0000883948false0000883948us-gaap:SeriesAPreferredStockMember2022-01-142022-01-140000883948us-gaap:CommonStockMember2022-01-142022-01-1400008839482022-01-142022-01-14

United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 14, 2022

 

ATLANTIC UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Virginia

001-39325

54-1598552

(State or other jurisdiction

(Commission

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

File Number)

Identification No.)

 

 

 

1051 East Cary Street

Suite 1200

Richmond, Virginia 23219

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (804) 633-5031

 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

  

Trading Symbol(s)

  

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $1.33 per share

AUB

The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/400th Interest in a Share of 6.875% Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A

AUBAP

The NASDAQ Global Select Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On January 18, 2022, Atlantic Union Bank (the “Bank”) announced that Maria Tedesco, 61, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) of the Bank. The appointment was effective January 14, 2022. Ms. Tedesco will also continue to serve as Executive Vice President of the Bank’s holding company, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (the “Company” and together with the Bank, “Atlantic Union”), and as President of the Bank, roles in which she has served since 2018. As the President and COO of the Bank, Ms. Tedesco will lead the following business units: technology and operations, consumer and business banking, wholesale banking, wealth management, home loans, marketing, digital strategy and enterprise experience, business intelligence and first line of defense risk.

Before joining Atlantic Union in 2018, Ms. Tedesco served as the Chief Operating Officer for Retail at BMO Harris Bank in Chicago, Illinois from 2016 to 2018. She was responsible for retail products, segments, customer experience, indirect auto, consumer lending, channels and risk. Prior to that, she served as Senior Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Retail Bank at Santander Bank, N.A. (“Santander”) from 2013 to 2015, where she was responsible for leading the U.S. retail strategy and business channels, including branch network, online, mobile, investments, mortgage, call centers, ATMs, marketing, product marketing, customer experience and program management office. Before Santander, Ms. Tedesco served in various roles at Citizens Financial Group, Inc. from 1994 until 2013, ultimately becoming Group Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Retail Banking and Business Banking. Ms. Tedesco received her M.B.A. from Northeastern University and her B.S. from Ithaca College.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Tedesco and any other person pursuant to which she was appointed, nor are there any family relationships between Ms. Tedesco and any of the Company’s or the Bank’s directors or executive officers. Ms. Tedesco does not have any material interest in any transactions, relationships, or arrangements with the Company or the Bank that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

A copy of the Bank’s press release announcing Ms. Tedesco’s appointment is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Tedesco Employment Agreement

On January 14, 2022, Atlantic Union and Ms. Tedesco entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) that provides for an initial term ending on December 31, 2022. The employment term automatically renews on December 31, 2022 and annually thereafter each December 31st for an additional calendar year unless notice of non-renewal is given by the Company or the Bank.

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Ms. Tedesco’s current and minimum annual base salary is $489,060, with her base salary subject to annual review by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). Ms. Tedesco is eligible to participate in the Company’s short-term and/or long-term cash and/or equity incentive plans. Incentive compensation under those plans is at the discretion of the Board and the Compensation Committee.

Ms. Tedesco will also have the use of a company-provided automobile.

In the event Atlantic Union terminates Ms. Tedesco’s employment without “Cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or Ms. Tedesco voluntarily terminates her employment for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Ms. Tedesco will receive a severance benefit equal to two (2) years of her base salary on the termination date, payable in instalments, and a lump sum payment equal to twenty-four (24) times Atlantic Union’s monthly contribution at the time of termination for group health, dental and vision insurance benefits. In the event of Ms. Tedesco’s termination of employment following non-renewal of the Employment Agreement, Ms. Tedesco will receive a severance benefit equal to one (1) year of her base salary in effect on the termination date, payable in instalments, and a lump sum payment equal to twelve (12) times Atlantic Union’s monthly contribution at the time of termination for group health insurance and related benefits. Payment of all severance and other benefits described in this paragraph is subject to receipt by Atlantic Union of Ms. Tedesco’s signed release and waiver of claims and satisfaction of the other requirements, conditions and limitations set forth in the Employment Agreement.

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In the event of a termination for “Cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Ms. Tedesco is entitled to receive her accrued but unpaid base salary and any unreimbursed expenses she may have incurred before the date of her termination.

If Ms. Tedesco dies while employed by Atlantic Union, Atlantic Union will pay her designated beneficiary or estate an amount equal to Ms. Tedesco’s then current base salary for a period of six (6) months after death.

The Employment Agreement provides that any incentive based compensation or award that Ms. Tedesco receives will be subject to clawback by the Company as may be required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement and on such basis as the Board determines, but in no event with a look-back period of more than three (3) years, unless required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement.

The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

Tedesco Management Continuity Agreement

Atlantic Union also entered into a management continuity agreement (the “Management Continuity Agreement”) on January 14, 2022 with Ms. Tedesco, with the same term and renewal provisions as the Employment Agreement. The Employment Agreement will terminate in the event that there is a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Management Continuity Agreement) of the Company, at which time the Management Continuity Agreement will become effective and any termination benefits will be determined and paid solely pursuant to the Management Continuity Agreement.

Under the Management Continuity Agreement, Atlantic Union or its successor must continue to employ Ms. Tedesco for a term of two (2) years after the date of a Change in Control of the Company. According to certain provisions, Ms. Tedesco will retain commensurate authority and responsibilities and compensation and benefits. She will receive a base salary at least equal to that paid for the immediately preceding twelve (12) months and a bonus at least equal to the average annual bonus paid for the two (2) years prior to the Change in Control.

If Ms. Tedesco’s employment is terminated during the two (2) years following a Change in Control other than for “Cause” or “Disability” (each as defined in the Management Continuity Agreement), or if Ms. Tedesco voluntarily terminates her employment for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Management Continuity Agreement), she will be entitled to receive (i) a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to two (2.0) times the sum of her base salary at time of termination plus her highest annual bonus paid or payable for the two (2) most recently completed years, and (iii) a lump sum payment equal to twenty-four (24) times Atlantic Union’s monthly contribution at the time of termination for group health, dental and vision insurance benefits. Payment of all severance and other benefits described in this paragraph is subject to receipt by Atlantic Union or its successor of Ms. Tedesco’s signed release and waiver of claims and satisfaction of the other requirements, conditions and limitations set forth in the Management Continuity Agreement.

If Ms. Tedesco dies while employed by Atlantic Union or its successor during the two (2) years following a Change in Control, Atlantic Union or its successor will pay her designated beneficiary or estate a lump sum amount equal to six (6) months of Ms. Tedesco’s final base salary and twenty-four (24) times Atlantic Union’s monthly contribution at the time of death for group health, dental and vision insurance benefits.

The Management Continuity Agreement provides for a cutback to the minimum payment and benefits such that the payments do not trigger an excise tax. The Management Continuity Agreement also contains a clawback provision similar to that contained in the Employment Agreement

The foregoing description of the Management Continuity Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Management Continuity Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

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Item 8.01Other Events.

Asbury and Gorman Agreements

On January 14, 2022, Atlantic Union also entered into amended and restated employment agreements and management continuity agreements with John Asbury, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, and Robert Gorman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to make non-material, conforming changes to their agreements.

Chief Risk Officer David Bilko to Retire

On January 18, 2022, the Company reported that David Bilko, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Company, intends to retire in 2022. The Company will begin conducting a search for his successor in the first quarter of 2022.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

10.1

Employment Agreement by and between Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation, Atlantic Union Bank and Maria Tedesco, dated January 14, 2022

10.2

Management Continuity Agreement by and between Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation, Atlantic Union Bank and Maria Tedesco, dated January 14, 2022

99.1

 

Press release dated January 18, 2022

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page iXBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ATLANTIC UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: January 18, 2022

By:

/s/ Robert M. Gorman

 

 

 

Robert M. Gorman

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of January 14, 2022, by and between Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation, a Virginia corporation (“Bankshares”) which is the parent company of Atlantic Union Bank, a Virginia banking corporation (the “Bank”), the Bank, and Maria P. Tedesco (“you” or “your”). Bankshares and the Bank shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Company.”

