EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of
this 13th day of December, 1995, by and between Schenectady Federal Savings Bank
hereinafter referred to as the "Bank" whether in mutual or stock form), and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee is currently serving as the Senior Vice President
and Corporate Secretary; and
WHEREAS, the Bank has adopted a plan of conversion whereby the Bank
will convert to capital stock form as the subsidiary of SFS Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Holding Company"), subject to the approval of the Bank's members and the Office
of Thrift Supervision (the "Conversion"); and
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Bank ("Board of Directors")
recognizes that, as is the case with publicly held corporations generally, the
possibility of a change in control of the Holding Company and/or the Bank may
exist and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may
raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of key
management personnel to the detriment of the Bank, the Holding Company and their
respective stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors believes it is in the best interests of
the Bank to enter into this Agreement with the Employee in order to assure
continuity of management of the Bank and to reinforce and encourage the
continued attention and dedication of the Employee to his assigned duties
without distraction in the face of potentially disruptive circumstances arising
from the possibility of a change in control of the Holding Company or the Bank,
although no such change is now contemplated; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has approved and authorized the
execution of this Agreement with the Employee to take effect as stated in
Section 2 hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective
covenants and agreements of the parties herein, it is AGREED as follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) The term "Change in Control" means (1) an event of a
nature that (i) results in a change in control of the Bank or the Holding
Company within the meaning of the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933 and 12 C.F.R.
Part 574 as in effect on the date hereof; or (ii) would be required to be
reported in response to Item 1 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 0000 (xxx "Xxxxxxxx Xxx"); (2) any person (as the term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly of
securities of the Bank or the Holding Company representing 20% or more of the
Bank's or the Holding Company's outstanding securities; (3) individuals who are
members of the board of directors of the Bank or the Holding Company on the date
hereof (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the
date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of
the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election
by the Holding Company's stockholders was approved by the nominating committee
serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be considered a member of the Incumbent
Board; or (4) a plan of reorganization, merger consolidation, sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Bank or the Holding Company or a similar
transaction in which the Bank or the Holding Company is not the resulting
entity. The term "change in control" shall not include an acquisition of
securities by an employee benefit plan of the Bank or the Holding Company or the
acquisition of securities of the Bank by the Holding Company in connection with
the Conversion. In the application of 12 C.F.R. Part 574 to a determination of a
Change in Control, determinations to be made by the OTS or its Director under
such regulations shall be made by the Board of Directors.
(b) The term "Commencement Date" means the date of completion
of Conversion.
(c) The term "Date of Termination" means the earlier of (1)
the date upon which the Bank gives notice to the Employee of the termination of
his employment with the Bank or (2) the date upon which the Employee ceases to
serve as an Employee of the Bank.
(d) The term "Involuntarily Termination" means termination of
the employment of Employee without his express written consent, and shall
include a material diminution of or interference with the Employee's duties,
responsibilities and benefits as Senior Vice President of the Bank, including
(without limitation) any of the following actions unless consented to in writing
by the Employee: (1) a change in the principal workplace of the Employee to a
location outside of a 20 mile radius from the Bank's headquarters office as of
the date hereof; (2) a material reduction in the number or seniority of other
Bank personnel reporting to the Employee or a material reduction in the
frequency with which, or in the nature of the matters with respect to which such
personnel are to report to the Employee, other than as part of a Bank- or
Holding Company-wide reduction in staff; (3) a material adverse change in the
Employee's salary, perquisites, benefits, contingent benefits or vacation, other
than as part of an overall program applied uniformly and with equitable effect
to all members of the senior management of the Bank or the Holding Company; and
(4) a material permanent increase in the required hours of work or the workload
of the Employee. The term "Involuntary Termination" does not include Termination
for Cause or termination of employment due to retirement, death, disability or
suspension or temporary or permanent prohibition from participation in the
conduct of the Bank's affairs under Section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act ("FDIA").
