EXHIBIT 10.6
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT is made effective as of August 2, 1994, by and between NEW
HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC. (the "Company") and its subsidiary Lake
Sunapee Bank, fsb. (the "Bank"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the 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 Bank on a
full-time basis for said period.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby
agree as follows:
1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and the
Company. During said period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as a
director of the Company, the Bank and/or as an officer and director of any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES.
(a) The term of this Agreement shall be deemed to have commenced as of the
date first above written and shall continue for a period of sixty (60) full
calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the first anniversary date, and
continuing at each anniversary date thereafter, the Board of Directors of the
Bank (the "Board") may extend the Agreement for an additional year. Prior to the
extension of the Agreement as provided herein, the Board will conduct a formal
performance evaluation of the Executive for purposes of determining whether to
extend the Agreement, and the results thereof shall be included in the minutes
of the Board's meeting.
(b) During the period of his employment hereunder, except for periods of
absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable
leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his business time,
attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties
hereunder including activities and services related to the organization,
operation and management of the Bank; 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 the
Board's judgment, will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank, or
materially affect the performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this
Agreement.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The compensation specified under this Agreement shall constitute the
salary and benefits paid for the duties described in Sections 1 and 2. The Bank
shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of $95,000 per year ("Base
Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be payable bi-weekly. During the period of this
Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually; the
first such review will be made no later than one year from the date of this
Agreement. Such review shall be conducted by a Committee designated by the
Board, and the Board may increase Executive's Base Salary. In addition to the
Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall provide Executive at
no cost to Executive with all such other benefits as are provided uniformly to
permanent full-time employees of the Bank.
(b) The Bank will provide Executive with employee benefit plans,
arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which
Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior
to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Bank will not, without
Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements
or perquisites which would adversely affect Executive's rights or benefits
thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this
Subsection (b), Executive will be entitled to participate in or receive benefits
under any employee benefit plans including, but not limited to, retirement
plans, supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plans,
health and accident plan, medical coverage or any other employee benefit plan or
arrangement made available by the Bank in the future to its senior executives
and key management employees, subject to, and on a basis consistent with, the
terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.
Executive will be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in
any plan, or pursuant to any arrangement of the Bank, in which Executive is
eligible to participate. Nothing paid to the Executive under any such plan or
arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which the
Executive is entitled under this Agreement, except as provided under Section
5(e).
(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this
Section 3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel
and other obligations under this Agreement and may provide such additional
compensation in such form and such amounts as the Board may from time to time
determine.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined)
during the Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions
of this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of
Termination" shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the
termination by the Bank of Executive's full-time employment hereunder for any
reason other than a Change in Control, as defined in Section 5(a) hereof;
disability, as defined in Section 7(a) hereof; death; retirement, as defined in
Section 8 hereof; or for Cause, as defined in Section 9 hereof; (ii) Executive's
resignation from the Bank's employ, upon (A) unless consented to by the
Executive, a material change in Executive's
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function, duties, or responsibilities, which change would cause Executive's
position to become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from the
position and attributes thereof described in Sections 1 and 2, above (any such
material change shall be deemed a continuing breach of this Agreement), (B) a
relocation of Executive's principal place of employment by more than 30 miles
from its location at the effective date of this Agreement, or a material
reduction in the benefits and perquisites to the Executive from those being
provided as of the effective date of this Agreement, (C) the liquidation or
dissolution of the Bank, or (D) any breach of this Agreement by the Bank. Upon
the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A), (B), (C), or (D), 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 a reasonable period of time not to exceed, except in case of a
continuing breach, four calendar months after the event giving rise to said
right to elect.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank shall pay
Executive or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated
damages, or both, a sum equal to the payments due to the Executive for the
remaining term of the Agreement, including Base Salary, bonuses, and any other
cash or deferred compensation paid or to be paid (including the value of
employer contributions that would have been made on the Executive's behalf over
the remaining term of the agreement to any tax-qualified retirement plan
sponsored by the Bank as of the Date of Termination), to the Executive for the
term of the Agreement provided, however, that if the Bank is not in compliance
with its minimum capital requirements or if such payments would cause the Bank's
capital to be reduced below its minimum capital requirements, such payments
shall be deferred until such time as the Bank is in capital compliance. All
payments made pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be paid in substantially equal
monthly installments over the remaining term of this Agreement following the
Executive's termination; provided, however, that if the remaining term of the
Agreement is less than one (1) year (determined as of the Executive's Date of
Termination), such payments and benefits shall be paid to the Executive in a
lump sum within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause to
be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially
identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his
termination. Such coverage shall cease upon the expiration of the remaining term
of this Agreement.
