Document:

Exhibit 10.7

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

AGREEMENT made and entered into as of the 1st day of March, 2016, by and among HarborOne Bancorp, Inc., a Massachusetts stock holding company (the “Company”), HarborOne Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered co-operative bank with its principal place of business in Brockton, Massachusetts (the “Bank”) (the Bank and the Company shall be hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Employers”), and Joseph F. Casey, of Hingham, Massachusetts (the “Employee”).

 

WITNESSETH THAT:

 

WHEREAS, the Employee is currently, and has been for approximately twelve (12) years, employed by the Employers; and

 

WHEREAS, the Employee’s experience in the financial services industry and the Employee’s reputation and contacts in such industry are valuable to the Employers; and

 

WHEREAS, the Employers desire to continue to employ the Employee in an executive capacity in the conduct of its business; and

 

WHEREAS, the Employee desires to continue his employment with the Employers; and

 

WHEREAS, the Bank and the Employee have previously entered into an Employment Agreement dated July 31, 2013, which they wish to amend and restate in its entirety as set forth in this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Employment.  The Employers hereby agree to continue the employment of the Employee and the Employee hereby agrees to continue in the employ of the Employers on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2.                                      Effective Date, Term.  The effective date of this Agreement (the “Effective Date”) shall be the day first written above.  The term of the Employee’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue thereafter until terminated as provided in Section 5.

 

3.                                      Capacity and Extent of Service.

 

(a)                                 During the term of this Agreement, the Employers shall employ the Employee as their Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, subject to his election by the Employers’ Boards of Directors (the “Boards of Directors”).

 

 

(b)                                 The Employee shall be employed on a full-time basis, reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Employers, and shall be assigned only such duties and tasks as are appropriate for a person in the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

 

(c)                                  During his employment hereunder, the Employee shall devote his full business time and his best efforts, business judgment, skill and knowledge to the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder.  The Employee shall not engage in any other business activity during the term of this Agreement except as may be approved by the Board of Directors.

 

(d)                                 The Employers encourage participation by the Employee on community boards and committees and in activities generally considered to be in the public interest, but the Board of Directors shall have the right to approve or disapprove, in its sole discretion, the Employee’s participation on such boards and committees.

 

4.                                      Compensation and Benefits.

 

(a)                                 Base Salary.  As compensation for services performed under and during the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall receive a minimum annual base salary (“Base Salary”) at a rate of Three Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Four Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars ($385,453).  The Employee’s minimum Base Salary may be increased (but not decreased, except for across-the-board salary reductions based on the Employers’ financial performance similarly affecting all executive officers of the Employers) from time to time during the term hereof by such amounts as the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion may determine.

 

(b)                                 Incentive and/or Bonus Compensation.  In addition to the foregoing minimum Base Salary, the Employee shall be eligible during the term of this Agreement to receive incentive compensation determined and payable in accordance with any incentive compensation plans of the Employers in effect from time to time for members of executive management generally.

 

(c)                                  Fringe Benefits.  At all times during the term of this Agreement, the Employers shall provide the Employee with fringe benefits as set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement, which Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference and the terms of which are thereby made a part hereof.  The Employee shall also be entitled to participate in any employee benefit plans, including without limitation the Employers’ Section 401(k) Plan, from time to time in effect for executive officers of the Employers generally.

 

(d)                                 Business Expenses.  The Employers shall reimburse the Employee for all reasonable travel and other business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties and responsibilities, subject to such reasonable requirements with respect to substantiation and documentation as may be specified by the Employers, their auditors, the Internal Revenue Service or other regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Employers and their operations.

 

(e)                                  SERP.  The Bank and the Employee have entered into an amended and restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreement (“SERP”) dated as of March 1,

 

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2016, as amended and restated.  The Bank and the Employee agree to fulfill their respective obligations under the SERP.

 

5.                                      Termination and Termination Benefits.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2, the Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate under the following circumstances:

 

(a)                                 Death.  In the event of the Employee’s death during his employment under this Agreement, the Employee’s employment shall terminate on the date of his death; provided, however, that if the Employee is survived by his spouse, the Employers shall continue to pay to his spouse the Employee’s Base Salary in effect at the time of his death until the expiration of two (2) months following the Employee’s death.

 

(b)                                 Disability.  The Employers may terminate the Employee’s employment if he is disabled and unable to perform the essential functions of the Employee’s then existing position or positions under this Agreement with or without reasonable accommodation for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days (which need not be consecutive) in any twelve (12) month period.  If any question shall arise as to whether during any period the Employee is disabled so as to be unable to perform the essential functions of the Employee’s then existing position or positions with or without reasonable accommodation, the Employee may, and at the request of the Employers shall, submit to the Employers a certification in reasonable detail by a physician mutually agreeable to the Employers and the Employee or the Employee’s guardian as to whether the Employee is so disabled or how long such disability is expected to continue, and such certification shall for the purposes of this Agreement be conclusive of the issue.  The Employee shall cooperate with any reasonable request of the physician in connection with such certification.  If such question shall arise and the Employee through his own fault shall fail to submit such certification, the Employers’ determination of such issue shall be binding on the Employee.  Nothing in this Section 5(b) shall be construed to waive the Employee’s rights, if any, under existing law including, without limitation, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. §2601 et seq. and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.

