Exhibit 10.3(b)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT entered into this ________ day of _________________, 19__,
by and between Home Savings Bank, SSB (the "Bank") and Xxxxxx X. Xxxx (the
"Employee"), effective on the date (the "Effective Date") of the Bank's
conversion from mutual to stock form.
WHEREAS, the Employee has heretofore been employed by the Bank as its
President and is experienced in all phases of the business of the Bank; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Bank 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; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire by this writing to set forth the continuing
employment relationship of the Bank and the Employee.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is AGREED as follows:
1. Defined Terms
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When used anywhere in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
meaning set forth herein.
(a) "Change in Control" shall mean any one of the following events:
(i) the acquisition of ownership, holding or power to vote more than 25% of the
voting stock of the Bank or NewSouth Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), (ii) the
acquisition of the ability to control the election of a majority of the Bank's
or the Company's directors, (iii) the acquisition of a controlling influence
over the management or policies of the Bank or of the Company by any person or
by persons acting as a "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934), or (iv) during any period of two consecutive
years, individuals (the "Continuing Directors") who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board of Directors of the Bank or of the Company (the
"Existing Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds
thereof, provided that any individual whose election or nomination for election
as a member of the Existing Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
of the Continuing Directors then in office shall be considered a Continuing
Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company's ownership of the Bank
shall not of itself constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the
Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph only, the term "person" refers to an
individual or a corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture,
pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization or any other
form of entity not specifically listed herein.
(b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, and as interpreted through applicable rulings and regulations
in effect from time to time.
(c) "Code (S)280G Maximum" shall mean the product of 2.99 and the
Employee's "base amount" as defined in Code (S)280G(b)(3).
(d) "Good Reason" shall mean any of the following events, which has
not been consented to in advance by the Employee in writing: (i) the requirement
that the Employee move his personal residence, or perform his principal
executive functions, more than 30 miles from his primary office as of the later
of the Effective Date and the most recent voluntary relocation by the Employee;
(ii) a material reduction in the Employee's base compensation under this
Agreement as the same may be increased from time to time; (iii) the failure by
the Bank or the Company to continue to provide the Employee with compensation
and benefits provided under this Agreement as the same may be increased from
time to time, or with benefits substantially similar to those provided to him
under any of the employee benefit plans in which the Employee now or hereafter
becomes a participant, or the taking of any action by the Bank or the Company
which would directly or indirectly reduce any of such benefits or deprive the
Employee of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by him under this Agreement;
(iv) the assignment to the Employee of duties and responsibilities materially
different from those normally associated with his position; (v) a failure to
reelect the Employee to the Board of Directors of the Bank or the Company, if
the Employee has served on such Board at any time during the term of the
Agreement; (vi) a material diminution or reduction in the Employee's
responsibilities or authority (including reporting responsibilities) in
connection with his employment with the Bank or the Company; or (vii) a material
reduction in the secretarial or other administrative support of the Employee.
(e) "Just Cause" shall mean, in the good faith determination of the
Bank's Board of Directors, the Employee's personal dishonesty, incompetence,
willful misconduct, breach of 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 have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after termination for Just Cause. No act, or failure to act, on the
Employee's part shall be considered "willful" unless he has acted, or failed to
act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that his
action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Bank and the Company.
(f) "Protected Period" shall mean the period that begins on the date
six months before a Change in Control and ends on the later of the second annual
anniversary of the Change in Control or the expiration date of this Agreement.
(g) "Trust" shall mean a grantor trust that is designed in accordance
with Revenue Procedure 92-64 and has a trustee independent of the Bank and the
Company.
2. Employment. The Employee is employed as the President of the Bank.
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The Employee shall render such administrative and management services for the
Bank as are currently rendered and as are customarily performed by persons
situated in a similar executive capacity. The Employee shall also promote, by
entertainment or otherwise, as and to the extent permitted
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by law, the business of the Bank. The Employee's other duties shall be such as
the Board may from time to time reasonably direct, including normal duties as an
officer of the Bank.
