CONSULTING AGREEMENT
This
Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of the 1st day of June, 2006, by
and between Solera National Bancorp, Inc.,
a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”),
and Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, an adult individual residing in the State of Colorado
(the “Consultant”).
WHEREAS,
the
Company and the Consultant previously entered into a consulting agreement as
of
April 1, 2005, which agreement expired by its terms on May 31, 2006;
and
WHEREAS,
the
Company desires to enter into this Agreement with the Consultant to retain
the
services of the Consultant on the same terms and conditions as the previous
consulting agreement for an additional term as provided herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth in this Agreement,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Engagement.
The
Company hereby engages the Consultant and the Consultant hereby agrees to
render, at the request of the Company, independent advisory and consulting
services for the Company in connection with the organization of a proposed
bank
(the “Bank”), upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. Term.
The
term
of this Agreement shall begin as of the date of this Agreement and shall
terminate on the earlier of (i) September 1, 2006; (ii) the date on which the
Bank receives (and satisfies all conditions to opening for business under)
its
authorization to commence its banking business (the “Certificate of Authority”)
from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and approval of Insurance
of
Accounts from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (iii) the date on
which
the Company advises the Consultant that it has abandoned its effort to obtain
the Certificate of Authority; (iv) the date on which the Consultant receives
written notice from the Company that it is terminating this Agreement “for
cause” as hereafter defined; or (v) the death or disability of the Consultant
(as used herein, the disability of the Consultant shall be deemed to have
occurred when he has been unable to perform his services under this Agreement
for a period of forty-five (45) consecutive days or the Consultant has made
any
claim under any disability insurance policy. As used herein, “for cause” shall
be defined as follows: (i) the Consultant’s failure to use diligent and good
faith efforts to perform the services requested by the Company under this
Agreement (which failure is not cured within five (5) days following written
notice to the Consultant); (ii) the Consultant’s willful misconduct or gross
negligence in the performance of his services hereunder; (iii) the Consultant’s
conviction of a crime or involvement in any conduct which could, in the judgment
of the Company, adversely impact on the reputation of the Company or the Bank
or
the prospects of the Bank receiving its Certificate of Authority; (iv) receipt
by the Company of any notification from the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation indicating that the
Consultant would not be an acceptable candidate to be Chairman of the Board
of
the Bank.
3. Compensation.
During
the term of this Agreement, as compensation for all services rendered by the
Consultant under this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Consultant the
following amounts:
(a) Consulting
Fee.
The
Company shall pay the consultant the sum of six thousand two hundred fifty
dollars ($6,250) per month (prorated for any partial month), which shall be
paid
in arrears in two installments of three thousand one hundred twenty-five dollars
($3,125) each on the 15th
and
30th
day of
each calendar month.
(b) Deductions.
All such
compensation shall be payable without deduction for federal income, social
security, or state income taxes or any other amounts.
(c) Deferred
Compensation.
Unless
this Agreement has been terminated or the term has ended pursuant to Paragraph
2
hereof, the Company shall cause the Bank, subject to and upon its opening for
business to the public, to pay, in one lump sum, not later than thirty (30)
days
following its opening for business, an amount equal to four thousand one hundred
sixty-six dollars and 67 cents ($4,166.67) times the number of months of the
term of this Agreement representing the accumulated difference of fees paid
under this Agreement and the annualized amount of compensation, prorated for
the
term of this Agreement. The Company shall also cause the Bank, upon its opening
of business to the public, to pay, in one lump sum, not later than thirty (30)
days following its opening for business, all amounts due to the Consultant
under
Section 3(c) of the prior consulting agreement, and the obligations of the
Company under such section are incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Termination
Payment. If,
for
any reason, other than a termination by the Company for Cause, the Company
terminates this Agreement during its term and without the Employment Agreement
referenced in Paragraph 10 of this Agreement becoming effective, Consultant
will
be entitled to receive a lump sum payment, payable on the date of termination,
of not less than the greater of (i) one-half of the fees which would have been
payable for the remaining term of this Agreement from the date of termination
or
(ii) $89,583.33.
4. Duties.
The
Consultant shall render services conscientiously and shall devote his full
time,
attention, efforts and abilities to the establishment of the Bank, including
without limitation obtaining regulatory approvals, site development activities,
personnel matters and capital raising activities, at such times during the
term
hereof and in such manner as reasonably requested by the Company, and performed
at such places and at such times as are reasonably convenient to the Company
and
the Consultant. The Consultant shall observe all policies and directives
promulgated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors.
