Document

Exhibit 10.1

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE


            THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE (“Agreement and Release”), is entered into by Patrick Doran (“you”) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (“FHLBank”).  This Agreement and Release was presented to you on August 19, 2021.


1.Termination Date.  Your resignation from employment with FHLBank is accepted and effective September 10, 2021. (“Termination Date”). You will not accrue additional vacation leave or service credit after the Termination Date. FHLBank will promptly reimburse you for all business expenses properly incurred by you for which you are or were entitled to reimbursement and for which you properly and timely made or make a request for reimbursement in accordance with FHLBank policy.  Payment for any and all amounts due for any accrued and unused vacation leave through the Termination Date for which reimbursement is permissible under FHLBank policy will be made on or before the next pay cycle.
  
2.Severance Pay.  In the event that you fully execute this Agreement and Release on or before October 21, 2021 and return it to FHLBank as set forth below, and do not revoke it within 7 days, you will be considered to have resigned your employment with FHLBank as of September 10, 2021. In that event, in consideration for said Agreement and Release, including the waiver and discharge of all claims, as set forth in paragraph 15 herein, against FHLBank, its directors, officers and employees, as set forth herein and your agreement to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement and Release, you shall receive the following as Severance Pay:  


a.Salary Continuation under the Executive Officer Severance Policy.  Your salary will continue to be paid to you for a period of twelve months from September 11, 2021 in an amount equal to your final base salary at which you were being paid on the Termination Date, subject to all appropriate withholding and taxation. This payment is subject to reduction due to any payments you may owe FHLBank. You will not receive employer contributions under the Federal Home Bank of Topeka 401K Plan/or the Benefit Equalization Plan or any additional credit pursuant to the Benefit Equalization Plan as a result of salary continuation. 


b.Cash Incentive and Deferred Incentive under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan dated December 14, 2018 (“EICP”). For the Base Performance Period ending December 31, 2021, you will be eligible to receive the pro rata portion of the Total Base Opportunity earned through September 10, 2021, subject to all provisions of the EICP and the discretion reserved to the CEO and the FHLBank’s Board of Directors regarding the EICP, which will not be applied in a discriminatory manner, including but not limited to achievement of performance measures and reduction or elimination of an award for the Base Performance Period and/or for any Deferral Performance Period as provided under the terms of the EICP. In addition, you will be eligible to receive all Deferred Incentives for all applicable and outstanding Deferred Performance Periods subject to all provisions of the EICP and the discretion reserved to the CEO and the 





Exhibit 10.1

FHLBank’s Board of Directors regarding the EICP, which will not be applied in a discriminatory manner, including but not limited to achievement of performance measures and reduction or elimination of an award for any Deferral Performance Period as provided under the terms of the EICP. Further, should the Board of Directors determine to provide a cash bonus to present FHLBank Named Executive Officers in recognition of amounts held back from Deferred Incentives paid in 2020 and 2021 and if and to the extent the Federal Housing Finance Agency (Finance Agency) does not object to such bonus payments to the Named Executive Officers, you will receive a lump sum cash payment calculated in the same manner as the cash bonus paid to the Named Executive Officers. 


1.For purposes of determining awards for both the Cash Incentive and the outstanding Deferred Incentives, the following apply: 
a.it will be assumed that you achieved satisfactory levels of individual performance, and 
b.that you were not terminated “for cause.” 


2. The Cash Incentive and Deferred Incentives are subject to all conditions set forth in the EICP, including but not limited to the following:
a.Prior non-objection by the Finance Agency;
b.Deduction of FICA taxes before payment;
c.Your adherence to the non-disclosure and non-solicitation provisions of paragraph 3.5 of the EICP. 


3.Any Cash Incentive or Deferred Incentive or special cash bonuses will be paid to you on the date that other eligible employees are paid under the terms of the EICP.  


c.Health Coverage Payment. You will receive an additional lump sum payment of $ 49,557, less applicable taxes and other authorized or required withholdings, which is to compensate you for the cost of health insurance for you and your dependents for approximately twenty-four months. You agree not to elect Cobra coverage under FHLBank’s health-insurance-related benefit plan and voluntarily waive your right to that Cobra coverage. You understand your right to this Health Coverage Payment is conditioned on neither you nor any of your dependents electing Cobra insurance coverage. This payment is being offered as an alternative to your traditional Cobra rights and supersedes your right to elect Cobra for any Cobra coverage period that would otherwise apply.


