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 22, 2014

 


 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

California

 

0-30777

 

33-0898238

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

949 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa, California

 

92626

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (714) 438-2500

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 


 

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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 5.02                    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers.

 

On January 22, 2014, the Board of Directors of Pacific Mercantile Bancorp (the “Company”) adopted the Pacific Mercantile Bancorp Change in Control Severance Plan (the “Plan”).  The purpose of the Plan is promote the long-term financial interests of the Company and its shareholders by (i) providing key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries with assurances of fair and equitable treatment as well as severance benefits consistent with competitive practices in the event of a change in control of the Company and (ii) reducing the risk of departures and distractions of such employees in a change in control situation.

 

The participants under the Plan (each, a “Participant”) will include only those employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who are designated as such by the Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  In addition, each Participant will be required to execute a Participation Agreement, pursuant to which he or she will acknowledge and agree, among other things, (i) to certain confidentiality and non-solicitation requirements; and (ii) that the Plan supersedes entirely any prior agreement, arrangement, plan or program for the payment of severance, change in control, salary continuation or the provision of other benefits in connection with a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the Plan).

 

A Participant will be eligible for benefits under the Plan if his or her employment is terminated either by the Company for any reason other than Cause (as such term is defined in the Plan) or the death or disability of the Participant, or by the Participant for Good Reason (as such term is defined in the Plan), during the period (a) commencing on the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Change in Control and (ii) public announcement of an intended or anticipated Change in Control, provided that such Change in Control actually occurs; and (b) ending on the date one year following a Change in Control.  The benefits under the Plan will include: (i) a lump sum payment equal to a Participant’s monthly base salary multiplied by the Change in Control Benefits Period (as such term is defined in the Plan); (ii) a lump sum payment of a prorated annual bonus for the Plan year in which the termination occurs; (iii) a lump sum payment equal to the value of the Participant’s monthly welfare benefits multiplied by the lesser of the Change in Control Benefits Period and 12 months; and (iv) certain outplacement services.  The benefits are to be paid on the first regular payroll period following the sixtieth (60th) day after the effective date of the Participant’s termination of employment.

 

Modifications or amendments to, or termination of, the Plan can occur only in writing through official action of the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or a designee of either. Any modifications or amendments to the Plan that adversely affect rights of Participants in the Plan shall not be effective until one year following the adoption of such modification or amendment. Following a Change in Control, the Plan cannot be modified, amended or terminated, or the eligibility of a Participant revoked for one year following such Change in Control.

 

The foregoing description of the Plan and the Participation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete copies of the Plan and form of Participation Agreement attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively.

 

Item 5.03     Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On and effective January 22, 2014, the Board of Directors approved amendments to the Company’s Bylaws to add Article II, Section 11, which establishes advance notice requirements for shareholders who propose business or make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company.

 

In accordance with the advance notice requirements contained in Article II, Section 11 of the amended Bylaws, a shareholder who proposes to bring business or make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders must provide written notice to the Company not earlier than February 5, 2014 and not later than March 7, 2014.  A shareholder’s written notice must include certain information concerning the shareholder and each nominee or proposal, as specified in Article II, Section 11 of the amended Bylaws, and otherwise comply with the requirements of that section.

 

The foregoing description of the amended Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1.

 

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Item 9.01.                 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1

 

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp Bylaws, Amended and Restated as of January 22, 2014.

10.1

 

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp Change in Control Severance Plan.

10.2

 

Form of Pacific Mercantile Bancorp Change in Control Severance Plan Participation Agreement.

 

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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.

 

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP

 

 

Date: January 27, 2014

By:

/S/ Steven K. Buster

 

 

Steven K. Buster

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

BYLAWS FOR THE REGULATION, EXCEPT

AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY STATUTE OR ITS

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, OF

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP,

a California corporation

 

( As Amended & Restated as of January 22, 2014 )

 

Article I

Offices

 

Section 1 . Principal Executive Office . The principal executive office of Pacific Mercantile Bancorp, a California corporation (the “corporation”) is hereby fixed and located at 450 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100, Newport Beach, California 92660. The Board of Directors is hereby granted full power and authority to change said principal executive office from one location to another. Any change in the location of the principal office of the corporation shall be noted on the bylaws by the secretary, opposite this section, or this section may be amended to state the new location.

 

Section 2 . Other Offices . Other business offices may at any time be established by the Board of Directors at any place or places where the corporation is qualified to do business.

 

Article II

Meetings of Shareholders

 

Section 1 . Place of Meetings . All annual or other meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation, or at any other place within or without the State of California which may be designated either by the Board of Directors or by the written consent of all persons entitled to vote thereat and not present at the meeting, given either before or after the meeting and filed with the secretary of the corporation.

 

Section  2 . Annual Meetings . Annual meetings of shareholders shall be held on the second Tuesday in April or such other date as may be set by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that, should said day fall upon a legal holiday, then any such annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at the same time and place on the next day thereafter ensuing which is a full business day. At such meetings, directors shall be elected, reports of the affairs of the corporation shall be considered, and any other business may be transacted which is within the powers of the shareholders. Written notice of each annual meeting shall be given to each shareholder entitled to vote, either personally or by mail or other means of written communication, charges prepaid, addressed to such shareholder at his address appearing on the books of the Corporation or given by him to the Corporation for the purpose of notice. If any notice or report addressed to the shareholder at the address of such shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation is returned to the corporation by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice or report to the shareholder at such address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if the same shall be available for the shareholder upon written demand of the shareholder at the principal executive office of the Corporation for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice or report to all other shareholders. If a shareholder gives no address, notice shall be deemed to have been given him if sent by mail or other means of written communication addressed to the place where the principal executive office of the Corporation is situated, or if published at least once in some newspaper of general circulation in the county in which said principal executive office is located.

 

All such notices shall be given to each shareholder entitled thereto not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before each annual meeting. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication. An affidavit of mailing of any such notice in accordance with the foregoing provisions, executed by the secretary, assistant secretary or any transfer agent of the Corporation, shall be prima facie evidence of the giving of the notice.

 

Such notices shall specify:

 

(a)                  the place, the date, and the hour of such meeting;

 

(b)                  those matters which the Board, at the time of the mailing of the notice, intends to present for action by the shareholders;

 



 

(c)                   if directors are to be elected, the names of nominees intended at the time of the notice to be presented by management for election;

 

(d)                  the general nature of a proposal, if any, to take action with respect to approval of (i) a contract or other transaction with an interested director, (ii) amendment of the Articles of Incorporation, (iii) a reorganization of the Corporation as defined in Section 181 of the General Corporation Law, (iv) voluntary dissolution of the Corporation, or (v) a distribution in dissolution other than in accordance with the rights of outstanding preferred shares, if any; and

 

(e)                   such other matters, if any, as may be expressly required by statute.

 

Section 3 . Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders, for the purpose of taking any action permitted by the shareholders under the General Corporation Law and the Articles of Incorporation of this Corporation, may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or the President, or by the Board of Directors, or by one or more shareholders holding not less than ten percent (10%) of the votes at the meeting. Upon request in writing that a special meeting of shareholders be called for any proper purpose, directed to the Chairman of the Board, President, Vice President or Secretary by any person (other than the Board) entitled to call a special meeting of shareholders, the officer forthwith shall cause notice to be given to shareholders entitled to vote that a meeting will be held at a time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days after receipt of the request. Except in special cases where other express provision is made by statute, notice of such special meetings shall be given in the same manner as for the annual meetings of shareholders. In addition to the matters required by items (a) and, if applicable, (c) of the preceding Section, notice of any special meeting shall specify the general nature of the business to be transacted, and no other business may be transacted at such meeting.

 

Section 4 . Quorum. The presence in person or by proxy of the persons entitled to vote a majority of the voting shares at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The shareholders present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by at least a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum.

 

Section 5 . Adjourned Meeting and Notice Thereof. Any shareholders’ meeting, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of a majority of the shares, the holders of which are either present in person or represented by proxy thereat, but in the absence of a quorum no other business may be transacted at such meeting, except as provided in Section 4 above.

 

When any shareholders’ meeting, either annual or special, is adjourned for forty-five days or more, or if after adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Except as provided above, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the time and place of the adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted thereat, other than by announcement of the time and place of the adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted thereat, other than by announcement of the time and place thereof at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken.