(e) The terms "Termination for Cause" and "Terminated for
Cause" mean termination of the employment of the Employee because of the
Employee's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of a
fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated
duties, willful violation of any law, rule, or regulation (other than traffic
violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material
breach of any provision of this Agreement. The Employee shall not be deemed to
have been Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered
to the Employee a copy of a resolution, duly adopted by the affirmative vote of
not less than a majority of the entire membership of the Board of Directors of
the Bank at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice to the Employee and an opportunity for the Employee, together
with the Employee's counsel, to be heard before the Board), stating that in the
good faith opinion of the Board the Employee has engaged in the conduct
described in the preceding sentence and specifying the particulars thereof in
detail.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be a period of two years
commencing on the Commencement Date, subject to earlier termination as provided
herein. Beginning on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date, and on each
anniversary thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall be extended for a
period of one year in addition to the then-remaining term, provided that (1) the
Bank has not given notice to the Employee in writing at least 90 days prior to
such anniversary that the term of this Agreement shall not be extended further;
and (2) prior to such anniversary, the Board of Directors explicitly reviews and
approves the extension. Reference herein to the term of this Agreement shall
refer to both such initial term and such extended terms.
3. Employment. The Employee is employed as the Senior Vice President
and Corporate Secretary of the Bank. As Senior Vice President and Corporate
Secretary, Employee shall render such administrative and management services
under the supervision of the President as are customarily performed by persons
situated in similar executive capacities, and shall have such other powers and
duties of an officer of the Bank as the Board of Directors may prescribe from
time to time.
4. Compensation.
(a) Salary. The Bank agrees to pay the Employee during the
term of this Agreement the salary established by the Board of Directors, which
shall be at least the Employee's salary in effect as of the Commencement Date.
The amount of the Employee's salary shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors,
beginning not later than the first anniversary of the Commencement Date.
Adjustments in salary or other compensation shall not limit or reduce any other
obligation of the Bank under this Agreement. The Employee's salary in effect
from time to time during the term of this Agreement shall not thereafter be
reduced.
(b) Discretionary Bonuses. The Employee shall be entitled to
participate in an equitable manner with all other executive officers of the Bank
in discretionary bonuses as authorized and declared by the Board of Directors to
its executive employees. No other compensation provided for in this Agreement
shall be deemed a substitute for the Employee's right to participate in such
bonuses when and as declared by the Board of Directors.
(c) Expenses. The Employee shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Employee in performing
services under this Agreement in accordance with the policies and procedures
applicable to the executive officers of the Bank, provided that the Employee
accounts for such expenses as required under such policies and procedures.
5. Benefits.
(a) Participation in Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans.
The Employee shall be entitled to participate in all plans relating to pension,
thrift, profit-sharing, group life insurance, medical and dental coverage,
education, cash bonuses, and other retirement or employee benefits or
combinations thereof, in which the Bank's executive officers participate. In
addition, the Employee shall be entitled to be considered for benefits under all
of the stock and stock option related plans adopted for the benefit of the
Bank's executive or other employees.
(b) Fringe Benefits. The Employee shall be eligible to
participate in, and receive benefits under, any other fringe benefit plans which
are or may become applicable to the Bank's executive officers.
6. Vacations; Leave. The Employee shall be entitled to annual paid
vacation in accordance with the policies established by the Bank's Board of
Directors for executive employees and to voluntary leave of absence, with or
without pay, from time to time at such times and upon such conditions as the
Board of Directors of the Bank may determine in its discretion.
7. Termination of Employment.
(a) Involuntary Termination. The Board of Directors may
terminate the Employee's employment at any time, but, except in the case of
Termination for Cause, termination of employment shall not prejudice the
Employee's right to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. In the
event of Involuntary Termination other than in connection with or within twelve
(12) months after a Change in Control, (1) the Bank shall pay to the Employee
during the remaining term of this Agreement, his salary at the rate in effect
immediately prior to the Date of Termination, payable in such manner and at such
times as such salary would have been payable to the Employee under Section 2 if
the Employee had continued to be employed by the Bank, and (2) the Bank shall
provide to the Employee during the remaining term of this Agreement health
benefits as maintained by the Bank for the benefit of its executive officers
from time to time during the remaining term of the Agreement.
(b) Termination for Cause. In the event of Termination for
Cause, the Bank shall pay the Employee his salary through the date of
termination, and the Bank shall have no further obligation to the Employee under
this Agreement.
