PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON- DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

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Exhibit 10.1

 

PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY

AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

 

PART I

PARTIES TO AGREEMENT

 

Section 1.01 - Parties:  This Employment Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, a California banking corporation (the “Bank”) and Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Bancorp”) their successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Employer”), and ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (hereinafter referred to as “Employee”).  Employer and Employee are sometimes collectively referred to hereinafter as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”.

 

PART II

EMPLOYMENT

 

Section 2.01 - Employment:  Employer hereby agrees to continue employing Employee, and Employee hereby accepts such continued employment with Employer, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

Section 2.02 - Term of Employment:  This Agreement shall become effective on April 1, 2014 provided Employee has executed and returned to Employer the general release of claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.  This Agreement shall terminate on March 31, 2017 unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of Part VII herein.  If this Agreement is not terminated pursuant to Part VII, and provided Employee enters into an effective general release of claims at that time in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Agreement shall renew automatically for an additional two year term, and for successive additional two year terms thereafter, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of Part VII.

 

PART III

DUTIES OF EMPLOYEE

 

Section 3.01- General Duties:  During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall be employed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and Company under the direction of Bank’s and Company’s Board of Directors and shall perform and discharge well and faithfully the duties that may be assigned to Employee from time to time by the Bank’s and Company’s Board of Directors in connection with the conduct of the Employer’s business.  Employee shall report to such Boards of Directors and shall have the powers and duties customarily associated with the office of chief executive officer.  During the term of this Agreement, the Company and Bank shall use their best efforts to cause Employee to be elected to their respective Boards of Directors.

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Section 3.02 - Outside Activities:  Employee agrees that, while employed by Employer, Employee will refrain from any outside activities which actually or potentially are in direct conflict with the essential enterprise-related or reputational interest of Employer, that would cause disruption of the Employer’s operations, or that would be in direct competition with the Employer or assist competitors of the Employer.  It shall not be a violation of this Agreement for Employee (A) to serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, or (B) to deliver lectures or fulfill speaking engagements, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of Employee’s responsibilities as an employee of the Employer; provided, however, that Employee shall give the Employer’s Board of Directors not less than fourteen (14) days’ notice of any actions contemplated by clauses (A) or (B), and will refrain from any such action to which the Board of Directors in their sole discretion, objects.  It shall not be a violation of this Agreement for Employee to manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not represent a conflict with Employer, as described in Employer’s Employee Code of Conduct, and other pertinent policies and agreements.

 

PART IV

COMPENSATION

 

Section 4.01 - Salary:  Employee shall be paid an annual base salary of no less than $695,016 per year.  This base salary shall be paid to Employee in such intervals and at such times as other salaried executives of Employer are paid.  Employer’s Board of Directors reserves the right to set the timing and level of salary adjustments for all employees and any particular employee at its sole discretion.

 

Section 4.02 - Incentive and Retention Programs:  Employee shall be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive bonus.  The amount of the bonus for a given year shall be determined by Employer’s Board of Directors annually by March 31st of each following year and shall be paid no later than April 15^th of each following year, provided Employee is still employed by Employer on the payment date.  Employee shall be entitled to participate in the “Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California Executive Retirement Plan – Salary Component”, “Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California Split Dollar Agreement, “Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California Executive Retirement Plan – Equity Component”, “Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California Executive Retirement Plan – Performance Component” and the “Farmers & Merchants Bank Deferred Compensation Plan”, the terms and conditions of which are set forth in separate agreements so titled.

 

PART V

BENEFITS

 

Section 5.01 - Benefits:  Employee shall be entitled to participate in whatever vacation, medical, dental, pension, sick leave, 401(k), profit sharing, disability insurance or other plans of general application, or other benefits which are in effect as to other executive officers of Employer, or as may be in effect from time to time, in accordance with the rules established for individual participation in any such plan.

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Section 5.02 - Automobile/Automobile Allowance:  Employer shall provide Employee with either an automobile for business and incidental personal use or an automobile allowance as per Employer policy.  However, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, Employer reserves the right to change or eliminate this benefit at any time.

