EXHIBIT 10
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, is entered into this 31st day of December 1997,
("Effective Date") by and between Nittany Financial Corp., including its future
subsidiary, Nittany Bank, a federal stock savings bank in formation (referred to
collectively as the "Bank"), and David Z. Richards (the "Executive").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Executive has heretofore been employed as President and
Chief Executive Officer of another Pennsylvania bank and is to be employed by
the Bank as the President and Chief Executive Officer and is experienced in all
phases of the business of the Bank; and
WHEREAS, the Bank desires to be ensured of the Executive's continued
active participation in the business of the Bank; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of
the Bank and in consideration of the Executive's agreeing to remain in the
employ of the Bank, the parties desire to specify the continuing employment
relationship between the Bank and the Executive;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Bank hereby employs the Executive in the capacity of
President. The Executive hereby accepts said employment and agrees to render
such administrative and management services to the Bank as are currently
rendered and as are customarily performed by persons situated in a similar
executive capacity. The Executive shall promote the business of the Bank. The
Executive'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. Term of Employment. The term of employment of Executive under this
Agreement shall be for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending
December 31, 2000 thereafter ("Term"). Additionally, on, or before, each annual
anniversary date from the Effective Date, the Term of employment under this
Agreement shall be extended for up to an additional period beyond the then
effective expiration date upon a determination and resolution of the Board of
Directors that the performance of the Executive has met the requirements and
standards of the Board, and that the Term of such Agreement shall be extended.
References herein to the Term of this Agreement shall refer both to the initial
term and successive terms.
3. Compensation, Benefits and Expenses.
(a) Base Salary. The Bank shall compensate and pay the Executive
during the formation of the Bank a salary at the rate of $72,000 per annum and
upon the opening of the Bank at a rate of $100,000 ("Base Salary") 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 the Executive shall be entitled to receive increases at such
percentages or in such amounts as determined by the Board of Directors.
(b) Discretionary Bonus. The Executive 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 executives from time to time. No
other compensation provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed a substitute
for the Executive's right to participate in such discretionary bonuses when and
as declared by the Board.
(c) Participation in Benefit and Retirement Plans. The Executive
shall be entitled to participate in and receive the benefits of plans of the
Bank, if any, which may be or may become applicable to management relating to
pension or other retirement benefit plans, profit-sharing, stock options or
incentive plans, or other plans, benefits and privileges given to employees and
executives of the Bank, to the extent commensurate with his then duties and
responsibilities, as fixed by the Board of Directors of the Bank.
(d) Participation in Medical Plans and Insurance Policies. The
Executive shall be entitled to participate in and receive the benefits of a plan
or policy of the Bank, if any, which may be or may become applicable to
management relating to life insurance, long term disability, medical, dental,
eye-care, prescription drugs or medical reimbursement plans.
(e) Vacations and Sick Leave. The Executive shall be entitled to
paid annual vacation leave in accordance with the policies as established from
time to time by the Board of Directors, which shall in no event be less than two
weeks per annum. The Executive shall also be entitled to an annual sick leave
benefit as established by the Board for management employees of the Bank.
(f) Expenses. The Bank shall reimburse the Executive or otherwise
provide for or pay for reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in
furtherance of, or in connection with the business of the Bank, including, but
not by way of limitation, automobile and traveling expenses, and all reasonable
entertainment expenses, subject to such reasonable documentation and other
limitations as may be established by the Board of Directors of the Bank. If such
expenses are paid in the first instance by the Executive, the Bank shall
reimburse the Executive therefor.
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4. Loyalty; Noncompetition.
(a) The Executive shall devote his full time and attention to the
performance of his employment under this Agreement. During the term of the
Executive's employment under this Agreement, the Executive shall not engage in
any business or activity contrary to the business affairs or interests of the
Bank.
(b) Nothing contained in this Section 4 shall be deemed to
prevent or limit the right of Executive 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.
5. Standards. During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall
perform his duties in accordance with such reasonable standards expected of
executives with comparable positions in comparable organizations and as may be
established from time to time by the Board of Directors.
6. Termination and Termination Pay. The Executive's employment under
this Agreement shall be terminated upon any of the following occurrences:
(a) The death of the Executive during the term of this Agreement,
in which event the Executive's estate shall be entitled to receive the
compensation due the Executive through the last day of the sixth calendar month
following the day in which Executive's death shall have occurred.
(b) The Board of Directors may terminate the Executive's
employment at any time, but any termination by the Board of Directors other than
termination for Just Cause, shall not prejudice the Executive's right to
compensation under the Agreement. The Executive 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
Executive for Just Cause and shall notify such Executive accordingly.
Termination for "Just Cause" shall include termination because of the
Executive'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 the Agreement.
(c) Except as provided pursuant to Section 9 hereof, in the event
Executive'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
Executive the salary provided pursuant to Section 3(a) herein, up to the date of
termination of the remaining Term of this Agreement, and the cost of Executive
obtaining all health benefits which the Executive would be eligible to
participate in through such date based upon the benefit levels substantially
equal to those being provided Executive at the date of termination of
employment.
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(d) The voluntary termination by the Executive during the term of
this Agreement with the delivery of no less than ninety (90) days written notice
to the Board of Directors, other than pursuant to Section 9(b), in which case
the Executive shall be entitled to receive only the compensation, vested rights,
and all employee benefits up to the date of such termination.
