1. |
A Severance Payment equivalent to twelve (12) times the Employee’s highest monthly base salary, which Employee has earned during Employee’s employment with the Bank. The Severance Payment shall be paid out
in equal increments on regularly scheduled pay days for a period of 12 months following the Separation Date, provided that any payments delayed pending the effectiveness of the Release shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum on the
next pay day following the effectiveness of the Release, with any remaining payments due paid in accordance with the schedule otherwise provided herein. Such payments will cease, however, if Employee fails to comply with the provisions of
Part VIII of this Agreement.
|
2. |
A Severance Bonus in an amount equal to the average of the Employee’s annual discretionary incentive bonus for the previous two years, prorated for the number of months between the Separation Date and the
end of the Bank’s last fiscal year. The Severance Bonus shall be paid in a lump sum on the Employee’s Separation Date.
|
3. |
Payment of all awards of benefit plans and incentive and retention programs in accordance with the terms of those plans and programs, including applicable vesting and forfeiture provisions. Any such payment
or distribution from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan shall be governed by the terms of such plan relating to the timing of distributions.
|
1. |
The death of Employee;
|
2. |
Conviction of a felony resulting in a material economic adverse effect on the Bank or its affiliates;
|
3. |
Committing acts of dishonesty, theft, embezzlement or other acts of moral turpitude against the Bank or its affiliates;
|
4. |
A material breach of, or intentional failure to perform any of Employee’s duties which is not cured by Employee to the reasonable satisfaction of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer within thirty (30) days,
or within a deadline jointly defined by Employee and the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer after written notice is provided by the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of the breach or failure;
|
5. |
An unauthorized, willful, knowing or reckless disclosure of any confidential information concerning the Bank or its affiliates or any of its directors, shareholders, customers or employees; or
|
6. |
Any action that constitutes a material disruption of Bank personnel relationships, that damages the Bank’s reputation or the reputation of any of its directors, shareholders, customers or employees, or that
materially adversely affects the professional or business operations or practices of the Bank.
|
1. |
If a Change of Control of the Bank or Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) closes during the term of this Agreement, while Employee is still employed by the Bank, the Bank will provide the
Employee with the following Change of Control Compensation Package to be paid and commence immediately prior to the closing of the Change of Control:
|
2. |
Change of Control means a change of control of Bancorp. Such a Change of Control will be deemed to have occurred immediately before any of the following occur: (i) a merger, consolidation or acquisition,
directly or indirectly, of more than 30% of the voting power or outstanding shares of any class of voting securities of Bancorp by any Person; (ii) a sale of all, or substantially all, of the assets of Bancorp or the Bank; or (iii) there
is a change, during any period of one year or less, of a majority of the Board of Directors of Bancorp as constituted as of the beginning of such period, unless the election of each director who is not a director at the beginning of such
period was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then in office who were directors at the beginning of such period. If the events or circumstances described in (i)-(iii), above, shall occur to or be applicable to the
Bank, then such Change of Control shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to also be a “Change of Control” of Bancorp. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Person” shall mean and include any individual, corporation,
partnership, group, association or other “person”, as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, other than Bancorp, the Bank, any other wholly owned subsidiary of Bancorp or any employee benefit plan(s)
sponsored by Bancorp, Bank or other subsidiary of Bancorp. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred unless the change also constitutes the occurrence of a “change in control event,” as
defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5), with respect to the Employee.
|
3. |
Gross-Up Payment: Employee shall be entitled to a “Gross-Up Payment” under the terms and conditions set forth herein, and such payment shall include the Excise Tax reimbursement due pursuant to Section
7.05.3.a and any federal and state tax reimbursements due pursuant to Section 7.05.3.b.
|
a. |
In the event that any payment or benefit (as those terms are defined within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G(b)(2)) paid, payable, distributed or distributable to the Employee (hereinafter
referred to as “Payments”) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise in connection with or arising out of Employee’s employment with the Bank or a change of control would be subject to the Excise Tax imposed by Section 4999 of
the Internal Revenue code or any interest or penalties are incurred by Employee with respect to such Excise Tax, then Employee will be entitled to receive an additional payment (“Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount equal to the total Excise
Tax, interest and penalties imposed on Employee as a result of the payment and the Excise Taxes on any federal and state tax reimbursements as set forth in Section 7.05.3.b.
