Exhibit 10(i)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of December 10,
1998, between X.X. XXXXXXX (the "Executive") and CNB, Inc. a Florida corporation
(the "Company"), recites and provides as follows:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") expects
that the Executive will continue to make substantial contributions to the growth
and prospects of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires that the Company retain the continued
services of the Executive, and the Executive desires to continue his employment
with the Company, all on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive agree as
follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the
Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to accept employment by
the Company, in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, for
the period commencing on the date of this Agreement (the "Effective Date") and
ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). Subject
to the provisions of Section 3 hereof, the Employment Period shall be a constant
rolling period of three (3) years, commencing on the Effective Date, with the
result that, for each day after the Effective Date the Executive's term of
employment shall be extended for an additional day so that at all times the
remaining period of the Executive's term of employment shall be three (3) years;
provided that the Employment Period shall end at the first day of the month
following the Executive's seventieth (70th) birthday.
2. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) POSITION AND DUTIES.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive
shall serve as the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and shall have
duties with respect to the Company's overall management and performance and such
other powers and duties as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the Company,
provided that such duties are generally consistent with the duties described
above and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed primarily in
Jacksonville, Florida, and Lake City, Florida, or any office which is less than
35 miles from such locations.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any
periods of vacation and leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive
agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to
the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to
discharge the duties assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During
the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the
Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic, charitable, banking industry
association or professional association boards of committees, (B) deliver
lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and
(C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly
interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an
employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement.
(b) COMPENSATION.
(i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which
shall be paid in equal installments on a semi-monthly basis, at the annual rate
of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) per year. During
the Employment Period, the Annual Base salary shall be reviewed at least
annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be
substantially consistent with increases in base salary generally awarded in the
ordinary course of business to other executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to
limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement.
Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term
Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base
Salary as so increased.
(ii) ANNUAL BONUS. Executive shall be entitled to
receive a bonus in an amount targeted at fifty percent (50%) of Annual Base
Salary, contingent upon the attainment of performance goals established jointly
by the Company and the Executive.
(ii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. During
the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
incentive (including, without limitation, stock incentive), savings and
retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, but in no event shall such
plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive
opportunities (measured with respect to both regular and special incentive
opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such distinction is applicable),
savings opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, less favorable in
each case and in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those provided by the
Company for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and program as
in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or if more favorable to the Executive.
(iv) SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
applicable generally to other executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to
both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that
such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit
opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than those
provided generally from time to time after the Effective Date to other
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
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(v) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment
Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall
be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its
affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription,
dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental
death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable
generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies,
but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the
Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than those
provided generally at from time to time after the Effective Date to other
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vi) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
employment expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most
favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated
companies as in effect generally from time to time after the Effective Date with
respect to other executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. The
Executive also will receive reimbursement for at least one club membership.
(vii) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most
favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its
affiliated companies as in effect generally from time to time after the
Effective Date with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies including club membership.
(viii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a
size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to personal secretarial
and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing
provided generally from time to time after the Effective Date with respect to
other executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(ix) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most
favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its
affiliated companies as in effect generally from time to time after the
Effective Date with respect to other executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(x) COMPANY CAR. The Company will provide Executive
with a Company car.
3. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall
terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period.
If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has
occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability
set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with
Section 11(b) of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such
event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on
the 30th
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day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective
Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive
shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive
from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180
consecutive days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness
which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the
Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal
representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld
unreasonably).
(b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Cause" shall mean (i) a material breach by the Executive of the
Executive's obligations under Section 2(a) (other than as a result of incapacity
due to physical or mental illness) which is demonstrably willful and deliberate
on the Executive's part, which is committed in bad faith or without reasonable
belief that such breach is in the best interests of the Company and which is not
remedied in a thirty (30) day period of time after receipt of written notice
from the Company specifying such breach or (ii) the conviction of the Executive
of a felony involving moral turpitude or the guilty or nolo contendere plea of
the Executive to such a felony. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority
given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the
instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or a senior officer of the Company
or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively
presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and
in the best interests of the Company.
(c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated
by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason"
shall mean in the absence of a written consent of the Executive:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any material respect with the Executive's position (including
status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2(a) of this Agreement, or any other
action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position,
authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive;
(ii) any material failure by the Company to comply
with any of the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement, other than an
isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and
which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be
based at any office or location more than 35 miles from that provided in Section
2(a) hereof;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement;
or
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(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and
satisfy Section 10(c) of this Agreement.
(d) CHANGE IN CONTROL. If the Company terminates Executive's
employment without cause or such employment is terminated for Good Reason,
within two years after a Change in Control, Executive will be entitled to the
payments and continued benefits described in Section 4(a). For purposes of this
paragraph (d), a "Change of Control" means the sale (other than an initial
public offering of Stock) such that any person (as such term is used in Rule
13d-5 of the Exchange Act) or group (as defined in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act) other than (i) a subsidiary of the Company or any employee
benefit plan (or any related trust) of the Company or subsidiary, or (ii) any
holder of five percent (5%) or more of the Company's Stock as of the Effective
Date, becomes the owner (beneficially or otherwise) of 15 percent (15%) or more
of the Stock or other securities representing 15 percent (15%) or more of the
combined voting power of outstanding voting securities. A Change of Control also
includes the replacement of more than fifty percent (50%) of the incumbent
members of the Board of Directors of the Company provided, however, where the
election or nomination of such replacement directors was approved by a majority
of the incumbent members (other than in connection with an "election contest"
(as such term is used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act), tender offer (as
such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or proposed merger) such
replacement director will be treated as an incumbent director.