 

Section 6 . Voting. Unless a record date for voting purposes be fixed as provided in Section 1 of Article V of these bylaws, then, subject to the provisions of Sections 702 and 704, inclusive, of the Corporations Code of California (relating to voting of shares held by a fiduciary, in the name of a Corporation, or in joint ownership), only persons in whose names shares entitled to vote stand on the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice of the meeting is given or if such notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting of shareholders is held, shall be entitled to vote at such meeting, and such day shall be the record date for such meeting. Such vote may be viva voce or by ballot; provided , however , that all elections for directors must be by ballot upon demand made by a shareholder at any election and before the voting begins. If a quorum is present, except with respect to election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on any matter shall be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a greater number or voting by classes is required by the General Corporation Law or the Articles of Incorporation. Subject to the requirements of the next sentence, every shareholder entitled to vote at any election for directors shall have the right to cumulate his votes and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which his shares are entitled, or to distribute his votes on the same principle among as many candidates as he shall think fit. No shareholder shall be entitled to cumulative votes unless the name of the candidate or candidates for whom such votes would be cast has been placed in nomination prior to the voting, and any shareholder has given notice at the meeting prior to the voting of such shareholder’s intention to cumulate his votes. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes of shares entitled to be voted for them, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be elected.

 

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Section 7 . Validation of Defectively Called or Noticed Meetings. The transactions of any meeting of shareholders, either annual or special, however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the persons entitled to vote, not present in person or by proxy, or who, though present, has, at the beginning of the meeting, properly objected to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened, or to particular matters of business legally required to be included in the notice, but not so included, signs a written waiver of notice, or a consent to the holding of such meeting, or an approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

Section 8 . Action Without Meeting . Directors may be elected without a meeting by a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, signed by all of the persons who would be entitled to vote for the election of directors, provided that, without notice except as hereinafter set forth, a director may be elected at any time to fill a vacancy not filled by the directors by the written consent of persons holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote for the election of directors. Any other action which, under any provision of the California General Corporation Law, may be taken at a meeting of the shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, and without notice except as hereinafter set forth, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Unless the consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have been solicited in writing:

 

(a)                  Notice of any proposed shareholder approval of (i) a contract or other transaction with an interested director, (ii) indemnification of an agent of the Corporation as authorized by Section 15, of Article III, of these bylaws, (iii) a reorganization of the Corporation as defined in Section 181 of the General Corporation Law, or (iv) a distribution in dissolution other than in accordance with the rights of outstanding preferred shares, if any, without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent, shall be given at least ten (10) days before the consummation of the action authorized by such approval; and

 

(b)                  Prompt notice shall be given of the taking of any other corporate action approved by shareholders without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent to those shareholders entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. Such notices shall be given in the manner and shall be deemed to have been given as provided in Section 2 of Article II of these bylaws.

 

Unless, as provided in Section 1 of Article V of these bylaws, the Board of Directors has fixed a record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to give such written consent, the record date for such determination shall be the day on which the first written consent is given. All such written consents shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation.

 

Any shareholder giving a written consent, or the shareholder’s proxyholders, or a transferee of the shares or a personal representative of the shareholder or their respective proxyholders, may revoke the consent by a writing received by the Corporation prior to the time that written consents of the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the secretary of the Corporation, but may not do so thereafter. Such revocation is effective upon its receipt by the secretary of the Corporation.

 

Section 9 . Proxies . Every person entitled to vote or execute consents shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy executed by such person or his duly authorized agent and filed with the secretary of the Corporation. Any proxy duly executed is not revoked and continues in full force and effect until (i) an instrument revoking it or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date is filed with the secretary of the Corporation prior to the vote pursuant thereto, (ii) the person executing the proxy attends the meeting and votes in person, or (iii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of such proxy is received by the Corporation before the vote pursuant thereto is counted; provided that no such proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless the person executing it specifies therein the length of time for which such proxy is to continue in force.

 

Section 10 . Inspectors of Election . In advance of any meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any persons other than nominees for office as inspectors of election to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof. If inspectors of election be not so appointed, the chairman of any such meeting may, and on the request of any shareholder or his proxy shall, make such appointment at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one or three. If appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies, the majority of shares represented in person or by proxy shall determine whether one or three inspectors are to be appointed. In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may, and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy shall, be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting, or at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting.

 

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The duties of such inspectors shall be as prescribed by Section 707 of the General Corporation Law and shall include determining the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents; determining when the polls shall close; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders. In the determination of the validity and effect of proxies, the dates contained on the forms of proxy shall presumptively determine the order of execution of the proxies, regardless of the postmark dates on the envelopes in which they are mailed.

 

The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are three inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence by the facts stated therein.

 

Section  11 . Advance Notice of Shareholder Business and Nominations .

 

(a)          Annual Meetings of Shareholders .

 

(1)                      Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders only (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, or (iii) by any shareholder of the Corporation who was a shareholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 11 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11.

 

(2)                      For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of shareholders by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business must constitute a proper matter for shareholder action under the General Corporation Law. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of shareholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper written form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary (whether pursuant to this Section11(a)(2) or Section 11(b)) must set forth:

 

(i)                    as to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (x) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and (y) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

 

(ii)                 if the notice relates to any business (other than the nomination of persons for election as directors) that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (w) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, (x) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (y) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and (z) any material interest in such business of such shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 

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(iii)              as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (w) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (x) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and by such beneficial owner, (y) any derivative positions with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation held or beneficially held by or on behalf of such shareholder and by or on behalf of such beneficial owner, the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into with respect to the shares of stock of the Corporation by or on behalf of such shareholder and by or on behalf of such beneficial owner, and the extent to which any other agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of such shareholder and such beneficial owner with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, (z) a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, and (aa) a representation whether the shareholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group that intends (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such proposal or nomination.

 

The foregoing notice requirements of this paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11 shall be deemed satisfied by a shareholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the shareholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such shareholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine (x) the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, and (y) whether such nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law, securities exchange rule or regulation, or any publicly-disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the Corporation.

 

(3)                      Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at an annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11 and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a shareholder’s notice required by this Section 11 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)          Special Meetings of Shareholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any shareholder of the Corporation who is a shareholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 11 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election, and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such shareholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the shareholder’s notice in the same form as required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the

 

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public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)           General .

 

(1)                      Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (i) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 and (ii) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 11, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, unless otherwise required by law, if the shareholder (or a qualified representative of the shareholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 11, to be considered a qualified representative of the shareholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such shareholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such shareholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such shareholder to act for such shareholder as proxy at the meeting of shareholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of shareholders.

 

(2)                      For purposes of this Section 11, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(3)                      Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11; provided however, that any references in these bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 11 (including paragraphs (a)(1)(iii) and (b) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (a)(1)(iii) and (b) of this Section 11 shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of (a)(2), business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (iii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock to nominate and elect directors pursuant to and to the extent provided in any applicable provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

Article III

Directors

 

Section 1 . Powers . Subject to any applicable limitations of the Articles of Incorporation, the California General Corporation Law and the California Financial Code, such as, but not limited to, any provisions thereof requiring any action to be authorized or approved by the shareholders, and subject to the duties of directors as prescribed by the bylaws, all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the corporation shall be controlled by, the Board of Directors. Without prejudice to such general powers, but subject to the same limitations, it is hereby expressly declared that the directors shall have the following powers, to wit:

 

First —To select and remove all the officers, agents and employees of the Corporation, prescribe such powers and duties for them as may not be inconsistent with law, with the Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws, fix their compensation and require from them security for faithful service.

 

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Second —To conduct, manage and control the affairs and business of the Corporation, and to make such rules and regulations therefor not inconsistent with law, or with the Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws, as they may deem best.

 

Third —To change the principal executive office and principal office for the transaction of the business of the Corporation from one location to another as provided in Article I, Section 1, hereof; to fix and locate from time to time one or more branch offices of the Corporation within or without the State of California, as provided in Article I, Section 2, hereof; to designate any place within or without the State of California for the holding of any shareholders’ meeting or meetings; and to adopt, make and use a corporate seal, and to prescribe the forms of certificates of stock, and to alter the form of such seal and of such certificates from time to time, as in their judgment they may deem best, provided such seal and such certificates shall at all times comply with applicable provisions of law.

 

Fourth —To authorize the issue of shares of stock of the Corporation from time to time, upon such terms as may be lawful.

 

Fifth —Subject to obtaining any permits or other approvals required under applicable laws or regulations to borrow money and incur indebtedness for the purposes of the Corporation, and to cause to be executed and delivered therefor, in the corporate name, promissory notes, bonds, debentures, deeds of trust, mortgages, pledges, hypothecations or other evidences of debt and securities therefor.

