EXHIBIT 10.1
WORONOCO BANCORP, INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT ("Agreement") originally entered into as of March 19, 1999,
is amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2002, by and between Woronoco
Bancorp, Inc. (the "Holding Company"), a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware, with its principal offices at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000-0000, and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx ("Executive"). Any reference
to "Institution" herein shall mean Woronoco Savings Bank or any successor to
Woronoco Savings Bank.
WHEREAS, the Holding Company wishes to continue to assure itself of the
services of Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to continue to serve in the employ of the
Holding Company on a full-time basis for the term of this Agreement.
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.
(a) During the period of Executive's employment under this Agreement,
Executive agrees to serve as Executive Vice President of the Holding Company.
Executive shall render administrative and management services to the Holding
Company such as are customarily performed by persons in a similar executive
capacity. During the term of this Agreement, Executive also agrees to serve as
an officer of any subsidiary of the Holding Company.
(b) During the period of Executive's employment under this agreement,
except for periods of absence occasioned by illness, vacation, and reasonable
leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his business time,
attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties under
this Agreement, including activities and services related to the organization,
operation and management of the Holding Company and its subsidiaries, as well as
participation in community, professional and civic organizations; provided,
however, that, with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Holding
Company (the "Board"), as evidenced by a resolution of the 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 the Board's judgment, will not present any conflict of interest with the
Holding Company or its subsidiaries, or materially affect the performance of
Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement.
2. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement, as amended
and restated, shall continue for a period of thirty-six (36) full calendar
months from the effective date. 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 or Executive elects not to extend the term of the
Agreement by giving written notice to the other party in accordance with
Section 8 of this Agreement, in which case the term of this Agreement shall
become fixed and shall end on the third anniversary of the date of such written
notice.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, either
Executive or the Holding Company may terminate Executive's employment with the
Holding Company at any time during the term of this Agreement, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
3. COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) Base Salary. The Holding Company shall pay Executive an annual salary
of not less than $150,000 ("Base Salary"). Executive's Base Salary shall be
payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Holding Company
or the Institution. Whenever used in this Agreement, Base Salary shall include
any amounts of compensation deferred by Executive under any tax-qualified
retirement or welfare benefit plan or any other deferred compensation
arrangement maintained by the Holding Company or the Institution. During the
term of this Agreement, the Board or a committee appointed by the Board shall
review Executive's Base Salary at least annually and the Board or the committee
may increase Executive's Base Salary at any time. Any increase in Executive's
Base Salary shall become a term of this Agreement and shall be the new "Base
Salary" for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) Incentive Compensation. In addition to his Base Salary, Executive shall
be entitled to participate in and shall receive payments under any incentive
compensation bonus program sponsored by the Holding Company or the Institution.
Executive's incentive compensation shall be determined by the Board or a
committee appointed by the Board at a level appropriate for executive officers.
(c) Automobile and Cellular Phone. The Holding Company or the Institution
shall provide Executive with, and Executive shall have the primary use of, an
automobile owned or leased by the Holding Company or the Institution and the
Holding Company or the Institution shall pay (or reimburse Executive) for all
expenses of insurance, registration, operation and maintenance of the
automobile. Executive shall comply with reasonable reporting and expense
limitations on the use of such automobile, as the Board of Directors may
establish from time to time, and the Holding Company or the Institution shall
annually include on Executive's Form W-2 any amount attributable to Executive's
personal use of such automobile. The Holding Company or the Institution shall
also provide Executive with a cellular phone and shall pay (or reimburse
Executive) for all reasonable expenses related to the business use of such
phone.
(d) Vacation; Holidays; Sick Time. Executive shall be entitled to vacation
in accordance with the standard vacation policies of the Holding Company or the
Institution for senior executive officers, but in no event less than five (5)
weeks vacation during each year of employment. Executive shall take vacation at
a time mutually agreed upon by the Holding Company or the Institution and
Executive. Executive shall receive his Base Salary and other benefits during
periods of vacation. Executive shall also be entitled to paid legal holidays in
accordance with the policies of the Holding Company or the Institution.
