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EXHIBIT 10.8
▇▇▇▇▇▇ FEDERAL BANK
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Employment Agreement with
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
AGREEMENT entered into and effective this 3rd day of April, 2001 by and
between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Federal Bank (the "Bank") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the
"Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee has heretofore been employed by the Bank as its
President and Chief Executive Officer and is experienced in all phases of the
business of the Bank; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Bank believes it
is in the best interests of the Bank to enter into this Agreement with the
Employee in order to assure continuity of management of the Bank and to
reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of the Employee
to his assigned duties; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire by this writing to set forth the continuing
employment relationship of the Bank and the Employee.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is AGREED as follows:
1. Defined Terms
When used anywhere in this Agreement, following terms shall have the
meaning set forth herein.
(a) "Change in Control" shall mean any one of the
following events: (i) the acquisition of ownership, holding or power to vote
more than 25% of the voting stock of the Bank or the Company, (ii) the
acquisition of the ability to control the election of a majority of the Bank's
or the Company's directors, (iii) the acquisition of the power to direct the
management or policies of the Bank or of the Company by any person or by persons
acting as a "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934), or (iv) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals (the "Continuing Directors") who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board of Directors of the Bank or of the Company (the "Existing
Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds thereof, provided
that any individual whose election or nomination for election as a member of the
Existing Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Continuing
Directors then in office shall be considered a Continuing Director.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company's ownership of the Bank shall not of
itself constitute a Change in Control for
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purposes of the Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph only, the term
"person" refers to an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated
organization or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.
(b) "Company" shall mean Eagle Bancshares, Inc.
(c) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended from time to time, and as interpreted through applicable rulings and
regulations in effect from time to time.
(d) "Code ss.280G Maximum" shall mean the product of 2.99
and the Employee's "base amount" as defined in Code ss.280G(b)(3).
(e) "Disability" shall mean a physical or mental
infirmity which impairs the Employee's ability to substantially perform his
duties under this Agreement and which results in the Employee becoming eligible
for long-term disability benefits under the Bank's long-term disability plan
(or, if the Bank has no such plan in effect, which impairs the Employee's
ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement for a period of
180 consecutive days).
(f) "Effective Date" shall mean the date referenced in
the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
(g) "Good Reason" shall mean any of the following events,
which has not been consented to in advance by the Employee in writing: (i) the
requirement that the Employee move his personal residence, or perform his
principal executive functions, more than 30 miles from his primary office as of
the later of the Effective Date and the most recent voluntary relocation by the
Employee; (ii) a material reduction in the Employee's base compensation under
this Agreement as the same may be increased from time to time; (iii) the failure
by the Bank or the Company to continue to provide the Employee with compensation
and benefits provided under this Agreement as the same may be increased from
time to time, or with benefits substantially similar to those provided to him
under any of the employee benefit plans in which the Employee now or hereafter
becomes a participant, or the taking of any action by the Bank or the Company
which would directly or indirectly reduce any of such benefits or deprive the
Employee of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by him under this Agreement;
(iv) the assignment to the Employee of duties and responsibilities materially
different from those normally associated with his position; (v) a failure to
reelect the Employee to the Board of Directors of the Bank or the Company, if
the Employee has served on such Board at any time during the term of the
Agreement; or (vi) a material diminution or reduction in the Employee's
responsibilities or authority (including reporting responsibilities) in
connection with his employment with the Bank.
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(h) "Just Cause" shall mean, in the good faith
determination of the Bank's Board of Directors, the 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, or material breach of any provision
of this Agreement. The Employee shall have no right to receive compensation or
other benefits for any period after termination for Just Cause. No act, or
failure to act, on the Employee's part shall be considered "willful" unless he
has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a
reasonable belief that his action or failure to act was in the best interest of
the Bank and the Company.
(i) "Protected Period" shall mean the period that begins
upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and ends on the later of the second
annual anniversary of the Change in Control or the expiration date of this
Agreement.