3.No Entitlement to Severance Pay Absent Signed Agreement.  You will not receive any Severance Pay, including salary continuation, cash incentive or deferred incentive, and health coverage payment unless and until you have signed and dated this Agreement and Release and delivered it to FHLBank, on or before October 21, 2021, in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Agreement and Release and the 7-day period for you to revoke this Agreement and Release has expired without you exercising such right of revocation.  If 





Exhibit 10.1

and when that 7-day revocation period expires, your salary continuation will begin no later than FHLBank’s next regularly scheduled pay date.  In such case, that payment will relate back to September 11, 2021, which will be the start of your salary continuation severance period.  In the event that you fail to comply with this provision, you will not be entitled to any payments under the Executive Officer Severance Policy, the EICP, or this Agreement and Release, except that you will be entitled to continuing health coverage costs as required by law.     


4.You agree that the Severance Pay set forth in paragraph 2 of this Agreement and Release is in excess of the benefits to which you would have otherwise been entitled.  


5.Any authority you have been granted or delegated to act upon on behalf of FHLBank ended on August 13, 2021, and any representations by you of such authority ceased at that time.


6.On or before the Termination Date, September 10, 2021, you agree to comply with all normal employment termination procedures, including the return of all documents or other materials owned by FHLBank, including but not limited to employee manuals, stationary, business cards, photo identification, key cards, computer software and hardware, passwords, and any proprietary or confidential information. You shall not receive the Severance Pay described in paragraph 2 prior to your return of property and materials described herein.


7.You agree to keep confidential all proprietary information and knowledge you acquired during your employment at FHLBank and expressly agree that all such information and knowledge belong to FHLBank. You agree to keep confidential each of FHLBank’s affiliates, customers, and stockholders, which information has not been published, disseminated or otherwise become a matter of general public knowledge whether with respect to FHLBank’s business, operations, finances, customers, employees, directors or otherwise, whether in written form or committed to memory.  Because of FHLBank’s desire to ensure against harm, you agree to keep such information confidential and will not disclose or make use of it.  


8.You further agree that neither you nor any member of your family will disparage or make any comment that could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the business or financial prospects or reputation of FHLBank or its current or former directors, officers or employees in any medium, including verbal, written, or on social media. Nothing in the foregoing sentence, however, is intended to prevent you from making true statements pursuant to a valid subpoena, under oath in a court proceeding, or in any Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Finance Agency, or other government agency investigation. You agree that paragraphs 7 and 8 are material provisions of this Agreement and Release. If FHLBank determines you have materially violated this Agreement and Release, it may immediately cease providing any further Severance Pay, may recapture any previously provided Severance Pay, and/or may seek injunctive relief against you, at FHLBank’s discretion.







Exhibit 10.1

9.You acknowledge that you are bound by the terms of the EICP, including but not limited to EICP paragraph 3.5 regarding Non-Disclosure and Non-Solicitation.     


10.You understand and agree that FHLBank is not entering into this Agreement and Release because it believes you have any valid legal claim against it, and FHLBank expressly denies any fault or wrongdoing.  Instead, you understand and agree that the purpose of this Agreement and Release is to recognize your significant contributions to FHLBank and provide you with assistance in the transition of your employment status, while at the same time protecting FHLBank from the expense and disruption that are often incurred in defending against even a groundless claim.  If you elect not to sign this Agreement and Release, the fact that it was offered to you in the first place will not be understood or contended to be any indication that FHLBank believed that you had been unlawfully treated in any respect.


11.You agree that if you materially violate any of the terms of this Agreement and Release, you are legally obligated to immediately return any and all Severance Pay you have received under this Agreement and Release, and you agree that FHLBank may cease providing any additional Severance Pay under this Agreement and Release. In that event, FHLBank may pursue any other additional relief to which it is or may be entitled under this Agreement and Release or applicable law.


12.This Agreement and Release shall be governed, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Kansas, without reference to its conflicts and law provisions.


13.You and FHLBank agree that if any or part of this Agreement and Release is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void, voidable, unlawful or unenforceable for any reason, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining parts of this Agreement and Release, which shall remain in full force and effect.


14.You understand that this Agreement and Release has not been reviewed by FHLBank’s regulator, the Finance Agency, and that this Agreement and Release is subject to review by the Finance Agency. You agree that this Agreement and Release shall not be considered final and effective until FHLBank receives non-objection from the Finance Agency.


