Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made and entered
into on December 5, 2008, by and among Manhattan Bancorp
(“ MB ”), Bank of Manhattan, N.A. (the
“Bank” ) and Dean Fletcher (
“Executive” ) for the purposes set forth
hereinafter (“ Agreement ”).
W I T N E S S E T
H
WHEREAS, MB is a California
corporation and bank holding company registered under the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, subject to the supervision
and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (“ FRB ”);
WHEREAS, MB is the parent holding
company for the Bank, which is a national banking association and
wholly-owned subsidiary of MB, subject to the supervision and
regulation of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
(“ OCC ”);
WHEREAS, Executive is currently
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Bank pursuant to an Employment Agreement dated August 15, 2007
between the Bank and Executive (the “Prior Agreement
”);
WHEREAS, Executive also serves as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MB;
and
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the
parties to enter into an employment agreement for the purposes of
assuring the continued services of Executive as Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
MB.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, MB, the Bank
and Executive agree as follows:
A.
TERM OF
EMPLOYMENT
The term of this Agreement (
“Term” ) shall commence August 15, 2007,
the date the Bank opened for business (the “Effective
Date” ), and end three (3) years thereafter,
subject, however, to prior termination of this Agreement as
hereinafter provided. Where used herein, “Term”
shall refer to the entire period of employment of Executive by the
Bank hereunder, whether for the period provided above, or whether
terminated earlier as hereinafter provided. The Prior
Agreement is hereby terminated and replaced by this
Agreement. This does not replace or impair the Stock Option
Agreements between MB and Executive dated August 10, 2007,
September 27, 2007 and November 20, 2008 (the “
Stock Option Agreements ”), which shall remain in full
force and effect.
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B.
DUTIES OF
EXECUTIVE
1.
Duties
. Executive shall perform the duties of
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank
and MB, reporting directly to the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Bank and MB, and subject, at all
times, to the powers vested by law in the Board (the “
Board ”) of the Bank and MB and their respective
shareholders. During the Term, Executive shall perform
the services herein contemplated to be performed by Executive
faithfully, diligently and to the best of Executive’s
ability, consistent with the highest and best standards of the
banking industry and in compliance with all applicable laws and the
Bank’s and MB’s Articles of Association or
Incorporation, Bylaws and internal written policies.
2.
Conflicts of
Interest . Except as permitted by the prior written
consent of the Board of MB or Bank, Executive shall devote
Executive’s entire productive time, ability and attention to
the business of the Bank and MB during the Term and Executive shall
not directly or indirectly render any services of a business,
commercial or professional nature, to any other person, firm or
corporation, whether for compensation or otherwise, which are in
conflict with the Bank’s or MB’s interests.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may make investments of a
passive nature in any business or venture, provided that such
business or venture is not in competition, directly or indirectly,
in any manner with the Bank or MB.
C.
COMPENSATION
1.
Salary
. For Executive’s services hereunder,
the Bank or MB shall pay or cause to be paid as annual base salary
(the “ Base Salary ”) to Executive not less than
One Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Dollars ($165,000) for the first
year of the Term, with annual increases in the discretion of the
Boards or the Bank’s and MB’s Compensation
Committees. Base Salary shall be payable in equal
installments in conformity with the Bank’s normal payroll
period.
2.
Bonuses
. Any bonuses shall be as determined by the Boards
of the Bank and MB, in their sole discretion.
D.
EXECUTIVE
BENEFITS
1.
Vacation
. Executive shall be entitled to vacation
during each year of the Term consistent with the Bank’s
approved vacation schedule and policy, which shall provide
Executive with not less than four (4) weeks vacation for each
year of the Term. Executive is encouraged to use all accrued
vacation benefits and will be expected to take vacation in the year
it is earned. Accrual of any unused vacation shall be
determined in accordance with the Bank’s Personnel Policy as
in effect from time to time and shall be subject to any limitations
set forth therein.
2.
Group Medical and Other
Insurance Benefits . The Bank shall provide for Executive, at
the Bank’s expense, group medical and other insurance
benefits in accordance with the Bank’s Personnel Policy as in
effect from time to time. All coverage under this paragraph
shall be in existence or shall take effect as of the Effective Date
hereof. The Bank’s and MB’s liability to
Executive for any breach of this paragraph shall be limited to the
amount of
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premiums required hereunder to be
payable by the Bank to obtain or maintain, as applicable, the
coverage contemplated herein.
3.
Stock Option
. MB has granted Executive under the Stock Option
Agreements an option to purchase 44,814 of shares of MB’s
authorized but unissued Common Stock. Such option has a term
of ten (10) years and shall vest in three installments of
33.33% per year over a period of three (3) years, with the
first such installment to vest one year from the date of grant, and
with subsequent installments vesting two and three years
thereafter. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the
option will qualify as an “incentive stock option”
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended. Such stock option has been granted to
Executive, pursuant to MB’s Stock Option Plan (the “
Plan ”) and the Stock Option Agreement.
4.
Auto Allowance
. During the Term, Executive shall be
entitled to receive One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) per month as a
car allowance..
