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AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Employment Agreement

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT | Document Parties: WESTFIELD FINANCIAL, INC | Westfield Bank You are currently viewing:
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WESTFIELD FINANCIAL, INC | Westfield Bank

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Title: AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Massachusetts     Date: 10/29/2007
Industry: SandLs/Savings Banks     Law Firm: Thacher Proffitt     Sector: Financial

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, Parties: westfield financial  inc , westfield bank
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<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.9

                                                                 EXECUTION COPY
                                                                 --------------

                    AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("the Agreement") is made
and entered into as of October 23, 2007 (the "Effective Date") by and between
WESTFIELD BANK, federally-chartered savings bank having an office at 141 Elm
Street, Westfield, Massachusetts 01085 (the "Bank") and JAMES C. HAGAN (the
"Executive").

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

      WHEREAS, the Executive currently serves as President and Chief Operating
Officer of the Bank, a subsidiary of Westfield Financial, Inc. (the "Company");

      WHEREAS, the Bank desires to assure for itself the continued availability
of the Executive's services as provided in this Agreement and the ability of
the Executive to perform such services with a minimum of personal distraction
in the event of a pending or threatened Change of Control (as hereinafter
defined); and

      WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to continue to serve the Bank on the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Bank and the Executive hereby agree
as follows:

      Section 1. Employment.
                 ----------

      The Bank agrees to continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive
hereby agrees to such continued employment, during the period and upon the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

      Section 2. Employment Period; Remaining Unexpired Employment Period.
                 --------------------------------------------------------

      (a) The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be and remain in
effect during the period of employment established under this section 2
("Employment Period"). The Employment Period shall be for an initial term of
three (3) years beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the third
anniversary date of this Agreement, plus such extensions, if any, as are
provided pursuant to section 2(b).

      (b) The Board of Directors of the Bank (the "Board") shall conduct an
annual review of the Executive's performance on or about each anniversary of
the Effective Date (each, an "Anniversary Date") and may, on the basis of such
review and by written notice to the Executive, offer to extend the Employment
Period for an additional one (1)-year period. In such event, the Employment
Period shall be deemed extended in the absence of objection from the Executive
by written notice to the Bank given within ten (10) business days after his
receipt of the Bank's offer of extension. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, any reference in this Agreement to the term
"Remaining Unexpired Employment Period" as of any date shall mean the period
beginning on such date and ending on the day of the third (3rd)
<PAGE>

anniversary of the last Anniversary Date as of which the Employment Period was
extended pursuant to this Section 2(b).

      (c) Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit the Bank at any
time from terminating the Executive's employment during the Employment Period
with or without notice for any reason; provided, however, that the relative
rights and obligations of the Bank and the Executive in the event of any such
termination shall be determined under this Agreement.

      Section 3. Duties.
                 ------

      The Executive shall serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Bank, having such power, authority and responsibility and performing such
duties as are prescribed by or under the By-Laws of the Bank and as are
customarily associated with such position. Subject to section 7 of this
Agreement, the Executive shall devote his full business time and attention
(other than during weekends, holidays, approved vacation periods, and periods
of illness or approved leaves of absence) to the business and affairs of the
Bank and shall use his best efforts to advance the interests of the Bank.

      Section 4. Cash Compensation.
                 -----------------

      In consideration for the services to be rendered by the Executive
hereunder, the Bank shall continue to pay to him a salary at an annual rate of
$221,780, payable in approximately equal installments in accordance
with the Bank's customary payroll practices for senior officers. The Board
shall review the Executive's annual rate of salary at such times during the
Employment Period as it deems appropriate, but not less frequently than once
every twelve (12) months, and may, in its discretion, approve an increase
therein. In addition to salary, the Executive may receive other cash
compensation from the Bank for services hereunder at such times, in such
amounts and on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine from time
to time.