5. Expenses.
The
Consultant shall be reimbursed by the Company for all reasonable business
expenses which were incurred by the Consultant during the performance of his
services hereunder; provided, any such reimbursement in excess of $250 in any
month shall require the prior written approval of the Company’s Board of
Directors or a committee thereof; provided however that any expenses set forth
in the organizational budget shall be deemed to be approved unless the Company’s
Board of Directors makes an express determination to the contrary prior to
the
time at which the expense is incurred. The Company’s obligation to reimburse the
Consultant pursuant to this paragraph shall be subject to the presentation
to
the Company’s Board of Directors or a committee thereof by the Consultant of an
itemized account of such expenditures, together with supporting vouchers, in
accordance with any policies of the Company in effect from time to
time.
6. Independent
Contractor.
It is
expressly agreed that Consultant is acting as an independent contractor in
performing services hereunder. The Company shall carry no worker’s compensation
insurance or any health or accident insurance to cover Consultant. The Company
shall not pay any contributions to Social Security, unemployment insurance,
federal or state withholding taxes, nor provide any other contributions or
benefits which might be expected in an employer-employee
relationship.
7. Covenant
Not to Compete.
The
Consultant hereby acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature
of
the Company’s business and accordingly agrees that, during the term of this
Agreement, the Consultant will not, except as provided in Paragraph 4 hereof,
directly or indirectly:
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(a) engage
in
any business activity related to the business of banking or financial services,
or the formation of any entity for the purpose of engaging in such a business
(other than on behalf of the Company to the extent that the Consultant is then
in the employ of or consulting for the Company), whether such engagement is
as
an officer, director, proprietor, employee, partner, member, investor (other
than as a passive investor in less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding
capital stock of a publicly traded corporation), consultant, advisor, agent
or
other participant in another business,
(b) assist
others in engaging in any of the business activities prohibited to the
Consultant under clause (a) above, or
(c) induce
employees of the Company to engage in any activities hereby prohibited to the
Consultant or to terminate their employment.
The
term
of this restriction shall be extended for a period of time equal to any period
of time during which the Consultant violates or fails to observe the provisions
of this paragraph.
8. No
Disclosure of Confidential Information.
The
Consultant acknowledges that the Company’s trade secrets and private processes,
as they may exist from time to time, and confidential information concerning
the
formation and development of the Bank, the Bank’s planned products, technical
information regarding the Bank, and data concerning potential customers of
and
investors in the Bank are valuable, special, and unique assets of the Company,
access to and knowledge of which are essential to the performance of the
Consultant’s duties under this Agreement. In light of the highly competitive
nature of the industry in which the business of the Company is conducted, the
Consultant further agrees that all knowledge and information described in the
preceding sentence not in the public domain and heretofore or in the future
obtained by the Consultant as a result of his engagement by the Company shall
be
considered confidential information. In recognition of this fact, the Consultant
agrees that the Consultant will not, during or after the term of this Agreement,
disclose any of such secrets, processes, or information to any person or other
entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever, except as necessary in the
performance of the Consultant’s duties as a consultant to the Company and then
only upon a written confidentiality agreement in such form and content as
requested by the Company from time to time, nor shall Consultant make use of
any
of such secrets, processes or information for Consultant’s own purposes or for
the benefit of any person or other entity (except the Company and its
subsidiaries, if any) under any circumstances during or after the term of this
Agreement.
9. Remedies.
The
Consultant acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedy at law for a breach
or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Paragraphs 7 and 8 of this
Agreement would be inadequate. In recognition thereof, if the Consultant
breaches or threatens to breach any provision of Paragraphs 7 and 8 of this
Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to equitable relief in the form of
specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent
injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available in addition
to any of its remedies at law. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Company from
pursuing any other right or remedy available to it for such breach or threatened
breach.
10. Employment
Agreement.
It
is
anticipated that the Consultant and the Bank will enter into an Employment
Agreement having a term of not less than three years in form satisfactory to
each of the Consultant and the Bank in their reasonable discretion, subject
to
the approval of such form by the Bank’s primary regulators and modifications to
such form as may be required by the regulators, which Employment Agreement
shall
be effective as of the date on which the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency issues the Certificate of Authority to the Bank and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation issues approval for Insurance of
Accounts.
