EXHIBIT 10.7
FORM OF
MASSACHUSETTS FINCORP, INC.
THREE-YEAR
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of __________, 1998, by
and between Massachusetts Fincorp, Inc. (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 Massachusetts Co-operative 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 President and Chief Executive Officer 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 or 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, 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, professional 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 President and Chief Executive Officer of the Holding Company.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Bank shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of $___________
per year ("Base Salary") payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices
of the Bank. Base Salary shall include any amounts of compensation deferred by
Executive under any tax-qualified retirement or welfare benefit plan or any
other deferred compensation arrangement maintained by the Bank. During the
period of this Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least
annually; 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) Discretionary Bonuses. The Executive shall be entitled to participate
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in an equitable manner with all other executive officers of the Holding Company
in discretionary bonuses as authorized and declared by the Holding Company Board
to executive employees. No other compensation provided for in this Agreement
shall be deemed a substitute for the Executive's right to participate in such
bonuses when and as declared by the Holding Company Board.
(c) The Executive shall be entitled to receive fees for serving as a
director of the Holding Company and/or the Bank or as a member of any committee
as received by other
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members of the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company and/or the Bank.
(d) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit
plans, arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which
Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior
to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Holding Company will
not, without Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans,
arrangements or perquisites which would materially adversely affect Executive's
rights or benefits thereunder; except to the extent such changes are made
applicable to all Holding Company employees on a non-discriminatory basis.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Subsection
(d), Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under all
plans relating to stock options, restricted stock awards, stock purchases,
pension, thrift, supplemental retirement, profit-sharing, employee stock
ownership, group life insurance, medical and other health and welfare coverage,
education, cash or stock bonuses that are now or hereafter made available by the
Holding Company in the future to its senior executives and key management
employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and
overall administration of such plans and arrangements. Nothing paid to the
Executive under any such plan or arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of
other compensation to which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined)
during the Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions
of this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of
Termination" shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the
termination by the 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) failure to elect or reelect or to
appoint or reappoint Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer, unless
consented to by the Executive, (B) a material change in Executive's function,
duties, or responsibilities 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 relocation of
Executive's principal place of employment by more than 25 miles from its
location at the effective date of this Agreement, unless consented to by the
Executive, (D) a material reduction in the benefits and perquisites to the
Executive from those being provided as of the effective date of this Agreement,
unless consented to by the Executive, (E) a liquidation or dissolution of the
Holding Company or the Institution, or (F) breach of this Agreement by the
Holding Company. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A),
(B), (C), (D), (E) or (F), above, Executive shall have the right to elect to
terminate his employment under this Agreement by 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.
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(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 of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, a sum equal to the sum of:
(i) the Base Salary and bonuses in accordance with Sections 3(a) and 3(b);
respectively, that would have been paid to Executive for the remaining term of
this Agreement had the Event of Termination not occurred, plus the value as
calculated by a recognized firm customarily performing such valuation, of any
stock options or related rights which as of the Date of Termination have been
granted to Executive but are not exercisable by Executive and the value of any
restricted stock or related rights which have been granted to Executive; but in
which Executive does not have a non-forfeitable or fully-vested interest as of
the Date of Termination; and; and (ii) all benefits, including health insurance
in accordance with Section 3(d) that would have been provided to Executive for
the remaining term of the this Agreement had an Event of Termination not occur.
At the election of the Executive, which election is to be made prior to an Event
of Termination, such payments shall be made in a lump sum. In the event that no
election is made, payment to the Executive will be made on a monthly basis in
approximately equal installments during the remaining term of the Agreement.
Such payments shall not be reduced in the event the Executive obtains other
employment following termination of employment.