 

The parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.          Employment and Acceptance. You shall be employed or continue to be employed as Executive Vice President of the Company and as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement. You shall have the duties and responsibilities that are commensurate with your position and shall also render such other managerial services as may be reasonably assigned to you from time to time by the Company, consistent with your position. You accept such employment and agree to carry out your duties and responsibilities to the best of your ability in a competent, efficient and businesslike manner. You further agree to comply with all the policies, standards and codes of conduct of the Company now or hereafter adopted.

 

References in this Agreement to services rendered for the Company and compensation and benefits payable or provided by the Company shall include services rendered for, and compensation and benefits payable or provided by, any Affiliate (as defined below) of the Company. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to the “Company” also shall mean and refer to any business entity, that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company (each, an “Affiliate”).

 

2.          Term of Employment. This Agreement will be effective on January 14, 2022, (the “Commencement Date”) and will expire on December 31, 2022; provided that on December 31, 2022 and on each December 31st thereafter (each such December 31st is referred to as the “Renewal Date”), the term of your employment will be automatically extended for an additional calendar year. The term of your employment will not, however, be extended if the Company gives you written notice (“Nonrenewal Notice”) of such nonrenewal no later than September 30th before the Renewal Date (the initial and any extended term of your employment is referred to as the “Employment Period”).

 

3.          Compensation and Benefits.

 

(a)          Base Salary. You will receive for your services an annual base salary of $489,060 (the “Base Salary”), which will be payable in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company applicable to all officers (but not less frequently than monthly). The Base Salary will be reviewed annually by Bankshares’ Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) and may be adjusted upward or downward in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. In no event, however, will the Base Salary be less than $489,060.

 

(b)          Short-Term and Long-Term Incentives. During the Employment Period, you may participate in such short-term and/or long-term cash and/or equity incentive plan(s) in such manner and subject to such terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may determine. Any annual cash bonus will be paid no later than two and one-half (2 ½) months after the end of the year for which the annual bonus is awarded. To be eligible to earn any bonus, and as condition of earning such bonus, you must be employed by the Company on the date such bonus is paid, unless you have retired in accordance with the Company’s retirement policy after the last date of the bonus performance period under the applicable incentive plan.

 

(c)          Benefits. You will be entitled to participate in and receive the benefits of any retirement benefit plan, life insurance, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and other plans, benefits and privileges of the Company that may be in effect from time to time, to the extent you are eligible under the terms of those plans and programs. It is understood that the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, establish, modify or terminate such plans, programs or benefits.

 


(d)          Business Expenses. The Company will reimburse you or otherwise provide for or pay for all reasonable expenses incurred by you in furtherance of, or in connection with, the business of the Company, including, but not by way of limitation, travel expenses, and memberships in professional organizations, subject to such reasonable documentation and other limitations as may be established or required by the Board of Directors. You will also be provided with an appropriate automobile as determined by the Company and the Company will pay the costs associated with the operation of the automobile, as provided for in the Company’s policies. All reimbursements provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) to the extent that such reimbursements are subject to Section 409A of the Code, including, where applicable, the requirements that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during your lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to set off or liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

  

(e)          Paid Time Off. You will be entitled to paid time off in accordance with the Company’s paid time-off policies as in effect from time to time. Under the Company’s current policy, you will be entitled to five weeks of paid time-off annually, including vacation, sick leave and personal leave.

 

 

4.          Termination and Termination Benefits. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2, your employment hereunder shall terminate under the following circumstances and shall be subject to the following provisions:

 

(a)          Death. If you die while employed by the Company, the Company will pay the Accrued Amounts (as defined in and subject to the payment timing in Section 4(c), below) and an amount equal to six (6) months of your salary at your then current Base Salary rate to your beneficiary or beneficiaries named on Exhibit 1 to this Agreement (or to your estate, if you fail to make such designation) within sixty (60) days after your death, with such payments to be made on the same periodic dates as salary payments would have been made to you had you not died. If a timely election for COBRA coverage is made, for up to twelve (12) months following your death your qualified dependents will receive benefits under the Company’s group health, dental and vision plans at the same rates as those paid by active participants, immediately prior to your death, and the Company will continue to pay its portion of such health, dental and vision premiums. Any COBRA coverage available following such twelve (12) month period shall be at the full (unsubsidized) expense of your covered qualified dependents.

 

(b)          Disability. Your employment may be terminated at any time by the Company because of your inability to perform the essential functions of your position with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive days or a total of at least two hundred forty (240) days in any twelve (12)-month period as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness as determined pursuant to the Company’s long-term disability policy. If the Company terminates your employment under this Section 4(b), this Agreement will terminate without any further obligation of the Company to you other than to pay you any Accrued amounts (as defined in and subject to payment timing in Section 4(c)) and, if you timely elect COBRA coverage, your then-current benefits under the Company’s group health, dental and vision plans will continue in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and law. In such case, (a) you will receive such benefits at the rates paid by active participants, and (b) for twelve (12) months the Company will continue to pay its portion of such health, dental and vision premiums.

 

(c)          Termination for Cause. Your employment may be terminated at any time by the Company effective immediately for Cause (as defined below) upon written notice to you setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of such Cause. If the Company terminates you for Cause, this Agreement will terminate without any further obligation of the Company to you other than to pay you any accrued but unpaid Base Salary through your termination date, which shall be paid on the payroll date immediately following the date of termination or such earlier date required by law, and to reimburse you for any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred by you (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”). Only the following shall constitute “Cause” for such termination:

 

(i)          your willful failure to perform any of the duties and responsibilities required of your position (other than by reason of your disability) or your willful failure to follow reasonable

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instructions or policies of the Company, after being advised in writing of such failure and being given a reasonable opportunity and period (as determined by the Board of Directors but no less than fifteen (15) and no more than thirty (30) days) to remedy such failure (if it is capable of being remedied as determined by the Board of Directors);

 

(ii)          your breach of fiduciary duties or duties of loyalty owed to the Company or its Affiliates;

 

(iii)          your conviction of or entering of a guilty plea or a plea of no contest with respect to a felony (or state law equivalent) or any crime (felony or misdemeanor) of moral turpitude or your misappropriation or embezzlement of funds or property of the Company or its Affiliates;

 

(iv)          your breach of a material term of this Agreement or violation in any material respect of any code or standard of conduct generally applicable to employees of the Company, after being advised in writing of such breach or violation and being given a reasonable opportunity and period (as determined by the Board of Directors but no less than fifteen (15) and no more than thirty (30) days) to remedy such breach or violation (if it is capable of being remedied as determined by the Board of Directors);

 

(v)          your fraud or dishonesty with respect to Company or its Affiliates;

 

(vi)          your engaging in conduct that, if it became known by any regulatory or governmental agency or the public, is or would be reasonably likely to result, or has resulted, in material injury to the Company or its Affiliates, reputational, financial, or otherwise.

 

(d)          Termination Without Cause. The Company may terminate your employment hereunder without Cause by written notice to you effective thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice by you. In the event of your termination of employment by the Company without Cause, you shall be entitled to the benefits specified in Section 4(g) of this Agreement, subject to your satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4(g).

 

(e)          Termination by You Without Good Reason. You may terminate your employment hereunder without Good Reason (as defined below) by written notice to the Company effective thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice by the Company. In the event you terminate your employment hereunder without Good Reason, you will be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts as provided in Section 4(c). It shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or “Good Reason” (defined below) for the Company to suspend your duties and to place you on paid leave during the period after notice of termination is received.

