EXHIBIT 99.3
AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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This Agreement is made and entered into on __________, 2006 by and
between American River Bankshares, a California corporation and bank holding
company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the
"Employer") and Xxxxx X. Xxxxx (the "Employee") (collectively the "Parties") for
the purposes set forth hereinafter (the "Agreement").
RECITALS
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WHEREAS, the Employee is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the
Employer pursuant to an employment agreement between the Employer and the
Employee dated August 22, 2003 (the "Prior Employment Agreement");
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties to enter into a new
employment agreement for the purposes of assuring the continued services of the
Employee as the Chief Executive Officer of the Employer and revising the Parties
agreement to comply with new federal regulations;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, the Employer and Employee agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
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1. Term of Employment; Termination of Prior Employment Agreement
and Waiver of Rights and Benefits and Release of Obligations Thereunder.
Pursuant to this Agreement, the Employer employs the Employee and the Employee
hereby accepts employment with the Employer, upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth. The term of this Agreement shall be a period of two (2)
years from the date hereof. Upon the occurrence of the second annual anniversary
of the date of this Agreement, and on each anniversary date thereafter, the term
of this Agreement shall be deemed automatically extended for an additional one
(1) year term, subject to the termination provisions of paragraph 16.
The Employer and the Employee agree that the Prior Employment
Agreement is hereby terminated effective as of the date of this Agreement and
that this Agreement is intended by the Parties hereto to supersede in full and
constitute a complete replacement for the Prior Employment Agreement and any
rights and benefits thereunder. In furtherance thereof and notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement or the Prior Employment Agreement to the contrary,
the Employee, for himself, and his heirs, beneficiaries, executors,
administrators, trustees, and any other legal or personal representatives,
agents, successors or permitted assignees or transferees, further expressly
agrees to and does hereby waive and relinquish any and all rights and benefits
under the Prior Employment Agreement and specifically releases the Employer and
its affiliates and subsidiaries, from any obligations, duties and liabilities
under the Prior Employment Agreement including any matters covered or
contemplated by California Civil Code Section 1542 which reads as follows:
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"A general release does not extend to claims which the
creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing
the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement
with the debtor."
2. Duties and Obligations of Employee. Employee shall serve as
the Chief Executive Officer of the Employer pursuant to this Agreement and shall
perform the customary duties of each such office in the commercial banking
industry as may from time to time be reasonably requested of him by the Board of
Directors of the Employer including the following:
(a) Providing leadership in planning and implementing the
conduct of the business and affairs of the Employer, subject to the direction of
the Board of Directors of the Employer, and carrying out responsibilities of the
position as outlined in any job description approved by the Board of Directors
of the Employer;
(b) Participating in community affairs which are
beneficial to the Employer;
(c) Maintaining a good relationship with the Board of
Directors of the Employer, its management officers and shareholders;
(d) Maintaining a good relationship with regulatory
agencies and governmental authorities having jurisdiction over the Employer and
its subsidiaries;
(e) Acting as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Employer and of its subsidiaries and all committees of the respective Boards of
Directors to which the Employee may be appointed or elected; and
3. Devotion to Employer's Business.
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(a) The Employee shall devote his full business time,
ability, and attention to the business of the Employer during the term of this
Agreement and shall not during the term of this Agreement engage in any other
business activities, duties, or pursuits whatsoever, or directly or indirectly
render any services of a business, commercial, or professional nature to any
other person or organization, whether for compensation or otherwise, without the
prior written consent of the Board of Directors of the Employer. However, the
expenditure of reasonable amounts of time for educational, charitable, or
professional activities shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement if those
activities do not materially interfere with the services required of the
Employee under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to
prohibit the Employee from making passive personal investments. However, the
Employee shall not directly or indirectly acquire, hold, or retain any interest
in any business competing with or similar in nature to the business of Employer,
except passive shareholder investments in other financial institutions and their
respective affiliates which do not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding
voting securities in the aggregate in any single financial institution and its
affiliates on a consolidated basis.
(b) The Employee agrees to conduct himself at all times
with due regard to public conventions and morals. The Employee further agrees
not to do or commit any act that will reasonably tend to shock or offend the
community, or to prejudice the Employer or the banking industry in general.