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the 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" 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 Bank and the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") at 12 C.F.R. (S) 225.41(b) with
respect to the Holding Company, as in effect on the date hereof; or (iii)
results in a transaction requiring prior FRB approval under the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956 and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the FRB at 12
C.F.R. (S) 225.11, as in effect on the date hereof except for the Holding
Company's acquisition of the Bank; or (iv) without limitation such a Change in
Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (A) any "person" (as
the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes
the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Bank or the Holding Company
representing 20% or more of the Bank's or the Holding Company's outstanding
securities except for any securities of the Bank purchased by the Holding
Company in connection with the conversion of the Bank to the stock
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form and any securities purchased by any tax qualified employee benefit plan of
the Bank; or (B) individuals who constitute the Board of Directors on the date
hereof (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the
date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of
the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election
by the Holding Company's stockholders was approved by the same Nominating
Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this
clause (B), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (C)
a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all the assets of the Bank or the Holding Company or similar transaction occurs
in which the Bank or Holding Company is not the resulting entity; or (D)
solicitations of shareholders of the Holding Company, by someone other than the
current management of the Holding Company, seeking stockholder approval of a
plan or reorganization, merger of consolidation of the Holding Company or Bank
or similar transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the
outstanding shares of the class of securities then subject to the plan or
transaction are exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities
not issued by the Bank or the Holding Company shall be distributed; or (E) a
tender offer is made for 20% or more of the voting securities of the Bank or the
Holding Company.
(b) If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Section 5(a) or the
Board has determined that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall be
entitled to the benefits provided in paragraphs (c) and (d), of this Section 5
upon his subsequent termination of employment at any time during the term of
this Agreement due to (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 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: (1)
the Base Salary and bonuses in accordance with Sections 3(a) and 3(b),
respectively, that would have been paid to Executive for the payments due for
the remaining term of the Agreement had the event described in Subsection (b) of
this Section 5 not occurred, plus value, as calculated by a recognized firm
customarily performing such valuation, of any stock option or related rights
which as of the Date of Termination have been granted to Executive, but are not
exercisable by Executive and the value of restricted stock awards or related
rights which have been granted to Executive, but which Executive does not have a
non-forfeitable or fully-vested interest as of the Date of Termination and all
benefits, including health insurance, in accordance with Section 3(d) that would
have been provided to Executive for the remaining term of this Agreement had the
event described in Subsection (b) of this Section 5 not occurred; or 2) three
(3) times Executive's Average Annual Compensation (as defined herein) for the
five (5) most recent taxable years that Executive has been employed by the Bank
or such
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lesser number of years in the event that Executive shall have been employed by
the Bank for less than five (5) years. Such "Average Annual Compensation" shall
include all taxable income paid by the Bank or Holding Company, including but
not limited to, Base Salary, commissions, and bonuses, as well as contributions
on Executive's behalf to any pension and/or profit sharing plan, severance
payments, retirement payments, directors or committee fees and fringe benefits
paid or to be paid to the Executive in any such year and payment of any expense
items without accountability or business purpose or that do not meet the
Internal Revenue Service requirements for deductibility by the Bank. At the
election of the Executive, which election is to be made prior to a Change in
Control, such payment shall be made in a lump sum. In the event that no election
is made, payment to the Executive will be made on a monthly basis in
approximately equal installments during the remaining term of the Agreement.
Such payments shall not be reduced in the event 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 disability
coverage substantially equivalent to the coverage maintained by the Institution
for Executive at no premium cost to Executive prior to his severance. Such
coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration of twenty-four (24) 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:
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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 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
Executive's personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, any 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. 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
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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.
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).
(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.
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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.
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
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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. 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 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 __________, 199_,
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
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the Holding Company and their respective successors and assigns.
14. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.
(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver
unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as
to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically
waived.
15. SEVERABILITY.
If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.
16. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.
17. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware
without regards to principles of conflicts of law of this state.
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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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 all back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation,
fringe benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive under this
Agreement.
19. PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES.
All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any
dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid
or reimbursed by the Holding Company, if Executive is successful pursuant to a
legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.
20. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) 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.
(b) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Section are subject to
and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and 12 C.F.R.
Part 359 and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
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.
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SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ___________________ 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
________, 1998.
ATTEST: MASSACHUSETTS FINCORP, INC.
_______________________________ By: _________________________________
_______________________ _____________________________
Secretary Director, President and Chief
Executive Officer
For the Entire Board of Directors
[SEAL]
WITNESS:
_______________________________ By: _________________________________
_______________________
Secretary Executive
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