 

Sixth —By resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors, to designate an executive and other committees, each consisting of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board, and to prescribe the manner in which proceedings of such committee shall be conducted. Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise prescribe the manner of proceedings of any such committee, meetings of such committee may be regularly scheduled in advance and may be called at any time by any two members thereof; otherwise, the provisions of the bylaws with respect to notice and conduct of meetings of the Board shall govern. Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board, shall have all of the authority of the Board, except with respect to:

 

(a)                  the approval of any action for which the General Corporation Law or the Articles of Incorporation also require shareholder approval;

 

(b)                  the filling of vacancies on the Board or in any committee;

 

(c)                   the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board or on any committee;

 

(d)                  the adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws;

 

(e)                   the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board;

 

(f)                    any distribution to the shareholders, except at a rate or in a periodic amount or within a price range determined by the Board; and

 

(g)                   the appointment of other committees of the Board or the members thereof.

 

Section 2 . Number and Qualification of Directors . The authorized number of directors shall not be less than seven (7) nor more than thirteen (13) until changed by amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or a bylaw amending this Section 2 of Article duly adopted by the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote; provided that a proposal to reduce the authorized number of directors below five cannot be adopted if the votes cast against its adoption at a meeting, or the shares not consenting in the case of action by written consent, are equal to more than 16-2/3 percent of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the limits set forth in the Articles of Incorporation or, if no such limits are contained therein, within the limits set forth in this Section 2 of Article III hereof, (i) by a resolution approved by the Board of Directors or (ii) an amendment of this bylaw duly adopted by the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote that are represented at a duly held meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present, or by the written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, or by the Board of Directors; or (iii) by approval of the shareholders (as defined in Section 153 of the General Corporation Law.

 

Section 3 . Election and Term of Office . The directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders but, if any such annual meeting is not held or the directors are not elected thereat, the directors may be elected at any special meeting of shareholders held for that purpose. All directors shall hold office until their respective successors are elected, subject to the General Corporation Law and the provisions of these bylaws with respect to vacancies on the Board.

 

Section 4 . Vacancies . A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist in case of the (i) death, (ii) resignation or removal of any director with or without cause, (iv) pursuant to Section 302 of the California Corporations Code if a director has been declared of unsound mind by order of court or convicted of a felony, (v) if the authorized number of directors be increased, or if the shareholders fail, at any annual or special meeting of shareholders at which any director or directors are elected, to elect the full authorized number of directors to be voted for at that meeting.

 

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Vacancies in the Board of Directors, except for a vacancy created by the removal of a director, may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office until his successor is elected at an annual or a special meeting of the shareholders. A vacancy in the Board of Directors created by the removal of a director may only be filled by the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present, or by the written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares.

 

The shareholders may elect a director or directors at any time to fill any vacancy or vacancies not filled by the directors. Any such election by written consent shall require the consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.

 

Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the chairman of the Board, the president, the secretary or the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. If the Board of Directors accepts the resignation of a director tendered to take effect at a future time, the Board or the shareholders shall have power to elect a successor to take office when the resignation is to become effective.

 

No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his term of office.

 

Section 5 . Place of Meeting . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at any place within or without the State which has been designated from time to time by resolution of the Board or by written consent of all members of the Board. In the absence of such designation, regular meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. Special meetings of the Board may be held either at a place so designated or at the principal executive office.

 

Section 6 . Organization Meeting . Immediately following each annual meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting at the place of said annual meeting or at such other place as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of organization, election of officers, and the transaction of other business. Call and notice of such meetings are hereby dispensed with.

 

Section 7 . Other Regular Meetings . Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without call as provided in a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time; provided, however, should said day fall upon a legal holiday, then said meeting shall be held at the same time on the next day thereafter ensuing which is a full business day. Notice of all such regular meetings of the Board of Directors is hereby dispensed with.

 

Section 8 . Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes shall be called at any time by the chairman of the Board, the president, any vice president, the secretary or by any two directors.

 

Written notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally to each director or communicated to each director by telephone or by telegraph or mail, charges prepaid, addressed to him at his address as it is shown upon the records of the Corporation or, if it is not so shown on such records or is not readily ascertainable, at the place at which the meetings of the directors are regularly held. In case such notice is mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail in the place in which the principal executive office of the Corporation is located at least four days’ prior to the time of holding the meeting. In case such notice is delivered, personally or by telephone or telegraph, as above provided, it shall be so delivered at least forty-eight hours prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. Such mailing, telegraphing or delivery, personally or by telephone, as above provided, shall be due, legal and personal notice to such director.

 

Section 9 . Action Without Meeting . Any action by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board and shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of such directors.

 

Section 10 . Action at a Meeting: Quorum and Required Vote . Presence of a majority of the authorized number of directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, except as hereinafter provided. Members of the Board may participate in a meeting through use of conference telephone or similar communications equipment, so long as all members participating in such meeting can hear one another. Participation in a meeting as permitted in the preceding sentence constitutes presence in person at such meeting. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board of Directors, unless a greater number, or the same number after disqualifying one or more directors from voting, is required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these bylaws. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, provided that any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for such meeting.

 

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Section 11 . Validation of Defectively Called or Noticed Meetings . The transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present or who, though present, has, prior to the meeting or at its commencement, protested the lack of proper notice to him, signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to holding such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

Section 12 . Adjournment . A quorum of the directors may adjourn any directors’ meeting to meet again at a stated day and hour; provided, however, that in the absence of a quorum a majority of the directors present at any directors’ meeting, either regular or special, may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board.

 

Section 13 . Notice of Adjournment . If the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four hours, notice of any adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at the time of adjournment. Otherwise notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given to absent directors if the time and place be fixed at the meeting adjourned.

 

Section 14 . Fees and Compensation . Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services, and such reimbursement for expenses, as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the Board.

 

Section 15 . Indemnification of Agents of the Corporation; Purchase of Liability Insurance .

 

(a)                  For the purposes of this Section, “agent” means any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation; “executive officer” means any person who is or was a director or an officer serving a chief policy making function, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or was a director or officer serving a chief policy making function of a foreign or domestic corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the Corporation or of another enterprise at the request of the corporation; “proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative; and “expenses” includes, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under subsection (d) or paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of this section.

 

(b)                  This Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was an executive officer of the Corporation, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Corporation and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of such person was unlawful. This Corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the Corporation by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not a party to such proceeding, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Corporation and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe the conduct of such person was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this Corporation or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(c)                   This Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of this Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was an executive officer of this Corporation, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action if such person acted in good faith, in a manner such person believed to be in the best interests of this Corporation and its shareholders. No indemnification shall be made under subsection (b) and/or (c):

 

(1)                   in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to this Corporation in the performance of such person’s duty to this Corporation and its shareholders, unless

 

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and only to the extent that the court in which such proceeding is or was pending shall determine upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses and then only to the extent that the court shall determine;

 

(2)                   Of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a pending action without court approval; or

 

(3)                   Of expenses incurred in defending a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of without court approval.

 

(d)                  To the extent that an agent or executive officer of this Corporation has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding referred to in subsection (b) or (c) or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the agent or executive officer shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the agent or executive officer in connection therewith.

 

(e)                   Except as provided in subsection (d), any indemnification under this section shall be made by this Corporation only if authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the agent or executive officer is proper in the circumstances because the agent or executive officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsection (b) or (c), by:

 

(1)                   A majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not a party to such proceeding;

 

(2)                  If such a quorum of directors is not obtainable, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion;

 

(3)                  Approval or ratification by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of this Corporation entitled to vote represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present or by the written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. For such purpose, the shares owned by the person to be indemnified shall not be considered outstanding or entitled to vote thereon; or

 

(4)                  The court in which such proceeding is or was pending upon application made by this Corporation or the agent or the attorney or other person rendering services in connection with the defense, whether or not such application by the agent, attorney or other person is opposed by this Corporation.

 

(f)                    Expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by the Corporation prior to the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the agent or executive officer to repay such amount if it shall be determined ultimately that the agent or executive officer is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this section.

 

(g)                   The indemnification provided by this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, to the extent such additional rights to indemnification are authorized in the articles of this Corporation. The rights to indemnity hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of the person. Nothing contained in this section shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than such directors and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise.

 

(h)                  No indemnification or advance shall be made under this section, except as provided in subsection (d) or paragraph (3) of subsection (e), in any circumstance where it appears:

 

(1)                  That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the articles, bylaws, a resolution of the shareholders or an agreement in effect at the time the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or

 

(2)                  That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement.

 

(i)                      This Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of this Corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent’s status as such, whether or not this Corporation would have the power to indemnify the agent against such liability under the provisions of this section. The fact that this Corporation owns all or a portion of the shares of the company issuing a policy of insurance shall not render this subsection inapplicable if either of the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(1)                   If authorized in the Articles of Incorporation of this Corporation, any policy issued is limited to the extent provided by subdivision (d) of Section 204 of the California Corporations Code; or

 

(2)     (i)         The company issuing the insurance policy is organized, licensed, and operated in a manner that complies with the insurance laws and regulations applicable to its jurisdiction of organization,

 

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(ii)       The company issuing the policy provides procedures for processing claims that do not permit that company to be subject to the direct control of the Corporation that purchased that policy, and

 

(iii)      The policy issued provides for some manner of risk sharing between the issuer and purchaser of the policy, on one hand, and some unaffiliated person or persons, on the other, such as by providing for more than one unaffiliated owner of the company issuing the policy or by providing that a portion of the coverage furnished will be obtained from some unaffiliated insurer or re-insurer.