(c) The Employee hereby represents and agrees that the
services to be performed under the terms of this Agreement are of a special,
unique, unusual, extraordinary, and intellectual character that gives them a
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peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated
in damages in an action at law. The Employee therefore expressly agrees that the
Employer, in addition to any other rights or remedies that the Employer may
possess, shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent
or remedy a breach of this Agreement by the Employee.
4. Noncompetition by the Employee. The Employee shall not, during
the term of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, either as an employee,
employer, consultant, agent, principal, stockholder, officer, director, or in
any other individual or representative capacity, engage or participate in any
competitive banking or financial services business without the prior written
consent of the Employer.
5. Indemnification.
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(a) The Employee shall indemnify and hold the Employer
harmless from all liability for loss, damage, or injury to persons or property
resulting from the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the Employee.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, the Employer shall
indemnify the Employee if he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party in any action brought by a third party against the Employee (whether or
not the Employer is joined as a party defendant) against expenses, judgments,
fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in
connection with said action if the Employee acted in good faith and in a manner
the Employee reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Employer (and
with respect to a criminal proceeding if the Employee had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful), provided that the alleged conduct of the
Employee arose out of and was within the course and scope of his employment as
an officer or employee of the Employer.
6. Disclosure of Information. The Employee shall not, either
before or after termination of this Agreement, without the prior written consent
of the Board of Directors of Employer or except as required by law to comply
with legal process including, without limitation, by oral questions,
interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil
investigative demand or similar process, disclose to anyone any financial
information, trade or business secrets, customer lists, computer software or
other information not otherwise publicly available concerning the business or
operations of the Employer and its subsidiaries. The Employee further recognizes
and acknowledges that any financial information concerning any customers of the
Employer and its subsidiaries as it may exist from time to time, is strictly
confidential and is a valuable, special and unique asset of Employer's business.
The Employee shall not, either before or after termination of this Agreement,
without such consent or except as required by law, disclose to anyone said
financial information or any part thereof, for any reason or purpose whatsoever.
In the event the Employee is required by law to disclose such information
described in this paragraph 6, the Employee will provide the Employer and its
counsel with immediate notice of such request so that they may consider seeking
a protective order. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a
waiver hereunder, the Employee is nonetheless, in the written opinion of
knowledgeable counsel, compelled to disclose any of such information to any
tribunal or any other party or else stand liable for contempt or suffer other
material censure or material penalty, then the Employee may disclose (on an "as
needed" basis only) such information to such tribunal or other party without
liability hereunder. The Employee agrees to execute such form of confidentiality
agreement from time to time during the term of this Agreement as the Board of
Directors of the Employer may require to be executed by officers of the
Employer. Any conflict between this paragraph 6 and such confidentiality
agreement shall be resolved in favor of the provisions of the confidentiality
agreement.
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7. Written, Printed or Electronic Material. All written, printed
or electronic material, notebooks and records including, without limitation,
computer disks used by the Employee in performing duties for the Employer, other
than the Employee's personal notes and diaries, are and shall remain the sole
property of the Employer. Upon termination of employment, the Employee shall
promptly return all such material (including all copies, extracts and summaries
thereof) to the Employer.
8. Surety Bond. The Employee agrees that he will furnish all
information and take any other steps necessary from time to time to enable the
Employer to obtain or maintain a fidelity or similar financial institution bond
which includes the Employee within the coverages provided conditional on the
rendering of a true account by the Employee of all monies, goods, or other
property which may come into the custody, charge, or possession of the Employee
during the term of his employment. The surety company issuing the bond and the
amount of the bond must be acceptable to the Employer. All premiums on the bond
shall be paid by the Employer. The Employer, or its successor, shall have no
obligation to pay or provide severance payments or severance benefits to the
Employee in accordance with paragraph 16 (d) or 16 (e), as applicable, of this
Agreement in the event that the Employee's employment is terminated in
connection with the Employee's failure to qualify for a surety bond at any time
during the term of this Agreement and such failure to qualify results from an
occurrence described in paragraph 16 (a) (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) or (11,
to the extent of an Employee breach).