 

(c)                                  Termination by the Employee Without Cause.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2, the Employee may resign from the Employers at any time upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Boards of Directors.  In the event of resignation by the Employee under this Section 5(c), the Boards of Directors in their sole discretion may elect to waive the period of notice, or any portion thereof.  From and after the effective date of such termination by the Employee of his employment hereunder, the Employers shall have no further liability to the Employee for salary or other compensation or benefits, except as provided pursuant to the terms of any employee benefit plan of the Employers in which the Employee is then a participant.

 

(d)                                 Termination by the Employers Without Cause.  The Employee’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated without cause by a vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) of all (except the Employee, if he is then serving on either Board of Directors) of the members of each Board of Directors and on written notice to the Employee.  In the event of such termination, the Employee shall be entitled to the following benefits:

 

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(i)                                     For a period of twenty-four (24) months, the Employers shall continue to pay to the Employee, or to the Employee’s designated beneficiary (or to his estate if he fails to make such designation) the Employee’s salary at the rate of his Base Salary in effect as of the date of such termination;

 

(ii)                                  For each year during the period specified in paragraph (i) of this Section 5(d), the Employee shall be entitled to receive incentive compensation equal to the average incentive compensation received by the Employee during the three (3) full fiscal years of the Employers immediately preceding such termination, with such amount to be paid when incentive compensation is otherwise paid to other executives of the Employers in the first seventy-five (75) days of the Employers’ fiscal year;

 

(iii)                               If the Employee was participating in the Employers’ group health plan immediately prior to the date of termination and elects COBRA health continuation, then the Employers shall pay to the Employee a monthly cash payment for eighteen (18) months or the Employee’s COBRA health continuation period, whichever ends earlier, in an amount equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Employers would have made to provide health insurance to the Employee if the Employee had remained employed by the Employers; and

 

(iv)                              The Employee shall be entitled to receive a payment equal to the amount the Employers would have contributed on his behalf to any qualified pension, profit sharing or 401(k) or similar plan had he remained in the employ of the Employers for an additional twenty-four (24) month period at the same Base Salary as in effect as of the date of the Employee’s termination.  Such amount shall be paid in the twenty-fourth (24th) month following termination of employment.

 

Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a termination by the Employers without Cause that occurs within twenty-four (24) months after a Change in Control, the amounts payable under Section 5(d)(i) shall be increased to three (3) times the Employee’s Base Salary and be paid to the Employee in a single lump sum within ten (10) days following the termination of employment, and the Employee shall have no further obligations to the Employers except his obligations under Sections 6(a) and 6(b).

 

(e)                                  Termination by the Employee For Good Reason.  The Employee may terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason.  Only the following shall constitute “Good Reason” for such termination:

 

(i)                                     Failure of the Employers to continue the Employee in the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer during the term of this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                  Material change by the Employers in the nature or scope of the Employee’s responsibilities, title, authorities, powers, functions or duties from the responsibilities, title, authorities, powers, functions or duties normally exercised

 

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by an executive in the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or any reassignment of the Employee to a place of business which is more than fifty (50) miles from Brockton, Massachusetts;

 

(iii)                               Material breach by the Employers of Section 4 hereof or of any other provision of this Agreement, which breach continues for more than thirty (30) days following written notice given by the Employee to the Employers, such written notice to set forth in reasonable detail the nature of such breach; or

 

In the event the Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Employee shall be entitled to the termination benefits set forth in Section 5(d) above, provided, however, that, in the event of a termination for Good Reason that occurs within twenty-four (24) months after a Change in Control, the amounts payable under Section 5(d)(i) shall be increased to three (3) times the Employee’s Base Salary and be paid to the Employee in a single lump sum within ten (10) days following the termination of employment, and the Employee shall have no further obligations to the Employers except his obligations under Sections 6(a) and 6(b).

 

For purposes hereof, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the occurrence of any one of the following events:

 

(A)                               any “Person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) (other than HarborOne Bancorp or the Company), any of their subsidiaries, or any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such person, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities having the right to vote in an election of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Voting Securities”) (in such case other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company or in connection with a public offering); or

 

(B)                               persons who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors, provided that any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the date hereof shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election was approved by or such person was nominated for election by either (1) a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors or (2) a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent

 

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Directors who are members of a nominating committee comprised, in the majority, of Incumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the Company’s Board of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Company’s Board of Directors, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director; or

 

(C)                               the consummation of (1) any consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting shares of the Company issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any), or (2) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or of the Bank.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (A) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company that, by reducing the number of shares of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Voting Securities beneficially owned by any person to forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Securities (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction or as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company) and immediately thereafter beneficially owns forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities, then a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (A).