 

(j)                     This Section 15 does not apply to any proceeding against any trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in such person’s capacity as such, even though such person may also be an agent of the Corporation as defined in subsection (a) of this Section. This Corporation shall have power to indemnify such a trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary to the extent permitted by subdivision (f) of Section 207 of the California General Corporation Law.

 

Article IV

Officers

 

Section 1 . Officers . The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a secretary and a chief financial officer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article.

 

Section 2 . Election . The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article, shall be chosen annually by the Board of Directors, and each shall hold his office until he shall resign or shall be removed or otherwise disqualified to serve, or his successor shall be elected and qualified.

 

Section 3 . Subordinate Officers, Etc . The Board of Directors may appoint, and may empower the president to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office, for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in the bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4 . Removal and Resignation . Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, at any regular or special meeting thereof, or, except in case of an officer chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors (subject, in each case, to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment).

 

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the president, or to the secretary of the corporation, without prejudice, however, to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which such officer is a party. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

Section 5 . Vacancies . A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in the bylaws for regular appointments to such office.

 

Section 6 . Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board, if there shall be such an officer, shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the bylaws.

 

Section 7 . President . Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the Corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall be ex officio a member of all the standing committees, including the executive committee, if any, and shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a Corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the bylaws.

 

Section 8 . Vice President . In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, the vice president designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the president, and when so acting shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors or the bylaws.

 

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Section 9 . Secretary . The secretary shall record or cause to be recorded, and shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office and such other place as the Board of Directors may order, a book of minutes of actions taken at all meetings of directors and shareholders, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at directors’ meetings, the number of shares present or represented at shareholders’ meetings, and the proceedings thereof.

 

The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of the shareholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

 

The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all the meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors required by the bylaws or by law to be given, and he shall keep the seal of the Corporation in safe custody, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the bylaws.

 

Section 10 . Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, surplus and shares. Any surplus, including earned surplus, paid in surplus and surplus arising from a reduction of stated capital, shall be classified according to source and shown in a separate account. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.

 

The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the president and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the bylaws.

 

Article V

Miscellaneous

 

Section 1 . Record Date . The Board of Directors may fix a time in the future as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of shareholders or entitled to give consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, to receive any report, to receive any dividend or distribution, or any allotment of rights, or to exercise rights in respect to any change, conversion or exchange of shares. The record date so fixed shall be not more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days prior to the date of any meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other event for the purposes of which it is fixed. When a record date is so fixed, only shareholders of record on that date are entitled to notice of and to vote at any such meeting, to give consent without a meeting, to receive any report, to receive a dividend, distribution or allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws.

 

Section 2 . Inspection of Corporate Records . The accounting books and records, the record of shareholders, and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders and the Board and committees of the Board of this Corporation and any subsidiary of this Corporation shall be open to inspection upon the written demand on the Corporation of any shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate at any reasonable time during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to such holder’s interests as a shareholder or as the holder of such voting trust certificate. Such inspection by a shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate may be made in person or by agent or attorney, and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts.

 

A shareholder or shareholders holding at least 5 percent in the aggregate of the outstanding voting shares of the Corporation or who hold at least 1 percent of such voting shares and have filed a Schedule 14B with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the election of directors of the Corporation shall have (in person, or by agent or attorney) the right to inspect and copy the record of shareholders’ names and addresses and shareholdings during usual business hours upon five business days’ prior written demand upon the Corporation and to obtain from the transfer agent for the Corporation, upon written demand and upon the tender of its usual charges, a list of the shareholders’ names and addresses, who are entitled to vote for the election of directors, and their shareholdings, as of the most recent record date for which it has been compiled or as of a date specified by the shareholder subsequent to the date of demand. The list shall be made available on or before the later of five business days after the demand is received or the date specified therein as the date as of which the list is to be compiled.

 

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Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect and copy all books, records and documents of every kind and to inspect the physical properties of the Corporation. Such inspection by a director may be made in person or by agent or attorney and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts.

 

Section 3 . Checks, Drafts, Etc . All checks, drafts or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of or payable to the Corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such manner as, from time to time, shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4 . Annual Report to Shareholders . The annual report to shareholders referred to in Section 1501 of the California General Corporation Law is expressly waived, but nothing herein shall be interpreted as prohibiting the Board from issuing annual or other periodic reports to shareholders.

 

A shareholder or shareholders holding at least five percent of the outstanding shares of any class of the Corporation may make a written request to the Corporation for an income statement of the Corporation for the three-month, six-month or nine-month period of the current fiscal year ended more than 30 days prior to the date of the request and a balance sheet of the Corporation as of the end of such period and, in addition, if no annual report for the last fiscal year has been sent to shareholders, the annual report for the last fiscal year. The Corporation shall use its best efforts to deliver on the statement to the person making the request within 30 days thereafter. A copy of any such statements shall be kept on file in the principal executive office of the Corporation for 12 months and they shall be exhibited at all reasonable times to any shareholder demanding an examination of them or a copy shall be mailed to such shareholder.

 

The Corporation shall, upon the written request of any shareholder, mail to the shareholder a copy of the last annual, semiannual or quarterly income statement which it has prepared and a balance sheet as of the end of the period. The quarterly income statements and balance sheets referred to in this section shall be accompanied by the report thereon, if any, of any independent accountants engaged by the Corporation or the certificate of an authorized officer of the Corporation that such financial statements were prepared without audit from the books and records of the Corporation.

 

Section 5 . Contracts, Etc., How Executed . The Board of Directors, except as in the bylaws otherwise provided, may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances; and, unless so authorized by the Board of Directors, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or to any amount.

 

Section 6 . Share Certificate; Uncertificated Shares .

 

(a)                  Share Certificates . Every holder of shares in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board or the President or any Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer or an Assistant Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares and the class or series of shares owned by the shareholder. Any of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile, provided that in such event at least one signature, of either officer or, in the alternative, of the Corporation’s registrar or transfer agent, if any, shall be manually signed. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Any such certificate shall also contain such legend or other statement as may be required by Section 418 of the General Corporation Law, the Corporate Securities Law of 1968, the federal securities laws, and any agreement between the Corporation and the issuee thereof. Certificates for shares may be issued prior to full payment under such restrictions and for such purposes as the Board of Directors or the bylaws may provide; provided, however, that any such certificate so issued prior to full payment shall state on the face thereof the amount remaining unpaid and the terms of payment thereof.

 

(b)                  Uncertificated Shares . In accordance with Section 416(b) of the General Corporation Law, shares of stock of the Corporation may be evidenced by registration in the owner’s name in uncertificated form on the books of the Corporation. To the extent required by applicable law, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares of stock, the Corporation shall send or cause to be sent to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates representing shares of that class or series of stock, or a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each registered owner thereof who so requests, the powers, designations, preferences and relative rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any such class or series of stock. Except as otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the rights and obligations of the owners of uncertificated shares of stock and the rights and obligations of the owners of certificated shares of stock of the same class and series

 

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shall be identical. If a holder of uncertificated shares elects to receive a certificate for shares of the Corporation’s stock, the Corporation (or the transfer agent or registrar, as the case may be) shall (to the extent permitted under applicable law and rules, regulations and listing requirements of any stock exchange or stock market on which the Corporation’s shares are listed or traded) cease providing annual statements indicating such holder’s holdings of shares in the Corporation.

 

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(c)                   Stock Records and Record Holders . A record shall be kept of the respective names of the persons, firms or corporations owning shares of the Corporation’s stock, whether certificated or uncertificated, the number and class or series of shares owned thereby, respectively, and the respective dates thereof, and in case of cancellation, the respective dates of cancellation. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such record holder, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

 

(d)                  Transfers of Stock . Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by such holder’s attorney-in-fact thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, or with a transfer clerk or a transfer agent appointed as provided in Subsection (f) of this Section 6 and, in the case of certificated shares of stock, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes thereon, or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions, payment of all taxes thereon and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, such fact shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the shares, whether certificated or uncertificated, shall be presented to the Corporation for transfer, both the transferor and the transferee request the Corporation to do so.

