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EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
This AGREEMENT is made effective as of this 2nd day of June, 1997 by and between
THE YARDVILLE NATIONAL BANCORP (the "Holding Company"), a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of New Jersey, and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx (the
"Executive").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Holding Company desires to employ and retain the services
of the Officer; and
WHEREAS, the Officer is willing to serve in the employ of the Bank;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
During the period of his employment hereunder, the Officer shall serve
as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Yardville
National Bank (the "Bank") reporting to the President and Chief Executive
Officer.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES
(a) The period of the Officer's employment under this Agreement shall
commence as of June 2, 1997 and shall continue for a period of twenty (20) full
calendar months unless terminated by the Bank on account of death, disability or
cause (as herein defined). This Agreement is subject to approval, for
continuation, by the President/CEO, and the Board of Directors of the Yardville
National Bancorp, at the conclusion of each contract period (conclusion for this
contract period will be January 31, 1999). Renewals shall be on the same terms
and conditions as set forth herein, except for such modification of compensation
and benefits as may hereafter be agreed upon between the parties hereto from
time to time.
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This Agreement shall be deemed to continue for an additional twelve months from
each succeeding anniversary date of the Agreement, it being the intention of the
parties that, unless notice is given to the contrary by either party, the
Agreement shall be extended for an additional one year period so that there be a
full twelve month term remaining.
(b) During the period of employment, the Officer shall devote full time
and attention to such employment and shall perform such duties as are
customarily and appropriately vested in the Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of a commercial bank.
3. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Agreement,
(a) "Cause" means any of the following:
(i) the willful commission of an act that causes or that probably will
cause substantial economic damage to the Bank or substantial injury to
the Bank's business reputation; or,
(ii) the commission of an act of fraud in the performance of the
Officer's duties; or
(iii) a continuing willful failure to perform the duties of the
Officer's position with the Bank; or
(iv) the order of a bank regulatory agency or court requiring the
termination of the Officer's employment.
(b) "Change in Control" means any of the following:
(i) the acquisition by any person or group acting in concert of
beneficial ownership of forty percent (40%) or more of any class of
equity security of the Bank or the Bank's Holding Company, or,
(ii) the approval by the Board of the sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Bank or Holding Company; or,
(iii) the approval by the Board of any merger, consolidation, issuance
of securities or purchase of assets, the result of which would be the
occurrence of any event described in clause (i) or (ii) above.
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(c) "Disability" means a mental or physical illness or condition
rendering the Officer incapable of performing his normal duties for the Bank.
(d) "Willfulness" means an act or failure to act done not in good faith
and without reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the best
interest of the Bank.
4. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT
(a) During the period of employment, the Bank shall pay to the Officer
an annual salary of not less than $105,000.00, in the 1997 period of this
agreement, and $115,000.00, in the second year (1998) of this agreement;
proceeds shall be paid in bi-weekly installments.
Such salary shall be reviewed by the Board or a duly appointed committee thereof
at least annually and any adjustments in the amount of salary on said review
shall be fixed by the Board from time to time.
(b) The Officer shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits
under any retirement plan, salary continuation plan, pension plan,
profit-sharing plan, stock plan, executive group term replacement plan,
health-and-accident plan, medical coverage or any other employee benefit plan or
prerequisite arrangement currently available or which may hereafter be adopted
by the Bank for its senior executives and key management employees, subject to
and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration
of such plans and arrangements. Nothing paid to the Officer under any such plan
or arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which the
Officer is entitled under this Agreement.
(c) The Officer shall be provided by the Bank with an automobile for
his individual use.
(d) In addition to the salary provided for under Section 4:
(a) The Bank shall pay for all reasonable travel and other reasonable
expenses incurred by the Officer in performing his obligations
under this Agreement.
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5. STOCK OPTIONS
(a) the Bank agrees to grant to the Officer the right, privilege, and
option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock of the Bank Holding Company at
the fair market value of said stock as of the date of the Agreement, subject to
the terms and conditions of the Holding Company's Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan"). It is the intention of this Agreement that the Officer be granted
options that will not be subject to state or federal income taxes when they are
exercised, but rather only when the resultant stock is sold, assuming that such
date of sale is at least two years after the date such options were granted one
year after the date such stock was acquired by the Officer. It is understood
that the Holding Company will receive no tax benefits or tax deduction in
connection with these options.
(b) the options as to the 5,000 shares may be exercised by the Officer
at any time during a period commencing with the vesting date of such options and
ending three (3) years after the option grant date, except to the extent that
said time period may be decreased in accordance with the provisions contained in
Subsections 5(c), 5(f) and 7(d).
