Change in Control Agreement between BayVanguard Bank and Michael J. Dee

EX-10.3 14 d447808dex103.htm EX-10.3 EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

BAY-VANGUARD FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK

THREE-YEAR CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is hereby entered into as of July 1, 2014 by and between BAY-VANGUARD FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK (the “Bank”), a federally-chartered savings bank, with its principal offices at 7114 North Point Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21219, MICHAEL J. DEE (“Executive”), and BV FINANCIAL, INC. (the “Company”), a federally-chartered corporation and the holding company of the Bank, as guarantor.

WHEREAS, the Bank recognizes the importance of Executive to the Bank’s operations and wishes to protect his position with the Bank in the event of a change in control of the Bank or the Company for the period provided for in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Executive and the Board of Directors of the Bank desire to enter into an agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of payments due to Executive in the event of a change in control and the related rights and obligations of each of the parties.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

1.

Term of Agreement.

a. The term of this Agreement shall be (i) the initial term, consisting of the period commencing on the date of this Agreement (the “Effective Date”) and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date, plus (ii) any and all extensions of the initial term made pursuant to this Section 1.

b. Commencing on July 1, 2015 (the “Renewal Date”), and continuing each anniversary date thereafter, the Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Board of Directors”) may extend the term of this Agreement for an additional one (1) year period (from the Renewal Date) beyond the then effective expiration date, provided that Executive shall not have given at least sixty (60) days’ written notice of his desire that the term not be extended.

c. Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate if Executive or the Bank terminates Executive’s employment prior to a Change in Control.

 

2.

Change in Control.

a. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Bank or the Company followed at any time during the term of this Agreement by the termination of Executive’s employment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, other than for Cause, as defined in Section 2c. of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 3 of this Agreement shall apply. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive shall have the right to elect to voluntarily terminate his employment at any time during the term of this Agreement for “Good Reason.”


For the purposes of this Agreement “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without Executive’s consent:

 

  i.

The assignment to Executive of duties that constitute a material diminution of Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities (including reporting requirements);

 

  ii.

A material reduction in Executive’s Base Salary;

 

  iii.

Relocation of Executive to a location outside a radius of twenty-five (25) miles of the Bank’s principal office; or

 

  iv.

Any other action or inaction by the Bank that constitutes a material breach of this Agreement;

provided, that within ninety (90) days after the initial existence of such event, the Bank shall be given notice and an opportunity, not less than thirty (30) days, to effectuate a cure for such asserted “Good Reason” by Executive.

b. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur on the earliest of any of the following events:

 

  i.

Merger: The Company merges into or consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into the Company, and as a result less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately before the merger or consolidation.

 

  ii.

Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership: There is filed, or is required to be filed, a report on Schedule 13D or another form or schedule (other than Schedule 13G) required under Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of a class of the Company’s voting securities, but this clause (b) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of Company voting shares held in a fiduciary capacity by an entity of which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of its outstanding voting securities.

 

  iii.

Change in Board Composition: During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute the Company’s or the Bank’s board of directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s or the Bank’s board of directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (iii), each director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board for election by the stockholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period shall be deemed to have also been a director at the beginning of such period; or

 

  iv.

Sale of Assets: The Company or the Bank sells to a third party all or substantially all of its assets.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the reorganization of the Bank from the mutual holding company form of organization to the full stock holding company form of organization (including the elimination of the mutual holding company) constitute a “Change in Control” for purposes of this Agreement.

c. Executive shall not have the right to receive termination benefits pursuant to Section 3 hereof upon termination for “Cause”. Termination for Cause shall mean termination because of, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors, Executive’s:

 

  i.

material act of dishonesty or fraud in performing Executive’s duties on behalf of the Bank;

 

  ii.

willful misconduct that in the judgment of the Board of Directors will likely cause economic damage to the Bank or injury to the business reputation of the Bank;

 

  iii.

incompetence (in determining incompetence, the acts or omissions shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the savings institutions industry);

