EXHIBIT 10.4
FORM OF
THE MASSACHUSETTS CO-OPERATIVE BANK
THREE-YEAR
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of ___________________,
1998 by and among The Massachusetts Co-operative Bank (the "Bank"), a
Massachusetts-chartered stock co-operative bank, with its principal
administrative office at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Massachusetts Fincorp, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State
of Delaware, the holding company for the Bank (the "Holding Company"), and
_______________ ("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 on a full-
time basis 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
President and Chief Executive Officer 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. During said
period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an officer and director
of the Holding Company or any subsidiary of the Bank.
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 thirty-six (36) full calendar months thereafter. Commencing on
the first anniversary date of this Agreement, and continuing on each anniversary
thereafter, the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Bank
("Board") may extend the Agreement an additional year such that the remaining
term of the Agreement shall be thirty-six (36) months unless the Executive
elects not to extend the term of this Agreement by giving written notice in
accordance with Section 8 of this Agreement. Executive shall abstain from any
vote regarding an extension of the term of this Agreement. 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.
Executive shall receive compensation and reimbursement under this
Agreement, as follows:
(a) The Bank shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of $___________
per year ("Base Salary") payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices
of the Bank. Base Salary shall include any amounts of compensation deferred by
Executive under any tax-qualified retirement or welfare benefit plan or any
other deferred compensation arrangement maintained by the Bank. During the
period of this Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least
annually with the Bank Board making its first review no later than one year from
the date of this Agreement. Such review shall be conducted by the Board or by a
Committee of the Board, delegated such responsibility by the Board. The
Committee or the Board may increase Executive's Base Salary at any time during
this Agreement and the resulting annual salary attributable to such increase
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) Discretionary Bonuses. The Executive shall be entitled to participate
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in an equitable manner with all other executive officers of the Bank in
discretionary bonuses as authorized and declared by the Bank Board to executive
employees. No other compensation provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed
a substitute for the Executive's right to participate in such bonuses when and
as declared by the Bank Board.
(c) The Executive shall be entitled to receive fees for serving as a
director of the Holding Company and/or the Bank or as a member of any committee
as received by other members of the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company
and/or the Bank.
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(d) 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 (d), Executive shall
be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under all plans relating to
stock options, restricted stock awards, stock purchases, pension, thrift,
supplemental retirement, profit-sharing, employee stock ownership, group life
insurance, medical and other health and welfare coverage, education, cash or
stock bonuses that are now or hereafter 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. 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.
(e) 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 by Executive performing his 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 or the Holding Company 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) failure to elect or
reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive as President and Chief Executive
Officer, unless consented to by the Executive, (B) 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, (C) 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, (D) 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, (E) a liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or Holding Company, or
(F) breach of this Agreement by the Bank. Upon the occurrence of any event
described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) or (F), above, Executive shall have
the right to elect to terminate his employment under this Agreement by
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resignation upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice given within
six 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 a sum equal to the sum of:
(i) the Base Salary and bonuses in accordance with Sections 3(a) and 3(b);
respectively, that would have been paid to Executive for the remaining term of
this Agreement had the Event of Termination not occurred, plus the value as
calculated by a recognized firm customarily performing such valuation, of any
stock options or related rights which as of the Date of Termination have been
granted to Executive but are not exercisable by Executive and the value of any
restricted stock or related rights which have been granted to Executive; but in
which Executive does not have a non-forfeitable or fully-vested interest as of
the Date of Termination; and; and (ii) all benefits, including health insurance
in accordance with Section 3(d) that would have been provided to Executive for
the remaining term of the this Agreement had an Event of Termination not occur;
provided, however, that any payments pursuant to this subsection and subsection
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4(c) below shall not, in the aggregate, exceed three (3) 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. 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" shall mean an
event of a nature that: (i) would be required to be reported in response to Item
1(a) of the current report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof,
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 0000 (xxx
"Xxxxxxxx Xxx"); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the Bank or the
Holding Company within the meaning of the Change in Bank Control Act and the
Rules and
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Regulations promulgated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") at
12 C.F.R. (S) 303.4(a) with respect to the Bank and the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") at 12 C.F.R. (S) 225.41(b) with respect to
the Holding Company, as in effect on the date hereof; or (iii) results in a
transaction requiring prior FRB approval under the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956 and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the FRB at 12 C.F.R. (S)
225.11, as in effect on the date hereof except for the Holding Company's
acquisition of the Bank; or (iv) without limitation such a Change in Control
shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (A) any "person" (as the term
is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Bank or the Holding Company representing 20%
or more of the Bank's or the Holding Company's outstanding securities except for
any securities of the Bank purchased by the Holding Company in connection with
the conversion of the Bank to the stock form and any securities purchased by any
tax qualified employee benefit plan of the Bank; or (B) individuals who
constitute the Board of Directors on the date hereof (the "Incumbent Board")
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that
any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was
approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the
Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Holding Company's
stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee serving under an
Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (B), considered as though
he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (C) a plan of reorganization,
merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Bank
or the Holding Company or similar transaction occurs in which the Bank or
Holding Company is not the resulting entity; or (D) solicitations of
shareholders of the Holding Company, by someone other than the current
management of the Holding Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan or
reorganization, merger of consolidation of the Holding Company or Bank or
similar transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the
outstanding shares of the class of securities then subject to the plan or
transaction are exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities
not issued by the Bank or the Holding Company shall be distributed; or (E) a
tender offer is made for 20% or more of the voting securities of the Bank or the
Holding Company.
(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, disability, retirement 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 Base Salary and bonuses in accordance with Sections
3(a) and 3(b), respectively, that would have been paid to Executive for
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the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement had the event described
in Subsection (b) of this Section 5 not occurred, plus value, as calculated by a
recognized firm customarily performing such valuation, of any stock option or
related rights which as of the Date of Termination have been granted to
Executive, but are not exercisable by Executive and the value of restricted
stock awards or related rights which have been granted to Executive, but which
Executive does not have a non-forfeitable or fully-vested interest as of the
Date of Termination and all benefits, including health insurance, in accordance
with Section 3(d) that would have been provided to Executive for the remaining
term of this Agreement had the event described in Subsection (b) of this Section
5 not occurred; or 2) three (3) times Executive's Average Annual Compensation
(as defined herein) 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 all taxable income paid by the
Bank or Holding Company, including but not limited to, Base Salary, commissions,
and bonuses, as well as contributions on Executive's behalf to any pension
and/or profit sharing plan, severance payments, retirement payments, directors
or committee fees and fringe benefits paid or to be paid to the Executive in any
such year and payment of any expense items without accountability or business
purpose or that do not meet the Internal Revenue Service requirements for
deductibility by the Bank; provided, however, that any payment under this
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provision and subsection 5(d) below shall not exceed three (3) times the
Executive's average annual compensation over a five (5) year period. 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 _________
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 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, 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
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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 was guilty of conduct justifying
Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after the Date of 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 any 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).
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(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 OF BANK BUSINESS.
(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, 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.
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(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 Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks 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
________________________, 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
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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 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. 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.
16. 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.
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17. GOVERNING LAW.
The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts applicable to
contracts entered into and to be performed entirely within the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
18. ARBITRATION.
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three 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.
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.
19. 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.
20. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) 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) as permitted under federal law against all
expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in connection with or
arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may be involved by
reason of his having been a director or officer of the 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.
(b) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Section are subject to
and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k), 12 C.F.R. Part
359 and 12 C.F.R. Section 545.121 and any rules or regulations promulgated
thereunder.
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21. 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.
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SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Massachusetts Co-operative Bank and
_________________ 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 ____ day of __________________,
1998.
ATTEST: THE MASSACHUSETTS CO-OPERATIVE BANK
__________________________ By: _______________________________________
Secretary Xxxx X. Xxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
[SEAL]
ATTEST: MASSACHUSETTS FINCORP, INC.
(Guarantor)
-------------------------- By: _______________________________________
Secretary President and Chief Executive Officer
[SEAL]
WITNESS:
__________________________ _______________________________________
Executive
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