Document:

exv10w1

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT dated August 20, 2007 (the “Agreement”) by and between Westernbank Puerto
Rico, a bank organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (the
“Company”), W Holding Company, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the financial holding company of the Company (the “Holding
Company”), and José Armando Ramírez (the “Executive”).

     WHEREAS, the Company wishes to retain the services of the Executive for and on behalf of the
Company and the Holding Company;

     WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Holding Company have approved and
authorized the execution of this Agreement with the Executive, which Agreement will become
effective on the date of commencement of employment of the Executive;

     WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Holding Company has
approved the granting to the Executive an amount of options to purchase common stock of the Holding
Company provided in Section 6(d) herein, as partial consideration for entering into this Agreement,
which options will become effective on the date of execution of this Agreement;

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement setting forth the terms and
conditions of employment relationship of the Company and the Executive;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements
herein the parties agree as follows:

     1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees to the
employment by the Company for the period stated in Paragraph 4 hereof and subject to the other
terms and conditions herein provided. Executive’s employment with the Company will commence on
September 3, 2007.

     2. Position and Responsibilities. The Company hereby employs the Executive as its Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and shall carry out and render to the Company such
services as are customarily performed by persons holding a similar position. The Executive shall
also be appointed the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Holding Company.
The Executive shall also perform such other related duties as he may from time to time be
reasonably directed, including, but not limited to, performing duties for the Company, the Holding
Company and other subsidiaries of the Company and the Holding Company. The Executive shall report
to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Holding Company. In the
absence of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Holding Company, the
Executive shall report to the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Holding Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Boards of Directors of the Company and
the Holding Company may delegate or assign tasks to the Executive.

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     3. Duties. During the period of employment hereunder, and except for illness, vacation
periods, and authorized leaves of absence, the Executive shall devote his business time, attention,
skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties as provided herein as is customary for
an executive holding a similar position in a financial institution of comparable size.

     The Executive agrees that, during the term of his employment hereunder, except with the
express consent of the Board of Directors of the Company, he will not, directly or indirectly,
engage or participate, become director of, or render advisory or other services for, or in
connection with, or become interested in, or make any financial investment in any firm,
corporation, business entity or business enterprise that directly competes with the Company, the
Holding Company or their subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Executive shall not thereby be
precluded or prohibited from owning passive investments, including investments in the securities of
other financial institutions so long as such ownership does not require him to devote any time to
the business or activities of any such firm, corporation, business entity or enterprise.

     4. Term. The initial term of employment under this Agreement shall be for a period of one (1)
year, commencing on the date of commencement of employment and terminating on first anniversary
thereof. On each anniversary of the date of commencement of this Agreement, the term of the
employment hereunder shall automatically be extended for an additional one (1) year period beyond
the then effective expiration date, unless either party receives written notice, not less than
ninety (90) days prior to the anniversary date, advising the other party that this Agreement shall
not be further extended. Any such written notice shall not affect any prior extensions of the term
of employment hereunder.

     5. Standards. The Executive shall perform his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement
in accordance with such reasonable standards as established from time to time by the Board of
Directors and/or management of the Company or the Holding Company and conveyed in writing to the
Executive.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement will be interpreted in any
manner which would tend to limit or interfere with the authority or oversight duties and discretion
of the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Holding Company to establish adequate guidelines
for the effective management of the Company and the Holding Company.

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6. Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses

     (a) Compensation

     The Company agrees to pay the Executive during the term of this Agreement a base salary of
$500,000 a year.

     (b) Christmas Bonus

     Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company on a yearly basis, the
Executive may receive a yearly Christmas bonus equal to one month of the Executive’s salary.
During 2007, such Christmas bonus, to the extent approved by the Board of Directors, shall be
prorated based on the number of days that the Executive was employed by the Company.