 

(e)                   Lost, Stolen and Destroyed Certificates . A new certificate may be issued without the surrender and cancellation of the old certificate or, at the request of the holder thereof, uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in place of the old certificate, if (1) the old certificate is lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken; (2) the request for the issuance of the new certificate or for the issuance of uncertificated shares (as the case may be) is made within a reasonable time after the owner of the old certificate has notice of its loss, destruction or theft; (3) the request for the issuance of a new certificate or for the issuance of uncertificated shares (as the case may be) is made prior to the receipt of notice by the Corporation that the old certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser; (4) the owner of the old certificate files a sufficient indemnity bond with or provides other adequate security to the Corporation; and (5) the owner satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation; provided , however , that a new certificate or, upon request, uncertificated shares of stock, may be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, it is proper to do so.

 

(f)                    Regulations . The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of stock of the Corporation. It may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer clerks or one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and, in the case of certificated shares of stock, may require all such certificates to bear the signature or signatures of any of them or a facsimile thereof.

 

Section 7 . Representation of Shares of Other Corporations . The president or any vice president and the secretary or any assistant secretary of this Corporation are authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority herein granted to said officers to vote or represent on behalf of this Corporation any and all shares held by this corporation in any other corporation or corporations may be exercised either by such officers in person or by any other person authorized so to do by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by said officers.

 

Section 8 . Inspection of Bylaws . The Corporation shall keep in its principal executive office in California, or, if its principal executive office is not in California, then at its principal business office in California (or otherwise provide upon Written request of any shareholder) the original or a copy of the bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date, certified by the secretary, which shall be open to inspection by the shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours.

 

Section 9 . Construction and Definitions . Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions contained in the California General Corporation Law shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes a corporation as well as a natural person.

 

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Article VI

Amendments

 

Section 1 . Power of Shareholders . New bylaws may be adopted or these bylaws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, or by the written assent of shareholders entitled to vote such shares, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation.

 

Section 2 . Power of Directors . Subject to the right of shareholders as provided in Section 1 of this Article VI to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws, bylaws, other than a bylaw or amendment thereof changing the authorized number of directors, may be adopted, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1
ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

 

1.1                                Establishment of the Plan .  Pacific Mercantile Bancorp (the “Company”) hereby establishes a change in control severance plan to be known as the “Pacific Mercantile Bancorp Change in Control Severance Plan” (the “Plan”).

 

1.2                                Purpose of the Plan .  The Plan is designed to provide certain severance payments and other benefits to selected employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the event that their employment (1) is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the employee for Good Reason, and (2) such termination occurs shortly prior to or within the one (1) year period immediately following a Change in Control.  The Plan is intended as an unfunded welfare benefit plan for purposes of ERISA, and a severance pay plan within the meaning of Department of Labor Regulation 2510.3-2(b).

 

ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below (such defined terms are in addition to terms defined elsewhere in the Plan) unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:

 

(a)                                  “Base Salary” means, except as may otherwise be specified in a Participant’s Participation Agreement, the salary of record for the Participant in United States dollars as annual salary, whether or not deferred, but excluding all other amounts received, including bonus and other incentive compensation and benefits under pension, welfare and fringe benefit plans.

 

(b)                                  “Benefit Payment” means the amount equal to the excess of the monthly COBRA premium charged by the Company to terminated employees, as in effect at the Effective Date of Termination, over the monthly premium for such benefits charged to active employees, applicable to the medical, dental and/or vision benefits for which Participant (and his or her eligible dependents) was enrolled at the Effective Date of Termination.

 

(c)                                   “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Cause” means any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any documents or records of the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of the Company or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s

 

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confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from the Company or any Subsidiary, and a reasonable opportunity to cure such failure or inability; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary, as determined in good faith by the Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with the Company or any Subsidiary.  A Participant’s service shall be deemed to have been terminated for Cause if, after the Participant’s service has terminated, facts or circumstances are discovered that would have justified a termination for Cause.

 

(e)                                   “Change in Control” means the occurrence or consummation of any of the following events:

 

(i)                                      the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of (A) the continuing or surviving entity and (B) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or surviving entity;

 

(ii)                                   the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;

 

(iii)                                a change in the composition of the Board, as a result of which fewer than fifty percent (50%) of the incumbent directors are directors who either (A) had been directors of the Company on the date twenty-four (24) months prior to the date of such change in the composition of the Board (the “Original Directors”), or (B) were appointed by the Board, or nominated for election to the Board, with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the aggregate of (1) the Original Directors who were in office at the time of their appointment or nomination and (2) the directors whose appointment or nomination was previously approved in a manner consistent with this paragraph (B); or

 

(iv)                               any transaction as a result of which any one person or more than one person acting as a group (but excluding Carpenter Fund Manager GP, LLC and its affiliates) acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company. If a person or group is considered either to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, and such person or group acquires additional stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by such person or group shall not be considered to cause a subsequent “Change in Control” of the Company.  For the avoidance of doubt, the acquisition and/or ownership of

 

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stock of the Company by Carpenter Fund Manager GP, LLC and/or its affiliates shall in no circumstance constitute a “Change in Control” for purposes of the Plan.

 

(f)                                    “Change in Control Benefits” means the benefits described in Article 4.

 

(g)                                   “Change in Control Benefits Period” means the number of months specified in the Participation Agreement with respect to which the Participant shall receive Change in Control Benefits.

 

(h)                                  “COBRA” means Section 4980B of the Code and Section 601 et seq. of ERISA.

 

(i)                                      “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(j)                                     “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

(k)                                  “Disability” means a physical or mental impairment which prevents a Participant from performing the essential functions of the Participant’s position with the Company with or without reasonable accommodation.

 

(l)                                      “Effective Date of Termination” means the date on which a Participant’s Termination of Employment occurs.

 

(m)                              “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

(n)                                  “Good Reason Termination” means the termination of a Participant’s employment by a Participant pursuant to and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

(o)                                  “Good Reason” means, with respect to a particular Participant, the occurrence of any one or more of the following without the Participant’s express written consent:

 

(i)                                      a change in the Participant’s position with the Company or a Subsidiary that materially reduces the Participant’s level of authorities, responsibilities or duties (including, without limitation, any change in the Participant’s position such that the Participant is no longer employed in substantially the same position with substantially the same level of authorities, responsibilities or duties at the ultimate parent corporation in an affiliated group of companies);

 

(ii)                                   a reduction in the Participant’s Base Salary by more than ten percent (10%); or

 

(iii)                                receipt by the Participant of notice that the Participant’s principal workplace will be relocated by more than thirty-five (35) miles from the Participant’s current workplace and to a location that is further from the Participant’s then current principal residence than the Participant’s then current principal workplace.

 

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(p)                                  “Involuntary Separation from Service” means the termination of a Participant’s employment by the Company for any reason other than Cause, death of the Participant, or Disability.

 

(q)                                  “Notice of Good Reason” means a written notice stating all facts constituting a Good Reason.

 

(r)                                     “Participant” means an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary who is part of a select group of management or highly compensated employees, who has been informed in writing that he or she is eligible for benefits under the Plan and who also enters into a Participation Agreement.

 

(s)                                    “Participation Agreement” means an agreement under this Plan in a form specified by the Company that is signed by the Participant and an officer of the Company.

 

(t)                                     “Prorated Annual Bonus Award” means, for any fiscal year, the annual bonus award that the Participant would have received had the Participant remained employed for the entire fiscal year/performance period, but prorated based on the actual Base Salary paid to the Participant during such fiscal year for services rendered through the Effective Date of Termination.  For the purposes of this definition, the Committee will not exercise its discretion as to the subjective portion of the annual bonus award, and any such subjective amount will be included in such annual bonus award at target, subject to proration as described above.

 

(u)                                  “Release” means a release agreement approved by the Company that is effective after the Effective Date of Termination, which will require the Participant to waive and release: (i) all known and unknown claims and rights directly or indirectly arising from his or her employment and the termination of that employment, including any and all claims under applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991; Sections 1981 and 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866; Executive Order 11246; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; ERISA; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) and California Labor Code Sections 1400 through 1408 (“Cal-WARN”); the National Labor Relations Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; the Equal Pay Act; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; the California Government and Business & Professions Codes; the California Family Rights Act; the United States and California Constitutions; the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004; and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act; (ii) any known or unknown claims under common law, contract, or regulation; and (iii) any other known or unknown claim or dispute that exists or may exist stemming from conduct or events arising or occurring through the time Participant signs the release.  In releasing these claims against the Company and its Subsidiaries, Participant will also be releasing the officers, directors, shareholders, managers, affiliates, agents and representatives, successors and assigns of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is not a condition for Change in Control Benefits that a Participant agree to waive any rights to benefits for worker’s compensation or unemployment compensation benefits; benefits under COBRA; any rights under state or federal law which may not be waived by a release agreement; or for any right to which Participant is vested under the

 

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employee benefit plans of the Company or its Subsidiaries to the extent they are identified in the Release; said claims shall be preserved.  Also, it shall not be a condition for Change in Control Benefits that the Participant waive any claims which arise from events occurring after the execution of the release of claims.

