EXHIBIT 10(a)
EXECUTION COPY
PAYMENTS AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of April 10, 2002, by and among Abington Bancorp,
Inc. ("ABINGTON"), Massachusetts Fincorp, Inc. ("FINCORP"), The Massachusetts
Co-operative Bank (the "BANK"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fincorp, and Xxxx
X. Xxxxx (the "EXECUTIVE").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Executive is a director and president and chief executive
officer of Fincorp and the Bank; and
WHEREAS, the Executive and the Bank have entered into an Employment
Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2000 and the Executive and Fincorp have entered
into an Employment Agreement, dated July 13, 2000 and amended as of December 31,
2001 (collectively, the "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS"); and
WHEREAS, the Bank adopted a Management Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan ("MANAGEMENT SERP") on December 22, 1998; and
WHEREAS, Fincorp has adopted the Massachusetts Fincorp, Inc. 1999
Stock-Based Incentive Plan (the "STOCK OPTION PLAN"); and
WHEREAS, Abington and Fincorp have entered into an Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the "MERGER AGREEMENT"), pursuant to
which Fincorp will merge with and into Abington on the terms and conditions set
forth therein (the "MERGER) and, in connection therewith, outstanding shares of
Fincorp Common Stock will be converted into shares of Abington Common Stock
and/or cash in the manner set forth therein; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Abington to enter into the Merger
Agreement, Fincorp and the Bank (collectively, the "EMPLOYERS") and the
Executive desire to set forth the status of the Executive's employment
relationships with the Employers as of the Effective Time (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) and the benefits he will be entitled to receive upon
termination of such employment relationships; and
WHEREAS, the Executive's relationship with Abington from and after the
Effective Time is the subject of a Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement
between Abington and the Executive entered into as of the date hereof and to be
effective as of the Effective Time (the "CONSULTING AND NONCOMPETITION
AGREEMENT");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, DIRECTORSHIPS AND CERTAIN BENEFITS. At
the Effective Time, all employment and director relationships between the
Executive and Fincorp, the Bank or any affiliate of Fincorp shall terminate.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Employers and the Executive agree that at
the Effective Time:
(i) the Executive shall cease to be a director and president and
chief executive officer of Fincorp and the Bank;
(ii) any other employment or consulting relationships between the
Executive and any of Fincorp, the Bank or any other direct or indirect
subsidiary of Fincorp shall terminate;
(iii) the Executive's membership on the boards of directors of
Fincorp, the Bank and each other direct or indirect subsidiary of
Fincorp, shall terminate;
(iv) the Employment Agreements shall be automatically terminated
without the necessity of any further action on the part of either
party thereto, with the result that they shall be null and void and no
party thereto or any heir, successor or assignee thereof shall have
any continuing rights or obligations thereunder; and
(v) except as otherwise provided in Section 4, the Executive
shall not be entitled to receive any further benefits under the
Management SERP or any other benefit plan or arrangement, and all such
arrangements shall be automatically terminated without the necessity
of any further action on the part of either party thereto, with the
result that they shall be null and void and no party thereto or any
heir, successor or assignee thereof shall have any continuing rights
or obligations thereunder.
2. NO FURTHER PAYMENTS UNDER CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS. The Employers agree
to make no payments to the Executive under the Management SERP from and after
the date of this Agreement.
3. PAYMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE.
(a) In connection with the terminations provided in Section 1,
Fincorp shall pay to the Executive, immediately prior to the Effective Time, a
cash amount equal to the sum of (i) the Executive's accrued but unpaid annual
base salary to the Effective Time and (ii) an amount in compensation for
Executive's accrued but unused vacation time to the extent permitted under the
Employers' vacation policies in effect as of the date hereof. The calculation
and payment of such amounts shall be subject to the reasonable review and
approval of Abington.
(b) In consideration of the agreements of the Executive pursuant to
Section 1, Abington agrees to pay to the Executive, or to cause the Bank to pay
to the Executive, at the Effective Time, a cash amount equal to $349,300.
