FARMERS NATIONAL BANC CORP /OH/ false 0000709337 0000709337 2021-06-21 2021-06-21

 

 

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): June 21, 2021

 

 

Farmers National Banc Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   001-35296   34-1371693
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

20 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 555, Canfield, Ohio   44406-0555
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(330) 533-3341

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(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:

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, No Par Value   FMNB   The NASDAQ Stock Market

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

Emerging growth company ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 5.02

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

On June 21, 2021, Farmers National Banc Corp. (the “Company”), issued a press release announcing Carl D. Culp’s decision to retire effective August 15, 2021 as Senior Executive Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company and Senior Executive Vice President, Cashier and Chief Financial Officer of The Farmers National Bank of Canfield, the national banking subsidiary of the Company (the “Bank”).

On June 21, 2021, the Company also announced the appointment of Troy Adair as Executive Vice President of Finance of the Bank effective June 21, 2021. The Company announced that Mr. Adair will assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank in August 2021 upon Mr. Culp’s retirement.

Mr. Adair, age 55, most recently served as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Premier Bank (“Premier”) from February 2020 through June 2021. In February 2016 through January 2020, Mr. Adair served as Vice President and Treasurer at Home Savings Bank (“Home Savings”) until Home Savings merged with Premier in connection with Premier Financial Corp.’s (the holding company of Premier) merger with United Community Financial Corp. (the holding company of Home Savings). During February 2002 through January 2016, Mr. Adair served as the Director of Risk Management–Accounting at Home Savings. Mr. Adair’s responsibilities during his 19-year tenure at Premier and Home Savings included management and oversight of the investment portfolio and mortgage banking operations and responsibility for the investor relations function and stock repurchase program.

Mr. Adair’s base salary initially will be $240,000.00, subject to annual review, and he will be eligible to participate in the Company’s broad-based employee benefit plans, such as medical, dental, supplemental disability, retiree health insurance and term life insurance programs available to the Company’s employees. Mr. Adair will be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual incentive program at a target benefit of 35% of his annual base salary on a pro-rated basis for the 2021 calendar year. Mr. Adair will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program at a target award value of 40% of his annual base salary. Mr. Adair is also eligible to participate in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Executive Separation Policy (“Separation Policy”) which provides separation benefits under certain events of termination. The Separation Policy is filed as Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2019. Mr. Adair will also receive within 30 days of commencement of employment an award under the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan of 5,000 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting on the second anniversary of the award. The foregoing summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company has also entered into a Change in Control Agreement with Mr. Adair under terms and conditions substantively consistent with agreements entered into with other executive officers, including separation benefits under certain events of termination in connection with a change in control of the Company. The foregoing summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Change in Control Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.


Also on June 21, 2021, the Company announced that Joseph Sabat was promoted to Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Bank effective immediately. Mr. Sabat previously served as Vice President and Controller of the Bank and no other changes to Mr. Sabat’s responsibilities beyond his role as Chief Accounting Officer were made in connection with his promotion.

The full text of the Company’s press release announcing the foregoing retirement of Mr. Culp, appointment of Mr. Adair and promotion of Mr. Sabat is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

As described in “Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers” above, on June 21, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the retirement of Carl D. Culp, effective August 15, 2021, the appointment of Troy Adair as Executive Vice President of Finance of the Bank effective June 21, 2021, and promotion of Joseph Sabat to Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Bank, effective immediately. The Company also announced that Mr. Adair will assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank in August 2021. The full text of the Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Pursuant to General Instruction B.2 of Current Report on Form 8-K, the information in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Furthermore, the information in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings of the Company under the Securities Act, except as may be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

10.1    Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated June 21, 2021
10.2    Change in Control Agreement, dated June 21, 2021
99.1    Press Release dated June 21, 2021
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


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.

 

Farmers National Banc Corp.
By:  

/s/ Kevin J. Helmick

Kevin J. Helmick

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: June 21, 2021

Exhibit 10.1

FARMERS NATIONAL BANC CORP.

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

Farmers National Banc Corp. (the “Company”) hereby grants the undersigned Participant an Award pursuant to the Farmers National Banc Corp. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity LTI Plan”) as evidenced by the Notice of Grant as further described in this Award Agreement (this “Award Agreement”).

 

1.

Nature of Award. Effective as of the date specified (the “Grant Date”) in the attached Notice of Grant (the “Grant Notices”), the Company hereby grants to the individual identified in the Grant Notice (the “Participant”) the award as set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Award”). The Award is subject to the terms and conditions described in the Plan, this Award Agreement and the Grant Notice.

 

2.

Number of Shares. The number of Shares of Restricted Stock in your Award is set forth in the Grant Notice. For purposes of this Award Agreement, each whole Share award represents the right to receive one Share.

 

3.

Vesting. The Participant’s Shares of Restricted Stock will be settled or will be forfeited depending on whether the terms and conditions described in the Grant Notice, this Award Agreement, and the Plan are satisfied. Accordingly, your Shares normally will vest on the “Normal Vesting Date” in accordance with the schedule identified in the Grant Notice. If the scheduled Normal Vesting Date is a non-business day, the next following business day will be considered the Normal Vesting Date.