      Section 5. Employee Benefit Plans and Programs.
                 -----------------------------------

      During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be treated as an
employee of the Bank and shall be entitled to participate in and receive
benefits under any and all qualified or non-qualified retirement, pension,
savings, profit-sharing or stock bonus plans, any and all group life, health
(including hospitalization, medical and major medical), dental, accident and
long term disability insurance plans, and any other employee benefit and
compensation plans (including, but not limited to, any incentive compensation
plans or programs, stock option and appreciation rights plans and restricted
stock plans) as may from time to time be maintained by, or cover employees of,
the Bank in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefit
plans and programs and compensation plans and programs and consistent with the
Bank's customary practices.

      Section 6. Indemnification and Insurance.
                 -----------------------------

      (a) During the Employment Period and for a period of six (6) years
thereafter, the Bank shall cause the Executive to be covered by and named as an
insured under any policy or

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

contract of insurance obtained by it to insure its directors and officers
against personal liability for acts or omissions in connection with service as
an officer or director of the Bank or service in other capacities at the
request of the Bank. The coverage provided to the Executive pursuant to this
section 6 shall be of the same scope and on the same terms and conditions as
the coverage (if any) provided to other officers or directors of the Bank.

      (b) To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, during the
Employment Period and for a period of six (6) years thereafter, the Bank shall
indemnify the Executive against and hold him harmless from any costs, damages,
losses and exposures arising out of a bona fide action, suit or proceeding in
which he may be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of
the Bank to the fullest extent and on the most favorable terms and conditions
that similar indemnification is offered to any director or officer of the Bank
or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof.

      (c) The Executive, the Company and the Bank agree that the termination
benefits described in this Section 6 are intended to be exempt from Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 409A") pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(10) as certain indemnification and liability
insurance plans.

      Section 7. Outside Activities.
                 ------------------

      The Executive may serve as a member of the boards of directors of such
business, community and charitable organizations as he may disclose to and as
may be approved by the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld); provided, however, that such service shall not materially interfere
with the performance of his duties under this Agreement. The Executive may also
engage in personal business and investment activities which do not materially
interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder; provided, however, that
such activities are not prohibited under any code of conduct or investment or
securities trading policy established by the Bank and generally applicable to
all similarly situated Executives. The Executive may also serve as an officer
or director of the Company on such terms and conditions as the Company and the
Bank may mutually agree upon, and such service shall not be deemed to
materially interfere with the Executive's performance of his duties hereunder
or otherwise result in a material breach of this Agreement. If the Executive is
discharged or suspended, or is subject to any regulatory prohibition or
restriction with respect to participation in the affairs of the Bank, he shall
not directly or indirectly provide services to or participate in the affairs of
the Bank in a manner inconsistent with the terms of such discharge or
suspension or any applicable regulatory order.

      Section 8. Working Facilities and Expenses.
                 -------------------------------

      The Executive's principal place of employment shall be at the Bank's
executive offices at the address first above written or at such other location
as the Bank and the executive may mutually agree upon. The Bank shall provide
the Executive at his principal place of employment with a private office,
secretarial services and other support services and facilities suitable to his
position with the Bank and necessary or appropriate in connection with the
performance of his assigned duties under this Agreement. The Bank shall provide
to the Executive for his exclusive use an automobile owned or leased by the
Bank and appropriate to

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

his position, to be used in the performance of his duties hereunder, including
commuting to and from his personal residence. The Bank shall reimburse the
Executive for his ordinary and necessary business expenses, including, without
limitation, all expenses associated with his business use of the aforementioned
automobile, fees for memberships in such clubs and organizations as the
Executive and the Bank shall mutually agree are necessary and appropriate for
business purposes, and his travel and entertainment expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement, in each
case upon presentation to the Bank of an itemized account of such expenses in
such form as the Bank may reasonably require.