(c) Voluntary Termination. The Employee's employment may be
voluntarily terminated by the Employee at any time upon 90 days written notice
to the Bank or upon such shorter period as may be agreed upon between the
Employee and the Board of Directors of the Bank. In the event of such voluntary
termination, the Bank shall be obligated to continue to pay the Employee his
salary and benefits only through the date of termination, at the time such
payments are due, and the Bank shall have no further obligation to the Employee
under this Agreement.
(d) Change in Control. In the event of Involuntary Termination
in connection with or within 12 months after a change in control which occurs at
any time while the Employee is employed under this Agreement, the Bank shall,
subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, (1) pay to the Employee in a lump sum in
cash within 25 business days after the Date of Termination an amount equal to
200% of the Employee's "base amount" as defined in Section 280G of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and (2) provide to the Employee
during the remaining term of this Agreement such health benefits as are
maintained for executive officers of the Bank from time to time during the
remaining term of this Agreement.
(e) Death; Disability. In the event of the death of the
Employee while employed under this Agreement and prior to any termination of
employment, the Employee's estate, or such person as the Employee may have
previously designated in writing, shall be entitled to receive from the Bank the
salary of the Employee through the last day of the calendar month in which the
Employee died. If the Employee becomes disabled as defined in the Bank's then
current disability plan or if the Employee is otherwise unable to serve in his
present capacity, the Employee shall be entitled to receive group and other
disability income benefits of the type then provided by the Bank for executive
officers. In the event of such disability, this Agreement shall not be
suspended. However, the Bank shall be obligated to pay the Employee compensation
pursuant to Sections 4(a) and (b) hereof only to the extent the Employee's
salary, in the absence of such disability, would exceed (on an after tax basis)
the disability income benefits received pursuant to this paragraph. In addition,
the Bank shall have the right, upon resolution of its Board, to discontinue
paying cash compensation pursuant to Sections 4(a) and (b) beginning six months
following a determination that Employee qualifies for the foregoing disability
income benefits.
(f) Temporary Suspension or Prohibition. If the Employee 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)(1) of the FDIA,
12 U.S.C. ss. 1818(e)(3) and (g)(1), the Bank's obligations under this 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 (1) pay the Employee all or part of the compensation withheld while
its obligations under this Agreement were suspended and (ii) reinstate in whole
or in part any of its obligations which were suspended.
(g) Permanent Suspension or Prohibition. If the Employee 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)(1) of the FDIA,
12 U.S.C. ss. 1818(e)(4) and (g)(1), all obligations of the Bank under this
Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested
rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.
(h) Default of the Bank. 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 provision shall not affect any
vested rights of the contracting parties.
(i) Termination by Regulators. All obligations under this
Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation
of this Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Bank: (1) 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; or (2) by the Director or his or her designee, at the time the Director or
his or her 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 any such action.
8. Certain Reduction of Payments by the Bank.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if
payments under this Agreement, together with any other payments received or to
be received by the Employee in connection with a Change in Control would cause
any amount to be nondeductible by the Bank or the Holding Company for federal
income tax purposes pursuant to Section 280G of the Code, then benefits under
this Agreement shall be reduced (not less than zero) to the extent necessary so
as to maximize payments to the Employee without causing any amount to become
nondeductible by the Bank or the Holding Company. The Employee shall determine
the allocation of such reduction among payments to the Employee.
(b) Any payments made to the Employee pursuant to this
Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance
with 12 U.S.C. 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
9. No Mitigation. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any salary or other payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement
by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or
benefit provided for in this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by
the Employee as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement
benefits after the date of termination or otherwise.
10. Attorneys Fees. In the event the Bank exercises its right of
Termination for Cause, but it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
or by an arbitrator pursuant to Section 18 that cause did not exist for such
termination, or if in any event it is determined by any such court or arbitrator
that the Bank has failed to make timely payment of any amounts owed to the
Employee under this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement
for all reasonable costs, including attorneys' fees, incurred in challenging
such termination or collecting such amounts. Such reimbursement shall be in
addition to all rights to which the Employee is otherwise entitled under this
Agreement.