 

4.

Forfeiture of Awards: If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material non-compliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct by a Participant, with any financial reporting requirement under any applicable laws, the Participant shall reimburse the Company for all amounts received under the Equity LTI Plan within 30 days after receipt of notice of the same from the Company.

 

5.

Effect of Termination: Participant may forfeit this Award if employment terminates prior to the Normal Vesting Date, although it will depend on the reason for termination as provided below:

 

  a.

Termination Due to Death or Disability. If you die or become Disabled, your Shares of Restricted Stock will vest fully on the date of your death or Disability.

 

  b.

Termination Due to Retirement. If you terminate due to Retirement, and provided that the Committee agrees to treat your termination as a Retirement, you will vest in a prorated portion of your Shares of Restricted Stock determined by multiplying the number of Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole months you were employed from the Grant Date to the date of Retirement, and the denominator of which is 24.

 

  c.

Termination for any Other Reason. If you terminate under any other circumstances, all Shares of Restricted Stock will be forfeited on your termination date.


6.

Restrictive Covenants.

 

  a.

Non-Competition. The Participant covenants and agrees that that as a condition to and in consideration of this Agreement, during the term of the Participant’s employment and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter (the “Non-Compete Restrictive Period”), the Participant will not, directly or indirectly engage in or become interested in or connected with any business or venture that is competitive with the business of Company in the Protected Territory, either on his own behalf or with others, directly or indirectly, as a shareholder, member, partner, director, officer, trustee, beneficiary, executor, administrator, personal representative, employee, agent, or otherwise, nor shall Participant manage, operate, control, own, provide services to or be connected in any manner with any corporation, partnership, proprietorship, or other business entity that is competitive with the business of Company in the Protected Territory.

 

  (i)

A business or venture will be considered competitive with the business of Company if it involves providing financial or banking services that a national banking association, bank holding company, state bank, savings and loan association or other regulated financial institution is permitted by law to conduct or furnish.

 

  (ii)

Protected Territory shall mean any location within a 25-mile radius of any office of Company.

 

  (iii)

The Participant will be deemed to be directly or indirectly engaged, interested or participating in or connected with a business or venture if he is a stockholder, partner, member, proprietor, officer, director, consultant, agent, or employee of such business or venture or an investor who, directly or indirectly, has advanced on loan, contributed to capital or expended an amount or amounts constituting five percent (5%) or more of the capital or assets of such business or venture.

 

  b.

Non-Solicitation. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that as a condition to and in consideration of this Agreement, during the term of the Participant’s employment and for a period of twenty four (24) months thereafter (the “Non-Solicitation Restrictive Period”), the Participant will not, directly or indirectly:

 

  (i)

Solicit, engage or otherwise interfere with any customer or client who is at the time of termination or was within the preceding six (6) months of termination a customer or client of Company, its subsidiaries or any other related entity for the purposes of directly or indirectly furnishing any financial or banking services that a national banking association, bank holding company, state bank, savings and loan association or other regulated financial institution is permitted by law to conduct or furnish on the date the Participant’s employment is terminated.

 

  (ii)

Employ, solicit for employment, engage or otherwise interfere with any person who is at the time of termination or was within the preceding six (6) months of termination employed by the Company, its subsidiaries or any related entity, or otherwise directly or indirectly induce or take any action which would encourage or influence any such person to leave that person’s employment or terminate, reduce or modify their business or relationship with the Company, or any of its subsidiaries or related entities.

 

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The restrictive covenants and Restrictive Periods provided for herein will not be construed to limit the application of any other restrictive covenant or restriction period set forth in any other agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company.

 

  c.

Nondisclosure and Non-appropriation of Information. The Participant recognizes and acknowledges that while employed by the Company, the Participant will have access to, learn, be provided with and, in some cases, prepare and create, certain Confidential Information (as defined in section (c) below), proprietary information or Trade Secrets (as defined below) of the Company, including, but not limited to, processes, financial information, pricing information, operating techniques, marketing processes, training techniques, customer, vendor, and referral source lists, price and cost information, files and forms, (collectively, the “Trade Secrets”), all of which are of substantial value to the Company and the businesses conducted by it. The Participant expressly covenants and agrees that the Participant will:

 

  (i)

Hold in a fiduciary capacity and not reveal, communicate, use or cause to be used for the Participant’s own benefit or divulge during the period of employment by the Company and for an indefinite period thereafter, any Confidential Information, proprietary information or Trade Secrets now or hereafter owned by the Company;

 

  (ii)

Not sell, exchange, give away, or otherwise dispose of Confidential Information, proprietary information or Trade Secrets now or hereafter owned by the Company, whether the same will or may have been originated or discovered by the Company, the Participant or otherwise;

 

  (iii)

Not reveal, divulge or make known to any person, firm, company or corporation any Confidential Information, proprietary information or Trade Secrets of the Company, unless such communication is required pursuant to a compulsory proceeding in which the Participant’s failure to provide such Confidential Information, proprietary information or Trade Secrets would subject the Participant to criminal or civil sanctions and then only to the extent that Executive provides prior notice to Company prior to disclosure.

