EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EX-10.1 2 a16-11553_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT is entered into this 21st  day of June, 2016 (the “Effective Date”) by and between A. J. Smith Federal Savings Bank (the “Bank”), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Illinois, with its office at 14757 S. Cicero Avenue, Midlothian, IL, and Thomas R. Butkus (the “Employee”).  Any reference to the “Company” herein shall refer to AJS Bancorp, Inc. the holding company of the Bank.

 

WHEREAS, the Bank and the Employee entered into an employment agreement dated the 19th day of June 2012, pursuant to which the Employee was employed by the Bank as its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; and

 

WHEREAS, the foregoing employment agreement is set to expire on June 19, 2016; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Bank and the Employee believe it is in the best interests of the Bank to enter into this new employment agreement (the “Agreement”) in order to reinforce and reward the Employee for his service and dedication to the continued success of the Bank; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire by this writing to set forth the terms of the revised Agreement and the continuing employment relationship of the Bank and the Employee.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is AGREED as follows:

 

1.                                                Employment.  During the term of his employment hereunder, the Employee shall serve as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Bank. The Employee shall render such administrative and management services for the Bank as are currently rendered and as are customarily performed by persons situated in a similar executive capacity. The Employee shall also promote, by entertainment or otherwise, as and to the extent permitted by law, the business of the Bank. The Employee’s other duties shall be such as the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Bank 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 $215,000 per annum (the “Base Salary”).  The Board shall review, not less often than annually, the rate of the Employee’s salary, and in its sole discretion may decide to increase (but not decrease) his Base Salary. Any such increase in the Base Salary shall become the Base Salary for all purposes under this Agreement. Such Base Salary shall be payable in cash no less frequently than monthly (the monthly amount shall be referred to as the “monthly Base Salary”) or in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Bank, as such may be changed from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following a Change in Control (as defined in Section 10(a)(3) of this Agreement), the Board shall continue to annually review the rate of the Employee’s Base Salary, and shall increase said rate of Base Salary by a percentage which is not less than the average annual percentage increase in Base Salary that the

 



 

Employee received over the three calendar years immediately preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurs.

 

3.                                      Discretionary Bonuses.  The Employee shall participate in an equitable manner with all other senior management employees of the Bank in discretionary bonuses that the Board may award from time to time to the Bank’s senior management employees. No other compensation provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed a substitute for the Employee’s right to participate in such discretionary bonuses.

 

4.                                      Benefit Plans and Expenses.

 

(a)                                 Participation in Retirement, Medical and Other Plans.  During the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall participate in any plan that the Bank maintains for the benefit of its employees if the plan relates to (i) pension, profit-sharing, or other retirement benefits, or (ii) medical insurance or the reimbursement of medical or dependent care expenses. If the Employee ceases employment with the Bank for any reason other than death or “Just Cause” (as defined in Section 9(c) hereof), then notwithstanding termination of the Employee’s employment or of this Agreement, the Bank (or any successor) shall provide the Employee and his dependents with coverage under the Bank’s (or any successor’s) group health insurance plan or under a health insurance plan that provides comparable health coverage (and if the Bank maintains more than one plan for its employees, any one of such plans selected by the Employee in accordance with the general procedures by which the Bank’s full-time employees make such elections).  The Bank (or any successor) shall bear the full cost for said coverage, which shall continue until the Employee’s death, with the terms and conditions thereof being determined from time to time as though the Employee had remained a full-time employee of the Bank (or successor) (but with the Bank (or any successor) in all events paying the full cost for such insurance).  The Bank (or any successor) shall also provide the Employee’s spouse with continued health insurance coverage (with the Bank (or any successor) paying the full cost for such insurance) for her lifetime.