 

(f)                                   Termination by the Employers For Cause.  The Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated for cause by the Employers, effective immediately, by a vote, at a meeting duly called for such purpose of the members of the Boards of Directors and on written notice to the Employee setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of such cause.  The Boards of Directors shall vote separately on the issue of cause and on the issue of termination, but such separate votes may be taken at the same meeting.  A determination that “cause” exists and a determination to terminate the Employee following an affirmative determination of “cause” shall require a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of all (except the Employee, if he is then serving on either Board of Directors) of the members of Board of Directors.  Only the following shall constitute “cause” for such termination:

 

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(i)                                     Conviction by a court of competition jurisdiction (or plea of nolo contendere) for felony criminal conduct or other criminal conduct involving dishonesty or moral turpitude;

 

(ii)                                  Willful misconduct in the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder;

 

(iii)                               Gross negligence in the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder that results in a material detriment to the Employers or their affiliates;

 

(iv)                              Chronic substance abuse which interferes with Employee’s performance of his duties hereunder, as reasonably determined in good faith by Board; or

 

(v)                                 Fraud, embezzlement, theft, intentional misrepresentation or other similar acts by the Employee with respect to the Employers or any of their affiliates.

 

In the event of the termination of the Employee under this Section 5(f), the Employers shall have no further obligation to the Employee, except as required pursuant to the terms of any employee benefit plan of the Employers in which the Employee is then a participant.

 

(g)                                  Vote of Boards of Directors Pursuant to Sections 5(d) or 5(f).  In the event of a vote of the Boards of Directors pursuant to Sections 5(d) or 5(f) of this Agreement, including any vote to give written notice of cause pursuant to Sections 5(f), the Employee shall not be entitled to vote.

 

6.                                      Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidential Information.

 

(a)                                 Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.  During the term of the Employee’s employment under this Agreement and for twelve (12) months thereafter (or, in the event of a termination of the Employee without Cause or resignation of the Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(e), during such longer period as the Employers are making payments of severance compensation to the Employee in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(a)(i) hereof), the Employee (i) will not, directly or indirectly, whether as owner, partner, shareholder consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, engage, participate, assist or invest in any business conducted anywhere in any town in which the Employers have a branch or any town contiguous thereto or within a thirty-five (35) mile radius of the Employers’ headquarters that is competitive with any business that the Employers or any of their affiliates conduct or propose to conduct at any time during the employment of the Employee; (ii) will refrain from directly or indirectly employing, attempting to employ, recruiting or otherwise soliciting, inducing or influencing any person to leave employment with the Employers (other than terminations of employment of subordinate employees undertaken in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Employers); and (iii) will refrain from soliciting or encouraging any customer or supplier to terminate or otherwise modify adversely its business relationship with the Employers.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee may own up to three percent (3%) of the outstanding stock of a publicly held corporation which constitutes or is affiliated with a Competing Business.

 

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(b)                                 Confidential Information.  The Employee shall not at any time divulge, use, furnish, disclose or make accessible to anyone other than an employee or director of the Employers with a reasonable need to know, any knowledge or information with respect to confidential or secret data, procedures or techniques of the Employers; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6(b) shall prevent the disclosure by the Employee of any such information which at any time comes into the public domain other than as a result of the violation of the terms of this Section 6(b) by the Employee or which is otherwise lawfully acquired by the Employee.

 

(c)                                  The Employee understands that the restrictions set forth in this Section 6 are intended to protect the Employers’ interest in their Confidential Information and established employee, customer and supplier relationships and goodwill, and agrees that such restrictions are reasonable and appropriate for this purpose.

 

7.                                      Withholding.  All payments made by the Employers under this Agreement shall be subject to withholding of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Employers under applicable law or benefit plans of the Employers in which the Employee is participating.

 

8.                                      Indemnification.  The Employers agree to indemnify the Employee in his capacity as an officer of the Employers and, to the extent he serves with the approval of the Employers as a representative, an officer or a Board member of any community organization or financial services industry association or similar entity, as set forth in the Charter or By-laws of each of the Employers, as amended from time to time; provided, however, that the terms of such indemnification shall be no less favorable to the Employee than those set forth in the Charter or By-laws of each of the Employers as of the date of this Agreement.

 

9.                                      Notices.  Any notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person or sent by registered or certified mail, postage paid, to the Employee at the last address the Employee has filed in writing with the Employers or, in the case of the Employers, at its main office, attention of the Chairman of the Board.

 

10.                               Return of Employer Property.  The Employee will return to the Employers all records and files and all other Employer documentation and other property immediately upon termination of his employment.

 

11.                               Equitable Relief.  It is agreed that the Employers’ remedy at law for any actual or threatened breach of this Agreement by the Employee would be inadequate and that the Employers will, in addition to whatever remedies they may have at law or in equity under this Agreement, be entitled to immediate injunctive relief from actual or threatened breach of this Agreement.

 

12.                               Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and may not be changed except by a writing duly executed and delivered by the Employers and the Employee in the same manner as this Agreement.