      Section 9. Termination of Employment with Severance Benefits.
                 -------------------------------------------------

      (a) The Executive shall be entitled to the severance benefits described
in section 9(b) in the event that:

            (i) his employment with the Bank terminates during the Employment
      Period as a result of the Executive's voluntary resignation within ninety
      (90) days following:

                  (A) the failure of the Board to appoint or re-appoint or
            elect or re-elect the Executive to the position with the Bank
            stated in section 3 of this Agreement;

                  (B) if the Executive is a member of the Board, the failure of
            the shareholders of the Bank to elect or re-elect the Executive to
            the Board or the failure of the Board (or the nominating committee
            thereof) to nominate the Executive for such election or
            re-election;

                  (C) the expiration of a thirty (30)-day period following the
            date on which the Executive gives written notice to the Bank of its
            material failure, whether by amendment of the Bank's Restated
            Organization Certificate, the Bank's By-Laws, action of the Board
            or the Bank's shareholders or otherwise, to vest in the Executive
            the functions, duties, or responsibilities prescribed in section 3
            of this Agreement, unless, during such thirty (30)-day period, the
            Bank cures such failure;

                  (D) the expiration of a thirty (30)-day period following the
            date on which the Executive gives written notice to the Bank of its
            material breach of any term, condition or covenant contained in
            this Agreement (including, without limitation any reduction of the
            Executive's rate of base salary in effect from time to time and any
            change in the terms and conditions of any compensation or benefit
            program in which the Executive participates which, either
            individually or together with other changes, has a material adverse
            effect on the aggregate value of his total compensation package),
            unless, during such thirty (30)-day period, the Bank cures such
            failure;

                  (E) a change in the Executive's principal place of employment
            to a place that is not the principal executive office of the Bank,
            or a relocation of the Bank's principal executive office to a
            location that is both more than twenty-five (25) miles away from
            the Executive's principal residence and more than twenty-

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

             five (25) miles away from the location of the Bank's principal
            executive office on the date of this Agreement; or

                  (F) any material breach by the Bank of any material term,
            condition or covenant contained in this Agreement; provided,
            however, that the Executive shall have given notice of such
            materials adverse effect to the Bank, and the Bank has not fully
            cured such failure within thirty (30) days after such notice is
             deemed given; or

            (ii) the Executive's employment with the Bank is terminated by the
      Bank for any reason other than for "cause" as provided in section 11(a).

      (b) Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in section 9(a) of
this Agreement, the Bank shall pay and provide to the Executive (or, in the
event of his death thereafter and prior to payment, to his estate):

            (i) his earned but unpaid salary (including, without limitation,
      all items which constitute wages under applicable law and the payment of
      which is not otherwise provided for in this section 9(b)) as of the date
      of the termination of his employment with the Company and the Bank, such
      payment to be made at the time and in the manner prescribed by law
      applicable to the payment of wages but in no event later than thirty (30)
      days after termination of employment as defined in Treasury Regulation
      Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii);

            (ii) the benefits, if any, to which he is entitled as a former
      employee under the employee benefit plans and programs and compensation
      plans and programs maintained for the benefit of the Company's and the
      Bank's officers and employees;

            (iii) continued group life, health (including hospitalization,
      medical and major medical), dental, accident and long-term disability
      insurance benefits on substantially the same terms and conditions
      (including any required premium-sharing arrangements, co-payments and
      deductibles) in effect for them immediately prior to the Executive's
      termination for the Remaining Unexpired Employment Period for the
      Executive and his dependents. The coverage provided under this section
      9(b)(iii) may, at the election of the Company, be secondary to the
      coverage provided pursuant to section 9(b)(ii) and to any employer-paid
      coverage provided by a subsequent employer or through Medicare, with the
      result that benefits under the other coverages will offset the coverage
      required by this section 9(b)(iii). The Executive, the Company and the
      Bank agree that the termination benefits described in this Section
      9(b)(iii) are intended to be exempt from Section 409A pursuant to
      Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(1) as non-taxable benefits;

            (iv) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the estimated present
      value of the salary that the Executive would have earned if he had
      continued working for the Company and the Bank during the Remaining
      Unexpired Employment Period at the highest annual rate of salary achieved
      during the period of three (3) years ending immediately prior to the date
      of termination (the "Salary Severance Payment"). The Salary Severance
      Payment shall be computed using the following formula:

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                        n                (BS/PR)
                 SSP=3      [-------------------------------]
                        1                           n
                                     [1 + (I / PR)]

      where "SSP" is the amount of the Salary Severance Payment (before the
      deduction of applicable federal, state and local withholding taxes); "BS"
      is the highest annual rate of salary achieved by the Executive during the
      period of three (3) years ending immediately prior to the date of
      termination; "PR" is the number of payroll periods that occur during a
      year under the Company's normal payroll practices; "I" equals the
      applicable federal short term rate established under section 1274 of the
      Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") for the month in which the
      Executive's termination of employment occurs (the "Short Term AFR") and
      "n" equals the product of the Remaining Unexpired Employment Period at
      the Executive's termination of employment (expressed in years and
      fractions of years) multiplied by the number of payroll periods that
       occur during a year under the Company's and the Bank's normal payroll
      practices. The Salary Severance Payment shall be made within five (5)
      business days after the Executive's termination of employment and shall
      be in lieu of any claim to a continuation of base salary which the
      Executive might otherwise have and in lieu of cash severance benefits
      under any severance benefits program which may be in effect for officers
      or employees of the Bank or the Company;

             (v) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the estimated present
      value of the annual bonuses that the Executive would have earned if he
      had continued working for the Company and the Bank during the Remaining
      Unexpired Employment Period at the highest annual rate of salary achieved
      during the period of three (3) years ending immediately prior to the date
      of termination (the "Bonus Severance Payment"). The Bonus Severance
      Payment shall be computed using the following formula:

                            BSP = SSP x (ABP / ASP)

      where "BSP" is the amount of the Bonus Severance Payment (before the
      deduction of applicable federal, state and local withholding taxes);
      "SSP" is the amount of the Salary Severance Payment (before the deduction
      of applicable federal, state and local withholding taxes); "BP" is the
      aggregate of the annual bonuses paid or declared (whether or not paid)
      for the most recent period of three (3) calendar years to end on or
      before the Executive's termination of employment; and "SP" is the
      aggregate base salary actually paid to the Executive during such period
      of three (3) calendar years (excluding any year for which no bonus was
      declared or paid). The Bonus Severance Payment shall be made within five
      (5) business days after the Executive's termination of employment and
      shall be in lieu of any claim to a continuation of participation in
      annual bonus plans of the Bank or the Company which the Executive might
      otherwise have;

            (vi) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the estimated present
      value of the long-term incentive bonuses that the Executive would have
      earned if he had continued working for the Company and the Bank during
      the Remaining Unexpired

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

      Employment Period (the "Incentive Severance Payment"). The Incentive
      Severance Payment shall be computed using the following formula:

                    ISP = (SSP / RUP) x (ALTIP / ALTSP) x Y

      where "ISP" is the amount of the Incentive Severance Payment (before the
      deduction of applicable federal, state and local withholding taxes);
      "SSP" is the amount of the Salary Severance Payment (before the deduction
      of applicable federal, state and local withholding taxes); "ALTIP" is the
      aggregate of the most recently paid or declared (whether or not paid)
      long-term incentive compensation payments (but not more than three (3)
      such payments) for performance periods that end on or before the
      Executive's termination of employment; "ALTSP" is the aggregate base
      salary actually paid to the Executive during the performance periods
      covered by the payments included in "ALTIP" and excluding base salary
      paid for any period for which no long-term incentive compensation payment
      was declared or paid; "RUP" is the Remaining Unexpired Employment Period,
      expressed in years and fractions of years; and "Y" is the aggregate
      (expressed in years and fractions of years) of the Remaining Unexpired
      Employment Period plus the number of years and fraction of years that
      have elapsed since the end of the last performance period for which a
      long-term incentive payment has been declared and paid. In the event that
      the Executive's employment terminates prior to the payment date under any
      long-term incentive compensation plan, then for purposes of computing the
      Incentive Severance Payment, the "ALTIP" shall be deemed to be the
      average of the target and maximum award level under such plan and the
      "ALTSP" shall be deemed to be the Executive's annual base salary as in
      effect on the Executive's termination of employment. The Incentive
      Severance Payment shall be made within five (5) business days after the
      Executive's termination of employment and shall be in lieu of any claim
      to a continuation of participation in cash long-term incentive
      compensation plans of the Bank or the Company which the Executive might
      otherwise have;