 

Section 5.03 - Membership Fees:  Employer shall reimburse Employee for all appropriate and reasonable expenses incurred in performing Employee’s duties, including providing and paying for the dues and fees of membership in local service and civic clubs and/or organizations as Employer deems appropriate and necessary for enhancement of its presence within the local business community.  In order to be eligible for reimbursement of these expenses, Employee must obtain pre-approval for such memberships from Employer’s Board of Directors and must provide Employer with receipts and documented evidence as is required by federal and state laws and regulations.

 

Section 5.04 - Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Coverage:  To the extent commercially reasonable to do so under prevailing conditions in the insurance market, Employer shall provide directors and officers liability insurance coverage for the protection of Employee on terms and conditions no less favorable to Employee than are in effect on the date that this Agreement shall become effective. Following any termination of Employee’s employment with Employer, such coverage shall be continued under substantially the same terms and conditions as are in effect immediately prior to such termination of employment at no cost to Employee until all applicable statutes of limitation expire with respect to claims arising prior to such termination of employment.  Employee expressly acknowledges, however, that Employer cannot and shall not guarantee the performance of the insurance company issuing such directors and officers liability insurance coverage pursuant to this Section.  In addition to the foregoing, Employer shall also continue to make indemnification and advancement of litigation expense payments to Employee to the maximum extent and for the maximum period permitted by law; provided, however, that the obligation of Employer to advance litigation expense payments shall be subject to Employee having executed and delivered to Employer, in a form approved by Employer, an undertaking to return such payments in the event that a court shall have determined that Employee is not entitled to indemnification under the applicable legal standards.

 

PART VI

EXPENSES

 

Section 6.01 - Travel and Entertainment Expenses:  During the term of this Agreement, Employer shall reimburse Employee for reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in connection with Employer’s business, including travel expenses, food and lodging while away from Employee’s home, subject to such policies as Employer may from time to time establish for other officers of equivalent title.  Employee shall keep records of Employee’s travel and entertainment expenses in a form suitable to the Internal Revenue Service and the Franchise Tax Board to qualify this reimbursement as a federal and state income tax deduction for Employer.  In addition, Employee shall provide Employer with receipts for all expenses for which Employee seeks reimbursement.

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PART VII

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

 

Section 7.01 - Termination at Option of Employer:  Employer may terminate this Agreement at any time and without “Cause” (as defined below) by giving Employee sixty (60) days written notice of Employer’s intent to terminate this Agreement.  The 60th day after Notice of Termination shall be deemed Employee’s Separation Date.  In the event Employee’s employment is terminated by Employer pursuant to this Section, Employee shall be paid all accrued salary, accrued but unused vacation, and reimbursement expenses for which expense reports have been provided to Employer, or which are provided to Employer prior to the Separation Date, in accordance with Employer’s policies and this Agreement.  In addition to the foregoing amounts, if Employee is terminated by Employer pursuant to this Section, and subject to (A) Employee’s continued employment through, and termination of employment on, the Separation Date; (B) Employee’s continued loyalty to Employer, which includes, but is not limited to, Employee or any outside third party refraining from any announcements to anyone inside or outside Employer that the Employee is leaving Employer; and (C) Employee’s execution and non-revocation of a general release of all claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, which release becomes irrevocable within 60 days following the Separation Date or such earlier deadline provided by Employer, then Employee will be entitled to receipt of the following Severance Package:

 

1.

A Severance Payment equivalent to twenty-four (24) times the highest monthly base salary which Employee has earned during Employee’s employment with Employer.  The Severance Payment shall be paid out in equal increments on regularly scheduled pay days for a period of 24 months following the Separation Date, provided that any payments delayed pending the effectiveness of the release shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum on the next pay day following the effectiveness of the release, with any remaining payments due paid in accordance with the schedule otherwise provided herein.  Such payments will cease, however, if Employee fails to comply with the provisions of Part VIII of this Agreement.

 

2.

A Severance Bonus in an amount equal to the average of the Employee’s annual discretionary incentive bonus for the previous two years, prorated for the number of months between the Separation Date and the end of Employer’s last fiscal year.  The Severance Bonus shall be paid in a lump sum on the Employee’s Separation Date.

 

3.