 

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13.                               Binding Effect; Non-assignability.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Employers and their successors and assigns.  Neither this Agreement nor any rights arising hereunder may be subject in any way to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment by the Employee or creditors of the Employee or any beneficiary.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

 

14.                               Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Employee and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, upon concurrence of two-thirds (2/3rds) of all (except the Employee, if he is then serving on either Board of Directors) of the members of each Board of Directors.

 

15.                               Enforceability.  If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provisions in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

16.                               Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in all respects in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in accordance with any applicable federal laws to which the Bank may be subject as an FDIC insured institution.

 

17.                               No Mitigation.  The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise.  No payment provided for in this Agreement shall be reduced by any compensation earned by the Employee as the result of employment by another employer, or the Employee’s receipt of income from any other sources, after termination of his employment with the Employers.

 

18.                               Dispute Resolution.  If a dispute arises out of or relates to this Agreement, or the breach hereof, and if such dispute is not settled within a commercially reasonable time through negotiations, the parties shall attempt in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation under the Commercial Mediation Rules of the American Arbitration Association before resorting to arbitration, litigation or other dispute resolution procedures.  No resolution or attempted resolution of any dispute or disagreement pursuant to this Section 18 shall be deemed to be a waiver of any term or provision of this Agreement or consent to any breach or default, unless such waiver or consent shall be in writing and signed by the party claimed to have waived or consented.

 

19.                               Compliance with Section 409A.  The Employers and the Employee acknowledge and agree that the provisions for payments and benefits in Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement may constitute a “non-qualified deferred compensation plan” subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and Treasury Regulations and other guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”).  The Employers and the Employee intend to administer such provisions in a manner that at all times is either exempt from or complies in form and

 

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operation with the applicable limitations and the standards of Section 409A.  Accordingly, the following limitations are expressly imposed with respect to such provisions for payments.

 

(a)                                 The Employee’s entitlement to receive or begin to receive payments pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 is conditioned upon the Employee’s separation from service.  For this purpose, the Employee will be deemed to have separated from service only if his level of services to the Employers and their affiliated entities decreases and is expected to remain at a level equal to twenty percent (20%) or less of the average level of services performed by the Employee during the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period.

 

(b)                                 If at the time of the Employee’s separation from service, the Employee is considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A) by the Bank, the payment of any amount payable to the Employee that constitutes non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A shall be delayed until six months and a day after the Employee’s separation from service.

 

(c)                                  It is intended that each installment, if any, of the payments and benefits provided by the provisions of Section 5 shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A.  Neither the Employers nor the Employee will have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A.

 

(d)                                 All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits are subject to Section 409A.  All expenses or reimbursements paid pursuant to this Agreement that are taxable income to the Employee shall in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Employee incurs such expense or pays the related tax.  With regard to any provision in the Agreement for the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits, such right shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year, provided that the foregoing clause shall not  be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any  arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect, and such payments shall be made on or before the last day of the Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred.

 

20.                               Additional Limitation.

 

(a)                                 Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the amount of any compensation, payment or distribution by the Employers to or for the benefit of the Employee, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 280G of the of the Code and the applicable regulations thereunder (the “Aggregate Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the sum of all of the Aggregate Payments shall be

 

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$1.00 less than the amount at which the Employee becomes subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided that such reduction shall only occur if it would result in the Employee receiving a higher After Tax Amount (as defined below) than the Employee would receive if the Aggregate Payments were not subject to such reduction.  In such event, the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced in the following order, in each case, in reverse chronological order beginning with the Aggregate Payments that are to be paid the furthest in time from consummation of the transaction that is subject to Section 280G of the Code:  (1) cash payments not subject to Section 409A; (2) cash payments subject to Section 409A; (3) equity-based payments and acceleration; and (4) non-cash forms of benefits; provided that in the case of all the foregoing Aggregate Payments all amounts or payments that are not subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c) shall be reduced before any amounts that are subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c).

 

(b)                                 For purposes of this Section 20, the “After Tax Amount” means the amount of the Aggregate Payments less all federal, state, and local income, excise and employment taxes imposed on the Employee as a result of the Employee’s receipt of the Aggregate Payments.  For purposes of determining the After Tax Amount, the Employee shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable to individuals for the calendar year in which the determination is to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of individual taxation in each applicable state and locality, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

(c)                                  The determination as to whether a reduction in the Aggregate Payments shall be made pursuant to Section 20(a) shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Employers (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Employers and the Employee within 15 business days of the Date of Termination, if applicable, or at such earlier time as is reasonably requested by the Employers or the Employee.  Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Employers and the Employee.

 

21.                               Allocation of Obligations Between Employers.  The obligations of the Employers under this Agreement are intended to be the joint and several obligations of the Bank and the Company, and the Employers shall, as between themselves, allocate these obligations in a manner agreed upon by them.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as a sealed instrument by the Employers, by their duly authorized officers, and by the Employee, as of the date first above written.