(j) "Trust" shall mean a grantor trust that is designed
in accordance with Revenue Procedure 92-64 and has a trustee independent of the
Bank and the Company.
2. Employment. The Employee is employed as the President and CEO
of the Bank. The Employee shall render such administrative and management
services for the Bank as are currently rendered and as are customarily performed
by persons situated in a similar executive capacity. The Employee shall also
promote, by entertainment or otherwise, as and to the extent permitted by law,
the business of the Bank. The Employee's other duties shall be such as the Board
may from time to time reasonably direct, including normal duties as an officer
of the Bank.
3. Base Compensation. The Bank agrees to pay the Employee during
the term of this Agreement a salary at the rate of $180,000 per annum, payable
in cash not less frequently than monthly. The Board shall review, not less often
than annually, the rate of the Employee's salary, and in its sole discretion may
decide to increase his salary. Such review shall be documented in the Board's
minutes.
4. Discretionary Bonuses. The Employee shall participate in an
equitable manner with all other senior management employees of the Bank in
discretionary bonuses that the Board may award from time to time to the Bank's
senior management employees. No other compensation provided for in this
Agreement shall be deemed a substitute for the Employee's right to participate
in such discretionary bonuses.
5. Participation in Retirement, Medical and Other Plans.
(a) The Employee shall be eligible to participate in any
of the following plans or programs that the Bank may now or in the future
maintain: group hospitalization, disability, health, dental, sick leave, life
insurance, travel and/or accident insurance, auto allowance/auto lease,
retirement, pension, and/or other present or future qualified or nonqualified
plans
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provided by the Bank, generally which benefits, taken as a whole, must be at
least as favorable as those in effect on the Effective Date.
(b) The Employee shall also be eligible to participate in
any fringe benefits which are or may become available to the Bank's senior
management employees, including for example: any stock option or incentive
compensation plans, and any other benefits which are commensurate with the
responsibilities and functions to be performed by the Employee under this
Agreement. The Employee shall be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket
business expenses which he shall incur in connection with his services under
this Agreement upon substantiation of such expenses in accordance with the
policies of the Bank.
6. Term. The Bank hereby employs the Employee, and the Employee
hereby accepts such employment under this Agreement, for the period commencing
on the Effective Date and ending 36 months thereafter (or such earlier date as
is determined in accordance with Section 10 or 12 hereof). Additionally, on each
annual anniversary date from the Effective Date, the Employee's term of
employment shall be extended for an additional one-year period beyond the then
effective expiration date, provided the Board determines in a duly adopted
resolution that the performance of the Employee has met the Board's requirements
and standards, and that this Agreement shall be extended. Only those members of
the Board of Directors who have no personal interest in this Employment
Agreement shall discuss and vote on the approval and subsequent review of this
Agreement.
7. Loyalty; Noncompetition.
(a) During the period of his employment hereunder and
except for illnesses, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable leaves of
absence, the Employee shall devote all his full business time, attention, skill,
and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder; provided,
however, from time to time, Employee may serve on the boards of directors of,
and hold any other offices or positions in, companies or organizations, which
will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, or unfavorably affect the performance of Employee's
duties pursuant to this Agreement, or will not violate any applicable statute or
regulation. "Full business time" is hereby defined as that amount of time
usually devoted to like companies by similarly situated executive officers.
During the term of his employment under this Agreement, the Employee shall not
engage in any business or activity contrary to the business affairs or interests
of the Bank.
(b) Nothing contained in this Section shall be deemed to
prevent or limit the Employee's right to invest in the capital stock or other
securities of any business dissimilar from that of the Bank, or, solely as a
passive or minority investor, in any business.
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(c) If the parties execute the "Non-Competition Addendum"
attached as Exhibit "A", its provisions shall apply to the Employee subsequent
to termination of his employment and shall survive termination of this Agreement
(unless the parties agree in writing to an earlier expiration date of the
Employee's obligations under said Non-Competition Addendum).
