AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Human Resources - Employment Agreements
EX-10.2 3 ceo-amendedrestateexecutiv.htm EXHIBIT 10.2 CEO - Amended Restate Executive Employment Agreement Ex. 10.2
Exhibit 10.2


AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made and effective as of this 2nd day of December, 2013 (the “Effective Date”) by and between ViewPoint Bank, N.A. a national banking association with its principal location in Plano, Texas (the “Bank”), ViewPoint Financial Group, Inc., a Texas corporation and registered bank holding company with its principal location in Plano, Texas (“VPFG”) (the Bank and VPFG collectively referred to herein as the “Company”) and Kevin J. Hanigan (the “Executive”), and supersedes the Employment Agreement dated as of December 8, 2011, by and between the Company and the Executive.
WHEREAS, the Company believes that it is in the best interests of the Company to provide Executive with terms of employment which include certain severance benefits; and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive mutually desire that their employment relationship be set forth under the terms of a written employment agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment. The Company agrees to continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees continue to serve and be employed by the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
2.
Term of Employment. The employment of the Executive by the Company as provided under Section 1 shall continue under this Agreement commencing on the Effective Date, and end on February 28, 2015, unless further extended or sooner terminated as hereinafter provided (the “Term”). On February 28, 2015 and on the last calendar day of February of each year thereafter, the Term shall be extended automatically one (1) additional year, unless at least 60 days prior to the date of such automatic extension the Company shall have delivered to the Executive a Notice of Termination or the Executive shall have delivered to the Company a Notice of Termination that the Term shall not be extended.
3.
Position, Duties and Evaluation. The Executive shall continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and VPFG with responsibilities and authority as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and/or the Boards of Directors of the Company. The Executive shall be responsible for the execution of all plans and strategies as determined by the Board of Directors and Executive shall have authority for all employment and termination decisions. The Executive shall devote substantially all of his working time and efforts to the business affairs of the Company. In addition, the Executive shall serve on the Board of Directors of the Bank and of VPFG during the term of this Agreement for so long as he is elected to such positions.
No later than January 31 of each calendar year during the term of this Agreement, the Company shall evaluate and assess the performance of Executive. Such evaluation shall relate to the duties and responsibilities of Executive under this Agreement and progress toward established goals as agreed to by the Executive and Board of Directors and the working relationship among

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Exhibit 10.2


Executive, the staff and the Board. The evaluation shall be conducted by the Board of Directors in executive session without Executive being present and the Board or a director or directors designated by the Board shall thereafter meet with Executive to discuss the evaluation in accordance with procedures as may be agreed to by Executive and Bank.
4.
Place of Performance. During the Term, the Executive shall be based at the Company’s principal offices located in Plano, Texas subject to reasonable travel on the business of the Company.
5.
Compensation and Benefits. In consideration of the Executive’s performance of his duties hereunder, the Company shall provide the Executive with the following compensation and benefits during the Term:
(a)
Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an aggregate base salary at a rate of not less than five-hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($535,000) per annum, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and subject to applicable withholding. Such base salary may be increased from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with the normal business practices of the Company and, if so increased, shall not thereafter be decreased during the Term.
Compensation of the Executive by base salary payments shall not be deemed exclusive and shall not prevent the Executive from participating in any other compensation or benefit program of the Company. Such base salary payments (including increases or decreases thereto) shall not in any way limit or reduce any other obligation of the Company hereunder, and no other compensation, benefit or payment hereunder shall in any way limit or reduce the obligation of the Company with respect to such base salary.