  

(f)          Termination by You for Good Reason. You may voluntarily terminate your employment under this Agreement at any time for Good Reason and be entitled to receive the compensation and benefits set forth in Section 4(g), subject to the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4(g). You must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the event or condition constituting such Good Reason within ninety (90) days after the initial occurrence of the event or condition alleged to constitute Good Reason. Upon delivery of such notice by you, the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the event or condition constituting Good Reason, and your employment shall continue in effect during such time. In the event the Company shall remedy the event or condition constituting Good Reason, then such notice of termination shall be null and void, and the Company shall not be required to pay any amount due to you under this Section 4(f). If the Company has not remedied the event or condition constituting Good Reason during the thirty (30) day cure period and you do not terminate your employment for Good Reason within ninety (90) days thereafter, then you will have waived your right to terminate for Good Reason with respect to such grounds.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Good Reason shall mean: (i) the failure by the Company to comply with the provisions of Section 3 or material breach by the Company of any other material provision of this Agreement; (ii) the assignment to you, without your consent, to a position or of responsibilities and duties that have materially less responsibility and authority than your position, responsibilities, or duties at the Commencement Date; or (iii) the requirement by the Company that you be based (other than on a temporary basis) at any office that is greater than fifty miles from where your office is located at the Commencement Date. Notwithstanding the above,

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Good Reason shall not include your removal as an officer of any Affiliate of the Company in order that you might concentrate your efforts on the Company or any resignation by you where Cause for your termination by the Company exists.

 

(g)          Certain Termination Benefits. In the event of termination of your employment by the Company without Cause, and other than for death or disability, or by you for Good Reason, you shall receive the Accrued Amounts and, provided you sign and deliver to the Company, within the time periods required by the Company, a general release and waiver of all claims in favor of the Company and its Affiliates and their respective officers and directors and employees and others in a form provided by the Company and it becomes effective and irrevocable (the “Release”), the following payments and benefits:

 

(i)          Any earned but unpaid annual incentive bonus referenced in Section 3(b) with respect to any completed calendar year immediately preceding the date of termination, which shall be paid on the applicable payment date when such bonus would have been otherwise due;

 

(ii)          Subject to subsections (v) and (vii) below, for a two (2)-year period immediately following the date of termination, the Company shall continue to pay you your Base Salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination, such payments to be made on the same periodic dates as salary payments would have been made had your employment not been terminated (the “Severance Benefit”), subject to compliance with Section 19 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Code;

 

(iii)          The Company shall pay you a welfare continuance benefit (the “Welfare Continuance Benefit”) in an amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of the Company’s monthly contribution pursuant to its current plan, or plans, in effect as of the date of termination of employment to provide group health, dental and vision insurance benefits made available to similarly situated officers of the Company (for purposes of illustration only, that monthly contribution is $720 as of the date of this Agreement), times (y) twenty-four (24). The Welfare Continuance Benefit will be paid to you in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the date of your termination of employment, provided that the Release has become irrevocable and subject to compliance with Section 19 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Code;

 

 (iv)          All outstanding Awards (as defined in the applicable equity award plan of Bankshares) shall vest in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement or other governing document pursuant to which an Award is granted (the “Award Agreement”), except that, solely for purposes of determining vesting in such Awards that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and subject to the Release requirement herein, you will be treated as if you are eligible to receive severance pay under the Atlantic Union Bankshares Executive Severance Plan for purposes of applying the terms of the applicable Award Agreement;

 

(v)          During the twelve (12)-month period that begins on the first anniversary date of the termination of employment and ends on the second anniversary date, the Company’s obligation to continue to pay you the Severance Benefit during such second twelve (12)-month period shall terminate thirty (30) days after you obtain full-time employment with another employer that provides an annualized base salary that is at least equal to 75% of the Base Salary being paid to you by the Company at the rate in effect on the date of termination;

 

(vi)          During the two (2)-year period following the date of termination, you shall provide the Company with at least ten days written notice before the starting date of any employment, identifying the prospective employer and its affiliated companies and the job description, including a description of the proposed geographic market area associated with the new position. Upon request, you shall provide the Company with proof of your annualized base salary with your new employer so as to meet the obligations in subsection (v) above. You shall notify in writing any new employer of the existence of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement prior to commencing such employment;

 

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(vii)          The obligation of the Company to continue to pay you the Severance Benefit for the period after the Noncompete Period (as defined in Section 5(a)) has expired and prior to the completion of the twenty-four (24) month period specified in (ii) above shall cease and be null and void effective upon your engaging in any conduct or activity that otherwise would have been prohibited under Section 5(a). (By way of illustration only, if you elect to engage in a Competitive Business within the Market Area (as those terms are defined in Section 5(e)) upon expiration of the one (1)-year Noncompete Period, the Company will not be obligated to continue to pay the Severance Benefit for the remaining balance of the twenty-four (24) month period specified in (ii) above.).

 

The Release referenced in this Section 4(g) to be effective must be delivered by you to the Company no later than forty-five (45) days following your termination of employment and must not be revoked during the seven (7) days following such delivery. If such Release is not executed in a timely manner or is revoked, all such payments and benefits shall immediately cease and you shall be required to repay to the Company any such payments that have already been paid to you except for the Accrued Amounts.

 

 (h)          Nonrenewal of the Employment Period. In the event of your termination of employment following a Nonrenewal Notice by the Company as set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, and except for the following adjustments set forth below to the Severance Benefit and Welfare Continuance Benefit, you will be entitled to the termination benefits provided for in Section 4(g), subject to your execution and delivery of the Release and its effectiveness:

 

(i)          For a one (1)-year period following the date of termination, the Company shall continue to pay you your Base Salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination, such payments to be made on the same periodic dates as salary payments would have been made had your employment not been terminated, subject to compliance with Section 19 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; and

 

(ii)          The Welfare Continuance Benefit will be an amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of the Company’s monthly contribution pursuant to its current plan, or plans, in effect as of the date of termination of employment to provide group health insurance and certain related benefits made available to similarly situated officers of the Company, times (y) twelve (12). The Welfare Continuance Benefit will be paid to you in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the date of your termination of employment, provided the Release has become irrevocable and subject to compliance with Section 19 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(i)          Resignation of All Other Position. Effective upon the termination of your employment for any reason, you shall be deemed to have resigned from all positions that you hold as an officer of the Company or its Affiliates.

 

(j)          Regulatory Requirement. The Company shall not be required to make payment of, or provide any benefit under, this Section 4 to the extent such payment or benefit is prohibited by the regulations presently found at 12 C.F.R. Part 359 or to the extent that any other governmental approval for the payment or benefit that is required by law is not received.

 

5.          Covenants.

 

(a)          Noncompetition. You agree that during the Employment Period and for a one (1)-year period following the termination of your employment (subject to Section 5(d) below) for any reason, including resignation or retirement (the “Noncompete Period”), you will not directly or indirectly, as a principal, agent, employee, employer, investor, director, consultant, co-partner or in any other individual or representative capacity whatsoever, engage in a business that provides Competitive Services anywhere in the Market Area (as such terms are defined below) by performing services in any competitive capacity through holding the same or similar office or engaging in the same or similar activities to those which you held or performed on behalf of the Company and any of its Affiliates during the Employment Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) 1% of any class of securities of any business enterprise (but without otherwise participating in the activities of such enterprise) that provides Competitive Services in the Market Area and whose

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securities are listed on any national securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(b)          Non-solicitation of Customers. You agree that for a two (2)-year period following the termination of your employment for any reason, including resignation or retirement, you will not solicit, divert from the Company or its Affiliates, or transact business with any “Customer” of the Company with whom you had “Material Contact” during the last twenty-four (24) months of your employment or about whom you obtained information not known generally to the public while acting within the scope of your employment during the last twenty-four (24) months of your employment, if the purpose of such solicitation, diversion or transaction is to provide products or services that are the same as or substantially similar to, and competitive with, those offered by the Company or its Affiliates during your employment and at the time your employment ends. For purposes of this subsection 5(b), “Material Contact” means that you personally communicated with the Customer, either orally or in writing, for the purpose of providing, offering to provide or assisting in providing products or services of the Company or its Affiliates; and “Customer” means (1) any Person to whom the Company or its Affiliates provided products or service in exchange for compensation or who otherwise had a depository or other contractual relationship with the Company or its Affiliates pursuant to which the Company or its Affiliates provided products or services to the Customer during the last twenty-four (24) months of your employment; or (2) any Person to whom you, while acting in the scope of your employment, offered the products or services of the Company or its Affiliates during the last twenty-four (24) months of your employment. The term “solicit” does not include advertisements in publications or media of general or industry-wide circulation not directed disproportionately to Customers of the Company. You acknowledge that, due to your relationship with the Company, you will develop, or have developed, special contacts and relationships with the Company’s customers and that it would be unfair and harmful if you took advantage of these relationships.