            (vii) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the excess (if any)
      of: (A) the present value of the aggregate benefits to which he would be
      entitled under any and all tax-qualified and non-tax-qualified defined
      benefit plans maintained by, or covering employees of, the Company or the
      Bank (the "Pension Plans") if he had continued working for the Company
      and the Bank during the Remaining Unexpired Employment Period; over (B)
      the present value of the benefits to which the Executive and his spouse
      and/or designated beneficiaries are actually entitled under such plans
      (the "Pension Severance Payment"). The Pension Severance Payment shall be
      computed according to the following formula:

                                PSP = PPB - APB

      where "PSP" is the amount of the Pension Severance Payment (before
      deductions for applicable federal, state and local withholding taxes);
      "APB" is the aggregate lump sum present value of the actual vested
      pension benefits payable under the Pension Plans in the form of a
      straight life annuity beginning at the earliest date permitted under the
      Pension Plans, computed on the basis of the Executive's life expectancy
      at the earliest date on which payments under the Pension Plans could
      begin, determined by reference to Table

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

      VI of section 1.72-9 of the Income Tax Regulations (the "Assumed Life
      Expectancy"), and on the basis of an interest rate assumption equal to
      the average bond-equivalent yield on United States Treasury Securities
      with a Constant Maturity of thirty (30) Years for the month prior to the
      month in which the Executive's termination of employment occurs (the
      "30-Year Treasury Rate"); and "PPB" is the lump sum present value of the
      pension benefits (whether or not vested) that would be payable under the
      Pension Plans in the form of a straight life annuity beginning at the
      earliest date permitted under the Pension Plans, computed on the basis
      that the Executive's actual age at termination of employment is his
      attained age as of his last birthday that would occur during the
      Remaining Unexpired Employment Period, that his service for benefit
      accrual purposes under the Pension Plans is equal to the aggregate of his
      actual service plus the Remaining Unexpired Employment Period, that his
      average compensation figure used in determining his accrued benefit is
      equal to the highest annual rate of salary achieved by the Executive
      during the period of three (3) years ending immediately prior to the date
      of termination, that the Executive's life expectancy at the earliest date
      on which payments under the Pension Plans could begin is the Assumed Life
      Expectancy and that the interest rate assumption used is equal to the
      30-Year Treasury Rate. The Pension Severance Payment shall be made within
      five (5) business days after the Executive's termination of employment
      and shall be in lieu of any claim to any actual increase in his accrued
      benefit in the Pension Plans in respect of the Remaining Unexpired
      Employment Period;

            (viii) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value
      of the additional employer contributions that would have been credited
      directly to his account(s) under any and all tax-qualified and
      non-tax-qualified defined contribution plans maintained by, or covering
      employees of, the Bank and the Company (the "Non-ESOP DC Plans"), plus
      the fair market value of the additional shares of employer securities or
      other property that would have been allocated to his account as a result
      of employer contributions or dividends under any tax-qualified leveraged
      employee stock ownership plan and any related non-tax-qualified
      supplemental plan maintained by, or covering employees of, the Bank and
      the Company (the "ESOP Plans") if he had continued in employment during
      the Remaining Unexpired Employment Period (the "Defined Contribution
      Severance Payment"). The Defined Contribution Severance Payment shall be
      computed according to the following formula:

                 DCSP = [SSP x (EC / BS)] + [(STK + PROP) x Y]

      where: "DCSP" is the amount of the Def  


 
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