EXHIBIT 10.3
FIRST FEDERAL FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN AND TRUST AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN AND TRUST
1.01 First Federal Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the "Corporation") hereby
establishes a Recognition and Retention Plan (the "Plan") and Trust (the
"Trust") upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated in this Management
Recognition Plan and Trust Agreement (the "Agreement").
1.02 The Trustee hereby accepts this Trust and agrees to hold the Trust
assets existing on the date of this Agreement and all additions and
accretions thereto upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
2.01 The purpose of the Plan is to retain personnel of experience and
ability in key positions by providing Employees and Non-Employee Directors of
the Corporation and of First Federal Savings Bank of Ironton (the "Savings
Bank") with a proprietary interest in the Corporation as compensation for their
contributions to the Corporation, the Savings Bank, and any other Subsidiaries
and as an incentive to make such contributions in the future.
ARTICLE III
DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases when used in this Agreement with an initial
capital letter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the
meanings set forth below. Wherever appropriate, the masculine pronouns shall
include the feminine pronouns and the singular shall include the plural.
3.01 "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a Recipient to
receive any benefits payable under the Plan in the event of such Recipient's
death. Such person or persons shall be designated in writing on forms provided
for this purpose by the Committee and may be changed from time to time by
similar written notice to the Committee. In the absence of a written
designation, the Beneficiary shall be the Recipient's surviving spouse, if any,
or if none, his estate.
3.02 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
3.03 "Change in Control of the Corporation" shall be deemed to have
occurred if: (i) any "person" as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Corporation and any trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the
Corporation), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Corporation representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the
Corporation's then outstanding securities; (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years (not including any period prior to the adoption of the
Plan), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board
of Directors, and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors
or nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was approved by
a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; (iii) the
stockholders of the Corporation approve a merger or consolidation of the
Corporation with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation
that would result in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities
of the Corporation outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation; or (iv) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Corporation or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets. If any of the events enumerated in clauses (i) through
(iv) occur, the Board shall determine the effective date of the Change in
Control resulting therefrom for purposes of the Plan.
3.04 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
3.05 "Committee" means the committee appointed by the Board pursuant to
Article IV hereof.
3.06 "Common Stock" means shares of the common stock, $.01 par value per
share, of the Corporation.
3.07 "Disability" means any physical or mental impairment which qualifies
an Employee for disability benefits under the applicable long-term disability
plan maintained by the Corporation or any Subsidiary or, if no such plan
applies, which would qualify such Employee for disability benefits under the
Federal Social Security System.
3.08 "Effective Date" means the day upon which the Board approves this
Plan.
3.09 "Employee" means any person who is employed by the Corporation, the
Savings Bank, or any Subsidiary, or is an officer of the Corporation, the
Savings Bank, or
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any Subsidiary, including officers or other employees who may be directors of
the Corporation.
3.10 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
3.11 "Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board who is not an
Employee, and shall include any individual who, at any time after the date of
adoption of the Plan, serves the Board in an advisory or emeritus capacity.
3.12 "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision.
3.13 "Plan Shares" or "Shares" means shares of Common Stock held in the
Trust which may be distributed to a Recipient pursuant to the Plan.
3.14 "Plan Share Award" or "Award" means a right granted under this Plan to
receive a distribution of Plan Shares upon completion of the service
requirements described in Article VII.
3.15 "Recipient" means an Employee or Non-Employee Director who receives a
Plan Share Award under the Plan.
3.16 "Savings Bank" means First Federal Savings Bank of Ironton, the
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
3.17. "Subsidiary" means First Federal Bank of Ironton and any other
subsidiaries of the Corporation or the Savings Bank which, with the consent of
the Board, agree to participate in this Plan.
3.18. "Trustee" means such firm, entity or persons approved by the
Board of Directors to hold legal title to the Plan for the purposes set forth
herein.