(c)Non-Piracy of Employees. You further agree that for a two (2)-year period following the termination of your employment for any reason, including resignation or retirement, you will not, directly or indirectly: solicit, recruit, or hire (or attempt to solicit, recruit, or hire) or otherwise assist anyone in soliciting, recruiting, or hiring, any employee or independent contractor (which shall not include non-exclusive outside vendors) of the Company or its Affiliates who performed work for the Company or its Affiliates or who was otherwise engaged or employed with the Company or its Affiliates during the last six (6) months of your employment, and with whom you had “Material Contact.” In addition, you shall not during your employment, encourage or solicit any employee or independent contractor (which shall not include non-exclusive outside vendors) of the Company or its Affiliates to leave their employment by or engagement with the Company or its Affiliates if the purpose is to perform services for a business engaged in providing Competitive Services. For purposes of this subsection 5(c), “Material Contact” means that you were aware of or communicated with the employee or independent contractor during the last twenty-four (24) months of your employment.

 

(d)          Nonrenewal of the Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company elects not to renew this Agreement in accordance with Section 2 and your employment is subsequently terminated after the expiration of the then current term, you will not be subject to the noncompetition provisions of Section 5(a) following the termination of your employment, unless you shall otherwise be entitled to receive payments from the Company as a result of your termination without Cause, the nonrenewal of the term of this Agreement, or for Good Reason pursuant to Sections 4(g) or 4(h) of this Agreement.

 

(e)          Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the term “Competitive Services” means providing financial products and services that are the same as or substantially similar to those offered by the Company during the Employment Period and at the time the Employment Period ends, which includes offering one or more of the following products and services: depository accounts, consumer and commercial lending, banking, residential and commercial mortgage lending, cash management services, securities brokerage and asset management, trust and estate administration, and any other business in which the Company or its Affiliates are engaged and in which you are significantly engaged at the time of termination of your employment; the term “Market Area” means the area within a twenty-five (25) mile radius of any banking office or a loan production office (excluding for purposes of this Agreement an office providing only residential mortgage loans) that the Company has established and is continuing to operate at the time of termination of your employment; and the term “Person” means any person, partnership, corporation, company, group or other entity.

 

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(f)          Confidentiality. As an employee of the Company, you will have access to and may participate in the origination of non-public, proprietary and confidential information relating to the Company and its Affiliates and you acknowledge a fiduciary duty owed to the Company and its Affiliates not to disclose any such information. Confidential information may include, but is not limited to, trade secrets, customer lists and information, internal corporate planning, methods of marketing and operation, and other data or information of or concerning the Company and its Affiliates or their customers that is not generally known to the public or generally in the banking industry (“Confidential Information”). You agree that for the five (5)-year period following the termination of your employment for any reason, including resignation or retirement, you will not use or disclose to any third party any such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, except as may be authorized in writing specifically by the Company; provided, however that to the extent the information covered by this Section 5(f) is otherwise protected by the law, such as a “trade secret,” as defined by the Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act, or customer information protected by banking privacy laws, that information shall not be disclosed or used for however long the legal protections applicable to such information remain in effect

Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits you or your counsel from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiry from, volunteering information to, or providing testimony before a self-regulatory authority or a governmental, law enforcement or other regulatory authority, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Congress, and any Office of Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), from participating in any reporting of, investigation into, or proceeding regarding suspected violations of law, or from making other disclosures that are protected under or from receiving an award for information provided under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. You do not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in such communications with the Regulators, respond to such inquiries from the Regulators, provide confidential information or documents containing confidential information to the Regulators, or make any such reports or disclosures to the Regulators. You are not required to notify the Company that you have engaged in such communications with the Regulators. You recognize and agree that, in connection with any such activity outlined above, you must inform the Regulators that the information you are providing is confidential.

Federal law provides certain protections to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances. Specifically, federal law provides that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret under either of the following conditions:

Where the disclosure is made (a) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (b) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or

Where the disclosure is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

Federal law also provides that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (a) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (b) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

  (g)          Acknowledgment; Enforcement. The covenants contained in this Section 5 shall be construed and interpreted in any proceeding to permit their enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law. You agree that the restrictions imposed herein are necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the Company and its Affiliates, and that each and every one of the restrictions is reasonable in respect to length of time, geographic area and scope of prohibited activities, and that the restrictions are neither overly restrictive on your post-employment activity nor overly burdensome for you to abide by. You covenant that you will not make any contention contrary to any of the foregoing representations in the future and agree that you will be estopped to deny or contradict the truth or accuracy of these representations. If, however, the time, geographic and/or scope of activity restrictions set forth in Section 5 are found by an arbitrator or court to exceed the standards deemed enforceable, the arbitrator or court, as applicable, is empowered and directed to modify the restriction(s) to the extent necessary to

7


make them enforceable, so long as applicable law allows such modifications. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit any activity that cannot reasonably be construed to further in any meaningful way any actual or potential competition against the Company or an Affiliate.

(h)          Enforcement. You acknowledge that damages at law would not be a measurable or an adequate remedy for breach of the covenants contained in this Section 5 and, accordingly, you agree to submit to the equitable jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction (subject to the venue provisions described below) in connection with any action to enjoin you from violating any such covenants. If the Company is successful in whole or in part in any legal, equitable, or arbitration action against you or brought by you in connection with the enforcement of the covenants included in this Section 5, the Company shall be entitled to payment of all costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, from you. If, on the other hand, it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that a breach or threatened breach did not occur under Section 5 of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse you for reasonable legal fees incurred to defend the claim. All the provisions of this Section 5 will survive termination and expiration of this Agreement.

 

6.          Change in Control of the Company. Provided the Management Continuity Agreement, dated as of the same date as this Agreement, between the Company and you that provides for certain severance payments and benefits in connection with the termination of your employment without “cause” or “good reason” following a “change in control” transaction (as those terms are defined in the Management Continuity Agreement), continues to remain in effect, in the event there is a “change in control” of the Company this Agreement will terminate and be of no further force and effect, except as provided below, and any termination benefits will be determined and paid solely pursuant to such Management Continuity Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event of a change in control of the Company, the restrictions imposed by paragraph (a) of Section 5 shall not apply to you after you cease to be employed by the Company, unless you are entitled to receive the severance benefits provided for in the Management Continuity Agreement in which case the restrictions imposed by Section 5(a) of this Agreement will continue to apply. The non-solicitation of customers and non-piracy restrictions in Sections 5(b) and 5(c) and the confidentiality provisions in Section 5(f) will remain in full force and effect following a change in control under all circumstances.

 

7.          Arbitration/Venue.

 

(a)          Except as provided in Section 7(c) below, both the Company and you acknowledge and agree that any dispute or controversy arising out of, relating to, or in connection with your employment or this Agreement, or the interpretation, validity, construction, performance, breach, or termination thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration unless otherwise required by law, to be held in Richmond, Virginia in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes then in effect of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator may grant injunctions or other relief in such dispute or controversy. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s decision in any court having jurisdiction. The party against whom the arbitrator(s) shall render an award shall pay the other party’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable costs and expenses in connection with the enforcement of its rights under this Agreement (including the enforcement of any arbitration award in court), unless and to the extent the arbitrator(s) shall determine that, under the circumstances, recovery by the prevailing party of all or a part of any such fees and costs and expenses would be unjust.

