FIRST FEDERAL BANK
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT is made effective as of September 20, 2000, by and among
First Federal Bank (the "Bank"), a federally chartered financial institution,
with its principal administrative office at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000,
Northeast Pennsylvania Financial Corp., a corporation organized under the laws
of the State of Delaware, the holding company for the Bank (the "Holding
Company"), and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx ("Executive").
WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to assure itself of the services of Executive for
the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Bank for said
period.
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.
During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as
Manager Corporate/Retail Administration of the Bank. Executive shall render
administrative and management services to the Bank such as are customarily
performed by persons situated in a similar executive capacity.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES.
(a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be
deemed to have commenced as of the date first above written and shall continue
for a period of twelve full calendar months thereafter. The Board will review
the Agreement and Executive's performance annually for purposes of determining
whether to extend the Agreement and the rationale and results thereof shall be
included in the minutes of the Board's meeting. The Board shall give notice to
the Executive as soon as possible after such review as to whether the Agreement
is to be extended.
(b) During the period of Executive's employment hereunder, except for
periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and
reasonable leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his
business time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his
duties hereunder including activities and services related to the organization,
operation and management of the Bank and participation in community and civic
organizations; provided, however, that, with the approval of the Board, as
evidenced by a resolution of such 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 such Board's judgment,
will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank, or materially affect
the performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive's employment
with the Bank may be terminated by the Bank or the Executive during the term of
this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Bank shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of $117,000 per
year ("Base Salary"). Base Salary shall include any amounts of compensation
deferred by Executive under any qualified or non-qualified plan maintained by
the Bank. Such Base Salary shall be payable bi-weekly. During the period of this
Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually; the
first such review will be made no later than one year from the date of this
Agreement. Such review shall be conducted by the President. The President may
increase Executive's Base Salary. Any increase in Base Salary shall become the
"Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement. In addition to the Base Salary
provided in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall also provide Executive, at no
premium cost to Executive, with all such other benefits as are provided
uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Bank.
(b) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit
plans, arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which
Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior
to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Bank will not, without
Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements
or perquisites which would materially adversely affect Executive's rights or
benefits thereunder; except to the extent such changes are made applicable to
all Bank employees on a non-discriminatory basis. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing provisions of this Subsection (b), Executive shall
be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under any employee benefit
plans including but not limited to, retirement plans, supplemental retirement
plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plans, health-and-accident plans, medical
coverage or any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the
Bank in the future to its senior executives and key management employees,
subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall
administration of such plans and arrangements. Executive shall be entitled to
incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in any plan of the Bank in which
Executive is eligible to participate. Nothing paid to the Executive under any
such plan or arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to
which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement.
(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this
Section 3 and other compensation provided for by paragraph (b) of this Section
3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel and other
reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of Executive's obligations under
this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form and
such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined)
during the Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions
of this Section shall apply. 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 Bank of Executive's full-time employment hereunder for any
reason other than a termination governed by Section 5(a) hereof, or Termination
for Cause, as defined in Section 7 hereof; (ii) Executive's resignation from the
Bank's employ upon any (A) a material change in Executive's function, duties, or
responsibilities, which change would cause Executive's position to become one of
lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from the position and attributes
thereof described in Section 1, above, unless consented to by Executive, (B) a
relocation of Executive's principal place of employment by more than 25 miles
from its location at the effective date of this Agreement, unless consented to
by the Executive, (C) a material reduction in the benefits and perquisites to
the Executive from those being provided as of the effective date of this
Agreement, unless consented to by the Executive, or (D) a liquidation or
dissolution of the Bank, or (E) breach of this Agreement by the Bank. Upon the
occurrence of any event described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E), above,
Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment under this
Agreement by resignation upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice
given within three full months after the event giving rise to said right to
elect.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 8, the Bank shall be obligated to pay
Executive, or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be an amount equal to the sum of:
(i) the amount of the remaining payments that the Executive would have earned if
he had continued his employment with the Bank during the remaining term of this
Agreement at the Executive's Base Salary at the Date of Termination; and (ii)
the amount equal to the annual contributions that would have been made on
Executive's behalf to any employee benefit plans of the Bank or the Holding
Company during the remaining term of this Agreement based on contributions made
(on an annualized basis) at the Date of Termination; provided, however, that any
payments pursuant to this subsection and subsection 4(c) below, shall not, in
the aggregate, exceed one times Executive's average annual compensation. In the
event the Bank is not in compliance with its minimum capital requirements or if
such payments pursuant to this subsection (b) would cause the Bank's capital to
be reduced below its minimum regulatory capital requirements, such payments
shall be deferred until such time as the Bank or successor thereto is in capital
compliance. At the election of the Executive, which election is to be made prior
to an Event of Termination, such payments shall be made in a lump sum as of the
Executive's Date of Termination. In the event that no election is made, payment
to Executive will be made on a monthly basis in approximately equal installments
during the remaining term of the Agreement. Such payments shall not be reduced
in the event the Executive obtains other employment following termination of
employment.