Executive shall also be entitled to sick leave in accordance with the policies
of the Holding Company or the Institution for senior executive officers, but in
no event less than the number of days of sick leave per year to which Executive
was entitled at the effective time of this Agreement.
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(e) Other Employee Benefits. In addition to any other compensation or
benefits provided for under this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to
continue to participate in any employee benefit plans, arrangements and
perquisites of the Holding Company or the Institution in which he participates
or was eligible to participate as of March 19, 1999. Executive shall also be
entitled to participate in any employee benefits or perquisites the Holding
Company or the Institution offers to full-time employees or executive management
in the future. The Holding Company or the Institution 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 separately providing for an arrangement that ensures
Executive receives or will receive the economic value that Executive would
otherwise lose as a result of such adverse effect. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, Executive shall be
entitled to participate in or receive benefits under all plans relating to stock
options, restricted stock awards, stock purchases, pension, profit sharing,
employee stock ownership, supplemental retirement, group life insurance, medical
and other health and welfare coverage that are made available by the Holding
Company or the Institution at the effective time of this Agreement or at any
time in the future during the term of this Agreement, subject to and on a basis
consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans
and arrangements. Nothing paid to Executive under any such plans or arrangements
will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which Executive is
entitled under this Agreement.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined)
during Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions of
this Section 4 shall apply. Unless Executive otherwise agrees, 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 Holding Company of Executive's
full-time employment for any reason other than a termination governed by Section
7 of this Agreement; or (ii) Executive's resignation from the Holding Company,
upon, any (A) failure to reappoint Executive as Executive Vice President, (B)
material change in Executive's function, duties, or responsibilities with the
Holding Company or its subsidiaries, which change would cause Executive's
position(s) to become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from
the position and attributes thereof described in Section 1 of this Agreement,
(C) relocation of Executive's principal place of employment by more than 25
miles from its location at the effective date of this Agreement, (D) material
reduction in the benefits and perquisites to Executive from those being provided
as of the effective date of this Agreement, (E) liquidation or dissolution of
the Holding Company or the Institution, or (F) breach of this Agreement by the
Holding Company. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A), (B),
(C), (D), (E) or (F), above, Executive shall have the right to terminate his
employment under this Agreement by resignation upon not less than sixty (60)
days prior written notice given within six full calendar months after the event
giving rise to Executive's right to elect to terminate his employment.
(b) Upon Executive's termination from employment in accordance with
paragraph (a) of this Section 4, on the Date of Termination, as defined in
Section 8 of the Agreement, the Holding Company shall be obligated to pay
Executive, or, in the event of his death following the Date of Termination, his
beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, an amount equal
to the sum of: (i) the Base Salary and incentive compensation that would have
been paid
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to Executive for the remaining term of this Agreement had the Event of
Termination not occurred (based on Executive's then current Base Salary and most
recently paid or accrued bonus at the time of the Event of Termination) plus
(ii) the value, as calculated by a recognized firm customarily performing such
valuation, of any stock options which, as of the Date of Termination, have been
granted to Executive but are not exercisable by Executive and the value of any
restricted stock awards which have been granted to Executive, but in which
Executive does not have a non-forfeitable or fully-vested interest as of the
Date of Termination plus (iii) the value of all employee benefits that would
have been provided to Executive for the remaining term of this Agreement had an
Event of Termination not occurred, based on the most recent level of
contribution, accrual or other participation by or on behalf of Executive. At
the election of Executive, which election is to be made prior to the Date of
Termination, such payments 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 unexpired term of the
Agreement. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains
other employment following termination of employment.