15.In exchange for the Severance Pay offered by FHLBank in paragraph 2 herein, you, for yourself, your family, and your heirs and executors/administrators, hereby:


a.Fully release and forever discharge FHLBank and each of its past and present shareholders, directors, officers, employees, benefit plans, benefit committees, agents and their predecessors, successors and assigns (“Released Parties”), from all liability upon claims of any kind or nature whatsoever (“Claims”), including, but not limited to, claims of breach of public policy of the State of Kansas, negligence, any and all intentional torts, including but not limited to defamation and libel, breach of oral, express or implied contract, wrongful discharge, constructive discharge, breach of FHLBank’s Executive Officer Severance Policy, breach of FHLBank’s EICP, breach of any provisions of FHLBank’s Benefit 





Exhibit 10.1

Equalization Plan or any breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, tort of outrage, detrimental reliance, whistleblowing or any other common law claims, violation of federal, state or local laws which prohibit discrimination on any basis, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, age, veteran status, sexual preference or orientation, disability or retaliation, including, but not limited to, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, the federal Civil Rights statutes of Title 42, §§ 1981, 1983, 1985(3) and 1986, as amended, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Kansas Act Against Discrimination, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, retaliation for exercising rights under the Kansas Workers’ Compensation Act, the Kansas Wage Payment Act, the Kansas Service Letter Statute, and all other federal, state or local laws governing the employment relationship, whether or not any such claim or cause of action actually exists, and including further claims of any other nature whatever, based in whole or in part on any act or event which occurred prior to the effective date of this Agreement and Release, known or unknown, which you now have or could claim to have, but shall not include any claim arising under this Agreement or to vested pension rights or unemployment compensation.  You further waive any claim or right to payment of attorney’s fees or expenses, and all other claims for damages including, but not limited to, actual damages, back pay, front pay, liquidated damages, punitive damages, and emotional distress damages.  FHLBank and you agree that to the extent you may have a right to file or participate in a claim or charge against the FHLBank that is not releasable, this Agreement and Release shall not be intended to release, waive or otherwise extend to such a right, if any.


b.Release of Age Claim.  You understand and acknowledge that this Agreement and Release releases any claim, arising before execution of this Agreement and Release, which you may have against the FHLBank or Released Parties under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq. (“ADEA”) which protects persons 40 years of age and older from age discrimination.


c.Agree that you will not file, or permit to be filed in your name or on your behalf, any lawsuit or administrative claim, other than for unemployment compensation or as described in paragraph 18(e) below, against any of the Released Parties based on any act or event that occurred on or prior to the effective date of this Agreement and Release.


d.Waive your right to receive money or other relief resulting from the disposition of any charge or other litigation against FHLBank filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or with any other federal, state or local agency or court, except as otherwise prohibited by law.


e.Understand that FHLBank may introduce this Agreement and Release as evidence in the event you assert any claim or commence any legal proceeding against it.







Exhibit 10.1

f.Release of CIC Plan Rights.  You understand and acknowledge that by signing this Agreement and Release, you waive and release any rights you may have of any kind or nature, including any right to severance benefits under FHLBank’s “Change in Control Plan” dated June 19, 2015, arising from a change in control at any time following the date on which this Agreement and Release becomes effective, i.e. after the Agreement and Release has been fully executed, and your 7-day Revocation Period has expired.  


g.Agree to indemnify and hold FHLBank harmless for any breach of this Agreement and Release, or any representation made by you that is false, including but not limited to payment of any reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred or damages awarded.


16.You should consult an attorney before you sign this Agreement and Release.


17.This agreement is subject to final review and nonobjection by the Finance Agency. 


18.You make the following representations, each of which is an important consideration to FHLBank’s willingness to enter into this Agreement and Release with you:


a.That unless otherwise required by law, the Severance Pay that FHLBank has agreed to provide in paragraph 2 are payments and benefits to which you would not be entitled were it not for this Agreement and Release and is adequate consideration for you entering into this Agreement and Release.


b.That you received this Agreement and Release on August 19, 2021, and that you have been given more than 21 days, to consider and review this Agreement and Release before signing it.  You may accept the offer contained in the Agreement and Release at any time within this time period by signing it and delivering it to Amanda J. Kiefer, SVP, Chief Human Resources and Inclusion Officer, at FHLBank Topeka, 500 SW Wanamaker Rd, PO Box 176, Topeka, KS 66601. If you do so, this time period automatically ceases. If you do not execute this Agreement and Release prior to the close of business on October 21, 2021, FHLBank’s offer to enter into this Agreement and Release will automatically expire.