 

(b)          The arbitrator(s) shall apply Virginia law to the merits of any dispute or claim, without reference to rules of conflicts of law.

 

(c)          The parties may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other interim or conservatory relief, as necessary, without breach of this arbitration agreement and without abridgment of the powers of the arbitrator. To the extent any dispute between the parties is or becomes part of a judicial proceeding, the exclusive venue for any such proceeding shall be the Circuit Court of Henrico County, Virginia or the federal district court in Richmond, Virginia, selected at the option of the Company and to which you waive all objections and consent to personal jurisdiction.

 

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(d)          YOU HEREBY CONFIRM YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS SECTION 7, WHICH DISCUSSES ARBITRATION, AND UNDERSTAND THAT BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU AGREE, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 7(c), TO SUBMIT ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR EMPLOYMENT, THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE INTERPRETATION, VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE, BREACH OR TERMINATION THEREOF TO BINDING ARBITRATION, UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW, AND THAT THIS ARBITRATION CLAUSE CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION OF ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY.

  

8.          Mitigation; Exclusivity of Benefits.

 

(a)          You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any benefits to be paid to you hereunder by seeking other employment or otherwise.

 

(b)          The specific arrangements referred to herein are not intended to exclude any other benefits which may be available to you upon a termination of employment with the Company pursuant to employee benefit plans of the Company or otherwise.

 

9.          Withholding. All payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to you 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.

 

10.          Assignability. The Company may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder in whole, but not in part, to any corporation, company or other entity with or into which the Company may hereafter merge or consolidate or to which the Company may transfer all or substantially all of its assets, if in any such case such corporation, company or other entity shall by operation of law or expressly in writing assume all obligations of the Company hereunder as fully as if it had been originally made a party hereto, to the extent that any such transaction does not trigger the operation of Section 6 above. You may not assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder.

 

11.          Notices. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below:

 

 

To the Company:

Chairman of the Board

 

 

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation

 

 

1051 East Cary Street

 

 

Suite 1200

 

 

Richmond, Virginia 23219

 

 

 

 

 

And at the Chairman’s home address as shown on the records of the Company.

 

 

 

 

To You:

Maria P. Tedesco

 

 

 

 

 

At your home address as shown on the records of the Company.

 

12.          Amendment; Waiver. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by you and such officer or officers as may be specifically designated by the Board of Directors of Bankshares and the Bank to sign on their behalf. No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach by any other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

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13.          Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Management Continuity Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and no agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth or expressly incorporated in this Agreement or in the Management Continuity Agreement.

 

14.          Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without reference to its conflicts of laws principles.

 

15.          Nature of Obligations. Nothing contained herein shall create or require the Company to create a trust of any kind to fund any benefits which may be payable hereunder, and to the extent that you acquire a right to receive benefits from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

16.          Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

17.          Validity/Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. Should any part of this Agreement be declared or held illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any remaining portion or provision of this Agreement, which remaining portions and provisions shall remain in full force and effect as if the Agreement had been executed without the illegal, invalid or unenforceable portion.

 

18.          Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. In the event that any signature is executed or delivered by means of an electronic signature (such as DocuSign), facsimile or scanned pages via electronic mail, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such electronic signature, facsimile or scanned pages were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.

 

19.          Deferred Compensation Omnibus Provision.

 

(a)          It is intended that payments and benefits under this Agreement that are considered to be deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall be provided and paid in a manner, and at such time and in such form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related regulations and guidance to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided for therein for non-compliance. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company’s Compensation Committee or Board of Directors is authorized to amend this Agreement, to amend or void any election made by you under this Agreement and/or to delay the payment of any monies and/or provision of any benefits in such manner as may be determined by it to be necessary or appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of this Agreement, all rights to payments and benefits hereunder shall be treated as rights to receive a series of separate payments and benefits to the fullest extent allowed by Section 409A of the Code.

 

(b)          If you are deemed on the date of separation of service with the Company to be a “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then any payments or arrangements due upon a termination of your employment under any arrangement that constitutes a “nonqualified deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and which do not otherwise qualify under the exemptions under Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1 (including without limitation, the short-term deferral exemption or the permitted payments under Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)), shall not be made or provided prior to the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after your “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Section 409A and the regulations and other published guidance thereunder) for any reason other than death, and (ii) the date of your death (the “409A Deferral Period”).

 

(c)          In the case of benefits that are subject to Section 409A of the Code and not deemed to be paid under a separation pay plan that does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of the application of

10


Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), you may pay the cost of benefit coverage, and thereby obtain benefits, during the 409A Deferral Period and then be reimbursed by the Company when the 409A Deferral Period ends. Not later than ten (10) days after the end of the 409A Deferral Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 19 (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such deferral) shall be paid or reimbursed to you in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided as originally scheduled.

 

(d)          It is intended that each installment of the severance payments and benefits provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. Neither you nor the Company shall 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 of the Code.

 

(e)          “Termination of employment” shall have the same meaning as “separation of service,” as that phrase is defined in Section 409A of the Code (taking into account all rules and presumptions provided for in the Section 409A regulations).

(f)When, if ever, a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within sixty (60) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

(g)Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, neither the Company the Company’s affiliates, nor any of the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives shall be liable to the you if any payment or benefit which is to be provided pursuant to this Agreement and which is considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code otherwise fails to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

20.          Clawback. You agree that any incentive based compensation or award that you receive, or have received, from the Company or its Affiliates under this Agreement or otherwise, will be subject to clawback by the Company as may be required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement and on such basis as the Board of Directors determines, but in no event with a look-back period of more than three (3) years, unless required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement.

 

21.          Documents. All documents, records, tapes and other media of any kind or description relating to the business of the Company or its Affiliates (the “Documents”), whether or not prepared by you, shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Documents, and any copies, shall be returned to the Company upon your termination of employment for any reason or at such earlier time as the Board of Directors or its designees may specify.

 

22.          Non-disparagement. Subject to the provision in Section 5(f) relating to communications to Regulators, you will not at any time during or after the Employment Period make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments or statements concerning the Company or its business, or any of its directors, employees, customers, and other associated third parties. This Section 22 does not, in any way, restrict or impede you from exercising protected rights to the extent that such rights cannot be waived by agreement or from complying with any applicable law or regulation or a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that such compliance does not exceed that required by law, regulation or order. You shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to the Company. The Company will cause its officers and directors to refrain from making, publishing or communicating, at any time during or after the Employment Period, to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments or statements concerning you.

 

23.          Stock Ownership Requirements. During the Employment Period, you will be expected to maintain ownership of Company common stock in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

24.          No Construction Against Any Party. This Agreement is the product of informed negotiations between parties. If any part of this Agreement is deemed to be unclear or ambiguous, it shall be construed as if it

11


were drafted jointly by all parties. The parties agree neither party was in a superior bargaining position regarding the substantive terms of this Agreement.

25.Interpretation. Words importing any gender include all genders. Words importing the singular form shall include the plural and vice versa. The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereby,” “hereto,” “hereof” and any similar terms refer to this Agreement. Any captions, titles or headings preceding the text of any article, section or subsection herein are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute part of this Agreement or affect its meaning, construction or effect. Any reference to “days” shall refer to calendar days unless specifically provided otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

(Signatures appear on the following page)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by you and by a duly authorized officer of each of Bankshares and the Bank as of the date first above written.

