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EXHIBIT 10(s)
TERMINATION BENEFITS AGREEMENT
This Termination Benefits Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered
into as of December 15, 1999, by and between National City Bancshares, Inc., an
Indiana corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation") and Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx (hereinafter referred to as "Employee").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, Employee is an at-will employee of the Corporation and has been
appointed an executive officer of the Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation believes that Employee will make valuable
contributions to the productivity and profitability of the Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to encourage Employee to continue to
make such contributions and not to seek or accept employment elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation, therefore, desires to assure Employee of
certain benefits in case of any termination or significant redefinition of the
terms of his employment with the Corporation in connection with any Change in
Control of the Corporation;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
covenants herein contained and the mutual benefits herein provided, the
Corporation and Employee hereby agree as follows:
1. The term of this Agreement shall be from the date hereof through
December 31, 2001; provided, however, that such term shall be automatically
extended for an additional year on December 31, 1999, and on December 31 of each
year thereafter unless either party hereto gives written notice to the other
party not to so extend prior to November 30 of the year for which notice is
given, in which case no further automatic extension shall occur and the term of
this Agreement shall end on December 31 two (2) years subsequent to the date of
the latest preceding automatic extension. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a
Change in Control of the Corporation (as defined in Section 2 below) shall occur
prior to the expiration of the original term or any extensions of the term of
this Agreement, then the term of this Agreement shall automatically become a
term of two (2) years commencing on the date of any such Change in Control.
2. As used in this Agreement, "Change in Control" of the Corporation
means:
(A) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (a "Person") of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in
effect from time to time) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i)
the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation or (ii) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute an
acquisition of control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Corporation
(excluding an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion
privilege), (ii) any acquisition by the Corporation, (iii) any acquisition
by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by
the Corporation or any corporation controlled by the Corporation, or (iv)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation,
the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (C) of
this Section 2 are satisfied;
(B) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation
(the "Board"); provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by
the Corporation's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of
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the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person
other than the Board; or
(C) Approval by the shareholders of the Corporation of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, following such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than sixty percent (60%)
of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation and
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of
the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively,
of the outstanding Corporation common stock and outstanding Corporation
voting securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
outstanding Corporation stock and outstanding Corporation voting securities,
as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding the Corporation, any employee
benefit plan or related trust of the Corporation or such corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation and any Person
beneficially owning, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of
the outstanding Corporation common stock or outstanding voting securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger
or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement providing for such reorganization, merger
or consolidation; or
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(D) Approval by the shareholders of the Corporation of (i) a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or (ii) the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation,
other than to a corporation with respect to which following such sale or
other disposition (a) more than sixty percent (60%) of, respectively, the
then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of
the outstanding Corporation common stock and outstanding Corporation voting
securities immediately prior to such sale or other disposition in
substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to
such sale or other disposition, of the outstanding Corporation common stock
and outstanding Corporation voting securities, as the case may be, (b) no
Person (excluding the Corporation and any employee benefit plan or related
trust of the Corporation or such corporation and any Person beneficially
owning, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or
indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the outstanding Corporation
common stock or outstanding Corporation voting securities, as the case may
be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or
more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such
corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors and (c) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the
time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board
providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Corporation.
3. The Corporation shall provide Employee with the benefits set forth in
Section 6 of this Agreement upon any termination of Employee's employment by the
Corporation following a Change in Control during the term of this Agreement for
any reason except the following:
(A) Termination by reason of Employee's death.
(B) Termination by reason of Employee's "disability." For purposes
hereof, "disability" shall be defined as Employee's inability by reason of
illness or other physical or mental disability to perform the duties
required by his employment for any consecutive One Hundred Eighty (180) day
period, provided that notice of any termination by the Corporation because
of Employee's "disability" shall have been given to Employee prior to the
resumption by him of the performance of such duties.
(C) Termination upon Employee reaching his normal retirement date, which
for purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be the end of the month
during which employee reaches sixty-five (65) years of age.