 

  iv.

breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit;

 

  v.

intentional failure to perform stated duties under this Agreement after written notice thereof from the Board of Directors;

 

  vi.

willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses which results only in a fine or other non-custodial penalty) that reflect adversely on the reputation of the Bank, any felony conviction, any violation of law involving moral turpitude, or any violation of a final cease-and-desist order; any violation of the policies and procedures of the Bank as outlined in the Bank’s employee handbook, which would result in termination of the Bank employees, as from time to time amended and incorporated herein by reference, or

 

  vii.

material breach by Executive of any provision of this Agreement.

For purposes of this paragraph, no act or failure to act on the part of Executive shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that Executive’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Bank. 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 a majority of the members of the Board of Directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors 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 of Directors), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Cause. During the period beginning on the date of the Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 4 hereof through the Date of Termination (as defined in Section 4), stock options granted to Executive under any stock option plan shall not be exercisable nor shall any unvested

 

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stock awards granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan of the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest. At the Date of Termination, such stock options and any such unvested stock awards shall become null and void and shall not be exercisable by or delivered to Executive at any time subsequent to such termination for Cause.

 

3.

Termination Benefits.

a. If Executive’s employment is voluntarily for Good Reason (in accordance with Section 2a. of this Agreement) or involuntarily terminated, either within one (1) year of a Change in Control, Executive shall receive:

 

  i.

The Bank shall pay Executive a lump sum cash payment equal to three (3) times the Executive’s “base amount,” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Such payment shall be made not later than five (5) days following Executive’s termination of employment under this Section 3.

 

  ii.

The Bank will continue to provide to Executive life insurance coverage and non-taxable medical and dental insurance coverage substantially comparable (and on substantially the same terms and conditions) to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive immediately prior to his termination under the same cost-sharing arrangements that apply for active employees of the Bank as of Executive’s date of termination. Such continued coverage shall cease thirty-six (36) months following Executive’s termination of employment. The period of continued health coverage required by Section 4980B(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), shall run concurrently with the coverage period provided herein. If the Bank cannot provide one or more of the benefits set forth in this paragraph because Executive is no longer an employee, applicable rules and regulations prohibit such benefits or the payment of such benefits in the manner contemplated, or it would subject the Bank to penalties, then the Bank shall pay Executive a cash lump sum payment reasonably estimated to be equal to the value of such benefits or the value of the remaining benefits at the time of such determination. Such cash payment shall be made in a lump sum within thirty (30) days after the later of Executive’s date of termination or the effective date of the rules or regulations prohibiting such benefits or subjecting the Bank to penalties.

b. In no event shall the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to Executive under this Agreement, either as a stand-alone benefit or when aggregated with other payments to, or for the benefit of Executive that are contingent on a Change in Control (the “Termination Benefits”) constitute an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, or any successor thereto, and in order to avoid such a result, the Termination Benefits will be reduced, if necessary, to an amount (the “Non-Triggering Amount”), the value of which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal to three (3) times Executive’s “base amount,” as determined in accordance with Section 280G of the Code. In the event a reduction is necessary, Executive shall be entitled to determine which benefits or payments shall be reduced or eliminated so the total parachute payments do not result in an excess parachute payment. If Executive does not make this determination within five (5) business days after receiving a written request from the Bank (or by the time that benefits or payments are due hereunder, if later), the Bank may make such determination, and shall notify Executive promptly thereof. In the event it is determined that permitting Executive or the Bank to make the determination regarding the form or manner of reduction would violate Section 409A Code, such reduction shall be made first from the cash severance provided for under this Agreement.

 

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4.

Notice of Termination.

a. Any 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 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 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).

 

5.

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, unconditionally guarantees payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to Executive and, if such amounts and benefits due from the Bank are not timely paid or provided by the Bank, such amounts and benefits shall be paid or provided by the Company.

 

6.

Effect on Prior Agreements and Existing Benefit Plans.