11. Confidential Information; Loyalty; Noncompetition.
(a) During the term of the Employee's employment hereunder and
thereafter, the Employee shall not, except as may be required to perform his
duties hereunder or as required by law, disclose to others or use, whether
directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information. "Confidential Information"
means information about the Bank and the Bank's clients and customers which is
not available to the general public and was or shall be learned by the Employee
in the course of his employment by the Bank, including without limitation any
data, formulae, information, proprietary knowledge, trade secrets, credit
reports and analyses owned, developed and used in the course of the business of
the Bank, including client and customer lists and information related thereto;
and all papers, records and other documents (and all copies thereof) contained
such Confidential Information. The Employee acknowledges that such Confidential
Information is specialized, unique in nature and of great value to the Bank. The
Employee agrees that upon the expiration of the Employee's term of employment
hereunder or in the event the Employee's employment hereunder is terminated
prior thereto for any reason whatsoever, the Employee will promptly deliver to
the Bank all documents (and all copies thereof) containing any Confidential
Information.
(b) The Employee shall devote his full time to the performance
of his employment under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Employee may
serve, without compensation, as a director of charitable, community and industry
organizations and continue to serve, with compensation, as a director of the
business corporations of which he is currently a director to the extent such
directorships do not inhibit the performance of his duties thereunder or
conflict with the business of the Bank. During the term of the Employee's
employment hereunder, the Employee shall not engage in any business or activity
contrary to the business affairs or interests of the Bank.
(c) Upon the expiration of the term of the Employee's
employment hereunder or in the event the Employee's employment hereunder
terminates prior thereto for any reason whatsoever, the Employee shall not, for
a period of one year after the occurrence of such event, for himself, or as the
agent of, on behalf of, or in conjunction with, any person or entity, solicit or
attempt to solicit, whether directly or indirectly: (i) any employee of the Bank
to terminate such employee's employment relationship with the Bank; or (ii) any
savings and loan, banking or similar business from any person or entity that is
or was a client, employee, or customer of the Bank and had dealt with the
Employee or any other employee of the Bank under the supervision of the
Employee.
(d) In the event Employee voluntarily resigns pursuant to
Section 7(c) of this Agreement, the Employee shall not, for a period equal to
the lesser of one year from the date of termination or the period during which
the Bank is obligated to continue to pay the Employee his salary, directly or
indirectly, own, manage, operate or control, or participate in the ownership,
management, operation or control of, or be employed by or connected in any
manner with, any financial institution having an office located within ten miles
of any office of the Bank as of the date of termination.
(e) The provisions of this Section 11 shall not prevent the
Employee from purchasing, solely for investment, not more than 5 percent of any
financial institution's stock or other securities which are traded on any
national or regional securities.
(f) The provisions of this Section shall survive the
termination of the Employee's employment hereunder whether by expiration of the
term thereof or otherwise.
12. No Assignments.
(a) This Agreement is personal to each of the parties hereto,
and neither party may assign or delegate any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the other party;
provided, however, that the Bank shall require any successor or assign (whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Bank, by an assumption
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Employee, to expressly
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Bank would be required to perform it if no such succession or
assignment had taken place. Failure of the Bank to obtain such an assumption
agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or assignment shall
be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Employee to compensation
from the Bank in the same amount and on the same terms as the compensation
pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof. For purposes of implementing the provisions of
this Section 12(a), the date on which any such succession becomes effective
shall be deemed the Date of Termination.
(b) This Agreement and all rights of the Employee hereunder
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee's personal and
legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Employee should die while any
amounts would still be payable to the Employee hereunder if the Employee had
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Employee's devisee,
legatee or other designee or if there is no such designee, to the Employee's
estate.
13. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or sent by certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the Bank at its home office
the attention of the Board of Directors with a copy to the Secretary of the
Bank, or, if the Employee, to such home or other address as the Employee has
most recently provided in writing to the Bank.
14. Amendments. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be
binding unless in writing and signed by both parties, except as herein otherwise
provided.
15. Paragraph Headings. The paragraph headings used in this Agreement
are included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in
connection with, the interpretation of this Agreement.
16. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
United States to the extent applicable and otherwise by the laws of the State of
New York.
18. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in
effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having
jurisdiction.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION WHICH MAY BE
ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES.
Attest: Schenectady Federal Savings Bank
--------------------- ---------------------------
Secretary
By:
Its:
EMPLOYEE
----------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