(b)
Bonus and Incentive Compensation. The Company shall pay to the Executive, with respect to each fiscal year during the Term, such cash bonus as the Board of Directors of the Company (exclusive of the Executive) shall approve at their sole discretion; provided, however, in no event shall this paragraph (b) be deemed to require that any such bonus be paid with respect to any such fiscal year. In addition, the Executive shall have the right to participate in any Incentive Compensation Plan adopted by the Company, without diminution of any other compensation or benefit provided for in this Agreement.
(c)
Expenses. The Company, as applicable, shall promptly reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Executive in his performance of services hereunder, including all such expenses of travel and living expense while away from home on business of the Company, provided that such expenses are incurred, accounted for and documented in accordance with the regular policies and procedures established by the Company from time to time.
(d)
Employee Benefits. The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, and the Executive shall be entitled to continue to participate in, all of their employee benefit plans and arrangements in effect on December 8, 2011, in which the Executive participated as of December 8, 2011, including the Company employee stock ownership plan, or plans or

2


Exhibit 10.2


arrangements providing the Executive with at least equivalent benefits thereto (including but not limited to any employee pension benefit plan, stock option plan, life insurance and health-and-accident plan, medical insurance plan, disability income plan, and vacation plan). The Company shall not make any changes in such plans or arrangements which would adversely affect the Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to a program applicable to all executives of the Company and does not result in a proportionally greater reduction in the rights or benefits of the Executive as compared with any other executive of the Company.
The Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under any employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company in the future to its executives (whether or not inclusive of their employees generally), subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions, and overall administration of such plans and arrangements. Neither coverage nor benefits paid under any such plan or arrangement presently in effect or made available in the future shall be deemed to be in lieu of the salary payable to the Executive under Section 5(a). Any payment or other benefits provided the Executive under any such plan or arrangement with respect to any plan year during which the Executive is employed hereunder for less than the full plan year shall be prorated in accordance with the number of days of such plan year during which he is so employed, unless otherwise provided in the pertinent plan or arrangement. The Executive’s entitlement hereunder shall include the method of cost-sharing, if any, in effect under the pertinent plan or arrangement at the relevant time.

(e)
Vacation and Sick Leave. The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) calendar weeks of vacation in each calendar year during the Term, in accordance with the Company’s vacation policies, as well as to all paid holidays provided by the Company to its employees. In addition, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s sick leave program as it is or may be in effect for senior executives of the Company.
(f)
Services. The Company shall furnish the Executive with office space, secretarial and administrative assistance, and such other facilities and services as shall be suitable to his position and adequate for the performance of his duties hereunder.
(g)
Executive Benefits Allowance. In addition to and not in lieu of any compensation due and payable to Executive hereunder, during the Term the Company shall provide Executive an executive benefits allowance in the amount of at least thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) per calendar year, which shall be payable in equal installments according to the Company’s standard payroll practices. The annual allowance may be increased by action of the Board of Directors, but shall not be decreased.
(h)
Life Insurance. Company will provide at its expense a life insurance policy on Executive’s life owned by Executive in the face amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000). Executive may designate a beneficiary of such policy or, if no designation is made, the beneficiary shall be the Executive’s estate.

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Exhibit 10.2


(i)
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall participate in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) previously approved by the Board of Directors and any other non-qualified retirement program hereafter established for the benefit of executives or key employees of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to modify, amend or conflict with the terms and conditions of the SERP. In the event of termination of employment, Executive’s vested rights under the SERP shall be governed by the SERP and shall not be affected by this Agreement.
6.
Directorship. During the Term the Executive shall serve as a director of the Bank and VPFG for so long as he is elected to such positions and not otherwise removed, all in accordance with standard Bank and VPFG election or removal procedures. However, during such time, he shall not receive any separate directors’ fees nor committee attendance fees.
7.
Compensation and Benefits in the Event of Termination. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment during the Term, compensation and benefits shall be paid as set forth below.
(a)
Termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive Without Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the following compensation and benefits shall be paid and provided to the Executive:
(i)
Unpaid base salary (at the annual rate in effect at the time of the Notice of Termination) through the last day of the month in which the Date of Termination occurs.
(ii)
Any amounts or benefits to which the Executive may be entitled as a result of such termination, under the terms and conditions of the plans or arrangements in effect at the time of the Notice of Termination under Section 5(d) and (h).
(iii)
Any unreimbursed business expenses incurred under Section 5(c).
(b)
Death, Disability or Retirement. In addition to the amounts determined under (a) above, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of Executive’s death, Disability or Retirement, the Executive shall receive a pro rata portion of any earned but unpaid bonus (determined as of the Date of Termination).
(c)
Termination by Company Not for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. In addition to the amounts determined under (a) above, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the following compensation and benefits shall be paid and provided to the Executive:
(i)
Continuation of Executive’s base salary (at the annual rate in effect at the time of the Notice of Termination) for the longer of (A) the remainder of the Term or (B) 18 months, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and subject to applicable withholding; provided, however, that payments under this