4. NO EFFECT ON EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, the termination of the Executive's directorships and employment
pursuant to this Agreement shall have no special effect on the rights and
obligations of the Executive and the Employers under Fincorp's Stock Option
Plan, Fincorp's 401(k) Savings Plan, or any other employee benefit plan made
available to employees of the Employers generally pursuant to which the
Executive has any accrued rights or is entitled to any benefits or payments (the
"EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS"), provided that the Executive shall have no rights
under (i) The Massachusetts Co-operative Bank Employee Severance Compensation
Plan (as the same may be amended with the approval of Abington as contemplated
by the Merger Agreement), (ii) the Management SERP maintained by the Bank or
(iii) any other employee benefit plan maintained by one or more of the Employers
for the Executive (and not for employees generally) pursuant to which the
Executive has any unvested benefits immediately prior to the Effective Time.
5. RELEASE.
(a) For, and in consideration of the commitments made herein by
Abington, the Executive, for himself and for his heirs and assigns, does hereby
release completely and forever discharge Abington and its subsidiaries,
affiliates, stockholders, attorneys, officers, directors, agents, employees,
successors and
-2-
assigns, and any other party associated with Abington (the "RELEASED PARTIES"),
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from any and all claims,
rights, demands, actions, liabilities, obligations, causes of action of any and
all kind, nature and character whatsoever, known or unknown, in any way
connected with his employment by Fincorp or any of its subsidiaries (including
in each case predecessors thereof), either as a director, officer or employee,
or termination of such employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive
does not release Abington from any obligations of Abington to the Executive
under (i) the Employee Benefit Plans, (ii) Section 7.11 of the Merger Agreement,
(iii) this Agreement, and (iv) the Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement.
(b) For and in consideration of the commitments made herein by the
Executive, including without limitation the releases in Section 5(a) above,
Abington, for itself, and for its successors and assigns does hereby release
completely and forever discharge the Executive and his heirs and assigns, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from any and all claims, rights,
demands, actions, liabilities, obligations, causes of action of any and all
kind, nature and character whatsoever, known or unknown, in any way connected
with the Executive's employment by Fincorp or any of its subsidiaries (including
predecessors thereof), either as a director, officer or employee.
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, Abington does not
release the Executive from claims arising out of any breach by the Executive of
(i) any law or regulation by the Executive during the term of and related to his
employment by Fincorp or any of its subsidiaries (including predecessors
thereof), either as a director, officer or employee, (ii) this Agreement or
(iii) the Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The parties hereto represent and
warrant to each other that they have carefully read this Agreement and consulted
with respect thereto with their respective counsel and that each of them fully
understands the content of this Agreement and its legal effect. Each party
hereto also represents and warrants that this Agreement is a legal, valid and
binding obligation of such party which is enforceable against such party in
accordance with its terms.
7. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Executive and his heirs and assigns, and upon Abington,
including any successor to Abington by merger or consolidation or any other
change in form or any other person or firm or corporation to which all or
substantially all of the assets and business of Abington may be sold or
otherwise transferred. This Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto
without the consent of the other party.
8. NOTICES. Any communication to a party required or permitted under
this Agreement, including any notice, direction, designation, consent,
instruction, objection or waiver, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given at such time as it is delivered personally, or five (5) days
after mailing if mailed, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, addressed to such party at the address listed below or
at such other address as one such party may by written notice specify to the
other party or parties, as applicable:
If to the Executive:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
0 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
If to Abington:
Abington Bancorp, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
-3-
9. WITHHOLDING. Abington may withhold from any amounts payable under
this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required
to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
10. LIMITATION ON BENEFITS.
(a) It is the intention of the Executive, the Employers and Abington
that no payments by Abington or the Employers to or for the benefit of the
Executive shall be non-deductible to the Employers or Abington by reason of the
operation of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE"), relating to parachute payments. It is the intention of the parties that
the amount to be paid to the Executive under this Agreement shall be equal to
the maximum amount which may be paid to the Executive without causing any
portion of such payment to be non-deductible to the Employers or Abington by
reason of the operation of Section 280G of the Code.