ARTICLE IV
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
4.01 ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted
by the Committee, which shall consist of two or more members of the Board, each
of whom shall be a Non-Employee Director. The Committee shall have all of the
powers allocated to it in this and other Sections of the Plan. The
interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan
or of any Plan Share Award granted hereunder shall be final and binding in the
absence of action by the Board of Directors. The Committee shall act by vote or
written consent of a majority of its members. Subject to the express provisions
and limitations of the Plan (subject to compliance with applicable OTS
regulations), the Committee may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as
it deems appropriate for the conduct of its affairs. The Committee shall report
its actions and
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decisions with respect to the Plan to the Board at appropriate
times, but in no event less than one time per calendar year.
4.02 ROLE OF THE BOARD. The members of the Committee and the Trustee shall
be appointed or approved by, and will serve at the pleasure of, the Board. The
Board may in its discretion from time to time remove members from, or add
members to, the Committee, and may remove or replace the Trustee, provided that
any directors who are selected as members of the Committee shall be Non-Employee
Directors.
4.03 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. No member of the Board or the Committee
shall be liable for any determination made in good faith with respect to the
Plan or any Plan Shares or Plan Share Awards granted under it. If a member
of the Board or the Committee is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of anything done
or not done by him in such capacity under or with respect to the Plan, the
Corporation shall, subject to the requirements of applicable laws and
regulations, indemnify such member against all liabilities and expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit
or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in the best interests of the Corporation and any Subsidiaries
and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
4.04 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. All Awards granted hereunder
shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and OTS
regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as
may be required.
ARTICLE V
CONTRIBUTIONS
5.01 AMOUNT AND TIMING OF CONTRIBUTIONS. The Board shall determine the
amount (or the method of computing the amount) and timing of any
contributions by the Corporation and any Subsidiaries to the Trust
established under this Plan. Such amounts may be paid in cash or in shares
of Common Stock and shall be paid to the Trust at the designated time of
contribution. No contributions by Employees or Directors shall be permitted.
5.02 INVESTMENT OF TRUST ASSETS; NUMBER OF PLAN SHARES. Subject to
Section 8.02 hereof, the Trustee shall invest all of the Trust's assets
primarily in Common Stock. The aggregate number of Plan Shares available for
distribution pursuant to this Plan shall be 26,871 shares of Common Stock,
which shares shall be purchased from the Corporation and/or from stockholders
thereof by the Trust with funds contributed by the Corporation. During the
time this Plan remains in effect, Awards to each Employee and each Non-
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Employee Director shall not exceed 25% and 5% of the shares of Common
Stock available under the Plan, respectively, provided, however, that Awards
in the aggregate to all Non-Employee Directors shall not exceed 30% of the
shares of Common Stock available under the Plan.
ARTICLE VI
ELIGIBILITY; ALLOCATIONS
6.01 AWARDS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS. Plan Share Awards to Non-Employee
Directors shall be made to such persons and in such amounts as determined by the
Board of Directors or the Committee. However, Plan Share Awards equal to 8,061
shares (or 30% of the number of shares available under this Plan) shall be made
to Non-Employee Directors in the aggregate and no individual Non-Employee
Director may receive Plan Share Awards in excess of 1,343 shares (or 5% of the
number of shares available under this Plan). In the event of a forfeiture of
the right to any Shares subject to an Award, such forfeited Shares shall be
reallocated on the first day of the month following such forfeiture to the
remaining Non-Employee Directors who are eligible to receive such re-allocation
by dividing the number of forfeited shares of Common Stock by such remaining
number of Non-Employee Directors at such time.
6.02 AWARDS TO EMPLOYEES. Plan Share Awards may be made to such Employees
as may be selected by the Board of Directors or the Committee, subject to the
maximum number of shares as determined under Section 5.02 hereof. In selecting
those Employees to whom Plan Share Awards may be granted and the number of
Shares covered by such Awards, the Board of Directors or the Committee shall
consider the duties, responsibilities and performance of each respective
Employee, his present and potential contributions to the growth and success of
the Corporation, his salary and such other factors as shall be deemed relevant
to accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The Board of Directors or the
Committee may but shall not be required to request the written recommendation of
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation other than with respect to Plan
Share Awards to be granted to him.