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Exhibit 10.2


Section 7(c)(i) shall cease in the event the Executive is or becomes entitled to receive the compensation and benefits provided under Section 8.
(ii)
A pro rata portion of any earned but unpaid target bonus (determined as of the Date of Termination).
(iii)
The Company shall provide the Executive with group health coverage substantially similar to the Company’s group health coverage in which the Executive was participating immediately prior to his termination. Such coverage shall continue until the earlier of (A) two years following the Date of Termination, or (B) the date on which Executive is or becomes eligible for comparable coverage under the group health plan of a subsequent employer.
8.
Change In Control. Executive may become entitled to payments under this Section 8 or under Section 7, but not both.
(a)
If during the period that begins six (6) months before a Change in Control and ends twelve (12) months following such Change in Control (the “Change in Control Period”) the Executive’s employment is terminated (A) by action of the Executive for Good Reason or (B) by action of the Company not for Cause, the Company shall pay and provide the Executive the following compensation and benefits:
(i)
The compensation and benefits stipulated under Section 7(b).
(ii)
A lump sum cash payment, payable within 30 days of the later of the Date of Termination or the Change in Control, in an amount equal to (A) two (2) times Executive’s highest annual base salary for the three-year period ending on the Date of Termination, minus (B) the sum of any salary continuation payments paid to date to the Executive under Section 7(c)(i).
(iii)
A lump sum cash payment, payable within 30 days of the later of the Date of Termination or the Change in Control, in an amount equal to two (2) times the greater of (A) the average annual bonus paid for the three fiscal years immediately preceding the Date of Termination, or (B) the target bonus for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs.
(iv)
The Company shall provide the Executive with group health coverage substantially similar to the Company’s group health coverage in which the Executive was participating immediately prior to his termination. Such coverage shall continue until the earlier of (A) two years following the Change In Control, or (B) the date on which Executive is or becomes eligible for comparable coverage under the group health plan of a subsequent employer.
(b)
In the event the Company’s Board of Directors in good faith determines that the Change in Control occurred during such time as the Bank and the Company are at least “adequately

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Exhibit 10.2


capitalized” (within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. § 1831o(b)), then the phrase “two (2) times” shall be replaced with the phrase “three (3) times” in each place it appears in Section 8(a).
(c)
Each long-term equity-based incentive compensation award held by the Executive and outstanding as of immediately prior to such Change in Control (including without limitation, restricted stock, stock options, restricted stock units, performance share units, and phantom stock) shall fully vest upon the Change in Control.
9.
Compensation During Disability. In the event of the Executive’s failure to satisfactorily perform his duties hereunder on a full-time basis by reason of his incapacity due to physical or mental illness (as determined by the Executive’s regular attending physician) for any period not otherwise constituting Disability, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall not be deemed terminated and he shall continue to receive the compensation and benefits provided under Section 5 in accordance with the terms thereof.
10.
Section 280G of the Code. In the event it shall be determined that (a) any Payment would be subject to Excise Tax, and (b) the reduction of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount would provide the Executive with a greater after-tax amount than if such Payments were not so reduced, then, at the election of the Executive, the Payments shall be reduced to an amount that does not exceed the Safe Harbor Amount. Any reduction to Payments pursuant to this Section 10 shall be applied first to cash Payments and then to noncash Payments. All determinations required to be made under this Section 10, including whether and when to reduce the Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made in good faith by the Executive and communicated to the Company not later than fifteen (15) days following the related Change In Control.
11.
Compliance with Law and Regulations.
(a)
Temporary Suspension or Prohibition of Executive. If the Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. Section 1818(e)(3) and (g)(1), the 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 Company may in its discretion (i) pay the Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while its obligations under this Agreement were suspended and (ii) reinstate in whole or in part any of its obligations which were suspended.
(b)
Permanent Suspension or Prohibition of Executive. If the Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or (g)(1) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. Section 1818(e)(4) and (g)(1), all obligations of the Company 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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Exhibit 10.2