c.That you are aware that you may change your mind and revoke this Agreement and Release at any time during the seven days after you sign it by providing written notice to Amanda J. Kiefer, SVP, Chief Human Resources and Inclusion Officer, at FHLBank Topeka, 500 SW Wanamaker Rd, PO Box 176, Topeka, KS 66601, in which case the Agreement and Release will be null and void and of no effect.  Further, you are aware that in such a case the Severance Pay described in paragraph 2 promised hereunder shall NOT be paid to you.


d.That you are aware that federal, state and local laws prohibit discrimination against employees because of their race or color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, sexual preference or orientation, and disability, and that an employee who believes he or she has been discharged or otherwise 





Exhibit 10.1

discriminated against for any of these reasons has a right to file a lawsuit or to initiate other proceedings against FHLBank and to recover damages if it is proved that FHLBank is subject to and violated any one of these laws.


e.That you are aware that, by signing this Agreement and Release, which includes a general release, you are, to the maximum extent permitted by law, giving up any right to sue FHLBank, or to initiate any other legal proceedings against it, not only on the basis of the discrimination laws mentioned above, but for any other claims which you have or believe to have against FHLBank based upon any event that occurred before you signed this Agreement and Release, except claims for unemployment compensation benefits. You understand that you are not giving up your right to file a charge of discrimination or complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”), the Department of Labor (“DOL”), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), or other government agency, nor are you giving up your right to participate truthfully in any EEOC, NLRB, DOL, OSHA, or other government agency investigation, nor are you waiving your right to receive an award for information provided to a government agency. You agree and understand, however, that you are waiving your right to recover any other form of relief whatsoever in connection with any such charge, complaint, proceeding, or investigation. 


f.That you will not apply for any future employment with FHLBank. Should you do so, FHLBank will summarily reject your application as a breach of this agreement and will have no obligation to consider you for any position. 


g.That you are not relying on any promises or representations except those specifically contained in this Agreement and Release.


h.That you have read and understand each and every provision of this Agreement and Release and their effects. 


i.That you have decided, free of any duress or coercion, to enter into this Agreement and Release.


j.That you believe you have been paid correctly and legally throughout your employment, that FHLBank does not owe you any wages, except as set forth in this Agreement and Release, and that you have not experienced any retaliation with regard to any pay or wage and hour issues. 


k.That you have not been denied any Family and Medical Leave Act request or benefits, nor have you suffered any retaliation in connection with any Family and Medical Leave Act request for benefits. 


l.That you have not suffered any unreported workplace injury or illness. 


m.That you have not filed any complaints or charges against FHLBank with any court or administrative agency prior to the date you signed this Agreement and 





Exhibit 10.1

Release, which complaint or charge has not been dismissed, closed, withdrawn, or terminated as of the date you sign this Agreement and Release.


n.That you are not aware of any illegal acts committed by or on behalf of FHLBank or any Released Party; that you are not aware of any facts that would support a report to any agency or regulatory body with authority over FHLBank of any violation of law, rule, or regulation applicable to FHLBank; and that if you were aware of any such conduct that you have properly reported the same to FHLBank in writing, in accord with FHLBank’s policies.    


o.That you have not transmitted via electronic or other means any FHLBank confidential data to yourself and further that you agree, this representation notwithstanding, that no such documentation will ever be used against FHLBank in support of a Claim.


d.That you will cooperate with FHLBank in defending or prosecuting any claims that have been brought or may be brought by or against FHLBank, insofar as FHLBank reasonably requests your cooperation for such purposes.  Your cooperation may include, but is not limited to, responding truthfully to the best of your knowledge and ability to questions and/or requests for information; making yourself reasonably available for meetings with FHLBank, its attorneys, or their designees; and making yourself reasonably available for any administrative or legal proceedings, including but not limited to traveling to, preparing for, and attending depositions and trial.  During the period FHLBank is providing Severance Pay described hereunder to you, FHLBank shall owe you no further compensation for such cooperation, but shall reimburse you for all expenses you may reasonably incur in providing such cooperation.  After FHLBank has ceased providing Severance Pay to you, FHLBank shall pay you for each reasonably documented hour of service given by you for such purposes, 1/40th the weekly rate of base salary at which FHLBank is to provide Severance Pay as described in paragraph 2 as well as reimburse you for all expenses you may reasonably incur in providing such cooperation.




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Release is executed by you and FHLBank as of the date indicated below.


						
		FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK
		OF TOPEKA
		
	/s/ Patrick C. Doran	/s/ Amanda J. Kiefer
	Patrick C. Doran	Amanda J. Kiefer, SVP, Chief
		Human Resources and Inclusion Officer
		
	Dated 10/18/2021	Dated: 10/19/2021