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11. Assignment.
This
Agreement is a personal one, being entered into in reliance upon and in
consideration of the personal skill and qualifications of Consultant. Consultant
shall therefore not voluntarily or by operation of law assign or otherwise
transfer the obligations incurred on its part pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement without the prior written consent of Company. Any attempted assignment
or transfer by Consultant of its obligations without such consent shall be
wholly void.
12. Modification
of Agreement.
This
Agreement may be modified by the parties hereto only by a written supplemental
agreement executed by both parties.
13. Notice.
Any
notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be sufficient if in
writing, and if sent by any nationally recognized courier service providing
for
receipt of delivery, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by fax
followed by such mail, addressed as follows:
If
to
Company:
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx
President,
Solera National Bancorp, Inc.
000
X.
Xxxxxx Xxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
If
to
Consultant:
Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
or
to
such other address as the parties hereto may specify, in writing, from time
to
time.
14. Mediation
and Arbitration.
The
parties agree to mediate, in good faith, any claim arising hereunder and to
refrain from pursuing arbitration hereunder until the parties have met with
a
mediator. The parties agree to select and mediate any claim or controversy
within sixty (60) days of the date the claim or controversy accrues or
first arises. The mediator shall be selected by the Company with the
Consultant’s consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld. The mediator shall
be licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado and be experienced in
the
arbitration of labor and employment disputes.
The
parties acknowledge and agree that any claim or controversy arising out of
or
relating to this Agreement, or the breach of this Agreement, or any other
dispute arising out of or relating to the consulting relationship, shall be
settled by final and binding arbitration in the City of Denver, State of
Colorado, in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration Association in effect on the date the claim or controversy arises.
The parties further acknowledge and agree that either party must request
arbitration of any claim or controversy within one hundred twenty (120)
days of the date the claim or controversy accrues or first arises by giving
written notice of the party’s request for arbitration by certified U.S. mail or
personal delivery. Notice shall be effective upon delivery or mailing. Failure
to give notice of any claim or controversy within one hundred twenty (120)
days shall constitute a waiver of the claim or controversy.
All
claims or controversies subject to arbitration shall be submitted to arbitration
within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date the written notice of a
request for arbitration is effective. All claims or controversies shall be
resolved by a panel of three (3) arbitrators who are licensed to practice
law in the State of Colorado and who are experienced in the arbitration of
labor
and employment disputes. These arbitrators shall be selected in accordance
with
the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in
effect at the time the claim or controversy arises. Either party may request
that the arbitration proceeding be stenographically or otherwise recorded by
a
Certified Shorthand Reporter. The arbitrators shall issue a written decision
with respect to all claims or controversies within thirty (30) days from
the date the claims or controversies are submitted to arbitration. The parties
shall be entitled to be represented by legal counsel at any arbitration
proceeding. The parties acknowledge and agree that each party will bear fifty
percent (50%) of the cost of the arbitration proceeding. The parties shall
be responsible for paying their own attorneys’ fees and other costs, if
any.
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The
parties acknowledge and agree that the arbitration provisions set forth herein
may be specifically enforced by either party, and submission to arbitration
proceedings compelled, by any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties
further acknowledge and agree that the decision of the arbitrators may be
specifically enforced by either party in any court of competent
jurisdiction.
15. Waiver
of Breach.
The
waiver by either party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall
not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
16. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject
matter of this Agreement, and supersedes any prior written or oral arrangements
with respect to the Consultant’s engagement by the Company.
17. Successors,
Binding Agreement.
Subject
to the restrictions on assignment contained herein, this Agreement shall inure
to the benefit (including all rights to receive compensation earned hereunder
prior to death or disability) of and be enforceable by the Consultant’s personal
or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees,
devisees, and legatees.
18. Validity.
The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement,
which shall remain in full force and effect.
19. Applicable
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic
laws of the State of Colorado.
20. Headings.
The
headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction or limit the scope or intent
of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date
first set forth above.
| /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
|
Xxxxx Xxxxx Foster |
||
| SOLERA NATIONAL BANCORP, INC. | ||
| |
|
|
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
|
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Vice President |
||
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