9. Base Salary. In consideration for the services to be performed
hereunder, the Employee shall receive a salary at the rate of Two Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($250,000) per annum, payable in installments during the term
of this Agreement of approximately Eight Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Three
Dollars and Thirty-Three Cents ($10,416.66) on the first and fifteenth days of
each month, subject to applicable adjustments for withholding taxes, prorations
for any partial employment period and such other applicable payroll procedures
of the Employer. The Employee shall receive such annual adjustments in salary,
if any, as may be determined by the Employer's Board of Directors, in its sole
discretion, resulting from the Board of Directors annual review of the
Employee's compensation each year during the term of this Agreement.
10. Salary Continuation During Disability. If the Employee for any
reason (except as expressly provided below) becomes temporarily or permanently
disabled so that he is unable to perform the duties under this Agreement, the
Employer agrees to pay the Employee the base salary otherwise payable to
Employee pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Agreement, reduced by the amounts
received by the Employee from state disability insurance, or worker's
compensation or other similar insurance benefits through policies provided by
the Employer, for a period of six (6) months from the date of disability.
For purposes of this paragraph 10, "disability" shall be defined as
provided in the Employer's disability insurance program. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Employer shall have no obligation to make
payments for a disability resulting from the deliberate, intentional actions of
the Employee, such as, but not limited to, attempted suicide or chemical
dependence of the Employee.
11. Incentive Compensation. The Employee shall be entitled to
participate in the Employer's Executive Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and receive
incentive compensation in accordance with the Plan, subject to the right of the
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Board of Directors in its sole discretion to modify the terms and provisions of
the Plan each year during the term of this Agreement in connection with its
review of the Employee's performance and the Employer's results of operations.
Under no circumstance shall a right to receive incentive compensation exist in
favor of or accrue to or for the benefit of the Employee prior to actual receipt
of a distribution, if any, under the Plan.
12. Stock Options/Employment Rights. The Employee has previously
been granted stock options and may be granted additional stock options in the
future in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Employer. Any such
stock option grant shall be evidenced by a stock option agreement in the form
required by the applicable stock option plan. Notwithstanding any provision of
such stock option plan or any such stock option agreement to the contrary, no
rights of employment shall be conferred upon the Employee or result from any
such stock option plan or any such stock option agreement. Any employment rights
and corresponding duties of the Employee pursuant to his employment by the
Employer shall be limited to and interpreted solely in accordance with the terms
and provisions of this Agreement.
13. Other Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled to those
employee benefits adopted by the Employer for all employees of the Employer,
subject to applicable qualification requirements and regulatory approval
requirements, if any. The Employee shall be further entitled to the following
additional benefits which shall supplement or replace, to the extent duplicative
of any part or all of the general employee benefits, the benefits otherwise
provided to the Employee:
(a) Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to four
(4) weeks of annual vacation leave and six (6) days of personal absence at his
then existing rate of base salary each year during the term of this Agreement.
The Employee may be absent from his employment for vacation and personal absence
as long as such leave is reasonable and does not jeopardize his responsibilities
and duties specified in this Agreement. The length of vacation should not exceed
two (2) weeks without the approval of the Employer's Board of Directors. The
Employee shall take at least two (2) consecutive weeks of vacation each year
during the term of this Agreement. Vacation time will accrue in accordance with
the Employer's personnel policies.
(b) Automobile Allowance and Insurance. The Employer
shall acquire or otherwise make available to the Employee for his business and
incidental personal use an automobile, suitable to his position, and (i)
maintain it in good condition and repair; and (ii) provide public liability
insurance and property damage insurance policies with insurer(s) acceptable to
the Employer and with coverages in such amounts as may be acceptable to the
Employer from time to time.
(c) Insurance. The Employer shall provide during the term
of this Agreement, group life, health (including medical, dental and
hospitalization), accident and disability insurance coverage for the Employee
and his dependents through a policy or policies provided by insurer(s) selected
by the Employer in its sole discretion. Employer shall pay 70% of the cost of
the benefits selected by the Employee.
14. Annual Physical Examination. The Employer shall provide
insurance coverage for or pay or reimburse the Employee for the cost of an
annual physical examination conducted by a California licensed physician
selected by the Employee and reasonably acceptable to the Employer.
