Synergy Financial Group, Inc.
2003 Restricted Stock Plan
and Trust Agreement
Article I
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ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN AND TRUST
1.01 Synergy Financial Group, Inc. ("Company") hereby establishes the
Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan") and Trust (the "Trust") upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter stated in this Restricted Stock Plan and Trust Agreement
(the "Agreement").
1.02 The Trustee hereby accepts this Trust and agrees to hold the Trust
assets existing on the date of this Agreement and all additions and accretions
thereto upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated.
Article II
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PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
2.01 The purpose of the Plan is to reward and to retain personnel of
experience and ability in key positions of responsibility with the Company and
its subsidiaries, by providing such personnel of the Company and its
subsidiaries with an equity interest in the Company as compensation for their
prior and anticipated future professional contributions and service to the
Company and its subsidiaries.
Article III
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DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases when used in this Plan with an initial
capital letter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the
meaning as set forth below. Wherever appropriate, the masculine pronoun shall
include the feminine pronoun and the singular shall include the plural.
"Bank" means Synergy Bank, a federal stock savings bank.
"Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by the Participant
to receive any benefits payable under the Plan in the event of such
Participant's death. Such person or persons shall be designated in writing on
forms provided for this purpose by the Committee and may be changed from time to
time by similar written notice to the Committee. In the absence of a written
designation, the Beneficiary shall be the Participant's surviving spouse, if
any, or if none, the Participant's estate.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any successor
corporation thereto.
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"Cause" means the personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful
misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profits, intentional
failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of a material provision of
any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations and similar offense),
or a material violation of a final cease-and-desist order or any other action
which results in a substantial financial loss to the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
"Change in Control" shall mean: (i) the sale of all, or a material
portion, of the assets of the Company or the Bank; (ii) the merger or
recapitalization of the Company or the Bank whereby the Company or the Bank is
not the surviving entity; (iii) a change in control of the Company or the Bank,
as otherwise defined or determined by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS")
or regulations promulgated by it; or (iv) the acquisition, directly or
indirectly, of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of that term as it
is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company by any person, trust, entity or group. This
limitation shall not apply to the purchase of shares of up to 25% of any class
of securities of the Company by a tax-qualified employee stock benefit plan
which is exempt from the approval requirements, set forth under 12 C.F.R.
ss.574.3(c)(1)(vi) as now in effect or as may hereafter be amended. 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. The
decision of the Committee as to whether a Change in Control has occurred shall
be conclusive and binding. A Change in Control shall not include a transaction
whereby MHC shall merge into the Company or the Bank and a new parent
corporation of the Bank or the Company is formed.
"Committee" means the Board of Directors of the Company or the
Restricted Stock Plan Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the
Company pursuant to Article IV hereof.
"Common Stock" means shares of the common stock of the Company, or any
successor corporation or parent thereto.
"Company" means Synergy Financial Group, Inc., and any successor
corporation thereto.
"Conversion" means the effective date of the stock charter of the Bank
and simultaneous acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of the Bank by the
Company.
"Director" means a member of the Board of the Company or any
Subsidiary.
"Director Emeritus" means a person serving as a director emeritus,
advisory director, consulting director, or other similar position as may be
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Bank from time to
time.
"Disability" means any physical or mental impairment which renders the
Participant incapable of continuing in the employment or service of the Company
or any Subsidiary in his current capacity as determined by the Committee.
"Employee" means any person who is employed by the Company or a
Subsidiary.
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"Effective Date" shall mean the date of stockholder approval of the
Plan by the Company stockholders.
"MHC" means Synergy, MHC, the mutual holding company of the Bank.
"Participant" means an Employee or Director who receives a Plan Share
Award under the Plan.
"Plan Shares" means shares of Common Stock held in the Trust which are
awarded or issuable to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.
"Plan Share Award" or "Award" means a right granted to a Participant
under this Plan to earn or to receive Plan Shares.