5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) No benefit shall be payable under this Section 5 unless there shall
have occurred a Change in Control of the Bank, as set forth below. For purposes
of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the Bank shall mean an event of a
nature that: (i) it would be required to be reported in response to Item l(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) it results in a Change in Control of the Bank within the meaning of the
Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933 and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the
Office of Thrift
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Supervision ("OTS"), as in effect on the date hereof (provided that in applying
the definition of change in control as set forth in the rules and regulations of
the OTS, the Board shall substitute its judgment for that of the OTS); or (iii)
without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at
such time as (A) any "person" (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Bank
representing 20% or more of the Bank's outstanding securities except for any
securities purchased by the Bank's employee stock ownership plan and trust; or
(B) individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the "Incumbent
Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided
that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election
was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising
the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Bank'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 similar transaction
in which the Bank is not the resulting entity occurs. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a "Change of Control" shall apply if any of the events listed in
Sections (A) through (C) occur with respect to the Company.
(b) If any of the events described in Section 5(a) hereof constituting a
Change in Control have occurred or the Board has determined that a Change in
Control has occurred, Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in
paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 5 upon his subsequent termination of
employment at any time during the term of this Agreement (regardless of whether
such termination results from his dismissal or his resignation at any time
during the term of this Agreement), unless such termination is because of his
death, retirement as provided in Section 8, termination for Cause, or
termination for Disability.
(c) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control followed by the Executive's
termination of employment, the Bank shall pay Executive, or in the event of his
subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case
may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal to three
times the Executive's "base amount," within the meaning of (S)280G(b)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). Such payment shall be made in a lump
sum paid within ten (10) days of the Executive's Date of Termination.
(d) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control followed by the Executive's
termination of employment, the Bank will cause to be continued life, medical,
dental and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage
maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his severance. In addition,
Executive shall be entitled to receive the value of employer contributions that
would have been made on the Executive's behalf over the remaining term of the
agreement to any tax-qualified retirement plan sponsored by the Bank as of the
Date of Termination. Such coverage and payments shall cease at the end of the
thirty-sixth (36th) month after the month in which the Executive's employment
terminates.
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(e) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive benefits due him under, or contributed by the Bank on his
behalf pursuant to, any retirement, incentive, profit sharing, bonus,
performance, disability or other employee benefit plan maintained by the Bank on
the Executive's behalf to the extent that such benefits are not otherwise paid
to the Executive upon a Change in Control.
6. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE BANK.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Bank to or
for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section
6) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of
the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect
to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any interest and penalties,
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the
Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up
Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes
(including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties
imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment,
the Executive retains an amount of the GrossUp Payment equal to the Excise Tax
imposed upon the Payments.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 6(c), all determinations required
to be made under this Section 6, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment
is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be
utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇ (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting
calculations both to the Bank and the Executive within 15 business days of the
receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such
earlier time as is requested by the Bank. In the event that the Accounting Firm
is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group
effecting the Change of Control, the Executive shall appoint another nationally
recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which
accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder).
All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Bank.
Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 6, shall be paid by
the Bank to the Executive within five days of the receipt of the Accounting
Firm's determination. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is
payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion
that failure to report the Excise Tax on the Executive's applicable Federal
income tax return would not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar
penalty. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Bank
and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section
4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made
by the Bank should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Bank exhausts
its remedies pursuant to Section 6(c) and the Executive thereafter is required
to make a payment of any
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Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment
that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Bank
to or for the benefit of the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Bank in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the
Bank of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as
practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed
in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Bank of the nature of such claim
and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall
not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the
date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Bank (or such shorter
period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim
is due). If the Bank notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration
of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Bank any information reasonably requested by the Bank
relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the
Bank shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including without
limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an
attorney reasonably selected by the Bank,
(iii) cooperate with the Bank in good faith in order effectively to
contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Bank to participate in any proceedings relating to
such claim;
provided, however, that the Bank shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and
payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of
this Section 6(c), the Bank shall control all proceedings taken in connection
with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all
administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing
authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct
the Executive to pay the tax claimed and ▇▇▇ for a refund or contest the claim
in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to
a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial
jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Bank shall determine;
provided, however, that if the Bank directs the Executive to pay such claim and
▇▇▇ for a refund, the Bank shall advance the amount of such payment to the
Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive
harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including
interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance
or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and further
provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of
taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such
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contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount. Furthermore, the Bank's control of the contest shall be limited to
issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and
the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any
other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the
Bank pursuant to Section 6(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any
refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Bank's
complying with the requirements of Section 6(c)) promptly pay to the Bank the
amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after
taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Bank pursuant to Section 6(c), a determination is made that the
Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the
Bank does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such
denial or refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination,
then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and
the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of
Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
7. TERMINATION FOR DISABILITY.
(a) If, as a result of Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental
illness, he shall have been absent from his duties with the Bank on a full-time
basis for three (3) consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after
written notice of potential termination is given, he shall not have returned to
the full-time performance of his duties, the Bank may terminate Executive's
employment for "Disability."
(b) The Bank will pay Executive, as disability pay, a bi-weekly payment
equal to three-quarters (3/4) of Executive's bi-weekly rate of Base Salary on
the effective date of such termination. These disability payments shall commence
on the effective date of Executive's termination and will end on the earlier of
(i) the date Executive returns to the full-time employment of the Bank in the
same capacity as he was employed prior to his termination for Disability and
pursuant to an employment agreement between Executive and the Bank; (ii)
Executive's full-time employment by another employer; (iii) Executive attaining
the age of 65; (iv) Executive's death; or (v) the expiration of the term of this
Agreement. The disability pay shall be reduced by the amount, if any, paid to
the Executive under any plan of the Bank providing disability benefits to the
Executive.
(c) The Bank will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and
disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the
Bank for Executive prior to his termination for Disability. This coverage and
payments shall cease upon the earlier of (i) the date Executive returns to the
full-time employment of the Bank, in the same capacity as he was employed prior
to his termination for Disability and pursuant to an employment agreement
between Executive and the Bank; (ii) Executive's full-time employment by another
employer;
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(iii) Executive's attaining the age of 65; (iv) the Executive's death; or (v)
the expiration of the term of this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be no reduction in the
compensation otherwise payable to Executive during any period during which
Executive is incapable of performing his duties hereunder by reason of temporary
disability.
8. TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT; DEATH OF THE EXECUTIVE.
Termination by the Bank of the Executive based on "Retirement" shall mean
retirement at age 65 or in accordance with any retirement arrangement
established with Executive's consent with respect to him. Upon termination of
Executive upon Retirement, Executive shall be entitled to all benefits under any
retirement plan of the Bank and other plans to which Executive is a party. Upon
the death of the Executive during the term of this Agreement, the Bank shall pay
to the Executive's estate the compensation due to the Executive for a period of
one year following the last day of the calendar month in which his death
occurred.
9. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.
The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination upon intentional
failure to perform stated duties, personal dishonesty which results in loss to
the Bank or one of its affiliates, willful violation of any law, rule,
regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses), or final cease
and desist order concerning conduct which results in substantial loss to the
Bank or one of its affiliates, or any material breach of this Agreement. For
purposes of this Section, no act, or the failure to act, on Executive's part
shall be "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, not in good faith and
without reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the best interest
of the Bank or its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall
not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall
have been delivered to him a 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 reasons thereof. The Executive shall not have the right to receive
compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Cause. Any
stock options granted to Executive under any stock option plan or any unvested
awards granted under any other stock benefit plan of the Bank, the Company, or
any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof, shall become null and void effective upon
Executive's receipt of Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 11
hereof, and shall not be exercisable by Executive at any time subsequent to such
Termination for Cause.