A Change in Control also includes the approval by ten shareholders of
the Company of a merger, reorganization, recapitalization or similar event as a
result of which the persons holding Stock immediately before the merger hold
less than sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of voting securities
immediately after such event, or the approval of a plan of liquidation of the
Company or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
For purposes of this Section 3(d), any good faith determination of
"Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.
Upon a Change in Control, all options to acquire Company Common Stock
and all Restricted Stock previously granted to Employee shall immediately become
vested and non-forfeitable.
(e) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for
Cause, or by the Executive, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to
the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b). For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii)
to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination
(as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies
the termination date (which date shall be not more than 15 days after the giving
of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the
Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance shall not waive any right of the
Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company from
asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the
Company's rights hereunder.
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(f) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means (i) if
the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date
specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of
such termination and (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason
of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of
the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.
(a) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE, DEATH OR DISABILITY.
The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment
Period for other than Cause, Death or Disability. If, during the Employment
Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for
Cause, Death or Disability or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good
Reason:
(i) The Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the sum of (1) the
Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not
theretofore paid; (2) to the extent not theretofore paid, the product of (A) the
greater of (x) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of any
deferral, to the Executive (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of
less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for
less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during
the Employment Period, if any, and (y) the highest annual bonus paid or payable,
including by reason of any deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its
affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding
the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs (such greater amount
shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus", and (B) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal
year through the Date of Termination, the denominator of which is 365; (3) any
compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued
interest or earnings thereon) to the extent not therefore paid; and (4) any
accrued vacation pay, to the extent not therefore paid (the sum of the amounts
described in clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall be hereinafter referred to as
the "Accrued Obligations"); and
(ii) The Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the sum of the
Executive's Annual Base Salary and Highest Annual Bonus payable to the Executive
from the Date of Termination to the end of the Employment Period multiplied by
(A) if a Change in Control has occurred - 100%, and (B) in all other instances -
50%; and
(iii) For the remainder of the Employment Period, or
such longer period as any plan, program, practice or policy may provide, the
Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family
at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance
with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 2(b)(vi)
if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the
most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its
affiliated companies as in effect generally
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at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies and their families, provided, however, that if the
Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive
medical or other welfare benefits under another employer-provided plan, the
medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those
provided under such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility
(such continuation of such benefits for the applicable period herein set forth
shall be hereinafter referred to as "Welfare Benefit Continuation"). For
purposes of determining eligibility (but not the time of commencement of
benefits) the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the
end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period;
and
(iv) To the extent not theretofore paid or provided,
the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive and/or the Executive's
family any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which
the Executive and/or the Executive's family is eligible to receive pursuant to
this Agreement and under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or
agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect generally
thereafter with respect to other executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies and their families (such other amounts and benefits shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits").
(b) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal
representatives under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued
Obligations (which shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as
applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination) and
the timely payment or provision of the Welfare Benefit Continuation and other
Benefits.
(c) CAUSE, OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's
employment shall be terminated for Cause or the Executive terminates his
employment without Good Reason during the Employment Period, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the
obligation to pay to the Executive his Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination plus Other Benefits and the amount of any compensation previously
deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.
(d) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment shall be
terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period,
this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive,
other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or
provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive
in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to
the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this
Section 4(d) shall include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the
Disability Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits as in effect
at any time thereafter generally with respect to other executives of the Company
and its affiliated companies and their families.
(e) TIME OF PAYMENT. The Company shall make all payments
required by this Section 4 within the time periods provided in Sections 4(a),
4(b) and 4(c).
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(f) NONDISCLOSURE TO MEDIA. After the Date of Termination or
the end of Employment Period, the Executive agrees that he will not discuss his
employment and resignation or termination (including the terms of this
Agreement) with any representatives of the media, either directly or indirectly,
without the written consent and approval of the Company.
5. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Except as provided in Sections 4(a)(iii),
4(b) and 4(c), nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's
continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice
provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the
Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such
rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the
Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or
which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy,
practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any of
its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be
payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or
agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.
6. FULL SETTLEMENT; RESOLUTION OR DISPUTES.
(a) The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for
in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not
be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim,
right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In
no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any
other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under
any of the provisions of this Agreement and, except as provided in Section
4(a)(iii) with respect to Welfare Benefit Continuation and Section 8(a) with
respect to non-competition, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the
Executive obtains other employment. The Company agrees to pay promptly as
incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which
the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the
outcome thereof unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the
Executive acted in bad faith in initiating the contest) by the Company, the
Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under,
any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof
(including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any
payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed
payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of
the Code; provided however, that the reasonableness of the fees and expenses
must be determined by an independent arbitrator, using standard legal
principles, mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Executive in accordance
with rules set forth by the American Arbitration Association.
