EXHIBIT 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH
XXXXXX X. XXXXX, XX.
LEEDS FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made effective as of April 29, 1994, by and between
Leeds Federal Savings Bank (the "Bank"), a federally chartered savings
institution, with its principal administrative office at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx. (the "Executive"). Any
reference to "Company" herein shall mean Leeds Federal Bankshares, MHC or any
successor thereto.
WHEREAS, the Bank 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 Bank 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 President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. During said period,
Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an officer and director of any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank. Failure to reelect Executive as President
and Chief Executive Officer without the consent of the Executive during the term
of this Agreement shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES
(a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall
begin as of the date first above written and shall continue for a period of
thirty-six (36) full calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the first
anniversary date of this Agreement, and continuing at each anniversary date
thereafter, the Agreement shall renew for an additional year such that the
remaining term shall be three (3) years unless written notice is provided to
Executive at least ten (10) days and not more than thirty (30) days prior to any
such anniversary date, that his employment shall cease at the end of twenty-four
(24) months following such anniversary date. Prior to each notice period for
non-renewal, the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Bank
("Board") will conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation and review of the
Executive for purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement, and the
results thereof shall be included in the minutes of the Board's meeting.
(b) During the period of his 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 Bank; provided, however, that, with the approval
of the Board, as evidenced by a 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 Bank,
or materially affect the performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this
Agreement.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT
(a) The compensation specified under this Agreement shall constitute
the salary and benefits paid for the duties described in Section 2(b). The Bank
shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of not less than $105,000 per year
("Base Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be payable semi-monthly. 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 hereof. Such review shall be conducted by a Committee designated by the
Board, and the Board may increase Executive's Base Salary. In addition to the
Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall provide Executive at
no cost to Executive with all such other benefits as are provided uniformly to
permanent full-time employees of the Bank.
(b) The Bank will provide Executive with 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 Bank will not, without
Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements
or perquisites which would adversely affect Executive's rights or benefits
thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this
Subsection (b), Executive will 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 Bank 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 will be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in
any plan of the Bank in which Executive is eligible to participate. Nothing paid
to the Executive under any such plan or arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu
of other compensation to which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement.
(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of
this Section 3, the Bank 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.
(d) Compensation and reimbursement to be paid pursuant to paragraphs
(a), (b) and (c) of this Section 3 shall be paid by the Bank and the Company,
respectively on a pro rata basis based upon the amount of service the Executive
devotes to the Bank and Company, respectively.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION
The provisions of this Section shall in all respects be subject to the
terms and conditions stated in Sections 8 and 15.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply upon the occurrence of
an Event of Termination (as herein defined) during the Executive's term of
employment under this Agreement. 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 Bank or the Company of Executive's full-time employment
hereunder for any reason other than, (A) Disability or Retirement as defined in
Section 6 below, (B) a Change in Control, as defined in Section 5(a) hereof, or
(C) Termination for Cause as defined in Section 7 hereof; or (ii) Executive's
resignation from the Bank's employ, upon any (A) failure to elect or reelect or
to appoint or reappoint Executive as President and Chief Operating Officer, (B)
material change in Executive's
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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, above, (C) a relocation
of Executive's principal place of employment by more than 30 miles from its
location at the effective date of this Agreement, or a material reduction in the
benefits and perquisites to the Executive from those being provided as of the
effective date of this Agreement, (D) liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or
Company other than liquidations or dissolutions that are caused by
reorganizations that do not affect the status of Executive, or (E) breach of
this Agreement by the Bank. Upon the occurrence of any event described in
clauses (ii)(A), (B), (C), (D) or (E), above, Executive shall have the right to
elect to terminate his employment under this Agreement by resignation upon sixty
(60) days prior written notice given within a reasonable period of time not to
exceed four calendar months after the initial event giving rise to said right to
elect. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the event of a continuing
breach of this Agreement by the Bank, the Executive, after giving due notice
within the prescribed time frame of an initial event specified above, shall not
waive any of his rights solely under this Agreement and this Section 4 by virtue
of the fact that Executive has submitted his resignation but has remained in the
employment of the Bank and is engaged in good faith discussions to resolve any
occurrence of an event described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) above.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 8, the Bank shall pay Executive, or, in the
event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate,
as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal
to the greater of the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement or
three (3) times the average of the three preceding years' Base Salary, including
bonuses and any other cash compensation paid to the Executive during such years,
and the amount of any benefits received pursuant to any employee benefit plans
on behalf of the Executive, maintained by the Bank during such years; provided,