3. Base Compensation. The Bank agrees to pay the Employee during the
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term of this Agreement a salary at the rate of $______________ per annum,
payable in cash not less frequently than monthly. The Board shall review, not
less often than annually, the rate of the Employee's salary, and in its sole
discretion may decide to increase his salary.
4. Discretionary Bonuses. The Employee shall participate in an
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equitable manner with all other senior management employees of the Bank in
discretionary bonuses that the Board may award from time to time to the Bank's
senior management employees. No other compensation provided for in this
Agreement shall be deemed a substitute for the Employee's right to participate
in such discretionary bonuses.
5. Participation in Retirement, Medical and Other Plans.
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(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall be eligible
to participate in the following benefit plans: group hospitalization,
disability, health, dental, sick leave, life insurance, travel and/or accident
insurance, auto allowance/auto lease, retirement, pension, and/or other present
or future qualified plans provided by the Bank, generally which benefits, taken
as a whole, must be at least as favorable as those in effect on the Effective
Date.
(b) The Employee shall be eligible to participate in any fringe
benefits which are or may become available to the Bank's senior management
employees, including for example: any stock option or incentive compensation
plans, and any other benefits which are commensurate with the responsibilities
and functions to be performed by the Employee under this Agreement. The
Employee shall be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses
which he shall incur in connection with his services under this Agreement upon
substantiation of such expenses in accordance with the policies of the Bank.
6. Term. The Bank hereby employs the Employee, and the Employee hereby
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accepts such employment under this Agreement, for the period commencing on the
Effective Date and ending 36 months thereafter (or such earlier date as is
determined in accordance with Section 10). Additionally, on each annual
anniversary date from the Effective Date, the Employee's term of employment
shall be extended for an additional one-year period beyond the then effective
expiration date, provided the Board determines in a duly adopted resolution that
the performance of the Employee has met the Board's requirements and standards,
and that this Agreement shall be extended. Only those members of the Board of
Directors who have no personal interest in this Employment Agreement shall
discuss and vote on the approval and subsequent review of this Agreement.
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7. Loyalty; Noncompetition.
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(a) During the period of his employment hereunder and except for
illnesses, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable leaves of absence, the
Employee shall devote all his full business time, attention, skill, and efforts
to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder; provided, however, from
time to time, Employee may serve on the boards of directors of, and hold any
other offices or positions in, companies or organizations, which will not
present any conflict of interest with the Bank or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates, or unfavorably affect the performance of Employee's duties pursuant
to this Agreement, or will not violate any applicable statute or regulation.
"Full business time" is hereby defined as that amount of time usually devoted to
like companies by similarly situated executive officers. During the term of his
employment under this Agreement, the Employee shall not engage in any business
or activity contrary to the business affairs or interests of the Bank.
(b) Nothing contained in this Section shall be deemed to prevent or
limit the Employee's right to invest in the capital stock or other securities of
any business dissimilar from that of the Bank, or, solely as a passive or
minority investor, in any business.
8. Standards. The Employee shall perform his duties under this
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Agreement in accordance with such reasonable standards as the Board may
establish from time to time. The Bank will provide Employee with the working
facilities and staff customary for similar executives and necessary for him to
perform his duties.
9. Vacation and Sick Leave. At such reasonable times as the Board shall
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in its discretion permit, the Employee shall be entitled, without loss of pay,
to absent himself volun tarily from the performance of his employment under this
Agreement, all such voluntary absences to count as vacation time, provided that:
(a) The Employee shall be entitled to an annual vacation in accordance
with the policies that the Board periodically establishes for senior management
employees of the Bank.
(b) The Employee shall not receive any additional compensation from
the Bank on account of his failure to take a vacation or sick leave, and the
Employee shall not accumulate unused vacation or sick leave from one fiscal year
to the next, except in either case to the extent authorized by the Board.