Payment of all awards of benefit plans and incentive and retention programs in accordance with the terms of those plans and programs, including applicable vesting and forfeiture provisions.  Any such payment or distribution from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan shall be governed by the terms of such plan relating to the timing of distributions.

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Section 7.02- Termination for Cause:  Employer may terminate Employee’s employment at any time for “Cause” upon written Notice of Termination to Employee, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for the determination of “Cause.”  Termination for Cause shall be effective immediately upon receipt of the Notice of Termination by Employee, and the date on which the Notice of Termination is received shall be deemed to be the Separation Date.  If Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 7.02, Employee shall be entitled only to accrued salary, vacation and reimbursement of expenses for which expense reports have been provided to Employer, or which are provided to Employer prior to the Separation Date, in accordance with Employer’s policies and this Agreement.  Employee shall be entitled to no further compensation or severance payment of any nature; provided however, that Employee will also be entitled to payment of all awards of benefit plans and incentive and retention programs in accordance with the terms of those plans, including any applicable vesting and forfeiture provisions.  Any such payment or distribution from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan shall be governed by the terms of such plan relating to the timing of distributions.

 

“Cause” for purposes of this Agreement shall be defined as conviction of a felony resulting in a material adverse economic effect on Employer; provided that the determination of such material adverse economic effect shall in any case be made pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by a vote of no less than two-thirds (2/3’s) of the entire Board of Directors of the Bank at a meeting duly held and called for such purpose; and provided further, that Employee shall be given reasonable notice of such meeting and shall have the opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board of Directors at any such meeting.

Section 7.03 - Termination at Option of Employee:  This Agreement may be terminated by Employee at Employee’s sole discretion by giving one hundred twenty (120) days written Notice of Resignation to Employer.  If Employee terminates his/her employment pursuant to this Section 7.03, and subject to Employee’s continued satisfactory performance of such tasks and duties that may be assigned to Employee through the Separation Date, and Employee’s continued loyalty to Employer through the Separation Date (which includes, but is not limited to, refraining from any announcements by Employee or any outside third party to anyone inside or outside Employer that the Employee is leaving Employer), Employee shall receive accrued salary and payment for accrued but unused vacation through the Separation Date.  Employee shall also be entitled to payment of all awards of benefit plans and incentive and retention programs, in accordance with the terms of those plans, including applicable vesting and forfeiture provisions.  Any such payment or distribution from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan shall be governed by the terms of such plan relating to the timing of distributions.  Alternatively, Employer may, at its option, at any time after Employee gives written Notice of Resignation as herein provided, pay Employee’s accrued salary up to and including the effective Separation Date set forth in Employee’s Notice of Resignation, and thereupon immediately release and terminate Employee’s employment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employer determines at any time during the120-day notice period that Employee materially breaches the obligations imposed by the provisions of this Section 7.03 and Part VIII of this Agreement, Employer may shorten the notice period and accelerate the Separation Date, thereby reducing the compensation otherwise payable to Employee pursuant to this Section.

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Section 7.04 - Option to Terminate on Permanent Disability of Employee:  Employer may terminate this Agreement if, during the term of this Agreement, Employee shall become “Permanently Disabled”, as that term is defined herein.  A termination pursuant to this Section 7.04 shall be deemed a termination without “Cause,” and shall be governed by the procedures, and shall entitle Employee to the Severance Package specified in Section 7.01. For purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be deemed to have become Permanently Disabled if Employee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity, with or without reasonable accommodation, for an aggregate of 120 working days over a six month period, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment.  Employer may issue its Notice of Termination to Employee on or after the 90^th working day of Permanent Disability, as defined herein.

 

The Notice of Termination shall be deemed withdrawn and the Agreement shall remain in effect after a Notice of Termination has been given to Employee under the following circumstances.

 

A.	Within thirty (30) days of the Notice of Termination being given to Employee, Employee returns to the full performance of Employee’s duties and provides medical certification that Employee can perform the essential functions of Employee’s duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

 

B.

Within thirty (30) days of the Notice of Termination being given to Employee, Employee requests a reasonable accommodation from Employer which would permit Employee to perform the essential functions of Employee’s duties and such reasonable accommodation can be provided by Employer without an undue hardship.