 

  (iv)

Return to the Company before termination of employment with the Company, any and all written information, material or equipment that constitutes, contains or relates in any way to Confidential Information, proprietary information, Trade Secrets and any other documents, equipment, and material of any kind relating in any way to the business of the Company, which are in the Participant’s possession, custody and control and which are or may be property of the Company, whether confidential or not, including any and all copies thereof which may have been made by or for the Participant and that the Participant will maintain no copies thereof after termination of the Participant’s employment.

 

  d.

Definitions.

 

  (i)

“Confidential Information” means all information disclosed to or known by the Participant as a consequence of or through is employment with the Company which either has not been made generally available to the public and is useful or of value to the current or anticipated business of the Company; or has been identified to the Participant as confidential, either orally or in writing.

 

-3-


  Confidential Information includes without limitation computer software and programs; marketing, manufacturing, organizational research and development; business plans; sales forecasts; identities, competence, abilities and compensation of other employees of the Company; pricing cost and other financial information; current and prospective customer and supplier lists and information about customers, suppliers or their employees; information concerning planned or pending acquisitions or divestitures; and information concerning purchases of equipment or property. Confidential Information does not include information which is in or hereafter enters the public domain through no fault of the Participant, or is disclosed by a third party having the legal right to use and disclose the information.

 

  e.

Other Terms and Conditions.

 

  (i)

The Participant acknowledges that the Participant is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed by this Agreement. Irrespective of the manner of any employment termination, the restraints imposed by this Agreement will be operative during their full time periods and throughout the restrictive areas set forth in this Agreement. The Participant further acknowledges that if the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason the Participant can earn a livelihood without violating the foregoing restrictions and that the Participant’s ability to earn a livelihood without violating these restrictions is a material employment condition. The Participant acknowledges and recognizes that if the Participant’s employment terminates for any reason, this Section 6 of the Agreement will survive any such termination and any expiration of this Agreement. Further, the Participant agrees and consents that this Agreement is assignable by the Company.

 

  (ii)

The Participant agrees that if a court of law finds that the provisions of this Agreement are too harsh so that they are unenforceable, then such court of law may enforce those restrictions and limitations which are acceptable and deemed enforceable by the court.

 

  (iii)

In the event the Participant breaches the terms of this Agreement, it is agreed that all time periods contained in this Agreement will be tolled until the Participant ceases to breach this Agreement.

 

  f.

Injunction. The parties acknowledge and agree, due to the subject matter of this Agreement, that money damages will be an inadequate remedy for a breach by Participant of any of the obligations hereunder. Consequently, if the Participant breaches or threatens to breach any of the obligations under this Agreement, the Participant agrees that the Company shall have the right, in addition to any other rights or remedies available to it at law or in equity, to obtain equitable relief, including, without limitation, injunctive relief and specific performance, in the event of any breach or threatened breach. Further, the parties hereto agree and declare that it may be impossible to measure in monetary terms the damages that may accrue to the Company by reason of Participant’s violation of this Agreement. Therefore, in the event that the Company, or any successor in interest thereto, shall institute an action or proceeding to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, each party or other person against whom such action or proceeding is brought shall and hereby does, in advance, waive the claim or defense that

 

-4-


  there is adequate remedy at law. In the event such injunctive relief is warranted and obtained by the Company, Participant agrees to pay all costs of said action, including reasonable attorney fees.

 

7.

Miscellaneous:

 

  a.

Non-Transferability. An Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

  b.

Beneficiary. Unless otherwise specifically designated by the Participant in writing, a Participant’s beneficiary under the Equity LTI Plan shall be the Participant’s spouse or, if no spouse survives the Participant, the Participant’s estate.

 

  c.

No Right to Continued Service or to Awards. The granting of an Award shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Affiliate to continue the employment of a Participant or interfere with or limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate to Terminate the employment of the Participant at any time, with or without Cause, which right is expressly reserved.

 

  d.

Tax Withholding. The Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, shall have the power and the right to deduct, withhold or collect any amount required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising with respect to an Award granted under the Equity LTI Plan.

 

  e.

Requirements of Law. The grant of Awards shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including applicable federal and state securities laws) and to all required approvals of any governmental agencies or national securities exchange, market or other quotation system.

 

  f.

Governing Law. The Equity LTI Plan and all Award Agreements shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of (other than laws governing conflicts of laws) the State of Ohio.

 

  g.

Award Subject to Equity LTI Plan. The Award is subject to the terms and conditions described in this Award Agreement and the Equity LTI Plan, which is incorporated by reference into and made a part of this Award Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Equity LTI Plan and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of the Equity LTI Plan will govern. The Committee has the sole responsibility of interpreting the Equity LTI Plan and this Award Agreement, and its determination of the meaning of any provision in the Equity LTI Plan or this Award Agreement will be binding on the Participant. Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Award Agreement have the same meanings as in the Equity LTI Plan.