 

	
EMPLOYEE:
    	
 
    	
HARBORONE   BANCORP, INC.:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/   Joseph F. Casey  
    	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   Timothy R. Lynch  
    
	
Joseph   F. Casey
    	
 
    	
By:   
    	
Timothy   R. Lynch
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Chairman   of the Board
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
WITNESS:
    	
 
    	
ATTEST:   
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 /s/ Elza Rebolo
    	
 
    	
/s/   Elza Rebolo  
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
HARBORONE   BANK:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   Timothy R. Lynch  
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:  
    	
Timothy   R. Lynch
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Chairman   of the Board
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
ATTEST:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 /s/ Elza Rebolo  
    

 

[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

to

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

by and among

HarborOne Bancorp, Inc.,

HarborOne Bank

and

Joseph F. Casey

Dated March 1, 2016

 

1.                                      Automobile.                             The Employee shall be entitled to a monthly automobile allowance of $900 as compensation for all reasonable expenses related to maintaining and operating an automobile for the Employee’s personal and business use.  Such allowance may be increased (but not decreased) by the Employers from time to time during the term hereof by such amounts as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may determine.

 

2.                                      Vacation.  The Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation benefits in each calendar year, accrued monthly during the calendar year.

 

3.                                      Insurance.  The Employers shall maintain in effect for the Employee, at the Employers’ sole expense, life insurance equal to three (3) times the Employee’s Base Salary, subject to the terms of the insurance plan specific to him.  If the Employee’s benefit limits exceed the amount available under the Employers’ group insurance plan, then the Employee will be entitled to Employer-paid coverage under a different plan, in addition to or in lieu of the group insurance plan, to accommodate the difference.

 

4.                                      Technology Assistance.  The Employers shall supply the Employee with full capability for remote access to Employer systems, as necessary, including a laptop computer, cell phone, personal digital assistant and wireless connection at his residence, all at the Employers’ sole expense for purchase, customary monthly charges, and upgrades, including new equipment on a periodic basis as technology improvements and communications needs dictate.

 

5.                                      Medical Insurance in Retirement.  The Employee will be entitled to coverage in a supplemental medical insurance plan for the Employee and his spouse, pending his eligibility as determined by the medical insurer, at the Employers’ sole expense, once he reaches age sixty-five (65) and is no longer covered by the Employers’ group medical insurance plan, to supplement what is covered in his Medicare plan. This supplemental insurance plan, commonly referred to as a “Medigap” plan, is designed to cover medical and related costs that are not covered by the Employee’s Medicare plan.  The supplemental insurance plan will include prescription medication coverage.  Supplemental insurance will remain in effect during the entire term of the Employee’s and his wife’s retirement.Exhibit 10.8

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN AGREEMENT

 

 

THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) made and entered into effective as of the 1st day of March, 2016, by and between HARBORONE BANK, a Massachusetts-chartered co-operative bank (“HarborOne”) and JOSEPH F. CASEY (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Board and its Compensation Committee have determined that it is in HarborOne’s best interest to establish a supplemental executive retirement arrangement (“SERP”) for the benefit of the Executive as set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, HarborOne and the Executive have previously entered into a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreement dated May 28, 2008, as amended effective July 1, 2013, which they wish to amend and restate in its entirety as set forth in this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, HarborOne and the Executive agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Definitions.  The following words and phrases, when used in this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise, shall have the following respective meanings:

 

(a)                                 Annuity.  The annuity which HarborOne purchased in conjunction with the liability set forth in this Agreement, and any annuity contract acquired to replace said policy with the Executive’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(b)                                 HarborOne.  HarborOne Bank or any successor thereto.

 

(c)                                  Beneficiary.  The person, persons, or entity who may become entitled to a pre-retirement death benefit under this Agreement in the event of the Executive’s death.

 

(d)                                 Board.  HarborOne’s Board of Directors and any successor thereto.

 

(e)                                  Change in Control.  The occurrence of any one of the following events, as described below.

 

 

(1)                                 Any “Person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) (other than HarborOne Bancorp or the Company (as defined below), any of their subsidiaries, or any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such person, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities having the right to vote in an election of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Voting Securities”) (in such case other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company or in connection with a public offering); or

 

(2)                                 Persons who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors, provided that any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the date hereof shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election was approved by or such person was nominated for election by either (A) a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors or (B) a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors who are members of a nominating committee comprised, in the majority, of Incumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the Company’s Board of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Company’s Board of

 

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Directors, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director; or

 

(3)                                 The consummation of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than 50% of the voting shares of the Company issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any), or (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or HarborOne.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (1) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company that, by reducing the number of shares of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Voting Securities beneficially owned by any person to 40% or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Securities (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction or as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company) and immediately thereafter beneficially owns 40% or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities, then a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (1).

 

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(f)                                   Code.  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto.

 

(g)                                  Committee.  The Compensation Committee of the Board or any administrative committee appointed by the Board to administer this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 5.

 

(h)                                 Company.  HarborOne Bancorp, Inc., a Massachusetts stock holding company.

 

(i)                                     Disabled.  When the Executive is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of HarborOne.

 

(j)                                    ERISA.  The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

(k)                                 Executive Benefit.  The amount calculated in accordance with Paragraph 2(b).