 

(b)                                           Employee Benefits; Expenses.  The Employee shall be eligible to participate in any fringe benefits which are or may become available to the Bank’s senior management employees, including for example: any stock option or incentive compensation plans, and any other benefits which are commensurate with the responsibilities and functions to be performed by the Employee under this Agreement. The Bank shall provide the Employee with an automobile suitable to the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, and such automobile may be used by the Employee in carrying out his duties under this Agreement and for his personal use such as commuting between his residence and his principal place of employment. The Bank shall reimburse the Employee for the cost of maintenance, use and servicing of such automobile. The Bank shall reimburse the Employee for his reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement, including, without limitation, fees for memberships in such clubs and organization that the Employee and the Board mutually agree are necessary and appropriate to further the business of the Bank  upon substantiation of such expenses in accordance with the policies of the Bank.

 

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5.                                      Term.  The Bank hereby employs the Employee, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment under this Agreement, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending thirty-six (36) months thereafter (or such earlier date as is determined in accordance with Section 9). Additionally, on each annual anniversary date from the Effective Date, the Employee’s term of employment shall be extended for an additional one-year period beyond the then effective expiration date provided the Board determines in a duly adopted resolution that the performance of the Employee has met the Board’s requirements and standards, and that this Agreement shall be extended. Only those members of the Board of Directors who have no personal interest in this Agreement shall discuss and vote on the approval and subsequent renewal of this Agreement.

 

6.                                      Loyalty: Noncompetition.

 

(a)                                 During the period of his employment hereunder and except for illnesses, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable leaves of absence, the Employee shall devote all his full business time and attention to the performance of his duties hereunder; provided, however, from time to time, Employee may serve on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices or positions in, companies or organizations, which will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or unfavorably affect the performance of Employee’s duties pursuant to this Agreement, or will not violate any applicable statute or regulation. During the term of his 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 be gainfully employed in any other position or job other than as provided above.

 

(b)                                 Nothing contained in this Section 6 shall be deemed to prevent or limit the Employee’s right 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.

 

7.                                      Standards.  The Employee shall perform his duties under this Agreement in accordance with such reasonable standards as the Board may establish from time to time. The Bank will provide Employee with the working facilities and staff customary for similar executives and necessary for him to perform his duties.

 

8.                                      Vacation, Sick and Other Leave.  At such reasonable times as the Board 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, all such voluntary absences to count as vacation time, provided that:

 

(a)                                 The Employee shall be entitled to an annual vacation in accordance with the policies that the Board periodically establishes for senior management employees of the Bank. The Employee shall not receive any additional compensation from the Bank on account of his failure to take vacation leave, and the Employee shall not accumulate unused vacation leave from one fiscal year to the next, except to the extent authorized by the Board.

 

(b)                                 In addition, the Employee shall be entitled to an annual sick leave benefit as established by the Board. In the event any sick leave benefit shall not have been used during

 

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any year, such leave shall not accrue to subsequent years, except to the extent authorized by the Board.

 

(c)                                  In addition to the aforesaid paid vacations and sick leave, the Employee shall be entitled without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the performance of his employment with the Bank for such additional periods of time and for such valid and legitimate reasons as the Board may in its discretion determine. Further, the Board may grant to the Employee a leave or leaves of absence, with or without pay, at such time or times and upon such terms and conditions as such Board in its discretion may determine.

 

9.                                      Termination and Termination Pay.  Subject to Section 10 hereof, the Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated under the following circumstances:

 

(a)                                 Death.  The Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate upon his death during the term of this Agreement, in which event the Employee’s beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, shall be entitled to receive the compensation due the Employee through the last day of the calendar month in which his death occurred. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Employee dies while employed by the Bank, the Bank shall pay the Employee’s beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, the Employee’s Base Salary then in effect pursuant to Section 2 hereof for a period of one (1) year from the date of the Employee’s death, in accordance with its regular payroll practice, with such payment commencing on the Bank’s first regular payroll date following the Employee’s death.

 

(b)                                 Disability.  In the event of Employee’s Disability (as hereinafter defined), the Employee shall receive any disability insurance for which the Employee shall be eligible under any disability insurance or similar program maintained by the Bank.  In addition, in the event of Disability, Employee shall be entitled to the benefits set forth in Section 9(d)(1) hereof, with such benefits to be paid in a lump sum within sixty (60) days following the Employee’s date of Disability.