(D) Termination for "cause." As used in this Agreement, the term "cause"
means fraud, dishonesty, theft of corporate assets, or other gross
misconduct by Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee 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 a majority of the entire membership of the
Corporation's Board at a meeting called and held for the purpose (after
reasonable notice to him and an opportunity for him, together with his
counsel, to be heard before such Board), finding that, in the good faith
opinion of such Board, Employee was guilty of conduct constituting "cause"
and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
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4. The Corporation shall also provide Employee with the benefits set
forth in Section 6 of this Agreement upon any termination of Employee's
employment with the Corporation at Employee's option if any one of the following
events occurs within six (6) months prior to or within two (2) years following a
Change in Control:
(A) Without Employee's express written consent, the assignment of
Employee to any duties which, in Employee's reasonable judgment, are
materially inconsistent with his positions, duties, responsibilities or
status with the Corporation immediately prior to the earlier of termination
of employment or the Change in Control or a substantial reduction of his
duties or responsibilities which, in Employee's reasonable opinion, does not
represent a promotion from his position, duties or responsibilities
immediately prior to the earlier of termination of employment or the Change
in Control.
(B) A reduction by the Corporation in Employee's salary from the level of
such salary immediately prior to the earlier of termination of employment or
the Change in Control or the Corporation's failure to increase (within
twelve (12) months of Employee's last increase in base salary) Employee's
base salary after a Change in Control in an amount which at least equals, on
a percentage basis, the average percentage increase in base salary for all
executive and senior officers of the Corporation effected in the preceding
twelve (12) months.
(C) The failure by the Corporation to continue in effect any incentive,
bonus or other compensation plan in which Employee participates, including
but not limited to the Corporation's stock option plans, unless an equitable
arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan), with
which Employee has consented, has been made with respect to such plan in
connection with the Change in Control, or the failure by the Corporation to
continue Employee's participation therein, or any action by the Corporation
which would directly or indirectly materially reduce Employee's
participation therein.
(D) The failure by the Corporation to continue to provide Employee with
benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by Employee or to which
Employee was entitled under any of the Corporation's principal pension,
profit sharing, life insurance, medical, dental, health and accident, or
disability plans in which Employee was participating immediately prior to
the earlier of the termination of employment or the Change in Control, the
taking of any action by the Corporation which would directly or indirectly
materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive Employee of any material
fringe benefit enjoyed by Employee or to which Employee was entitled
immediately prior to the earlier of the termination of employment or the
Change in Control, or the failure by the Corporation to provide Employee
with the number of paid vacation and sick leave days to which Employee is
entitled on the basis of years of service or position with the Corporation
in accordance with the Corporation's normal vacation policy in effect on the
date hereof.
(E) The Corporation's requiring Employee to be based anywhere other than
the metropolitan area where the Corporation office at which he was based
immediately prior to the earlier of the termination of employment or the
Change in Control was located, except for required travel on the
Corporation's business in accordance with the Corporation's past management
practices.
(F) Any failure of the Corporation to obtain the assumption of the
obligation to perform this Agreement by any successor as contemplated in
Section 10 hereof.
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(G) Any failure by the Corporation or its shareholders, as the case may
be, to reappoint or reelect Employee to a corporate office held by him
immediately prior to the earlier of the termination of employment or the
Change in Control or his removal from any such office including any seat
held at such time on the Corporation's Board of Directors.
(H) The effectiveness of a resignation, tendered at any time, either
before or after a Change in Control and regardless of whether formally
characterized as voluntary or otherwise, by Employee of any corporate office
held by him immediately prior to the Change in Control or of any seat held
at such time on the Corporation's Board of Directors, at the request of the
Corporation or at the request of the person obtaining control of the
Corporation in such Change in Control.
(I) Any purported termination of the Employee's employment which is not
effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of
Section 5 hereof (and, if applicable, Section 3(D) hereof); and for purposes
of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.
(J) Any request by the Corporation that Employee participate in an
unlawful act or take any action constituting a breach of Employee's
professional standard of conduct.
(K) Any breach by the Corporation of any of the provisions of this
Agreement or any failure by the Corporation to carry out any of its
obligations hereunder.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4 to the contrary, Employee's right to
terminate Employee's employment pursuant to this Section 4 shall not be affected
by Employee's incapacity due to physical or mental illness.
5. Any termination of Employee's employment with the Corporation as
contemplated by Section 3 hereof (except subsection 3(A) and 3(C)) or by
Employee as contemplated by Section 4 hereof shall be communicated by written
"Notice of Termination" to the other party hereto. Any "Notice of Termination"
given by Employee pursuant to Section 4 or given by the Corporation in
connection with a termination as to which the Corporation believes it is not
obligated to provide Employee with benefits set forth in Section 6 hereof shall
indicate the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon and shall set
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for such termination.