(c)
Default of the Depository Institution. If a depository institution subsidiary of the Company is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. Section 1813(x)(1)), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this provision shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.
(d)
Suspension of Payment Obligations. If at the time any payment or benefit shall become due under this Agreement such payments or benefits qualify as “golden parachute” payments as defined by 12 C.F.R Part 359 or any successor rule or regulation, then the Company shall seek the approval of the applicable federal banking agency prior to making payments or providing benefits, and such payments or benefits shall be due and payable only upon approval by the applicable federal banking agency.
(e)
Termination by Regulators. 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 Company: (1) at the time the FDIC enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Company under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA; or (2) by the applicable federal banking agency, at the time the agency approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to operation of the depository institution. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by any such action.
(f)
Resumption of Payments. The payment of any amounts which are delayed on account of an event or circumstance described in this Section 11 shall be paid as soon as the Company reasonably anticipates that the payment will again be permissible.
12.
No Mitigation. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or other benefit provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned from or other benefit provided by any other employer of the Executive following the Date of Termination or otherwise.
13.
Restrictive Covenant Not to Compete. In consideration of the agreements hereunder, the Executive agrees that in addition to any other limitation, for a period of twenty-four (24) months after his termination of Employment, either by his voluntary termination of employment in breach of this Agreement, his termination for Cause or termination other than for Cause, or his termination for Good Reason, he will not within a 100-mile radius of the main office of the Company manage, operate or be employed by, participate in, or be connected in any manner with the management, operation, or control of any banking business, savings and loan business, or financial services business. The Executive further agrees, he will not solicit the business or patronage, directly or indirectly, from any customers of the Company and the Executive will not seek to or assist others to persuade any employee of the Company engaged in similar work or related to the Company’s work to discontinue employment with the Bank or seek employment or engage in any business of

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Exhibit 10.2


the Company. The Executive agrees to disclose the contents of this Agreement to any subsequent employer following the termination of this Agreement.
Irreparable harm shall be presumed if the Executive breaches any covenant of this Agreement. The faithful observance of all covenants in this Agreement is an essential condition to the Executive’s employment and the Company is depending upon absolute compliance. Damages would probably be very difficult to ascertain if the Executive breached any covenant in this Agreement. This Agreement is intended to protect the proprietary rights of the Company in many important ways. In light of these facts, the Executive agrees that any court of competent jurisdiction should immediately enjoin any breach of this Agreement, upon the request of the Company, and the Executive specifically releases the Company from the requirement to post any bond in connection with a temporary or interlocutory injunctive relief, to the extent permitted by law. This remedy shall be in addition to any specific damages that the Company may be entitled to as a result of the breach of this Agreement.
14.
Return of Company Property. If and when Executive ceases, for any reason, to be employed by the Company, Executive must return to the Company all keys, pass cards, identification cards, Company-owned credit or debit cards, and any other property of the Company. At the same time, Executive also must return to the Company all originals and copies (whether in hard copy, electronic or other form) of any documents, drawings, notes, memoranda, designs, devices, diskettes, tapes, manuals, and specifications which constitute proprietary information or material of the Company. The obligations in this Section 14 include the return of documents and other materials which may be in Executive’s desk at work, in Executive’s car or place of residence or any in other location under Executive’s control.
15.
Non-Disclosure. During the term of his employment hereunder, or at any time thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose or use (except in the course of his employment hereunder) any confidential or proprietary information or data of the Company or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates regardless of whether such information or data is embodied in writing or other physical form.
16.
Confidentiality.
(a)
The Executive recognizes that his activities on behalf of the Company will require considerable responsibility and trust. Relying on the ethical responsibilities and undivided loyalty of the Executive, the Company has, and will in the future, entrust the Executive with highly sensitive confidential, restricted, and proprietary information involving Confidential Information (as defined below).
(b)
For the purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means any data of information that is material to the Company, and not generally known by the public. To the extent consistent with the foregoing definition, Confidential Information includes (without limitation):