 

“Disability” or “Disabled” shall be construed to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) Employee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death, or last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months; (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death, or last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, Employee is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Bank or the Company; or (iii) Employee is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

(c)                                  Just Cause.  The Board may, by written notice to the Employee, immediately terminate his employment at any time, for Just Cause.  The Employee shall have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Just Cause. Termination for “Just Cause” shall mean termination because of, in the good faith determination

 

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of the Board, 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 than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provision of this Agreement. Any stock options or restricted stock awards granted to the Employee under any stock plan of the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, shall become null and void effective upon the Employee’s receipt of notice of termination for Just Cause pursuant to Section 9 hereof, and shall not be exercisable by the Employee at any time subsequent to such termination for Just Cause.

 

(d)                                 Without Just Cause; Constructive Discharge.

 

(1)                                 The Board may, by written notice to the Employee, immediately terminate his employment at any time for a reason other than Just Cause, in which event the Employee, or in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to three (3) times the sum of (i) his Base Salary provided pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and (ii) the highest rate of bonus awarded to the Employee, pursuant to Section 3 hereof, at any time during the prior five (5) years. In addition, the Employee shall be entitled to a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value (calculated using a discount rate of equal to 120% of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually) of the Bank’s contributions that would have been made on Employee’s behalf under the Bank’s tax-qualified retirement plans (including the 401(k) Plan, the profit sharing plan and the employee stock ownership plan) if he had continued working for the Bank for a thirty-six (36) month period following his termination of employment earning the Base Salary that would have been achieved during the remaining unexpired term of this Agreement and making the maximum amount of employee contributions permitted, if any, under such plans. Upon such an event of termination at any time for a reason other than Just Cause, the Employee will vest on the date of termination of employment in any outstanding unvested stock options or shares of restricted stock of the Company that have been awarded to him, and Employee (and his spouse) shall be entitled to the continued health benefits set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event such termination occurs after a Change in Control and within the time period set forth in Section 10(a)(1) hereof, the benefits and compensation provided for in that Section 10 shall apply. All amounts payable to the Employee in cash shall be paid in one lump sum within thirty (30) days of the Employee’s date of termination.

 

(2)                                 The Employee may voluntarily terminate his employment under this Agreement within ninety (90) days following the occurrence of an event which constitutes “Constructive Discharge,” provided, however, that the Bank shall have thirty (30) days to cure the “Constructive Discharge” condition described below, but the Bank may waive its right to cure.  Upon the Employee’s termination of employment for an event that constitutes a “Constructive Discharge, the Employee shall be entitled to receive the compensation and benefits payable under Section 9(d)(1) hereof (unless such voluntary termination occurs following a Change in Control as set forth under Section 10(b) in which event the benefits and compensation provided for in Section 10 shall apply).

 

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For purposes of this Section 9, a Constructive Discharge shall include the occurrence of any of the following events which has not been consented to in advance in writing by the Employee: (1) the requirement that the Employee perform his principal executive functions, more than thirty-five (35) miles from his primary office; (2) a material reduction in the Employee’s base compensation; (3) the requirement that the Employee report directly to a person or persons other than the Board; or (4) a material diminution or reduction in the Employee’s responsibilities or authority in connection with his employment with the Bank (or any successor to the Bank).

 

All amounts payable to the Employee in cash under this Section 9(d)(2) shall be paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days of the Employee’s date of termination.  .

 

(e)                                  Voluntary Termination by Employee.  Except to the extent set forth in Sections 9(d)(2) and 10 hereof, the Employee may voluntarily terminate employment with the Bank during the term of this Agreement, upon at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the Board of Directors, in which case the Employee shall receive only his compensation, vested rights (including continuing health benefits as provided in Section 4(a) hereof) and employee benefits up to the date of his termination, payable as set forth in the documents governing such payments.

