EXHIBIT 10.8
CHANGE IN CONTROL
AGREEMENT
This is an
Agreement (the “Agreement”) made by and between
OHIO LEGACY BANK . (“Company”), and Vanessa
Richards (“Executive”), collectively “ The
Parties”, effective this day the 4
th of February 2009 and replaces and supersedes any
all agreements between the parties.
RECITALS
A.
Company is a bank holding company
whose subsidiary is engaged in the business of banking and
businesses incidental thereto.
B.
Executive possesses unique skills,
knowledge, and experience relating to the businesses of the
Company.
C.
Company desires to recognize the
past and future services of Executive, and in that connection,
Executive desires to be assured that, in the event of a change in
control of the Company, Executive will be provided with an adequate
severance payment for termination without cause or as compensation
for Executive’s Severance in the event of a material change
in his duties and functions.
D.
Company desires to be assured of the
objectivity of Executive in evaluating a potential change of
control and advising whether or not a potential change in control
is in the best interest of Company and its shareholders.
E.
Company desires to induce Executive
to remain in the employ of the Company following a change of
control to provide a continuity of management.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and of their
mutual covenants expressed in this Agreement, the parties hereto
make the following agreement, intended to be legally bound
thereby:
A.
Exchange Act
. “Exchange
Act” means The Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
B.
Change in Control
. The term “Change
in Control” means a change in ownership or control of the
Company effected through any of the following
transactions:
(i)
The direct or indirect acquisition
by any person or related group of persons, other than by the
Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company
immediately prior to such acquisition, of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended) of securities possessing more than 50
percent of the total combined voting power of the Company's
outstanding securities, whether effectuated pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made directly to the Company's shareholders or
pursuant to another transaction;
(ii)
A change in the composition of the
board of directors of the Company over a period of 36 or fewer
consecutive months (rounded up to the next whole number) such that
a majority of such respective board members ceases, by reason of
one or more contested elections for such respective board
membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (i) have been
board members continuously since the beginning of such period, or
(ii) have been elected or nominated for election as board members
during such period by at least a majority of the board members
described in clause (i) who were still in office at the time such
election or nomination was approved by the board; or
(iii)
The completion of a transaction
requiring shareholder approval for the acquisition of all or
substantially all of the stock or assets of the Company by an
entity other than the Company or any merger of the Company into
another entity in which the Company is not the surviving
entity.
C.
Code . “Code” shall mean the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended from time to
time.
D.
Company . “Company” shall include
Ohio Legacy Bank, N.A. and any members of its Affiliated Group,
over which Executive has managerial control, as that term is
defined in Section 1504 of the Code, and shall include any
predecessor corporations of the Company and its Affiliated
Group.
E.
Board . “Board” shall mean the
Board of Directors of the Company.
A.
This Agreement shall be effective
from the date of this Agreement until the Agreement Termination
Date, which is the earliest of:
(i)
The date this Agreement is mutually
rescinded or upon Executive’s resignation other than as
provided in Section 3(A);
(ii)
The date prior to a Change in
Control on which the Executive’s employment with the Company
is terminated by death, retirement, disability, resignation, or
dismissal for any reason;
(iii)
The date Executive is terminated for
Cause;
(iv)
The date which is two (2) years
after a Change in Control;
(v)
The date which Company, or any other
member of its Affiliated Group, and over which the Executive has
managerial control, which is a financial institution which is
insured by an agency of any state or the United States Federal
Government:
(1)
Becomes insolvent; or
(2)
Has appointed any conservator or
receiver; or
(3)
Is defined by the primary regulator
to be in a “troubled condition”;
or
(4)
Is assigned a composite rating of 4
or 5 by the appropriate federal banking agency or is informed in
writing by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that it is
rated 4 or 5 under the Uniform Financial Institution’s Rating
System of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council;
or
(5)
Has initiated against it by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation a proceeding to terminate or
suspend deposit insurance.
(vi)
The date on which it is
reasonably determined in good faith and with due care that the
payments called for under this Agreement, or the obligations and
promises assumed and made under this Agreement have become
proscribed under applicable law or
regulations. Provided, however, if such law or
regulations apply prospectively only, or for some other reason do
not apply to this Agreement, then this agreement shall not be
deemed by the Company to be proscribed under this Subsection
(vi).
B.
This Agreement shall not change,
alter, or amend any rights which either the Company or the
Executive may have in respect of the termination of the employment
of Executive by the Company prior to a Change in
Control. This Agreement is not an employment agreement
or a promise of employment. Employee is an employee at
will and the Company or Employee may terminate the employment
relationship at any time. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed to create any additional right or
obligation of Executive to be employed by Company. If
employment of Executive by Company is terminated by Company or by
Executive, for any reason whatsoever, prior to a Change in Control,
Executive and Company shall have only such rights and obligations
in respect of such termination as either of them would have if this
Agreement had not been effected and as specifically set forth in
this Agreement.
C.
If the Company terminates the
Executive's employment for cause (as defined below), all of the
Company's obligations hereunder shall immediately
terminate. As used herein, "Cause" shall mean (i)
willful misconduct by the Executive in the performance of his
duties, or (ii) gross negligence by the Executive in the
performance of his duties, or (iii) Executive’s continued
failure of and/or refusal to perform, which shall not be cured
within fifteen (15) days following receipt by the Executive of
written notice from the Board specifying the factors or events
constituting such failure and/or refusal and affording the
Executive an opportunity within such fifteen (15) day period for
the Executive to correct such deficiencies; or (iv) the
Executive’s indictment or conviction for committing a crime,
or (v) the Executive’s commission of an act of moral
turpitude, or (vi) receipt of notice by the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency that Executive is not properly
fulfilling his duties.
3.
Payment Upon Termination of
Employment After a Change in Control.
A.
If during the term of this Agreement
as defined by Section 2 and within two (2) years following a Change
in Control, Executive is discharged without Cause or Executive
resigns because Executive has made a reasonable, objective
determination, in good faith and with due care, that:
(i)
There has been a material diminution
of Executive’s duties, responsibilities or benefits has
occurred;
(ii)
There has been a change in the
principal workplace of Executive to a location more than 45 miles
from Executive’s current assigned work location;
(iii)
Executive has received a material
demotion;
(iv)
There has been a material change in
the number or seniority of personnel reporting to Executive or a
material reduction in the frequency with which, or in the nature of
the latter with respect to which, such personnel are to report to
Executive, other than as part of a Company relocation or reduction
in staff;
(v)
There has been a material adverse
change in Executive’s perquisites, benefits, contingent
benefits or vacation, other than as part of an overall program
applied uniformly and with equitable effect to all members of the
Company’s management; or
(vi)
There has been a material permanent
increase in the required hours of work in the workload of
Executive,
the Executive
shall be entitled to the payment as provided in Subsection C
below.