7. Regulatory Exclusions.
(a) If the Executive 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 Executive all or
part of the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were suspended
and (ii) reinstate any of its obligations which were suspended.
(b) If the Executive 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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") 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.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any payments made
to the Executive 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.
8. Disability. If the Executive 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, Executive shall nevertheless continue to
receive the compensation and benefits provided under the terms
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of this Agreement as follows: 80% of such compensation and benefits for a period
of three (3) months, and 50% for a period of twelve (12) months, but not
exceeding the remaining term of the Agreement. Such benefits noted herein shall
be reduced by any benefits otherwise provided to the Executive during such
period under the provisions of disability insurance coverage in effect for Bank
employees. Thereafter, Executive 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 Executive'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 Executive returns
to active employment on other than a full-time basis, then his compensation (as
set forth in Section 3(a) 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.
9. Change in Control.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the
event of the involuntary termination of Executive's employment during the term
of this Agreement following any Change in Control of the Bank or Parent, or
within twelve (12) months thereafter of such Change in Control, absent Just
Cause, Executive shall be paid an amount equal to the product of 2.99 times the
Executive'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 Executive, either in one
(1) lump sum within thirty (30) days of such termination of service or in
periodic payments over the next 36 months or the remaining term of this
Agreement whichever is less, as if Executive's employment had not been
terminated, and such payments shall be in lieu of any other future payments
which the Executive would be otherwise entitled to receive under Section 6 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 Executive 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 "Change in Control" shall
refer to (i) the control of voting proxies whether related to stockholders or
mutual members by any person, other than the Board of Directors of the Savings
Bank, to direct more than 25% of the outstanding votes of the Savings Bank, the
control of the election of a majority of the Savings Bank's directors, or the
exercise of a controlling influence over the management or policies of the
Savings Bank by any person or by persons acting as a group within the meaning of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, (ii) an event whereby the OTS, FDIC or any
other department, agency or quasi-agency of the federal government cause or
bring about, without the consent of the Savings Bank, a change in the corporate
structure or organization of the Savings Bank; (iii) an event whereby the OTS,
FDIC or any other agency or quasi-agency of the federal government cause or
bring about, without the consent of the Savings Bank, a taxation or involuntary
distribution of retained earnings or proceeds from the sale of securities to
depositors, borrowers, any government agency or organization or civic or
charitable organization; or (iv) a merger or other business combination between
the Savings Bank and another corporate entity whereby the Savings Bank is not
the surviving entity. In the event that the Savings Bank shall convert in the
future from mutual-to-stock form, the term "Change in Control" shall also refer
to: (i) the sale of all, or
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a material portion, of the assets of the Savings Bank or the Parent; (ii) the
merger or recapitalization of the Savings Bank or the Parent whereby the Savings
Bank or the Parent is not the surviving entity; (iii) a change in control of the
Savings Bank or the Parent, as otherwise defined or determined by the Office of
Thrift Supervision 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of twenty-five percent (25%)
or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Savings Bank or the Parent
by any person, trust, entity or group. The term "person" means an individual
other than the Executive, 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, Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment during the term of
this Agreement following a Change in Control of the Bank or Parent, or within
twelve (12) months following such Change in Control, and Executive shall
thereupon be entitled to receive the payment described in Section 9(a) of this
Agreement, upon the occurrence, or within 120 days thereafter, of any of the
following events, which have not been consented to in advance by the Executive
in writing: (i) if Executive would be required to move his personal residence or
perform his principal executive functions more than thirty-five (35) miles from
the Executive's primary office as of the signing of this Agreement; (ii) if in
the organizational structure of the Bank, Executive would be required to report
to a person or persons other than the Board of Directors of the Bank or the
Chairman of the Board; (iii) if the Bank should fail to maintain Executive'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 Executive would be assigned duties and
responsibilities other than those normally associated with his position as
referenced at Section 1, herein; (v) if Executive's responsibilities or
authority have in any way been materially diminished or reduced; or (vi) if
Executive would not be reelected to the Board of Directors of the Bank.
10. Withholding. All payments required to be made by the Bank hereunder
to the Executive shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts, if any,
relating to tax and other payroll deductions as the Bank may reasonably
determine should be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
11. Successors and Assigns.
(a) 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 or Parent.
(b) Since the Bank is contracting for the unique and personal
skills of the Executive, the Executive shall be precluded from assigning or
delegating his rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining the written
consent of the Bank.
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12. Amendment; Waiver. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing, signed by the Executive and such officer or officers as may be
specifically designated by the Board of Directors of the Bank to sign on its
behalf. No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach by any other
party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or
subsequent time.
13. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the United States
where applicable and otherwise by the substantive laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
14. Nature of Obligations. Nothing contained herein shall create or
require the Bank to create a trust of any kind to fund any benefits which may be
payable hereunder, and to the extent that the Executive acquires a right to
receive benefits from the Bank hereunder, such right shall be no greater than
the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Bank.
15. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
16. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other
provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
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 extent 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 Executive for all reasonable costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from such dispute, proceedings or actions,
or the Board of the Bank 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 Executive furnishing to the Bank evidence, which may be
in the form, among other things, of a canceled check or receipt, of any costs or
expenses incurred by Executive.
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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