8. Standards. The Employee shall perform his duties under this
Agreement in accordance with such reasonable standards as the Board may
establish from time to time. The Bank will provide Employee with the working
facilities and staff customary for similar executives and necessary for him to
perform his duties.
9. Vacation and Sick Leave. At such reasonable times as the Board
shall in its discretion permit, the Employee shall be entitled, without loss of
pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the performance of his employment under
this Agreement, all such voluntary absences to count as vacation time, provided
that:
(a) The Employee shall be entitled to an annual vacation
in accordance with the policies that the Board periodically establishes for
senior management employees of the Bank.
(b) The Employee shall not receive any additional
compensation from the Bank on account of his failure to take a vacation or sick
leave, and the Employee shall not accumulate unused vacation or sick leave from
one fiscal year to the next, except in either case to the extent authorized by
the Board.
(c) In addition to the aforesaid paid vacations, the
Employee shall be entitled without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily
from the performance of his employment with the Bank for such additional periods
of time and for such valid and legitimate reasons as the Board may in its
discretion determine. Further, the Board may grant to the Employee a leave or
leaves of absence, with or without pay, at such time or times and upon such
terms and conditions as such Board in its discretion may determine.
(d) In addition, the Employee shall be entitled to an
annual sick leave benefit as established by the Board.
10. Termination and Termination Pay. Subject to Section 12 hereof,
the Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated under the following
circumstances:
(a) Death. The Employee's employment under this Agreement
shall terminate upon his death during the term of this Agreement, in which event
the Employee's estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation due the
Employee through the last day of the calendar month in which his death occurred.
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(b) Disability. (1) The Bank may terminate the Employee's
employment after having established the Employee's Disability, in which event
the Employee shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits provided for
under this Agreement for (i) any period during the term of this Agreement and
prior to the establishment of the Employee's Disability during which the
Employee is unable to work due to the physical or mental infirmity, and (ii) any
period of Disability which is prior to the Employee's termination of employment
pursuant to this Section 10(b); provided that any benefits paid pursuant to the
Bank's long term disability plan will continue as provided in such plan without
reduction for payments made pursuant to this Agreement.
(2) During any period that the Employee shall
receive disability benefits and to the extent that the Employee shall be
physically and mentally able to do so, he shall furnish such information,
assistance and documents so as to assist in the continued ongoing business of
the Bank and, if able, shall make himself available to the Bank to undertake
reasonable assignments consistent with his prior position and his physical and
mental health. The Bank shall pay all reasonable expenses incident to the
performance of any assignment given to the Employee during the disability
period.
(c) Just Cause. The Board may, by written notice to the
Employee, immediately terminate his employment at any time, for Just Cause. The
Employee shall have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for any
period after termination for Just Cause.
(d) Without Just Cause; Constructive Discharge. The Board
may, by written notice to the Employee, immediately terminate his employment at
any time for a reason other than his Disability or Just Cause, in which event
the Employee shall be entitled to receive the following compensation and
benefits (unless such termination occurs during the Protected Period, in which
event the benefits and compensation provided for in Section 12 shall apply): (i)
the greater of either (A) the salary provided pursuant to Section 3 hereof, up
to the expiration date of this Agreement, including any renewal term (the
"Expiration Date"), or (B) said salary for an additional 24-month period, and
(ii) at the Employee's election either (A) cash in an amount equal to the cost
to the Employee of obtaining all health, life, disability and other benefits
which the Employee would have been eligible to participate in through the
Expiration Date based upon the benefit levels substantially equal to those that
the Bank provided for the Employee at the date of termination of employment or
(B) continued participation under such Bank benefit plans through the Expiration
Date, but only to the extent the Employee continues to qualify for participation
therein. All amounts payable to the Employee shall be paid, at the option of the
Employee, either (1) in periodic payments through the Expiration Date, or (11)
in one lump sum within ten days of such termination.