     (c) Performance Bonus

     The annual performance bonus payable to the Executive shall be established by mutual agreement
of the Executive and the Company and shall be based on certain predetermined parameters to be based
on, among other things, the Company’s achievement of the business objectives contained in the
Company’s annual business plan in connection with the areas of endeavor assigned to the Executive.
The annual amount of such performance bonus shall have a target amount of $750,000. Actual amounts
may be lower or higher than the target based on actual performance. An annual performance bonus in
excess of $750,000 shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company. For
calendar year 2007 only, the target performance bonus has been set at $350,000 upon reaching
certain and determined parameters to be mutually agreed by and between the Company and the
Executive. However, this bonus shall not be less than $100,000 for the remainder of year 2007.

     (d) Initial Stock Options

     In consideration for entering into this Employment Agreement, the Holding Company hereby
grants the Executive options to purchase 225,000 shares of the common stock of the Holding Company
(the “Initial Stock Options”) with a strike price equal to the closing price of the common stock of
the Holding Company on the date of execution of this Agreement, rounded to the closest quarter
points up (0.25); provided, however, that the strike price shall not be less than $3.00. The
aforementioned grant of the Initial Stock Options shall be subject to all the applicable terms and
conditions of the Company’s Stock Option Plan, which are incorporated by reference herein. The
Initial Stock Options shall be subject to a five-year vesting schedule (20% of the Initial Stock
Options shall vest each year on each anniversary of the Executive’s employment hereunder).
However, in the event of a change in control, all options become fully vested.

     (e) Automobile

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     The Company shall provide the Executive with a company owned automobile. Such automobile will
be furnished in accordance with the existing Company’s executive automobile policy and applicable
administrative guidelines as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. The insurance,
maintenance and repair expenses of the automobile shall be paid by the Company.

     (f) Relocation Expenses and Other Related Expenses 

     The Company shall pay for the moving and related relocation expenses for the
Executive’s transfer from the United States to Puerto Rico. The following represents a
non-exhaustive list of expenses which are typical in this type of relocation:

     (i) Moving of household goods from the Executive’s current residence to Puerto Rico. This
also includes applicable transfer and import taxes.

     (ii) Brokerage commission for the sale of the Executive’s principal residence in the United
States.

     (iii) All reasonable legal fees incurred by the Executive in connection with his employment by
the Company and the negotiation and execution of this agreement.

     (iv) Expenses related to the preparation of the Executive’s personal income tax returns for
the years 2007 and 2008.

     (v) During the first six (6) months of employment, the Company shall pay for up to four (4)
airline tickets for each of the Executive and his wife to travel between Ohio and Puerto Rico and
the related out-of-pocket expenses related to these trips.

     (vi) The Company shall pay for the cost of hotel, apartment or other living accommodations for
the Executive and his wife in Puerto Rico for up to a maximum of four (4) months.

     (vii) A “tax gross-up” payment for any relocation expense reimbursed to the Executive that is
not deductible for United States or Puerto Rico income tax purposes.

The sum of all the moving and related expenses reimbursed by the Company to the Executive shall not
exceed $150,000.

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     (g) Reimbursement of Expenses

     Not less frequently than monthly, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all
reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by the Executive in the performance of his duties
under this Agreement, subject to the administrative practices of the Company and such reasonable
documentation as may be established by the Company.

     7. Participation in Benefit Plans. The payment and benefits provided in this Agreement are
independent and separate of any payment and benefits to which the Executive may be or may become
entitled to under any other present or future group employee benefit plan or insurance programs of
the Company for which executives of the Company are or shall become eligible, and the Executive
shall be eligible to receive all benefits and entitlements for which said executives are eligible
under every such plan or program.