"Plan Share Reserve" means the shares of Common Stock held by the Trust
pursuant to Sections 5.03 and 5.04.
"Subsidiary" means those subsidiaries of the Company which, with the
consent of the Board, agree to participate in this Plan.
"Trustee" or "Trustee Committee" means that person(s) or entity
nominated by the Committee and approved by the Board pursuant to Sections 4.01
and 4.02 to hold legal title to the Plan assets for the purposes set forth
herein.
Article IV
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ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
4.01 Role of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered and
interpreted by the Board of Directors of the Company or a Committee appointed by
said Board, which shall consist of not less than two non-employee members of the
Board, which shall have all of the powers allocated to it in this and other
sections of the Plan. All persons designated as members of the Committee shall
be "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934 Act"). The interpretation and
construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan or of any Plan Share
Award granted hereunder shall be final and binding. The Committee shall act by
vote or written consent of a majority of its members. Subject to the express
provisions and limitations of the Plan, the Committee may adopt such rules,
regulations and procedures as it deems appropriate for the conduct of its
affairs. The Committee shall report its actions and decisions with respect to
the Plan to the Board at appropriate times, but in no event less than one time
per calendar year. The Committee shall recommend to the Board one or more
persons or entity to act as Trustee in accordance with the provision of this
Plan and Trust and the terms of Article VIII hereof.
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4.02 Role of the Board. The members of the Committee and the Trustee
shall be appointed or approved by, and will serve at the pleasure of the Board.
The Board may in its discretion from time to time remove members from, or add
members to, the Committee, and may remove, replace or add Trustees. The Board
shall have all of the powers allocated to it in this and other sections of the
Plan, may take any action under or with respect to the Plan which the Committee
is authorized to take, and may reverse or override any action taken or decision
made by the Committee under or with respect to the Plan, provided, however, that
the Board may not revoke any Plan Share Award already made except as provided in
Section 7.01(b) herein.
4.03 Limitation on Liability. No member of the Board, the Committee or
the Trustee shall be liable for any determination made in good faith with
respect to the Plan or any Plan Share Awards granted. If a member of the Board,
Committee or any Trustee is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by any reason of anything done or not
done by him in such capacity under or with respect to the Plan, the Company
shall indemnify such member against expenses (including attorney's fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she
acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the
best interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct
was unlawful.
Article V
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CONTRIBUTIONS; PLAN SHARE RESERVE
5.01 Amount and Timing of Contributions. The Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine the amounts (or the method of computing the amounts) to
be contributed by the Company to the Trust established under this Plan. Such
amounts shall be paid to the Trustee at the time of contribution. No
contributions to the Trust by Participants shall be permitted except with
respect to amounts necessary to meet tax withholding obligations.
5.02 Initial Investment. Any funds held by the Trust prior to
investment in the Common Stock shall be invested by the Trustee in such
interest-bearing account or accounts at the Bank as the Trustee shall determine
to be appropriate.
5.03 Investment of Trust Assets. Following approval of the Plan by
stockholders of the Company and receipt of any other necessary regulatory
approvals, the Trust shall purchase Common Stock of the Company in an amount
equal to up to 100% of the Trust's assets, after providing for any required
withholding as needed for tax purposes, provided, however, that the Trust shall
not purchase more than 56,685 shares of Common Stock. The Trustee may purchase
shares of Common Stock in the open market or, in the alternative, may purchase
authorized but unissued shares of the Common Stock or treasury shares from the
Company sufficient to fund the Plan Share Reserve.
5.04 Effect of Allocations, Returns and Forfeitures Upon Plan Share
Reserves. Upon the allocation of Plan Share Awards under Sections 6.02 and 6.05,
or the decision of the Committee to return Plan Shares to the Company, the Plan
Share Reserve shall be reduced by the number of Shares subject to
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the Awards so allocated or returned. Any Shares subject to an Award which are
not earned because of forfeiture by the Participant pursuant to Section 7.01
shall be added to the Plan Share Reserve.
