United States | 1-33476 | 56-2480744 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
510 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
19106 |
|
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment
of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On May 23, 2011, Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Beneficial Bank (the “Bank”), entered into an employment agreement (the “Agreement”) with James E. Gould, the Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of the Company and the Bank. The initial term of the Agreement will begin on May 23, 2011 and end on May 20, 2012. The term of the Agreement may be extended annually by the Company’s and Bank’s Board of Directors after an annual review of Mr. Gould’s performance. Mr. Gould’s initial base salary under the Agreement is $225,000. The Agreement also provides for participation in employee benefit plans and programs maintained by the Company and the Bank for the benefit of their employees, including discretionary bonuses, participation in medical, dental, profit sharing, retirement and stock-based compensation plans and certain fringe benefits described in the Agreement. In addition, the Agreement provides that Mr. Gould will receive a $20,000 lump sum signing bonus, less applicable withholding, payable 90 days from the date of the Agreement, provided he is still employed by the Company and the Bank on that date.
Pursuant to the Agreement, upon termination of Mr. Gould’s employment for cause, as defined in the Agreement, Mr. Gould will receive no further compensation or benefits under the Agreement. If the Company or the Bank terminates Mr. Gould for a reason other than cause, or if Mr. Gould resigns after the occurrence of specified circumstances that constitute constructive termination, Mr. Gould or, upon his death, his beneficiary, will receive a severance benefit equal to the sum of two (2) times the sum of (i) his then current base salary and (ii) the most recent bonus paid to him by the Company and/or the Bank, payable ratably over a two (2) year period. In addition, the Agreement also provides that Mr. Gould shall receive continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage upon terms no less favorable than the most favorable terms provided to senior executives of the Company and the Bank during the twenty-four (24) month period following his termination.
Under the Agreement, if Mr. Gould is involuntarily terminated, or terminated voluntarily under certain circumstances specified in the Agreement, within one year of a change in control, as defined in the Agreement, he will receive a lump sum cash payment equal to three (3) times the sum of (i) his base salary and (ii) the most recent bonus paid to him by the Company and/or the Bank. Additionally, in such event, Mr. Gould shall, for a thirty-six (36) month period following termination of his employment, receive continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage upon terms no less favorable than the most favorable terms provided to senior executives of the Bank during such period. The Agreement provides for the reduction of change in control payments to Mr. Gould to the extent necessary to ensure that he will not receive “excess parachute payments” under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which otherwise would result in the imposition of a 20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code.
Upon termination of employment (other than involuntary termination in connection with a change in control), Mr. Gould will be required to adhere to a one-year non-competition provision. In addition, the Agreement provides that the Company and the Bank will pay all reasonable costs and legal fees of Mr. Gould in relation to the enforcement of the Agreement, provided that Mr. Gould succeeds on the merits in a legal judgment, arbitration proceeding or settlement. The Agreement also provides for the indemnification of Mr. Gould to the fullest extent legally permissible.
A copy of the Agreement is attached to this Report as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
Number | Description | |||
10.1 | Employment Agreement, dated May 23, 2011
by and between Beneficial Mutual Bancorp,
Inc., Beneficial Bank and James E. Gould |
BENEFICIAL MUTUAL BANCORP, INC. |
||||
Date: May 26, 2011 | By: | /s/ Gerard P. Cuddy | ||
Gerard P. Cuddy | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
WHEREAS, the Bank and the Executive wish to set forth the terms and conditions of the
Executives employment; |
a. | During the term of this Agreement the 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, the 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 Company and the
Bank or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, unfavorably affect the performance of
the Executives 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 Company and the Bank. |
b. | Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executives
right to invest in the capital stock or other securities of any business dissimilar
from that of the Company and the Bank, or, solely as a passive, minority investor, in
any business. |
c. | The Executive agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any and all
information concerning the operation or financial status of the Company and 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 Company and the Bank to which he may be exposed during the course of
his employment. The 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 Company and the Bank. |
a. | Death. The Executives employment under this Agreement shall
terminate upon his death during the term of this Agreement, in which event the
Executives estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation due to the Executive
through the last day of the calendar month in which his death occurred. |
b. | Retirement. This Agreement will terminate on the Executives
Retirement Date. For purposes of this Agreement, Retirement Date is defined as the
date the Executive retires from the Bank under the retirement benefit plan or plans in
which he participates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement. |
c. | Disability. |
i. | The Board or the Executive may terminate the Executives
employment after having determined the Executive has a Disability. For
purposes of this Agreement, Disability means a physical or mental infirmity
that impairs the Executives ability to substantially perform his duties
under this Agreement and that results in becoming eligible for long-term
disability benefits under any long-term disability plans of the Company and
the Bank (or, if there are no such plans in effect, that impairs the
Executives 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 the 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 the Executive to submit
to such physical or mental evaluations and tests as it deems reasonably