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Exhibit 10.2


(i)
the sales records, circulation, profit and performance reports, pricing manuals, training manuals, selling and price procedures, financing methods of the Company, and all other business records of the Company;
(ii)
the identities of the customers of the Company, their specific demands, and their current and anticipated requirements for the products and services of the Company;
(iii)
the business plans and internal financial statements and projections of the Company; and
(iv)
the specifics of any specialized products or services the Company may offer or provide to its customers.
(c)
The Executive recognizes the proprietary and sensitive nature of the Company’s Confidential Information. The Executive agrees to abide by all of the Company’s rules and procedures designed to protect its Confidential Information and to preserve and maintain all such information in strict confidence during the Executive’s engagement with the Company and as long thereafter as the Confidential Information remains, in the sole opinion of the Company, proprietary and confidential to the Company. The Executive agrees not to use, disclose, or in any way use or disseminate any Confidential Information to any person not properly authorized by the Company.
17.
Indemnification. Subject to 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the regulations thereunder, the Company shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless to the maximum extent permitted by law against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and reasonable expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by him in connection with the defense of, or as a result of any action or proceeding (or appeal therefrom) in which he is made (or threatened to be made) a party by reason of the fact that he is or was an officer or director of the Company, regardless of whether such action or proceeding is one brought by or in the right of the Company, or to procure a judgment in its favor. The Company further agrees that the Executive is or shall continue to be covered and insured up to the maximum limits provided by all insurance maintained by the Company to indemnify its officers and directors (and the Company in connection therewith), and that it will use its best efforts to maintain such insurance in not less than its present limits throughout the term of the Executive’s employment hereunder. The Company hereby warrants and represents that the undertakings of this Section 17 are not in conflict with its articles of incorporation or by-laws, or any other validly existing agreement of the Company.
18.
Withholding. Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, all payments made by the Company hereunder to the Executive or his estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts, if any, relating to tax and other payroll deductions as the Company may reasonably determine should be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. In lieu of withholding such amounts, the Company may accept other provisions to the end that they have sufficient funds to pay all taxes required by law to be withheld in respect of any or all such payments.

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Exhibit 10.2


19.
Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given if and when mailed in the continental United States by registered or certified mail, or personally delivered to the party entitled thereto, at the address stated below or to such changed address as the addressee may have given by a similar notice:
To the Company:
c/o Secretary
1309 W. 15th St., Suite 400
Plano, Texas 75075
To the Executive:
At the address last appearing on the personnel records of the Executive
20.
Successors; Binding Agreement. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in the form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall constitute Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as defined above, and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 20, or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law. The term “Company” also means and includes any bank holding company of the Company.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisee, and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts, except to the extent otherwise provided under this Agreement, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to his devisee, legatee, or other designee, or if there is no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.
21.
Modification, Waiver or Discharge. No provision 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 an authorized officer of the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the 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. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not supersede or in any way limit the rights, duties, or obligations that the Executive or the Company may have under any other written agreement between such parties, under any employee pension benefit plan or employee welfare benefit plan as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and maintained by the Company, or under any established personnel practice or policy applicable to the Executive.