(c) In addition to the aforesaid paid vacations, the Employee shall be
entitled without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the performance
of his employment with the Bank for such additional periods of time and for such
valid and legitimate reasons as the Board may in its discretion determine.
Further, the Board may grant to the Employee a leave or leaves of absence, with
or without pay, at such time or times and upon such terms and conditions as such
Board in its discretion may determine.
(d) In addition, the Employee shall be entitled to an annual sick
leave benefit as established by the Board.
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10. Termination and Termination Pay. Subject to Section 12 hereof, the
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Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated under the following
circumstances:
(a) Death. The Employee's employment under this Agreement shall
terminate upon his death during the term of this Agreement, in which event the
Employee's estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation due the Employee
through the last day of the calendar month in which his death occurred.
(b) Disability. (1) The Bank may terminate the Employee's employment
after having established the Employee's Disability. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Disability" means a physical or mental infirmity which impairs the
Employee's ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement and
which results in the Employee becoming eligible for long-term disability
benefits under the Bank's long-term disability plan (or, if the Bank has no such
plan in effect, which impairs the Employee's ability to substantially perform
his duties under this Agreement for a period of 180 consecutive days). The
Employee shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits provided for under
this Agreement for (i) any period during the term of this Agreement and prior to
the establishment of the Employee's Disability during which the Employee is
unable to work due to the physical or mental infirmity, or (ii) any period of
Disability which is prior to the Employee's termination of employment pursuant
to this Section 10(b); provided that any benefits paid pursuant to the Bank's
long term disability plan will continue as provided in such plan.
(2) During any period that the Employee shall receive disability benefits
and to the extent that the Employee shall be physically and mentally able to do
so, he shall furnish such information, assistance and documents so as to assist
in the continued ongoing business of the Bank and, if able, shall make himself
available to the Bank to undertake reasonable assignments consistent with his
prior position and his physical and mental health. The Bank shall pay all
reasonable expenses incident to the performance of any assignment given to the
Employee during the disability period.
(c) Just Cause. The Board may, by written notice to the Employee,
immediately terminate his employment at any time, for Just Cause. The Employee
shall have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period
after termination for Just Cause.
(d) Without Just Cause; Constructive Discharge. The Board may, by
written notice to the Employee, immediately terminate his employment at any time
for a reason other than Just Cause, in which event the Employee shall be
entitled to receive the following compensa tion and benefits (unless such
termination occurs during the Protected Period, in which event the benefits and
compensation provided for in Section 12 shall apply): (i) the salary provided
pursuant to Section 3 hereof, up to the expiration date of this Agreement,
including any renewal term (the "Expiration Date"), plus said salary for an
additional 12-month period, and (ii) at the Employee's election either (A) cash
in an amount equal to the cost to the Employee of obtaining all health, life,
disability and other benefits which the Employee would have been eligible to par
ticipate in through the Expiration Date based upon the benefit levels
substantially equal to those that the Bank provided for the Employee at the date
of termination of employment or (B)
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continued participation under such Bank benefit plans through the Expiration
Date, but only to the extent the Employee continues to qualify for participation
therein. All amounts payable to the Employee shall be paid, at the option of
the Employee, either (I) in periodic payments through the Expiration Date, or
(II) in one lump sum within ten days of such termination.
(e) Good Reason. The Employee shall be entitled to receive the
compensation and benefits payable under subsection 10(d) hereof in the event
that the Employee voluntarily terminates employment within 90 days of an event
that constitutes Good Reason, (unless such voluntary termination occurs during
the Protected Period, in which event the benefits and compensation provided for
in Section 12 shall apply).
(f) Termination or Suspension Under Federal Law. (1) If the Employee
is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of
the Bank's affairs by an order issued under Sections 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA") (12 U.S.C. 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 parties shall not be
affected.
