Exhibit 10.10
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT
(the “Agreement”), made
this 14th day of October, 2005 , by and between, Newport
Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered savings bank (the
“Bank”), and Ray Gilmore (the
“Executive”).
WHEREAS, Executive serves in a position of substantial
responsibility;
WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to assure the services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to serve in the employ of
the Bank on a full-time basis for said period.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual
covenants herein contained, and upon the other terms and conditions
hereinafter provided, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
1. Employment .
Executive is employed as the Chief
Lending Officer of the Bank. Executive shall perform all duties and
shall have all powers which are commonly incident to the offices of
Chief Lending Officer or which, consistent with those offices, are
delegated to him by the Board of Directors of the Bank. During the
term of this Agreement, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected,
as an officer and/or director of any subsidiary or affiliate of the
Bank and in such capacity will carry out such duties and
responsibilities reasonably appropriate to that office.
2. Location and Facilities
. Executive will be
furnished with the working facilities and staff customary for
executive officers with the title and duties set forth in
Section 1 and as are necessary for him to perform his duties.
The location of such facilities and staff shall be at the principal
administrative offices of the Bank, or at such other site or sites
customary for such offices.
3. Term .
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a.
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The term of
this Agreement shall be (i) the initial term, consisting of
the period commencing on the date of this Agreement (the
“Effective Date”) and ending on the third anniversary
of the Effective Date, plus (ii) any and all extensions of the
initial term made pursuant to this Section 3.
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b.
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Commencing
December 2005 and each December thereafter, the disinterested
members of the boards of directors of the Bank may extend the
Agreement an additional year such that the remaining term of the
Agreement shall be thirty-six (36) months, unless Executive
elects not to extend the term of this Agreement by giving written
notice in accordance with Section 19 of this Agreement. The
Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Board”) will
review the Agreement and Executive’s performance annually for
purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement and the
rationale and results thereof shall be included in the minutes of
the Board’s meeting. The Board of Directors of the Bank shall
give notice to Executive as soon as possible after such review as
to whether the Agreement is to be extended.
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4. Base Compensation
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a.
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The Bank agrees
to pay Executive during the term of this Agreement a base salary at
the rate of $140,000 per year, payable in accordance with customary
payroll practices.
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b.
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The Board shall
review the rate of Executive’s base salary at least annually
based upon factors they deem relevant, and may maintain or increase
his base salary, provided that no such action shall reduce the rate
of base salary below the rate in effect on the Effective
Date.
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c.
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In the absence
of action by the Board, Executive shall continue to receive base
salary at the annual rate specified on the Effective Date or, if
another rate has been established under the provisions of this
Section 4, the rate last properly established by action of the
Board under the provisions of this Section 4.
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5. Bonuses .
Executive shall be entitled to
participate in discretionary bonuses or other incentive
compensation programs that the Bank may award from time to time to
senior management employees pursuant to bonus plans or
otherwise.
6. Benefit Plans
. Executive shall be
entitled to participate in such life insurance, medical, dental,
pension, profit sharing, retirement and stock-based compensation
plans and other programs and arrangements as may be approved from
time to time by the Bank for the benefit of their
employees.
7. Vacation and Leave
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a.
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Executive shall
be entitled to vacations and other leave in accordance with policy
for senior executives, or otherwise as approved by the
Board.
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b.
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In addition to
paid vacations and other leave, Executive shall be entitled,
without loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily from the
performance of his employment for such additional periods of time
and for such valid and legitimate reasons as the Board may, in its
discretion, determine. Further, the Board may grant to Executive a
leave or leaves of absence, with or without pay, at such time or
times and upon such terms and conditions as the Board in its
discretion may determine.
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8. Expense Payments and
Reimbursements . Executive shall be reimbursed for all reasonable
out-of-pocket business expenses that he shall incur in connection
with his services under this Agreement upon substantiation of such
expenses in accordance with applicable policies of the
Bank.