Article VI
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ELIGIBILITY; ALLOCATIONS
6.01 Eligibility. Employees are eligible to receive Plan Share Awards
within the sole discretion of the Committee. Directors who are not otherwise
Employees shall receive Plan Share Awards pursuant to Section 6.05.
6.02 Allocations. The Committee will determine which of the Employees
will be granted Plan Share Awards and the number of Shares covered by each
Award, provided, however, that in no event shall any Awards be made which will
violate the Charter or Bylaws of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any
applicable federal or state law or regulation. In the event Shares are forfeited
for any reason or additional Shares are purchased by the Trustee, the Committee
may, from time to time, determine which of the Employees will be granted Plan
Share Awards to be awarded from forfeited Shares. In selecting those Employees
to whom Plan Share Awards will be granted and the number of shares covered by
such Awards, the Committee shall consider the prior and anticipated future
position, duties and responsibilities of the Employees, the value of their prior
and anticipated future services to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and any
other factors the Committee may deem relevant. All actions by the Committee
shall be deemed final, except to the extent that such actions are revoked by the
Board. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any
Participant receive Plan Share Awards in excess of 25% of the aggregate Plan
Shares authorized under the Plan.
6.03 Form of Allocation. As promptly as practicable after a
determination is made pursuant to Section 6.02 or Section 6.05 that a Plan Share
Award is to be made, the Committee shall notify the Participant in writing of
the grant of the Award, the number of Plan Shares covered by the Award, and the
terms upon which the Plan Shares subject to the award may be earned. The date on
which the Committee makes its award determination or the date the Committee so
notifies the Participant shall be considered the date of grant of the Plan Share
Awards as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall maintain records as
to all grants of Plan Share Awards under the Plan.
6.04 Allocations Not Required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
at Sections 6.01, 6.02 or 6.05, no Employee shall have any right or entitlement
to receive a Plan Share Award hereunder, such Awards being at the sole
discretion of the Committee and the Board, nor shall the Employees as a group
have such a right. The Committee may, with the approval of the Board (or, if so
directed by the Board) return all Common Stock in the Plan Share Reserve to the
Company at any time, and cease issuing Plan Share Awards.
6.05 Awards to Directors. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, upon the Effective Date, a Plan Share Award consisting of 2,486 Plan
Shares shall be awarded to each Director of the Company that is not otherwise an
Employee. Such Plan Share Award shall be earned and non-forfeitable at the rate
of one-fifth as of the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date and an
additional one-fifth following each of the next four successive years during
such periods of service as a Director or Director Emeritus. Such Plan Share
Award shall be immediately 100% earned and non-forfeitable in the event of
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the death or Disability of such Director or Director Emeritus. Such Plan Share
Award shall be immediately 100% earned and non-forfeitable upon a Change in
Control of the Company or the Bank. Subsequent to the Effective Date, Plan Share
Awards may be awarded to newly elected or appointed Directors of the Company by
the Committee, provided that total Plan Share Awards granted to non- employee
Directors of the Company shall not exceed 30% of the total Plan Share Reserve in
the aggregate under the Plan or 5% of the total Plan Share Reserve to any
individual non-employee Director.
Article VII
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EARNINGS AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES; VOTING RIGHTS
7.01 Earnings Plan Shares; Forfeitures.
(a) General Rules. Unless the Committee shall specifically state to the
contrary at the time a Plan Share Award is granted, Plan Shares subject to an
Award shall be earned and non-forfeitable by a Participant at the rate of
one-fifth of such Award following one year after the granting of such Award, and
an additional one-fifth following each of the next four successive years;
provided that such Participant remains an Employee, Director, or Director
Emeritus during such period. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in
no event shall a Plan Share Award granted hereunder be earned and non-
forfeitable by a Participant more rapidly than at the rate of one-fifth of such
Award as of the one year anniversary of the date of grant and an additional
one-fifth following each of the next four successive years.
