FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK OF SIOUXLAND
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT is made effective as of September 18, 1996 by and between
First Federal Savings Bank of Siouxland (the "Bank"), a federally-chartered
savings institution, with its main office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx
and Xxxxxx Xxxxx (the "Executive"). The Bank is the majority-owned subsidiary
of First Federal Bankshares, MHC (the "Holding Company"), a mutual holding
company chartered and regulated under the laws of the Office of Thrift
Supervision.
WHEREAS, the Bank recognizes the substantial contribution Executive has
made to the Bank and wishes to protect her position therewith for the period
provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive has been appointed to, and has agreed to serve in the
position of Senior Vice President for the Bank, a position of substantial
responsibility.
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 term 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 first anniversary date of this
Agreement and continuing at each anniversary date thereafter, the board of
directors of the Bank may extend this Agreement for an additional year. The
Board of Directors of the Bank ("Board") will review this Agreement and will
conduct an annual performance evaluation of Executive for purposes of
determining whether to extend this Agreement, and the results thereof shall be
included in the minutes of the Board's meeting.
2. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as herein defined) of the
Bank or the Holding Company followed at any time during the term of this
Agreement by the voluntary or involuntary termination of Executive's employment,
other than for Cause, as defined in Section 2(c), 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 her employment at any time during
the term of this Agreement following any demotion, loss of title, office or
significant authority, reduction in her annual compensation or benefits, or
relocation of her principal place of employment by more than 30 miles from its
location immediately prior to the Change in Control.
(b) A "Change in Control" of the Bank or the Holding Company shall mean (i)
a plan of reorganization, merger, merger conversion, consolidation or sale of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank or the Holding Company or a
similar transaction occurs in which the Bank or the Holding Company is not the
resulting entity; (ii) individuals who constitute the board of directors of the
Bank or the board of directors of the Holding Company cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof; or (iii) a change in control within the meaning
of 12 C.F.R. Section 574.4 occurs, as determined by the board of directors of
the Bank or the Holding Company, provided, however, that a change in control
shall not be deemed to occur under 2(b)(i) or 2(b)(iii) of this Section 2, if
the transaction constituting a change in control is approved by a majority of
the board of directors of the Bank or the Holding Company, as the case may be.
In the event the Holding Company converts from the mutual form of organization
to the stock form of organization on a stand-alone basis at any time subsequent
to the effective date of this Agreement ("Stock Holding Company")
a "Change in Control" of the Bank or the Holding Company shall mean a change in
control of a nature that: (I) 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 0000 (xxx
"Xxxxxxxx Xxx"); or (II) 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; 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 representing 25%
or more of the combined voting power of the Bank's or Stock Holding Company's
outstanding securities except for any securities of the Bank purchased by the
Stock Holding Company or any securities purchased by the Bank's Employee Stock
Ownership Plan and Trust; or (b) individuals who constitute the Board of the
Bank or the Stock Holding Company 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 Stock Holding Company's
stockholders was approved by the Stock Holding Company's Nominating Committee,
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 Bank or the Stock Holding
Company or similar transaction occurs in which the Bank or the Stock Holding
Company is not the surviving entity.
(c) Executive shall not have the right to receive termination benefits
pursuant to Section 3 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, or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar
offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any material
provision of this Agreement. In determining incompetence, the acts or
omissions shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the
savings institutions industry. 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 Board of Directors of the
Bank 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. Executive shall not have the
right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after Termination
for Cause.
3. TERMINATION BENEFITS
(a) (i) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, followed at any time
during the term of this Agreement by the involuntary termination of Executive's
employment, other than for Termination for Cause, the Bank shall be obligated to
pay Executive, or in the event of her subsequent death, her beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or her estate, as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated
damages, or both, a sum equal to three (3) times the average of the three (3)
preceding years Executive's Base Salary, including bonuses and any other cash
compensation paid or accrued to Executive during such year, and the amount of
any benefits received pursuant to any employee benefit plans, on behalf of
Executive, maintained by the Bank during such years. At the election of
Executive, which election is to be made within thirty (30) days of the Date of
Termination (as defined in Section 4), such payment may be made in a lump sum or
paid in equal monthly installments during the thirty-six (36) months following
Executive's termination. In the event that no election is made, payment to
Executive will be made on a monthly basis during the remaining term of this
Agreement.
(ii) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, followed at any time
during the firm of this Agreement by the voluntary termination of Executive's
employment, the Bank shall be obligated to pay Executive or in the event of her
subsequent death, her beneficiary or beneficiaries of her estate, as the case
may be as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both a sum equal to the
Executive's preceding year's Base Salary, including bonuses and any other cost
compensation paid or accrued to Executive during such year, and the amount of
any benefits received pursuant to any employee benefit plans on behalf of
Executive, maintained by the Bank during such year. As the election of
Executive, which election is to be made within thirty (30) days of the date of
Termination such payment may be made in a lump sum or paid in monthly
installments during the twelve (12) months following Executive's termination.
In the event that no election is made, payment to Executive will be made on a
monthly basis during the remaining term of the Agreement.
(b) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Bank or the Holding
Company followed at any time during the term of this Agreement by Executive's
voluntary or involuntary termination of employment, other than for Termination
for Cause, the Bank shall cause to be continued life, medical, dental and
disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the
Bank for Executive prior to her severance. Such coverage and payments shall
cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) months.
(c) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive will have such
rights as specified in the Bank's Incentive Stock Option Plan or any other
employee benefit plan with respect to options and such other rights as may have
been granted to Executive under such plans.
(d) Upon a Change in Control, Executive will be entitled to the benefits
under the Bank's Recognition and Retention Plans and Trusts or any other such
plans.
(e) In the event that Executive is receiving monthly payments pursuant to
Section 3(a) on an annual basis, thereafter, Executive shall elect whether the
balance of the amount payable under this 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.
(f) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 3, in no event
shall the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to Executive
under said paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits") constitute an "excess
parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereto, and
in order to avoid such a result Termination Benefits will be reduced, if
necessary, 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. The allocation of
the reduction required hereby among the Termination Benefits provided by the
preceding paragraphs of this Section 3 shall be determined by Executive.
4. NOTICE OF TERMINATION
(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 (A) if Executive's employment is
terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is
given (provided that he shall not have returned to the performance of her duties
on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if her
employment
is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of
Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall be immediate).
(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 upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control and voluntary termination by 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 there from 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 her full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the
dispute was given (including, but not limited to, Base Salary) and continue him
as a participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which he
was participating when the notice of dispute was given, until the earlier of 120
days from the date of the Notice of Termination or the date upon which the
dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Agreement. 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.
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 Bank.
The Holding Company 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 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 Bank 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 Bank or shall impose on the Bank 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 Bank 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.
(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. REQUIRED REGULATORY PROVISIONS
(a) The Bank may terminate 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 2.
(b) If 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 USC 1918(e)(3)) or 8(g) (12 USC 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 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 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 USC Section 1818(e)) or 8(g) (12 USC Section 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 USC
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, 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 USC Section 1823(c)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended
by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1982; 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 unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have
already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.
10. REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS UNDER SECTION 9(b)
In the event Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice described in
Section 9(b) hereof (the "Notice") during the term of this Agreement and a
Change in Control, as defined herein, occurs, the Bank will assume its
obligation to pay and Executive will be entitled to receive all of the
termination benefits provided for under Section 3 upon the Bank's receipt of a
dismissal of charges in the Notice.
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.
13. GOVERNING LAW
The validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of Iowa, to the extent not
preempted by federal law as now or hereafter in effect.
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 the employee within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Bank, 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 her 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 Bank if Executive is successful on the merits pursuant to a
legal judgment, arbitration or settlement, which payments are guaranteed by the
Holding Company pursuant to Section 5.
16. INDEMNIFICATION
The Bank shall provide Executive (including her 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 her heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent
permitted under Iowa 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 her 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.
17. 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 Holding 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.