(c) In addition to the payments provided for in paragraph (b) of this
Section 4, upon Executive's termination of employment in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, to the extent that the Holding
Company or the Institution continues to offer any life, medical, health,
disability or dental insurance plan or arrangement in which Executive
participates on the last day of his employment (each being a "Welfare Plan"),
Executive and his covered dependents shall continue participating in such
Welfare Plans, subject to the same premium contributions on the part of
Executive as were required immediately prior to the Event of Termination until
the earlier of (i) his death (ii) his employment by another employer other than
one of which he is the majority owner or (iii) the end of the remaining term of
this Agreement. If the Holding Company or the Institution does not offer the
Welfare Plans at any time after the Event of Termination, then the Holding
Company shall provide Executive with a payment equal to the premiums for such
benefits for the period which runs until the earlier of (i) his death (ii) his
employment by another employer other than one of which he is the majority owner
or (iii) the end of the remaining term of this Agreement.
5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" 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 Change in Bank Control Act and the
Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
("FDIC") at 12 C.F.R. (S) 303.4(a) with respect to the Institution and the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") at 12 C.F.R. (S) 225.41(b)
with respect to the Holding Company, as in effect on the date hereof; or (iii)
results in a transaction requiring prior FRB approval under the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956 and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the FRB at 12
C.F.R. (S) 225.11, as in effect on the date hereof except for the Holding
Company's acquisition of the Institution; or (iv) 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
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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 tax qualified 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) solicitations of shareholders 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 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 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 the Holding Company.
(b) If any of the events described in paragraph (a) of this Section 5,
constituting a Change in Control, have occurred or the Board determines that a
Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall be entitled to the benefits
provided for in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section 5 upon his
termination of employment at any time during the term of this Agreement on or
after the date the Change in Control occurs due to (i) Executive's dismissal,
(ii) Executive's resignation following any demotion, loss of title, office or
significant authority or responsibility, reduction in annual compensation or
benefits or relocation of his principal place of employment by more than
twenty-five (25) miles from its location immediately prior to the Change in
Control or (iii) Executive's resignation for any reason within the sixty (60)
day period following the date that is one year from the date the Change in
Control occurred, unless Executive's termination is because of Termination for
Cause; provided, however, that such benefits shall be reduced by any payment
made under Section 4 of this Agreement.
(c) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control followed by Executive's
termination of employment, as provided for in paragraph (b) of this Section 5,
the Holding Company 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: 1)
the payments and benefits due for the remaining term of the Agreement or 2)
greater of (i) three (3) times Executive's average annual compensation for the
five (5) preceding taxable years or (ii) three (3) times Executive's annual
compensation for the most recent taxable year. In determining Executive's annual
compensation for purposes of this Section, annual compensation shall include
Base Salary and any other taxable income, including but not limited to amounts
related to the granting, vesting or exercise of restricted stock or stock option
awards (including the value realized on the exercise of incentive stock options
whether taxable or not at the time of exercise), commissions, bonuses (whether
paid or accrued for the applicable period), as well as, severance payments,
retirement benefits, director or committee fees and fringe benefits paid or to
be paid to Executive or paid for Executive's benefit during any such year,
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profit sharing, employee stock ownership plan and other retirement contributions
or benefits, including to any tax-qualified or non-tax qualified plan or
arrangement (whether or not taxable) made or accrued on behalf of Executive of
such year and the value (based on the Black-Scholes valuation method) of stock
options in the year of grant (based on the values determined for purposes of the
Holding Company's FAS 123 determination in the Holding Company's financial
statements for the year that includes and immediately follows the date of
vesting). At the election of Executive, which election is to be made prior to or
within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination on or following a Change in
Control, such payment may be made in a lump sum (without discount for early
payment) on or immediately following the Date of Termination (which may be the
date a Change in Control occurs) 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 thirty-six (36) months following Executive's termination.
(d) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive will be entitled
to receive benefits due him under or contributed by the Institution or the
Holding Company on his behalf pursuant to any retirement, incentive, profit
sharing or other retirement, bonus, performance, disability or other employee
benefit plan maintained by the Holding Company or the Institution on Executive's
behalf to the extent such benefits are not otherwise paid to Executive under a
separate provision of this Agreement.
(e) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and Executive's termination
of employment in connection therewith, the Holding Company will cause to be
continued life, medical and disability coverage substantially identical to the
coverage maintained by the Holding Company or the Institution for Executive and
any of his dependents covered under such plans prior to the Change in Control.