|
b. |
If the Bank is obligated to pay Employee pursuant to Section 7.05.3.a, the Bank shall also pay Employee an amount equal to the “total presumed federal and state taxes” that could be imposed on Employee with
respect to the Excise Tax reimbursements due to Employee pursuant to Section 7.05.3.a and the federal and state tax reimbursements due to Employee pursuant to this section. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the “total presumed
federal and state taxes” that could be imposed on Employee shall be conclusively calculated using a combined tax rate equal to the sum of the (a) the highest individual income tax rate in effect under Federal tax law applicable to
Employee and (ii) the tax laws of the state in which Employee will be subject to tax on the payment and (b) the hospital insurance portion of FICA.
|
c. |
No adjustments will be made in this combined rate for the deduction of state taxes on the federal return, the loss of itemized deductions or exemptions, or for any other purpose for paying the actual taxes.
|
4. |
Determination of Eligibility for and Amount of Gross-Up Payment: An initial determination as to whether a Gross-Up Payment is required pursuant to this Agreement and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment
shall be made at the Bank’s expense by an accounting firm appointed by the Bank prior to any Change of Control. The accounting firm shall provide its determination, together with detailed supporting calculations and documentation to the
Bank and Employee prior to submission of the proposed Change of Control to the Bank’s or Bancorp’s shareholders, Board of Directors or appropriate regulators for approval. If the accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by
Employee with respect to a Payment or Payments, it shall furnish Employee with an opinion reasonably acceptable to Employee that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to any such Payment or Payments. Within ten (10) days of the
delivery of the determination to Employee, Employee shall have the right to dispute the determination. The existence of the dispute shall not in any way affect Employee’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payment in accordance with the
determination. Upon the final resolution of a dispute, the Bank or its successor shall promptly pay to Employee any additional amount required by such resolution. If there is no dispute, the determination shall be binding, final and
conclusive upon the Bank and Employee, except to the extent that any taxing authority subsequently makes a determination that the Excise Tax or additional Excise Tax is due and owing on the payments made to Employee. If any taxing
authority determines that the Excise Tax or additional Excise Tax is due and owing, the Bank or the entity acquiring control of the Bank shall pay the Excise Tax and any penalties assessed by such taxing authority.
|
5. |
Excise Tax Withholding: Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that according to the determination, an Excise Tax will be imposed on any Payment or Payments, the
Bank or its successor shall pay to the applicable government taxing authorities as Excise Tax withholding, the amount of the Excise Tax that the Bank has actually withheld from the Payment or Payments.
|
A. |
Disclosure of Proprietary Information or Materials. Employee agrees that he/she will not directly or indirectly reveal, report, publish or disclose to any person, firm, or corporation not expressly
authorized in writing by the Bank’s Board of Directors to receive any Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential Information or Bank Materials (as defined in Section 8.03 below). Employee further agrees that he/she will not
use any Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential Information and/or Bank Materials for any purpose except to perform his/her employment duties for the Bank and such Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential
Information and/or Bank Materials may not be used or disclosed by Employee for his/her own benefit or purpose or for the benefit or purpose of a subsequent employer. These agreements will continue to apply after Employee is no longer
employed by the Bank so long as such Trade and Business Secrets, Proprietary and Confidential Information and Bank Materials are not nor have become, by legitimate means, generally known to the public.
|
B. |
Solicitation of Employees. Employee recognizes that he/she possesses and will possess confidential information about other employees of the Bank and its affiliates relating to their education, experience,
skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and inter-personal relationships with customer(s) of the Bank and its affiliates. Employee recognizes that the information he/she possesses and will possess about these other employees is not
generally known, is of substantial value to the Bank and its affiliates in developing their business and in securing and retaining customers, and in managing general daily operations of the Bank, and has been and will be acquired by
Employee because of his/her business position with the Bank and its affiliates. Employee agrees that at all times during his/her employment with the Bank and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee will not, directly or
indirectly, solicit or recruit any employee of the Bank or its affiliates for the purpose of being employed by, or serving as a consultant or information resource to, the Employee, or any competitor of the Bank or its affiliates on whose
behalf Employee is acting as an agent, representative or employee, and that Employee will not convey such confidential information or trade secrets about other employees of the Bank and its affiliates to any other Person or legal entity.