appropriate. |
ii. | In the event of such Disability, the Executives obligation
to perform services under this Agreement will terminate. The Bank will pay
the Executive, as Disability pay, an amount equal to sixty-six and two thirds
percent (66 2/3%) of the Executives 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 the Executives termination of
employment for Disability and end on the earlier of: (A) the date the
Executive returns to full-time employment at the Bank in the same capacity as
he was employed prior to his termination for Disability; (B) the Executives
death; (C) the Executives attainment of age 65; or (D) the date the Agreement
would have expired had the Executives employment not terminated by reason of
Disability. Such payments shall be reduced by the amount of any short- or
long-term disability benefits payable to the Executive under any other
disability programs sponsored by the Company and the Bank. In addition,
during any period of the Executives Disability, the 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 Company and the Bank, in
which the Executive participated prior to his Disability on the same terms as
if the Executive were actively employed by the Company and the Bank. |
d. | Termination for Cause. |
i. | The Board may, by written notice to the Executive in the form
and manner specified in this paragraph, immediately terminate his employment
at any time, for Cause. The 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, the Executives: |
(1) | Personal dishonesty; |
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(2) | Incompetence; |
||
(3) | Willful misconduct; |
||
(4) | Breach of fiduciary duty involving personal
profit; |
||
(5) | Intentional failure to perform stated
duties under this Agreement; |
||
(6) | Willful violation of any law, rule or
regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) that
reflects adversely on the reputation of the Company and the Bank, any
felony conviction, any violation of law involving moral turpitude, or
any violation of a final cease-and-desist order; or |
||
(7) | Material breach by the Executive of any
provision of this Agreement. |
ii. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be
deemed to have been terminated for Cause by the Company and the Bank unless
there shall have been delivered to the 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 (after
reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive to be
heard before the Board with counsel), of finding that, in the good faith
opinion of the Board, the Executive was guilty of the conduct described above
and specifying the particulars thereof. |
e. | Voluntary Termination by the Executive. In addition to his other
rights to terminate under this Agreement, the Executive may voluntarily terminate
employment during the term of this Agreement upon at least sixty (60) days prior
written notice to the Board, in which case the Executive shall receive only his
compensation, vested rights and employee benefits up to the date of his termination of
employment. |
f. | Without Cause or With Good Reason. |
i. | In addition to termination pursuant to Sections 11a. through
11e., the Board may, by written notice to the Executive, immediately terminate
his employment at any time for a reason other than Cause (a termination
Without Cause) and the Executive may, by 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). |
ii. | Subject to Section 12 of this Agreement, in the event of
termination under this Section 11f., the Executive shall be entitled to
receive a severance benefit equal to the sum of two (2) times the sum of the
Executives (i) current base salary and (ii) the most recent bonus paid to the
Executive by the Company and/or the Bank. The Executives severance benefit
shall be payable ratably over a two (2) year period through the Banks regular
payroll. In addition, the Executive shall receive continued medical, dental
and life insurance coverage, upon terms no less favorable than the most
favorable terms provided to senior executives of the Company and the Bank
during the twenty-four (24) month period following his termination date. In
the event that the Company and the Bank are unable to provide such coverage by
reason of the Executive no longer being an employee, the Company and the Bank
shall provide the Executive with comparable coverage on an individual policy
basis. The severance payments and benefits provided under this subparagraph
(ii) are subject to Section 11f.(v) of this Agreement. |
iii. | Good Reason shall exist if, without the Executives express
written consent, the Company and the Bank materially breach any of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. Without limitation, such a
material breach shall be deemed to occur upon any of the following: |
(1) | A material reduction in the Executives
responsibilities or authority in connection with his employment with
the Company or the Bank; |
||
(2) | Assignment to the Executive of duties of a
non-executive nature or duties for which he is not reasonably
equipped by his skills and experience; |
||
(3) | 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 the
Executive was entitled prior to the Change in Control; |
||
(4) | Termination of incentive and benefit plans
(other than the Banks tax-qualified plans), programs or
arrangements, or reduction of the Executives participation to such
an extent as to materially reduce their aggregate value below their
aggregate value as of the Effective Date; |
||
(5) | A relocation of the Executives principal
business office by more than thirty (30) miles from its current
location; or |
||
(6) | Liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the Bank. |
iv. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, a reduction or elimination of
the Executives benefits under one or more benefit plans maintained by the
Company or the Bank as part of a good faith, overall reduction or elimination
of such plans or benefits thereunder applicable to all participants in a
manner that does not discriminate against the Executive (except as such
discrimination may be necessary to comply with law) shall not constitute an
event of Good Reason or a material breach of this Agreement, provided that
benefits of the same type or to the same general extent as those offered under
such plans are not available to other officers of the Company and the Bank, or
any company that controls either of them, under a plan or plans in or under
which the Executive is not entitled to participate subsequent to such
reduction or elimination of benefits. |
v. | The parties to this Agreement intend for the payments to
satisfy the short-term deferral exception under Section 409A of the Code or,
in the case of health and welfare benefits, not constitute deferred
compensation (since such amounts are not taxable to the Executive). However,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent
payments do not meet the short-term deferral exception of Section 409A of the
Code and, in the event the Executive is a Specified Employee (as defined
herein) no payment shall be made to the Executive under this Agreement prior
to the first day of the seventh month following the Event of Termination in
excess of the permitted amount under Section 409A of the Code. For these
purposes the permitted amount shall be an amount that does not exceed two
times the lesser of: (A) the sum of the Executives annualized compensation
based upon the annual rate of pay for services provided to the Company for the
calendar year preceding the year in which the Executive has an Event of
Termination, or (B) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a
tax-qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the calendar
year in which occurs the Event of Termination. The payment of the permitted
amount shall be made within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of the Event of
Termination. Any payment in excess of the permitted amount shall be made to
the Executive on the first day of the seventh month following the Event of
Termination. Specified Employee shall be interpreted to comply with Section
409A of the Code and shall mean a key employee within the meaning of Section
416(i) of the Code (without regard to paragraph 5 thereof), but an individual
shall be a Specified Employee only if the Company is a publicly-traded
institution or the subsidiary of a publicly-traded holding company. |
g. | Continuing Covenant Not to Compete or Interfere with Relationships.
Regardless of anything herein to the contrary, following a termination by the Company
and the Bank or the Executive pursuant to Section 11f.: |
i. | The Executives obligations under Section 10c. of this
Agreement will continue in effect; and |
ii. | During the period ending one year after such termination of
employment, the Executive shall not serve as an officer, director or employee
of any bank holding company, bank, savings bank, savings and loan holding
company, or mortgage company (any of which, a Financial Institution) which
Financial Institution offers products or services competing with those offered
by the Bank from any office within thirty (30) miles from the main office or
any branch of the Bank and shall not interfere with the relationship of the
Company and the Bank and any of its employees, agents, or representatives. |
a. | For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control means any of the
following events: |
i. | Merger: The Company or the Bank merges into or
consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into the
Company or the Bank, and as a result less than a majority of the combined
voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or
consolidation is held by persons who were stockholders of the Company or the
Bank immediately before the merger or consolidation. |
ii. | Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership: There is
filed, or required to be filed, a report on Schedule 13D or another form or
schedule (other than Schedule 13G) required under Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing
person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of
25% or more of a class of the Companys voting securities, but this clause (b)
shall not apply to beneficial ownership of Company voting shares held in a
fiduciary capacity by an entity of which the Company directly or indirectly
beneficially owns 50% or more of its outstanding voting securities. |
iii. | Change in Board Composition: During any period of
two consecutive years, individuals who constitute the Companys or the Banks
Board of Directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the Companys or the Banks Board
of Directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (iii), each
director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board
for election by the stockholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of
the directors who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period shall
be deemed to have also been a director at the beginning of such period; or |
iv. | Sale of Assets: The Company or the Bank sells to a
third party all or substantially all of its assets. |
b. | Termination. If within the period ending twelve (12) months after a Change
in Control, (i) the Company and the Bank shall terminate the Executives employment
Without Cause, or (ii) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment With Good
Reason, the Company and the Bank shall, within ten (10) calendar days of the
termination of the Executives employment, make a lump-sum cash payment to him equal
to three (3) times the sum of the Executives (i) base salary and (ii) the most recent
bonus paid by the Company and/or Bank. Also, in such event, the Executive shall, for
a thirty-six (36) month period following his termination of employment, receive
continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage upon terms no less favorable
than the most favorable terms provided to senior executives of the Bank during such
period. In the event that the Company or the Bank is unable to provide such coverage
by reason of the Executive no longer being an employee, the Company and the Bank shall
provide the Executive with comparable coverage under an individual policy. The
parties to this Agreement intend for the payments to satisfy the short-term deferral
exception under Section 409A of the Code or, in the case of health and welfare
benefits, not constitute deferred compensation (since such amounts are not taxable to
the Executive). However, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
to the extent payments do not meet the short-term deferral exception of Section 409A
of the Code and, in the event the Executive is a Specified Employee (as defined
herein) no payment shall be made to the Executive under this Agreement prior to the
first day of the seventh month following the Event of Termination in excess of the
permitted amount under Section 409A of the Code. For these purposes the permitted
amount shall be an amount that does not exceed two times the lesser of: (A) the sum
of the Executives annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay for
services provided to the Company for the calendar year preceding the year in which the
Executive has an Event of Termination, or (B) the maximum amount that may be taken
into account under a tax-qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for
the calendar year in which occurs the Event of Termination. The payment of the
permitted amount shall be made within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of the Event
of Termination. Any payment in excess of the permitted amount shall be made to the
Executive on the first day of the seventh month following the Event of Termination.
