Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT is made this 30th day of March, 2004 between CENTER FINANCIAL
CORPORATION (the COMPANY”), a California corporation, CENTER BANK (the “BANK”),
a California banking corporation (collectively referred to as “Employer”), both
having their -a principal place of business at 3435 Wilshire Boulevard, Los
Angeles, California 90010, and Seon Hong Kim (“Executive”) whose residence
address is 6513 Sheltondale Avenue, West Hills, California 91367.

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company is a California corporation and the Bank is California
banking corporation both duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing
under the laws of the State of California, with power to own property and carry
on its business as it is now being conducted;

 

WHEREAS, the Employer desires to avail itself of the skill, knowledge and
experience of Executive in order to insure the successful management of its
business; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to specify the terms of Executive’s
employment with Employer;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth,
it is agreed that from and after September 1, 2004 (the “Effective Date”), the
following terms and conditions shall apply to Executive’s said employment:

 

A. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

 

1. Term. Employer hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts
employment with Employer for the initial period of three (3) years (the “Term”)
commencing with the Effective Date, subject to earlier termination as
hereinafter provided. The Term may be extended for an additional term of three
(3) years by mutual agreement prior to the end of the initial Term. Where used
herein, “Term” shall refer to the entire period of employment of Executive by
Employer hereunder, whether for the period provided above, or whether terminated
earlier as hereinafter provided.

 

2. Designation. Executive shall serve as the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and the Bank, and as a director of both the Company and
the Bank.

 

B. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE

 

1. Duties. Executive shall perform the duties of President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and the Bank, subject to the powers by law vested in the
Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank and in the Company’s
shareholders. During the Term, Executive shall perform exclusively the services
herein contemplated to be performed by Executive faithfully,

 

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diligently and to the best of Executive’s ability, consistent with the highest
and best standards of the banking industry and in compliance with all applicable
laws and the Company and the Bank’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and
internal written polices.

 

2. Conflicts of Interest. Except as permitted by the prior written consent of
the Boards of Directors of Employer, Executive shall devote Executive’s entire
productive time, and Executive shall not directly of indirectly render any
services of business, commercial or professional nature, to any other person,
firm or corporation, whether for compensation or otherwise, which are in
conflict with Employer’s interests.

 

C. COMPENSATION

 

1. Salary. For Executive’s services hereunder, the Bank shall pay or cause to be
paid an annual base salary to Executive of Two Hundred Seventy Nine Thousand
Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars ($279,330) for the first year of the Term, with
annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the Department of Labor for all urban consumers of the Los Angeles
metropolitan area, but in no event to exceed seven percent (7%) per year. Said
salary shall be payable in equal installments in conformity with the Bank’s
normal payroll period.

 

2. Incentive Bonuses. Executive shall receive an incentive annual bonus equal to
four percent (4%) of the amount of the Bank’s pre-tax earnings for that year
which exceed the Bank’s 20% of return on year-beginning capital; provided,
however, that in no event shall such bonus be less that $40,000 nor more than
the account of 75% of Executive’s annual base salary. For the remaining eight
months of the Term (or for the year 2007, if the Term is Extended), Executive
shall receive an incentive bonus equal to four percent (4%) of the amount of the
Bank’s pre-tax earnings for 2007 which exceed the Bank’s 20% of return on
year-beginning capital for 2006 (or two thirds of such amount, if the Term ends
on August 31, 2007); provided, however, that in no event shall such amount of
75% of Executive’s annual base salary. For purposes of this section, “pre-tax
earnings” shall be defined to mean net earnings of the Bank before taxes
(calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
(“GAAP”), after all expenses and revenues have been paid, including but not
limited to provisions or allocations for possible loan losses, and shall exclude
gains and losses on the sale of securities and any other extraordinary income or
losses).

 

D. EXECUTIVE BENEFITS

 

1. Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to a three (3) week vacation each year
during the Term; provided, however, that during each year of the term, Executive
is required to and shall take at least two (2) weeks of said vacation, which
must be taken consecutively.

 

2. Automobile. During the Term hereunder, Executive shall be entitled to the
unlimited use of a suitable full-size automobile, the make of which shall be
determined by mutual agreement. In addition, the Bank shall pay all operating
expenses in regard to Executive’s automobile, provided Executive furnishes to
the Bank adequate records and other documentary evidence required by federal and
state statutes and regulations of such payments as deductible business expenses
of the Bank. The Bank shall also procure and maintain in force an automobile
insurance policy on such automobile, sufficient in amount and in coverage, the
coverage shall

 

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include, without limitation, $500,000 coverage for bodily injury or death and
$100,000 coverage for related property damage.