Such coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36)
full calendar months following the Date of Termination. In the event Executive's
participation in any such plan or program is barred, the Holding Company shall
arrange to provide Executive and his dependents with benefits substantially
similar to those of which Executive and his dependents would otherwise have been
entitled to receive under such plans and programs from which their continued
participation is barred or provide their economic equivalent.
(f) The use or provision of any membership, license, automobile use, or
other perquisites shall be continued during the remaining term of the Agreement
on the same financial terms and obligations as were in place immediately prior
to the Change in Control. To the extent that any item referred to in this
paragraph will, at the end of the term of this Agreement, no longer be available
to Executive, Executive will have the option to purchase all rights then held by
the Holding Company or the Institution to such item for a price equal to the
then fair market value of the item.
(g) In the event that 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 pursuant to such section. Such election shall be
irrevocable for the year for which such election is made.
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6. CHANGE IN CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS
(a) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of Section 5 of this
Agreement, for any taxable year in which Executive shall be liable for the
payment of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor
provision thereto), with respect to any payment in the nature of the
compensation made by the Holding Company or its subsidiaries to (or for the
benefit of) Executive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, the Holding
Company (or any successor thereto) shall pay to Executive an amount determined
under the following formula:
An amount equal to: (E x P) + X
WHERE:
X = E x P
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1 - [(FI x (1 - SLI)) + SLI + E + M + PO]
E = the rate at which the excise tax is assessed under Section
4999 of the Code;
P = the amount with respect to which such excise tax is
assessed, determined without regard to this Section 6;
FI = the highest marginal rate of federal income, employment, and
other taxes (other than taxes imposed under Section 4999 of
the Code) applicable to Executive for the taxable year in
question (including any effective increase in Executive's
tax rate attributable to the disallowance of any deduction);
SLI = the sum of the highest marginal rates of income and payroll
tax applicable to Executive under applicable state and local
laws for the taxable year in question (including any
effective increase in Executive's tax rate attributable to
the disallowance of any deduction);
M = highest marginal rate of Medicare tax; and
PO = adjustment for phase out of or loss of deduction, personal
exemption or other similar items.
With respect to any payment in the nature of compensation that is made to (or
for the benefit of) Executive under the terms of this Agreement or otherwise and
on which an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code may or will be assessed,
the payment determined under this Section 6 shall be made to Executive on the
earliest of (i) the date the Holding Company is required to withhold such tax,
(ii) the date the tax is required to be paid by Executive, or (iii) at the time
of the Change in Control. It is the intention of the parties that the Holding
Company provide Executive with a full tax gross-up under the provisions of this
Section 6, so that on a net after-tax basis, the result to Executive shall be
the same as if the excise tax under Section 4999 (or any
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successor provisions) of the Code had not been imposed. The payment may be
adjusted, as appropriate, if alternative minimum tax rules under the Code are
applicable to Executive.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it is (i) initially determined by the
Holding Company's tax advisors that no excise tax under Section 4999 is due with
respect to any payment or benefit described in the first paragraph of Section
6(a) and, thereafter, it is determined in a final judicial determination or a
final administrative settlement that the Section 4999 excise tax is due with
respect to such payments or benefits or (ii) subsequently determined in a final
judicial determination or a final administrative settlement to which Executive
is a party that the excise tax under Section 4999 is due or that the excess
parachute payment as defined in Section 4999 of the Code is more than the amount
determined as "P", above (such revised determination under (i) or (ii) above
being thereafter referred to as the "Determinative Excess Parachute Payment"),
then the tax advisors of the Holding Company (or any successor thereto) shall
determine the amount (the "Adjustment Amount"), the Holding Company (or its
successor) must pay to Executive, in order to put Executive in the same position
as Executive would have been if the amount determined as "P" above had been
equal to the Determinative Excess Parachute Payment. In determining the
Adjustment Amount, the tax advisors shall take into account any and all taxes
(including any penalties of any nature and interest) paid or payable by
Executive in connection with such final judicial determination or final
administrative settlement. As soon as practicable after the Adjustment Amount
has been so determined, the Holding Company shall pay the Adjustment Amount to
Executive.