In view of the nature of Employee’s employment with the Bank, Employee likewise agrees that the Bank and its affiliates would be irreparably harmed by any such solicitation or recruitment in violation of the terms of this paragraph and
that the Bank and its affiliates shall therefore be entitled to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the Employee from engaging in any activity or threatened activity in violation of the terms of this paragraph and
to any other relief, including financial compensation commensurate with damages caused, available to them.
|
C. |
Solicitation of Customers. During the Employee’s employment by the Bank and its affiliates and for a period of twelve (12) months after such employment ceases, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly
(whether as an officer, director, owner, employee, partner, consultant or other participant), use any Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential information, or Bank Materials to identify, solicit or entice any Customer or
Prospective Customer of the Bank or its affiliates to make any changes whatsoever in their current or prospective relationships with the Bank or its affiliates, and will not assist any other Person or entity to interfere with or dispute
such current or prospective relationships. If Employee leaves the Bank and goes to work for a new employer that is a competitor of the Bank, and if that new employer already has an existing relationship with a Customer or Prospective
Customer of the Bank or its affiliates, this paragraph does not preclude Employee from making contact with such Customer or Prospective Customer on the new employer’s behalf, so long as such contact otherwise complies with the provisions
of this paragraph. In view of the nature of the Employee’s employment with the Bank, the Employee likewise agrees that the Bank and its affiliates would be irreparably harmed by any such interference or competitive actions in violation of
the terms of this paragraph and that the Bank and its affiliates shall therefore be entitled to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the Employee from engaging in any activity or threatened activity in violation of
the terms of this paragraph, in addition to any other relief, including financial compensation commensurate with damages caused, available to them.
|
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Edward Corum Jr.
|
Date:
|
5/8/2024
|
Edward Corum Jr.
|
|||
Chairman of the Personnel Committee
|
EMPLOYEE:
|
/s/ Thomas Bennett
|
Date:
|
5/2/2024
|
|
Thomas Bennett
|
Section 1. |
Release of the Bank. In consideration of receipt by Employee of the Severance Package or the Change of Control Compensation Package, as applicable,
which Employee acknowledges is in addition to anything of value to which he/she is otherwise entitled, Employee, on behalf of himself/herself and his/her heirs, attorneys, executors, successors, administrators and assigns, does hereby
release, acquit and forever discharge the Bank and its respective predecessors, successors, assigns, subsidiaries, divisions, holding companies, affiliated companies and benefit plans, and each of their respective present and former
affiliates, directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, agents, successors and assigns, from any and all liabilities, damages, causes of action and claims of any nature, kind or description whatsoever, whether accrued or to accrue,
which Employee ever had, now has or hereafter may have against any of them, known or unknown, that
are based on facts occurring the day of and prior to the day Employee executes this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any claims under any state or federal law or statute, including, but not limited to, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. section 621 et seq.), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991, the Equal Pay Act, any claim based on tort, contract or otherwise, any claim for attorneys’
fees or costs, or any matter or action related to Employee employment and/or affiliation with, or termination and separation from the Bank and its affiliates.
|
Section 2. |
No Release of Vested Benefits. Notwithstanding anything in Section 2 hereof, Employee does not by this Agreement waive any rights he/she may have to
vested benefits or account balances in any retirement plan, which vested benefits or account balances, as the case may be, shall be paid over to Employee in accordance with the provisions of the respective plans, subject to any
applicable forfeiture provisions set forth therein.