 

Section 7.05 - Change of Control:  In the event of a Change of Control of Employer or Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) during the term of this Agreement and prior to Employee’s termination of employment, and upon the execution by Employee and non-revocation of a general release of all claims provided by Employer, Employer will provide Employee with a Change of Control Compensation Package equal to (A) twenty-four  times the highest monthly base salary which Employee has earned during Employee’s employment with Employer; (B) an amount equal to the sum of Employee’s previous two years’ (i) annual discretionary incentive bonuses and (ii) annual payments to all components of the Executive Retirement Plan, in each case to the extent paid before the Change of Control; (C) Employee’s monthly premium for continuation coverage under COBRA (as defined in Section 7.07), determined as of the closing or other occurrence of the Change of Control, multiplied by thirty-six (36) months, whether or not such continuation coverage is elected by Employee; and (D) a gross-up payment as defined and set forth herein in Section 7.05.2.  In addition, Employee will be entitled to payment of all awards of benefit plans and incentive and retention programs in accordance with the terms of those plans and programs, including applicable vesting and forfeiture provisions.  Upon the closing or other occurrence of the Change of Control transaction, and subject to the provisions of this Section 7.05, Employee shall receive disbursement of payments due Employee under this Section (except for payments or distributions from or pursuant to any nonqualified deferred compensation plan), in one lump sum payment, less any withholding required by state, federal or local law.  Any payment or distribution from or pursuant to any nonqualified deferred compensation plan shall be governed by the terms of such plan.  If Employee becomes entitled to payment under this Section 7.05, Employee shall not be entitled to the Severance Package under Sections 7.01 or 7.04, notwithstanding Employee’s subsequent termination of employment pursuant to those Sections.

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1.

Change of Control means a change of control of Bancorp. Such a Change of Control  will be deemed to have occurred immediately before any of the following occur: (i) individuals, who were members of the Board of Directors of Bancorp immediately prior to a meeting of the shareholders of Bancorp which meeting involved a contest for the election of directors, do not constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Bancorp following such election or meeting, (ii) an acquisition, directly or indirectly, of more than 30% of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities of Bancorp by any Person, (iii) a merger, consolidation or sale of all, or substantially all, of the assets of Bancorp, wherein its shareholders immediately before such transaction shall own of record (immediately after such transaction) equity securities, other than any warrant or right to purchase such equity securities, of Bancorp or an acquiring entity or any parent entity thereof, possessing less than 70% of the voting power of Bancorp or such acquiring entity or any parent entity thereof; in making the determination of ownership of such equity securities immediately after such transaction, equity securities owned by shareholders of Bancorp immediately prior to the transaction as shareholders to another party to the transaction shall be disregarded, or (iv) there is a change, during any period of one year, of a majority of the Board of Directors of Bancorp as constituted as of the beginning of such period, unless the election of each director who is not a director at the beginning of such period was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then in office who were directors at the beginning of such period.  If the events or circumstances described in (i)-(iv), above, shall occur to or be applicable to Bank, then such Change of Control shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to also be a “Change of Control” of Bancorp.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Person” shall mean and include any individual, corporation, partnership, group, association or other “person”, as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, other than Bancorp, Employer, any other wholly owned subsidiary of Bancorp or any employee benefit plan(s) sponsored by Bancorp, Bank or other subsidiary of Bancorp.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred unless the change also constitutes the occurrence of a "change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5), with respect to the Employee.

 

2.	Gross-Up Payment:  Employee shall be entitled to a “Gross-Up Payment” under the terms and conditions set forth herein, and such payment shall include the Excise Tax reimbursement due pursuant to Section 7.05.2.a and any federal and state tax reimbursements due pursuant to Section 7.05.2.b.

 

a.

In the event that any payment or benefit (as those terms are defined within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G(b)(2)) paid, payable, distributed or distributable to the Employee (hereinafter referred to as “Payments”) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise in connection with or arising out of Employee’s employment with Employer or a change of control would be subject to the Excise Tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue code or any interest or penalties are incurred by Employee with respect to such Excise Tax, then Employee will be entitled to receive an additional payment (“Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount equal to the total Excise Tax, interest and penalties imposed on Employee as a result of the payment and the Excise Taxes on any federal and state tax reimbursements as set forth in Section 7.05.2.b.