Specified Employee shall be interpreted to comply with Section 409A of the Code and
shall mean a key employee within the meaning of Section 416(i) of the Code (without
regard to paragraph 5 thereof), but an individual shall be a Specified Employee only
if the Company is a publicly-traded institution or the subsidiary of a publicly-traded
holding company. |
c. | The provisions of Section 12 and Sections 14 through 27, including the
defined terms used in such sections, shall continue in effect until the later of the
expiration of this Agreement or one (1) year following a Change in Control. |
a. | Indemnification. The Company and the Bank agree to indemnify the
Executive (and his heirs, executors, and administrators), and to advance expenses
related thereto, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and regulations
against any and all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in connection
with or arising out of any action, suit, or proceeding in which he may be involved by
reason of his having been a director or executive of the Company, the Bank or any of
their subsidiaries (whether or not he continues to be a director or executive at the
time of incurring any such expenses or liabilities) such expenses and liabilities to
include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs, and attorneys fees and the
costs of reasonable settlements, such settlements to be approved by the Board, if such
action is brought against the Executive in his capacity as an executive or director of
the Company and the Bank or any of their subsidiaries. Indemnification for expenses
shall not extend to matters for which the Executive has been terminated for Cause.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to provide indemnification prohibited by
applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
obligations of this Section 13 shall survive the term of this Agreement by a period of
six (6) years. |
b. | Insurance. During the period in which indemnification of the
Executive is required under this Section, the Company and the Bank shall provide the
Executive (and his heirs, executors, and administrators) with coverage under a
directors and officers liability policy at the expense of the Company and the Bank,
at least equivalent to such coverage provided to directors and senior executives of
the Company and the Bank. |
a. | This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any
corporate or other successor to the Company and the Bank which shall acquire, directly
or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or substantially
all of the assets or stock of the Company and the Bank. |
b. | Since the Company and the Bank are contracting for the unique and personal
skills of the Executive, the Executive shall be precluded from assigning or delegating
his rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the
Company and the Bank. |
a. | The Board may terminate the Executives employment at any time, but any
termination by the Bank, other than termination for Cause, shall not prejudice the
Executives right to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. The
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any
period after termination for Cause. |
b. | If the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Banks affairs by a notice served under Section
8(e)(3) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(3) or
(g)(1); the Banks 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 the Executive all or part of
the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were suspended; and (ii)
reinstate (in whole or in part) any of the obligations which were suspended. |
c. | If the Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating
in the conduct of the Banks affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or
8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(4) 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 contracting parties shall not be affected. |
d. | If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1813(x)(1) all obligations of the Bank under this
Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this paragraph shall not
affect any vested rights of the contracting parties. |
e. | All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to the
extent determined that continuation of the contract is necessary for the continued
operation of the Bank: (i) by the Director of the OTS (or his or her designee), at
the time the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) enters into an agreement to
provide assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority contained in
Section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1823(c); or (ii) by the
Director of the OTS (or his or her designee) at the time the Director (or his
designee) approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the operations
of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the Director to be in an unsafe or
unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall
not be affected by such action. |
f. | Any payments made to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise,
are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. §1828(k) and FDIC
regulation 12 C.F.R. Part 359, Golden Parachute and Indemnification Payments. |
ATTEST: | BENEFICIAL MUTUAL BANCORP, INC. | |||||
/s/ Thomas D. Cestare
|
By: | /s/ Gerard P. Cuddy | ||||
For the Entire Board of Directors | ||||||
ATTEST: | BENEFICIAL MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK | |||||
/s/ Thomas D. Cestare
|
By: | /s/ Gerard P. Cuddy | ||||
For the Entire Board of Directors | ||||||
WITNESS: | EXECUTIVE | |||||
/s/ James E. Gould | ||||||
James E. Gould |