 

3. Group Medical and Life Insurance Benefits. The Bank shall provide for
Executive and his dependents, at the Bank’s expense, participation in medical,
accident and health insurance benefits equivalent to the maximum benefits
available from time to time under the California Bankers Association Group
insurance program for an employee of Executive’s salary level. Executive shall
be provided with term life insurance benefits equivalent to the maximum amount
currently provided by the carrier.

 

4. Incentive Stock Option(s). The Board of Directors of Company agrees to grant
to Executive, on or before September 1, 2004, a stock option(s) to purchase up
to 150,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued Common Stock, at the
fair market value of the stock on the date of grant, on such further terms and
conditions as shall be contained in a Stock Option Agreement(s) to be entered
into by and between the Company and Executive pursuant to the terms of the 1996
Stock Option Plan or an amended 1996 Stock Option Plan. The Bank agrees that
such options will be “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to the maximum.

 

5. Club Memberships. Executive shall be provided with membership in such clubs
as may be approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank. The Bank agrees to pay
Executive’s membership dues, as well as all expenses reasonable and necessary in
connection with the maintenance and utilization of said membership for business
related purpose by Executive throughout the Term.

 

E. REIMBURSEMENT FOR BUSINESS EXPENSES

 

Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Bank for any ordinary and
necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of
Executive’s duties and in acting for the Bank during the Term, which types of
expenditures shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Bank, Provided
that:

 

(a) Each such expenditure is of a nature qualifying it as a proper deduction on
the federal and state income tax returns of the Bank as a business expense and
not as deductible compensation to Executive; and

 

(b) Executive furnishes to the Bank adequate record and other documentary
evidence required by federal and state statutes and regulations issued by the
appropriate taxing authorities for the substantiation of such expenditures as
deductible business expenses of the Bank and not as deductible compensation to
Executive.

 

F. TERMINATION

 

1. Termination. Employer may terminate this Agreement at any time without
further obligation or liability to Executive, by action of the Board of
Directors of the Company or the Bank, if Executive fails to perform or
habitually neglects the duties which he is required to perform hereunder and
such failure or neglect materially adversely affects Employer’s operations or
financial performance; if Executive engages in illegal activity which materially
adversely affects Employer’s

 

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reputation in the community or which evidences the lack of Executive’s fitness
or ability to perform Executive’s duties as determined by the Boards of
Directors in good faith; if Executive engages in the falsification of reports or
material, intentional misrepresentation or omission of information supplied to
Employer or to regulatory agencies; or if Executive commits any act which would
cause termination of coverage under the Bank’s Bankers Bond as to Executive (as
distinguished from termination of coverage as to the Bank as a whole). Such
termination shall not prejudice any remedy, which the Bank may have at law, in
equity, or under this Agreement.

 

2. Death or Disability. In the event of Executive’s death or if Executive is
found to be physically or mentally disabled (as hereinafter defined) by the
Board of Directors in good faith, this Agreement shall terminate without any
further liability or obligation to Executive. For purposes of this Agreement
only, physical or mental disability shall be defined as Executive being unable
to fully perform under this Agreement for a continuous period of ninety (90)
days. If there should be a dispute between Employer and Executive as to
Executive’s physical or mental disability for purposes of this Agreement, the
question shall be settled by the opinion of an impartial reputable physician or
psychiatrist agreed upon by the parties or their representative, or if the
parties cannot agree within ten (10) days after a request for designation of
such party, then by a physician or psychiatrist designated by the Los Angeles
County Medical Association. The certification of such physician or psychiatrist
as to the question in dispute shall be final and binding upon the parties
hereto.

 

3. Action by Supervisory Authority. If the Bank is closed or taken over by the
Department of Financial Institutions or other supervisory authority, including
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, such supervisory authority may
immediately terminate this Agreement without further liability or obligation to
Executive by Employer.

 

4. Merger or Corporate Dissolution. In the event of (i) a merger where Employer
is not the surviving corporation, (ii) a consolidation, (iii) a transfer of all
or substantially all of the assets of Employer, or (iv) any other corporate
reorganization where there is a change in ownership of at least twenty-five
percent (25%) except as may result from a transfer of shares to another
corporation in exchange for at least eighty percent (80%) control of that
corporation, this Agreement shall be terminated without further liability to
Executive by Employer or the surviving entity, in the event of a merger, or the
transferee of assets, in the event of a purchase or sale; provide, however, that
in such event Employer shall pay to Executive the amount specified in Paragraph
F.5 herein regarding termination without cause.

 

5. Termination without Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, it is agreed by the parties hereto that Employer may at any time and for
any reason terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment by Employer by
action of the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank. Such termination
shall be effective immediately upon the giving of notice to Executive from
Employer and all benefits provided by Employer hereunder to Executive shall
thereupon cease, except as provided in this Paragraph. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, it is agreed that in the event of such termination, Executive shall
continue to be paid Executive’s salary at the rate in effect as of the date of
termination for the remainder of the Term but not less than 12 months salary,
which payments shall be paid to Executive in full amount.