6. Subject to the conditions and exceptions set forth in Section 3 and
Section 4 hereof, the following benefits, less any amounts required to be
withheld therefrom under any applicable federal, state or local income tax,
other tax, or social security laws or similar statutes, shall be paid to
Employee upon any termination of his employment within six (6) months before or
within two (2) years after any Change in Control:
(A) Within thirty (30) days following such a termination or, if later,
such a Change in Control, Employee shall be paid, at his then-effective
salary, for services performed through the date of his termination. In
addition, any earned but unpaid amount of any bonus or incentive payment
(which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean that amount computed in a
fashion consistent with the manner in which Employee's bonus or incentive
plan for the year preceding the year of termination was computed, if
Employee received a bonus or incentive payment during such preceding year in
accordance with a plan or program of the Corporation, or, if not, then the
total bonus or incentive payment received by the Employee during such
preceding year, in either case prorated through the date of termination)
shall be paid to Employee within thirty (30) days following the termination
of his employment or, if later, such a Change in Control.
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(B) Within thirty (30) days following such a termination, Employee shall
be paid a lump sum payment of an amount equal to two and nine-tenths (2.9)
times Employee's "Base Amount." For purposes hereof, Base Amount is defined
as Employee's average includable salary, bonus, incentive payments and
similar compensation paid by the Corporation for the five (5) most recent
taxable years ending before the date on which the Change in Control occurs
(or such shorter period of time that the Employee has been employed by the
Corporation). The definition, interpretation and calculation of the dollar
amount of Base Amount shall be in a manner consistent with and as required
by the provisions of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended ("Code"), and the regulations and rulings of the Internal Revenue
Service promulgated thereunder. The payments to the Employee under this
Section 6(B) shall be reduced by the full amount that such payment, when
added to all other payments or benefits of any kind to the Employee by
reason of the Change in Control, constitutes an "excess parachute payment"
within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(C) Employee acknowledges and agrees that payment in accordance with
subsections 6(A), 6(B) and 6(C) shall be deemed to constitute a full
settlement and discharge of any and all obligations of the Corporation to
Employee arising out of his employment with the Corporation and the
termination thereof, except for any vested rights Employee may then have
under any insurance, pension, supplemental pension, thrift, employee stock
ownership, or stock option plans sponsored or made available by the
Corporation.
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7. The Corporation is aware that upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control the Board of Directors or a shareholder of the Corporation may then
cause or attempt to cause the Corporation to refuse to comply with its
obligations under this Agreement, or may cause or attempt to cause the
Corporation to institute, or may institute, litigation seeking to have this
Agreement declared unenforceable, or may take or attempt to take other action to
deny Employee the benefits intended under this Agreement. In these
circumstances, the purpose of this Agreement could be frustrated. It is the
intent of the Corporation that Employee not be required to incur the expenses
associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Agreement by litigation
or other legal action, nor be bound to negotiate any settlement of his rights
hereunder, because the cost and expense of such legal action or settlement would
substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Employee
hereunder. Accordingly, if following a Change in Control it should appear to
Employee that the Corporation has failed to comply with any of its obligations
under this Agreement or in the event that the Corporation or any other person
takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes
any litigation or other legal action designed to deny, diminish or to recover
from Employee the benefits entitled to be provided to the Employee hereunder,
and that Employee has complied with all of his obligations under this Agreement,
the Corporation irrevocably authorizes Employee from time to time to retain
counsel of his choice, at the expense of the Corporation as provided in this
Section 7, to represent Employee in connection with the initiation or defense of
any litigation or other legal action, whether such action is by or against the
Corporation or any director, officer, shareholder, or other person affiliated
with the Corporation, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or prior
attorney-client relationship between the Corporation and such counsel, the
Corporation irrevocably consents to Employee entering into an attorney-client
relationship with such counsel, and in that connection the Corporation and
Employee agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between Employee and
such counsel. The reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected from time to
time by Employee as hereinabove provided shall be paid or reimbursed to Employee
by the Corporation on a regular, periodic basis upon presentation by Employee of
a statement or statements prepared by such counsel in accordance with its
customary practices, up to a maximum aggregate amount of One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000). Any legal expenses incurred by the Corporation by reason of
any dispute between the parties as to enforceability of or the terms contained
in this Agreement as provided by this Section 7, notwithstanding the outcome of
any such dispute, shall be the sole responsibility of the Corporation, and the
Corporation shall not take any action to seek reimbursement from Employee for
such expenses. Notwithstanding any limitation contained in this Section 7 to the
contrary, Employee shall be entitled to payment or reimbursement of legal
expenses in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) if the expenses
were incurred as a result of a dispute under this Agreement in which Employee
obtains a final judgment in his favor from a court of competent jurisdiction or
his claim is settled by the Corporation prior to the rendering of a judgment by
such a court.