|
Section 3. |
Confidentiality of Agreement. As a material of inducement to the Bank to enter into this Agreement, Employee represents and agrees that he/she will
keep all terms of this Agreement completely confidential, and that he/she will not disclose any information concerning this Agreement to any person, including, but not limited to, any past, present or prospective employee of the Bank,
except for his/her spouse, attorney, tax account and financial advisor. Employee further agrees that disclosure by him/her of the terms and conditions of this Agreement in violation of this Section constitutes a material breach of the
Agreement.
|
Section 4. |
Confidentiality of Proprietary Information. Employee acknowledges and agrees that he/she has an obligation to continue to keep in confidence and not
use for his/her own or any other person’s or entity’s benefit all proprietary and confidential information concerning the Bank, as defined in Part VIII of the Employment Agreement.
|
Section 5. |
Non-Disparagement. Employee agrees to refrain from any disparagement, defamation, libel or slander of the Bank or Bank-affiliates or tortious
interference with the contracts and relationships of the Bank.
|
Section 6. |
Acknowledgments. Employee acknowledges, represents and agrees, in compliance with the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, that:
|
(a) |
Employee has been fully informed and is fully aware of his/her right to discuss any and all aspects of this matter with an attorney of his/her choice and is specifically advised
that he/she should seek such advice;
|
(b) |
Employee has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement;
|
(c) |
Employee has had up to and including a full twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement before executing it, unless by his/her own choice he/she has waived all or part of this period;
|
(d) |
Employee has a full seven (7) days following the execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement, and has been and is hereby advised in writing that this Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable as to Employee rights
under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (29 U.S.C. section 621 et seq.) until the revocation period has expired (but shall be immediately effective as to all other claims). Any revocation shall be made in writing and
delivered to Bank’s Chief Executive Officer on or before the seventh day following Employee execution of this Agreement; and
|
(e) |
Employee accepts the terms of this Agreement as fair and equitable under all the circumstances and voluntarily executes this Agreement.
|
Section 7. |
Non-Admission. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an admission of liability by the Bank, its past and present affiliates, officers,
directors, owners, employees or agents, and the Bank specifically disclaims liability to or wrongful treatment of Employee on the part of itself, its past and present affiliates, officers, directors, owners, employees and agents.
|
Section 8. |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
|
Section 9. |
Savings Clause. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be deemed to not be a part of this Agreement,
but shall not invalidate any other provision hereby.
|
Section 10. |
Integration Clause. This Agreement is intended by the parties to be their final agreement. The statements, promises and agreements in this Agreement
may not be contradicted by any prior understandings, agreements, promises or statements. Employee states and promises that in signing this Agreement he/she has not relied on any statements or promises made by the Bank, other than the
promises contained in this Agreement. Any changes to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by both Parties.
|
Date:
|
Employee:
|
||
Thomas Bennett
|
Date:
|
By:
|
||
Edward Corum, Jr.
|
||
Chairman of the Personnel Committee
|
Section 1. |
Change of Control Compensation Package. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Employee shall receive the following compensation for compliance with the terms of the
covenants described herein (the “Restrictive Covenants”), which compensation is part of (and not in addition to) the Change of Control Compensation Package described in Section 7.05 of the Employment Agreement to be paid or commence
immediately prior to a Change of Control: In the event of a Change of Control of Employer or Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (“Bancorp”), (A) one (1) times the Employee’s highest Annual Compensation (as defined in Section 7.05.01 of the
Employment Agreement), (B) Employee’s monthly premium for continuation coverage under COBRA (as defined in Section 7.05 of the Employment Agreement), determined as of the closing or other occurrence of the Change of Control, multiplied
by twelve (12) months, whether or not such continuation coverage is elected by Employee, and (C) a gross-up payment as defined and set forth in Section 7.05.3 of the Employment Agreement.