6.03 FORM OF ALLOCATION. As promptly as practicable after a determination
is made pursuant to Sections 6.01 or 6.02 that a Plan Share Award is to be
issued (subject to the maximum number of shares as determined under Section 5.02
hereof) the Board of Directors or the Committee shall notify the Recipient in
writing of the grant of the Award, the number of Plan Shares covered by the
Award, and the terms upon which the Plan Shares subject to the Award shall be
distributed to the Recipient. The date on which the Board of Directors or the
Committee makes the determination with respect to Plan Share Awards shall be
considered the date of grant of the Plan Share Award. The Board of Directors or
the Committee shall maintain records as to all grants of Plan Share Awards under
the Plan.
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6.04 ALLOCATIONS NOT REQUIRED TO ANY SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in Section 6.02 hereof, no Employee shall have any
right or entitlement to receive a Plan Share Award hereunder, such Awards being
at the total discretion of the Board of Directors or the Committee.
ARTICLE VII
EARNING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES; VOTING RIGHTS
7.01 EARNING PLAN SHARES; FORFEITURES.
(a) GENERAL RULES. Subject to the terms hereof, Plan Share Awards
shall be earned by a Recipient at the rate of twenty percent (20%) of the
aggregate number of Shares covered by the Award as of each annual anniversary of
the date of grant of the Award. If the employment of an Employee or service as
a Non-Employee Director is terminated prior to the fifth (5th) annual
anniversary of the date of grant of a Plan Share Award for any reason (except as
specifically provided in subsections (b) and (c) below), the Recipient shall
forfeit the right to any Shares subject to the Award which have not theretofore
been earned. In the event of a forfeiture of the right to any Shares subject to
an Award by an Employee, such forfeited Shares shall become available for
allocation pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof as if no Award had been previously
granted with respect to such Shares. No fractional shares shall be distributed
pursuant to this Plan.
(b) EXCEPTION FOR TERMINATIONS DUE TO DEATH OR DISABILITY.
Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01(a), all Plan Shares
subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Recipient whose employment with or
service to the Corporation or any Subsidiary terminates due to death or
Disability shall be deemed earned as of the Recipient's last day of employment
with or service to the Corporation or any Subsidiary and shall be distributed as
soon as practicable thereafter; provided, however, that Awards shall be
distributed in accordance with Section 7.03(a).
(c) EXCEPTION FOR TERMINATIONS AFTER A CHANGE IN CONTROL OF THE
CORPORATION. Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01(a), all
Plan Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Recipient shall be deemed to
be earned in the event of a Change in Control of the Corporation if, as of the
date of such Change in Control of the Corporation, such treatment is either
authorized or is not prohibited by applicable laws and regulations.
(d) REVOCATION FOR MISCONDUCT. Notwithstanding anything hereinafter
to the contrary, the Board may by resolution immediately revoke, rescind and
terminate any Plan Share Award, or portion thereof, previously awarded under
this Plan, to the extent Plan Shares have not been distributed hereunder,
whether or not yet earned, in the case of an Employee who is discharged from the
employ of the Corporation or any Subsidiary for cause (as hereinafter defined).
Termination for cause shall mean termination because of the
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Employee's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, 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.
Plan Share Awards granted to a Non-Employee Director who is removed for cause
pursuant to the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation shall terminate as
of the effective date of such removal.
7.02 DISTRIBUTION OF DIVIDENDS. Any cash dividends (including special
large and non-recurring dividends including one that has the effect of a return
of capital to the Corporation's stockholders) or stock dividends declared in
respect of each unvested Plan Share Award will be held by the Trust for the
benefit of the Recipient on whose behalf such Plan Share Award is then held by
the Trust and such dividends, including any interest thereon, will be paid out
proportionately by the Trust to the Recipient thereof as soon as practicable
after the Plan Share Awards become earned. Any cash dividends or stock
dividends declared in respect of each vested Plan Share held by the Trust will
be paid by the Trust, as soon as practicable after the Trust's receipt thereof,
to the Recipient on whose behalf such Plan Share is then held by the Trust.
7.03 DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES.
(a) TIMING OF DISTRIBUTIONS: GENERAL RULE. Plan Shares shall be
distributed to the Recipient or his Beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as
practicable after they have been earned.
(b) FORM OF DISTRIBUTIONS. All Plan Shares, together with any Shares
representing stock dividends, shall be distributed in the form of Common Stock.
One share of Common Stock shall be given for each Plan Share earned and
distributable. Payments representing cash dividends shall be made in cash.