9. Automobile Allowance
. During the term of this
Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to use of an automobile
provided by the Bank, including insurance, maintenance and
work-related fuel expenses, or, in the alternative and the sole
discretion of the Bank, the Executive shall be entitled to an
automobile allowance which would approximate the expense of a
Bank-provided automobile and related insurance, maintenance and
fuel costs. Executive shall comply with reasonable reporting and
expense limitations on the use of such automobile as may be
established by the Bank from time to time, and the Bank shall
annually include on Executive’s Form W-2 any amount of income
attributable to Executive’s personal use of such
automobile.
10. Loyalty and
Confidentiality .
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a.
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During the term
of this Agreement, Executive: (i) shall devote all his time,
attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his
duties hereunder; provided, however, that from time to time,
Executive may serve on the boards of directors of, and hold any
other offices or positions in, companies or organizations which
will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank or any of
its subsidiaries or affiliates, unfavorably affect the performance
of Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement, or violate
any applicable statute or regulation and (ii) shall not engage
in any business or activity contrary to the business affairs or
interests of the Bank or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates.
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b.
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Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall prevent or limit
Executive’s right to invest in the capital stock or other
securities or interests of any business dissimilar from that of the
Bank, or, solely as a passive, minority investor, in any
business.
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c.
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Executive
agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any and all information
concerning the operation or financial status of the Bank; the names
or addresses of any of its borrowers, depositors and other
customers; any information concerning or obtained from such
customers; and any other information concerning the Bank or its
subsidiaries or affiliates to which he may be exposed during the
course of his employment. Executive further agrees that, unless
required by law or specifically permitted by the Board in writing,
he will not disclose to any person or entity, either during or
subsequent to his employment, any of the above-mentioned
information which is not generally known to the public, nor shall
he employ such information in any way other than for the benefit of
the Bank.
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11. Termination and
Termination Pay . Subject to Section 12 of this Agreement,
Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated
in the following circumstances:
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a.
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Death . Executive’s employment under this
Agreement shall terminate upon his death during the term of this
Agreement, in which event Executive’s estate shall be
entitled to receive the compensation due to Executive through the
last day of the calendar month in which his death
occurred.
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b.
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Retirement . This Agreement shall be terminated upon
Executive’s retirement under the retirement benefit plan or
plans in which he participates pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement or otherwise.
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i.
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The Board or
Executive may terminate Executive’s employment after having
determined Executive has a Disability. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Disability” means a physical or mental
infirmity that impairs Executive’s ability to substantially
perform his duties under this Agreement and that results in
Executive becoming eligible for long-term disability benefits under
any long-term disability plans of the Bank (or, if there are no
such plans in effect, that impairs Executive’s ability to
substantially perform his duties under this Agreement for a period
of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days). The Board shall
determine whether or not Executive is and continues to be
permanently disabled for purposes of this Agreement in good faith,
based upon competent medical advice and other factors that they
reasonably believe to be relevant. As a condition to any benefits,
the Board may require Executive to submit to such physical or
mental evaluations and tests as it deems reasonably
appropriate.
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ii.
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In the event of such Disability,
Executive’s obligation to perform services under this
Agreement will terminate. The Bank will pay Executive, as
Disability pay, an amount equal to seventy-five percent
(75%) of Executive’s bi-weekly rate of base salary in
effect as of the date of his termination of employment due to
Disability. Disability payments will be made on a monthly basis and
will commence on the first day of the month following the effective
date of Executive’s termination of employment for Disability
and end on the earlier of: (A) the date he returns to
full-time employment at the Bank in the same capacity as he was
employed prior to his termination for Disability; (B) his
death; (C) upon his attainment of age 65 or (D) the date
this Agreement would have expired had Executive’s employment
not terminated by reason of disability. Such payments shall be
reduced by the amount of any
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short- or long-term disability
benefits payable to Executive under any other disability programs
sponsored by the Bank. In addition, during any period of
Executive’s Disability, Executive and his dependents shall,
to the greatest extent possible, continue to be covered under all
benefit plans (including, without limitation, retirement plans and
medical, dental and life insurance plans) of the Bank, in which
Executive participated prior to his Disability on the same terms as
if Executive were actively employed by the Bank.