 

  h.

Section 409A Payment Delay. If a Participant is determined to be a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and as determined under the Company’s policy for determining specified employees), the Participant shall not be entitled to payment or to distribution of any portion of an Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code (and for which no exception applies) and is payable or distributable on account of the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) until the expiration of six months from the date of such

 

-5-


  separation from service (or, if earlier, the Participant’s death). Such Award, or portion thereof, shall be paid or distributed on the first business day of the seventh month following such separation from service.

 

  i.

Signature in Counterparts. This Award Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

PARTICIPANT     FARMERS NATIONAL BANC CORP.

/s/ Troy Adair

    By:  

/s/ Mark A. Nicastro

Troy Adair     Its:   Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Date: June 21, 2021     Date: June 21, 2021

 

-6-

Exhibit 10.2

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Change in Control Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made by and between Farmers National Banc Corp. (the “Company”) and Troy Adair (the “Executive”) effective as of the 21st day of June, 2021 (the “Effective Date”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed by the Company or an Affiliate; and

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Executive to continue performing services for the Company or Affiliate, the Company desires to provide the Executive with certain severance benefits in the event the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated in connection with a Change in Control under the circumstances described herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreement set forth below, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

 

1.

Definitions. When used in this Agreement, the following terms will have the meanings given to them in this Section unless another meaning is expressly provided. When applying a definition, the form of any term or word will include any of its other forms.

 

  (a)

Affiliate” means any entity with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code, but modified under any Code section relevant to the purpose for which the definition is applied.

 

  (b)

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  (c)

Business” includes, but is not limited to, the business of providing financial, banking, insurance, investment, personal and commercial lending, internet cash management and other similar services to individuals and companies.

 

  (d)

Cause” means the occurrence of any one of the following events: (i) the Executive’s commission of any intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent act which may result in material injury to the goodwill, business or business reputation of the Company or any Affiliate; (ii) the Executive’s participation in any fraud, dishonesty, theft, conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime, or unethical business conduct; (iii) the Executive’s violation of any of the covenants of this Agreement or any material written policy, rule or regulation of the Company or the Affiliate that employs the Executive; or (iv) the Executive’s failure to adequately perform the Executive’s job duties or to follow lawful and ethical directions provided to the Executive, which failure has not been cured in all material respects within 20 days after receiving notice of such failure from the Company or the Affiliate employing the Executive.

 

  (e)

Change in Control” means the consummation of any of the following transactions: (i) any person (as defined in the securities laws) becomes a direct or indirect beneficial owner of securities of the Company or the Affiliate employing the Executive representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the


  Company’s or Affiliate’s then outstanding securities; or (ii) the Company or the Affiliate employing the Executive is merged or consolidated with another entity, and as a result of such merger or consolidation, less than 75% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity shall be owned in the aggregate by the former shareholders of the Company or such Affiliate; or (iii) during any two consecutive years during the term of this Agreement, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election of each director who is not a director at the beginning of such period has been approved in advance by directors representing at least two-thirds of the directors at the beginning of the period. A Change in Control will only be deemed to have occurred if one of the three above-listed scenarios occurs and, as a result thereof, the Executive is not offered a position that is substantially similar to the Executive’s position immediately prior to the transaction, in terms of duties, responsibilities, compensation and benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any payment that is subject to Section 409A of the Code (and for which no exception applies), a Change in Control will be deemed not to have occurred unless the events or circumstances constituting a Change in Control also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

  (f)

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

  (g)

Confidential Information” means any proprietary information relating to the conduct of the business of the Company or an Affiliate, including the Company’s or an Affiliate’s unique business methods and compilations of information that has caused or continues to cause the Bank to enjoy a competitive advantage over companies engaged in the same or a similar business, including but not limited to the Company’s or an Affiliate’s methods of operations, customer relations, customer lists, contacts, confidential price policies and confidential price characteristics, lists of employees, vendors and suppliers, confidential information relating to marketing plans, quotations and contracts, order processing, procedures, purchasing and pricing methods and procedures, supplies, personnel information, financial data, future business plans, and the like.

 

  (h)

Good Reason” means the occurrence of any one of the following events: (i) a material diminution of the duties, authority or responsibilities of the Executive’s position; (ii) a reduction in the Executive’s base salary of more than 20% of the annual rate; (iii) any change in the Executive’s principal place of work which would increase the Executive’s commute by 50 miles or more from the Executive’s current principal place of work; or (iv) a material breach by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, which failure has not been cured in all material respects within 20 days after receiving written notice of such failures from the Executive. Good Reason shall not have occurred unless the Executive shall have provided the Company with at least 14 days advance written notice of the condition constituting Good Reason after such condition first occurs and such condition has not been cured within 30 days following receipt of such notice.

 

2


  (i)

Protection Period” means the six month period commencing prior to a Change in Control or the twelve month period thereafter.

 

  (j)

Qualifying Termination” means the Executive’s termination of employment by the Company, other than for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason. The Executive shall not be eligible for the payments and benefits described in Section 3 if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company or an Affiliate for Cause, if the Executive terminates other than for Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates due to the Executive’s death or disability, even if such termination occurs during the Protection Period.

 

  (k)

Work Product means any procedure, design feature, schematic, invention, improvement, development, discovery, know how, concept, idea or the like (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or trademark laws, or otherwise protectable under similar laws) that the Executive may conceive of, suggest, make, invent, develop or implement during the course of the Executive’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate (whether individually or jointly with any other person), relating in any way to the Business, and all physical embodiments and manifestations thereof, and all patent rights, copyrights, trademarks (or application therefore) and similar protections therein.

 

2.

Eligibility. The Executive shall be eligible to receive the change in control benefits described in Section 3 if the Executive experiences a Qualifying Termination during the Protection Period.

 

3.

Change in Control Benefits. If the Executive experiences a Qualifying Termination, the Executive shall receive the following change in control benefits:

 

  (a)

Base Salary. A payment in an amount equal to 24 months of the Executive’s monthly base salary rate in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s termination or, if greater, the rate in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, and prior to any reduction that gave rise to Good Reason, if applicable.

 

  (b)

Bonus.

 

  (i)

A lump sum amount equal to the average of the annual incentive bonus paid to the Executive in the three years preceding termination; and

 

  (ii)

A pro rata incentive bonus for the year of termination (or, if the Executive’s termination occurred prior to the Change in Control, for the year in which the Change in Control occurred), in an amount determined by multiplying the annual incentive that the Executive would have earned under the Company’s annual incentive plan for the year in which the termination occurred, assuming that performance had been attained at the

 

3


  “target” level as based on a percentage of the Executive’s then-current base salary (or, if greater, the base salary immediately prior to any reduction constituting Good Reason), by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed during the calendar year prior to the Executive’s termination and the denominator of which is 365.

 

  (c)

Benefits. The Executive shall receive a lump sum payment in an amount equal to 24 times the monthly COBRA premium payable by the Executive to continue to receive health benefits at a level similar to which the Executive and the executive’s spouse and dependents, if any, were participating immediately prior to the Qualifying Termination in order to continue to receive such benefits during the applicable COBRA coverage period.

 

  (d)

Outplacement. A lump sum amount of $20,000 for reasonable outplacement services.

Payment of the amounts described in this Section 3 shall be made within 60 days following the Executive’s termination (or, if the Executive’s termination occurred prior to the Change in Control, within 30 days following the Change in Control), provided that the Executive executes (and does not revoke) a general release and waiver reasonably acceptable to the Company, generally in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, before payment is to begin (and, if such 60 day period would begin in one taxable year of the Executive and end in another taxable year of the Executive, payment shall not commence until the second taxable year, regardless of when the Executive executes the release).

 

4.

Excess Parachute Payments and Other Limitations on Payment.

 

  (a)

Excess Parachute Payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if any payments or benefits paid or payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement or any other plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Company or an Affiliate would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, then the Executive shall receive the greater of: (i) one dollar ($1.00) less than the amount which would cause the payments and benefits to constitute a “parachute payment”, or (ii) the amount of such payments and benefits, after taking into account all federal, state and local taxes, including the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code payable by the Executive on such payments and benefits, if such amount would be greater than the amount specified in Section 4(a)(i), after taking into account all federal, state and local taxes payable by the Executive on such payments and benefits. Any reduction to any payment made pursuant to this Section 4(a) shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

  (b)

Regulatory Limitations. If any payments otherwise payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are prohibited or limited by any statute, regulation, order, consent decree or similar limitation in effect at the time the payments would otherwise be paid (a “Limiting Rule”): the Company (i) shall pay the

 

4


  maximum amount that may be paid after applying the Limiting Rule; and (ii) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of the appropriate agency or body to pay any amounts that cannot be paid due to the application of the Limiting Rule. The Executive agrees that the Company shall not have breached its obligations under this Agreement if it is not able to pay all or some portion of any payment due to the Executive as a result of the application of a Limiting Rule.

 

5.

Executive’s Obligations. In order to receive the payments and benefits described in Section 3 of this Agreement after a Qualifying Termination, the Executive agrees to the following:

 

  (a)

Non-Solicitation of Customers. During the Executive’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate and for a period of 24 consecutive months thereafter, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly solicit Business from any customers, clients or business patrons of the Company or an Affiliate who were customers, clients or business patrons of the Company or an Affiliate at the time of termination of the Executive’s employment.

 

  (b)

Non-Solicitation of Employees. During the Executive’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate and for a period of 24 consecutive months thereafter, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly employ or attempt to employ or solicit for employment any other individual who is employed by the Company or an Affiliate at the time of termination of the Executive’s employment.

