Exhibit 10.4
FORM OF
RICHMOND COUNTY FINANCIAL CORP.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of ________________,
by and between Richmond County Financial Corp. (the "Holding Company"), a
corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, with its principal offices at
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and _________________
("Executive"). Any reference to "Institution" herein shall mean Richmond County
Savings Bank or any successor thereto.
WHEREAS, the Holding Company wishes to assure itself of the services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Holding
Company 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 Executive's employment hereunder, Executive agrees
to serve as the [TITLE] of the Holding Company. The Executive shall render
administrative and management services to the Holding Company such as are
customarily performed by persons in a similar executive capacity. During said
period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an officer and director
of any subsidiary of the Holding Company.
2. TERMS.
(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 date of the execution of this Agreement, the term of this Agreement shall be
extended for one day each day until such time as the board of directors of the
Holding Company (the "Board") or Executive elects not to extend the term of the
Agreement by giving written notice to the other party in accordance with Section
8 of this Agreement, in which case the term of this Agreement shall be fixed and
shall end on the third anniversary of the date of such written notice.
(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,
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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 Holding Company and its direct or indirect subsidiaries ("Subsidiaries") 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 Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, or materially affect the
performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary,
Executive's employment with the Holding Company may be terminated by the Holding
Company or Executive during the term of this Agreement, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement. However, Executive shall not perform, in any
respect, directly or indirectly, during the pendency of his temporary or
permanent suspension or termination from the Institution, duties and
responsibilities formerly performed at the Institution as part of his duties and
responsibilities as [TITLE] of the Holding Company.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to a salary from the Holding
Company or its Subsidiaries of $________ per year ("Base Salary"). Base Salary
shall include any amounts of compensation deferred by Executive under any
qualified or unqualified plan maintained by the Holding Company and its
Subsidiaries. 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 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. 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 Holding Company shall also provide Executive,
at no premium cost to Executive, with all such other benefits as provided
uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Holding Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(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 Holding Company
and its Subsidiaries 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
that such changes are made applicable to all Holding Company and Institution
employees eligible to participate in such plans, arrangements and perquisites 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
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limited to, retirement plans, supplemental retirement plans, pension plans,
profit-sharing plans, stock or option plans, health-and-accident plans, medical
coverage or any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the
Holding Company and its Subsidiaries 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
or arrangement of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries 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 Holding Company 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 of the following: (i) the termination by
the Holding Company of Executive's full-time employment hereunder for any reason
other than termination governed by Section 5(a) hereof, or for Cause, as defined
in Section 7 hereof; (ii) Executive's resignation from the Holding Company's
employ, upon, any (A) unless consented to by the Executive, failure to elect or
reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive as [TITLE] or failure to nominate
or renominate Executive as a Director of the Institution or Holding Company to
the extent Executive was serving as a Director as of the date of this
Agreement, (B) a material change in Executive's function, duties, or
responsibilities with the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, 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 the Executive, (C) a 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, (D) a
liquidation or dissolution of the Holding Company or the Institution, or (E)
breach of this Agreement by the Holding Company. 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
six full calendar 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 Holding Company shall be obligated to
pay Executive, or, in the event
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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 amount of the remaining payments
that the Executive would have earned if he had continued his employment with the
Institution 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 or payments that would have been made on Executive's behalf to any
employee benefit plans of the Institution or the Holding Company during the
remaining term of this Agreement based on contributions or payments made (on an
annualized basis) at the Date of Termination. At the election of the Executive,
which election is to be made prior to a Change in Control, such payment shall be
made: (a) in a lump sum as of the Executive's Date of Termination, (b) on a
bi-weekly basis in approximately equal installments during the remaining term of
the Agreement, or (c) on an annual 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 Holding Company
will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage
substantially equivalent to the coverage maintained by the Holding Company or
its Subsidiaries for Executive prior to his termination at no premium cost to
the Executive. 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
Holding Company or the Institution 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 ▇▇▇▇ (▇▇▇ "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇"); 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 Regulations promulgated by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") at 12 C.F.R. (S) 303.4(a), with
respect to the Institution, and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the
Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") (or its predecessor agency), with respect
to the Holding Company, as in effect on the date of this Agreement; 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 Institution or the Holding Company representing 20% or more of the
Institution's or the Holding Company's outstanding voting securities or right to
acquire such securities except for any voting securities of the Institution
purchased by the Holding Company and any voting securities purchased by any
employee benefit plan of the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, 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 Company's stockholders
was approved by a Nominating
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Committee solely composed of members which are Incumbent Board members, 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 Institution or the Holding
Company or similar transaction occurs or is effectuated in which the Institution
or Holding Company is not the resulting entity, or (D) a proxy statement has
been distributed soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Holding Company, by
someone other than the current management of the Holding Company, seeking
stockholder approval of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the
Holding Company or Institution with one or more corporations as a result of
which the outstanding shares of the class of securities then subject to such
plan or transaction are exchanged for or converted into cash or property or
securities not issued by the Institution or the Holding Company shall be
distributed, or (E) a tender offer is made for 20% or more of the voting
securities of the Institution or Holding Company then outstanding.
(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 (i) Executive's dismissal, or (ii) Executive's voluntary
resignation following any demotion, loss of title, office or significant
authority or responsibility,reduction in the annual compensation or material
reduction in 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 the Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section
5(b), the Holding Company shall pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent
death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, as
severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal to the greater of: (i)
the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement; or (ii) three (3)
times Executive's annual compensation for the most recently completed year. Such
annual compensation shall include Base Salary, commissions, bonuses,
contributions or accruals on behalf of Executive to any pension and profit
sharing plan, any benefits to be paid or received under any stock-based benefit
plan, severance payments, directors or committee fees and fringe benefits paid
or to be paid to the Executive during such years. At the election of the
Executive, which election is to be made prior to a Change in Control, such
payment shall be made: (a) in a lump sum, (b) on a bi-weekly basis in
approximately equal installments over a period of thirty-six (36) months
following the Executive's termination, or (c) on an annual basis in
approximately equal installments 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 Company will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and long-term
or other disability coverage substantially equivalent to the coverage maintained
by the Institution for Executive at
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no premium cost to Executive prior to his severance. Such coverage and payments
shall cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) months following the Change
in Control.
6. CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS.
In each calendar year that Executive is entitled to receive payments or
benefits under the provisions of this Employment Agreement, the Holding Company
shall determine if an excess parachute payment (as defined in Section 4999 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor provision
thereto, (the "Code")) exists. Such determination shall be made after taking any
reductions permitted pursuant to Section 280G of the Code and the regulations
thereunder. Any amount determined to be an excess parachute payment after taking
into account such reductions shall be hereafter referred to as the "Initial
Excess Parachute Payment". As soon as practicable after a Change in Control, the
Initial Excess Parachute Payment shall be determined. Upon the Date of
Termination following a Change in Control, the Holding Company shall pay
Executive, subject to applicable withholding requirements under applicable state
or federal law, an amount equal to:
(1) twenty (20) percent of the Initial Excess Parachute Payment
(or such other amount equal to the tax imposed under Section
4999 of the Code); and
(2) such additional amount (tax allowance) as may be necessary to
compensate Executive for the payment by Executive of state and
federal income and excise taxes on the payment provided under
clause (1) and on any payments under this Clause (2). In
computing such tax allowance, the payment to be made under
Clause (1) shall be multiplied by the "gross up percentage"
("GUP"). The GUP shall be determined as follows:
Tax Rate
GUP = __________
1- Tax Rate
The "Tax Rate" for purposes of computing the GUP shall be the
sum of the highest marginal federal and state income and
employment-related tax rates, including any applicable excise
tax rates, applicable to the Executive in the year in which
the payment under Clause (1) is made.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it shall subsequently be
determined in a final judicial determination or a final administrative
settlement to which Executive is a party that the excess parachute payment as
defined in Section 4999 of the Code, reduced as described above, is more than
the Initial Excess Parachute Payment (such different amount being hereafter
referred to as the "Determinative Excess Parachute Payment") then the Holding
Company's independent accountants shall determine the amount (the "Adjustment
Amount") the Holding
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Company must pay to the Executive in order to put the Executive in the same
position as the Executive would have been if the Initial Excess Parachute
Payment had been equal to the Determinative Excess Parachute Payment. In
determining the Adjustment Amount, independent accountants of the Holding
Company shall take into account any and all taxes (including any penalties and
interest) paid by or for Executive or refunded to Executive or for Executive's
benefit. As soon as practicable after the Adjustment Amount has been so
determined, the Holding Company shall pay the Adjustment Amount to Executive. In
no event however, shall Executive make any payment under this paragraph to the
Holding Company.
7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.
The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of: 1)
Executive's personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty
involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful
violation of any law, rule, regulation (other than traffic violations or similar
offenses), final cease and desist order or material breach of any provision of
this Agreement which results in a material loss to the Institution or the
Holding Company, or 2) Executive's conviction of a crime or act involving moral
turpitude or a final judgement rendered against Executive based upon actions of
Executive which involve moral turpitude. For the purposes of this Section, no
act, or the failure to act, on Executive's part shall be "willful" unless done,
or omitted to be done, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the
action or omission was in the best interests of the Bank or its affiliates.
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 three-fourths 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. The 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, 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 Institution, the Holding Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest. At the Date of Termination, such stock
options and related limited rights and any 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.
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8. NOTICE.
(a) Any purported termination by the Holding Company 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 (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given);
provided, however, that if a dispute regarding the Executive's termination
exists, the "Date of Termination" shall be determined in accordance with Section
8(c) of this Agreement.
(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, except upon the occurrence of
a Change in Control and voluntary termination by the Executive in which case the
Date of Termination shall be the date specified in the Notice, 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, the Holding Company
will continue to pay Executive his full compensation in effect when the notice
giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, Base
Salary) and continue him as a participant in all compensation, benefit and
insurance plans in which he was participating when the notice of dispute was
given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Agreement.
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 Holding Company. Executive shall, upon
reasonable notice, furnish such information and assistance to the Holding
Company as may reasonably be required by the Holding Company in connection with
any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may
become, a party.
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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 Holding Company or
its Subsidiaries 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 Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries 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 Holding Company or its Subsidiaries. The parties hereto, recognizing that
irreparable injury will result to the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, 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 Holding
Company or its Subsidiaries, 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. Executive represents and admits
that in the event of the termination of his employment pursuant to Section 7
hereof, Executive's experience and capabilities are such that Executive can
obtain employment in a business engaged in other lines and/or of a different
nature than the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, and that the enforcement of
a remedy by way of injunction will not prevent Executive from earning a
livelihood. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Holding Company
or its Subsidiaries from pursuing any other remedies available to the Holding
Company or its Subsidiaries 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 Holding Company and
its Subsidiaries as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and
unique asset of the business of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries.
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
Holding Company and its Subsidiaries thereof to any person, firm, corporation,
or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever unless expressly authorized
by the Board of Directors or required by law. 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 Holding Company. Further, Executive may
disclose information regarding the business activities of the Bank or Holding
Company to the Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, the New York
Banking Department, OTS and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC")
pursuant to a formal regulatory request. In the event of a breach or threatened
breach by the Executive of the provisions of this Section, the Holding Company
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 Holding Company or its Subsidiaries or from rendering
any
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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 Holding Company from
pursuing any other remedies available to the Holding Company 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 Holding Company subject to Section
11(b).
(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 as of
_________________, between Executive and the Institution, such compensation
payments and benefits paid by the Institution will be subtracted from any amount
due simultaneously to Executive under similar provisions of this Agreement.
Payments pursuant to this Agreement and the Institution Agreement shall be
allocated in proportion to the level of activity and the time expended on such
activities by the Executive as determined by the Holding Company and the
Institution 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 Holding Company
or any predecessor of the Holding Company and Executive, except that this
Agreement shall not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation
inuring to the 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 Holding Company and their respective successors and assigns.
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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.
17. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware,
unless otherwise specified herein.
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 the Executive within
fifty (50) miles from the location of the Institution, 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.
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19. PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES AND REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS.
In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection
with Executive's termination is resolved in favor of the Executive, whether by
judgment, arbitration or settlement, Executive shall be entitled to the payment
of: (1) all legal fees incurred by Executive in resolving such dispute or
controversy, and (2) any back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash
compensation, fringe benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive
under this Agreement.
20. INDEMNIFICATION.
The Holding Company 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 Delaware 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 Holding Company (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.
21. SUCCESSOR TO THE HOLDING COMPANY.
The Holding Company 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 Institution or the Holding
Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the
Holding Company's obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Holding Company would be required to perform if no such
succession or assignment had taken place.
12
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Richmond County Financial Corp. has caused this
Agreement to be executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its duly
authorized officer and its directors, and Executive has signed this Agreement,
on the ______ day of __________, 1997.
ATTEST: RICHMOND COUNTY FINANCIAL CORP.
By:
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ [Name]
Secretary For the Board of Directors
[SEAL]
WITNESS:
By:
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[Name]
Executive