(b) Revocation for Misconduct. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the Board shall, by resolution, immediately revoke, rescind and
terminate any Plan Share Award, or portion thereof, previously awarded under
this Plan, to the extent Plan Shares have not been delivered thereunder to the
Participant, whether or not yet earned, in the case of a Participant who is
discharged from the employ or service of the Company or a Subsidiary for Cause,
or who is discovered after termination of employment or service to have engaged
in conduct that would have justified termination for Cause. A determination of
Cause shall be made by the Board within its sole discretion.
(c) Exception for Terminations Due to Death or Disability.
Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01(a) above, all Plan
Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Participant whose employment or
service with the Company or a Subsidiary terminates due to death or Disability,
shall be deemed earned and nonforfeitable as of the Participant's last date of
employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary and shall be distributed
as soon as practicable thereafter.
(d) Exception for Termination after a Change in Control.
Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01 above, all Plan
Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Participant shall be deemed to be
immediately 100% earned and non-forfeitable in the event of a Change in Control
of the Company or the Bank and shall be distributed as soon as practicable
thereafter.
7.02 Accrual and Payment of Dividends. A holder of a Plan Share Award,
whether or not earned, shall also be entitled to receive an amount equal to any
cash dividends declared and paid with respect to shares of Common Stock
represented by such Plan Share Award between the date the relevant Plan Share
Award was granted to such Participant and the date the Plan Shares are
distributed. Such cash
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dividend amounts shall be held in arrears under the Trust and distributed upon
the earning of the applicable Plan Share Award. Such payment shall also include
an appropriate amount of earnings, if any, of the Trust assets with respect to
any cash dividends so distributed.
7.03 Distribution of Plan Shares.
(a) Timing of Distributions: General Rule. Except as provided in
Subsections (d) and (e) below, Plan Shares shall be distributed to the
Participant or his Beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after
they have been earned. No fractional shares shall be distributed.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at the discretion of the
Committee, Plan Shares may be distributed prior to such Shares being 100%
earned, provided that such Plan Shares shall contain a restrictive legend
detailing the applicable limitations of such shares with respect to transfer and
forfeiture.
(b) Form of Distribution. All Plan Shares, together with any shares
representing stock dividends, shall be distributed in the form of Common Stock.
One share of Common Stock shall be given for each Plan Share earned. Payments
representing cash dividends (and earnings thereon) shall be made in cash.
Notwithstanding anything within the Plan to the contrary, upon a Change in
Control whereby substantially all of the Common Stock of the Company shall be
acquired for cash, all earned Plan Shares associated with Plan Share Awards,
together with any shares representing stock dividends associated with earned
Plan Share Awards, shall be, at the sole discretion of the Committee,
distributed as of the effective date of such Change in Control, or as soon as
administratively feasible thereafter, in the form of cash equal to the
consideration received in exchange for such Common Stock represented by such
Plan Shares.
(c) Withholding. The Trustee may withhold from any payment or
distribution made under this Plan sufficient amounts of cash or shares of Common
Stock necessary to cover any applicable withholding and employment taxes, and if
the amount of such payment or distribution is not sufficient, the Trustee may
require the Participant or Beneficiary to pay to the Trustee the amount required
to be withheld in taxes as a condition of delivering the Plan Shares. The
Trustee shall pay over to the Company or a Subsidiary which employs or employed
such Participant any such amount withheld from or paid by the Participant or
Beneficiary.
(d) Timing: Exception for 10% Shareholders. Notwithstanding Subsection
(a) above, no Plan Shares may be distributed prior to the date which is five
years from the effective date of the Conversion to the extent the Participant or
Beneficiary, as the case may be, would after receipt of such Shares own in
excess of ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
held by parties other than the MHC, unless such action is approved in advance by
a majority vote of disinterested directors of the Board of the Company. Any Plan
Shares remaining undistributed solely by reason of the operation of this
Subsection (d) shall be distributed to the Participant or his Beneficiary on the
date which is five years from the effective date of the Conversion.