(e) Termination or Suspension Under Federal Law. (1) If
the Employee is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the
conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order issued under Sections 8(e)(4) or
8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA") (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) and
(g)(1)), all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement
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shall terminate, as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the
parties shall not be affected.
(2) If the Bank is in default (as defined in
Section 3(x)(1) of FDIA), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate
as of the date of default; however, this Paragraph shall not affect the vested
rights of the parties.
(3) If a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or
(g)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(3) or (g)(1)) suspends and/or temporarily
prohibits the Employee from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs,
the Bank's obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of
such service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the
notice are dismissed, the Bank may in its discretion (i) pay the Employee all or
part of the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were suspended,
and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were
suspended.
(4) Any payments made to the Employee pursuant
to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their
compliance with both 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated
thereunder, and Regulatory Bulletin 27A, but only to the extent required
thereunder on the date any payment is required pursuant to this Agreement.
(f) Voluntary Termination by Employee. Subject to Section
12 hereof, the Employee may voluntarily terminate employment with the Bank
during the term of this Agreement, upon at least 90 days' prior written notice
to the Board of Directors, in which case the Employee shall receive only his
compensation, vested rights and employee benefits up to the date of his
termination (unless such termination occurs pursuant to Section 10(d) hereof or
within the Protected Period, in Section 12(a) hereof, in which event the
benefits and compensation provided for in Sections 10(d) or 12, as applicable,
shall apply).
(g) Post-termination Health Insurance. If the Employee's
employment terminates with the Bank or the Company for any reason other than
Just Cause, the Employee shall be entitled to purchase from the Bank, at the
Employee's own expense which shall not exceed applicable COBRA rates, family
medical insurance under any group health plan that the Bank or the Company
maintains for its employees. This right shall be (i) in addition to, and not in
lieu of, any other rights that the Employee has under this Agreement, and (ii)
shall continue until the Employee first becomes eligible for participation in
Medicare.
11. No Mitigation. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate
the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise and no such payment shall be offset or reduced by the
amount of any compensation or benefits provided to the Employee in any
subsequent employment.
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12. Change in Control.
(a) Trigger Events. The Employee shall be entitled to
collect the severance benefits set forth in Subsection (b) hereof in the event
that either (i) the Employee voluntarily terminates for any reason within the
30-day period beginning on the date of a Change in Control, (ii) the Employee
voluntarily terminates employment within 90 days of an event that both occurs
during the Protected Period and constitutes Good Reason, or (iii) the Bank or
the Company or their successor(s) in interest terminate the Employee's
employment without his written consent and for any reason other than Just Cause
during the Protected Period.
(b) Amount of Severance Benefit. If the Employee becomes
entitled to collect severance benefits pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the
Bank shall:
(i) pay the Employee a severance benefit equal
to the difference between the Code ss.280G Maximum and the sum of any other
"parachute payments" as defined under Code ss.280G(b)(2) that the Employee
receives on account of the Change in Control, and
(ii) honor the provisions of Section 10(g) of
this Agreement.
The amount payable under Section 12(b)(i) shall be paid in one lump sum
within ten days of the later of the date of the Change in Control and the
Employee's last day of employment with the Bank or the Company. In the event
that the Employee, the Bank, and the Company jointly agree that the Employee has
collected an amount exceeding the Code ss.280G Maximum, the parties may agree in
writing that such excess shall be treated as a loan ab initio, which the
Employee shall repay to the Bank, on terms and conditions mutually agreeable to
the parties, together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided for
in Section 7872(f)(2)(B) of the Code.
(c) Funding of Grantor Trust upon Change in
Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement that may be
contrary or inconsistent herewith, not later than ten business days after a
Change in Control, the Bank shall (i) deposit in a Trust an amount equal to the
Code ss.280G Maximum, unless the Employee has previously provided a written
release of any claims under this Agreement, and (ii) provide the trustee of the
Trust with a written direction to hold said amount and any investment return
thereon in a segregated account for the benefit of the Employee, and to follow
the procedures set forth in the next two paragraphs as to the payment of such
amounts from the Trust. The funds in the Trust are to be used for payments due
pursuant to subsections 12(a) and 12(b), and not for normal compensation.
