TERM"); provided, however, that in the
event of a CHANGE OF CONTROL during the third year of the TERM, the TERM shall,
automatically and without further act, be extended for a period of fifteen (15)
months following such CHANGE OF CONTROL.
Section 4. SPECIAL REGULATORY EVENTS. Notwithstanding Section 1 of
this Agreement, the obligations of POTTERS to ASM shall be as follows in the
event of the following circumstances:
(a) If ASM is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the POTTERS' affairs by a notice served under
section 8(e) (3) or (g) (1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (hereinafter
referred to as the "FDIA"), POTTERS' obligations
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under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service of such
notice, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings.
(b) If ASM is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating
in the conduct of POTTERS' affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e) (4) or
(g) (l) of the FDIA, all obligations of POTTERS under this Agreement shall
terminate as of the effective date of such order; provided, however, that
vested rights of ASM shall not be affected by such termination.
(c) If POTTERS is in default, as defined in section 3(x) (1) of the
FDIA, all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of
default; provided, however, that vested rights of ASM shall not be affected.
(d) All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated, except
to the extent of a determination that the continuation of this Agreement is
necessary for the continued operation of POTTERS, (i) by the Director of the
Office of Thrift Supervision (hereinafter referred to as the "OTS"), or his or
her designee at the time that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation enters
into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of POTTERS under the
authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA or (ii) by the Director of the
OTS, or his or her designee, at any time the Director of the OTS, or his or her
designee, approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the
operation of POTTERS or when POTTERS is determined by the Director of the OTS
to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. No vested rights of ASM shall be
affected by any such action.
Section 5. NONASSIGNABILITY. Neither this Agreement nor any right or
interest hereunder shall be assignable by ASM without POTTERS' prior written
consent; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5 shall preclude ASM
from designating a beneficiary to receive any benefits payable hereunder upon
her death.
Section 6. NO ATTACHMENT. Except as required by law, no right to
receive payment 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 of
assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to
effect any such action shall be null, void and of no effect.
Section 7. BINDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon,
and inure to the benefit of, ASM and POTTERS.
Section 8. WAIVER. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be
deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be an 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 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 or as to any act
other than the act specifically waived.
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Section 9. SEVERABILITY. If, for any reason, any provision of this
Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other
provisions of this Agreement not held so invalid, and each such other provision
shall, to the full extent consistent with applicable law, continue in full
force and effect. If this Agreement is held invalid or cannot be enforced, then
any prior Agreement between POTTERS (or any predecessor thereof) and ASM shall
be deemed reinstated to the full extent permitted by law, as if this Agreement
had not been executed.
Section 10. HEADINGS. The headings of the 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.
Section 11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement has been executed and
delivered in the State of Ohio and its validity, interpretation, performance,
and enforcement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, except to
the extent that federal law is governing.
Section 12. EFFECT OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement contains the
entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior
employment agreement between POTTERS and ASM, each of which is hereby
terminated and is of no further force or effect.
Section 13. NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed delivered if such notice
or communication is in writing and is delivered personally or by facsimile
transmission or is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to Potters Financial Corporation and/or The Potters Savings and
Loan Company:
Potters Financial Corporation
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With copies to:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Vorys, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx
Atrium Two, Suite 2100
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
If to ASM to:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Potters Financial Corporation and The
Potters Savings and Loan Company have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their duly authorized officers, and ASM has signed this Agreement, each as of
the day and year first above written.
Attest: POTTERS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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its Chairman
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Attest: THE POTTERS SAVINGS AND LOAN COMPANY
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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its Chairman
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Attest:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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