10. REQUIRED PROVISIONS.
(a) The Bank may terminate the Executive's employment at any time, but any
termination by the Bank, other than Termination for Cause, shall not prejudice
Executive's right
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to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Executive shall not have
the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after
Termination for Cause as defined in Section 9 herein.
(b) If the Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice served under
Section 8(e)(3) or (g)(l) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA") (12
U.S.C. 1818(e)(3) and (g)(l)), the Bank's obligations under the Agreement shall
be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate
proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Bank may, in its
discretion, (i) pay the Executive 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 that were suspended.
(c) If the Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e)(4) or (g)(l) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) or (g)(1)), all
obligations of the Bank under the Agreement shall terminate as of the effective
date of the order, but vested rights of the contracting parties shall not be
affected.
(d) If the Bank is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA),
all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default,
but this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the parties.
(e) All obligations under this Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the
Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "Director") or his or her
designee at the time the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Resolution
Trust Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf
of the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA and (ii)
by the Director, or his or her designee at the time the Director or such
designee approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to operation
of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the Director to be in an unsafe or
unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however,
shall not be affected by such action.
(f) Any payments made to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or
otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C.
(S)1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
11. NOTICE.
(a) Any purported termination by the Bank or by Executive shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.
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(b) "Date of Termination" shall mean (A) if Executive's employment is
terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is
given (provided that he shall not have returned to the performance of his duties
on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) days period), and (B) if his
employment is terminated for any other reason, 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 Bank 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.
12. NON-COMPETITION.
(a) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the
business activities and plans for business activities of the Bank and affiliates
thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique
asset of the business of the Bank. Executive will not, during or after the term
of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present, planned or
considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof to any person,
firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking,
financial and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and
exclusively derived from the business plans and activities of the Bank. In the
event of a breach or threatened breach by the Executive of the provisions of
this Section, the Bank will be entitled to an injunction restraining Executive
from disclosing, in whole or in part, the knowledge of the past, present,
planned or considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof, or
from rendering any services to any person, firm, corporation, other entity to
whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to
be disclosed. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank from
pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for such breach or threatened
breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.
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(b) The Executive shall have no right to terminate his employment under
this Agreement prior to the end of the term of this Agreement, unless such
termination either is approved by the Board or is within one year after a Change
in Control of the Bank has occurred. In the event that Executive violates this
provision, the Bank shall be entitled to enjoin the employment of Executive with
any significant competitor, which shall mean any bank, savings bank, co-
operative bank or savings and loan association or holding company affiliate
thereof having one or more deposit offices in any county where the Lake Sunapee
Bank, fsb has a main or branch office, of the Bank for a period of two years
from the date of Executive's termination of his employment hereunder.
13. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.
All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Bank or the Company, as applicable.
14. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not
affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to 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.
15. NO ATTACHMENT.
(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this
Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale,
assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution,
attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive and, the Bank and their respective successors and assigns.
16. 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 by 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
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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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Hampshire,
unless otherwise specified herein.
20. 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 Bank, if Executive is successful pursuant to a legal
judgment, arbitration or settlement.
21. INDEMNIFICATION.
The Bank shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and
administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy at its expense, or in lieu thereof, shall indemnify
Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent
permitted under law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by
him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which
he may be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the
Bank (whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to
include, but not be limited to, judgment, court costs and attorneys' fees and
the cost of reasonable settlements.
22. SUCCESSORS TO THE BANK.
The Bank shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Bank, expressly and
unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank's obligations
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under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Bank
would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken
place.
23. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement was drafted by the law
firm of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ which at various times has served a special counsel
to the Company and the Bank. Executive acknowledges that he is sophisticated in
business matters (including, but not limited to, employment agreements) and that
he has had the opportunity to seek independent legal advice. Executive
specifically waives any actual or apparent conflict of interest of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and their seal to be affixed hereunto by its duly authorized officers
and directors, and Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 2nd day of
August, 1994.
ATTEST: NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BY:/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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ATTEST: LAKE SUNAPEE BANK, FSB.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BY:/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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WITNESS:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