EXHIBIT 10
SECURITY FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT entered into this 18th day of December 1996, by and between
Security Federal Savings Bank, a Federal mutual savings bank (the "Bank") and
Peter W. Hampton (the "Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee has heretofore been employed by the Bank
as President and is experienced in all phases of the business of
the Bank; 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. Employment. The Employee is employed in the capacity as the President
of the Bank. The Employee shall render such administrative and management
services to the Bank and to any to- be-formed parent holding company ("Parent")
as are currently rendered and as are customarily performed by persons situated
in a similar executive capacity. The Employee shall promote the business of the
Bank and Parent. The Employee's other duties shall be such as the Board of
Directors for the Bank (the "Board of Directors" or "Board") may from time to
time reasonably direct, including normal duties as an officer of the Bank.
2. Base Compensation. The Bank agrees to pay the Employee during the term
of this Agreement a salary at the rate of $73,614 per annum, payable in cash
not less frequently than monthly; provided, that the rate of such salary shall
be reviewed by the Board of Directors not less often than annually, and Employee
shall be entitled to receive annually an increase at such percentage or in such
an amount as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may decide at such
time.
3. Discretionary Bonus. The Employee shall be entitled to participate in
an equitable manner with all other senior management employees of the Bank in
discretionary bonuses that may be authorized and declared by the Board of
Directors to its senior management employees from time to time. No other
compensation provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed a substitute for the
Employee's right to participate in such discretionary bonuses when and as
declared by the Board of Directors.
4. (a) Participation in Retirement and Medical Plans. The Employee shall
be entitled to participate in any plan of the Bank relating to pension,
profit-sharing, or other retirement benefits and medical coverage or
reimbursement plans that the Bank may adopt for the benefit of its employees.
Additionally, Employee's dependent family shall be eligible to participate in
medical and dental insurance plans sponsored by the Association or Parent with
the cost of such premiums paid by the Association.
(b) Employee Benefits; Expenses. The Employee shall be eligible to
participate in any fringe benefits which may be or may become applicable to the
Bank's senior management employees, including by example, participation in any
stock option or incentive plans adopted by the Board of Directors of Bank, club
memberships, a reasonable expense account, and any other benefits which are
commensurate with the responsibilities and functions to be performed by the
Employee under this Agreement. The Bank shall reimburse Employee for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses which Employee shall incur in connection with
his service for the Bank.
5. Term. The term of employment of Employee under this Agreement shall be
for the period commencing on the effective date of the Federal stock charter of
the Bank ("Effective Date") and ending thirty-six (36) months thereafter.
Additionally, not later than each annual anniversary date from the Effective
Date, the term of employment under this Agreement shall be extended for an
additional one year period beyond the then effective expiration date so that the
remaining term shall thereafter be thirty-six months upon a determination and
resolution of the Board of Directors that the performance of the Employee has
met the requirements and standards of the Board, and that the term of such
Agreement shall be extended.
6. Loyalty; Noncompetition.
(a) The Employee shall devote his full time and attention to the
performance of his employment under this Agreement. During the term of
Employee's employment under this Agreement, the Employee shall not engage in any
business or activity contrary to the business affairs or interests of the Bank
or Parent.
(b) Nothing contained in this Section 6 shall be deemed to prevent or
limit the right of Employee to invest in the capital stock or other securities
of any business dissimilar from that of the Bank or Parent, or, solely as a
passive or minority investor, in any business.
7. Standards. The Employee shall perform his duties
under this Agreement in accordance with such reasonable standards
expected of employees with comparable positions in comparable
organizations and as may be established from time to time by the
Board of Directors.
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8. Vacation and Sick Leave. At such reasonable times as the Board of
Directors shall in its discretion permit, the Employee shall be entitled,
without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the performance of his
employment under this Agreement, with all such voluntary absences to count as
vacation time; provided that:
(a) The Employee shall be entitled to annual vacation leave in accordance
with the policies as are periodically established by the Board of Directors for
senior management employees of the Bank, but in no event in an amount of less
four weeks of paid vacation per calendar year.
