exv10w2



 






Exhibit 10.2




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 27th day of
January, 2005, between Discovery Bancorp’s (“Bancorp”) wholly owned subsidiary, Celtic Capital
Corporation (the “Corporation”) and Alex Falo (“Executive”) with reference to the following:



W I T N E S S E T H




     WHEREAS, Executive, Bancorp and the Corporation are all parties to that certain Asset Purchase
Agreement dated as of the 27th day of January, 2005 (the “Agreement”); and



     WHEREAS, one of the conditions to closing the transactions contemplated in the Agreement is
that Executive enter into this Employment Agreement; and



     WHEREAS, the Closing as defined in the Agreement has occurred;




     NOW, THEREFORE, from and after the Closing (the “Effective Date”), the following terms and
conditions shall apply to Executive’s employment by the Corporation:



A G R E E M E N T




A. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT




          1. Term. The Corporation hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts
employment with the Corporation for the period commencing with the Effective Date and terminating
three (3) years thereafter; subject, however, to prior termination of Executive’s employment as
hereinafter provided. Where used herein, “Term” shall refer to the entire period of employment of
Executive by the Corporation hereunder, whether for the period provided above, or whether
terminated earlier as hereinafter provided.




B. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE




          1. Duties. Executive shall perform the duties of Senior Vice President and Loan
Manager of the Corporation, which includes, but are not limited to those duties specified on the
Corporation’s Job Description for the position of Senior Vice President/Loan Manager,




39









 







subject to the powers by law vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and in the
Corporation’s shareholder. Executive shall report only to the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation. However, the duties of Executive may be changed from time to time by
mutual consent of Executive and the Corporation and without resulting in a rescission of this
Agreement. During the term, Executive shall perform exclusively the services herein contemplated
to be performed by Executive faithfully, diligently and to the best of Executive’s ability,
consistent with the highest and best standards of the commercial finance industry and in compliance
with all applicable laws and regulations.




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




C. COMPENSATION




          1. Base Salary. For Executive’s services hereunder, the Corporation shall pay or
cause to be paid as base salary to Executive the amount of not less than Ten Thousand Eight Hundred
Thirty-Three Dollars ($10,833) per calendar month; provided, however, that the base salary shall be
prorated for the first and last calendar months of the Term. Said base salary shall be payable in
conformity with the Corporation’s normal payroll periods. Executive’s base salary shall be
reviewed by the Board of Directors annually, at its discretion, and Executive shall receive such
base salary increases, if any, as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall determine.



          2. Bonus Pool. Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Employee Bonus Pool and
may receive such discretionary bonuses, if any, as the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, shall
determine to be appropriate. The Chief Executive Officer shall not participate in the Employee
Bonus Pool, but may, in his sole discretion, transfer a portion of his formula bonus to it. The
Employee Bonus Pool shall be funded by the Corporation in an amount equal to 5% of the
Corporation’s pre-tax earnings but only if the Corporation has achieved an after-tax fifteen
percent (15%) return on average equity, calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principals (GAAP”) for any fiscal year during the Term, prorated for any partial year.




D. EXECUTIVE BENEFITS




          1. Vacation and Sick Pay. Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation each
year during the Term; provided, however beginning in 2006, that at least two (2) weeks of said
vacation (the “Mandatory Vacation”) shall be taken consecutively. Executive shall not be entitled
to vacation pay in lieu of vacation, and any vacation time not used in excess of the Mandatory
Vacation shall be deemed waived, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Board of Directors or
accumulated in accordance with the Corporation’s Personnel Policy. Executive shall also be
entitled to sick pay in accordance with the Corporation’s Personnel Policy.




40









 








          2. Group Medical and Life Insurance Benefits. The Corporation shall provide for
Executive’s participation in the Corporation’s group medical, disability and life insurance
benefits, as provided to the Corporation’s other officers. Said insurance coverage shall be made
available to Executive as soon as possible and shall continue throughout the Term. The
Corporation’s liability to Executive for any breach of this Paragraph D.2 shall be limited to the
amount of premiums payable by the Corporation to obtain the coverage contemplated herein.