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b.

If Employer is obligated to pay Employee pursuant to Section 7.05.2.a, Employer shall also pay Employee an amount equal to the “total presumed federal and state taxes” that could be imposed on Employee with respect to the Excise Tax reimbursements due to Employee pursuant to Section 7.05.2.a and the federal and state tax reimbursements due to Employee pursuant to this section.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the “total presumed federal and state taxes” that could be imposed on Employee shall be conclusively calculated using a combined tax rate equal to the sum of the (a) the highest individual income tax rate in effect under Federal tax law applicable to Employee and (ii) the tax laws of the state in which Employee will be subject to tax on the payment and (b) the hospital insurance portion of FICA.

 

c.

No adjustments will be made in this combined rate for the deduction of state taxes on the federal return, the loss of itemized deductions or exemptions, or for any other purpose for paying the actual taxes.

It is further intended that in the event that any payments would be subject to other “penalty” taxes (in addition to the Excise Tax in section 7.05.2.a) imposed applicable federal tax law, that these taxes would also be included in the calculation of the Gross-Up Payment, including any federal and state tax reimbursements pursuant to section 7.05.2.b.

 

3.

Determination of Eligibility for and Amount of Gross-Up Payment:  An initial determination as to whether a Gross-Up Payment is required pursuant to this Agreement and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment shall be made at Employer’s expense by an accounting firm appointed by Employer prior to any Change of Control.  The accounting firm shall provide its determination, together with detailed supporting calculations and documentation to Employer and Employee prior to submission of the proposed Change of Control to Employer’s or Bancorp’s shareholders, Board of Directors or appropriate regulators for approval.  If the accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Employee with respect to a Payment or Payments, it shall furnish Employee with an opinion reasonably acceptable to Employee that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to any such Payment or Payments.  Within ten (10) days of the delivery of the determination to Employee, Employee shall have the right to dispute the determination.  The existence of the dispute shall not in any way affect Employee’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payment in accordance with the determination.  Upon the final resolution of a dispute, Employer or its successor shall promptly pay to Employee any additional amount required by such resolution.  If there is no dispute, the determination shall be binding, final and conclusive upon Employer and Employee, except to the extent that any taxing authority subsequently makes a determination that the Excise Tax or additional Excise Tax is due and owing on the payments made to Employee.  If any taxing authority determines that the Excise Tax or additional Excise Tax is due and owing, Employer or the entity acquiring control of Employer shall pay the Excise Tax and any penalties assessed by such taxing authority.

 

4.

Excise Tax Withholding:  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that according to the determination, an Excise Tax will be imposed on any Payment or Payments, Employer or its successor shall pay to the applicable government taxing authorities as Excise Tax withholding, the amount of the Excise Tax that Employer has actually withheld from the Payment or Payments.

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Section 7.06 – Non-Renewal of Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, if this Agreement is not renewed automatically by reason of Employee’s failure to execute an effective general release pursuant to Section 2.02, Employee will not be entitled to the Severance Package specified in Section 7.01.

 

Section 7.07 - Continuation of Medical Benefits:  In the event Employee’s employment is terminated Employee shall be afforded the right to continue his/her medical benefits to the extent provided in the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), at his/her expense.  Employer shall provide Employee with the appropriate COBRA notification within the time required by the law from the Separation Date.

 

PART VIII

COVENANTS

 

Section 8.01 - Confidential Nature of Relationship.  Employee acknowledges (i) the highly competitive nature of the business and the industry in which Employer competes; (ii) that as a key executive of Employer he/she has participated in and will continue to participate in the service of current customers and/or the solicitation of prospective customers, through which, among other things, Employee has obtained and will continue to obtain knowledge of the “know-how” and business practices of Employer, in which matters Employer has a substantial proprietary interest; (iii) that his/her employment hereunder renders the performance of services which are special, unique, extraordinary and intellectual in character, and his/her position with Employer placed and places him/her in a position of confidence and trust with the customers and employees of Employer; and (iv) that his/her rendering of services to the customers of Employer necessarily requires the disclosure to Employee of Trade and Business Secrets, Proprietary and Confidential Information, and Employer Materials (as defined in Section 8.03 below) of Employer.  In the course of Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee has and will continue to develop a personal relationship with the customers and prospective customers (defined for purposes of this Agreement as customers that Employer is either actively soliciting or in the process of making a proposal for services to as of Employee’s Separation Date) of Employer and a knowledge of those customers’ and prospective customers’ affairs and requirements, and the relationship of Employer with its established clientele has been, and will continue to be, placed in Employee’s hands in confidence and trust.   Employee consequently agrees that it is a legitimate interest of Employer, and reasonable and necessary for the protection of the confidential information, goodwill and business of Employer, which is valuable to Employer, that Employee make the covenants contained herein.