This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement between the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to 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. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Executive the right to continue in the employ of the Bank or shall impose on the Bank any obligation to employ or retain Executive in its employ for any period.

 

7.

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 and their respective successors and assigns.

 

8.

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 be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, 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 or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

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9.

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.

 

10.

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. In addition, references herein to the masculine shall apply to both the masculine and the feminine.

 

11.

Governing Law.

Except to the extent preempted by federal law, the validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to principles of conflicts of law of that state.

 

12.

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 Executive within fifty (50) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association 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.

 

13.

Payment of Legal Fees.

All reasonable legal fees and expenses 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, only if Executive is successful pursuant to a legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.

 

14.

Indemnification.

The Company or 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 and shall indemnify Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, including 12 C.F.R. Section 145.121, 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 having been a director or officer of the Company or the Bank (whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time of incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs, attorneys’ fees and the costs of reasonable settlements.

 

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15.

Successors to the Bank and 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 of the business or assets of the Bank or the Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank’s and the Company’s obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Bank and the Company would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.

16. Required Provisions. In the event any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 16 are in conflict with the terms of this Agreement, this Section 16 shall prevail.

a. The Board of Directors may terminate Executive’s employment at any time, but any termination by the Bank, other than termination for Cause, shall not prejudice Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after a termination for Cause.

b. If 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 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(3) or (g)(1); the Bank’s obligations under this contract 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 Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while the contract obligations were suspended; and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of the obligations which were suspended.

c. If Executive 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) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), all obligations of the Bank under this contract shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.

d. If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1813(x)(1) all obligations under this contract 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 the Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Bank: (i) by the Comptroller of the Currency or his designee (the “Comptroller”), at the time 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 the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1823(c); or (ii) by the Comptroller at the time the Comptroller approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the operations 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 Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. §1828(k) and FDIC regulation 12 C.F.R. Part 359, Golden Parachute and Indemnification Payments.

 

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17.

Section 409A of the Code.

a. This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and specifically, with the “short-term deferral exception” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the “separation pay exception” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and shall in all respects be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. If any payment or benefit hereunder cannot be provided or made at the time specified herein without incurring sanctions on Executive under Section 409A of the Code, then such payment or benefit shall be provided in full at the earliest time thereafter when such sanctions will not be imposed. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, all payments to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement may only be made upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of such term under Section 409A of the Code), each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment, the right to a series of installment payments under this Agreement (if any) is to be treated as a right to a series of separate payments, and if a payment is not made by the designated payment date under this Agreement, the payment shall be made by December 31 of the calendar year in which the designated date occurs. To the extent that any payment provided for hereunder would be subject to additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, or would cause the administration of this Agreement to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, such provision shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by applicable law, and any such amount shall be payable in accordance with b. below. In no event shall Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.

b. If when separation from service occurs Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and if the cash severance payment under Section 3a.i. would be considered deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, and, finally, if an exemption from the six-month delay requirement of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code is not available (i.e., the “short-term deferral exception” under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) or the “separation pay exception” under Treasury Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)), the Bank will make the maximum severance payment possible in order to comply with an exception from the six month requirement and make any remaining severance payment under Section 3a.i. to Executive in a single lump sum without interest on the first payroll date that occurs after the date that is six (6) months after the date on which Executive separates from service.

c. References in this Agreement to Section 409A of the Code include rules, regulations, and guidance of general application issued by the Department of the Treasury under Internal Revenue Section 409A of the Code.

[signature page follows]

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement effective as of July 1, 2014.

 

Attest:       BAY-VANGUARD FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
  /s/ Samantha M. Perouty     By:   /s/ David M. Flair
Attest:       BV FINANCIAL, INC.
      (Guarantor)
  /s/ Samantha M. Perouty     By:   /s/ David M. Flair
Attest:       EXECUTIVE
  /s/ Samantha M. Perouty     /s/ Michael J. Dee
      Michael J. Dee

 

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