 

  (c)

Confidential Information. During the Executive’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate, or during any period thereafter, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly communicate or divulge any Confidential Information relating to the Company or an Affiliate to any other person or business entity. All records, files, plans, documents and the like relating to the Business of the Company or an Affiliate, including but not limited to Confidential Information which the Executive has or will prepare, use or come into contact with shall remain the sole property of the Company or an Affiliate, shall not be copied without written permission, and shall be returned immediately to the Company or an Affiliate upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate, or at the request of the Company or an Affiliate at any time. Further, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly use or disclose to any other person or business entity any secret or Confidential Information of the Company or an Affiliate without the prior written consent of an officer of the Company or an Affiliate. The Executive further agrees to take all reasonable precautions to protect against the negligent or inadvertent disclosure of the secret or Confidential Information of the Company or an Affiliate to any other person or business entity. If the Executive improperly uses or discloses any secret or Confidential Information of the Company or an Affiliate, the Executive understands that the Executive’s employment will be subject to termination for Cause. The Executive also recognizes that all writings, illustrations, drawings and other similar materials

 

5


  that embody or otherwise contain Confidential Information which the Executive may produce or which may be given to the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment, are the property of the Company or an Affiliate and it shall be the Executive’s obligation to deliver the same to the Company or an Affiliate upon request, and upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate for any reason.

 

  (d)

Intellectual Property Rights. The Executive agrees and acknowledges that all Work Product shall be the sole, exclusive and absolute property of the Company or an Affiliate. All such Work Product shall be deemed to be works for hire and the Executive assigns to the Company all rights, title and interest in, to and under such Work Product, including but not limited to, the right to obtain such patents, copyright registrations, trademark registrations or similar protections as the Company or an Affiliate may desire to obtain. The Executive shall immediately disclose all Work Product to the Company or an Affiliate and agrees, at any time upon the Company’s or an Affiliate’s request and without additional compensation, to execute any documents and to otherwise cooperate with the Company or an Affiliate respecting the perfection of its rights, title and interest in, to and under such Work Product, and in any litigation or other controversy in connection therewith, all reasonable expenses incident thereto to be borne by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

  (e)

Non-disparagement. The Executive agrees that he or she will not knowingly make any statement or take any action likely to disparage or have an adverse effect on the Company’s business reputation; provided, however, that such restriction will not prevent the Covered Executive from making any statement or taking any action that is required by law.

In the event of a breach by the Executive of any covenant set forth in this Section 5, the term of such covenant will be extended by the period of the duration of such breach and such covenant will survive any termination of this Agreement but only for the limited period of such extension. The restrictions provided in this Section 5 are in addition to any restrictions on competition or solicitation contained in any other agreement between the Company or an Affiliate and the Executive. The provisions of this Section 5 constitute an essential element of this Agreement, without which the Company would not have entered into this Agreement. If the scope of any restriction contained in this Section 5 is too broad to permit enforcement of such restriction to its fullest extent, then such restriction will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the Executive hereby consents and agrees that such scope may be judicially modified accordingly in any proceeding brought to enforce such restriction.

Notwithstanding any other remedy available, the restrictions described in this Section 5 may be enforced by the Company, an Affiliate and/or any successor thereto, by an action to recover payments made under this Agreement, an action for injunction, and/or an action for damages. In the event the Company or an Affiliate obtains a permanent injunction against the Executive after notice and the opportunity to appear, the Executive

 

6


shall be liable to pay all costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, which the Company or an Affiliate may incur in enforcing, to any extent, the provisions of this Agreement, whether or not litigation is actually commenced and including litigation of any appeal taken or defended by the Company or an Affiliate in any action to enforce this Agreement and which affirms and/or results in a permanent injunction. Any proceedings brought to enforce Section 5 of this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of Mahoning County, Ohio and the Executive expressly waives any objection or defense relating to jurisdiction or forum non-conveniens or similar doctrine or theory. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedy at law for any breach of this Section 5 shall be inadequate, and that the Company or an Affiliate shall be entitled to injunctive relief without bond. Such injunctive relief shall not be exclusive, but shall be in addition to any other rights or remedies which the Company or an Affiliate may have for any such breach. In addition to the injunctive remedies described herein, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a final judicial determination against the Executive with respect to an actual or threatened breach by the Executive of this Section 5, the Company shall be entitled to withhold any remaining amounts payments payable under Section 3 of this Agreement.

 

6.

Miscellaneous.

 

  (a)

No Mitigation. The Executive is not required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit described in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will the amount of any payment or benefit hereunder be reduced by any compensation that the Executive earns in any capacity after termination or by reason of the Executive’s receipt of or right to receive any retirement or other benefits after termination. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Executive’s right to receive the payments and benefits described in this Agreement will not decrease the amount of, or otherwise adversely affect, any other benefits payable to the Executive under any other plan, agreement or arrangement between the Executive and the Company or any Affiliate.

 

  (b)

Withholding. Payments under this Agreement shall be subject to withholding of such amounts as the Company or the Affiliate employing the Executive reasonably determines are required to be withheld with respect to any income, wage or employment taxes imposed on such payment.

 

  (c)

Assignment. The rights of the Executive under this Agreement may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered except by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the Company. If the Company is at any time merged or consolidated into, or with any other company, or if substantially all of the assets of the Company are transferred to another company, the provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the company resulting from such merger or consolidation or to which such assets have been transferred, and this provision will apply in the event of any subsequent merger, consolidation or transfer.