(b) The Employee shall not be entitled to receive any additional
compensation from the Bank on account of his failure to take vacation leave, and
Employee shall not be entitled to accumulate unused vacation from one fiscal
year to the next, except to the extent authorized by the Board of Directors for
senior management employees of the Bank.
(c) The Employee shall be entitled to an annual sick leave benefit as
established by the Board of Directors for senior management employees of the
Bank. In the event that any sick leave benefit shall not have been used during
any year, such leave shall accrue to subsequent years only to the extent
authorized by the Board of Directors for employees of the Bank.
9. Termination and Termination Pay.
The Employee's employment under this Agreement shall be terminated upon
any of the following occurrences:
(a) The death of the Employee 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 third calendar month in which
Employee's death shall have occurred.
(b) The Board of Directors may terminate the Employee's employment at any
time, but any termination by the Board of Directors other than termination for
Just Cause, shall not prejudice the Employee's right to compensation or other
benefits under the Agreement. The Employee shall have no right to receive
compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Just Cause.
The Board may within its sole discretion, acting in good faith, terminate the
Employee for Just Cause and shall notify such Employee accordingly. Termination
for "Just Cause" shall include termination because of 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
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than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and- desist order,
or material breach of any provision of the Agreement.
(c) Except as provided pursuant to Section 12 herein, in the event
Employee's employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Board of
Directors without Just Cause, the Bank shall be obligated to continue to pay the
Employee the salary provided pursuant to Section 2 herein, up to the date of
termination of the remaining term (including any renewal term) of this
Agreement, but in no event for a period of less than twelve months, and the cost
of Employee obtaining all health, life, disability, and other benefits which the
Employee would be eligible to participate in through such date based upon the
benefit levels substantially equal to those being provided Employee at the date
of termination of employment.
(d) 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 the vested rights of
the parties shall not be affected.
(e) 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, but
this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.
(f) 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: (i) by the Director of the Office of Thrift
Supervision ("Director of OTS"), or his or her designee, at the time that the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") 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 FDIA; or (ii) by the
Director of the OTS, or his or her designee, at the time that the Director of
the OTS, 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 of the OTS to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the
parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.
(g) The voluntary termination by the Employee during the term of this
Agreement with the delivery of no less than 30 days written notice to the Board
of Directors, other than pursuant to Section 12(b), in which case the Employee
shall be entitled to receive only the compensation, vested rights, and all
employee benefits up to the date of such termination.
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(h) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any payments made to
the Employee pursuant to the Agreement, or otherwise, shall be subject to and
conditioned upon compliance with 12 USC ss.1828(k) and any regulations
promulgated thereunder.
10. Suspension of Employment . 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.
1818(e)(3) and (g)(1)), the Bank's obligations under the 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 within its discretion
(i) pay the Employee all or part of the compensation withheld while its contract
obligations were suspended and (ii) reinstate any of its obligations which were
suspended.
11. Disability. If the Employee shall become disabled or incapacitated to
the extent that he is unable to perform his duties hereunder, by reason of
medically determinable physical or mental impairment, as determined by a doctor
engaged by the Board of Directors, Employee shall nevertheless continue to
receive the compensation and benefits provided under the terms of this Agreement
as follows: 100% of such compensation and benefits for a period of 12 months,
but not exceeding the remaining term of the Agreement, and 65% thereafter for
the remainder of the term of the Agreement. Such benefits noted herein shall be
reduced by any benefits otherwise provided to the Employee during such period
under the provisions of disability insurance coverage in effect for Bank
employees. Thereafter, Employee shall be eligible to receive benefits provided
by the Bank under the provisions of disability insurance coverage in effect for
Bank employees. Upon returning to active full-time employment, the Employee's
full compensation as set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as of the
date of commencement of such activities. In the event that the Employee returns
to active employment on other than a full-time basis, then his compensation (as
set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement) shall be reduced in proportion to the
time spent in said employment, or as shall otherwise be agreed to by the
parties.