 

(l)                                     Final Average Compensation.  The aggregate of the salary and bonus paid by HarborOne on a pre-tax basis to the Executive for services rendered over the last thirty-six months of the Executive’s employment ending immediately prior to the determination date, divided by three (3).

 

(m)                             Separation from Service.

 

(1)                                 The Executive’s complete and total retirement termination of service or termination of employment with HarborOne.  No Separation from Service shall be

 

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deemed to occur due to military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed six months or, in excess of six months if the Executive’s right to reemployment is provided by law or contract.  If the leave of absence exceeds six months and the Executive’s right to reemployment is not provided by law or by contract, then the Executive shall be deemed to have incurred a Separation from Service on the first date immediately following such six-month period.

 

(2)                                 The Executive shall not be treated as having incurred a Separation from Service if the Executive provides more than insignificant services for HarborOne following the Executive’s actual or purported termination of or employment with HarborOne.  Services shall be treated as not being insignificant if such services are performed at a level that is at least equal to 20% of the average level of services rendered by the Executive for HarborOne during the immediately preceding 36 full calendar years months of service or employment (or if employed less than 36 months, such shorter period of employment), and the annual base compensation for such services is at least equal to 20% of the average base compensation earned during the final three full calendar years of service or employment (or if employed less than three years, such shorter period of employment).

 

(3)                                 Where the Executive continues to provide services to HarborOne, a Separation from Service will have been deemed not to have occurred if the Executive is providing services at the level that is 50% or more of the services rendered, on average, during the immediately preceding 36 full calendar years month of employment (or if employed less than 36 months, such lesser period) and the annual base compensation for such services is 50% or more of the annual base compensation earned during the final three full calendar years of employment (or if less, such lesser period).

 

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(4)                                 The provision of this section shall be applied consistent with the guidance issued under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

(n)                                 Termination for Cause.  The Board may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement “for cause” at any time.  “Cause” for purposes of this Agreement shall mean:

 

(1)                                 Executive’s conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction (or plea of nolo contendere) for felony criminal conduct or other criminal conduct involving dishonesty or moral turpitude,

 

(2)                                 Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of his duties hereunder that results in material detriment to HarborOne or its affiliates,

 

(3)                                 chronic substance abuse which interferes with Executive’s performance of his duties hereunder, as reasonably determined in good faith by Board, or

 

(4)                                 fraud, embezzlement, theft, intentional misrepresentation or other similar acts by thee Executive with respect to HarborOne or any of its affiliates.

 

(o)                                 Payment Date.  The date on which occurs the earliest of:

 

(1)                                 the Executive attains age 65 while still employed by HarborOne;

 

(2)                                 the voluntary termination of the Executive’s employment by HarborOne other than for Cause, provided that such termination results in a Separation from Service;

 

(3)                                 the Executive becomes Disabled;

 

(4)                                 the Executive’s death; or

 

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(5)                                 a Change in Control.

 

2.                                      Lifetime Benefit to the Executive.

 

(a)                                 The Executive’s benefit under this Agreement shall equal the Executive Benefit.

 

(b)                                 For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive Benefit shall be the actuarial equivalent value of a hypothetical single life annuity equal to: (i) sixty percent (60%) of the Executive’s Final Average Compensation beginning upon the first day of the month immediately following the Executive’s attainment of sixty-five (65) years of age (“Normal Retirement”), reduced by (ii) the Executive’s projected annual Primary Social Security benefits payable beginning at Normal Retirement and (iii) the projected annual benefit payable beginning at Normal Retirement in the form of a single life annuity under HarborOne’s 401(k) plan (and any successor plan) from funds attributable to employer contributions and earnings thereon.

 

(c)                                  Actuarial equivalence under Paragraph 2(b) shall be determined using the guaranteed interest rate under the Annuity as the interest assumption and the mortality table used for the Annuity as the mortality assumption.

 

(d)                                 The Executive has earned a fully vested right to the Executive Benefit described herein.

 

(e)                                  HarborOne shall pay in a single lump sum cash payment the Executive Benefit determined as of the Payment Date to the Executive as soon as administratively practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the Payment Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive is determined by the Bank to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and the Executive Benefit is payable on account of

 

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the Executive’s Separation from  Service, then HarborOne shall pay the Executive Benefit in a lump sum six months and a day after the Executive’s Separation from Service.

 

(f)                                   Benefits payable hereunder shall be subject to federal and state income and employment tax upon the Payment Date.  This Agreement shall be subject to legally required federal and state income and employment tax withholding.

 

(g)                                  The Executive Benefit shall be calculated by an actuary hired by HarborOne with the Executive’s consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

3.                                      Termination of the Annuity.  HarborOne has no obligation to maintain the Annuity until the Payment Date.  In the event that HarborOne terminates or otherwise disposes of the Annuity prior to the Payment Date, then this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

 

4.                                      Pre-Retirement Death Benefit to Beneficiary.  If the Executive’s employment terminates due to death prior to receiving a lump sum payment of his benefits hereunder, HarborOne shall pay to the Executive’s Beneficiary a single lump sum payment equal to the amount determined under Paragraph 2 above as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the Executive’s death.  The Executive’s Beneficiary shall be the person, persons or entity named in the last executed beneficiary designation received by HarborOne from the Executive prior to his death.  If no such designation has been received by HarborOne from the Executive prior to his death or if there is no living or existing Beneficiary, then the Executive’s estate shall be his Beneficiary.