 

7


  (d)

Governing Law. This Agreement will be construed in accordance with, and pursuant to, the laws of the State of Ohio (other than laws governing conflicts of laws).

 

  (e)

Entire Agreement; Amendment. This instrument contains the entire written agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and the parties have made no other agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement that are not set forth herein. This Agreement may be amended only by mutual written agreement of the parties.

 

  (f)

Captions; Severance; Counterparts. The captions of this Agreement will not be part of the provisions hereof and will have no force or effect. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement will not affect the validity or unenforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

  (g)

No Waiver. The failure of either party to insist in any instance on the strict performance of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right hereunder will not constitute a waiver of such provision or right in any other instance.

 

  (h)

Notice. All written communications provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed to have been duly served when delivered by U.S. registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the following addresses (or such other address as either party may provide the other in writing):

If to the Company:

Farmers National Banc Corp.

20 South Broad Street

Canfield, Ohio 44406

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

If to the Executive:

At the last address on file with the Company or the Affiliate employing the Executive.

 

  (i)

Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The parties intend that this Agreement be subject to or exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, as applicable, and this Agreement shall be interpreted, administered and operated accordingly. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, any reference

 

8


  to the Executive’s termination of employment shall mean the Executive’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code) and each payment of compensation under the Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation. Any amounts payable solely on account of an involuntary termination shall be excludible from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, either as separation pay or as short-term deferrals to the maximum possible extent. Nothing herein shall be construed as the guarantee of any particular tax treatment to the Executive, and none of the Company or any Affiliate, nor their respective boards of directors, officers or employees, shall have any liability to the Executive arising from any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(i) and as determined under the Company’s policy for determining specified employees) on the Executive’s date of termination and the Executive is entitled to a benefit under this Agreement that is required to be delayed pursuant to Section 409A(1)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then such payment or benefit will not be paid or provided to the Executive until the first business day of the seventh month following the Executive’s termination or, if earlier, the date of the Executive’s death.

 

  (j)

Arbitration. Except as set forth in Section 5, any controversy or dispute which arises in connection with the validity, construction, application, enforcement or breach of this Agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”). The fees and costs of arbitration (other than attorney fees and costs) shall be borne equally by the parties. A neutral arbitrator shall be jointly chosen by the parties from a list of arbitrators provided by the AAA, and any arbitration under this Section 6(j) shall take place in the Cleveland, Ohio office of the AAA. Judgment upon an award rendered by an arbitrator under this Section 6(j) may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

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

 

COMPANY
By:     /s/ Mark A. Nicastro             Date: June 21, 2021                   
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
EXECUTIVE
Signed:          /s/ Troy Adair           Date: June 21, 2021                   
Print Name:  Troy Adair

 

9


EXHIBIT A

Form of Release

GENERAL RELEASE

This General Release (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of             , 20    , by and between Farmers National Banc Corp. (the “Company”), and                     (the “Executive”) (collectively, the “Parties”).

ARTICLE I RELEASES, WAIVERS AND REVOCATION RIGHTS

1.01    Release. In consideration of receipt of the payments and benefits set forth in Section 3 of the Parties’ Change in Control Agreement by and between the Company and the Executive, effective as of             , 20     (“CIC Agreement”), the Executive does hereby fully and forever surrender, release, acquit and discharge the Company, and its principals, stockholders, directors, officers, agents, administrators, insurers, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, successors, assigns, related entities, and legal representatives, personally and in their representative capacities, and each of them (collectively, “Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims for costs of attorneys’ fees, expenses, compensation, and all losses, demands and damage of whatsoever nature or kind in law or in equity, whether known or unknown, including without limitation those claims arising out of, under, or by reason of the Executive’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in the CIC Agreement), the Executive’s relationship with the Company or any Affiliate and/or the termination of the Executive’s employment relationship and any and all claims which were or could have been asserted in any charge, complaint, or related lawsuit. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive specifically releases and discharges, but not by way of limitation, any obligation, claim, demand or cause of action based on, or arising out of, any alleged wrongful termination, breach of employment contract, breach of implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing, defamation, fraud, promissory estoppel, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, discrimination based on age, pain and suffering, personal injury, punitive damages, and any and all claims arising from any alleged violation by the Released Parties of any federal, state, or local statutes, ordinances or common laws, including but not limited to the Ohio Civil Rights Act, including all provisions of the Ohio Revised Code concerning discrimination on the basis of age, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA” and “ADAA”) or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This release of rights is knowing and voluntary. The Company acknowledges that the Executive does not release herein any rights or claims which may arise after the Effective Date of this Agreement (as defined in Section 1.03 of this Agreement) nor any rights the Executive has under the CIC Agreement, any rights the Executive may have regarding the enforcement of the CIC Agreement, the Executive’s rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or the Executive’s rights to indemnification.