(b) If there shall be any dispute between the Company and the
Executive in the event of any termination of the Executive's employment by the
Company or by the Executive, then, unless and until there is a final,
nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction declaring that such
termination was for Cause, the Company shall pay all amounts, and provide all
benefits, to the Executive and/or the Executive's family or other beneficiaries,
as the case may be, that the Company would be required to pay or provide
pursuant to Section 4(a) as though such termination were by the Company without
Cause or by the Executive; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to pay any disputed amounts pursuant to this paragraph except upon
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receipt of an undertaking (which may be unsecured) by or on behalf of the
Executive to repay all such amounts to which the Executive is ultimately
adjudged by such court not to be entitled.
7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the
benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data
relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective
businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the
Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and
which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the
Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement).
After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or except as may
otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such
information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those
designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of
this Section 7 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts
otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
(b) In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this
Section 7, the Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive
relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or
threatened breach, and the Executive acknowledges that damages would be
inadequate and insufficient.
(c) Any termination of the Executive's employment or of this
Agreement shall have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 7.
8. NON-COMPETE; NON-SOLICITATION.
(a) Except as is set forth below, for a period commencing on
the date hereof and ending on the date either 18 or 36 months (as determined
below) after the Executive ceases to be employed by the Company (the
"Non-Competition Period"), the Executive shall not in the United States of
America, directly or indirectly, either for himself or any other person, own,
manage, control, materially participate in, invest in, permit his name to be
used by, act as consultant or advisor to, render material services for (alone or
in association with any person, firm, corporation or other business
organization) or otherwise assist in any manner any entity that engages in or
owns, invests in, manages or controls any venture or enterprise engaged in a
banking business that is in actual competition with the Company (or any other
business of the type that constitutes a substantial portion of the Company's
business at the date the Executive ceases to be employed by the Company)
(collectively, a "Competitor"); provided, however, that the restrictions set
forth above shall immediately terminate and shall be of no further force or
effect (i) in the event of a default by the Company in the payment of any
compensation or benefits to which the Executive is entitled hereunder, which
default is not cured within ten (10) days after written notice thereof, or (ii)
at the election of the Executive if the Executive's employment has been
terminated by the Company other than for Cause and if the Executive (A) gives
written notice to the Company during the Non-Competition Period that he desires
to accept employment with a Competitor; and (B) agrees that the severance
payment specified in Section 4(a)(i) hereof shall be mitigated by the amount of
salary and pro rata target bonus payable to the Executive by the Competitor
based on the Executive's initial
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terms of employment and attributable to employment during the Non-Competition
Period (it being understood that the amount of such mitigated severance shall be
paid by the Executive to the Company in a lump-sum payment within thirty (30)
days after the Executive commences employment with the Competitor and shall not
be subject to subsequent adjustments based on amounts actually paid to the
Executive by the Competitor). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from
being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the equity securities of a
corporation engaged in such business which is publicly traded, so long as he has
no active participation in the business of such corporation. If the Employee
receives severance payments in accordance with Section 4(a)(ii)(A) of this
Agreement, then the length of the Non-Competition Period shall be 36 months. In
all other instances, it shall be 18 months.
(b) During the Non-Competition Period, the Executive shall
not, directly or indirectly, (i) induce or attempt to induce or aid others in
inducing an employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, or in
any way interfere with the relationship between the Company and an employee of
the Company except in the proper exercise of the Executive's authority, or (ii)
in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company and any customer,
supplier, licensee or other business relation of the Company.
(c) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 8, a court
shall hold that the duration, scope, area or other restrictions stated herein
are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the
maximum duration, scope, area or other restrictions reasonable under such
circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope, area or other
restrictions.
(d) The covenants made in this Section 8 shall be construed as
an agreement independent of any other provisions of this Agreement, and shall
survive the termination of this Agreement. Moreover, the existence of any claim
or cause of action of the Executive against the Company or any of its
affiliates, whether or not predicated upon the terms of this Agreement, shall
not constitute a defense to the enforcement of these covenants.
9. INDEMNITY. The Company will indemnify the Executive, in his capacity
as an officer and director of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by
the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
10. SUCCESSORS.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without
the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the
Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and the enforceable by the Executive's
legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and
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to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the
Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets
as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of
law, or otherwise.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not
be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
IF TO THE EXECUTIVE TO: IF TO THE COMPANY TO:
X.X. Xxxxxxx CNB, Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Post Office Box 2138 Lake City, FL 32055
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 Attention: Corporate Secretary
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company 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.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon
strict compliance with any provision hereof or any other provision of this
Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may
have hereunder, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or
any other provision or right of this Agreement.
(f) Any entitlements to the Executive created under Section
2(b) shall be contract rights to the extent not prohibited by law. However, the
Company shall not be required to amend, or refrain from amending, any of its
plans, practices, policies and programs to so provide the contract rights.
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
CNB, INC.
By: /S/ G. XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
------------------------------------
Title: EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
EXECUTIVE:
/S/ X.X. XXXXXXX
---------------------------------------
X.X. XXXXXXX
00