          3. Additional Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in all programs,
rights, and benefits for which Executive is otherwise entitled under any 401(k) plan, bonus plan,
incentive plan, participation plan, or extra compensation plan, pension plan, profit sharing plan,
savings plan, life, medical, dental, other health care, disability, or other insurance plan or
policy or other plan or benefit the Corporation may provide for senior executives or for employees
of the Corporation generally, from time to time, in effect during the Term.




E. BUSINESS EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENT




          1. Business Expenses. Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Corporation
for any ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of
Executive’s duties and in acting for the Corporation during the Term, which types of expenditures
shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Executive shall furnish to the Corporation adequate
records and other documentary evidence for the substantiation of such expenditures as deductible
business expenses of the Corporation.




          2. Reimbursement. Executive agrees that, if at any time payment made to Executive by
the Corporation for business expense reimbursement shall be disallowed in whole or in part as a
deductible business expense by the appropriate taxing authorities, the amount so disallowed shall
be treated as taxable compensation to Executive.




F. TERMINATION




          1. Termination For Cause. The Corporation may terminate Executive’s employment at any
time without further obligation or liability to Executive, by action of the Board of Directors in
good faith:




               (a) If Executive materially breaches Executive’s duties under this Agreement or habitually
neglects Executive’s duties;



               (b) If Executive is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or crime of
moral turpitude or a crime (other than a traffic offense) which materially and adversely affects
the Corporation’s reputation in the community or which evidences the lack of Executive’s fitness or
ability to perform Executive’s duties, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith;



               (c) If Executive has committed any act which would cause termination of coverage under the
Corporation’s fidelity insurance coverage as to Executive or as to the Corporation as a whole;



41









 





               (d) If Executive is deceased; or



               (e) If Executive is found to be physically or mentally incapable of performing Executive’s
duties for a period of six (6) months or greater by the Board of Directors, in good faith, based
upon a medical diagnosis.


Such termination shall not prejudice any remedy which the Corporation may have at law, in equity,
or under this Agreement. Termination pursuant to this Paragraph F.1 (a) shall become effective
thirty (30) days after written notice of termination explaining the breach or neglect which serves
as the basis for such termination, and Executive’s failure to reasonably cure such breach or
neglect to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors within such thirty (30) day
period. Termination pursuant to this Paragraph F.1(b), (c), (d) or (e) shall become effective two
(2) days after written notice of termination.




          2. Action by Supervisory Authority. Executive’s employment shall terminate
immediately without further liability or obligation to Executive:




               (a) If the Corporation is closed or taken over by the Department of Corporations or other
supervisory authority; or



               (b) If such supervisory authority should exercise its statutory cease and desist powers to
remove Executive from office.



          3. Merger or Corporate Reorganization. Executive’s employment with the Corporation
and the Term shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) a merger,
consolidation or reorganization where the shareholder of the Corporation immediately preceding the
closing of the transaction will not own immediately after the closing of the transaction more than
fifty percent (50%) of the resulting or surviving institution; (ii) a merger, consolidation or
reorganization where the shareholder of the Corporation immediately preceding the closing of the
transaction will not own immediately after the closing of the transaction more than fifty percent
(50%) of the corporation, partnership or limited liability company that controls the resulting or
surviving institution; (iii) a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation to an entity where the shareholder of the Corporation immediately preceding the closing
of the transaction will not own immediately after the closing of the transaction more than fifty
percent (50%) of the entity; or (iv) a sale of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding
Common Stock of the Corporation in a transaction or series of related transactions. The foregoing
events shall hereafter be referred to as a “Triggering Event.”




          4. Termination Without Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time without cause by the Corporation upon written
notice of termination to Executive and by Executive upon written notice of termination to the
Corporation.