(e) Regulatory Exceptions. No Plan Shares shall be distributed,
however, unless and until all of the requirements of all applicable law and
regulation shall have been fully complied with, including the receipt of
approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company by such vote, if any, as
may be required by applicable law and regulations.
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7.04 Voting of Plan Shares. After a Plan Share Award has become earned
and non-forfeitable, the Participant shall be entitled to direct the Trustee as
to the voting of the Plan Shares which are associated with the Plan Share Award
and which have not yet been distributed pursuant to Section 7.03, subject to
rules and procedures adopted by the Committee for this purpose. All shares of
Common Stock held by the Trust as to which Participants have not yet earned and
are not entitled to direct, or have not directed, the voting of such Shares,
shall be voted by the Trustee as directed by the Committee.
Article VIII
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TRUST
8.01 Trust. The Trustee shall receive, hold, administer, invest and
make distributions and disbursements from the Trust in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan and Trust and the applicable directions, rules,
regulations, procedures and policies established by the Committee pursuant to
the Plan.
8.02 Management of Trust. It is the intention of this Plan and Trust
that the Trustee shall have complete authority and discretion with respect to
the management, control and investment of the Trust, and that the Trustee shall
invest all assets of the Trust, except those attributable to cash dividends paid
with respect to Plan Shares not held in the Plan Share Reserve, in Common Stock
to the fullest extent practicable, except to the extent that the Trustee
determines that the holding of monies in cash or cash equivalents is necessary
to meet the obligations of the Trust. In performing their duties, the Trustees
shall have the power to do all things and execute such instruments as may be
deemed necessary or proper, including the following powers:
(a) To invest up to one hundred percent (100%) of all Trust assets in
the Common Stock without regard to any law now or hereafter in force
limiting investments for Trustees or other fiduciaries. The investment
authorized herein may constitute the only investment of the Trust, and
in making such investment, the Trustee is authorized to purchase Common
Stock from the Company or from any other source, and such Common Stock
so purchased may be outstanding, newly issued, or treasury shares.
(b) To invest any Trust assets not otherwise invested in accordance
with (a) above in such deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit
(including those issued by the Company), obligations of the United
States government or its agencies or such other investments as shall be
considered the equivalent of cash.
(c) To sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any property at any time
held or acquired by the Trust.
(d) To cause stocks, bonds or other securities to be registered in the
name of a nominee, without the addition of words indicating that such
security is an asset of the Trust (but accurate records shall be
maintained showing that such security is an asset of the Trust).
(e) To hold cash without interest in such amounts as may be in the
opinion of the Trustee reasonable for the proper operation of the Plan
and Trust.
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(f) To employ brokers, agents, custodians, consultants and accountants.
(g) To hire counsel to render advice with respect to their rights,
duties and obligations hereunder, and such other legal services or
representation as they may deem desirable.
(h) To hold funds and securities representing the amounts to be
distributed to a Participant or his Beneficiary as a consequence of a
dispute as to the disposition thereof, whether in a segregated account
or held in common with other assets.
(i) As may be directed by the Committee or the Board from time to time,
the Trustee shall pay to the Company earnings of the Trust attributable
to the Plan Share Reserve.
Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the Trustee
shall not be required to make any inventory, appraisal or settlement or report
to any court, or to secure any order of a court for the exercise of any power
herein contained, or to maintain bond.
8.03 Records and Accounts. The Trustee shall maintain accurate and
detailed records and accounts of all transactions of the Trust, which shall be
available at all reasonable times for inspection by any legally entitled person
or entity to the extent required by applicable law, or any other person
determined by the Committee.
8.04 Earnings. All earnings, gains and losses with respect to Trust
assets shall be allocated in accordance with a reasonable procedure adopted by
the Committee, to bookkeeping accounts for Participants or to the general
account of the Trust, depending on the nature and allocation of the assets
generating such earnings, gains and losses. In particular, any earnings on cash
dividends received with respect to shares of Common Stock shall be allocated to
accounts for Participants, except to the extent that such cash dividends are
distributed to Participants, if such shares are the subject of outstanding Plan
Share Awards, or, otherwise to the Plan Share Reserve.
8.05 Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in the operation and
administration of this Plan, including those incurred by the Trustee, shall be
paid by the Company.
8.06 Indemnification. Subject to the requirements and limitations of
applicable laws and regulations, the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
the Trustee harmless against all claims, expenses and liabilities arising out of
or related to the exercise of the Trustee's powers and the discharge of their
duties hereunder, unless the same shall be due to their gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
Article IX
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MISCELLANEOUS
9.01 Adjustments for Capital Changes. The aggregate number of Plan
Shares available for issuance pursuant to the Plan Share Awards and the number
of Shares to which any Plan Share Award relates shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the total number of outstanding shares
of Common Stock issued subsequent to the effective date of the Plan resulting
from any split, subdivision or consolidation of the Common Stock or other
capital adjustment, change or exchange of the
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Common Stock, or other increase or decrease in the number or kind of shares
effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company.
9.02 Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The Board may, by
resolution, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan. The power to amend or
terminate the Plan shall include the power to direct the Trustee to return to
the Company all or any part of the assets of the Trust, including shares of
Common Stock held in the Plan Share Reserve, as well as shares of Common Stock
and other assets subject to Plan Share Awards which have not yet been earned by
the Participants to whom they have been awarded. However, the termination of the
Trust shall not affect a Participant's right to earn Plan Share Awards and to
the distribution of Common Stock relating thereto, including earnings thereon,
in accordance with the terms of this Plan and the grant by the Committee or the
Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action of the Board may increase (other
than as provided in Section 9.01 hereof) the maximum number of Plan Shares
permitted to be awarded under the Plan as specified at Section 5.03, materially
increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan or materially
modify the requirements for eligibility for participation in the Plan unless
such action of the Board shall be subject to ratification by the stockholders of
the Company.
9.03 Nontransferable. Plan Share Awards and rights to Plan Shares shall
not be transferable by a Participant, and during the lifetime of the
Participant, Plan Shares may only be earned by and paid to the Participant who
was notified in writing of the Award by the Committee pursuant to Section 6.03.
No Participant or Beneficiary shall have any right in or claim to any assets of
the Plan or Trust, nor shall the Company, or any Subsidiary be subject to any
claim for benefits hereunder.
9.04 No Employment Rights. Neither the Plan nor any grant of a Plan
Share Award or Plan Shares hereunder nor any action taken by the Trustee, the
Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any right,
either express or implied, on the part of any Participant to continue in the
employ or service of the Company, or a Subsidiary thereof.
9.05 Voting and Dividend Rights. No Participant shall have any voting
or dividend rights of a stockholder with respect to any Plan Shares covered by a
Plan Share Award, except as expressly provided in Sections 7.02 and 7.04 above,
prior to the time said Plan Shares are actually distributed to such Participant.
9.06 Governing Law. The Plan and Trust shall be governed by and
construed under the laws of the State of New Jersey, except to the extent that
Federal Law shall be deemed applicable.
9.07 Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of
approval of the Plan by stockholders of the Company, subject to the receipt of
approval or non-objection by the OTS or other applicable banking regulator, if
applicable.
9.08 Term of Plan. This Plan shall remain in effect until the earlier
of (i) termination by the Board, (ii) the distribution of all assets of the
Trust, or (iii) 21 years from the Effective Date. Termination of the Plan shall
not effect any Plan Share Awards previously granted, and such Plan Share Awards
shall remain valid and in effect until they have been earned and paid, or by
their terms expire or are forfeited.
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9.09 Tax Status of Trust. It is intended that the Trust established
hereby shall be treated as a grantor trust of the Company under the provisions
of Section 671 et seq. of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as the
same may be amended from time to time.
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