     8. Voluntary Absences; Vacations and Sick Leave. The Executive shall be entitled, without
loss of pay, to absent himself voluntarily for reasonable periods of time from the performance of
his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. All such voluntary absences shall count
either as paid vacation time or sick leave, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors.
The Executive shall be entitled to an annual paid vacation of twenty-one (21) working days per
every twelve (12) month period, or such longer periods as the Board of Directors may approve, which
vacations shall be scheduled by the Executive with the prior approval of the President and Chief
Executive Officer, taking into account the needs of the Company. The Executive may accumulate
unused paid vacation time from a twelve (12) month period to the next; provided that such
accumulation shall not exceed forty-two (42) working days of unused vacation time from prior twelve
(12) month periods. The Executive shall be entitled to up to twelve (12) non-cumulative working
days of paid sick leave for each twelve (12) month period or such longer non-cumulative working
days as the Board of Directors may approve. Upon termination of employment with or without cause,
or for any reason, the Company shall pay all accrued and unused vacation at the highest rate of
salary earned by the Executive, during his tenure.

     9. Benefits Payable Upon Disability or Death. The Company shall, at all times, maintain in
effect disability and death benefits insurance for the benefit of the Executive in an amount at
least equal to that maintained for executives of similar rank and which will not be less than that
maintained by the Company for all officers and employees.

     10. Termination of Employment.

     (a) Without cause: (i) The Board of Directors may, without cause, terminate the
employment under this Agreement at any time, by giving sixty (60) days written notice to the
Executive or by giving the Executive 90 day notice of non-renewal of this agreement pursuant to
Section 4. In such event, the Executive, if requested by the Board of Directors, shall continue to
render his services, and shall be paid his regular salary up to the date of termination. In
addition, the Executive shall be paid at the date of termination a lump sum severance payment equal
to $500,000 plus the reasonable moving, relocation and other related expenses of the Executive moving back to the United States as provided in Section
6(f) (the “Severance Payment”), not to exceed $150,000. The Severance Payment shall be paid upon
the execution of a mutually agreeable separation and release agreement by the parties hereto.

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     (ii) The Executive may, without cause, terminate the Agreement by giving sixty (60) days
written notice to the Board of Directors. In such event, the Executive shall continue to render
his services and shall be paid his regular salary up to the date of termination, but shall not
receive the Severance Payment; provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to the
Severance Payment if the Executive terminates this Agreement because the Executive has been demoted
from his positions as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and the
Holding Company during the term of this Agreement. To the extent payable, the Severance Payment
shall be paid upon the execution of a mutually agreeable separation and release agreement by the
parties hereto.

     (b) With Cause: The Board of Directors may, at any time, terminate this Agreement
for cause. In such event, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any further compensation
from the effective date of notice of termination and shall not receive the Severance Payment; but
shall receive the accrued compensation and benefits and reimbursement of business expenses to such
date. The notice of termination shall be in writing, shall set forth the date of delivery to the
Executive, and the effect of termination shall not be retroactive to a date prior to delivery of
such notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, “termination for cause” shall include any act or
omission on the part of the Executive which involves personal dishonesty, willful misconduct,
material breach of fiduciary duty, a material violation of any law, rule or regulation relating to
the banking industry or the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform the duties
herein set forth. No act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful”
unless done, or omitted to be done, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action
or omission was in the best interest of the Company. For purposes of this paragraph, any act or
omission to act on the part of the Executive in reliance upon an opinion of counsel, outside
auditor or advisor to the Company or to the Executive shall not be deemed to be willful or without
reasonable belief that the act or omission to act was in the best interest of the Company.

     (c) If the Executive is suspended and/or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the
Company’s affairs by a notice or order served under Section 8(e)(3), (e)(4) or (g)(1) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 USC 1818(e)(3), (e)(4) and (g)(1), or any other similar provision
of state or federal law now in place or enacted in the future, the Company’s obligations under this
Agreement shall be suspended as of the date that notice of such suspension and/or prohibition is
received by the Company, unless such prohibition and/or suspension is stayed by appropriate
proceedings. If after a hearing is held and upon judicial review, the notice or order suspending
and/or prohibiting the Executive from participating in the affairs of the Company is confirmed,
then this Agreement shall be terminated with cause. If the charges in the notice or order are
dismissed, the Company shall: (i) pay the Executive all the
compensation withheld while the contractual obligations were suspended, and (ii) reinstate, in whole or in part, any of the
obligations which were suspended.