|
Section 2. |
Restrictive Covenants: Employee agrees that for a period of one (1) year following the Change of Control (in the event of a Change of Control of Employer, the Bank or
Bancorp under Section 7.05.2 of the Employment Agreement) (the “Restricted Period”), he shall not, as an individual, employee, consultant, independent contractor, partner, shareholder, or in association with any other person, business
or enterprise, directly or indirectly, and regardless of the reason for him/her ceasing to be employed by Employer, engage in the following (which periods shall run concurrent with the periods of the restrictive covenants described in
Section 8.02 of the Employment Agreement and not consecutively):
|
A. |
Non-Competition. Employee recognizes that if he were to become employed by, or substantially involved in, the business of a competitor of Employer or
any of its affiliates, it would be very difficult for Employee not to rely on or use Employer’s and its affiliates’ Trade and Business Secrets, Proprietary and Confidential information or
Employer Materials. To protect Employer’s Trade and Business Secrets, Proprietary and Confidential information and Employer Materials and its affiliates’ relationships and
goodwill with customers, Employee will not, directly or indirectly through any other Person, engage in, enter the employ of, render any services to, have any ownership interest in, or participate in the financing, operation, management
or control of, any Competing Business (as defined below). For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “directly or indirectly through any other Person” shall include, without limitation, any direct or indirect ownership or profit
participation interest in such enterprise, whether as an owner, stockholder, member, partner, joint venturer or otherwise, and shall include any direct or indirect participation in such enterprise as an employee, independent contractor,
consultant, director, officer, licensor of technology or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, “Competing Business” means a Person which has a branch office or conducts material business in any county in which the Bank has an
office immediately prior to the Change of Control or opens a branch or office in any county in which the Bank, immediately prior to the Change of Control, has a branch office during the Restricted Period (the “Restricted Area”) that
competes with Employer and its affiliates by soliciting, offering and/or selling any services or products substantially similar in function or capability to or competitive with the existing services and products sold, licensed,
distributed, marketed, provided, being developed or otherwise offered, performed or provided by Employer and its affiliates as of the Change of Control, or the services or products of Employer and its affiliates being actively planned
or developed as of the Change of Control, or any other business, product or service in which Employee has been engaged for more than a de minimis amount of time during the twelve (12)-month period immediately preceding the date of
Change of Control. Nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as Employee has no active participation in
the business of such corporation. In view of the nature of Employee’s employment with Employer and Employee’s contribution of equity in Employer to the Change of Control, Employee likewise agrees that Employer and its affiliates would
be irreparably harmed by any such competition in violation of the terms of this paragraph and that Employer and its affiliates shall therefore be entitled to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief prohibiting Employee from
engaging in any activity or threatened activity in violation of the terms of this paragraph and to any other relief, including financial compensation commensurate with damages caused, available to them.
|
B. |
Solicitation of Employees. Employee recognizes that he possesses and will possess confidential information about other employees of Employer and its affiliates relating to
their education, experience, skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and inter-personal relationships with customer(s) of Employer and its affiliates. Employee recognizes that the information he possesses and will possess about
these other employees is not generally known, is of substantial value to Employer and its affiliates in developing their business and in securing and retaining customers, and in managing general daily operations of Employer, and has
been and will be acquired by Employee because of his/her business position with Employer and its affiliates. Employee agrees that Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or recruit any employee of Employer or its affiliates
for the purpose of being employed by, or serving as a consultant or information resource to, Employee, or any competitor of Employer or its affiliates on whose behalf Employee is acting as an agent, representative or employee, and that
Employee will not convey such confidential information or trade secrets about other employees of Employer and its affiliates to any other Person or legal entity. In view of the nature of Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee
likewise agrees that Employer and its affiliates would be irreparably harmed by any such solicitation or recruitment in violation of the terms of this paragraph and that Employer and its affiliates shall therefore be entitled to
preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief prohibiting Employee from engaging in any activity or threatened activity in violation of the terms of this paragraph and to any other relief, including financial compensation commensurate
with damages caused, available to them.