(2) If the Bank is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of FDIA),
all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default;
however, this Paragraph shall not affect the vested rights of the parties.
(3) If a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of the FDIA
(12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(3) or (g)(1)) suspends and/or temporarily prohibits the
Employee from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs, the Bank's
obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of such
service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice
are dismissed, the Bank may in its discretion (i) pay the Employee all or part
of the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were suspended, and
(ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were
suspended.
(4) 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.
Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) Voluntary Termination by Employee. Subject to Section 12 hereof,
the Employee may voluntarily terminate employment with the Bank during the term
of this Agreement, upon at least 90 days' prior written notice to the Board of
Directors, in which case the Employee shall receive only his compensation,
vested rights and employee benefits up to the date of his termination (unless
such termination occurs pursuant to Section 10(d) hereof or within the Protected
Period, in Section 12(a) hereof, in which event the benefits and compensation
provided for in Sections 10(d) or 12, as applicable, shall apply).
(h) Post-termination Health Insurance. If the Employee's employment
terminates with the Bank or the Company for any reason other than Just Cause,
the Employee shall be entitled to purchase from the Bank, at his own expense
which shall not exceed applicable
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COBRA rates, family medical insurance under any group health plan that the Bank
maintains for its employees. This right shall be (i) in addition to, and not
in lieu of, any other rights that the Employee has under this Agreement, and
(ii) shall continue until the Employee first becomes eligible for participation
in Medicare.
11. No Mitigation. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the
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amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment
or otherwise and no such payment shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any
compensation or benefits provided to the Employee in any subsequent employment.
12. Change in Control.
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(a) Trigger Events. The Employee shall be entitled to collect the
severance benefits set forth in Subsection (b) hereof in the event that either
(i) the Employee voluntarily terminates employment for any reason within the 30-
day period beginning on the date of a Change in Control, (ii) the Employee
voluntarily terminates employment within 90 days of an event that both occurs
during the Protected Period and constitutes Good Reason, or (iii) the Bank or
the Company or their successor(s) in interest terminate the Employee's
employment without his written consent and for any reason other than Just Cause
during the Protected Period.
(b) Amount of Severance Benefit. If the Employee becomes entitled to
collect severance benefits pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Bank shall:
(i) pay the Employee a severance benefit equal to the
difference between the Code (S)280G Maximum and the sum of any other
"parachute payments" as defined under Code (S)280G(b)(2) that the
Employee receives on account of the Change in Control, and
(ii) provide such long-term disability insurance and medical
insurance benefits as are available to the Employee under the
provisions of COBRA for 18 months (or such longer period, as may be
required thereunder).
Said sum shall be paid in one lump sum within ten days of the later of
the date of the Change in Control and the Employee's last day of employment with
the Bank or the Company. In the event that the Employee, the Bank, and the
Company jointly agree that the Employee has collected an amount exceeding the
Code (S)280G Maximum, the parties may agree in writing that such excess shall be
treated as a loan ab initio, which the Employee shall repay to the Bank, on
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terms and conditions mutually agreeable to the parties, together with interest
at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(B) of the
Code.
(c) Funding of Grantor Trust upon Change in Control. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement that may be contrary or inconsistent
herewith, not later than ten business days after a Change in Control, the Bank
shall (i) deposit in a Trust an amount equal to the Code (S)280G Maximum, unless
the Employee has previously provided a written release of any claims under this
Agreement, and (ii) provide the trustee of the Trust with a written direction
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to hold said amount and any investment return thereon in a segregated account
for the benefit of the Employee, and to follow the procedures set forth in the
next paragraph as to the payment of such amounts from the Trust.