The options shall vest in accordance with the following schedule:
Number of Options Vesting Date
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1750 June 2, 1998
1750 June 2, 1999
1500 June 2, 2000
The rights to exercise shall be cumulative, and any option not exercised in a
prior year may be exercised in a subsequent year throughout the ten year option
period.
(c) In connection with any proposed sale or conveyance of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Bank or Holding Company or recently
accomplished Change in Control of the Holding Company, the vesting schedule of
all options granted hereunder to the Executive shall accelerate and 100% of all
options shall immediately vest to the Officer.
(d) If and to the extent that the number of issued shares of common
stock of the Holding Company shall increased by or reduced by any change in the
par value, split-up, reclassification, distribution of a dividend payable in
stock or the like, the number of shares proportionately adjusted.
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If the Holding Company is reorganized, consolidated or merged with another
corporation, the Executive shall be entitled to receive options covering shares
of such reorganized, consolidated or merged corporation in the same proportion
and at an equivalent price and subject to the same conditions. For the purposes
of the preceding sentence, the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the
shares subject to the option immediately after the reorganization, consolidation
or merger over the aggregate option price of such shares shall not be more than
the excess of the aggregate fair market value of all shares subject to the
option immediately before such reorganization, consolidation or merger over the
aggregate option price of such shares, and a new option or assumption of the old
option shall not give the Officer additional benefits which he did not have
under the old option.
(e) The options granted hereunder are nontransferable by the Officer.
(f) Any additional Incentive Stock Options granted, outside of this
Agreement, will be periodically negotiated for the Officer under the terms and
conditions of the shareholder approved Employee Stock Option Plan.
6. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
(a) The Officer shall not have the right to receive compensation or
other benefits provided hereunder for any period after termination for Cause,
except to the extent that Officer may be legally entitled to participate by
virtue of COBRA or any other State or Federal Law concerning employee rights to
benefits upon termination.
(b) Any unexercised stock option granted to the officer shall become
null and void effective upon the Officer's receipt of notice of termination for
Cause and shall not be exercisable by the Officer at any time subsequent to such
termination for Cause.
7. CHANGE IN CONTROL
(a) In the event that within three (3) years after a Change in Control
(as herein defined), the Officer's employment is terminated by the Bank, other
than for death, disability or Cause, the Officer shall be entitled to receive
two (2) years' salary at the annual salary currently being paid, which payment
shall be made in a lump sum promptly after the occurrence of such termination.
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(b) The Executive will have the option within six (6) months after a
Change in Control (as herein defined), to elect to resign his position. If the
Executive's voluntary departure is for other than death, disability or cause the
Executive shall be entitled to receive two (2) years salary at the annual salary
currently being paid, which payment shall be made in a lump sum promptly after
the occurrence of such voluntary resignation.
8. TERMINATION UPON DISABILITY
(a) In the event that the Officer experiences a Disability during the
period of his employment, his salary shall continue at the same rate as was in
effect on the day of the occurrence of such Disability, reduced by any
concurrent disability benefit payments provided under disability insurance
maintained by the Bank. If such Disability continues for a period of six (6)
consecutive months, the Bank at its option may thereafter, upon written notice
to the Officer or his personal representative, terminate the Officer's
employment with no further notice.
9. OTHER TERMINATION BY THE BANK
(a) In the event the Officer's employment is terminated by the Bank,
other than for disability, death or cause, and in the absence of occurrence of a
Change in Control, the Officer will be entitled to payment of the remaining term
of this agreement, at the annual salary currently being paid with said payment
to be a lump sum payment upon termination.
10. TERMINATION BY THE EXECUTIVE
(a) In the event of the Officer's voluntary termination, the Officer
shall not have the right to receive compensation or benefits as provided
hereunder after such date of termination, except to the extent that Executive
may be legally entitled to participate by virtue of COBRA or any other State or
Federal Law concerning employee rights to benefits upon termination.
11. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS
It is intended by the parties hereto that all payments provided in this
Agreement shall be paid in cash or check from the general funds of the Bank, as
the case may be.
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12. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.
13. NOTICES
Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall
be sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered mail to his residence in
the case of the Officer or to its principal place of business in the case of the
Bank.
14. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement and the obligations of the parties hereto shall be
interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
New Jersey.
15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This instrument contains the entire agreement of the parties. It may
not be changed orally, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the party
against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification, extension or
discharge is sought.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto executed this Agreement
on the 2nd day of June, 1997, and as amended in 7(b) of this Agreement on the
31st day of January, 1998.
ATTEST: YARDVILLE NATIONAL BANCORP
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Fone /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
President/CEO
WITNESS
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Fone /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Executive Vice President
Chief Operating Officer