E.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR BUSINESS
EXPENSES
Executive shall be entitled to
reimbursement by the Bank or MB for any ordinary and necessary
business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of
Executive’s duties in accordance with the Bank’s and
MB’s reimbursement policies in effect from time to time,
provided that each such expenditure is of a nature qualifying it as
a proper deduction on the federal and state income tax returns of
the Bank and MB as a business expense and not as deductible
compensation to Executive; and Executive furnishes to the Bank and
MB adequate records and other documentary evidence required by
federal and state statutes and regulations issued by the
appropriate taxing authorities for the substantiation of such
expenditures as deductible business expenses of the Bank and not as
deductible compensation to Executive.
F.
TERMINATION
1.
Termination for
Cause .
The Bank or MB may terminate
this Agreement at any time by action of its Board for cause
(“ Cause ”). For purposes of this
Agreement termination for “Cause” shall mean
termination because of Executive’s personal dishonesty,
incompetence, willful misconduct, any 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. For purposes of this Agreement, no act, or the
failure to act, on Executive’s part shall be considered
“willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, not in
good faith and without reasonable belief that the action or
omission was in the best interests of the Bank or MB.
Termination under this Paragraph shall not prejudice any remedy
that the Bank or MB may have at law, in equity, or under this
Agreement.
2.
Death or
Disability . In the event of Executive’s death
or if Executive is found to be physically or mentally disabled (as
hereinafter defined) by the Board of Bank or MB in good faith, this
Agreement shall terminate without any further liability or
obligation by the Bank to Executive. For purposes of this
Agreement only, physical or mental disability shall be
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defined as Executive having been
unable to fully perform under this Agreement for a continuous
period of ninety (90) days or a cumulative period of one-hundred
eighty (180) days in any calendar year, or, if applicable, such
other periods as may be defined in the Bank’s Personnel
Policy or in applicable disability insurance policies as in effect
from time to time. If there should be a dispute between the
Bank or MB and Executive as to Executive’s physical or mental
disability for purposes of this Agreement, the question shall be
settled by the opinion of an impartial reputable physician or
psychiatrist agreed upon by the parties or their representatives,
or if the parties cannot agree within ten (10) days after a
request for designation of such party, then by a physician or
psychiatrist designated by the Los Angeles County Medical
Association. The certification of such physician or
psychiatrist as to the question in dispute shall be final and
binding upon the parties hereto. The Bank or MB shall bear
the costs of such physician or psychiatrist selected to determine
such matter.
3.
Supervisory
Matters . If Executive is suspended and/or
temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the
Bank’s affairs by notice served under
Section 8(e)(3) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1818(e)(3) and (g)(1)),
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 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. 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)(3) or i(g)(1) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.
Section 1818(e)(3) or (g)(1)), all obligations of the
Bank under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date
of the order, but vested rights of the parties shall not be
affected. If the Bank is in default (as defined in
Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12
U.S.C. Section 1813(x)(1)), all obligations under this
Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but vested
rights of the parties shall not be affected. All obligations
under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent that
it is determined that continuation of the Agreement is necessary
for the continued operation of the Bank; (i) by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation at the time that the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation enters into an agreement to provide
assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority
contained in Section 11 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
(12 U.S.C. Section 1821); or (ii) by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or the United States Comptroller of the
Currency or his or her designee, at the time that the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or the United States Comptroller of
the Currency or his or her designee approves a supervisory merger
to resolve problems related to the operation of the Bank or when
the Bank is in an unsafe or unsound condition. All rights of
the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be
affected by such action.
4.
Termination Without
Cause .
Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, it is agreed by the parties hereto
that the Bank or MB may at any time without Cause and for any
reason immediately terminate this Agreement and Executive’s
employment by the Bank by action of their respective Boards.
Upon such termination by the Bank or MB all benefits provided by
the Bank or MB hereunder to Executive shall thereupon cease, except
as provided in this Subparagraph F.4 or Subparagraph F.5, and
Executive shall be deemed to have voluntarily resigned as a
director, officer and employee of the Bank and MB and
any
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corporation, partnership, venture,
limited liability company or other entity controlled by,
controlling or under common control with the Bank or MB, and shall
deliver such written resignation as Bank or MB may request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is agreed that in the event of
such termination without Cause by the Bank or MB upon the delivery
to the Bank by Executive of a waiver and release in substantially
the form of Attachment “A” to this Agreement,
and Executive’s compliance with the terms thereof, Executive
shall be entitled to, upon the effective date of termination,
payment of a lump sum equivalent to six (6) months’ base
salary as such base salary is in effect on the date of termination
of employment, plus continuation of Executive’s medical
benefits for a period of six (6) months following such
termination, with Bank continuing to pay Executive’s share of
premiums and associated costs as if Executive continued to be
employed with the Bank and MB; provided , however, that the
Bank’s and MB’s obligation to provide such coverage
shall be terminated if Executive is eligible to receive comparable
substitute coverage from another employer at any time during such
six-month period. Executive agrees to advise the Bank and MB
immediately if such comparable substitute coverage is available
from another employer. Notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary in this Subparagraph F.4, no severance benefits shall be
payable to Executive hereunder if Executive’s employment is
terminated for any of the reasons delineated in Subparagraphs F.1,
F.2 or F.3 hereof or while grounds for termination under such
Subparagraphs exist, and no severance benefits shall be payable to
Executive under this Subparagraph F.4 if payments are required to
be made to Executive under Subparagraph F.5 hereof.
5.
Termination Following Change in
Control.
(a)
In the event a Change in Control of
the Bank or MB occurs (as defined below) and Executive’s
employment as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of the Bank or M