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause to
be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially
identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank or the Holding Company for
Executive prior to his termination at no premium cost to the Executive, except
to the extent such coverage may be changed in its application to all Bank or
Holding Company employees. Such coverage shall cease upon the expiration of the
remaining term of this Agreement.
5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the Bank shall
mean an event 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 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the Bank
within the meaning of the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act or the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Office of
Thrift Supervision ("OTS") (or its predecessor agency), as in effect on the date
hereof (provided, that in applying the definition of change in control as set
forth under the rules and regulations of the OTS, the Board shall substitute its
judgment for that of the OTS); or (iii) without limitation such a Change in
Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (A) any "person" (as
the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes
the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Bank or the Holding Company
representing 25% or more of the Bank's or the Holding Company's outstanding
voting securities or right to acquire such securities except for any voting
securities of the Bank purchased by the Holding Company and any voting
securities purchased by any employee benefit plan of the Bank or the Holding
Company, 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, or (C)
a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all the assets of the Bank or the Holding Company or similar transaction occurs
in which the Bank or Holding Company is not the resulting entity; provided,
however, that such an event listed above will be deemed to have occurred or to
have been effectuated upon the receipt of all required regulatory approvals not
including the lapse of any statutory waiting periods.
(b) If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Section 5(a) or the
Board has determined that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall be
entitled to the benefits provided in paragraphs (c), and (d) of this Section 5
upon his subsequent termination of employment at any time during the term of
this Agreement due to: (1) Executive's dismissal or (2) Executive's voluntary
resignation following any demotion, loss of title, office or significant
authority or responsibility, material reduction in annual compensation or
benefits or relocation of his principal place of employment by more than 25
miles from its location immediately prior to the Change in Control, unless such
termination is because of his death or termination for Cause.
(c) Upon Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), the
Bank shall pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent death, his
beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, a sum equal to
the greater of: (1) the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement; or
2) one (1) times Executive's average annual compensation for the five (5) most
recent taxable years that Executive has been employed by the Bank or such lesser
number of years in the event that Executive shall have been employed by the Bank
for less than five (5) years. Such average annual compensation shall include
Base Salary, commissions, bonuses, contributions on Executive's behalf to any
pension and/or profit sharing plan, severance payments, retirement payments,
directors or committee fees, fringe benefits paid or to be paid to the Executive
in any such year, and payment of expense items without accountability or
business purpose or that do not meet the IRS requirements for deductibility by
the Institution; provided however, that any payment under this provision and
subsection 5(d) below shall not exceed three (3) times the Executive's average
annual compensation. In the event the Bank is not in compliance with its minimum
capital requirements or if such payments would cause the Bank's capital to be
reduced below its minimum regulatory capital requirements, such payments shall
be deferred until such time as the Bank or successor thereto is in capital
compliance. At the election of the Executive, which election is to be made prior
to a Change in Control, such payment shall be made in a lump sum as of the
Executive's Date of Termination. In the event that no election is made, payment
to the Executive will be made in approximately equal installments on a monthly
basis over a period of thirty-six (36) months following the Executive's
termination. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains
other employment following termination of employment.
(d) Upon the Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b),
the Bank will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability
coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for
Executive prior to his severance at no premium cost to the Executive, except to
the extent that such coverage may be changed in its application for all Bank
employees on a non-discriminatory basis. Such coverage and payments shall cease
upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) months following the Date of Termination.
6. CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5, 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 Section 5 shall be determined
by Executive.