 

(v)                                  “Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company owns a controlling interest.

 

(w)                                “Termination of Employment” with respect to a Participant means the Participant’s “separation from service,” as defined under Code Section 409A and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(i), from the Company and its Subsidiaries (as applicable).

 

ARTICLE 3
ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.

 

3.1                                Designation of Eligibility .  The Board or the Committee shall determine whether an employee is initially eligible as a Participant, whether that Participant retains that eligibility to receive Change in Control Benefits under the Plan and the level of Change in Control Benefits to which that Participant may become entitled as provided herein.  Eligibility decisions shall be made by official action of the Board or the Committee, or the individual or subcommittee to whom a delegation is made by the Board or the Committee.  Subject to Sections 3.2 and 3.3, eligibility shall be effective on the date established by the Board or the Committee.  Participants who become ineligible shall be informed in writing.  If a Participant is notified of ineligibility or termination of the Plan, such notice shall be effective on the first anniversary of the date that the Participant is notified of that decision.  Each Participant must acknowledge and agree, by executing the Participation Agreement: (a) to certain non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions; (b) that the Plan supersedes entirely any prior agreement, arrangement, plan or program for the payment of severance, salary continuation or the provision of other benefits in connection with a Change in Control; and (c) that Participant accepts the authority of the Board and the Committee under Article 5.

 

3.2                                Eligibility for Change in Control Benefits . A Participant will be eligible for Change in Control Benefits under the Plan only if, during the period (a) commencing on the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Change in Control and (ii) public announcement of an intended or anticipated Change in Control, provided that such Change in Control actually occurs, and (b) ending on the date one (1) year following a Change in Control, one of the following occurs:

 

(a)                                  Involuntary Separation from Service .  The Participant has an Involuntary Separation from Service.

 

(b)                                  Good Reason Termination . A Good Reason occurs and the Participant terminates employment with the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the procedures set in this Section 3.2(b).  In the event a condition arises which may constitute a Good Reason, the Participant shall provide a Notice of Good Reason to the Company within 90 days of the initial existence of the Good Reason.  Upon receiving a Notice of Good Reason, the Company shall be permitted a period of 30 days to remedy the condition.  If such condition is not remedied within such 30-day period, the Participant shall terminate his or her employment within 60 days of (a)

 

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providing the Notice of Good Reason to the Company or (b) the Change in Control, whichever is later.  In the event the Participant does not notify the Company within 90 days of the initial existence of the Good Reason, or a Participant does not terminate his or her employment within 60 days of the later of providing the Notice of Good Reason to the Company or the Change in Control, the Participant shall not be eligible for Change in Control Benefits under the Plan as a result of any Termination of Employment resulting from or relating to such Good Reason and any such Termination of Employment shall not constitute a Good Reason Termination.

 

3.3                                Release .  A Participant will be are eligible for Change in Control Benefits under the Plan only if, within 60 days after the Effective Date of Termination, he or she has signed and not revoked (if applicable) a Release, and such Release has become effective by its terms.  In the event a Participant should fail to execute the Release within the above timeframe after the Effective Date of Termination, or should revoke the Release (if applicable), the Company shall not have any obligation to make the payments provided under the Plan.  A Participant must also acknowledge in the Participation Agreement that the Change in Control Benefits must be repaid, and the payment of any future Change in Control Benefits, if any, will cease in the event that the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant has breached any post-employment obligations owed to the Company, including those set forth in any non-solicitation and confidentiality provision signed by the Participant.  Once payments have been made under the Plan, the Company shall have no further severance obligations to the Participant, whether under another agreement or plan, and no additional severance will be payable in connection with the Participant’s Termination of Employment; provided however, that the payment of benefits hereunder shall have no impact on retirement-type benefits such as those accrued under any supplemental executive retirement plans, deferred compensation plans or other pension benefit plans in which the Participant also participates.

 

3.4                                Restrictions on Payments by the Company .  Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, any Change in Control Benefits provided under the Plan are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

(a)                                  Clawback and Offset .  Any payments made under the Plan may be subject to forfeiture or repayment (such forfeiture or repayment a “clawback”), in the Plan Administrator’s sole discretion, if the payment is based on performance metrics that are determined to be materially inaccurate, manipulated or fraudulent in nature.  The Plan Administrator shall have authority to determine the amount of the payment that may be forfeited or subject to repayment and may determine, in its sole discretion, not to implement a clawback, unless the clawback is mandated by applicable laws.  Unless otherwise paid back to the Company by the Participant, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of the payment that is to be forfeited or repaid under this Section 3.4(a) against any current amounts due to the Participant, including, but not limited to, salary, incentive compensation, stock awards, severance, deferred compensation or any other funds due to the Participant from the Company.

 

(b)                                  Compliance with Banking Laws .  Any payments made pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.  If any payments contemplated to be made by the

 

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Company pursuant to the Plan may not be made in compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder on the Effective Date of Termination, such payments may never be made by the Company.  In addition, any payments contemplated to be made by the Company pursuant to the Plan shall not be payable to the extent such payments are barred or prohibited by an action or order issued to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the California Department of Financial Institutions or such other applicable banking regulatory agency.

 

ARTICLE 4
CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS

 

Provided that the conditions of Article 3 are satisfied, a Participant shall be entitled to receive the payments and benefits specified in the Participation Agreement or as otherwise specified below, in each case without duplication.  Unless otherwise specified in a Participation Agreement, payments shall be made on the first regular payroll period following the sixtieth (60) day after the Effective Date of Termination.

 

4.1                                Severance Payments .  A Participant shall be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to (a) his or her monthly Base Salary, multiplied by the Change in Control Benefits Period, plus (b) his or her Prorated Annual Bonus Award, if any, for the plan year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs, prorated to the Effective Date of Termination.

 

4.2                                Benefits and Benefit Payment .  A Participant shall be eligible to elect COBRA continuation benefits as to medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits as provided by applicable law.  At the time payment is made pursuant to the initial paragraph of this Article 4, the Company shall also pay Participant, as an additional cash severance payment, a lump sum equal to the Benefit Payment multiplied by the Change in Control Benefits Period, but not to exceed 12 months.  Such payment shall be made only if and to the extent that, as of the Effective Date of Termination, the Participant is covered under the Company’s medical, dental or vision insurance benefits plans, but shall be made regardless of whether the Participant elects COBRA coverage under such plans, and shall be includible in the gross taxable income of the Participant.  The Participant may, but shall not be required to, use such additional cash severance payment for the payment of the cost of COBRA continuation coverage.

 

4.3                                Outplacement Payment . In order to assist the Participant with his or her transition, the Participant shall be entitled to receive outplacement services at the level and for the period in place under the Company’s outplacement program in effect on the Effective Date of Termination for such period; provided, however, that in no event shall any such outplacement services be provided beyond the last day of the second taxable year of the Participant following the taxable year of the Participant in which the Participant’s Separation from Service occurs.

 

4.4                                Vested Benefits .  All other benefits to which the Participant has a vested right, as of the Effective Date of Termination, shall be paid or provided according to the provisions of the governing plan or program.

 

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4.5                                Changes in Benefits .  Any change to the Plan that reduces the Change in Control Benefits described in this Article 4 with respect to any Participation Agreement then in effect shall take effect one year after that change is adopted by official action of the Board or the Committee.  The previous sentence notwithstanding, the Plan may be modified and altered at any time in order to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including applicable listing standards of any exchange on which the Company’s common stock is listed.

 

4.6                                Tax Withholdings .  All payments described herein or in the Participation Agreement shall be reduced by applicable withholdings and paid pursuant to the Company’s ordinary payroll practices.  No interest shall accrue on any such payments.

 

4.7                                Limitation on Excess Parachute Payments .  In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of a Participant (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise) (a “Payment”) would be nondeductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Code, then the aggregate present value of amounts payable or distributable to or for the benefit of the Participant pursuant to this Plan (“Plan Payments”) shall be reduced (a “Reduction”) to the extent necessary, but not below zero, so that no portion of the Plan Payments is nondeductible by the Company pursuant to Code Section 280G.  The Reduction shall be applied before any reduction of any other Payments that are not Plan Payments unless the plan or agreement calling for such Payments expressly provides to the contrary making specific reference to this Plan.  For purposes of this Section 4.7, present value shall be determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code.  In the event a Reduction is required, the Plan Payments to be reduced will be determined in a manner which has the least economic cost to the Participant and, to the extent the economic cost is equivalent, will be reduced in the inverse order of when payment would have been made to the Participant until the Reduction is achieved.  The Company shall select a firm of certified public accountants of national standing, (the “Accounting Firm”), which may be the firm regularly auditing the financial statements of the Company or any affiliate of the Company.  The Accounting Firm shall make all determinations required to be made under this Section 4.7 and shall provide detailed supporting calculations to the Company and the Participant within 30 days after the Effective Date of Termination or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.  Any such determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Participant.  The Accounting Firm shall determine which and how much of the Plan Payment shall be eliminated or reduced consistent with the requirements of this Section 4.7.

