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: April 10, 2019

 

 

AUBURN NATIONAL BANCORPORATION, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   0-26486   63-0885779

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation

 

(Commission

file number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

100 North Gay Street, P.O. Drawer 3110, Auburn, Alabama 36831-3110

(Address of principal executive offices)

(334) 821-9200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

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:

 

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

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR§230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company    ☐

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


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

Mr. J. Michael King and AuburnBank (the “Bank”), the principal subsidiary of Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (the “Company”), are parties to an agreement dated July 24, 2017 (the “Agreement”) providing Mr. King with a cash retention bonus of $200,000 payable in two equal $100,000 installments on the first and second anniversaries of his date of hire. These bonus payments are made in lieu of any other bonus payable by the Bank, including its discretionary bonus program for Bank officers.

The Company determined that Mr. King is a named executive officer in connection with the preparation of the Company’s proxy statement for its 2019 annual shareholders’ meeting. As a result, the Company is filing the Agreement. Attached and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.1 is a copy of the Agreement.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)     Exhibits . The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

 

    

Exhibit No.

  

Exhibit Description

                         

   10.1    Agreement, dated July 24, 2017, by and between J. Michael King and AuburnBank


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.

 

Date: April 10, 2019     Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc.
    By:   /s/ David A. Hedges
       

David A. Hedges

Executive Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer

Exhibit 10.1

July 24, 2017

Mr. Mike King

2225 Brookstone Drive

Montgomery, AL 36117

Dear Mike:

To incentivize you to join and remain with and committed to the success of AuburnBank and its Mortgage Lending Division, we offer you a retention bonus upon the conditions set forth below in this agreement (this “ Agreement ”).

In consideration of the premises, and other good and valuable consideration, and intending to be legally bound, we agree as follows:

 

1.

Duration

The term of this Agreement will begin on your date of hire as the Bank’s Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending, and end two years later, unless terminated before that time (the “ Term ”).

 

2.

Retention Bonus

In addition to your salary, you will be eligible for a retention bonus (the “ Retention Bonus ”) of $200,000. The Retention Bonus will be paid in two equal $100,000 installments. The first installment will be paid to you only if you are still employed by AuburnBank on the first anniversary of your date of hire. The second installment will be paid to you only if you are still employed by AuburnBank on the second anniversary of your date of hire. Each Retention Bonus installment will be paid to you on the next reasonable payroll cycle following the respective anniversary dates. The Retention Bonus is provided in lieu of any other bonus payable by AuburnBank, including its discretionary bonus program for AuburnBank officers (collectively, “ Other Bonuses ”). During the term of this Agreement, you will not be eligible to participate in, and waive all claims in or to, any Other Bonuses.

 

3.

Termination

(a)    If AuburnBank terminates your employment before the end of this Agreement’s Term, or you die or are permanently disabled, AuburnBank will pay you only the amount earned up to that point. For example, if AuburnBank terminates your employment 18 months from your date of hire, you will have earned the first Retention Bonus installment at the first anniversary of the date of hire; however, no fraction of a Retention Bonus installment will be paid even though you worked six months into the second year of the Term.

(b)    If you are terminated for Cause at any point before the end of this Agreement, you will be obligated to reimburse AuburnBank all amounts of any Retention Bonus paid to you.


(c)    For purposes of this Section 3:

“Cause” means (i) a willful and continued failure by you to perform your duties as assigned by the AuburnBank’s board of directors or executive officers to whom you report (other than due to disability); or (ii) a breach by you of your duties of loyalty, care or good faith to AuburnBank or its parent, Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (the “ Company ”), (iii) a willful violation by you of any provision of this Agreement; or (iv) a conviction or the entering of a plea of nolo contendere by you for any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or a breach of trust; or (v) a breach of AuburnBank’s or the Company’s Code of Ethics, or (vi) commission by you of a willful or negligent act which causes material harm to the Bank or the Company; or (vii) habitual absenteeism, alcoholism or other form of drug or other addiction; or (viii) any violation of laws or regulations such that you cease to be eligible to serve as an officer or executive officer of a depository institution or a depository institution holding company; or (ix) you becomes ineligible to be bonded at costs consistent with the AuburnBank’s and/or the Company’s other senior officers. In addition, if you terminate employment for an alleged breach of this Agreement by the Bank, and it is ultimately determined that no reasonable basis existed for your termination on account of the alleged breach of the Bank, such event shall be deemed to be for “cause” hereunder.

“Good Reason” means (i) a breach of this Agreement by AuburnBank or (ii) your duties and responsibilities are reduced materially from those assigned to you at your date of hire.

 

4.

Limited Agreement

This Agreement is not an employment agreement and AuburnBank has no obligations to continue your employment. Your employment at all times will be “at will.”

 

5.

Governing Law

The validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall, in all respects, be governed by the laws of the State of Alabama.

 

6.

Modification

No provision of this Agreement may be modified, altered or amended, except by a written agreement signed by you and AuburnBank.

 

7.

Arbitration

By signing this Agreement, we each agree that any claims or disputes regarding this Agreement or resulting from your employment during the term of the Agreement must be submitted to binding arbitration and that this arbitration will be the only remedy for resolution of any such claim or dispute. Any arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules. AuburnBank will be responsible for any reasonable costs of arbitration. Each party otherwise shall bear its own expenses in connection with this Agreement and any disputes hereunder.


We are delighted you are joining AuburnBank. If this Agreement is acceptable to you, please sign below in the space provided, whereupon this will be a legally binding agreement between us.

 

Yours very truly,
/s/ Robert W. Dumas
Name: Robert W. Dumas
Title: President/CEO

Understood, agreed and

accepted as of the day first

above written:

/s/ J. Michael King
Name: