EXHIBIT 10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made effective as of November 21, 1995, by and between
FirstBank, N.A. (the "Bank"), Beaufort, South Carolina; FirstBancorporation,
Inc. (the "Company"), a South Carolina corporation; and JAMES L. PATE, III (the
"Executive").
WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to assure itself of the services of Executive for
the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Bank on a
full-time basis for said period.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby
agree as follows:
1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as
Senior Vice President of the Bank. During said period, Executive also agrees to
serve, if elected, as an officer of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate
of the Company or the Bank.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES.
(a) The term of this Agreement shall be deemed to have commenced as of the
date first above written and shall continue for a period of twelve (12) full
calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the first anniversary date, and
continuing at each anniversary date thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall
be automatically extended for an additional year without further action by the
Bank or Executive unless either party shall have served written notice on the
other party not later than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the
current term of the Agreement of its intention that this Agreement shall
terminate at the end of such term.
(b) During the period of his employment hereunder, except for periods of
absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable
leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his business time,
attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties
hereunder including activities and services related to the organization,
operation and management of the Bank.
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The compensation specified under this Agreement shall constitute the
salary and benefits paid for the duties described in Sections 1 and 2. The Bank
shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of $63,650 per year ("Base
Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the customary
payroll practices of the Bank. During the period of this Agreement, Executive's
Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually; the first such review will be
made not later than one year from the date of this Agreement. Such review shall
be conducted by a Committee designated by the Board, and the Board may increase
Executive's Base Salary. In addition to the Base Salary provided in this
Section 3(a), the Bank shall provide Executive with all such other benefits as
are provided uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Bank.
(b) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this
Section 3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel
and other obligations under this Agreement and may provide such additional
compensation in such form and such amounts as the Board may from time to time
determine.
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined)
during the Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions
of this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of
Termination" shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the
termination by the Bank of Executive's full-time employment hereunder for any
reason other than a Change in Control, as defined in Section 5(a) hereof; death;
retirement, as defined in Section 6 hereof; or for Cause, as defined in Section
7 hereof; (ii) Executive's resignation from the Bank's employ, upon (A) unless
consented to by the Executive, a material change in Executive's function,
duties, or responsibilities, which change would cause Executive's position to
become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from the position and
attributes thereof described in Sections 1 and 2, above, (any such material
change shall be deemed a continuing breach of this Agreement), (B) a relocation
of Executive's principal place of employment by more than 35 miles from its
location at the effective date of this Agreement, or a material reduction in the
benefits and perquisites to Executive from those being provided as of the
effective date of this Agreement, (C) the liquidation or dissolution of the
Bank, or (D) any breach of this Agreement by the Bank. Upon the occurrence of
any event described in clauses (A), (B), (C), or (D), above, Executive shall
have the right to elect to terminate his employment under this Agreement by
resignation upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice given within
a reasonable period of time not to exceed, except in case of a continuing
breach, four calendar months after the event giving rise to said right to elect.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank shall pay
Executive, or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or his estate, as the
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case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal to six
(6) months Base Salary in a lump sum within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause to
be continued for a period of six (6) months (or such longer period as may be
required under applicable law) life, medical, dental and disability coverage
substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive
prior to his termination.
5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) No benefit shall be paid under this Section 5 unless there shall have
occurred a Change in Control of the Company or the Bank. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the Company or the Bank shall be deemed to
occur if and when (a) an offeror other than the Company purchases shares of the
common stock of the Company or the Bank pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
for such shares, (b) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is or becomes the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company or the Bank
representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities, (c) the membership of the board of directors of the
Company or the Bank changes as the result of a contested election, such that
individuals who were directors at the beginning of any twenty-four month period
(whether commencing before or after the date of adoption of this Plan) do not
constitute a majority of the Board at the end of such period, or (d)
shareholders of the Company or the Bank approve a merger, consolidation, sale or
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's or the Bank's assets,
or a plan of partial or complete liquidation.
(b) If any of the events described in Section 5(a) hereof constituting a
Change in Control have occurred or the Board of the Bank or the Company has
determined that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall be entitled to
the benefits provided in paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 5 upon his
subsequent involuntary termination of employment at any time during the term of
this Agreement (or voluntary termination following a Change of Control following
any demotion, loss of title, office or significant authority, reduction in his
annual compensation or benefits, or relocation of his principal place of
employment by more than 35 miles from its location immediately prior to the
Change in Control), unless such termination is because of his death, retirement
as provided in Section 7, termination for Cause, or termination for Disability.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits
provided in paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 5 in the event of his
involuntary termination of employment during the six-month period preceding the
public announcement of a transaction that would otherwise constitute a Change of
Control under this Agreement.
(c) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control followed by the Executive's
termination of employment, the Bank shall pay Executive, or in the event of his
subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case
may be, as severance pay
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or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal to two (2) times the Executive's
Base Salary. Such payment shall be made in a lump sum paid within ten (10) days
of the Executive's Date of Termination.
(d) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control followed by the Executive's
termination of employment, the Bank will cause to be continued life, medical,
dental and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage
maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his severance. In addition,
Executive shall be entitled to receive the value of employer contributions that
would have been made on the Executive's behalf over the remaining term of the
agreement to any tax-qualified retirement plan sponsored by the Bank as of the
Date of Termination. Such coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration
of twenty-four (24) months.
(e) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive benefits due him under, or contributed by the Company or the
Bank on his behalf, pursuant to any retirement, incentive, profit sharing,
bonus, performance, disability or other employee benefit plan maintained by the
Bank or the Company on the Executive's behalf to the extent that such benefits
are not otherwise paid to the Executive upon a Change in Control.
(f) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5, in the
event that the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to the
Executive under this Section would be deemed to include an "excess parachute
payment" under (S)280G of the Internal Revenue Code, such payments or benefits
shall be payable or provided to Executive over the minimum period necessary to
reduce the present value of such payments or benefits to an amount which is one
dollar ($1.00) less than three (3) times the Executive's "base amount" under
(S)280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
6. TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT; DEATH OF EXECUTIVE.
Termination by the Bank of Executive based on "Retirement" shall mean
retirement at age 65 or in accordance with any retirement arrangement
established with Executive's consent with respect to him. Upon termination of
Executive upon Retirement, Executive shall be entitled to all benefits under any
retirement plan of the Bank or the Company and other plans to which Executive is
a party. Upon the death of the Executive during the term of this Agreement,
the Bank shall pay to Executive's estate the compensation due to the Executive
through the last day of the calendar month in which his death occurred.
7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Termination for 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
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offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provision
of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section, no act, or the failure to act,
on Executive's part shall be "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, not
in good faith and without reasonable belief that the action or omission was in
the best interest of the Bank or its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until
there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by
the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the members of the Board
at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after reasonable
notice to Executive and an opportunity for him, together with counsel, to be
heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board,
Executive was guilty of conduct justifying termination for Cause and specifying
the reasons thereof. The Executive shall not have the right to receive
compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Cause. Any
stock options granted to Executive under any stock option plan or any unvested
awards granted under any other stock benefit plan of the Bank, the Company, or
any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, shall become null and void effective upon
Executive's receipt of Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 9
hereof, and shall not be exercisable by Executive at any time subsequent to such
Termination for Cause.
8. NOTICE.
(a) Any purported termination by the Bank or by Executive shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes
of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.
(b) "Date of Termination" shall mean (A) if Executive's employment is
terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is
given (provided that he shall not have returned to the performance of his duties
on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if his
employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice
of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less
than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).
(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given,
the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a
dispute exists concerning the termination, except upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control and voluntary termination by the Executive in which case the
Date of Termination shall be the date specified in the Notice, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either
by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or
by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the
time for appeal there from having expired and no appeal having been perfected)
and provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice
of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such
notice pursues
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the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the
pendency of any such dispute, the Bank will continue to pay Executive his full
compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given
(including, but not limited to, Base Salary) and continue him as a participant
in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which he was participating
when the notice of dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in
accordance with this Agreement. Amounts paid under this Section are in addition
to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or
reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.
8. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.
All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Bank. The Company, however, guarantees all
payments and the provision of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to
Executive and, if such payments are not timely paid or provided by the Bank,
such amounts and benefits shall be paid or provided by the Company.
9. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not
affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to the Executive
of a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits than
those available to him without reference to this Agreement.
10. NO ATTACHMENT.
(a) 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 execution,
attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive, the Bank, the Company and their respective successors and assigns.
11. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.
(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there by any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement,
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except by written instrument of the party charged with such waiver or estoppel.
No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically
stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term
or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition
for the future as to any act other than that specifically waived.
12. SEVERABILITY.
If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.
13. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.
14. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South
Carolina, unless otherwise specified herein; provided, however, that in the
event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any applicable
federal or state law or regulation, the provisions of such law or regulation
shall prevail.
15. ARBITRATION.
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by the employee within one
hundred (100) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules
of the American Arbitration Bank then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that
Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid
until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement.
16. PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES.
All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any
dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid
or reimbursed by the Bank, if successful pursuant to a legal judgment,
arbitration or settlement.
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17. INDEMNIFICATION.
The Bank shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and
administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy at its expense, or in lieu thereof, shall indemnify
Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent
permitted under law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by
him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which
he may be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the
Bank (whether or not he continues to be a directors or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to
include, but not be limited to, judgment, court costs and attorneys' fees and
the cost of reasonable settlements.
18. SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK OR THE COMPANY.
The Bank and the Company shall require any successor or assignee, whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Bank or the Company, expressly
and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank's or the Company's
obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that
the Bank or the Company would be required to perform if no such succession or
assignment had taken place.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and their seal to be affixed hereunto by a duly authorized officer or
director, and Executive has signed this Agreement, all on the 21 day of
November, 1995.
ATTEST: FIRST BANK, N.A.
/s/ James A. Shuford, III BY: /s/ Colden R. Battey, Jr.
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[SEAL]
ATTEST: FIRSTBANCORPORATION, INC.
/s/ James A. Shuford, III BY: /s/ Colden R. Battey, Jr.
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[SEAL]
WITNESS:
/s/ James A. Shuford, III BY: /s/ James L. Pate, III
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James L. Pate, III
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