 

10


1.02    Waiver of Right to Sue. Except for the Company’s promises and obligations contained in the CIC Agreement, the Executive further agrees, promises and covenants that neither the Executive, nor any person, organization, or any other entity acting on the Executive’s behalf will file, charge, claim, sue or cause or permit to be filed, charged or claimed, any action for damages or other relief (including injunctive, declaratory, monetary relief or other) against the Company, involving any matter occurring in the past up to the Effective Date of this Agreement or involving any continuing effects of actions or practices which arose prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement or the termination of the Executive’s employment.

1.03    Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act Waiver. The Executive has certain individual federal rights, which must be explicitly waived. Specifically, the Executive is protected by the ADEA from discrimination in employment because of the Executive’s age. By executing this Agreement, the Executive waives these rights as to any past or current claims. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, excluded from this Agreement are ADEA age claims that may arise after execution of this Agreement. In connection with the releases in Section 1.01 and waivers in Section 1.02 of any and all claims or disputes that the Executive has or may have on the date hereof, the Executive makes the following acknowledgements:

[1]    By signing this Agreement, the Executive waives all claims against the Released Parties for discrimination based on age, including without limitation, any claim which arises under or by reason of a violation of the ADEA.

[2]    In consideration of the releases, waivers and covenants made by the Executive under this Agreement, the Executive will be receiving the payments and other benefits in the amounts and manner described in Section 3 of the Parties’ CIC Agreement.

[3]    The Executive represents and acknowledges that the Executive has consulted with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement and the Executive has been given a period of at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider whether or not to enter into this Agreement.

[4]    The Executive understands that this Agreement shall be effective as of the date on which the Executive signs the Agreement (“Effective Date”), provided that the Agreement is not revoked by the Executive within seven days after the Executive signs the Agreement. For a period of seven days after the Executive signs the Agreement, the Executive has the right to revoke and/or cancel this Agreement by the delivery of notice in writing of revocation and/or cancellation to the Company. In the event that the Executive does not revoke and/or cancel this Agreement during this period, this Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date. In the event that the Executive revokes this Agreement, the Executive shall not be entitled to any of the consideration set out in Section 3 of the Parties’ CIC Agreement.

 

11


ARTICLE 2 MISCELLANEOUS

2.01    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Facsimile signatures will have the same legal effect as original signatures.

2.02    Applicable Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the provisions of this Agreement will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the state of Ohio.

2.03    Headings. The descriptive headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement, as of             , 20  .

FARMERS NATIONAL BANC CORP.

 

By:  

                     

         Date signed:  

 

Title:  

 

     
THE EXECUTIVE      

 

         Date signed:  

 

Signature      

 

     
Printed Name      

 

12

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Amber Wallace

Executive Vice President, Chief Retail/Marketing Officer

330-720-6441

awallace@farmersbankgroup.com

 

 

Farmers National Bank Announces Retirement of Long-Time Executive, Additions to Executive Finance Team

Canfield, Ohio, June 21, 2021 – Farmers National Banc Corp (NASDAQ: FMNB) announced today the following changes in its Accounting and Finance Executive Group. The changes are prompted by Carl D. Culp’s decision to retire as Farmers National Bank Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executive Vice President, effective August 15, 2021. The decision ends Culp’s highly successful 36-year career in accounting and the financial services industry, with 32 years dedicated to Farmers National Bank, including the last 25 years as Farmers’ Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executive Vice President. Culp has agreed to provide advisory services for a period of time to ensure a seamless transition to his successor.

“First and foremost, the Board of Directors thank Carl for his years of loyal service. It is difficult for me to express the countless contributions Carl has made over the course of his career to both the stability and extraordinary growth trajectory of our financial institution,” states Kevin Helmick, President and CEO of Farmers. “Carl exemplifies Farmers’ culture and has consistently led by example with his stalwart integrity and character.”

Farmers has named Troy Adair as Executive Vice President of Finance. Adair, most recently with Premier Bank as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, owns an MBA in Finance and Accounting and has 33 years of experience in banking. Upon Culp’s departure, Adair will assume the Chief Financial Officer role. A native to the Mahoning Valley, Adair resides in Cortland, Ohio with his family.

Additionally, Farmers has promoted Joseph Sabat, CPA to Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, effective immediately. Sabat, who has been with Farmers since 2006, currently holds the role of Vice President and Controller at Farmers and brings 25 years of experience in the accounting, finance and auditing fields.


In making these announcements, Kevin Helmick noted, “The appointments of Adair and Sabat to these key roles reflect Farmers’ pursuit of high performance and exceptional results for our stakeholders.”

ABOUT FARMERS NATIONAL BANC CORP.

Founded in 1887, Farmers National Banc Corp. is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Canfield, Ohio, with $3.3 billion in banking assets. Farmers National Banc Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiaries are comprised of The Farmers National Bank of Canfield, a full-service national bank engaged in commercial and retail banking with 41 locations in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark, Wayne, Medina, Geauga and Cuyahoga Counties in Ohio and Beaver County in Pennsylvania; Farmers Trust Company, which operates five trust offices and offers services in the same geographic markets and Farmers National Insurance, LLC. Total wealth management assets under care at March 31, 2021 were $2.9 billion.

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