BAY STATE BANCORP, INC.
THREE YEAR CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT is made effective as of March 2, 1998, by and between Bay
State Bancorp, Inc. (the "Holding Company"), a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware, with its office at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx ("Executive"). The term "Institution"
refers to Bay State Federal Savings Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Holding Company or any successor thereto.
WHEREAS, the Holding Company recognizes the substantial contribution
Executive has made to the Holding Company and wishes to protect his position
therewith for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive has agreed to serve in the employ of the Holding Company
or an affiliate thereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the contribution and responsibilities
of Executive, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
The period of this Agreement shall be deemed to have commenced as of the
date first above written and shall continue for a period of thirty-six (36) full
calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the date of the execution of this
Agreement, the term of this Agreement shall be extended for one day each day
until such time as the board of directors of the Holding Company (the "Board")
or Executive elects not to extend the term of the Agreement by giving written
notice to the other party in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement, in
which case the term of this Agreement shall be fixed and shall end on the third
anniversary of the date of such written notice.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Holding Company (as
herein defined) followed at any time during the term of this Agreement by the
termination of Executive's employment, the provisions of Section 3 shall apply.
Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive shall have the right to
elect to voluntarily terminate his employment at any time during the term of
this Agreement following any demotion, loss of title, office or significant
authority, reduction in annual compensation or material reduction in 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 death or termination for Cause.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the
Institution or Holding Company shall mean an event of a nature that: (i) would
be required to be reported in response to Item 1(a) 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 0000 (xxx "Xxxxxxxx Xxx"); or (ii) results in a
Change in Control of the Institution or the 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 ("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 securities of the Institution or the
Holding Company representing 20% or more of the Institution's or the Holding
Company's outstanding securities except for any securities of the Institution
purchased by the Holding Company in connection with the conversion of the
Institution to the stock form and any securities purchased by any employee
benefit plan of the Institution, 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 Institution or the Holding Company or
similar transaction occurs in which the Institution or Holding Company is not
the resulting entity, or (D) a proxy statement is distributed soliciting proxies
from stockholders of the Holding Company, by someone other than the current
management of the Holding Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Holding Company or Institution
with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the
class of securities then subject to such plan or transaction are exchanged for
or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the Institution
or the Holding Company shall be distributed, or (E) a tender offer is made for
20% or more of the voting securities of the Institution or Holding Company then
outstanding.
(c) Executive shall not have the right to receive termination benefits
pursuant to Section 3 hereof upon 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, regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses)
or final cease and desist order, or any material breach 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
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
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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
Termination for Cause. During the period beginning on the date of the Notice of
Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 4 hereof through the Date of
Termination, stock options and related limited rights granted to Executive under
any stock option plan shall not be exercisable nor shall any unvested awards
granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan of the Institution, the
Holding Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest. At the Date of
Termination, such stock options and related limited rights and any such unvested
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.
3. TERMINATION BENEFITS.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, followed at any time during
the term of this Agreement by the voluntary or involuntary termination of
Executive's employment, other than for Termination for Cause, the Holding
Company 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, a
sum equal to three (3) times Executive's Average Annual Compensation for the
five most recent taxable years that Executive has been employed by the
Institution or such lesser number of years in the event that Executive shall
have been employed by the Institution for less than five years. Such Average
Annual Compensation shall include all taxable income paid by the Holding Company
or its subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, base salary, commissions and
bonuses, as well as contributions on behalf of Executive to any pension and
profit sharing plan, severance payments, director or committee fees and fringe
benefits paid or to be paid to the Executive during such years. 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. 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 this Agreement.
(b) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Institution or the
Holding Company followed at any time during the term of this Agreement by
Executive's termination of employment, other than for Termination for Cause, the
Holding Company shall cause to be continued life, medical and disability
coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Institution
for Executive prior to his severance, except to the extent such coverage may be
changed in its application to all Institution employees. Such coverage and
payments shall cease upon expiration of thirty-six (36) full calendar months
following the Date of Termination.
(c) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 3, in the
event that:
(i) the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to
Executive, which are deemed to be parachute payments as defined
in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code") or any successor thereof, (the "Termination
Benefits") would be deemed to
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include an "excess parachute payment" under Section 280G of the
Code; 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 three (3) times Executive's
"base amount," as determined in accordance with said Section 280G
and the Non-Triggering Amount less the product of the marginal
rate of any applicable state and federal income tax and the
Non-Triggering Amount would be greater than the aggregate value
of the Termination Benefits (without such reduction) minus (i)
the amount of tax required to be paid by the Executive thereon by
Section 4999 of the Code and further minus (ii) the product of
the Termination Benefits and the marginal rate of any applicable
state and federal income tax,
then the Termination Benefits shall be reduced to the Non-Triggering Amount. The
allocation of the reduction required hereby among the Termination Benefits shall
be determined by the Executive.
4. NOTICE OF TERMINATION.
(a) Any purported termination by the Holding Company, 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 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 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, the Holding Company 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 his current annual
salary) and continue him as a participant in all compensation, benefit and
insurance plans in which he was participating when the notice of
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dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this
Agreement. Amounts paid under this Section 4(c) 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.
5. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.
It is intended by the parties hereto that all payments provided in this
Agreement shall be paid in cash or check from the general funds of the Holding
Company.
6. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFIT PLANS.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior agreement between the Holding Company 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 Agreement shall be interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to
receiving fewer benefits than those available to him without reference to this
Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Executive the right to continue
in the employ of the Holding Company or shall impose on the Holding Company any
obligation to employ or retain Executive in its employ for any period.
7. 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, the Holding Company and their respective successors and assigns.
8. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.
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(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 or as to any act other than that
specifically waived.
9. REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS UNDER INSTITUTION AGREEMENT.
In the event Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Institution's affairs by a notice described
in Section 9(b) of the Change in Control Agreement between Executive and the
Institution dated March 2, 1998 (the "Institution Agreement") during the term of
this Agreement and a Change in Control, as defined herein, occurs the Holding
Company will assume its obligation to pay and Executive will be entitled to
receive all of the termination benefits provided for under Section 3 of the
Institution Agreement upon the notification of the Holding Company of the
Institution's receipt of a dismissal of charges in the Notice.
10. EFFECT OF ACTION UNDER INSTITUTION AGREEMENT.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, to the extent that
payments and benefits are paid to or received by Executive under the Institution
Agreement between Executive and Institution, the amount of such payments and
benefits paid by the Institution will be subtracted from any amount due
simultaneously to Executive under similar provisions of this Agreement.
11. 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.
12. 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. In addition, references herein to the
masculine shall apply to both the masculine and the feminine.
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13. GOVERNING LAW.
The validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard
to the principles of conflicts of law of this State.
14. 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 Holding Company, 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.
15. 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 Holding Company if Executive is successful pursuant to a
legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.
16. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Holding Company shall provide Executive (including his heirs,
executors and administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and
officers' liability insurance policy at its expense and shall indemnify
Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent
permitted under Delaware 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 Holding Company (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 are subject to
and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and 12 C.F.R.
Part 359 and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
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17. SUCCESSOR TO THE HOLDING COMPANY.
The Holding Company 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 Institution or the Holding
Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the
Holding Company's obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Holding Company would be required to perform if no such
succession or assignment had taken place.
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bay State Bancorp, Inc. has caused this Agreement to be
executed by its duly authorized officer, and Executive has signed this
Agreement, on the 24th day of November, 1998.
ATTEST: BAY STATE BANCORP, INC.
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
WITNESS:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------- -------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Executive
Seal
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