 

5.                                      Administration.

 

(a)                                 This Agreement shall be administered on behalf of HarborOne by a Committee which shall be one or more persons appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of

 

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the Board.  The Committee shall be responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions thereof.  The Committee may delegate to others certain aspects of the management and operational responsibilities of the Agreement including the employment of advisors and the delegation of ministerial duties to qualified individuals, provided that such delegation is in writing.

 

(b)                                 The Committee shall have all powers necessary or appropriate to enable it to carry out its administrative duties.  Not in limitation, but in application of the foregoing, the Committee shall have discretionary authority to construe and interpret the Plan and determine all questions that may arise hereunder as to the status and rights of the Executive and his Beneficiaries.  The Committee may exercise the powers hereby granted in its sole and absolute discretion.  The Committee may promulgate such regulations as it deems appropriate for the operation and administration of the Agreement.  No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any actions taken by the Committee unless the member’s action involves willful misconduct.

 

6.                                      Claims Procedure.  The claims procedure with respect to benefits provided under this Agreement as set forth in Appendix A hereto.

 

7.                                      No Employment Contract.  This Agreement shall not constitute or be construed as a contract of employment.  Subject to the rights of the parties under any employment agreement which exists, nothing in this Agreement shall restrict the right of HarborOne to discharge the Executive or the right of the Executive to resign from HarborOne’s employ.  Such termination shall, however, not affect the Executive’s rights to benefits which may be due to him.

 

8.                                      No Trust Created.  Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create, nor be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a

 

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fiduciary relationship between HarborOne and the Executive, his Beneficiary, or any other person.

 

9.                                      Benefits Payable Only from General Assets; Unsecured General Creditor Status of Executive.  All benefits paid by HarborOne under this Agreement shall be made from the general, unrestricted assets of HarborOne, which include the Annuity.  The Executive and his Beneficiaries shall have no right or interest in the Annuity or any other asset of HarborOne by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise.  HarborOne’s obligation hereunder shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money.  To the extent that the Executive or any person acquires a right to receive payments from HarborOne under the provisions hereof, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of HarborOne; and no such person shall have nor acquire any legal or equitable right, interest or claim in or to any property or assets of HarborOne.  HarborOne shall be the sole owner and beneficiary of the Annuity.  HarborOne shall have the sole right to decide how to use the Annuity, including but not limited to withdrawing its premium payments on or before the Payment Date and having the absolute right, in its sole discretion, to terminate or dispose of the Annuity in its sole discretion.

 

10.                               Top Hat Exemption.  This Agreement is intended to be an unfunded pension plan maintained by HarborOne for a “select group of management or highly compensated employees” for purposes of ERISA and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with complying with DOL Regulation Section 2520.104-23.  The Executive specifically acknowledges that the benefits under this Agreement are unfunded and that the Executive bears the risk of nonpayment if HarborOne becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy.

 

11.                               Non-Assignability of Benefits.  Neither the Executive or his Beneficiary shall have any power or right to transfer, assign, anticipate, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any

 

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part or all of the amounts payable hereunder, which are expressly declared to be unassignable and non-transferable.  Any such attempted assignment or transfer shall be void and shall terminate this Agreement, and HarborOne shall thereupon have no further liability hereunder.  No amount payable hereunder shall, prior to actual payment thereof, be subject to seizure by any creditor of the Executive or his Beneficiary for the payment of any debt, judgment or other obligation, by a proceeding at law or in equity, nor transferable by operation of law in the event of the bankruptcy, insolvency or death of the Executive or his Beneficiary.

 

12.                               Amendment.  This Agreement may not be terminated, amended, altered or modified, except by a written instrument approved, in the case of HarborOne, by the Board or its designee, and signed by the parties hereto, or their respective successors.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination may occur only if the following conditions are met pursuant to Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(a)                                 No distribution that is not otherwise pending may be made for the first 12 months following termination of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 All distributions hereunder must be made no later than 24 months after the passing of the resolution to terminate the Agreement.

 

(c)                                  HarborOne must terminate all deferred compensation arrangements of the same type as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) for the Executive simultaneously.

 

(d)                                 HarborOne shall not establish a new plan of the same type as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) prior to the fifth anniversary of the termination of this Agreement.

 

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(e)                                  The termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of HarborOne.

 

13.                               Inurement.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of HarborOne and its successors and assigns, and the Executive, his successors, heirs, personal representatives and Beneficiaries.

 

14.                               Notices.  Any notice, consent or demand required or permitted to be given under the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be signed by the party giving or making the same.  If such notice, consent or demand is mailed to a party hereto, it shall be sent by United States certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party’s last known address as shown on the records of HarborOne.  The date of such mailing shall be deemed the date of notice, consent or demand.