8. Employee is not required to mitigate the amount of benefit payments to
be made by the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any benefit payments provided
for in this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Employee as a
result of employment by another employer or which might have been earned by
Employee had Employee sought such employment, after the date of termination of
his employment with the Corporation or otherwise.
9. In order to induce the Corporation to enter into this Agreement,
Employee hereby agrees as follows:
(A) He agrees that his employment with the Corporation is terminable at
will by the Corporation and that this Agreement does not alter that
relationship in any way.
(B) He will keep confidential and not improperly divulge for the benefit
of any other party any of the Corporation's confidential information and
business secrets including, but not limited to, confidential information and
business secrets relating to such matters as the Corporation's finances and
operations. All of the Corporation's confidential information and business
secrets shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation.
(C) For a period of two years after Employee's employment with the
Corporation ceases, Employee shall not either on his own account or for any
other person, firm or company solicit or endeavor to cause any employee of
the Corporation to leave his employment or to induce or attempt to induce
any such employee to breach any employment agreement with the Corporation.
In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of the provisions of
this Section 9, the Corporation shall be entitled to an injunction restraining
Employee from committing or continuing such breach. Nothing herein contained
shall be construed as prohibiting the Corporation from pursuing any other
remedies available to it for such
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breach or threatened breach including the recovery of damages from Employee. The
covenants of this Section 9 shall run not only in favor of the Corporation and
its successors and assigns, but also in favor of its subsidiaries and their
respective successors and assigns and shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
10. The Corporation shall require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by agreement
in form and substance satisfactory to Employee, to expressly assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Corporation would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken
place. Failure of the Corporation to obtain such agreement prior to the
effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and
shall entitle Employee to compensation from the Corporation in the same amount
and on the same terms as Employee would be entitled hereunder if he were to
terminate his employment pursuant to Section 4 hereof, except that for purposes
of implementing the foregoing, the date on which succession becomes effective
shall be deemed the date of termination of Employee's employment with the
Corporation. As used in this Agreement, "Corporation" shall mean the Corporation
as hereinbefore defined and any successor to the business or assets of it as
aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section
10 or which otherwise becomes bound by all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.
11. Should Employee die while any amounts are payable to him hereunder,
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Employee's
executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees and all
amounts payable hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to Employee's devisee, legatee or other designee or if there be no
such designee, to his estate.
12. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given
when delivered or mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to Employee:
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If to the Corporation:
National City Bancshares, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other party in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
13. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Indiana. The parties agree that all
legal disputes regarding this Agreement will be resolved in Evansville, Indiana,
and irrevocably consent to service of process in such City for such purpose.
14. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
Employee and the Corporation. No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any
breach by any other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any
prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representation, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
any party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.
15. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
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16. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one
and the same Agreement.
17. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties
hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or transfer this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder, except as provided in Section
10 and Section 11 above. Without limiting the foregoing, Employee's right to
receive payments hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, whether by
pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than a transfer by
his will or by the laws of descent and distribution as set forth in Section 11
hereof, and in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to
this Section 17, the Corporation shall have no liability to pay any amount so
attempted to be assigned or transferred.
Any benefits payable under this Agreement shall be paid solely from the
general assets of the Corporation. Neither Employee nor Employee's beneficiary
shall have interest in any specific assets of the Corporation under the terms of
this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be considered to create an escrow
account, trust fund or other funding arrangement of any kind or a fiduciary
relationship between Employee and the Corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
and delivered as of the day and year first above set forth.
NATIONAL CITY BANCSHARES, INC.
("Corporation")
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxx
--------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxx
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
"Employee"