 

Employee Initials ____

 

Section 8.02 - Restrictions:  Accordingly, Employee agrees that during the period that he/she is employed by Employer, unless in the normal course of business, he/she shall not, as an individual, employee, consultant, independent contractor, partner, shareholder, or in association with any other person, business or enterprise, directly or indirectly, and regardless of the reason for him/her ceasing to be employed by Employer, engage in the following:

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A.

Disclosure of Proprietary Information or Materials.  Employee agrees that he/she will not directly or indirectly reveal, report, publish or disclose to any person, firm, or corporation not expressly authorized in writing by Employer’s Board of Directors to receive any Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential Information or Employer Materials (as defined in Section 8.03 below).  Employee further agrees that he/she will not use any Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential Information and/or Employer Materials for any purpose except to perform his/her employment duties for Employer and such Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential Information and/or Employer Materials may not be used or disclosed by Employee for his/her own benefit or purpose or for the benefit or purpose of a subsequent employer.  These agreements will continue to apply after Employee is no longer employed by Employer so long as such Trade and Business Secrets, Proprietary and Confidential Information and Employer Materials are not nor have become, by legitimate means, generally known to the public.

 

B.

Solicitation of Employees.  Employee recognizes that he/she possesses and will possess confidential information about other employees of Employer and its affiliates relating to their education, experience, skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and inter-personal relationships with customer(s) of Employer and its affiliates.  Employee recognizes that the information he/she possesses and will possess about these other employees is not generally known, is of substantial value to Employer and its affiliates in developing their business and in securing and retaining customers, and in managing general daily operations of Employer, and has been and will be acquired by Employee because of his/her business position with Employer and its affiliates.  Employee agrees that at all times during his/her employment with Employer and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or recruit any employee of Employer or its affiliates for the purpose of being employed by, or serving as a consultant or information resource to, the Employee, or any competitor of Employer or its affiliates on whose behalf Employee is acting as an agent, representative or employee, and that Employee will not convey such confidential information or trade secrets about other employees of Employer and its affiliates to any other Person or legal entity.  In view of the nature of Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee likewise agrees that Employer and its affiliates would be irreparably harmed by any such solicitation or recruitment in violation of the terms of this paragraph and that Employer and its affiliates shall therefore be entitled to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the Employee from engaging in any activity or threatened activity in violation of the terms of this paragraph and to any other relief, including financial compensation commensurate with damages caused, available to them.

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C.

Solicitation of Customers.  During the Employee’s employment by Employer and its affiliates and for a period of twelve (12) months after such employment ceases, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly (whether as an officer, director, owner, employee, partner, consultant or other participant), use any Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential information, or Employer Materials to identify, solicit or entice any Customer or Prospective Customer of Employer or its affiliates to make any changes whatsoever in their current or prospective relationships with Employer or its affiliates, and will not assist any other Person or entity to interfere with or dispute such current or prospective relationships.  If Employee leaves Employer and goes to work for a new employer that is a competitor of Employer, and if that new employer already has an existing relationship with a Customer or Prospective Customer of Employer or its affiliates, this paragraph does not preclude Employee from making contact with such Customer or Prospective Customer on the new employer’s behalf, so long as such contact otherwise complies with the provisions of this paragraph.  In view of the nature of the Employee’s employment with Employer, the Employee likewise agrees that Employer and its affiliates would be irreparably harmed by any such interference or competitive actions in violation of the terms of this paragraph and that Employer and its affiliates shall therefore be entitled to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the Employee from engaging in any activity or threatened activity in violation of the terms of this paragraph, in addition to any other relief, including financial compensation commensurate with damages caused, available to them.