 

15.                               Governing Law.  This Agreement, and the rights of the parties hereunder, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the extent not preempted by ERISA.

 

16.                               Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and all documents referenced herein constitute the entire Agreement among the parties and contains all of the agreements among them with respect to HarborOne’s obligation to provide supplemental retirement benefits to the Executive.  It also supersedes any and all other Agreements or contracts, either oral or written, and discussions among the parties and their representatives with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

17.                               No Guarantee of Tax Consequences.  While HarborOne has established, and will maintain and administer, the Agreement, HarborOne makes no representation, warranty,

 

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commitment, or guaranty concerning the income, employment, or other tax consequences of participation in the Agreement under federal, state, or local law.

 

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THIS AGREEMENT is effective as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
HARBORONE   BANK
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   James Blake
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President &   CEO
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Joseph F. Casey
    
	
 
    	
Joseph   F. Casey
    

 

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APPENDIX A

 

CLAIMS PROCEDURE

 

1.                                      Claims.  The Executive or his Beneficiary or other person who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit to which he or she is entitled (hereinafter referred to as “Claimant”), or his or her duly authorized representative, may file a written request for such benefit with the Committee setting forth his or her claim.  The request must be addressed to the Committee at the Company at its then principal place of business.

 

2.                                      Claim Decision.  Upon receipt of a claim, the Committee shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be forthcoming within a reasonable period of time, but ordinarily not later than 90 days, and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within such period.  However, the Committee may extend the reply period for an additional 90 days for reasonable cause.  If the reply period will be extended, the Committee shall advise the Claimant in writing during the initial 90-day period indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which the Committee expects to render the benefit determination.

 

If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Committee will render a written opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth: (a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial; (b) the specific references to pertinent provisions of the Agreement on which the denial is based, (c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation as to why such material or such information is necessary; (d) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on

 

A-1

 

review; and (e) the time limits for requesting a review of the denial under Paragraph 3 of Appendix A and for the actual review of the denial under Paragraph 4 of Appendix A.

 

3.                                      Request for Review.  Within 60 days after the receipt by the Claimant of the written opinion described above, the Claimant may request in writing that the Secretary of the Company (“Secretary”) review the Committee’s prior determination.  Such request must be addressed to the Secretary at the Company at its then principal place of business.  The Claimant or his or her duly authorized representative may submit written comments, documents, records or other information relating to the denied claim, which such information shall be considered in the review by the Secretary without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

The Claimant or his or her duly authorized representative shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information which (a) was relied upon by the Committee in making its initial claims decision, (b) was submitted, considered or generated in the course of the Committee making its initial claims decision, without regard to whether such instrument was actually relied upon by the Committee in making its decision, or (c) demonstrates compliance by the Committee with its administrative processes and safeguards designed to ensure and to verify that benefit claims determinations are made in accordance with governing Plan documents and that, where appropriate, the Plan provisions have been applied consistently with respect to similarly situated claimants.

 

If the Claimant does not request a review of the Committee’s determination within such 60-day period, he or she shall be barred and estopped from challenging such determination.

 

4.                                      Review of Decision.  Within a reasonable period of time, ordinarily not later than 60 days, after the Secretary’s receipt of a request for review, it will review the Committee’s prior

 

A-2

 

determination.  If special circumstances require that the 60-day time period be extended, the Secretary will so notify the Claimant within the initial 60-day period indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which the Secretary expects to render its decision on review, which shall be as soon as possible but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review.  In the event that the Secretary extends the determination period on review due to a Claimant’s failure to submit information necessary to decide a claim, the period for making the benefit determination on review shall not take into account the period beginning on the date on which notification of extension is sent to the Claimant and ending on the date on which the Claimant responds to the request for additional information.

 

Benefits under the Plan will be paid only if the Secretary decides in its discretion that the Claimant is entitled to such benefits.  The decision of the Secretary shall be final and non-reviewable, unless found to be arbitrary and capricious by a court of competent review.  Such decision will be binding upon HarborOne and the Claimant.

 

If the Secretary makes an adverse benefit determination on review, the Secretary will render a written opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth: (a) the specific reason or reasons for denial, (b) the specific references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based; (c) a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information which (i) was relied upon by the Secretary in making its decision, (ii) was submitted, considered or generated in the course of the Secretary making its decision, without regard to whether such instrument was actually relied upon by the Secretary in making its decision or (iii) demonstrates compliance by the Secretary with its administrative processes and safeguards designed to ensure and to verify that benefit claims determinations are made in

 

A-3

 

accordance with governing Plan documents, and that, where appropriate, the Plan provisions have been applied consistently with respect to similarly situated claimants; and (d) a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following the adverse benefit determination on such review.

 

5.                                      Discretionary Authority.  The Committee and Secretary shall both have discretionary authority to determine a Claimant’s entitlement to benefits upon his claim or his request for review of a denied claim, respectively.

 

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