ATLANTIC UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION

By: ​ ​/s/ John C. Asbury​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​

John C. Asbury

Chief Executive Officer

ATLANTIC UNION BANK

By: ​ ​/s/ John C. Asbury​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​

John C. Asbury

Chief Executive Officer

EXECUTIVE:

/s/ Maria P. Tedesco​ ​​ ​

Maria P. Tedesco

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EXHIBIT 1

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

I hereby designate the following person(s) as a beneficiary for the purposes of Section 6(b) to the extent of the percentage interest listed next to their name:

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

NAME PERCENTAGE INTEREST

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

TOTAL (CANNOT EXCEED 100%)

---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

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Exhibit 10.2

MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY AGREEMENT

 

This Management Continuity Agreement (“Agreement”), is made as of January 14, 2022, by and between Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation, a Virginia corporation (“Bankshares”), which is the parent company of Atlantic Union Bank, a Virginia banking corporation (the “Bank”), the Bank, and Maria P. Tedesco (the “Executive”). Bankshares and the Bank shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Company.”

 

1.          Purpose

 

The Company recognizes that the possibility of a Change in Control exists and the uncertainty and questions that it may raise among management may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders. Accordingly, the purpose of this Agreement is to encourage the Executive to continue employment with the Company and/or its affiliates or successors in interest by merger or acquisition after a Change in Control by providing reasonable employment security to the Executive and to recognize the prior service of the Executive in the event of a termination of employment under certain circumstances after a Change in Control.

 

2.          Term of the Agreement

 

This Agreement will be effective on January 14, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) and will expire on December 31, 2022; provided, that on December 31, 2022 and on each December 31st thereafter (each such December 31st is referred to as the “Renewal Date”), this Agreement will be automatically extended for an additional calendar year. This Agreement will not, however, be extended if the Company gives written notice of non-renewal to the Executive no later than September 30th before the Renewal Date (the original and any extended term of this Agreement is referred to as the “Change in Control Period”).

 

3.          Employment after a Change in Control

 

If a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in Section 12) occurs during the Change in Control Period and the Executive is employed by the Company on the date the Change in Control occurs (the “Change in Control Date”), the Company will continue to employ the Executive in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement for the period beginning on the Change in Control Date and ending on the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the Change in Control Date (the “Employment Period”). If a Change in Control occurs on account of a series of transactions, the Change in Control Date is the date of the last of such transactions.

 

4.          Terms of Employment

 

(a)          Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, (i) the Executive’s position, authority, duties and responsibilities will be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned to Executive by the Company at any time during the ninety (90)-day period immediately preceding the Change in Control Date and (ii) the Executive’s services will be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Change in Control Date or any office that is the headquarters of the Company and is less than thirty-five (35) miles from such location.

  

(b)          Compensation.

 

(i)          Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive will receive an annual base salary (the “Annual Base Salary”) at least equal to the base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies for the twelve-month period immediately preceding the Change of Control Date with such Annual Base Salary paid in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company applicable to all officers (but not less frequently than monthly). During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary will be reviewed at least annually and will be increased at any time and from time to time as will be substantially consistent with increases in base salary generally awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in the Annual Base Salary will not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. The Annual Base Salary will not be reduced after any such increase, and the term


Annual Base Salary as used in this Agreement will refer to the Annual Base Salary as so increased. The term “affiliated companies” includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.

 

(ii)          Annual Bonus. In addition to the Annual Base Salary, the Executive will be awarded for each year ending during the Employment Period and for which the Executive is employed on the last day of the year an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in cash at least equal to the average annual bonus paid or payable, including by reason of any deferral, for the two years immediately preceding the year in which the Change in Control Date occurs. Each such Annual Bonus earned will be paid no later than two and one-half months after the end of the year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded.

 

(iii)          Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive will be entitled to participate in all incentive (including stock incentive), savings and retirement, insurance plans, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, policies and programs as in effect from time to time.

 

(iv)          Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive’s spouse and/or eligible dependents, as the case may be, will be eligible for participation in and will receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, policies and programs as in effect from time to time.

  

(v)          Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive will be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies and programs of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the six months immediately preceding the Change in Control Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally from time to time after the Change in Control Date with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

 

(vi)          Paid Time Off. During the Employment Period, the Executive will be entitled to paid time off in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies and programs of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the six months immediately preceding the Change in Control Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally from time to time after the Change in Control Date with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

 

5.          Termination of Employment Following a Change in Control

 

(a)          Death or Disability. The Executive’s employment will terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period, it may terminate the Executive’s employment. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means the Executive’s inability to perform the essential functions of her position with the Company on a full time basis for one hundred and eighty (180) consecutive days or a total of at least two hundred and forty (240) days in any twelve (12)-month period as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness as determined pursuant to the Company’s long-term disability policy.

 

(b)          Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means (i) gross incompetence, gross negligence, willful misconduct in connection with the performance of your duties or breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or any affiliated company; (ii) conviction of or entering of a guilty plea or a plea of no contest with respect to a felony or a crime of moral turpitude or commission of an act of embezzlement or fraud against the Company or any affiliated company; (iii) any material breach by the Executive of a material term of this Agreement, including, without limitation, material failure to perform a substantial portion of her duties and responsibilities

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hereunder, after being advised in writing of such breach or failure and provided a thirty (30)-day opportunity to cure; or (iv) deliberate dishonesty of the Executive with respect to the Company or any affiliated company.

 

(c)          Good Reason. The Executive’s employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. The Executive must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the event or condition constituting such Good Reason within ninety (90) days after the initial occurrence of the event or condition alleged to constitute Good Reason. Upon delivery of such notice by you, the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the event or condition constituting Good Reason, and the Executive’s employment shall continue in effect during such time. In the event the Company shall remedy the event or condition constituting Good Reason, then such notice of termination shall be null and void, and the Company shall not be required to pay any amount due to you under this Section 4(f). If the Company has not remedied the event or condition constituting Good Reason during the thirty (30) day cure period and the Executive does not terminate employment for Good Reason within ninety (90) days thereafter, then the Executive will have waived her right to terminate for Good Reason with respect to such grounds. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means:

 

(i)          a material reduction in the Executive’s duties or authority;

 

(ii)          a failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b);

 

(iii)          the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(ii);

 

(iv)          the failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 7(b); or

 

(v)          the Company breaches any term or provision of this Agreement;

 

Notwithstanding the above, Good Reason shall not include any resignation by the Executive where Cause for the Executive’s termination by the Company exists or an isolated, insubstantial and/or inadvertent action not taken in bad faith by the Company and which is remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice thereof if given by the Executive.

 

(d)          Notice of Termination. Any termination during the Employment Period by the Company or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and the Date of Termination.

 

(e)          Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which shall not be less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given), and (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given, provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of her duties during such thirty (30)-day period.

 

(f)          Resignation of All Other Positions. Effective upon the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all positions the Executive holds as an officer of the Company or any of its affiliates.

 

6.          Compensation Upon Termination

 

(a)          Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason. The Executive will be entitled to the following benefits if, during the Employment Period, the Company terminates her employment without Cause or the Executive terminates her employment with the Company or any affiliated company for Good Reason; provided with

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respect to the payments set forth in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) below, the Executive signs and delivers a general release and waiver of all claims in favor of the Company, its affiliates and their respective officers and directors in a form provided by the Company and such release has become effective and irrevocable (the “Release”) (for avoidance of doubt, no release is required in connection with the payments set forth in paragraph (i) below).