however, that if the Bank is not in compliance with its minimum capital
requirements or if such payments would cause the Bank's capital to be reduced
below its minimum capital requirements, such payments shall be deferred until
such time as the Bank is in capital compliance, and provided further, that in no
event shall total severance compensation from all sources exceed three times the
Executive's Base Salary for the immediately preceding year. At the election of
the Executive, which election is to be made within thirty (30) days of an Event
of Termination, such payments shall be made in a lump sum or paid monthly during
the remaining term of the agreement following the Executive's termination. In
the event that no election is made, payment to the Executive will be made on a
monthly basis during the remaining term of the agreement. Such payments shall
not be reduced in the event the Executive obtains other employment following
termination of employment.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 4(a) and (b), and in the
event that there has not been a change in control as defined in Section 5(a),
upon the Voluntary Termination by the Executive upon giving sixty days notice to
the Bank (which shall not be deemed to constitute an "Event of Termination" as
defined herein), the Bank, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, shall
pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, a severance payment in an
amount to be determined by the Board of Directors at the time of such Voluntary
Termination by the Executive. Such severance payment shall not exceed three (3)
times the average of the three preceding years' Base Salary, including bonuses
and any other cash compensation paid to the Executive during such years, and the
amount of any benefits received pursuant to any employee benefit plans, on
behalf of the Executive, maintained by the Bank during such years; provided,
however, that if the Bank is not in compliance with its minimum capital
requirements or if such payments would cause the Bank's capital to be reduced
below its minimum capital requirements, such payments shall be deferred until
such time as the Bank is in capital compliance, and provided further, that in no
event shall total severance compensation from all sources exceed three times the
Executive's Base
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Salary for the immediately preceding year. At the election of the Executive,
which election is to be made within thirty (30) days of Executive's Voluntary
Termination, any payments shall be made in a lump sum or paid monthly during the
remaining term of the agreement following the Executive's termination. In the
event that no election is made, any payment to the Executive will be made on a
monthly basis during the remaining term of the agreement. Such payments shall
not be reduced in the event the Executive obtains other employment following
termination of employment.
(d) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause
to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially
identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his
termination, provided that such benefits shall not be provided in the event they
should constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice relating to executive
compensation and employment contracts pursuant to 12 C.F.R. xx.xx. 63.39 and
563.161, as is now or hereafter in effect. Such coverage shall cease upon the
expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement.
(e) In the event that the Executive is receiving monthly payments
pursuant to Section 4(b) or (c) hereof, on an annual basis, thereafter, between
the dates of January 1 and January 31 of each year, Executive shall elect
whether the balance of the amount payable under the Agreement at that time shall
be paid in a lump sum or on a pro rata basis. Such election shall be irrevocable
for the year for which such election is made.
5. CHANGE IN CONTROL
(a) No benefit shall be payable under this Section 5 unless there shall
have been a Change in Control of the Bank or Company, as set forth below. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the Bank or Company shall
mean:
(1) a reorganization, merger, merger conversion, consolidation or sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank, the Company or the Stock
Holding Company, or a similar transaction in which the Bank, the Company or the
Stock Holding Company is not the resulting entity and that is not approved by a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Bank, the Company or the Stock Holding
Company;
(2) individuals who constitute the Incumbent Board of the Bank, the
Company, or the Stock Holding Company cease for any reason to constitute a
majority thereof; or
(3) a change in control within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. ss. 574.4, as
determined by the board of directors of the Bank or the Company; provided,
however, that a change in control shall not be deemed to occur if the
transaction(s) constituting a change in control is approved by a majority of the
board of directors of the Bank or the Company, as the case may be.
(4) In the event that the Company converts to the Stock Holding Company
on a stand-alone basis, a "change in control" of the Bank or the Stock Holding
Company (a) shall mean an event of a nature that 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 (the "Exchange Act"), or results in a Change in Control of the Bank
or the Stock Holding Company within the meaning of the Home Owners' Loan Act of
1933 and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Office of Thrift
Supervision (or its predecessor agency), as in effect on the date hereof, (b)
without limitation shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i) any
"person" (as the term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act)
other than the Stock Holding Company is or becomes a
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"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13-d under the Exchange Act) directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Bank representing 25% or more of the Bank's
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at the election of
directors except for any securities of the Bank received by the Stock Holding
Company in connection with the Reorganization and any securities purchased by
the Bank's employee stock ownership plan and trust shall not be counted in
determining whether such plan is the beneficial owner of more than 25% of the
Bank's securities, (ii) a proxy statement soliciting proxies from stockholders
of the Bank, by someone other than the current management of the Bank, seeking
stockholder approval of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the
Stock Holding Company of the Bank or similar transaction with one or more
corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the class of
securities then subject to the plan or transaction are exchanged or converted
into cash or property or securities not issued by the Bank or the Stock Holding
Company, or (iii) a tender offer is made for 25% or more of the voting
securities of the Bank and the shareholders owning beneficially or of record 25%
or more of the outstanding securities of the Bank have tendered or offered to
sell their shares pursuant to such tender offer and such tendered shares have
been accepted by the tender offeror.