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Exhibit 10.2


22.
Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
23.
Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not effect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which latter shall remain in full force and effect.
24.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
No Right of Set-Off, Etc. There shall be no right of set-off or counterclaim, in respect of any claim, debt, or obligation against any payments to the Executive, his beneficiaries, or estates provided for in this Agreement.
(b)
No Adequate Remedy at Law. The Company and the Executive recognize that each party will have no adequate remedy at law for breach by the other of any of the agreements contained herein and, in the event of any such breach, the Company and the Executive hereby agree and consent that the other shall be entitled to a decree of specific performance, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy to enforce performance of such agreements.
(c)
Non-Assignability. Except for successors pursuant to Section 20 or an assignment by operation of law, no right, benefit, or interest hereunder shall be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, hypothecation, or setoff in respect of any claim, debt, or obligation, or to execution, attachment, levy or similar process, or assignment by operation of law. Any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any action specified in the immediately preceding sentence shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be null, void, and of no effect. Any of the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, this provision shall not preclude the Executive from designating one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount that may be payable after his death, and shall not preclude the legal representative of the Executive’s estate from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto under his will or, in the case of intestacy, applicable to his estate.
25.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
26.
Section 409A.
(a)
It is the Company’s intent that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement shall be exempt from the application of, or otherwise comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”). Specifically, any taxable benefits or payments provided under this Agreement are intended to be separate payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception to Section 409A to the maximum extent possible, and to the extent they do not so qualify, are intended to qualify for the involuntary separation pay exceptions to maximum extent possible. This Agreement shall be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that affects such intent, and the Company shall not take any action

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Exhibit 10.2


that would be inconsistent with such intent. Without limiting the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A upon the Executive.
(b)
If neither the “short-term deferral” nor the involuntary separation pay exceptions to Section 409A described above applies to a benefit, payment, or reimbursement under this Agreement, then notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the remaining provisions of this Section 26 shall apply.
(i)
If the Executive is a “specified employee,” as determined under the Company’s policy for identifying specified employees on the Date of Termination, then to the extent required in order to comply with Section 409A, all payments, benefits or reimbursements paid or provided under this Agreement that constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, that are provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and that would otherwise be paid or provided during the first six months following such Date of Termination shall be accumulated through and paid or provided (together with interest on the delayed amount at the applicable federal rate under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code in effect on the Date of Termination) within 30 days after the first business day following the six (6) month anniversary of such Date of Termination (or, if the Executive dies during such six-month period, within thirty (30) days after the Executive’s death).
(ii)
To the extent required to comply with Section 409A, any reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement, that will not be excluded from Executive’s income when received is subject to the following requirements: (A) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other calendar year; (B) the reimbursement of the eligible expense must be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred; and (C) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, it is intended that any payment or benefit which is provided pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement shall be provided and paid in a manner, and at such time and in such form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance. Any provision in this Agreement that is determined to violate the requirements of Section 409A shall be void and without effect. To the extent permitted under Section 409A, the parties shall reform the provision, provided such reformation shall not subject the Executive to additional tax or interest and Executive shall not be required to incur any additional compensation as a result of the reformation. In addition, any provision that is required to appear in this Agreement that is not expressly set forth shall be deemed

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Exhibit 10.2


to be set forth herein, and this Agreement shall be administered in all respects as if such provision were expressly set forth. References in this Agreement to Section 409A include rules, regulations, and guidance of general application issued by the Department of the Treasury under Section 409A.
27.
Guaranty by Company. In the event the Bank does not fulfill the Company’s obligations hereunder, such obligations shall be guaranteed by VPFG.
28.
Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
(a)
“Cause” shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from his incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to him by the Board of Directors of the Company. The demand for substantial performance must specifically identify the manner in which the Executive is alleged to have not substantially performed his duties; or (ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in misconduct which is materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; or (iii) the Executive’s conviction of a felony. For purposes of this subparagraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by him not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission is in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive written notice from the Company, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, and after he has been afforded a reasonable opportunity, together with his counsel, to be heard before such Board, and a written finding has been delivered to him to the effect that in the good faith opinion of such Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct as set forth under clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of the first sentence of this sub-paragraph, specifying in writing the particulars thereof in detail.
(b)
“Change in Control” shall mean a change in the ownership of VPFG or the Bank, a change in the effective control of VPFG or the Bank, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of VPFG or the Bank, in each case as provided under Section 409A and Treasury Regulation § 1.409-3(i)(5); provided, however, that the first sentence of Treasury Regulation 1.409-3(i)(5)(vi)(1) as applied to this Agreement is revised to replace the phrase “30 percent” with “50 percent”.
(c)
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d)
“Date of Termination” shall mean: (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of his death, his date of death; (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties); or (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by action of either party for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of