|
C. |
Solicitation of Customers. Employee shall not, directly or indirectly (whether as an officer, director, owner, employee, partner, consultant or other participant), use any
Trade and Business Secret, Proprietary and Confidential information or Employer Materials to identify, solicit or entice any Customer or Prospective Customer of Employer or its affiliates to make any changes whatsoever in their current
or prospective relationships with Employer or its affiliates, and will not assist any other Person or entity to interfere with or dispute such current or prospective relationships. If Employee leaves Employer and goes to work for a new
employer that is a competitor of Employer, and if that new employer already has an existing relationship with a Customer or Prospective Customer of Employer or its affiliates, this paragraph does not preclude Employee from making
contact with such Customer or Prospective Customer on the new employer’s behalf, so long as such contact otherwise complies with the provisions of this paragraph. In view of the nature of Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee
likewise agrees that Employer and its affiliates would be irreparably harmed by any such interference or competitive actions in violation of the terms of this paragraph and that Employer and its affiliates shall therefore be entitled to
preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief prohibiting Employee from engaging in any activity or threatened activity in violation of the terms of this paragraph, in addition to any other relief, including financial compensation
commensurate with damages caused, available to them.
|
D. |
Representations. Without limiting the generality of Employee’s
agreements in this Section 2, Employee (i) represents that he is familiar with and has carefully considered the Restrictive Covenants, (ii) represents that he is fully aware of his obligations hereunder, (iii) agrees to the
reasonableness of the length of time, scope and geographic coverage, as applicable, of the Restrictive Covenants, (iv) agrees that Employer and its affiliates currently conduct business throughout the Restricted Area, and (v) agrees
that the Restrictive Covenants will continue in effect for the applicable periods set forth above in this Section 2 regardless of whether Employee is then entitled to receive severance pay or benefits from Employer. Employee understands
that the Restrictive Covenants may limit his/her ability to earn a livelihood in a business similar to the business of Employer and any of its affiliates, but he nevertheless believes that he has received and will receive sufficient
consideration and other benefits as an employee of Employer and as otherwise provided hereunder or as described in the recitals hereto to clearly justify such restrictions which, in any event (given his/her education, skills and
ability), Employee does not believe would prevent him/her from otherwise earning a living. Employee agrees that the Restrictive Covenants do not confer a benefit upon Employer and its affiliates disproportionate to the detriment of
Employee.
|
Section 3. |
Confidentiality of Agreement. As a material inducement to the Bank to enter into this Agreement, Employee represents and agrees that he will keep all terms of this
Agreement completely confidential, and that he will not disclose any information concerning this Agreement to any person, including, but not limited to, any past, present or prospective employee of the Bank, except for his/her spouse,
attorney, tax account and financial advisor. Employee further agrees that disclosure by him/her of the terms and conditions of this Agreement in violation of this Section constitutes a material breach of the Agreement.
|
Section 4. |
Confidentiality of Proprietary Information. Employee acknowledges and agrees that he has an obligation to continue to keep in confidence and not use for his/her own or any
other person's or entity's benefit all proprietary and confidential information concerning the Bank, as defined in Part VIII of the Employment Agreement.
|
Section 5. |
Non-Disparagement. Employee agrees to refrain from any disparagement, defamation, libel or slander of the Bank or Bank-affiliates or tortious interference with the
contracts and relationships of the Bank.
|
Section 6. |
Acknowledgments. Employee acknowledges, represents and agrees that:
|
(a) |
Employee has been fully informed and is fully aware of his/her right to discuss any and all aspects of this matter with an attorney of his/her choice and is specifically advised
that he should seek such advice;
|
(b) |
Employee has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement; and
|
(c) |
Employee accepts the terms of this Agreement as fair and equitable under all the circumstances and voluntarily executes this Agreement.
|
Section 7. |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
|
Section 8. |
Savings Clause. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be deemed to not be a part of this Agreement, but shall not
invalidate any other provision hereby.
|
Section 9. |
Capitalized Terms. Any capitalized term in this Agreement that is not defined herein shall have the meaning given to such term in the Employment Agreement.
|
Section 10. |
Integration Clause. This Agreement is intended by the parties to be their final agreement. The statements, promises and agreements in this Agreement may not be
contradicted by any prior understandings, agreements, promises or statements. Employee states and promises that in signing this Agreement he has not relied on any statements or promises made by the Bank, other than the promises
contained in this Agreement. Any changes to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by both Parties.
|
Date:
|
Employee:
|
||
Thomas Bennett
|
By:
|
||
Edward Corum, Jr.
|
||
Chairman of the Personnel Committee
|