EXHIBIT 10.4
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
HERITAGE SAVINGS BANK
AND
XXXXX XXXXX
THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into effective
this ____ day of _______________, 1997, by and between HERITAGE SAVINGS BANK, a
Washington banking corporation (the "Bank") and XXXXX XXXXX ("Executive").
RECITALS
1. The Bank currently receives the exclusive services of Executive as its
employee, and both the Bank and Executive desire that this employment
relationship continue.
2. In order to encourage Executive to continue his employment relationship
with the Bank, thereby allowing the Bank to maximize the benefits obtainable by
its shareholder and the shareholders of its holding company, Heritage Financial
Corporation (the "Company"), from any such change, the Bank desires to provide a
severance benefit to Executive.
In consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, agreements and
undertakings contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby contract and agree
as follows:
AGREEMENT
1. TERM. The term of this Agreement ("Term") shall commence as of the
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date first above written and shall end on the fifth anniversary of such date,
unless extended in writing by the parties.
2. SEVERANCE PAYMENT.
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2.1. Determination of Payment. In the case of a Termination Event,
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as defined in Section 4, the Bank shall pay to Executive upon the effective date
of termination a severance payment ("Severance Payment") in an amount equal to
two times the amount of Executive's then-current annual base salary in addition
to all salary and benefits earned through such termination date. In such event,
all future provisions regarding restricted stock awards or vesting requirements
regarding options shall lapse or be considered completed as of the effective
date of the termination.
2.2. Reimbursement of Excise Tax. In the event the provisions of
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this Section 2 result in imposition of a tax on Executive under the provisions
of Internal Revenue Code (S) 4999, the Bank agrees to reimburse Executive for
the same, exclusive of any tax imposed by reason of receipt of reimbursement
under this Section 2.2.
3. OTHER COMPENSATION AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. Except with respect to the
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Severance Payment, this Agreement shall have no effect on the determination of
any
compensation payable by the Bank to the Executive, or upon any of the other
terms of Executive's employment with the Bank.
4. TERMINATION EVENTS. A Termination Event shall be deemed to occur upon,
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and only upon, one or more of the following:
4.1 Termination of Executive's employment by either party for any
reason within 730 days following the effective date of a Change of Control (as
defined below); or
4.2 Termination of Executive's employment by the Bank without Cause
prior to a Change of Control if such termination occurs at any time from and
after sixty days prior to the public announcement by the Bank or any other party
of a transaction which will result in a Change of Control; provided that (i) the
effective date of the Change of Control occurs within eighteen (18) months of
Executive's termination, and further provided that (ii) as a condition to the
receipt of the Severance Payment, upon request by the Board of Directors of the
Bank, Executive will not voluntarily terminate his employment with the Bank
until after the effective date of the Change of Control in order to assist the
Bank in evaluating and effectuating the Change of Control.
5. RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
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5.1 Noncompetition. Executive agrees that he will not during the
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term of this Agreement and for a period of one year following the payment to
Executive of a Severance Payment directly or indirectly become interested in, as
principal shareholder, director, or officer, any financial institution that
competes with Bank, including any successor, or any of its affiliates within the
State of Washington. The provisions restricting competition by Executive may be
waived by action of the Board. Executive recognizes and agrees that any breach
of this covenant by Executive will cause immediate and irreparable injury to
Bank, and Executive hereby authorizes recourse by Bank to injunction and/or
specific performance, as well as to other legal or equitable remedies to which
Bank may be entitled.
5.2 Noninterference. During the noncompetition period described in
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Section 5.1, Executive shall not solicit or attempt to solicit any other
employee of Bank or its affiliates to leave the employ of those companies, or in
any way interfere with the relationship between Bank and any other employee of
Bank.
5.3 Interpretation. If a court or any other administrative body
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with jurisdiction over a dispute related to this Agreement should determine that
the restrictive covenant set forth above is unreasonably broad, the parties
hereby authorize said court or administrative body to narrow same so as to make
it reasonable, given all relevant circumstances, and to enforce same. The
covenants in this paragraph shall survive termination of this Agreement.
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6. DEFINITIONS.
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6.1. Cause. "Cause" shall mean only (i) willful misfeasance, failure
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to follow direction by a senior officer or gross negligence in the performance
of Executive's duties, (ii) conduct demonstrably and significantly harmful to
the Bank (which would include willful violation of any final cease and desist
order applicable to the Bank), or (iii) conviction of a felony.
6.2. Change of Control. "Change of Control" shall mean the
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occurrence of one or more of the following events:
6.2.1. One person or entity acquiring or otherwise becoming the owner
of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company's outstanding common stock;
6.2.2. Replacement of incumbent directors or election of newly-
elected directors constituting a majority of the Board of the Company where such
replacement or election has not been supported by the Board;
6.2.3. Dissolution, or sale of fifty percent (50%) or more in value
of the assets, of either the Company, the Bank or any of their respective
subsidiaries; or
6.2.4 The merger of the Company into any corporation, twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the outstanding common stock of which is owned by other
than owners of the common stock of the Company prior to such merger.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
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7.1 This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject matter, and is subject to modification or amendment
only upon amendment in writing signed by both parties.
7.2 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the heirs,
legal representatives, successors, and assigns of the parties.
7.3 If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or otherwise
unenforceable, all other provisions shall remain unaffected and shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
7.4 Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, Bank shall
make no payment of any severance benefit provided for herein to the extent that
such payment would be prohibited by the provisions of Part 359 of the
regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as the same may be
amended from time to time, and if such payment is so prohibited, Bank shall use
its best efforts to secure the consent of the FDIC or other applicable banking
agencies to make such payments in the highest amount permissible, up to the
amount provided for in this Agreement.
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7.5 This Agreement is made with reference to and is intended to be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington. Venue for any
action arising out of or concerning this Agreement shall lie in Xxxxxxxx County,
Washington. In the event of a dispute under this Agreement, the dispute shall
be arbitrated pursuant to the Superior Court Mandatory Arbitration Rules ("MAR")
adopted by the Washington State Supreme Court, irrespective of the amount in
controversy. This Agreement shall be deemed as stipulation to that effect
pursuant to MAR 1.2 and 8.1 The arbitrator, in his or her discretion, may award
attorney's fees to the prevailing party or parties.
7.6 Any notice required to be given under this Agreement to either
party shall be given by personal service or by depositing a copy thereof in the
United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
following address, or such other address as addressee shall designate in
writing:
Bank: Heritage Savings Bank
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000 0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: ___________________
Executive: Xxxxx Xxxxx
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________________________
________________________
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on
the date first above written.
HERITAGE SAVINGS BANK: EXECUTIVE:
By: ____________________________ ____________________________
Its: ___________________________
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