(c) WITHHOLDING. The Trustee may withhold from any cash payment or
Common Stock distribution made under this Plan sufficient amounts to cover any
applicable withholding and employment taxes, and if the amount of a cash payment
is insufficient, the Trustee may require the Recipient or Beneficiary to pay to
the Trustee the amount required to be withheld as a condition of delivering the
Plan Shares. The Trustee shall pay over to the Corporation or any Subsidiary
which employs or employed such Recipient any such amount withheld from or paid
by the Recipient or Beneficiary.
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON SELLING OF PLAN SHARES. Plan Share Awards may
not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise disposed of prior to the time
that they are earned and distributed pursuant to the terms of this Plan.
Following distribution, the Board of Directors or the Committee may require
the Recipient or his Beneficiary, as the case may be, to agree not to sell or
otherwise dispose of his distributed Plan Shares except in accordance with
all then applicable federal and state securities laws, and the Board of
Directors or the Committee may cause a legend to be placed on the stock
certificate(s) representing the
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distributed Plan Shares in order to restrict the transfer of the distributed
Plan Shares for such period of time or under such circumstances as the Board
of Directors or the Committee, upon the advice of counsel, may deem
appropriate.
7.04 VOTING OF PLAN SHARES. All Plan Shares which have not yet been earned
and allocated shall be voted by the Trustee in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE VIII
TRUST
8.01 TRUST. The Trustee shall receive, hold, administer, invest and make
distributions and disbursements from the Trust in accordance with the provisions
of the Plan and Trust and the applicable directions, rules, regulations,
procedures and policies established by the Board of Directors or the Committee
pursuant to the Plan.
8.02 MANAGEMENT OF TRUST. It is the intent of this Plan and Trust that the
Trustee shall have complete authority and discretion with respect to the
arrangement, control and investment of the Trust, and that the Trustee shall
invest all assets of the Trust in Common Stock to the fullest extent
practicable, except to the extent that the Trustee determine that the holding of
monies in cash or cash equivalents is necessary to meet the obligations of the
Trust. In performing their duties, the Trustee shall have the power to do all
things and execute such instruments as may be deemed necessary or proper,
including the following powers:
(a) To invest up to one hundred percent (100%) of all Trust assets in
Common Stock without regard to any law now or hereafter in force limiting
investments for trustees or other fiduciaries. The investment authorized herein
may constitute the only investment of the Trust, and in making such investment,
the Trustee is authorized to purchase Common Stock from the Corporation or from
any other source, and such Common Stock so purchased may be outstanding, newly
issued, or treasury shares.
(b) To invest any Trust assets not otherwise invested in accordance
with (a) above, in such deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit,
obligations of the United States Government or its agencies or such other
investments as shall be considered the equivalent of cash.
(c) To sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any property at any
time held or acquired by the Trust.
(d) To cause stocks, bonds or other securities to be registered in
the name of a nominee, without the addition of words indicating that such
security is an asset of the Trust (but accurate records shall be maintained
showing that such security is an asset of the Trust).
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(e) To hold cash without interest in such amounts as may in the
opinion of the Trustee be reasonable for the proper operation of the Plan and
Trust.
(f) To employ brokers, agents, custodians, consultants and
accountants.
(g) To hire counsel to render advice with respect to their rights,
duties and obligations hereunder, and such other legal services or
representation as the Trustee deems desirable.
(h) To hold funds and securities representing the amounts to be
distributed to a Recipient or his Beneficiary as a consequence of a dispute as
to the disposition thereof, whether in a segregated account or held in common
with other assets of the Trust.
Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the Trustee
shall not be required to make any inventory, appraisal or settlement or report
to any court, or to secure any order of court for the exercise of any power
herein contained, or give bond.
8.03 RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS. The Trustee shall maintain accurate and
detailed records and accounts of all transactions of the Trust, which shall be
available at all reasonable times for inspection by any legally entitled person
or entity to the extent required by applicable law, or any other person
determined by the Board of Directors or the Committee.
8.04 EXPENSES. All costs and expenses incurred in the operation and
administration of this Plan shall be borne by the Corporation.