7. 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 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 a majority of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and
held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity
for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in
the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive's conduct justified a finding of
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 for Cause, stock options and related limited rights granted
to Executive under any stock option plan shall not be exercisable, nor shall any
unvested awards granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan of the Bank,
the Holding Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest. At the Date of
Termination for Cause, such stock options and related limited rights and 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 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 the date specified in the Notice of
Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less
than thirty days from the date such Notice of Termination is given.).
(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given,
the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a
dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the
date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written
agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final
judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for
appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected) and
provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of
dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such
notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.
Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, in the event the Executive is
terminated for reasons other than Termination for Cause the Bank will continue
to pay Executive his Base Salary in effect when the notice giving rise to the
dispute was given until the earlier of: 1) the resolution of the dispute in
accordance with this Agreement or 2) the expiration of the remaining term of
this Agreement as determined as of the Date of Termination. 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 Bank. Executive shall, upon reasonable notice,
furnish such information and assistance to the Bank as may reasonably be
required by the Bank 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 Bank for a period of
one (1) year following such termination in any city, town or county in which the
Executive's normal business office is located and the Bank has an office or has
filed an application for regulatory approval to establish an office and any
county adjacent to such city, town or county, 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 Bank. The parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will result to
the Bank, 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
Bank 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. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank
from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank 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 Bank and affiliates
thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique
asset of the business of the Bank. 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 Bank or affiliates thereof to any person,
firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking,
financial and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and
exclusively derived from the business plans and activities of the Bank. Further,
Executive may disclose information regarding the business activities of the Bank
to the OTS and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") pursuant to a
formal regulatory request. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by
Executive of the provisions of this Section, the Bank 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
Bank or affiliates thereof, 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 Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for
such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from
Executive.
11. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.
(a) All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Bank. The Holding Company, however,
unconditionally 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.
(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 dated March 31, 1998,
between Executive and the Holding Company, such compensation payments and
benefits paid by the Holding Company will be subtracted from any amounts due
simultaneously to Executive under similar provisions of this Agreement. Payments
pursuant to this Agreement and the Holding Company Agreement shall be allocated
in proportion to the services rendered and time expended on such activities by
Executive as determined by the Holding Company and the Bank on a quarterly
basis.
12. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of 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.
13. 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 Bank and their respective successors, heirs, and assigns.
14. 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 as to any act other than that specifically
waived.
15. REQUIRED 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 7 hereinabove.
(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) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C.
ss.1818(e)(3) or (g)(1); 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)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C.
ss.1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), 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)(1) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. ss.1813(x)(1) 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 Director of the OTS
(or his designee), the FDIC or the Resolution Trust Corporation, at the time the
FDIC enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Bank
under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act, 12 U.S.C. ss.1823(c); or (ii) by the Director of the OTS (or his designee)
at the time the Director (or his designee) approves a supervisory merger to
resolve problems related to the operations of the Bank or when the Bank is
determined by the Director 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.
(f) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or
otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12
U.S.C.ss.1828(k) and 12 C.F.R.ss.545.121 and any rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
16. REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS UNDER SECTION 15(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 15(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 5 of this Agreement upon the
Bank's receipt of a dismissal of charges in the Notice.
17. 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.
18. 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.
Wherever any words are used herein in the masculine, feminine or neutor
gender, they shall be construed as though they were also used in another gender
in all cases where they would so apply.
19. GOVERNING LAW.
The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, but only to the
extent not superseded by federal law.
20. ARBITRATION.
Notwithstanding any right to enforcement under Section 10(a), any dispute
or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be
settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three
arbitrators sitting in a location selected by Executive within fifty (50) miles
from the location of the 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 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, other than in the case of a
Termination for Cause.
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.
21. PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES.
All reasonable costs and 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.
22. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 15 hereof, the Bank 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 Pennsylvania 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 him 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.
23. 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.
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, First Federal Bank and Northeast Pennsylvania Financial
Corp. have caused this Agreement to be executed and their seals to be affixed
hereunto by their duly authorized officers and directors, and Executive has
signed this Agreement, on the 7th day of November, 2000.
ATTEST: FIRST FEDERAL BANK
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx By: /s/ E. Xxx Xxxxx
------------------------------- ------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx E. Xxx Xxxxx
President/CEO
[SEAL]
WITNESS:
/s/ Dee Xxx Xxxxx /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
------------------------------- ------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Executive