15. Business Expenses. The Employee shall be reimbursed for all
ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by the Employee in connection with his
employment. The Employee shall also be reimbursed for reasonable expenses
incurred in activities associated with promoting the business of the Employer,
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including expenses for entertainment, travel, conventions, educational programs,
and similar items, and with the prior approval of the Employer's Executive
Committee, expenses for club memberships. The Employer will pay for or will
reimburse the Employee for such expenses upon presentation by the Employee from
time to time of receipts or other appropriate evidence of such expenditures.
16. Termination of Agreement.
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(a) Automatic Termination. This Agreement shall terminate
automatically without further act of the Parties and immediately upon the
occurrence of any one of the following events, subject to either party's right,
without any obligation whatsoever, to waive an event reasonably susceptible of
waiver, and the obligation of the Employer to pay the amounts which would
otherwise be payable to the Employee under this Agreement through the end of the
month in which the event occurs, except that only in the event of termination
based upon subparagraphs (1), (4) or (11, to the extent of Employer's breach)
below shall the Employee be entitled to receive severance payments and severance
benefits based upon automatic termination pursuant to paragraph 16 (d) of this
Agreement:
(1) The occurrence of circumstances that make it
impossible or impractical for the Employer
to conduct or continue its business.
(2) The death of the Employee.
(3) The loss by the Employee of legal capacity.
(4) The loss by the Employer of legal capacity
to contract.
(5) The willful, intentional and material breach
of duty by the Employee in the course of his
employment.
(6) The habitual and continued neglect by the
Employee of his employment duties and
obligations under this Agreement.
(7) The Employee's willful and intentional
violation of any State of California or
federal banking or securities laws, or of
the Bylaws, rules, policies or resolutions
of the Employer or its parent holding
company and their respective subsidiaries,
or the rules or regulations of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System,
California Department of Financial
Institutions, or the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, or other regulatory
agency or governmental authority having
jurisdiction over the Employer or its
subsidiaries.
(8) The determination by a state or federal
banking agency or governmental authority
having jurisdiction over the Employer or its
parent holding company that the Employee is
not suitable to act in the capacity for
which he is employed by the Employer.
(9) The Employee is convicted of any felony or a
crime involving moral turpitude or commits a
fraudulent or dishonest act.
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(10) The Employee discloses without authority any
secret or confidential information
concerning the Employer or its subsidiaries
or takes any action which the Employer's
Board of Directors determines, in its sole
discretion and subject to good faith, fair
dealing and reasonableness, constitutes
unfair competition with or induces any
customer to breach any contract with the
Employer or its subsidiaries.
(11) Either party materially breaches the terms
or provisions of this Agreement.
(b) Termination by Employer. The Employer may, at its
election and in its sole discretion, terminate this Agreement for any reason, or
for no reason, by giving not less than thirty (30) days' prior written notice of
termination to the Employee, without prejudice to any other remedy to which the
Employer may be entitled either at law, in equity or under this Agreement. Upon
such termination, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Employer and
the Employee, the Employee shall immediately cease performing and discharging
the duties and responsibilities of his position and remove himself and his
personal belongings from the Employer's premises. All rights and obligations
accruing to the Employee under this Agreement shall cease at such termination,
except that such termination shall not prejudice the Employee's rights regarding
employment benefits which shall have accrued prior to such termination,
including the right to receive the severance pay specified in paragraph 16 (d)
below, and any other remedy which the Employee may have at law, in equity or
under this Agreement, which remedy accrued prior to such termination.
(c) Termination by Employee. This Agreement may be
terminated by the Employee for any reason, or no reason, by giving not less than
thirty (30) days' prior written notice of termination to the Employer. Upon such
termination, all rights and obligations accruing to the Employee under this
Agreement shall cease, except that such termination shall not prejudice the
Employee's rights regarding employment benefits which shall have accrued prior
to such termination and any other remedy which the Employee may have at law, in
equity or under this Agreement, which remedy accrued prior to such termination.