(b) The Employers agree not to pay (or agree to pay) to the
Executive, and the Executive agrees not to accept from either Employer, any
amount that could be deemed to be in the nature of compensation other than (i)
regular incremental payments of his salary and fringe benefits of general
applicability at the rates and under the programs now in effect, (ii)
reimbursement in the ordinary course of his business expenses, and (iii)
payments required to be made to the Executive under this Agreement.
(c) If the Executive receives any payment in violation of
Section 10(b) (an "IMPERMISSIBLE PAYMENT"), and if by reason of the operation of
said Section 280G any such Impermissible Payments exceed the amount which can be
deducted by Abington or the Employers (as applicable), such Impermissible
Payments shall be reduced to the maximum amount which can be deducted by
Abington or the Employers (as applicable). Payments made to the Executive under
this Agreement or the Consulting Agreement are not "Impermissible Payments" for
purposes of this Agreement. To the extent that Impermissible Payments exceeding
such maximum deductible amount have been made to or for the benefit of the
Executive, the Executive agrees to refund such excess Impermissible Payments to
Abington (promptly upon written request of Abington) with interest thereon at
the applicable Federal Rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code,
compounded annually, or at such other rate as may be required in order that no
such Impermissible Payments shall be non-deductible to the Employers by reason
of the operation of said Section 280G. To the extent that there is more than one
method of reducing the Impermissible Payments to bring them within the
limitations of said Section 280G, the Executive shall determine which method
shall be followed, provided that if the Executive fails to make such
determination within forty-five (45) days after Abington or the Employers have
sent him written notice of the need for such reduction, Abington may determine
the method of such reduction in their sole discretion.
(d) If any dispute between Abington or the Employers and the
Executive as to any of the amounts to be determined under this Section 10 or the
method of calculating such amounts cannot be resolved by Abington and the
Executive, either party after giving three days written notice to the other, may
refer the dispute to arbitration pursuant to Section 11. The determination of
such arbitrator as to the amounts to be determined under this Section 10 and the
method of calculating such amounts shall be final and binding on both (x)
Abington and the Employers and (y) the Executive. Abington shall bear the costs
of any such determination.
-4-
11. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES. Any dispute or controversy arising under or
in connection with this Agreement may, at either Abington's or the Executive's
option, be settled exclusively by arbitration in Boston, Massachusetts in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect
and at Abington's expense. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators award in
any court having jurisdiction.
12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SEVERABILITY.
(a) This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof and from and after the Effective Time
shall supersede in its entirety any and all prior agreements or understandings,
whether written or oral, between the Employers and the Executive relating to the
subject matter hereof, including without limitation the Employment Agreements,
the Bank's Employee Severance Compensation Plan and the Management SERP. In
reaching this Agreement, no party has relied upon any representation or promise
except those set forth herein and in the Consulting and Noncompetition
Agreement.
(b) Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid
or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or
affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of
this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is
so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only
so broad as is enforceable. In all such cases, the parties shall use their
reasonable best efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision
which, insofar as practicable, implements the original purposes and intents of
this Agreement.
13. WAIVER. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the
terms, covenants or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such term,
covenant or condition. A waiver of any provision of this Agreement must be made
in writing, designated as a waiver and signed by the party against whom its
enforcement is sought. Any waiver or relinquishment of any right or power
hereunder at any one or more times shall not be deemed a waiver or
relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times.
14. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall
constitute one and the same Agreement.
15. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
applicable to agreements made and entirely to be performed within such
jurisdiction.
16. HEADINGS. The headings of sections in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and are not intended to qualify the meaning of any
section. Any reference to a section number shall refer to a section of this
Agreement, unless otherwise stated.
17. EFFECTIVENESS. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
effectiveness of this Agreement shall be subject to consummation of the Merger
in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, as the same may be amended
by the parties thereto in accordance with its terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has entered into this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
-5-
ABINGTON BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
---------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
MASSACHUSETTS FINCORP, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
---------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Chairman, Compensation Committee
THE MASSACHUSETTS CO-OPERATIVE BANK
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
---------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Chairman, Compensation Committee
-6-