          5. Effect of Termination.




42









 








               (a) In the event of termination of Executive’s employment prior to the completion of the Term
for any of the reasons specified in Paragraphs F.1 through F.4, Executive shall be entitled to the
salary and other benefits earned by Executive prior to the date of termination as provided for in
this Agreement, computed pro rata up to and including that date, and accrued but unused vacation
time; but Executive shall be entitled to no further compensation for services rendered after the
date of termination.



               (b) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Paragraph F.3, Executive
shall be entitled to severance compensation equal to six (6) months’ then current base salary.
Payment shall be made by the Corporation not later than the closing of the Triggering Event.



               (c) In addition, in the event the Corporation elects to terminate Executive’s employment
pursuant to Paragraph F.4, Executive shall be entitled to severance compensation equal to six (6)
months’ then current base salary, payable in monthly installments in conformity with the
Corporation’s normal payroll periods, and continuation of Executive’s group medical insurance, at
the Corporation’s expense, benefits for that same period.



               (d) In the event Executive elects to terminate Executive’s employment pursuant to the
provisions of Paragraph F.4, Executive shall not be entitled to any severance compensation or
continuation of Executive’s group medical insurance benefits.



               (e) The payment of benefits pursuant to this Paragraph F.5 shall discharge the Corporation
from any further liability to Executive under this Agreement. As a condition for receiving any
severance pay hereunder, pursuant to Paragraphs F.5(b) and F.5(c), Executive hereby agrees to
execute a full and complete release of any and all claims against the Corporation and its officers,
agents, directors, attorneys, insurers, employees and successors in interest arising from or in any
way related to Executive’s employment or the termination thereof.



G. GENERAL PROVISIONS




          1. Trade Secrets. Executive agrees that during the Term Executive will have access
to, and become acquainted with, confidential, trade secret, and proprietary information concerning
the Corporation, which may include information on its operations and business, identity of its
customers, including knowledge of their financial condition and financial needs, as well as such
customers’ methods of doing business. Executive will not use or disclose any of such trade
secrets, proprietary, or confidential information during the Term or for a period of three (3)
years thereafter, without the Corporation’s prior written consent. This limitation shall not apply
to information that (a) is or becomes public, or in the public domain, without the fault of
Executive, (b) was known to Executive, free of any obligation of confidentiality, prior to its
disclosure to Executive, or (c) is required to be disclosed by law or by an order of a court of
competent jurisdiction or other government authority.




          2. Covenant Not to Compete. Executive acknowledges that he is entering into this
Agreement as part of the sale of a business in which he is a significant shareholder and further
acknowledges that this Covenant Not to Compete is an integral part of Bancorp’s causing the
Corporation to enter into this Agreement as well as into the Asset Purchase Agreement.
Consequently, Executive hereby covenants and agrees that Executive will not now, nor for the





43









 







period during which Executive receives any compensation from the Corporation, including any
severance payments under Paragraph F.5 of this Agreement, whether directly or indirectly, for his
own account or for the account of others, whether as principal or agent or through the agency of
any corporation, partnership, association, or other business entity, own, manage, operate, join,
control or be employed by, participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be
connected in any manner with, any commercial finance business or any similar type of business
headquartered or operating in the states of California or Arizona. Furthermore, Executive, for a
period of three years from the Effective Date, shall not disrupt, damage, impair or interfere with
the business of the Corporation, through solicitation of its employees to be employees of another
firm, or solicit customers of the Corporation to become customers of any other firm.




     Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of the provisions of this Paragraph
G.2 are inadequate and that the Corporation shall be immediately entitled to injunctive relief
without the posting of any bond should the provisions of Paragraph G.2 be breached or threatened to
be breached.



          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
Executive’s employment with the Corporation, are solely the property of the Corporation, and that
Executive has no right, title or interest therein. Upon termination of Executive’s employment,
Executive or Executive’s representative shall promptly deliver possession of all of said property
to the Corporation in good condition.




          4. Notices. Any notice, request, demand or other communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be deemed to be properly given when personally served in writing or by facsimile,
when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or when communicated to a public
telegraph company for transmittal, addressed to the party at the address appearing at the beginning
of this Agreement. Either party may change its address by written notice in accordance with this
paragraph.