(d) Severance Pay - Termination by Employer. In the event
of termination by the Employer pursuant to paragraph 16 (b) or automatic
termination based upon paragraph 16 (a) (1), (4) or (11, to the extent of the
Employer's breach) of this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to receive
severance pay at the Employee's rate of base salary immediately preceding such
termination in an amount equal to six (6) months of the Employee's annual base
salary, less applicable withholding deductions (in addition to salary, incentive
compensation, or other payments, if any, due the Employee). Such severance pay
shall be paid to the Employee in lump sum no sooner than six (6) months and no
later than nine (9) months following such termination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a "Change in
Control" as defined in paragraph 16 (f) below, the Employee shall not be
entitled to the severance pay pursuant to this paragraph 16 (d) and any rights
of the Employee to severance pay shall be limited to such rights as are
specified in paragraph 16 (e) below.
The Employee acknowledges and agrees that severance pay
pursuant to this paragraph 16 (d) is in lieu of all damages, payments and
liabilities on account of the early termination of this Agreement and the sole
and exclusive remedy for the Employee terminated at the will of the Employer
pursuant to paragraph 16 (b) or pursuant to certain provisions of paragraph 16
(a) described herein.
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(e) Severance Pay - Change in Control. If, during the
active service of the Employee with the Employer and within a period of two (2)
years following consummation of a Change in Control, as defined in subsection
(f) of this Section 16, (i) the Employee's employment is terminated or (ii)
without the Employee's consent there occurs (A) any adverse change in the nature
and scope of the Employee's salary or benefits or (B) any event which reasonably
constitutes a constructive termination (by resignation or otherwise) of the
Employee's employment, then the Employee shall be entitled to receive severance
pay at the Employee's rate of base salary immediately preceding such termination
in an amount equal to eighteen (18) months of the Employee's annual base salary,
less applicable withholding deductions (in addition to salary, incentive
compensation, or other payments, if any, due the Employee). Such severance pay
shall be paid to the Employee in lump sum no sooner than six (6) months and no
later than nine (9) months following such termination.
The Employee acknowledges and agrees that severance pay
pursuant to this paragraph 16 (e) is in lieu of all damages, payments and
liabilities on account of the events described above for which such severance
pay may be due the Employee under paragraph 16 (e) of this Agreement. This
paragraph 16 (e) shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Employee
and the Employer, and any successors or assigns thereof or any "person" as
defined herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee shall not be
entitled to receive severance payments pursuant to this paragraph 16 (e) in the
event of an occurrence described in paragraph 16 (a), subparagraphs (5), (6),
(7), (8), (9), (10) or (11, to the extent of an Employee breach), or in the
event the Employee terminates employment in accordance with paragraph 16 (c) and
the termination is not a result of or based upon the occurrence of any event
described in paragraph 16 (e) (ii) above.
If all or any portion of the amounts payable to the Employee
under this Agreement, either alone or together with other payments which the
Employee has the right to receive hereunder, constitute "excess parachute
payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), that are subject to the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code (or similar tax and/or assessment), such amounts
payable hereunder shall be reduced to the extent necessary, after first applying
any similar reduction in payments to be received from any other plan or program
sponsored by the Employer from which the Employee has a right to receive
payments subject to Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code including, without
limitation, any Salary Continuation Agreement made between the Employer and the
Employee, so as to cause a reduction of any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999
of the Code to equal zero.
(f) To constitute a "Change in Control" as to the
Employee, a "Change in Control Event" described in subparagraph (1) of this
paragraph 16 (f) must relate to a corporation that is a "Service Recipient" as
defined in subparagraph (4) of this paragraph. The term "Change in Control" as
defined in this paragraph 16 (f) is intended to comply with all relevant
provisions of Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(g)(5) relating to
changes in the ownership or effective control of a corporation and changes in
the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation.
(1) A "Change in Control Event" occurs on the
date any of the following events occur:
(i) Any one person, or more than one
person acting as a group
("Person"), acquires ownership of
stock of a corporation that,
together with stock previously held
by such Person, raises the total
ownership from less than 50 percent
of the total fair market value or
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total voting power of such
corporation to more than 50 percent
of such value or power.
(ii) Any Person acquires, during the
12-month period ending on the date
of the most recent acquisition,
ownership of 35 percent or more of
the total voting power of the stock
of a corporation, without regard to
the stock owned by the Person
before the commencement of the
12-month period.
(iii) A majority of the members of a
corporation's board of directors is
replaced in a 12-month period by
directors who were not endorsed by
a majority of the board prior to
the election or appointment of each
director.