 

Employee initials _____

 

Section 8.03 – Definitions:

 

 

 

(i) Business Activities, including but not limited to: actual or anticipated strategic plans and initiatives; marketing plans, advertising and collateral materials; new product development plans; competitor analyses; analyses of internal financial performance; financial forecasts and budgets; customer and prospect strategies and lists; proprietary designs of facilities and other delivery systems and processes; and any similar information to which Employee has access by virtue of performing his/her duties for Employer.

 

(ii) Customers, including but not limited to: information about  Employer’s customers or prospective customers, such as the customer’s or prospect’s key decision-makers; customer preferences; customer strategies; terms of any contractual arrangements with Employer; business considerations; loan, deposit and other product and service pricing, terms and conditions, repayment structures, fee arrangements, structure of guarantees from other entities; and any similar information to which Employee has access by virtue of performing his/her duties for Employer.

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(iii) Employees, including but not limited to: names of and contact information for Employer’s employees; their compensation, incentive plans, retirement plans, terms of employment, areas of expertise, projects, and experience; and any similar information to which Employee has access by virtue of performing his/her duties for Employer.

 

“Proprietary and Confidential Information” includes any information, in whatever form or format, including that which has not been memorialized in writing.

 

 

Employee Initials ____

 

Section 8.04 - Return of Employer’s Property:  Upon termination of his/her employment with Employer for any reason, Employee will promptly deliver to Employer, without copying or summarizing, all Trade and Business Secrets, Proprietary and Confidential Information, and Employer Materials that are in Employee’s possession or under Employee’s control, including, without limitation, all physical property, keys, documents, lists, electronic storage media, cell phones, iPads, manuals, letters, notes, reports, including all originals, reproductions, recordings, disks, or other media.

 

Employee acknowledges that Employee has been apprised of the provisions of Labor Code Section 2860 which provides:  “Everything which an Employee acquires by virtue of his employment, except the compensation which is due him from his Employer, belongs to the Employer, whether acquired lawfully or unlawfully, or during or after the expiration of the term of his employment.” Employee understands that any work that Employee created or helped create at the request of Employer, including user manuals, training materials, sales materials, customer and prospective customer information and business data, process manuals, and other written and visual works, are works made for hire in which Employer owns the copyright.  Employee may not reproduce or publish these copyrighted works, except in the pursuit of his/her employment duties with Employer.

 

Employee Initials ____

 

Section 8.05 - Separate Covenants:  The covenants of Part VIII of this Agreement shall be construed as separate covenants covering their particular subject matter.  In the event that any covenant shall be found to be judicially unenforceable, said covenant shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other part of this Agreement.

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Employee Initials ____

 

Section 8.06 - Continuing Obligation:  Employee’s obligations set forth in Part VIII of this Agreement shall expressly continue in effect beyond Employee’s employment period in accordance with their terms and such obligations shall be binding on Employee’s assigns, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.

Employee Initials ____

 

PART IX

 

ARBITRATION

 

Section 9.01 - Dispute Resolution:  The Parties agree that arbitration shall be the sole and exclusive remedy to redress any dispute, claim, or controversy (“Grievance”) involving the interpretation of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement, or any other claims arising out of Employee's employment with Employer or the termination thereof.  It is the intention of the Parties that the arbitration decision will be final and binding and that any and all Grievances shall be disposed of as described herein.

Section 9.02 - Process.

The arbitrator shall be chosen by mutual agreement from a panel of arbitrators provided by JAMS or, if no agreement is reached, under the rules for Employment Dispute Resolution promulgated by JAMS.

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The arbitrator’s award shall be in the form of a written opinion sufficient to allow for appropriate judicial review, shall be a final and binding determination of the dispute, and shall be fully enforceable as an arbitration award by the California courts in accordance with California law.

The arbitrator shall decide whether the conduct complained of violates the legal rights of the complaining party and, if so, shall determine and award the relief allowed by law.