          5. Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective executors, administrators, successors and assigns.




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




          7. Captions 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 construing it.




          8. Invalid Provisions. Should any provisions of this Agreement for any reason be
declared invalid, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity and
binding effect of any remaining portion 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 and
supersedes any and all other agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties





44









 







hereto with respect to the employment of Executive by the Corporation. 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 not be modified or amended by oral agreement, but
only by an agreement in writing signed by the Corporation and Executive.




          10. Arbitration. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Executive and Corporation agree
to arbitrate any controversy, claim or dispute (“claims”) between the Corporation (and/or its
officers, directors, partners, Executives, shareholders, pension or benefit plans, administrators,
fiduciaries, agents, representatives or affiliate entities) and Executive relating to or arising
out of Executive’s employment with the Corporation or the termination of that employment, or this
Agreement, including without limitation, the construction or application of any of the terms,
covenants and/or conditions of this Agreement, in accordance with the following terms:



The claims shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration in Los Angeles County,
California, before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and in accordance with the AAA’s
then current version of the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. The
arbitrator shall be selected in accordance with the AAA’s selection procedures in effect at the
time, and shall be a member of the AAA’s panel of arbitrators for employment disputes. Either
party may initiate arbitration proceedings by filing a demand for arbitration with the AAA in Los
Angeles County, California.



The arbitrator shall have the authority to grant any relief authorized by law. The arbitrator
shall not have the authority to modify, change or refuse to enforce any lawful term of this
Agreement. However, should any portion of this arbitration provision be found to be unenforceable,
such portion will be severed from this arbitration provision, and the remaining portions shall
continue to be enforceable.



The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) of the
State of California or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The
arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve all claims covered by this arbitration
agreement, and any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or
formation of this arbitration agreement, including, but not limited to, any claim that all or any
part of this arbitration agreement is void or voidable. Any issues





45









 







involving the arbitrability of
a dispute shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.



The Corporation agrees to pay all arbitration fees, deposits and administrative costs assessed by
the AAA. Each party shall pay its own attorneys’ fees,
expenses of travel to the arbitration, expert witness fees and other costs, unless the arbitrator
orders otherwise, pursuant to applicable law.



The claims covered by the above include, but are not limited to, claims for wrongful termination,
unpaid wages or compensation, breach of contract, torts, violation of public policy, claims for
harassment or discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, religion, national origin,
age, marital status, medical condition, disability, or sexual orientation), claims for benefits
(except where an Executive benefit or pension plan specifies that its claims procedure shall
culminate in an arbitration procedure different from this one), claims for physical or mental harm
or distress, or any other employment-related claims under any federal, state or other governmental
law, statute, regulation or ordinance, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1965, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and any other statutes or laws relating to an
employee’s relationship with his/her employer. However, claims for workers’ compensation benefits
and unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this arbitration agreement, and such
claims may be presented to the appropriate court or government agency.



The arbitrator shall issue a written arbitration decision revealing the arbitrator’s essential
findings and conclusions upon which any award is based. A party’s right for review of the decision
is limited to grounds provided under applicable law.



The parties agree that the arbitration shall be final and binding and any arbitration award shall
be enforceable in any court having jurisdiction to enforce this arbitration agreement, so long as
the arbitrator’s findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence on the whole and the
arbitrator has not made errors of law. The parties further agree that for any claims, hereunder
which the parties have elected to submit to arbitration, each party retains the right to seek
preliminary injunctive relief in court to preserve the status quo or prevent irreparable injury
before the matter can be heard in arbitration.




46









 




BY AGREEING TO THIS BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION, BOTH THE CORPORATION AND EXECUTIVE GIVE UP ALL
RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN.



This agreement to arbitrate shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment.




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



	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	DISCOVERY BANCORP	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ John R. Plavan	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By: John R. Plavan	 	 
	 

	 	Its: Chairman of the Board	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	CELTIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Mark Hafner	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By: Mark Hafner

Its: President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Alex Falo	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Alex Falo	 	 






47