(iv) Any Person acquires, during the
12-month period ending on the date
of the most recent acquisition,
assets from a corporation with a
gross fair market value equal to or
more than 40 percent of the total
gross fair market value of all the
assets of such corporation prior to
such acquisition or acquisitions.
Gross fair market value shall be
determined without regard to any
liabilities associated with the
assets. However, this subparagraph
(iv) shall not apply to the
transfer of assets: (1) to an
entity that is controlled by the
shareholders of such corporation
immediately after the transfer; (2)
to a shareholder of such
corporation with respect to the
shareholder's stock or in exchange
for more stock; (3) to an entity of
which such corporation owns 50
percent or more of the total value
or voting power immediately after
the transaction; (4) to a Person
that owns, directly or indirectly,
50 percent or more of the total
value or voting power of all the
outstanding stock of such
corporation immediately following
the transaction; or (5) to an
entity, at least 50 percent of the
total value or voting power of
which is owned immediately
following the transaction, directly
or indirectly, by a Person which
owns directly or indirectly, 50
percent or more of the total value
or voting power of all the
outstanding stock of such
corporation.
(2) If any Person controls a corporation under
subparagraph 16 (f)(1)(i) or (ii), the
acquisition of additional control by the
same Person shall not cause a Change in
Control.
(3) Persons will be considered to be acting as a
group in accordance with the provisions of
Proposed Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-3(g)(5)(vii)(C). For example, Persons
will not be considered to be acting as a
group solely because they purchase or own
stock of a corporation at the same time, or
as a result of the same public offering.
However, Persons will be considered to be
acting as a group if they are owners of a
corporation that enters into a merger,
consolidation, purchase or acquisition of
stock, or similar business transaction with
a Service Recipient. Furthermore, if a
person, including an entity, owns stock in
both corporations that enter into a merger,
consolidation, purchase or acquisition of
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stock, or similar transaction, such
shareholder is considered to be acting as a
group with other shareholders in each
corporation prior to the transaction giving
rise to the change and not with respect to
the ownership interest in the merged
corporation.
(4) The term "Service Recipient" includes all of
the following: (i) the corporation for which
the Employee performs services (relating to
this Agreement) at the time of a Change in
Control Event; (ii) any corporation liable
to pay deferred compensation under this
Agreement; (iii) any corporation which owns
more than 50 percent of the total fair
market value and total voting power of any
corporation described in clause (i) or (ii);
and (iv) any corporation in a chain of
corporations in which each corporation owns
more than 50 percent of the total fair
market value and total voting power of
another corporation in the chain ending in a
corporation described in clause (i) or (ii).
17. Notices. Any notices to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and may be transmitted by personal delivery or by U.S. mail, registered or
certified, postage prepaid with return receipt requested. Mailed notices shall
be addressed to the Employee at the address listed in the Employee's personnel
file and to the Employer at its principal business office. A party may change
the address for receipt of notices by written notice in accordance with this
paragraph 17. Notices delivered personally shall be deemed communicated as of
the date of actual receipt; mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of
three (3) days after the date of mailing.
18. Arbitration. All claims, disputes and other matters in
question arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach or
interpretation thereof, other than those matters which are to be determined by
the Employer in its sole and absolute discretion, shall be resolved by binding
arbitration before a representative member, selected by the mutual agreement of
the Parties, of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. ("JAMS"),
in accordance with the rules and procedures of JAMS then in effect. In the event
JAMS is unable or unwilling to conduct such arbitration, or has discontinued its
business, the Parties agree that a representative member, selected by the mutual
agreement of the Parties, of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), shall
conduct such binding arbitration in accordance with the rules and procedures of
the AAA then in effect. Notice of the demand for arbitration shall be filed in
writing with the other party to this Agreement and with JAMS (or AAA, if
necessary). In no event shall the demand for arbitration be made after the date
when institution of legal or equitable proceedings based on such claim, dispute
or other matter in question would be barred by the applicable statute of
limitations. Any award rendered by JAMS or AAA shall be final and binding upon
the Parties, and as applicable, their respective heirs, beneficiaries, legal
representatives, agents, successors and assigns, and may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof. The obligation of the Parties to arbitrate pursuant
to this clause shall be specifically enforceable in accordance with, and shall
be conducted consistently with, the provisions of Title 9 of Part 3 of the
California Code of Civil Procedure. Any arbitration hereunder shall be conducted
in Sacramento, California, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties.
19. Attorneys' Fees and Costs. In the event of litigation,
arbitration or any other action or proceeding between the Parties to interpret
or enforce this Agreement or any part thereof or otherwise arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover
its costs related to any such action or proceeding and its reasonable fees of
attorneys, accountants and expert witnesses incurred by such party in connection
with any such action or proceeding. The prevailing party shall be deemed to be
the party which obtains substantially the relief sought by final resolution,
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compromise or settlement, or as may otherwise be determined by order of a court
of competent jurisdiction in the event of litigation, an award or decision of
one or more arbitrators in the event of arbitration, or a decision of a
comparable official in the event of any other action or proceeding. Every
obligation to indemnify under this Agreement includes the obligation to pay
reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants and expert witnesses incurred by the
indemnified party in connection with matters subject to indemnification.
20. Entire Agreement. With the exception of the Parties' Deferred
Compensation Plan, Salary Continuation Plan, 2000 Stock Option Plan, and
Executive Incentive Plan, this Agreement supersedes any and all other
agreements, either oral or in writing, between the Parties with respect to the
employment of the Employee by the Employer and contains all of the covenants and
agreements between the Parties with respect to the employment of the Employee by
the Employer. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no other
representations, inducements, promises, or agreements, oral or otherwise, have
been made by any party, or anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not
set forth herein, and that no other agreement, statement, or promise not
contained in this Agreement shall be valid or binding on either party.
21. Modifications. Any modification of this Agreement will be
effective only if it is in writing and signed by a party or its authorized
representative.
22. Waiver. The failure of either party to insist on strict
compliance with any of the terms, provisions, covenants, or conditions of this
Agreement by the other party shall not be deemed a waiver of any term,
provision, covenant, or condition, individually or in the aggregate, unless such
waiver is in writing, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of any right or
power at any one time or times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of that
right or power for all or any other times.
23. Partial Invalidity. If any provision in this Agreement is held
by a court of competent jurisdiction 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.
24. Interpretation. This Agreement shall be construed without
regard to the party responsible for the preparation of the Agreement and shall
be deemed to have been prepared jointly by the Parties. Any ambiguity or
uncertainty existing in this Agreement shall not be interpreted against either
party, but according to the application of other rules of contract
interpretation, if an ambiguity or uncertainty exists.
25. Governing Law and Venue. The laws of the State of California,
other than those laws denominated choice of law rules, shall govern the
validity, construction and effect of this Agreement. Any action which in any way
involves the rights, duties and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall be
brought in the courts of the State of California and venue for any action or
proceeding shall be in Sacramento County or in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of California, and the Parties hereby submit to the
personal jurisdiction of said courts.
26. Payments Due Deceased Employee. If the Employee dies prior to
the expiration of the term of his employment, any payments that may be due the
Employee from the Employer under this Agreement as of the date of death shall be
paid to the Employee's heirs, beneficiaries, successors, permitted assigns or
transferees, executors, administrators, trustees, or any other legal or personal
representatives.
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27. Assignment/Binding Effect. Except as specifically set forth in
this Agreement, the Employee may not assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any
of the Employee's rights, benefits, duties or obligations under this Agreement
without the prior written consent of the Employer. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the Employer and its successors and assigns,
and the Employee and the Employee's heirs, beneficiaries, successors, permitted
assigns or transferees, executors, administrators, trustees, and any other legal
or personal representatives.
28. Effect of Termination on Certain Provisions. Upon the
termination of this Agreement, the obligations of the Employer and the Employee
hereunder shall cease except to the extent of the Employer's obligation to make
payments, if any, to or for the benefit of the Employee following termination,
and provided that paragraphs 1 (to the extent of waivers and releases therein),
5, 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 shall remain in full force and
effect.
29. Advice of Counsel and Advisors. The Employee acknowledges and
agrees that he has read and understands the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and prior to signing this Agreement, he has read and had the advice of
counsel and/or such other advisors as he deemed appropriate in connection with
his review and analysis of such terms and provisions of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written in the City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, State of
California.
EMPLOYER: EMPLOYEE:
AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES
By:
------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Chairman of the Board
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