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     11. Change in Control Agreement. On the date of the Executive’s commencement of employment,
the Executive, the Company and the Holding Company shall enter into a Payment Agreement in the
Event of a Change in Control that will entitle the Executive lump sum cash payment up to $1,500,000
if there is a “change in control” of the Company and/or the Holding Company. The terms and
conditions of such Payment Agreement in the Event of a Change in Control shall be the same as those
set forth on comparable agreements entered into by the Company and the Holding Company with
comparable executives.

     12. Withholding. All payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to the Executive
shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts, if any, relating to tax and other payroll
deductions as the Company may reasonably determine should be withheld pursuant to any applicable
law or regulation.

     13. Confidentiality; Injunctive Relief. Recognizing that the knowledge and information about,
or relationships with, the business associates, customers, clients, and agents of the Company, the
Holding Company and their affiliated companies and the business methods, systems, plans, and
policies of the Company, the Holding Company and their affiliated companies which the Executive
will receive, obtain, or establish as an employee of the Company or otherwise are valuable and
unique assets of the Company and/or the Holding Company, as applicable, the Executive agrees that,
during the continuance of this Agreement and thereafter, he shall not (otherwise than pursuant to
his duties hereunder) disclose without the written consent of the Company, the Confidential
Information or any material or substantial, confidential, or proprietary know-how, data, or
information pertaining to the Company, or its business, personnel, or plans, to any person, firm,
corporation, or other entity, for any reason or purpose whatsoever. The Executive acknowledges and
agrees that all memoranda, notes, records, and other documents made or compiled by the Executive or
made available to the Executive concerning the Company’s business or the Holding Company’s business
shall be the exclusive property of the Company and/or the Holding Company, as applicable, and shall
be delivered by the Executive to the Company and/or the Holding Company, as applicable, upon
expiration or termination of this Agreement or at any other time upon the request of the Company
and/or the Holding Company.

     The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive the expiration or termination of this
Agreement or any part thereof, without regard to the reason therefore.

     The Executive hereby acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him are of special,
unique, and extraordinary character and, in connection with such services he will have access to
confidential information concerning the Company’s business and the Holding Company’s business. By
reason of this, the Executive consents and agrees that if he violates any of the provisions of this
Agreement with respect to

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confidentiality, the Company and/or the Holding Company would sustain
irreparable harm and, therefore, inaddition to any other remedies which the Company and/or the Holding Company may have under this
Agreement or otherwise, the Company and/or the Holding Company will be entitled to an injunction to
be issued by any court of competent jurisdiction restraining the Executive from committing or
continuing any such violation of this Agreement. The term “Confidential Information” means: (1)
proprietary information of the Company or the Holding Company; (2) information marked or designated
by the Company or the Holding Company as confidential; (3) information, whether or not in written
form and whether or not designated as confidential, which is known to the Executive as treated by
the Company or the Holding Company as confidential; and (4) information provided to the Company by
third parties which the Company and/or the Holding Company is obligated to keep confidential,
specifically including customer lists and information. Confidential information does not include
any information now or hereafter voluntarily disseminated by the Company or the Holding Company to
the public, or which otherwise becomes part of the public domain through lawful means.