At any time or from time to time during the 27-consecutive month period
after a Change in Control, the Employee may provide the trustee of the Trust
with a written notice directing that the trustee pay to the Employee an amount
designated in the notice as being payable pursuant to this Agreement. Within
three business days after receiving said notice, the
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trustee of the Trust shall send a copy of the notice to the Bank via overnight
and registered mail return receipt requested. On the fifth business day after
mailing said notice to the Bank, the trustee of the Trust shall pay the Employee
the amount designated therein in immediately available funds, unless prior
thereto the Bank provides the trustee with a written notice directing the
trustee to withhold such payment. In the latter event, the trustee shall submit
the dispute to non-appealable binding arbitration for a determination of the
amount payable to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, and the costs of such
arbitration (including any attorneys' fees incurred by the Employee) shall be
paid by the Bank. The costs of such arbitration may be paid by the Bank only
after an express written finding by the Board that the payment of the costs of
such arbitration is not detrimental to the Bank's safety and soundness. The
trustee shall choose the arbitrator to settle the dispute, and such arbitrator
shall be bound by the rules of the American Arbitration Association in making
his determination. The parties and the trustee shall be bound by the results of
the arbitration and, within three days of the determination by the arbitrator,
the trustee shall pay from the Trust the amounts required to be paid to the
Employee and/or the Bank, and in no event shall the trustee be liable to either
party for making the payments as determined by the arbitrator.
Upon the earlier of (1) receiving the Employee's written release of all
claims under this Agreement, or (ii) the date 27 months after the date on which
the Bank makes the deposit referred to in the first paragraph of this subsection
12(c), the trustee of the Trust shall pay to the Bank the entire balance
remaining in the segregated account maintained for the benefit of the Employee.
The Employee shall thereafter have no further interest in the Trust pursuant to
this Agreement.
13. Indemnification. The Bank and the Company agree that their
respective Bylaws shall continue to provide for indemnification of directors,
officers, employees and agents of the Bank and the Company, including the
Employee during the full term of this Agreement, and to at all times provide
adequate insurance for such purposes.
14. Federal Income Tax Withholding. The Bank may withhold all
federal and state income or other taxes from any benefit payable under this
Agreement as shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or
ruling.
15. Successors and Assigns.
(a) Bank. This Agreement shall not be assignable by the
Bank, provided that this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon any corporate or other successor of the Bank which shall acquire, directly
or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or
substantially all of the assets or stock of the Bank.
(b) Employee. Since the Bank is contracting for the
unique and personal skills of the Employee, the Employee shall be precluded from
assigning or delegating his rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining
the written consent of the Bank; provided, however, that nothing in this
paragraph shall preclude (i) the Employee from designating a beneficiary to
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receive any benefit payable hereunder upon his death, or (ii) the executors,
administrators, or other legal representatives of the Employee or his estate
from assigning any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereunto.
(c) Attachment. 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 exclusion, attachment, levy or similar process or assignment
by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any
such action shall be null, void and of no effect.
16. Amendments. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall
be binding unless made in writing and signed by all of the parties, except as
herein otherwise specifically provided.
17. Applicable Law. Except to the extent preempted by
Federal law, the laws of the State of Georgia shall govern this Agreement in all
respects, whether as to its validity, construction, capacity, performance or
otherwise.
18. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall
be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any
understanding or modifications thereof as agreed to in writing by the parties,
shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto and shall
supersede any prior agreement between the parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year
first hereinabove written.
ATTEST: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ FEDERAL BANK
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ BY: /s/ ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
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Secretary Its Chairman of the Board
WITNESS:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Employee
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