 

6. Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement
prior to the completion of the Term specified herein, Executive shall be
entitled to the salary earned by

 

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Executive prior to the date of termination as provided for in this Agreement,
computed pro rata up to and including that date; but Executive shall be entitled
to no further compensation, except as provided in Paragraph F.4 above for merger
or corporate dissolution and in Paragraph F.5 above for termination without
cause. Executive further agrees that in the event of any such termination, he
will resign from the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank of the
effective date of the termination of this Agreement.

 

G. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

1. Trade Secrets. During the term, Executive will have access to and become
acquainted with what Executive and Employer acknowledge are trade secrets, to
wit, knowledge or data concerning Employer, including its operations and
business, and the identity of customers of Employer, including knowledge of
their financial condition, their financial needs, as well as their methods of
doing business. Executive shall not disclose any of the aforesaid trade,
secrets, directly or indirectly, or use them for any solicitation purposes,
either during the Term or for a period of six (6) months after termination of
this Agreement, except as required in the course of Executive’s employment with
Employer.

 

2. Indemnification. To the extent permitted by law and applicable statutes,
Employer shall indemnify Executive and hold Executive harmless from and against
liability or loss arising out of Executive’s actual or asserted misfeasance or
nonfeasance in the performance or Executive’s duties or out of any actual of
asserted wrongful act against, or by, Employer including but not limited to
judgments, fines, settlements and expenses incurred in the defense of actions,
proceedings and appeals therefrom. However, Employer shall have no duty to
indemnify Executive with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which
Executive has been adjudged to be liable to either the Company or the Bank in
the performance of his duties, unless and only to the extent that the court in
which such action was brought shall determine upon application that, in view of
all of the circumstances such court shall determine. Employer shall provide
Executive, at the Employer’s expense, with Directors’ and Officers’ Liability
Insurance to indemnify and insure Employer and Executive form and against the
aforesaid liabilities. The provisions of this Paragraph shall apply to the
estate, executor, administrator, heirs, legatees or devisee of Executive.

 

3. Return of Documents. Executive expressly agrees that all manuals, documents,
files, reports, studies, instruments or other materials used and/or developed by
Executive during the Term are solely the property of Employer, and that
Executive has no right, title or interest therein. Upon termination of this
Agreement, Executive or Executive’s representative shall promptly deliver
possession of all said property to Employer in good condition.

 

4. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be delivered in person (professional courier acceptable); or
by United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, with return
receipt requested; or by facsimile transmission; or otherwise actually
delivered, to the addresses for the parties appearing at the inception of this
Agreement. The persons or addresses to which mailings or deliveries shall be
made may change from time to time by notice given pursuant to the provisions of
this Paragraph G.4. Any notice, demand or other communication given pursuant to
this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date actually
delivered, if delivered in person, three days following the date mailed, if
delivered by U.S. mail, or upon written confirmation of transmission, if
delivered by facsimile.

 

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5. Governing Law. This Agreement is to be governed by and construed under the
laws of the State of California.

 

6. Review by Counsel. Executive represents and warrants to Employer that he has
had this Agreement reviewed by independent legal counsel of this choice, or if
he has not, that he has had the opportunity to do so, and hereby waives any
claim, objection or defense on the grounds that this Agreement has not been
reviewed by legal counsel of his choice.

 

7. Caption and Paragraph Headings. Captions and paragraph headings used herein
are for convenience only and are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be
used in constructing it.

 

8. Invalid Provisions. Should any provision of this Agreement for any reason be
declared invalid, void, or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction,
the validity and binding effect of any remaining portions shall not be affected,
and the remaining portions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect as if this Agreement had been executed with said provision eliminated.

 

9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
parties, It supersedes any and all other agreements either oral or in wiring,
between the parties hereto with respect to the employment of Executive by
Employer. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations,
inducements, promises, or agreements, oral or otherwise, have been made by any
party, or anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied herein,
and that no other agreement, statement, or promise not contained in this
Agreement shall be valid or binding. This Agreement may no be modified or
amended by oral agreement, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the
Company, the Bank and Executive.

 

10. Receipt of Agreement. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that he has
read this Agreement in its entirety and does hereby acknowledge receipt of a
fully executed copy thereof. A fully executed copy shall be an original for all
purposes, and is a duplicate original.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
day and the year first above written.

 

CENTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION By        

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Chung Hyun Lee

   

Chairman of the Board

CENTER BANK

    /s/ Chung Hyun Lee    

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Chung Hyun Lee

Chairman of the Board

    /s/ Seon Hong Kim    

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Seon Hong Kim

 

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