12. Change in Control.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the event of
the involuntary termination of Employee's employment during the term of this
Agreement following any change in control of the Bank or Parent, absent Just
Cause, Employee shall be paid an amount equal to the product of 2.99 times the
Employee's "base amount" as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and regulations promulgated
thereunder. Said sum shall be paid, at the option of Employee, either in one (1)
lump sum within thirty (30) days of such termination discounted to the present
value of such payment using as the discount rate the "prime rate" as published
in the Wall
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Street Journal Eastern Edition as of the date of such payment minus 100 basis
points, or in periodic payments over the next 36 months or the remaining term of
this Agreement whichever is less, as if Employee's employment had not been
terminated, and such payments shall be in lieu of any other future payments
which the Employee would be otherwise entitled to receive under Section 9 of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, all sums payable hereunder shall
be reduced in such manner and to such extent so that no such payments made
hereunder when aggregated with all other payments to be made to the Employee by
the Bank or the Parent shall be deemed an "excess parachute payment" in
accordance with Section 280G of the Code and be subject to the excise tax
provided at Section 4999(a) of the Code. The term "control" shall refer to the
ownership, holding or power to vote more than 25% of the Parent's or Bank's
voting stock, the control of the election of a majority of the Parent's or
Bank's directors, or the exercise of a controlling influence over the management
or policies of the Parent or Bank by any person or by persons acting as a group
within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The
term "person" means an individual other than the Employee, 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) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
Employee may voluntarily terminate his employment during the term of this
Agreement following a change in control of the Bank or Parent, and Employee
shall thereupon be entitled to receive the payment described in Section 12(a) of
this Agreement, upon the occurrence, or within ninety (90) days thereafter, of
any of the following events, which have not been consented to in advance by the
Employee in writing: (i) if Employee would be required to move his personal
residence or perform his principal executive functions more than thirty-five
(35) miles from the Employee's primary office as of the signing of this
Agreement; (ii) if in the organizational structure of the Bank, Employee would
be required to report to a person or persons other than the Board of Directors
of the Bank; (iii) if the Bank should fail to maintain Employee's base
compensation in effect as of the date of the Change in Control and the existing
employee benefits plans, including material fringe benefit, stock option and
retirement plans; (iv) if Employee would be assigned duties and responsibilities
other than those normally associated with his position as referenced at Section
1, herein; (v) if Employee's responsibilities or authority have in any way been
materially diminished or reduced; or (vi) if Employee would not be reelected to
the Board of Directors of the Bank.
13. Successors and Assigns.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any
corporate or other successor of the Bank or Parent which shall acquire, directly
or indirectly, by merger,
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consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or substantially all of
the assets or stock of the Bank or Parent.
(b) 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.
14. Amendments. No amendments or additions to this Agreement
shall be binding upon the parties hereto unless made in writing and
signed by both parties, except as herein otherwise specifically
provided.
15. Applicable Law. This agreement shall be governed all
respects whether as to validity, construction, capacity,
performance or otherwise, by the laws of the State of Tennessee,
except to the extent that Federal law shall be deemed to apply.
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. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in
accordance with the rules then in effect of the district office of the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA") nearest to the home office of the Bank, and
judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof, except to the extend that the parties may otherwise reach a mutual
settlement of such issue. Further, the settlement of the dispute to be approved
by the Board of the Bank may include a provision for the reimbursement by the
Bank to the Employee for all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, arising from such dispute, proceedings or actions, or the Board
of the Bank or the Parent may authorize such reimbursement of such reasonable
costs and expenses by separate action upon a written action and determination of
the Board following settlement of the dispute. Such reimbursement shall be paid
within ten (10) days of Employee furnishing to the Bank or Parent evidence,
which may be in the form, among other things, of a canceled check or receipt, of
any costs or expenses incurred by Employee.
18. Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with any understanding or
modifications thereof as agreed to in writing by the parties, shall constitute
the entire agreement between the parties hereto.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day
and first hereinabove written.
Security Federal Savings Bank
ATTEST: By: /s/Donald W. Tetrick
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/s/John R. Crockett
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Secretary
WITNESS:
/s/George S. Brown /s/Peter W. Hampton
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Peter W. Hampton, Employee