Each party in such arbitration shall be responsible for its/his/her own attorneys’ fees, unless the arbitrator orders otherwise pursuant to applicable law.  Employer shall pay the cost of the arbitration if Employee prevails as determined by the arbitrator; if Employer prevails as determined by the arbitrator, Employee shall pay the cost of the arbitration only to the same extent as would be required had he/she prevailed in a civil suit under California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1032, 1033 and 1033.5.

The arbitrator shall not have jurisdiction or authority to change, add to or subtract from any of the lawful provisions of this Agreement.

Nothing herein shall prevent Employee from filing an administrative charge with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; however, the decision of the arbitrator shall be a complete defense to any suit, action or proceeding instituted in any federal, state or local court or before any administrative agency with respect to any dispute which is arbitrable as herein set forth.

Employee Initials ____

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PART X

 

TAXES

 

Section 10.01 - Withholding:  All payments to be made to Employee under this Agreement will be subject to required withholding of federal, state and local income and employment taxes as applicable.

 

Section 10.02 - Section 409A:

 

 

 

 

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PART XI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 11.01 - Notices:  Any notice to be given to Employer under the terms of this Agreement, and any notice to be given to Employee, shall be addressed to such Party at the mailing address the Party may hereafter designate in writing to the other.  Any such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given four days after the same shall be enclosed in a properly sealed and addressed envelope, registered or certified, and deposited (postage or registry or certification fee prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Government or upon actual delivery to the Party by messenger or delivery service, with receipt acknowledged in writing by the Party to whom such notice is addressed.

 

Section 11.02 - Entire Agreement:  This Agreement and the agreements incorporated by reference herein (“Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California Executive Retirement Plan” and “Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California Deferred Compensation Plan”) supersede any and all other agreements or understandings, whether oral, implied, or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and contain all of the covenants and agreements between the Parties with respect to such matters in their entirety.  Each Party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any Party, or anyone acting on behalf of any Party, which is not embodied herein, and that no other agreement, statement or promise not contained in this Agreement shall be valid or binding.  Any modification(s) to this Agreement will be effective only if in writing and signed by the Parties hereto.

 

Section 11.03 - Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Agreement and all rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations adopted thereunder, including without limitation 12 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 359.

 

Section 11.04 - Partial Invalidity:  If any provisions in this Agreement are held by a court of competent jurisdiction or an arbitrator to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect without being impaired or invalidated in any way.

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Section 11.05 - Continuing Obligations:  The obligations of the covenants contained in this Agreement shall survive the termination of the Agreement and any employment relationship between Employer and Employee.  Accordingly, neither Employer nor Employee shall be relieved of the continuing obligations of the covenants contained in this Agreement.

 

Section 11.06 - Employee’s Representations:  Employee represents and warrants that Employee is free to enter into this Agreement and to perform each of the terms and covenants in it.  Employee represents and warrants that Employee is not restricted or prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing this Agreement, and that Employee’s execution and performance of this Agreement is not a violation or breach of any other agreement or other legal obligation between Employee and any other person or entity.

 

Section 11.07 - Governing Law:  This Agreement (not including any plans or agreements incorporated by reference) shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the Parties shall be governed by, the laws of the State of California.

 

Section 11.08 - Full Settlement:  Employer’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be not be affected by any set off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which Employer may have against Employee or others. In no event shall Employee be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Employee under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amount shall not be reduced whether or not Employee obtains other employment.

 

Section 11.09 - Successors:  This Agreement shall be binding upon and enforceable against any successors to Employer. No duties provided for under this Agreement may be delegated by any of the parties hereto.  Employer will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and assets of Employer to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same matter and to the same extent that Employer would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used herein, the term “Bank” shall mean Employer as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Employee’s legal representatives.

 

Section 11.10 - No Waiver:  The failure of any of the Parties hereto to insist on strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement, or the failure to assert any right of any Party hereto may have hereunder, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or of any other provision or right contained in this Agreement.

 

Section 11.11 – Advice of Counsel:  Employee warrants that he/she has consulted with legal counsel of his/her choice to advise him/her with respect to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

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FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA and FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP			Date:  February 12, 2014
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
	▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
	Chairman of the Personnel Committee
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
	▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
	Member of the Personnel Committee
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Member of the Personnel Committee
	on behalf of FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA and FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP

Employee:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇		Date:  February 12, 2014
	▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