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d.
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Termination
for Cause .
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i.
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The Board may,
by written notice to Executive in the form and manner specified in
this paragraph, immediately terminate his employment at any time,
for “Cause.” Executive shall have no right to receive
compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for
Cause except for vested benefits. Termination for Cause shall mean
termination because of, in the good faith determination of the
Board, Executive’s:
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(4)
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Breach of
fiduciary duty involving personal profit;
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(5)
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Intentional
failure to perform stated duties under this Agreement;
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(6)
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Willful
violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic
violations or similar offenses) that reflects adversely on the
reputation of the Bank, any felony conviction, any violation of law
involving moral turpitude, or any violation of a final
cease-and-desist order; or
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(7)
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Material breach
by Executive of any provision of this Agreement.
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ii.
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been
terminated for Cause by the Bank unless there shall have been
delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the
Board at a meeting of such Board called and held for the purpose of
finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was
guilty of the conduct described above and specifying the
particulars thereof.
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e.
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Voluntary
Termination by Executive . In addition to his other rights to terminate
under this Agreement, Executive may voluntarily terminate
employment during the term of this Agreement upon at least sixty
(60) days prior written notice to the Board. Following a
voluntary termination of employment under this Section 11(e),
Executive will be subject to the restrictions set forth in Sections
11(g)(i) and 11(g)(ii) of this Agreement for a period of one
(1) year from his termination date.
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f.
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Without
Cause or With Good Reason .
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i.
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In addition to termination
pursuant to Sections 11(a) through 11(e), the Board may, by written
notice to Executive, immediately terminate his employment at any
time for a reason other than Cause (a termination “Without
Cause”) and Executive may, by
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written notice to the Board,
immediately terminate this Agreement at any time within ninety
(90) days following an event constituting “Good
Reason,” as defined below (a termination “With Good
Reason”).
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ii.
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Subject to
Section 12 of this Agreement, in the event of termination
under this Section 11(f), Executive shall be entitled to
receive his base salary for the remaining term of the Agreement
paid in one lump sum within ten (10) calendar days of such
termination. Also, in such event, Executive shall, for the
remaining term of the Agreement, continue to participate in any
benefit plans of the Bank that provide health (including medical
and dental) and life insurance coverage, upon terms and conditions
no less favorable than the most favorable terms and conditions
provided to senior executives of the Bank during such period. In
the event that the Bank is unable to provide such coverage by
reason of Executive no longer being an employee, the Bank shall
provide Executive with comparable coverage on an individual policy
basis.
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iii.
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“Good
Reason” shall exist if, without Executive’s express
written consent, the Bank materially breaches any of its
obligations under this Agreement. Without limitation, such a
material breach shall be deemed to occur upon any of the
following:
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(1)
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A material
reduction in Executive’s responsibilities or authority in
connection with his employment with the Bank;
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(2)
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Assignment to
Executive of duties of a non-executive nature or duties for which
he is not reasonably equipped by his skills and
experience;
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(3)
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Failure of
Executive to be nominated or renominated to the Board to the extent
Executive is a Board member prior to the Effective Date;
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(4)
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A reduction in
salary or benefits contrary to the terms of this Agreement, or,
following a Change in Control as defined in Section 12 of this
Agreement, any reduction in salary or material reduction in
benefits below the amounts to which Executive was entitled prior to
the Change in Control;
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(5)
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Termination of
incentive and benefit plans (other than the Bank’s
tax-qualified plans), programs or arrangements, or reduction of
Executive’s participation to such an extent as to materially
reduce their aggregate value below their aggregate value as of the
Effective Date;
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(6)
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A requirement
that Executive relocate his principal business office or his
principal place of residence outside of the area consisting of a
twenty-five (25) mile radius from the current main office and
any branch of the Bank, or the assignment to Executive of duties
that would reasonably require such a relocation; or
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(7)
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Liquidation or
dissolution of the Bank.
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