Notwithstanding, the foregoing, a "Change in Control" of the Bank or
the Company shall not be deemed to have occurred if the Company ceases to own at
least 51% of all outstanding shares of stock of the Bank in connection with a
conversion of the Company from mutual to stock form.
For these purposes, "Incumbent Board" means, in the case of (i) the
Company or the Stock Holding Company, or (ii) the Bank, the Board of Directors
of the Company or the Bank, respectively, on the date hereof, 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 members or stockholders was
approved by the same nominating committee serving under an Incumbent Board,
shall be considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board.
Also for these purposes, Stock Holding Company means the holding
company resulting from a stock conversion of the Company from the mutual to
stock form of organization either on a stand-alone basis or in the context of a
merger conversion, as provided by regulations of the Office of Thrift
Supervision.
(b) If any of the events described in Section 5(a) hereof constituting
a Change in Control have occurred, Executive shall be entitled to the benefits
provided in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) of this Section 5 upon
his subsequent termination of employment at any time during the term of this
Agreement, regardless of whether such termination results from (i) his
resignation or (ii) his dismissal upon the Change in Control.
(c) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control followed by the
Executive's termination of employment, the Bank shall pay Executive, or in the
event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate,
as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal
to the greater of the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement or
2.99 times the average of the five preceding years' Base Salary, including
bonuses and any other cash compensation paid to the Executive during such years,
and the amount of any contributions made to any employee benefit plans, on
behalf of the Executive, maintained by the Bank during such years. Such payment
shall be made by the Bank on the Date of Termination. At the election of the
Executive, which election shall be made no later than the Date of Termination
following a Change in Control, such payment may be made in a lump sum or paid in
equal monthly installments during the thirty-six (36) months following the
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Executive's termination. In the event that no election is made, payment to the
Executive will be made on a monthly basis during the remaining term of the
Agreement.
(d) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control followed by the
Executive's termination of employment, the Bank will cause to be continued life,
medical, dental and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage
maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his severance. Such coverage and
payments shall cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) months.
(e) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive will be
entitled to any benefits granted to him pursuant to any Stock Option Plan of the
Bank or Holding Company.
(f) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control the Executive will be
entitled to any benefits awarded to him under the Bank's Recognition and
Retention Plan or any restricted stock plan in effect.
(g) In the event that the Executive is receiving monthly payments
pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof, on an annual basis, thereafter, between the
dates of January 1 and January 31 of each year, Executive shall elect whether
the balance of the amount payable under the Agreement at that time shall be paid
in a lump sum or on a pro rata basis. Such election shall be irrevocable for the
year for which such election is made.
(h) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5, in the
event that:
(i) the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or
afforded to Executive under said paragraphs (the
"Termination Benefits") would be deemed to include an
"excess parachute payment" under Section 280G of the
Code or any successor thereto, and
(ii) if such Termination Benefits were reduced to an
amount (the "Non-Triggering Amount"), the value of
which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal
to the total amount of payments permissible under
Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereto,
then the Termination Benefits to be paid to Executive shall be
so reduced so as to be a Non-Triggering Amount.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be no reduction in the
compensation otherwise payable to Executive during any period during which
Executive is incapable of performing his duties hereunder by reason of temporary
disability.
(j) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C.
ss. 1818(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(k) The Executive shall not be entitled to any payments pursuant to
this Section 5 if the Bank is not in compliance with its minimum capital
requirements or if such payments would cause the Bank's capital to be reduced
below its minimum capital requirements, such payments shall be deferred until
such times as the Bank is in capital compliance and provided further, that in no
event shall total severance compensation from all sources exceed three times the
Executive's Base Salary for the immediately preceding year.
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6. TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT OR DISABILITY
Termination by the Bank of the Executive based on "Retirement" shall
mean termination in accordance with the Bank's retirement policy or in
accordance with any retirement arrangement established with Executive's consent
with respect to him. Upon termination of Executive upon Retirement, Executive
shall be entitled to all benefits under any retirement plan of the Bank and
other plans to which Executive is a party.
Termination by the Bank of Executive's employment based on "Disability"
shall mean termination because of any physical or mental impairment which
qualifies the Executive for disability benefits under the applicable long-term
disability plan maintained by the Bank or, if no such plan applies, which would
qualify the Executive for disability benefits under the federal social security
system.
7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
The term "Termination for Cause' shall mean termination because of the
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. In determining incompetence, the acts
or omissions shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the
savings institutions industry. For purposes of this paragraph, no act or failure
to act on the part of Executive shall be considered "willful" unless done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable
belief that the Executive's action or omission was in the best interest of the
Bank. 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
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-fourths 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. The
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after Termination for Cause. Any stock options granted to Executive
under any stock option plan of the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or
affiliate thereof, shall become null and void effective upon Executive's receipt
of Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and shall not
be exercisable by Executive at any time subsequent to such Termination for
Cause.
8. NOTICE
(a) Any purported termination by the Bank 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, except
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upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and voluntary termination by the
Executive in which case the Date of Termination shall be the date specified in
the Notice, 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 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, the Bank
will continue to pay Executive his full compensation in effect when the notice
giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, Base
Salary) and continue Executive as a participant in all compensation, benefit and
insurance plans in which he was participating when the notice of dispute was
given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Agreement,
provided such dispute is resolved within nine months after the Date of
Termination specified in the Notice or Termination; notwithstanding the
foregoing no compensation or benefits shall be paid to Executive in the event
the Executive is Terminated for Cause. In the event that such Termination for
Cause is found to have been wrongful or such dispute is otherwise decided in
Executive's favor, the Executive shall be entitled to receive all compensation
and benefits which accrued for up to a period of nine months after the
Termination for Cause. If such dispute is not resolved within such nine- month
period, the Bank shall not be obligated, upon final resolution of such dispute,
to pay Executive compensation and other payments accruing more than nine months
from the Date of the Termination specified in the Notice of Termination. Amounts
paid under this Section 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
(a) All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall
be subject to Executive's compliance with paragraph (b) of this Section 9 during
the term of this Agreement and for one (1) full year after the expiration or
termination hereof.
(b) Executive shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information
and assistance to the Bank as may reasonably be required by the Bank in
connection with any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates is, or may become, a party.
10. NON-COMPETITION
(a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder pursuant
to Section 4(c) hereof, if the Board of Directors offers Executive the full
amount of severance payment set forth in Section 4(c) hereof, or if Executive
accepts any partial severance payment offered by the Board of Directors,
Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank and/or the Company for a period of
three years following such termination within 100 miles of any city, town or
county in which the Bank and/or the Company 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 period and within
such area, 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 Bank and/or the
Company. The parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will result to
the Bank and/or the Company, 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 Bank and/or the Company will be entitled, in addition
to any other remedies and damages available, to an injunction to restrain the
violation hereof by
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Executive, Executive's partners, agents, servants, employers, employees and all
persons acting for or with Executive. Nothing herein will be construed as
prohibiting the Bank and/or the Company from pursuing any other remedies
available to the Bank and/or the Company 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 Bank and affiliates
thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique
asset of the business of the Bank. 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 Bank 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 Bank, and
Executive may disclose any information regarding the Bank or the Company which
is otherwise publicly available. In the event of a breach or threatened breach
by the Executive of the Provisions of this Section 10, the Bank 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
Bank 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 Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank 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 Bank. The Company, however, guarantees
payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to Executive
and, if such amounts and benefits due from the Bank are not timely paid or
provided by the Bank, such amounts and benefits shall be paid or provided by the
Company.
12. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not
affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to the Executive
of a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of this 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 Bank and their respective successors and assigns.
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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 Bank may terminate the Executive's employment at any time, but
any termination by the Bank, 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 the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily
prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice
served under Section 8(e)(3) (12 U.S.C. xx.xx. 1818(e)(3)) or 8(g) (12 U.S.C.
ss. 1818(g)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, the Bank'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 Bank may in its discretion (i) pay the 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 the Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e) (12 U.S.C. xx.xx. 1818(e)) or 8(g) (12 U.S.C. ss. 1818(g)) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial Institutions Reform,
Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, all obligations of the Bank 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 Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x) (12 U.S.C. ss.
1813(x)(1)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, all obligations of
the Bank 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 Bank 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 Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), at the time FDIC enters into an
agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority
contained in Section 13(c) (12 U.S.C. ss. 1823(c)) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and
Enforcement Act of 1989; or (ii) by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") at
the time the OTS or its District Director approves a supervisory merger to
resolve problems related to the operations of the Bank or when the Bank is
determined by the OTS or FDIC to be in an unsafe or
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unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however,
shall not be affected by such action.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland,
but only to the extent not superseded by federal law.
19. ARBITRATION
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration 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 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.
20. PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES
All reasonable 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 Bank, provided that the dispute or interpretation has been
settled by Executive and the Bank or resolved in the Executive's favor.
21. INDEMNIFICATION
The Bank 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) to the fullest extent
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 Bank (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 (such settlements must be
approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank). If such action, suit or
proceeding is brought against Executive in his capacity as an officer or
director of the Bank, however, such indemnification shall not extend to matters
as to which Executive is finally adjudged to be liable for willful misconduct in
the
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performance of his duties. No Indemnification shall be paid that would violate
12 U.S.C. 1828(K) or any regulations promulgated thereunder, or 12 C.F.R.
544.122.
22. SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK
The Bank 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 Bank or the Company, expressly
and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank's obligations under
this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Bank would be
required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
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