At any time or from time to time during the 27-consecutive month period
after a Change in Control, the Employee may provide the trustee of the Trust
with a written notice directing that the trustee pay to the Employee an amount
designated in the notice as being payable pursuant to this Agreement. Within
three business days after receiving said notice, the trustee of the Trust shall
send a copy of the notice to the Bank via overnight and registered mail return
receipt requested. On the fifth business day after mailing said notice to the
Bank, the trustee of the Trust shall pay the Employee the amount designated
therein in immediately available funds, unless prior thereto the Bank provides
the trustee with a written notice directing the trustee to withhold such
payment. In the latter event, the trustee shall submit the dispute to non-
appealable binding arbitration for a determination of the amount payable to the
Employee pursuant to this Agreement, and the costs of such arbitration
(including any attorneys' fees incurred by the Employee) shall be paid by the
Bank. The trustee shall choose the arbitrator to settle the dispute, and such
arbitrator shall be bound by the rules of the American Arbitration Association
in making his determination. The parties and the trustee shall be bound by the
results of the arbitration and, within three days of the determination by the
arbitrator, the trustee shall pay from the Trust the amounts required to be paid
to the Employee and/or the Bank, and in no event shall the trustee be liable to
either party for making the payments as determined by the arbitrator.
Upon the earlier of (i) any payment from the Trust to the Employee, or (ii)
the date 27 months after the date on which the Bank makes the deposit referred
to in the first paragraph of this subsection 12(c), the trustee of the Trust
shall pay to the Bank the entire balance remaining in the segregated account
maintained for the benefit of the Employee. The Employee shall thereafter have
no further interest in the Trust pursuant to this Agreement.
13. Indemnification. The Bank and the Company agree that their
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respective Bylaws shall continue to provide for indemnification of directors,
officers, employees and agents of the Bank and the Company, including the
Employee during the full term of this Agreement, and to at all times provide
adequate insurance for such purposes.
14. Reimbursement of Employee for Enforcement Proceedings. In the event
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that any dispute arises between the Employee and the Bank as to the terms or
interpretation of this Agreement, whether instituted by formal legal proceedings
or otherwise, including any action that the Employee takes to defend against any
action taken by the Bank or the Company, the Employee shall be reimbursed for
all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from such
dispute, proceedings or actions, provided that the Employee obtains either a
written settlement or a final judgement by a court of competent jurisdiction
substantially in his favor. Such reimbursement shall be paid within ten days of
Employee's furnishing to the Bank written evidence, which may be in the form,
among other things, of a cancelled check or receipt, of any costs or expenses
incurred by the Employee.
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15. Federal Income Tax Withholding. The Bank may withhold all federal
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and state income or other taxes from any benefit payable under this Agreement as
shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling.
16. Successors and Assigns.
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(a) Bank. This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Bank,
provided that this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
any corporate or other successor of the Bank which shall acquire, directly or
indirectly, by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or
substantially all of the assets or stock of the Bank.
(b) Employee. Since the Bank is contracting for the unique and
personal skills of the Employee, the Employee shall be precluded from assigning
or delegating his rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining the written
consent of the Bank; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall
preclude (i) the Employee from designating a beneficiary to receive any benefit
payable hereunder upon his death, or (ii) the executors, administrators, or
other legal representatives of the Employee or his estate from assigning any
rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereunto.
(c) Attachment. Except as required by law, no right to receive
payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation,
alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or
to exclusion, attachment, levy or similar process or assignment by operation of
law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall
be null, void and of no effect.
17. Amendments. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be
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binding unless made in writing and signed by all of the parties, except as
herein otherwise specifically provided.
18. Applicable Law. Except to the extent preempted by federal law, the
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laws of the State of North Carolina shall govern this Agreement in all respects,
whether as to its validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise.
19. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
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severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any understanding or
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modifications thereof as agreed to in writing by the parties, shall constitute
the entire agreement between the parties hereto and shall supersede any prior
agreement between the parties.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and
year first hereinabove written.
ATTEST: HOME SAVINGS BANK, SSB
_______________________ By: ____________________________
Secretary Its Chairman of the Board
WITNESS:
_______________________ ____________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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