(c) The Holding Company (or its successor) shall indemnify and hold
Executive harmless from any and all losses, costs and expenses (including
without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees, reasonable accountant's fees,
interest, fines and penalties of any kind) which Executive incurs as a result of
any administrative or judicial review of Executive's liability under Section
4999 of the Code by the Internal Revenue Service or any comparable state agency
through and including a final judicial determination or final administrative
settlement of any dispute arising out of Executive's liability for the Section
4999 excise tax or otherwise relating to the classification for purposes of
Section 280G of the Code of any payment or benefit in the nature of compensation
made or provided to Executive by the Holding Company or any successor thereto.
Executive shall promptly notify the Holding Company in writing whenever
Executive receives notice of the commencement of any judicial or administrative
proceeding, formal or informal, in which the federal tax treatment under Section
4999 of the Code of any amount paid or payable under this Supplemental Agreement
is being reviewed or is in dispute (including a notice of audit or other inquiry
concerning the reporting of Executive's liability under Section 4999). The
Holding Company (or its successor) may assume control at its expense over all
legal and accounting matters pertaining to such federal or state tax treatment
(except to the extent necessary or appropriate for Executive to resolve any such
proceeding with respect to any matter unrelated to amounts paid or payable
pursuant to this contract) and Executive shall cooperate fully with the Holding
Company in any such proceeding. Executive shall not enter into any compromise or
settlement or otherwise prejudice any rights the Holding Company (or its
successor) may have in connection therewith without prior consent to the Holding
Company (or its successor). In the event that the Holding Company (or any
successor thereto) elects not to assume control over such matters, the Holding
Company (or any successor thereto) shall promptly reimburse Executive for all
expenses related thereto as and when incurred upon presentation of appropriate
documentation relating thereto.
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7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.
The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of
Executive's personal dishonesty, 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), final cease and desist order or material breach of any
provision 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 Notice of Termination which shall include a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths
(3/4) 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 her,
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. During the period beginning on the date
of the Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 8 hereof through the
Date of Termination, stock options 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 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.
8. NOTICE.
(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 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 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 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, Base Salary) and
continue him as a participant in all compensation, benefit and
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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.
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.
All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be
subject to Executive's compliance with this Section 9 for one (1) full year
after the earlier of the expiration of this Agreement or termination of
Executive's employment with the Holding Company. Executive shall, upon
reasonable notice, furnish such information and assistance to the Holding
Company as may reasonably be required by the Holding Company in connection with
any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may
become, a party.
10. NON-COMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE.
(a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder pursuant to
Section 4 hereof, Executive agrees not to compete with the Holding Company or
its subsidiaries for a period of one (1) year following such termination in any
city, town or county in which Executive's normal business office is located and
the Holding Company or any of its subsidiaries 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
said cities, towns and counties, 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 Holding Company or its subsidiaries. The parties hereto, recognizing that
irreparable injury will result to the Holding Company or its subsidiaries, 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 Holding
Company or its subsidiaries, will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies
and damages available, to an injunction to restrain the violation hereof by
Executive, Executive's partners, agents, servants, employees and all persons
acting for or under the direction of Executive. Executive represents and admits
that in the event of the termination of his employment pursuant to Section 4
hereof, Executive's experience and capabilities are such that Executive can
obtain employment in a business engaged in other lines and/or of a different
nature than the Holding Company or its subsidiaries, and that the enforcement of
a remedy by way of injunction will not prevent Executive from earning a
livelihood. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Holding Company
or its subsidiaries from pursuing any other remedies available to the Holding
Company or its subsidiaries 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 Holding Company and
its subsidiaries as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and
unique asset of the business of the Holding Company and its subsidiaries.
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
Holding Company and its subsidiaries thereof to any person, firm, corporation,
or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever unless expressly authorized
by the Board or required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may
disclose any knowledge of banking, financial
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and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and
exclusively derived from the business plans and activities of the Holding
Company. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of the
provisions of this Section, the Holding Company 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
Holding Company or its subsidiaries 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 Holding Company from pursuing any other remedies
available to the Holding Company for such breach or threatened breach, including
the recovery of damages from Executive.