 

(i)          Accrued Obligations. The Accrued Obligations are the sum of: (1) the accrued but unpaid amount of the Executive’s Annual Base Salary that remains unpaid through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect just prior to the time a Notice of Termination is given; (2) the amount, if any, of any Annual Bonus compensation theretofore earned under Section 4(b)(ii) which has not yet been paid; (3) the product of the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, for the most recently completed year and a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current year through the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is 365; (4) any benefits or awards (including both the cash and stock components) which pursuant to the terms of any plans, policies or programs have been earned or become payable, but which have not yet been paid to the Executive (but not including amounts that previously had been deferred at the Executive’s request, which amounts will be paid in accordance with the Executive’s existing directions); and (5) all unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred on behalf of the Company by the Executive. The Accrued Obligations will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum cash payment within ten (10) days after the Date of Termination or such earlier date as required by law;

 

(ii)          Salary Continuance Benefit. The Salary Continuance Benefit is an amount equal to 2.0 times the Executive’s Final Compensation. For purposes of this Agreement, “Final Compensation” means the Annual Base Salary in effect at the Date of Termination, plus the highest Annual Bonus paid or payable for the two most recently completed years. The Salary Continuance Benefit will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the Date of Termination, subject to compliance with Section 16 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), if applicable;

 

(iii)          Welfare Continuance Benefit. The Company shall pay you a welfare continuance benefit (the “Welfare Continuance Benefit”) in an amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of the Company’s monthly contribution pursuant to its current plan, or plans, in effect as of the Date of Termination to provide group health, dental and vision insurance benefits made available to similarly situated officers of the Company (for avoidance of doubt, that monthly contribution is $720 as of the date of this Agreement), times (y) twenty-four (24). The Welfare Continuance Benefit will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the Date of Termination, subject to compliance with Section 16 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, if applicable.

 

(iv)          Equity Acceleration. All outstanding Awards (as defined in the applicable equity award plan of Bankshares) shall vest in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement or other governing document pursuant to which an Award is granted (the “Award Agreement”), except that, solely for purposes of determining vesting in such Awards that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and subject to the Release requirement herein, you will be treated as if you are eligible to receive severance pay under the Atlantic Union Bankshares Executive Severance Plan for purposes of applying the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b)          Death. If the Executive dies during the Employment Period, this Agreement will terminate without any further obligation on the part of the Company under this Agreement, other than for (i) payment of the Accrued Obligations and six months of the Executive’s Annual Base Salary (which shall be paid to the Executive’s beneficiary or beneficiaries named on Exhibit 1 to this Agreement (or if none, to her estate) in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the date of Executive’s death); (ii) payment of an amount equal to the Welfare Continuance Benefit calculated under Section 6(b)(iii) (which shall be paid to the Executive’s beneficiary or beneficiaries named on Exhibit 1 to this Agreement (or if none, to her estate) in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the date of Executive’s death); and (iii) the timely payment of all death and retirement benefits pursuant to the terms of any plan, policy or arrangement of the Company and its affiliated companies.

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(c)          Disability. If the Executive’s employment is terminated because of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement will terminate without any further obligation on the part of the Company under this Agreement, other than for (i) payment of the Accrued Obligations and six months of the Executive’s Annual Base Salary (which shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the Date of Termination, subject to compliance with Section 16 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, if applicable); (ii) payment of an amount equal to the Welfare Continuance Benefit calculated under Section 6(b)(iii) (which shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days after the Date of Termination, subject to compliance with Section 16 of this Agreement regarding the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, if applicable); and (iii) the timely payment of all disability and retirement benefits pursuant to the terms of any plan, policy or arrangement of the Company and its affiliated companies.

 

(d)          Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement will terminate without any further obligation to the Executive other than the payment to the Executive of the Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination, plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive paid in accordance with the terms of the plan or program under which such compensation was deferred and applicable law, and all unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by the Executive. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, this Agreement will terminate without any further obligation to the Executive other than for the Accrued Obligations (which will be paid in a lump sum in cash within sixty (60) days after the Date of Termination or such earlier date required by law) and any other benefits to which the Executive may be entitled pursuant to the terms of any plan, program or arrangement of the Company and its affiliated companies.

 

(e)          Maximum Benefit. No amounts will be payable and no benefits will be provided under this Agreement to the extent that such payments or benefits, together with other payments or benefits under other plans, agreements or arrangements, would make the Executive liable for the payment of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, or any successor provision. The amounts otherwise payable and the benefits otherwise to be provided under this Agreement shall be reduced in a manner determined by the Company (by the minimum possible amount) that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code until no amount payable to the Executive will be subject to such excise tax. All calculations and determinations under this Section 6(e) shall be made by an independent accounting firm or independent tax counsel appointed by the Company (the “Tax Advisor”) whose determinations shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Executive for all purposes. The Tax Advisor may rely on reasonable, good faith assumptions and approximations concerning the application of Section 280G and Section 4999 of the Code. The Company shall bear all costs of the Tax Advisor.

 

7.          Binding Agreement; Successors

 

(a)          This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Executive (and her personal representative), the Company and any successor organization or organizations which shall succeed to substantially all of the business and property of the Company, whether by means of merger, consolidation, acquisition of all or substantially of all of the assets of the Company or otherwise, including by operation of law.

 

(b)          The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

 

(c)          For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Company” includes any subsidiaries of the Company and any corporation or other entity which is the surviving or continuing entity in respect of any merger, consolidation or form of business combination in which the Company ceases to exist; provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred herein, the term “Company” refers to Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation or its successors.

 

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8.          Fees and Expenses; Mitigation

 

(a)          The Company will pay or reimburse the Executive for all costs and expenses, including without limitation court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Executive (i) in contesting or disputing any termination of the Executive’s employment or (ii) in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement, in each case provided the Executive is the prevailing party in a proceeding brought in a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company shall reimburse the foregoing costs on a current basis after the Executive submits a claim for reimbursement with the proper documentation of the costs and expenses, provided that no expense will be reimbursed after the end of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred.

 

(b)          The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment the Company becomes obligated to make to the Executive in connection with this Agreement, by seeking other employment or otherwise. The amount of any payment provided for in Section 6 shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company by reason of any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination, or otherwise.

9.          No Employment Contract

 

Nothing in this Agreement will be construed as creating an employment contract between the Executive and the Company prior to a Change in Control.

 

10.          Survival of Certain Restrictive Covenants

 

Section 5(a) of the Employment Agreement, dated as of the same hereof, between the Company and the Executive with respect to the Executive’s covenants concerning noncompetition will not apply to the Executive after she ceases to be employed by the Company, unless the Executive is entitled to receive the severance benefits provided for in Section 6 of this Agreement in connection with the termination of her employment without Cause or for Good Reason in which case the restrictions imposed by Section 5(a) in the Employment Agreement will continue to apply. The non-solicitation and non-piracy restrictions in Sections 5(b) and 5(c) of the Employment Agreement and the confidentiality provisions in Section 5(f) of the Employment Agreement, together with the other provisions of Section 5, except to the extent Section 5(a) of the Employment Agreement may not apply as provided above, will survive the termination of the Employment Agreement and are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement as though Section 5 of the Employment Agreement were set forth in full in this Agreement and shall apply in all circumstances.

 

11.          Notice

 

Any notices and other communications provided for by this Agreement will be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person, or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (in which case notice will be deemed to have been given on the third day after mailing), or by overnight delivery by a reliable overnight courier service (in which case notice will be deemed to have been given on the day after delivery to such courier service). Notices to the Company shall be directed to the Secretary of the Company, with a copy directed to the Chairman of the Board. Notices to the Executive shall be directed to her last known address.

 

12.          Definition of a Change in Control

 

No benefits shall be payable hereunder unless there shall have been a Change in Control of the Company during the Change in Control Period as set forth below. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” means:

 

(a)          The acquisition by any Person of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, provided that an acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege) shall not constitute a Change in Control.

 

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(b)          Individuals who constitute the Board on the date of this Agreement (the “Incumbent Board”) cease to constitute a majority of the Board, provided that any director whose nomination was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board will be considered a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of the Company.

(c)          Consummation by the Company of a reorganization, merger, share exchange or consolidation (a “Reorganization”), provided that a Reorganization will not constitute a Change in Control if, upon consummation of the Reorganization, each of the following conditions is satisfied:

 

(i)          more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the Reorganization is beneficially owned by all or substantially all of the former shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership existed in the Company immediately prior to the Reorganization;

 

(ii)          no Person beneficially owns 20% or more of either (1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the transaction or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and

 

(iii)          at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from the Reorganization were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for the Reorganization.