 

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, in the event that the Employee elects to retire from employment with the Bank (such event being referred to herein as “Retirement”), the Employee (or in the event of his death after Retirement but prior to payment pursuant to this Section 9(e), his estate) shall be paid within thirty (30) days of Retirement a lump sum payment equal to fifty-percent (50%) of the Base Salary provided pursuant to Section 2 hereof as of such date of Retirement.  .

 

10.                               Change in Control.

 

(a)                                 Change in Control; Involuntary Termination.

 

(1)                                 Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Employee’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Bank, without the Employee’s prior written consent and for a reason other than Just Cause, upon the occurrence of or within twenty-four (24) months after any Change in Control of the Bank or the Company, the Employee shall, subject to paragraph (2) of this Section 10(a), be paid an amount equal to three (3) times the sum of (i) the Employee’s Base Salary provided pursuant to Section 2 hereof, as in effect on the date of such Change in Control, and (ii) the highest rate of bonus awarded to the Employee at any time during the prior five (5) years.  In addition, the Employee shall be entitled to a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value (calculated using a discount rate of equal to 120% of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually) of the Bank’s contributions that would have been made on Employee’s behalf under the Bank’s tax-qualified retirement plans (including the 401(k) Plan, the profit sharing plan and the employee stock ownership plan) if he had continued working for the Bank for a thirty-six (36) month period following his termination of employment earning the Base Salary that would have been achieved during the remaining unexpired term of this

 

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Agreement and making the maximum amount of employee contributions permitted, if any, under such plans.  Upon such qualifying termination of employment following a Change in Control, the Employee will also immediately vest in any outstanding unvested stock options or shares of restricted stock of the Company that have been awarded to him and Employee shall be entitled to the continued health benefits set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.  All amounts payable to the Employee in cash shall be paid in one lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Employee’s date of termination. Moreover, in the event of such qualifying termination of employment occurring on or after a Change in Control, the Bank shall transfer ownership to Employee of the automobile provided for Employee’s use in effect as of his date of termination, free and clear of all liens, at no cost to Employee within thirty (30) days following such termination.

 

(2)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph (a)(1), in the event that the Bank’s independent accountants or legal counsel determine that the total payments receivable under this Agreement hereof, when added to any other payments contingent on a Change in Control of the Bank or the Company, is equal to or greater than three (3) times the Employee’s “base amount” as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Maximum Amount”), then such payments payable under this Agreement shall be reduced to avoid an “excess parachute payment,” as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.  Nothing in this Section 10(a)(2) shall result in the reduction of any payments or benefits to which Employee may be entitled upon termination of employment and/or a Change in Control other than as specified in this Section 10(a)(2), or a reduction in benefits payable under this Agreement below zero.

 

(3)                                 The term “Change in Control” shall mean an event of a nature that: (i) would be required to be reported in response to Item 1(a) of the current report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the Bank or the Company within the meaning of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended (“HOLA”), and applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect at the time of the Change in Control; or (iii) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (a) any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of Company’s outstanding securities except for any securities purchased by the Bank’s employee stock ownership plan or trust; or (b) individuals who constitute the Company’s Board on the date hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the same nominating committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (b), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (c) a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Bank or the Company or similar transaction in which the Bank or Company is not the surviving institution occurs; or (d) a proxy statement soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Company, by someone other than the current management of the Company, seeking stockholder approval of a

 

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plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or similar transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the class of securities then subject to the Plan are to be exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the Company; or (e) a tender offer is made for 25% or more of the voting securities of the Company and the shareholders owning beneficially or of record 25% or more of the outstanding securities of the Company have tendered or offered to sell their shares pursuant to such tender offer and such tendered shares have been accepted by the tender offeror.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely to the event necessary to comply with Code Section 409A, in no event shall the foregoing events shall be considered a “Change in Control” unless it constitutes a “change in control” as defined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the final regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(b)                                 Change in Control; Constructive Discharge.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Employee may voluntarily terminate his employment under this Agreement if upon the occurrence of or within twenty-four (24) months following such Change in Control of the Bank or the Company an event constituting a Constructive Discharge has occurred.  If an event constituting a Constructive Discharge shall occur, the Employee shall be entitled to voluntarily terminate employment within ninety (90) days of such Constructive Discharge and completion of a thirty (30) day cure period by the Bank (unless waived), and shall be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.  All amounts payable to the Employee under this Section 10(b) shall be paid in the same manner as required under Section 10(a) hereof.