11. DEATH AND DISABILITY
(a) Death. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, in the event of Executive's death during the term of this Agreement,
the Holding Company shall immediately pay his estate any salary and bonus
accrued but unpaid as of the date of death, and, for a period of six (6) months
after Executive's death, the Holding Company shall continue to provide medical
insurance benefits existing on the date of his death and shall pay Executive's
designated beneficiary all compensation that would otherwise be payable to him
pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement. This provision shall not negate any
rights Executive or his beneficiaries may have to death benefits under any
employee benefit plan of the Holding Company or the Institution.
(b) Disability
(i) The Holding Company or Executive may terminate Executive's
employment after having established Executive's disability. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Disability" means a physical or mental infirmity that impairs
Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement and
that results in Executive's becoming eligible for long-term disability benefits
under the Holding Company's or the Institution's long-term disability plan (or,
if the Holding Company or the Institution has no such plan in effect, that
impairs Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties under this
Agreement for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days). The Board
shall determine whether or not Executive is and continues to be permanently
disabled for purposes of this Agreement in good faith, based upon competent
medical advice and other factors that they reasonably believe to be relevant. As
a condition to any benefits, the Board may require Executive to submit to such
physical or mental evaluations and tests as it deems reasonably appropriate.
(ii) In the event of such Disability, Executive's obligation to
perform services under this Agreement will terminate. In the event of such
termination, Executive shall continue to receive (x) one hundred percent (100%)
of his monthly Base Salary (at the annual rate in effect on the Date of
Termination) through the one hundred eightieth (180/th/) day following the Date
of Termination by reason of Disability and (y) sixty-six and two-thirds percent
(66 2/3%) of Executive's monthly base salary from the one hundred eighty-first
(181/st/) day following termination through the earlier of the date of
Executive's death or the date Executive attains age 65. Such payments shall be
reduced by the amount of any short- or long-term disability benefits payable to
Executive under any disability program sponsored by the Holding Company or the
Institution. In addition, during any period of Executive's Disability, Executive
and his
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dependents shall, to the greatest extent possible, continue to be covered under
all benefit plans (including, without limitation, retirement plans and medical,
dental and life insurance plans) of the Holding Company or the Institution in
which Executive participated prior to the occurrence of Executive's Disability,
on the same terms as if Executive were actively employed by the Holding Company.
12. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.
(a) All payments provided for in this Agreement shall be timely paid in
cash or check from the general funds of the Holding Company subject to Section
12(b).
(b) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, to the extent
that payments and benefits, as provided by this Agreement, are paid to or
received by Executive under the Employment Agreement in effect between Executive
and the Institution, such compensation payments and benefits paid by the
Institution will be subtracted from any amount due simultaneously to Executive
under similar provisions of this Agreement. Payments pursuant to this Agreement
and the Institution Agreement shall be allocated in proportion to the level of
activity and the time expended on such activities by Executive as determined by
the Holding Company and the Institution.
13. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFIT PLANS.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Holding Company or any
predecessor of 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.
14. 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 Holding Company and their respective successors and assigns.
15. 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
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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.
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 Delaware
without regards to principles of conflicts of law of that state.
19. 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 (3) arbitrators sitting in a location selected by Executive within
fifty (50) miles from the location of the Institution, 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.
In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
Executive's termination is resolved in favor of Executive, whether by judgment,
arbitration or settlement, Executive shall be entitled to the payment of all
back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation, fringe
benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive under 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 Holding Company, if Executive is successful pursuant to a
legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.
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21. 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.
22. 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.
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SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Woronoco Bancorp, Inc. has caused this Agreement to be
executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its duly authorized officer and
its directors, and Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 20th day of
February, 2002.
ATTEST: WORONOCO BANCORP, INC.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx For the Entire Board of Directors
Corporate Secretary
[SEAL]
WITNESS:
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx EXECUTIVE, Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Corporate Secretary
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