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Exhibit 10.2


Termination; provided, however, that 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, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally resolved, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, or by a final judgment, order, or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected).
(e)
“Disability” shall mean the Executive’s failure to satisfactorily perform his regular duties on behalf of the Company on a full-time basis for ninety (90) consecutive days or such lesser period of time as provided under the disability insurance policy provided through the Bank or VPFG, by reason of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness that is expected to result in death or continue for at least 12 months, except where within thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given following such absence, the Executive shall have returned to the satisfactory, full-time performance of such duties. Any determination of Disability hereunder shall be made by the Board of Directors in good faith and on the basis of the certificates of at least two (2) qualified physicians chosen by it for such purpose, one (1) of whom shall be the Executive’s regular attending physician.
(f)
“Excise Tax” shall mean the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such excise tax.
(g)
“Good Reason” shall mean:
(i)
Failure by the Company to comply with any material provision of this Agreement, provided that the Executive gives the Company (as applicable) written notice of such failure and such failure is not cured within ten (10) days thereafter.
(ii)
Failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of their obligations under this Agreement by any successor, as provided under Section 20.
(iii)
Any of the following which shall occur during a Change in Control Period:
(A)
Without the Executive’s express written consent, the assignment to him of any duties inconsistent with and in diminution of his positions, duties, responsibilities, and status with the Company immediately prior to the start of such Change in Control Period, or a change resulting in diminution of his reporting responsibilities, titles, or offices as in effect immediately prior to the start of such Change in Control Period, or any removal of him from, or any failure to re-elect him to, any of such positions resulting in such diminution, except in connection with the termination of his employment for Cause, Disability, or Retirement or as a result of his death or termination of employment by him other than for Good Reason;

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Exhibit 10.2


(B)
A reduction by the Company in the Executive’s base salary as in effect on the date of this Agreement or as the same may be increased from time-to-time;
(C)
Without the Executive’s express written consent, the Company’s requiring him to be based anywhere other than within twenty-five (25) miles of his primary office location immediately prior to such Change in Control, except for required travel on the Company’s business consistent with his business travel obligations immediately prior to the start of the Change in Control Period; or
(D)
The failure by the Company to comply with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(iv)
Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment by action of the Company which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination.
(h)
“Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice which shall include the specific termination provision under this Agreement relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment. Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder by action of either party shall be communicated by delivery of a Notice of Termination to the other party. Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder which is not effected in accordance with the foregoing shall be ineffective for purposes of the Agreement.
(i)
“Payment” shall mean any payment or distribution in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise.
(j)
“Retirement” shall mean termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to the Company’s regular retirement policy applicable to the position held by the Executive at the time of such termination.
(k)
“Safe Harbor Amount” shall mean 2.99 times the Executive’s “base amount,” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company (by action of their duly authorized officers) have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.

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Exhibit 10.2


 

 
ATTEST:                
VIEWPOINT BANK, N.A.: 
 
By:                 
   James McCarley 
   Chairman of the Board
ATTEST:                
VIEWPOINT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.: 
 
By:                 
   James McCarley 
   Chairman of the Board
ATTEST:                
EXECUTIVE: 
                   
Kevin J. Hanigan


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