8.05 INDEMNIFICATION. Subject to the requirements of applicable laws and
regulations, the Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold the Trustee
harmless against all claims, expenses and liabilities arising out of or related
to the exercise of the Trustee's powers and the discharge of its duties
hereunder, unless the same shall be due to the Trustee's gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.01 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CAPITAL CHANGES. The aggregate number of Plan Shares
available for distribution pursuant to the Plan Share Awards and the number of
Shares to which any Plan Share Award relates shall be proportionately adjusted
for any increase or decrease in the total number of outstanding shares of Common
Stock issued subsequent to the effective date of the Plan resulting from any
split, subdivision or consolidation of shares or other capital adjustment, or
other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt or payment of
consideration by the Corporation.
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9.02 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Board may, by resolution, at
any time amend or terminate the Plan and the Trust (including amendments which
may result in the merger of the Plan or the Trust with and into other plans or
trusts of the Corporation or successor thereto), subject to regulations of the
OTS and any required stockholder approval or any stockholder approval which the
Board may deem to be advisable for any reason, such as for the purpose of
obtaining or retaining any statutory or regulatory benefits under tax,
securities or other laws or satisfying any applicable stock exchange listing
requirements. The Board may not, without the consent of the Recipient, alter or
impair his Plan Share Award except as specifically authorized herein. Upon
termination of the Plan, the Recipient's Plan Share Awards shall be distributed
to the Recipient in accordance with the terms of Article VII hereof.
9.03 NONTRANSFERABLE. During the lifetime of the Recipient, Plan Shares
may only be earned by and paid to the Recipient who was notified in writing of
the Award pursuant to Section 6.03, provided that Plan Share Awards and rights
to Plan Shares shall be transferable by a Recipient to his or her spouse, lineal
ascendants, lineal descendants, or to a duly established trust. Plan Share
Awards so transferred may not again be transferred other than to the Recipient
who originally received the grant of Plan Share Awards or to an individual or
trust to whom such Recipient could have transferred Plan Share Awards pursuant
to this Section 9.03. Plan Share Awards which are transferred pursuant to this
Section 9.03 shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as would have
applied to such Plan Share Awards in the hands of the Recipient who originally
received the grant of such Plan Share Award. No Recipient or Beneficiary shall
have any right in or claim to any assets of the Plan or Trust, nor shall the
Corporation or any Subsidiary be subject to any claim for benefits hereunder.
9.04 EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE RIGHTS. Neither the Plan nor any grant of a
Plan Share Award or Plan Shares hereunder nor any action taken by the Trustee,
the Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any right on
the part of any Employee or Non-Employee Director to continue in such capacity.
9.05 VOTING AND DIVIDEND RIGHTS. No Recipient shall have any voting or
dividend rights or other rights of a stockholder in respect of any Plan Shares
covered by a Plan Share Award, except as expressly provided in Sections 7.02 and
7.04 above, prior to the time said Plan Shares are actually earned and
distributed to him.
9.06 GOVERNING LAW. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan
and Trust shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.
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9.07 EFFECTIVE DATE. This Plan shall be effective as of the Effective
Date, and Awards may be granted hereunder as of or after the Effective Date and
as long as the Plan remains in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing or
anything to the contrary in this Plan, the implementation of this Plan and any
Awards granted pursuant hereto are subject to the non-objection of the OTS and
approval of the Corporation's stockholders.
9.08 TERM OF PLAN. This Plan shall remain in effect until the earlier of
(1) ten (10) years from the Effective Date, (2) termination by the Board, or (3)
the distribution to Recipients and Beneficiaries of all assets of the Trust.
9.09 TAX STATUS OF TRUST. It is intended that the trust established hereby
be treated as a Grantor Trust of the Corporation under the provisions of Section
671 et seq. of the Code, as the same may be amended from time to time.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be
executed by its duly authorized officers and the corporate seal to be affixed
and duly attested, and the initial Trustee established pursuant hereto have duly
and validly executed this Agreement, all on this 21st day of October 1996.
FIRST FEDERAL FINANCIAL
BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ I. Xxxxxxx Xxxx
---------------------------------
I. Xxxxxxx Xxxx
President
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Corporate Secretary
TRUSTEE
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Trustee
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