     14. Interpretation of and Modifications to Agreement to Avoid Additional Code Section 409A
Tax. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner to the maximum extent
possible to comply in good faith with Section 409A, to the extent that the parties hereto determine
that Code section 409A is applicable to any provision of this Agreement. To the extent the
Executive would be subject to the additional tax imposed on certain deferred compensation
arrangements pursuant to Code Section 409A as a result of any provision of this Agreement, the
Executive agrees to cooperate with the Company to execute any amendment to the provisions hereof
reasonably necessary to avoid the imposition of such tax but only (i) to the minimum extent
necessary to avoid application of such tax and (ii) to the extent that the Executive would not, as
a result, suffer any reduction in the amounts otherwise payable to him under this Agreement. If
the six-month delay applicable to “specified employees” under Code Section 409A is applicable to
any compensation payable to Executive by the Company under this Agreement or otherwise on account
of separation from service (as defined under Code Section 409A), the payment of such amounts shall
be so delayed and paid as soon as practicable, and in no event more than 15 days, after the
expiration of such six month period.

     15. No Assignments. This Agreement is personal to each of the parties hereto. Neither party
may assign or delegate any of his or its rights or obligations hereunder without first obtaining
the written consent of the other parties. However, in the event of the death of the Executive all
his rights to receive payments hereunder shall become rights of his estate.

     16. Notices. All notices required by this Agreement to be given by one party to the other
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been delivered either:

     (a) When personally delivered to the Office of the Secretary of the Company or the Holding
Company at his regular corporate office, or to the Executive in person; or

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     (b) Five days after depositing such notice in the United States mails, certified mail with
return receipt requested and postage prepaid at:

	 	 	 
	(i)

	 	if to the Company or the Holding Company:
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	C/O Office of the Secretary
	 

	 	Westernbank Puerto Rico
	 

	 	PO Box 1180
	 

	 	Mayaguez, PR 00681-1180
	 
	 	 
	(ii)

	 	If to the Executive
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	1497 Stone Court
	 

	 	Westlake, OH 44145

or to such other address as each party may designate to the other parties by notice in writing in
accordance with the terms hereof.

     17. Amendments or Additions. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding
unless in writing and signed by all parties.

     18. Sections Headings. The Section headings used in this Agreement are included solely for
convenience and shall not affect, or be used in connection with, the interpretation of this
Agreement.

     19. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
the other provisions hereto.

     20. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, except to the extent that such law may be preempted by applicable Federal laws and
regulations, including regulations, rules or orders issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Venue for the litigation of
any and all matters arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be in the Court of
First Instance, San Juan Superior Part for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in the case of state
court jurisdiction, or in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, in the case of
federal court jurisdiction.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first
above written.

	 	 	 
	WESTERNBANK PUERTO RICO

	 	W HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
	 
	 	 
	/s/ Frank C. Stipes

	 	/s/ Frank C. Stipes
	 

	 	 
	Name: Frank C. Stipes

	 	Name: Frank C. Stipes
	Title: Chairman/CEO/President

	 	Title: Chairman/CEO
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	JOSE ARMANDO RAMIREZ
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	/s/ Jose Armando Ramírez
	 	 
	 	 	 

10exv4w1

 

EXHIBIT 4.1

	TRANS1 INC.
COMMON STOCK INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE            CUSIP 89385X 10 5
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

	THIS CERTIFIES that

	is the owner of

	FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE OF $0.0001 EACH OF

	TRANS1 INC.

	transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person, or by duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by
the Transfer Agent and Registrar. WITNESS the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of
its duly authorized officers.

	Dated:
SECRETARYPRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

	COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
(NEW YORK, N.Y) TRANSFER AGENT
AND REGISTRAR

 

 

	The Corporation shall furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests a
statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights of each class of stock of the Corporation or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such requests shall be made to the
Corporation.

	The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this
certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable
laws or regulations:

	TEN COM -as tenants in common            UNIF GIFT MIN ACT- .. Custodian
TEN ENT  — as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor)

	JTTEN  — as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Gifts to Minors survivorship and
not as tenants Act

	in common (state)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ................... hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

	PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

	(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

	Share of the common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint

	Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of
substitution in the premises.

	Dated _

	NOTICE : THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST
CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE
CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR
ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

	Signature(s) Guaranteed

	By

	THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR
INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND
CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.

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