 

4.8                                Code Section 409A .

 

(a)                                  It is the Company’s intention that amounts paid under the Plan shall not constitute “deferred compensation” as that term is defined under Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder, because the amounts paid under the Plan are structured to comply with the “short-term deferral” exception to Code Section 409A as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), and this Plan and any Participation Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with such intentions.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company does not warrant to any Participant that any amounts paid or benefits delivered under the Plan will be exempt from, or

 

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paid in compliance with, Code Section 409A.  By executing a Participation Agreement, each Participant acknowledges and agrees that he or she bears the entire risk of any adverse federal, state or local tax consequences and penalty taxes which may result from payments under the Plan on a basis contrary to the provisions of Code Section 409A or comparable provisions of any applicable state or local income tax laws, and that in no event will the Company or any Subsidiary be required to pay any Participant any “gross up” with respect to any amounts payable by the Participant pursuant to Section 409A or comparable state or local tax laws.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or any Participation Agreement to the contrary, if, as of the date of his Termination of Employment, a Participant is deemed to be a “specified employee” of the Company for purposes of Code Section 409A, if and to the extent that any portion of the payments and benefits payable upon such Termination of Employment is subject to Code Section 409A, such portion shall not be paid to the Participant before the date that is six months after the Participant’s Termination of Employment or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death.  Any portion of the payments and benefits so delayed shall be paid in a single lump sum without interest at the end of the required delay period.

 

(d)                                  In no event may a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of a payment under this Plan, and where a payment may occur in one year or the next, it shall be made in the second year.

 

ARTICLE 5
ADMINISTRATION PROVISIONS.

 

5.1                                Modification, Amendment or Termination . The Plan has been adopted by the Board.  The Board, the Committee, or a designee of the Board or the Committee may modify, amend or terminate the Plan in its sole discretion through a formal action of such individual or entity evidenced in writing.  Any modifications or amendments to the Plan that adversely affect rights of Participants in the Plan shall not be effective until one year following the adoption of such modification or amendment.  Any communications or other purported modifications to the Plan that have not been so adopted are void.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, following a Change in Control, the Plan cannot be modified, amended or terminated, or the eligibility or level of participation of a Participant, as set forth in the applicable Participation Agreement, revoked or modified for one year following such Change in Control.

 

5.2                                Claims and Appeals .

 

(a)                                  Filing Claims . Any Participant who believes he or she is entitled to Change in Control Benefits may file a claim for benefits with the Committee (or its designee).

 

(b)                                  Notification to Claimant . If a claim is wholly or partially denied, the Committee (or its designee) will furnish written or electronic notification (in accordance with Department of Labor Regulations Section 2520.104b-1(c)) of the decision to the Participant within 90 days of receipt of the claim in a manner calculated to be understood by the Participant. Such notification shall contain the following information:

 

(1)  the specific reason or reasons for the denial;

 

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(2)  specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial is based;

 

(3)  a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and

 

(4)  a description of the Plan’s claims review procedures describing the steps to be taken and the applicable time limits to submit claims for review, including a statement of the Participant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review.

 

If special circumstances require an extension of time for the Committee (or its designee) to process the claim, the 90-day period may be extended for an additional 90 days. Prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period, the Participant shall be furnished with a written or electronic notice setting forth the reason for the extension. The notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Committee (or its designee) expects to render the benefit determination.

 

(c)                                   Review Procedure . A Participant or his or her authorized representative may, with respect to any denied claim:

 

(1)  request a full and fair review upon a written application filed within 60 days after receipt by the claimant of written or electronic notification of the denial of his or her claim;

 

(2)  submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim for benefits; and

 

(3)  upon request, and free of charge, be provided reasonable access to and copies of documents and records and other information relevant to the claim for benefits.

 

Upon receipt of a timely, written application for review, the Committee (or its designee) shall undertake a review, taking into account all comments, documents, records and information submitted by the Participant relating to the claim without regard to whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. If the Participant (or his or her duly authorized representative) fails to appeal the initial benefit determination to the Committee (or its designee) in writing within the prescribed period of time, then the Committee’s (or its designee’s) adverse determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

Any request or submission must be in writing and directed to the Committee (or its designee). The Committee (or its designee) will have the sole responsibility for the review of any denied claim and will take all steps appropriate in light of its findings.

 

(d)                                  Decision on Review . The Committee (or its designee) will render a decision upon review no later than 60 days after receipt of the request for a review. If special circumstances (such as the need to hold a hearing on any matter pertaining to the denied claim) warrant additional time, the decision will be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120

 

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days after receipt of the request for review. Written notice specifying the circumstances requiring an extension will be furnished to the Participant prior to the commencement of the extension. The decision on review will be in writing and will include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Participant, as well as specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based, including a statement of the Participant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a). If the decision on review is not furnished to the Participant within the time limits prescribed above, the claim will be deemed denied on review.

 

(e)           Exhaustion of Remedies . A Participant wishing to seek judicial review of an adverse benefit determination under the Plan, whether in whole or in part, must file any suit or legal action, including, without limitation, a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a), within one year of the date the final decision on the adverse benefit determination on review is issued or should have been issued or lose any rights to bring such an action.  If any such judicial proceeding is undertaken, the evidence presented shall be strictly limited to the evidence timely presented to the Committee.  A Participant may bring an action under ERISA only after he or she has exhausted the Plan’s claims and appeal procedures.

 

5.3          Administration . The Committee shall serve as the “Plan Administrator” of the Plan and the “named fiduciary” within the meaning of such terms as defined in ERISA. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and discretionary authority to determine eligibility for Change in Control Benefits and to construe the terms of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the making of factual determinations, the determination of all questions concerning benefits and procedures for claim review and the resolution of all other questions arising under the Plan. Change in Control Benefits under the Plan will be payable only if the Plan Administrator determines in the Plan Administrator’s sole discretion that the Participant is entitled to them.  The decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be final and conclusive with respect to all questions concerning the administration of the Plan upon all Participants, the Company, and all persons claiming through them.

 

The Plan Administrator may delegate to other persons responsibilities for performing certain of the duties of the Plan Administrator under the terms of the Plan and may seek such expert advice as the Plan Administrator deems reasonably necessary with respect to the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon the information and advice furnished by such delegatees and experts, unless actually knowing such information and advice to be inaccurate or unlawful. The Plan Administrator has discretionary authority to grant or deny benefits under the Plan. In no event shall a Participant or any other person be entitled to challenge a decision of the Plan Administrator in court or in any other administrative proceeding unless and until the claim and appeals procedures established under the Plan have been complied with and exhausted.

 

5.4          Binding on Successors .  The Plan shall be binding on the Company’s successors, including following a Change in Control.

 

5.5          No Assignment .  Change in Control Benefits payable under the Plan shall not be subject to anticipation, alienation, pledge, sale, transfer, assignment, garnishment, attachment,

 

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execution, encumbrance, levy, lien, or charge, and any attempt to cause such Change in Control Benefits to be so subjected shall not be recognized, except to the extent required by law.

 

5.6          No Employment Rights .  The Plan shall not confer employment rights upon any person.  No person shall be entitled, by virtue of the Plan, to remain in the employ of the Company and nothing in the Plan shall restrict the right of the Company to terminate the employment of any employee or other person at any time, for any reason and with or without notice or cause.

 

5.7          Plan Funding .  No employee shall acquire by reason of the Plan any right in or title to any assets, funds, or property of the Company.  Any payment that becomes due under the Plan is an unfunded obligation and shall be paid from the general assets of the Company.  No employee, officer, director or agent of the Company personally guarantees in any manner the payment of Change in Control Benefits.

 

5.8          Applicable Law .  The Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with ERISA, and in the event that any reference shall be made to state law, the laws of the State of California shall apply, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.

 

5.9          Severability . If any provision of the Plan is found, held or deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void, unlawful or unenforceable under any applicable statute or other controlling law, the remainder of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect.