 

(d)          Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or the consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

(e)          For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliated company, and “beneficial ownership” has the meaning given the term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

(f) The foregoing definition of Change in Control shall be modified to the extent necessary to be consistent with and interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A and regulations issued thereunder.

 

13.          Miscellaneous

 

No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified, waived or discharged unless such amendment, modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in a writing signed by the Executive and the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, or President of Bankshares. This Agreement replaces and supersedes any prior agreements, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such agreements are hereby terminated and are without any further legal force or effect. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not expressly set forth in this Agreement, except for the Employment Agreement of even date herewith.

  

14.          Arbitration/Venue

(a) Both the Company and the Executive acknowledge and agree that any dispute or controversy arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the Executive’s employment or this Agreement, or the interpretation, validity, construction, performance, breach, or termination thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration unless otherwise required by law, to be held in Richmond, Virginia in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes then in effect of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator

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may grant injunctions or other relief in such dispute or controversy. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s decision in any court having jurisdiction. The party against whom the arbitrator(s) shall render an award shall pay the other party’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable costs and expenses in connection with the enforcement of its rights under this Agreement (including the enforcement of any arbitration award in court), unless and to the extent the arbitrator(s) shall determine that, under the circumstances, recovery by the prevailing party of all or a part of any such fees and costs and expenses would be unjust.

(b) The arbitrator(s) shall apply Virginia law to the merits of any dispute or claim, without reference to rules of conflicts of law.

(c) The parties may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other interim or conservatory relief, as necessary, without breach of this arbitration agreement and without abridgment of the powers of the arbitrator. To the extent any dispute between the parties is or becomes part of a judicial proceeding, the exclusive venue for any such proceeding shall be the Circuit Court of Henrico County, Virginia or the federal district court in Richmond, Virginia, selected at the option of the Company and to which the Executive waives all objections and consent to personal jurisdiction.

(d) THE EXECUTIVE HEREBY CONFIRMS THE EXECUTIVE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THIS SECTION 14, WHICH DISCUSSES ARBITRATION, AND UNDERSTANDS THAT BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE EXECUTIVE AGREES, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 14(c), TO SUBMIT ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXECUTIVE’S EMPLOYMENT, THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE INTERPRETATION, VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE, BREACH OR TERMINATION THEREOF TO BINDING ARBITRATION, UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW, AND THAT THIS ARBITRATION CLAUSE CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF THE EXECUTIVE’S RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION OF ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE EXECUTIVE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY

 

15.          Validity/Severability

 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. Should any part of this Agreement be declared or held illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any remaining portion or provision of this Agreement, which remaining portions and provisions shall remain in full force and effect as if the Agreement had been executed without the illegal, invalid or unenforceable portion.

 

16.          Deferred Compensation Omnibus Provision

 

(a)          It is intended that payments and benefits under this Agreement that are considered to be deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be provided and paid in a manner, and at such time and in such form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided for therein for non-compliance. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Bankshares’ Compensation Committee or Board is authorized to amend this Agreement, to amend or void any election made by the Executive under this Agreement and/or to delay the payment of any monies and/or provision of any benefits in such manner as may be determined by it to be necessary or appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of this Agreement, all rights to payments and benefits hereunder shall be treated as rights to receive a series of separate payments and benefits to the fullest extent allowed by Section 409A of the Code.

 

(b)          If the Executive is deemed on the date of separation of service with the Company to be a “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then payment of any amount or provision of any benefit under this Agreement that is considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall not be made or provided prior to the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of separation of service or (B) the date of death (the “409A Deferral Period”).

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(c)          In the case of benefits that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Executive may pay the cost of benefit coverage, and thereby obtain benefits, during the 409A Deferral Period and then be reimbursed by the Company when the 409A Deferral Period ends. Not later than ten (10) days after the end of the 409A Deferral Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 16 (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such deferral) shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided as originally scheduled.

  

(d)          “Termination of employment” shall have the same meaning as “separation of service,” as that phrase is defined in Section 409A of the Code (taking into account all rules and presumptions provided for in the Section 409A regulations).

(e)When, if ever, a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within sixty (60) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

(f)Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, neither the Company the Company’s affiliates, nor any of the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives shall be liable to the Executive if any payment or benefit which is to be provided pursuant to this Agreement and which is considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code otherwise fails to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

17.Withholding. All payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to 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.

18.          Clawback. The Executive agrees that any incentive based compensation or award that she receives, or has received, from the Company or its Affiliates under this Agreement or otherwise, will be subject to clawback by the Company as may be required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement and on such basis as the Board determines, but in no event with a look-back period of more than three years, unless required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement.

19.          Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. In the event that any signature is executed or delivered by means of an electronic signature (such as DocuSign), facsimile or scanned pages via electronic mail, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such electronic signature, facsimile or scanned pages were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.

20. No Construction Against Any Party. This Agreement is the product of informed negotiations between parties. If any part of this Agreement is deemed to be unclear or ambiguous, it shall be construed as if it were drafted jointly by all parties. The parties agree neither party was in a superior bargaining position regarding the substantive terms of this Agreement.

21.Interpretation. Words importing any gender include all genders. Words importing the singular form shall include the plural and vice versa. The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereby,” “hereto,” “hereof” and any similar terms refer to this Agreement. Any captions, titles or headings preceding the text of any article, section or subsection herein are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute part of this Agreement or affect its meaning, construction or effect. Any reference to “days” shall refer to calendar days unless specifically provided otherwise.

 

 

 

[Signatures follow on next page.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by a duly authorized officer of each of Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation and Atlantic Union Bank and by the Executive, as of the date first above written.

 

ATLANTIC UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION

By: ​ ​/s/ John C. Asbury​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​

John C. Asbury

Chief Executive Officer

ATLANTIC UNION BANK

By: ​ ​/s/ John C. Asbury​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​

John C. Asbury

Chief Executive Officer

EXECUTIVE:

/s/ Maria P. Tedesco​ ​​ ​

Maria P. Tedesco

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EXHIBIT 1

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

I hereby designate the following person(s) as a beneficiary for the purposes of Section 6(b) to the extent of the percentage interest listed next to their name:

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NAME PERCENTAGE INTEREST

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TOTAL (CANNOT EXCEED 100%)

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GRAPHIC

Exhibit 99.1

Atlantic Union Bank Names Maria P. Tedesco Chief Operating Officer

 

Richmond, Va., Jan. 18, 2022 – Atlantic Union Bank is pleased to announce that Maria Tedesco will assume the new role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately. Tedesco will also continue to serve in her current role as President.

As President & COO, Tedesco will lead the following customer-centric business units: consumer and business banking, wholesale banking, wealth management, home loans, technology and operations, marketing, digital strategy and enterprise experience, business intelligence, and first line of defense risk.

 

“Since the day Maria walked through our doors as President in 2018, she has been an incredible asset,” said, John C. Asbury, CEO of Atlantic Union Bank. “Maria has delivered significant tangible and intangible results for our customers, our communities, our Teammates and our shareholders. Her customer first approach to our business will continue to serve us well as she takes on the expanded role of President & COO.”

“Additionally, uniting these business units will help us better meet our customers’ needs, enhance their experiences, improve internal coordination and respond to our constantly changing environment in an agile manner.”

About Atlantic Union Bank

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Atlantic Union Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (Nasdaq: AUB). Atlantic Union Bank has 130 branches and approximately 150 ATMs located throughout Virginia, and in portions of Maryland and North Carolina. Certain non-bank financial services affiliates of Atlantic Union Bank include: Atlantic Union Equipment Finance, Inc., which provides equipment financing; Dixon, Hubard, Feinour & Brown, Inc., which provides investment advisory services; Atlantic Union Financial Consultants, LLC, which provides brokerage services; and Union Insurance Group, LLC, which offers various lines of insurance products.

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Contact:

Beth Shivak, Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Communications Beth.Shivak@AtlanticUnionBank.com; or

Bill Cimino, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations 804.448.0937