 

(c)                                  Trust.

 

(1)                                 Within five (5) business days before a Change in Control (as defined in Section 10(a) of this Agreement), the Bank shall: (i) deposit, or cause to be deposited, in a grantor trust (the “Trust”) substantially in the form described in Revenue Procedure 92-64, as issued by the Internal Revenue Service and as amended or superseded thereby, an amount equal to one (1) dollar less than three (3) times the Employee’s “base amount” as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code; and (ii) provide the trustee of the Trust, who shall be an independent corporation having corporate trust powers, with a written direction to hold said amount and any investment return thereon in a segregated account for the benefit of the Employee, and to follow the procedures set forth in the next paragraph as to the payment of such amounts from the Trust.

 

(2)                                 Immediately following Employee’s Separation from Service (as defined below) for one of the reasons set forth in Section 10(a) or 10(b) hereof, the Employee shall provide the trustee of the Trust with a written notice requesting that the trustee pay to the Employee the amount designated in said notice.  Within three (3) business days after receiving said notice, the trustee of the Trust shall send a copy of the notice to the Bank via overnight and registered mail return receipt requested.  On the tenth (10th) business day after mailing said notice to the Bank, the trustee of the Trust shall pay the Employee the amount designated therein in immediately available funds, unless prior thereto the Bank provides the trustee with a written notice directing the trustee to withhold such payment.  In the latter event, the trustee shall submit the dispute to non-appealable binding arbitration for a determination of the amount payable to

 

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the Employee pursuant to Section 10(a) or (b) hereof, and the party responsible for the payment of the costs of such arbitration (which may include any reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Employee) shall be determined by the arbitrator.  The trustee shall choose the arbitrator to settle the dispute, and such arbitrator shall be bound by the rules of the American Arbitration Association in making her determination.  The parties and the trustee shall be bound by the results of the arbitration and, within three (3) days of the determination by the arbitrator, the trustee shall pay from the Trust the amounts required to be paid to the Employee and/or the Bank, and in no event shall the trustee be liable to either party for making the payments as determined by the arbitrator.

 

(d)                                 In the event that any dispute arises between the Employee and the Bank as to the terms or interpretation of this Agreement, including this Section 10, whether instituted by formal legal proceedings or otherwise, including any action that the Employee takes to enforce the terms of this Section 10 or to defend against any action taken by the Bank, the Employee shall be reimbursed for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising from such dispute, proceedings or actions, provided that the Employee shall obtain a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in favor of the Employee.  Such reimbursement shall be paid within ten (10) days of Employee’s furnishing to the Bank written evidence, which may be in the form, among other things, of a cancelled check or receipt, of any costs or expenses incurred by the Employee.

 

11.                               Required Provisions.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply:

 

(a)                                 The Board may terminate Employee’s employment at any time, but any termination by the Bank’s Board other than termination for Just Cause shall not prejudice Employee’s right to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement.  Employee shall have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after Employee’s termination for Just Cause.

 

(b)                                 If Employee is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) [12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(3)] or 8(g)(1) [12 U.S.C. §1818(g)(1)] of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the “FDI Act”), the Bank’s obligations under this 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 in its discretion: (i) pay Employee all or part of the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were suspended and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were suspended.

 

(c)                                  If Employee is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) [12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(4)] or 8(g)(1) [12 U.S.C. §1818(g)(1)] of the FDI Act, all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.

 

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(d)                                 If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) [12 U.S.C. §1813(x)(1)] of the FDI Act, all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.

 

(e)                                  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 Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or his or her designee, at the time the FDIC enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) [12 U.S.C. §1823(c)] of the FDI Act; or (ii) by the Comptroller or his or her designee at the time the Director 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 Comptroller 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.

 

(f)                                   Any payments made to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(g)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, but only to the extent required under federal banking law, the amount payable under this Agreement shall be reduced to the extent that on the date of the Employee’s termination of employment, the present value of the benefits payable thereunder exceeds the limitation on severance benefits that is set forth in Regulatory Bulletin 27b of the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”) and the OTS Thrift Activities Handbook Section 310, as adopted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

(h)                                 Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, Employee’s employment shall not be deemed to have been terminated unless and until Employee has a Separation from Service within the meaning of Code Section 409A.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Separation from Service” shall have occurred if the Bank and Employee reasonably anticipate that either no further services will be performed by Employee after the date of termination (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) or the level of further services performed is less than fifty (50) percent of the average level of bona fide services in the thirty-six (36) months immediately preceding the termination.  For all purposes hereunder, the definition of Separation from Service shall be interpreted consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(ii).

 

(i)                                     Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employee is a “specified employee” (i.e., a “key employee” of a publicly traded company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the final regulations issued thereunder) and any payment under this Agreement is triggered due to Employee’s Separation from Service (other than due to Disability or death), then solely to the extent necessary to avoid penalties under Section 409A of the Code, no payment shall be made during the first six (6) months following Employee’s Separation from Service.  Rather, any payment which would otherwise be paid to Employee during such period shall be accumulated and paid to Employee in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month

 

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following such Separation from Service.  All subsequent payments shall be paid in the manner specified in this Agreement.

 

(j)                                    To the extent not specifically provided in this Agreement, any compensation or reimbursements payable to Executive shall be paid or provided no later than two and one-half (2.5) months after the calendar year in which such compensation is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(d).

 

12.                               Federal Income Tax Withholding.  The Bank may withhold all Federal and State income or other taxes from any benefit payable under this Agreement as shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling.

 

13.                               Reimbursements.  Reimbursement by the Bank of any expenses, fees, dues or other obligation of the Employee under any Section of this Agreement, including but not limited to Section 4, 9 or 10) shall be permitted provided that the amount of expenses, fees, dues or other obligation paid in a calendar year that are eligible for reimbursement equals only  the amount actually expended during such calendar year, and the maximum amount available for reimbursement in any calendar year will not be increased or decreased to reflect the amount expended or reimbursed in a prior or subsequent calendar year, and further, any reimbursement must be paid to the Employee by December 31 of the calendar year following the year in which the Employee pays such expenses, fees, dues or other obligation.

 

14.                               Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                 Bank.  This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Bank, provided that 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.

 

(b)                                 Employee.  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; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude (i) the Employee from designating a beneficiary to receive any benefit payable hereunder upon his death, or (ii) the executors, administrators, or other legal representatives of the Employee or his estate from assigning any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereunto.

 

(c)                                  Attachment.  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 exclusion, attachment, levy or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall be null, void and of no effect.

 

15.                               Amendments.  No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless made in writing and signed by all of the parties, except as herein otherwise specifically provided.

 

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16.                               Applicable Law.  Except to the extent preempted by Federal law, the laws of the State of Illinois shall govern this Agreement in all respects, whether as to its validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise.

 

17.                               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.

 

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, and shall completely supersede any prior agreements between the parties (including but not limited to their agreement dated July 20, 1992 and the employment agreements dated December 18, 1995, August 19, 2003 and June 19, 2012).

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year first hereinabove written.

 

 

ATTEST:

 

A. J. SMITH FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jo Anne Cano

 

/s/ Donna J. Manuel

Jo Anne Cano

 

Donna J. Manuel, Sr. Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

WITNESS:

 

EMPLOYEE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Susan Coleman

 

/s/ Thomas R. Butkus

Susan Coleman

 

Thomas R. Butkus

 

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