 

5.10        No Duplication of Benefits .  The payments and benefits under this Agreement are intended to constitute the exclusive payments in the nature of severance or termination pay that shall be due to any Participant upon his or Termination of Employment in connection with a Change in Control, and shall be in lieu of and not in addition to any such other payments under any agreement, plan, practice or policy of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  Accordingly, if a Participant is a party to an employment, severance, termination, salary continuation or other or similar agreement with, or is a participant in any other severance plan, practice or policy of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the severance benefits to which the Participant is entitled under this Plan shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of severance pay to which he or she is entitled under such other agreement, plan, practice or policy.  The severance benefits to which a Participant is otherwise entitled under this Plan shall be further reduced (but not below zero) by (i) any cash payments to which the Participant may be entitled under any federal, state or local plant-closing (or similar or analogous) law (including, without limitation, pursuant to WARN and Cal-WARN); or (ii) the amount of short-term or long-term disability benefits payable to the Participant under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in the event that the severance benefits payable hereunder do not reduce the amount of short-term or long-term disability benefits payable to the Participant under such plan, program, or arrangement.

 

5.11        Effective Date . The Plan shall take effect as of January 22, 2014.

 

12


Exhibit 10.2

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN

 

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [                            ] (the “Acceptance Date”) by and between [                                                    ] (the “Participant”) and Pacific Mercantile Bancorp, a California corporation (the “Company”), on behalf of itself and any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates which employs the Participant.

 

The Participant has been designated as eligible to participate in the Pacific Mercantile Bancorp Change in Control Severance Plan (the “Plan”).  Intending to be legally bound by this Agreement, the parties agree as provided below.  All capitalized words and phrases shall be either as defined herein or, if not so defined, as defined by the Plan, as applicable.

 

1.             Participation in the Plan; Offset of any other Rights to Change in Control Benefits . I accept my designation as a Participant under the terms of the Plan and, pursuant thereto, I agree to forego entirely any other benefits or payments to which I may otherwise be entitled under the terms of any other plan or program of the Company, or agreement with the Company, which provides for the payment of severance or change in control benefits, or salary continuation, in the event of my termination of employment in connection with a change in control of the Company.

 

2.             Termination of Employment . I acknowledge that I will be eligible for Change in Control Benefits under the Plan only if during the period (a) commencing on the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Change in Control and (ii) public announcement of an intended or anticipated Change in Control, provided that such Change in Control actually occurs, and (b) ending on the date one year following a Change in Control, one of the following occurs:

 

2.1.         I experience an Involuntary Separation from Service.

 

2.2.         I experience a Good Reason Termination.  In the event I believe I am eligible for Change in Control Benefits under the Plan due to the occurrence of a Good Reason, I shall provide a Notice of Good Reason to the Company within 90 days of the initial existence of the Good Reason.  Upon receiving a Notice of Good Reason, the Company shall be permitted a period of 30 days to remedy the condition.  If such condition is not remedied, I shall terminate my employment within 60 days of (a) providing the Notice of Good Reason to the Company or (b) the Change in Control, whichever is later.  In the event I do not notify the Company within 90 days of the initial existence of the Good Reason, or I do not terminate my employment within 60 days of the later of providing the Notice of Good Reason to the Company or the Change in Control,  I acknowledge that I will not be eligible for Change in Control Benefits under the Plan as a result of any Termination of Employment resulting from or relating to such Good Reason and any such Termination of Employment shall not constitute a Good Reason Termination .

 

3.             Amount of Change in Control Benefits, Payment, etc .

 

3.1.         In the event an Involuntary Separation from Service or Good Reason Termination occurs within the time period set forth in Article 2, so long as I sign and do not revoke the Release and otherwise comply with the terms and restrictions provided in the Plan, I shall be

 



 

entitled to a [ · ] month Change in Control Benefit (the “Change in Control Benefits Period”), which shall be comprised of: (i) a lump sum payment equal to my monthly Base Salary, multiplied by the Change in Control Benefits Period; (ii) a lump sum payment of a Prorated Annual Bonus Award for the plan year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs, prorated to the Effective Date of Termination; and (iii) an additional cash severance payment in an amount equal to the Benefits Payment multiplied by the lesser of the Change in Control Benefits Period and 12 months.  The Change in Control Benefits above shall be paid on the first regular payroll period following the 60th day after the Effective Date of Termination.

 

3.2.         I hereby acknowledge that my Change in Control Benefits must be repaid, and all future payments, if any, will cease, in the event that I breach any post-employment obligations owed to the Company, including those set forth in any non-solicitation and confidentiality provision signed by me.

 

3.3.         I hereby accept my designation as eligible to participate in the Plan. I also accept the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, acknowledge that I have carefully reviewed the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, accept the authority of the Board and the Committee under Article 5 of the Plan and agree that nothing in this Agreement shall confer any employment rights or restrict the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate my employment at any time, for any reason and with or without notice or cause.

 

3.4.         I hereby accept and acknowledge the provisions of the Plan provided for under Section 3.4 (Restrictions on Payments by the Company), including, but not limited to, (1) a clawback of any payments based on a performance metrics that are determined to be materially inaccurate, manipulated or fraudulent in nature; and (2) a requirement that payments made under the Plan comply with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and any action or order issued to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by an applicable banking regulatory agency.

 

3.5.         I further acknowledge and agree that the Company may offset any amounts that are required to be paid back to the Company hereunder against any current amounts due to me, including, but not limited to, salary, incentive compensation, stock awards, severance, deferred compensation or any other funds due to the Participant from the Company.

 

4.             Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation .

 

4.1.         Confidential Information .  I recognize and acknowledge that all information pertaining to the affairs, business, clients, or customers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (any or all of such entities being hereinafter referred to as the “Business”), as such information may exist from time to time, other than information that the Company has previously made publicly available or which is in the public domain, is confidential information and is a unique and valuable asset of the Business, access to and knowledge of which are essential to the performance of the Participant’s duties.  I shall not, except to the extent reasonably necessary in the performance of his or her duties under this Agreement, divulge to any person, firm, association, corporation, or governmental agency, any information concerning the affairs, business, clients, or customers of the Business (except such information as is required by law to be divulged to a government agency or pursuant to lawful process), or make use of any such information for his or her own purposes or for the benefit of any person, firm, association or

 

2



 

corporation (except the Business) and shall use my reasonable best efforts to prevent the disclosure of any such information by others.  All records, memoranda, letters, books, papers, reports, accountings, experience or other data, and other records and documents relating to the Business, whether made by me or otherwise coming into my possession, are confidential information and are, shall be, and shall remain the property of the Business.  No copies thereof shall be made which are not retained by the Business, and I agree, on termination of my employment or on demand of the Company, to deliver the same to the Company.

 

4.2.         Non-Solicitation . Unless otherwise provided in a writing signed by the parties, for a period of [ · ] months following my Involuntary Separation from Service or Good Reason Termination (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), my right to receive and retain Change in Control Benefits set forth in the Plan and this Agreement will be conditioned upon my not, either directly or indirectly, (a) soliciting any customer or client of the Company or its subsidiaries with whom I came into contact as a direct result of my employment with the Company, and who remains a customer or client at the time of my termination, for the account of any entity or person engaged in competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (b) soliciting or inducing any employees or contractors of the Company or its subsidiaries who worked in the same geographic region of the Company as me to terminate their employment or retention with the Company or its subsidiaries or otherwise interfering with the relationship between the Company or its subsidiaries and their employees or contractors during the Non-Solicitation Period.

 

4.3.         Remedies . The Company’s obligation to make payments under this Agreement and the Plan shall cease upon a violation of the preceding provisions of this Section 4, and the Company will be entitled to monetary damages upon any such violation of the preceding provisions of this Section 4 (in an amount equal to the value of the applicable Change in Control Benefits actually paid to the Participant).  In addition, I acknowledge that there would be no adequate remedy at law or in damages to compensate the Company for any violation of this Section 4, and agree that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief requiring specific performance by me of this Section 4 without the necessity of proving actual damages or the posting of a bond, and I consent to the entry thereof.

 

4.4.         Application . The provisions of Section 4.2 shall be inapplicable if I waive my right to the Change in Control Benefits granted hereunder prior to payment of any such benefits. In accordance with Section 4.2, my decision to waive the Change in Control Benefits must be acknowledged in a writing signed by the Company and myself for such waiver to be effective in relieving me of my obligations under such sections.

 

5.             Limitation on Excess Parachute Payments .  I understand that any Change in Control Benefits to which I would otherwise be entitled under the Plan and this Agreement are subject to reduction in accordance with the terms of the Plan by the Committee in order to avoid or mitigate the application of Section 280G of the Code.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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This Agreement has been duly executed and is effective as of the Acceptance Date first written above.

 

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP

 

 

By:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

I hereby accept my right to receive potential Change in Control Benefits described in this Agreement and the Plan and agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan and this Agreement.

 

 

 

Participant

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CHANGE IN CONTROL PLAN PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT]