CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.5
CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK
SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this 29 day of August, 2008, by and between CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK, a nationally chartered commercial bank located in Minerva, Ohio (the “Company”), and Ralph Lober (the “Executive”).
INTRODUCTION
To encourage the Executive to remain an employee of the Company, the Company is willing to provide salary continuation benefits to the Executive. The Company will pay the benefits from its general assets.
AGREEMENT
The Executive and the Company agree as follows:
Article 1
Definitions
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings specified:
1.1 “Accrual Balance” means the liability that should be accrued by the Company, under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), for the Company’s obligation to the Executive under this Agreement, by applying Accounting Principles Board Opinion Number 12 (“APB 12”) as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Number 106 (“FAS 106”) and the Discount Rate. Any one of a variety of amortization methods may be used to determine the Accrual Balance. However, once chosen, the method must be consistently applied. The Accrual Balance shall be reported annually by the Company to the Executive.
1.2 “Change of Control” means the transfer of shares of the Company’s voting common stock such that one entity or one person acquires (or is deemed to acquire when applying Section 318 of the Code) more than 50 percent of the Company’s outstanding voting common stock followed within twelve (12) months by the Executive’s Termination of Employment for reasons other than death, Disability or retirement.
1.3 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.4 “Disability” means, if the Executive is covered by a Company sponsored disability policy, total disability as defined in such policy without regard to any waiting period. If the Executive is not covered by such a policy, Disability means the Executive suffering a sickness, accident or injury which, in the judgment of a physician satisfactory to the Company, prevents the Executive from performing substantially all of the Executive’s normal duties for the Company. As a condition to receiving any Disability benefits, the Company may require the Executive to submit to such physical or mental evaluations and tests as the Company’s Board of Directors deems appropriate.
1.5 “Discount Rate” means the rate used by the plan administrator for determining the Accrual Balance.
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The initial Discount Rate is six percent (6%). However, in order to maintain the Discount Rate within reasonable standards according to GAAP and/or applicable bank regulatory guidance, the Discount Rate will adjust to reflect a rate of return on a high-quality fixed-income debt security rounded up to the nearest quarter percentage. For purposes of this Agreement, the Discount Rate will be reviewed and updated annually using the 20 year term Moody AA Corporate Rate for a high-quality fixed-income debt security.
1.6 “Early Termination” means Termination of Employment before Normal Retirement Age for reasons other than death, Disability, Termination for Cause or following a Change of Control.
1.7 “Early Termination Date” means the month, day and year in which Early Termination occurs.
1.8 “Effective Date” means August 29, 2008.
1.9 “Final Pay” means the average of the base pay plus annual performance-based incentive plan paid to the Executive by the Company for the last three (3) full calendar years prior to Normal Retirement Age.
1.10 “Normal Retirement Age” means the Executive’s 65th birthday.
1.11 “Normal Retirement Date” means the later of the Normal Retirement Age or Termination of Employment.
1.12 “Plan Year” means a twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year. The initial Plan Year shall commence on the effective date of this Agreement.
1.13 “Specified Employee” means a key employee (as defined in Section 416(i) of the Code without regard to paragraph 5 thereof) of the Company if any stock of the Company is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise.
1.14 “Termination for Cause” See Article 5.
1.15 “Termination of Employment” means termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for reasons other than death. Whether a Termination of Employment has occurred is determined in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A based on whether the facts and circumstances indicate that the Company and Executive reasonably anticipated that no further services would be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services the Executive would perform after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) would permanently decrease to no more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period (or the full period of services to the Company if the Executive has been providing services to the Company less than thirty-six (36) months).
Article 2
Lifetime Benefits
2.1 Normal Retirement Benefit. Upon Termination of Employment on or after Normal Retirement Age for reasons other than death, the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.1 in lieu of any other benefit under this Agreement.
2.1.1 Amount of Benefit. The annual benefit under this Section 2.1 is fifty three percent (53%) of Final Pay, as defined in Article 1.7, at the Normal Retirement Date.
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2.1.2 Payment of Benefit. The Company shall pay the annual benefit to the Executive in 12 equal monthly installments payable on the first day of each month commencing with the month following the Executive’s Normal Retirement Date. The annual benefit shall be paid to the Executive for 15 years.
2.2 Early Termination Benefit. Upon Early Termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.2 in lieu of any other benefit under this Agreement.
2.2.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.2 is the vested Accrual Balance determined as of the month preceding Termination of Employment. This benefit is determined by vesting the Executive in 6.67% of the Accrual Balance for the Plan Year in which the Executive attains age fifty (50), and an additional 6.67% of said amount for each succeeding year thereafter until the Executive becomes 100% vested in the Accrual Balance.
2.2.2 Payment of Benefit. The Company shall pay the benefit to the Executive by calculating a fixed annuity payable in 180 equal monthly installments, crediting interest on the unpaid balance at an annual rate equal to the Discount Rate, compounded monthly. The monthly installments shall be payable on the first day of each month commencing with the month following Termination of Employment.
2.3 Disability Benefit. If the Executive terminates employment due to Disability prior to Normal Retirement Age, the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.3 in lieu of any other benefit under this Agreement.
2.3.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.3 is one hundred percent (100%) of the Accrual Balance determined as of the end of the month preceding Termination of Employment.
2.3.2 Payment of Benefit. The Company shall pay the benefit to the Executive by calculating a fixed annuity payable in 180 equal monthly installments, crediting interest on the unpaid balance at an annual rate equal to the Discount Rate, compounded monthly. The monthly installments shall be payable on the first day of each month commencing with the month following Termination of Employment.
2.4 Change of Control Benefit. Upon a Change of Control, the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.4 in lieu of any other benefit under this Agreement.
2.4.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.4 is one hundred percent (100%) of the Accrual Balance determined as of the end of the month preceding Termination of Employment.
2.4.2 Payment of Benefit. The Company shall pay the benefit amount to the Executive in a lump sum within 60 days following Termination of Employment.
2.4.3 Excess Parachute Payment. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not pay any benefit under this Agreement to the extent the benefit would create an excise tax under the excess parachute rules of Section 280G of the Code.
2.5 Restriction on Timing of Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is considered a Specified Employee at Termination of Employment under such procedures as established by the Company in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, benefit distributions that are made upon Termination of Employment may not commence earlier than six (6) months after the date of such Termination of Employment. Therefore, in the event this Section 2.5 is applicable to the Executive, any distribution which would otherwise be paid to the Executive within the first six months following the Termination of Employment shall be accumulated and paid to the Executive in a lump sum on the first day of
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the seventh month following the Termination of Employment. All subsequent distributions shall be paid in the manner specified.
2.6 Distributions Upon Income Inclusion Under Section 409A of the Code. Upon the inclusion of any amount into the Executive’s income as a result of the failure of this non-qualified deferred compensation plan to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent such tax liability can be covered by the Accrual Balance, a distribution shall be made as soon as is administratively practicable following the discovery of the plan failure.
2.7 Change in Form or Timing of Distributions. All changes in the form or timing of distributions hereunder must comply with the following requirements. The changes:
| (a) | may not accelerate the time or schedule of any distribution, except as provided in Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder; |
| (b) | must, for benefits distributable under Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4, delay the commencement of distributions for a minimum of five (5) years from the date the first distribution was originally scheduled to be made; and |
| (c) | must take effect not less than twelve (12) months after the election is made. |
Article 3
Death Benefits
3.1 Death During Active Service. If the Executive dies while in the active service of the Company, the Company shall pay to the Executive’s beneficiary the benefit described in this Section 3.1. This benefit shall be paid in lieu of the benefits under Article 2.
3.1.1 Amount of Benefit. The annual benefit under this Section 3.1 is the same amount that would have been paid under Section 2.1.
3.1.2 Payment of Benefit. The Company shall pay the annual benefit to the Executive’s beneficiary in 12 equal monthly installments payable on the first day of each month commencing with the month following the Executive’s death. The annual benefit shall be paid to the Executive’s beneficiary for 15 years.
3.2 Death During Payment of a Lifetime Benefit. If the Executive dies after any Lifetime Benefit payments have commenced under this Agreement but before receiving all such payments, the Company shall pay the remaining benefits to the Executive’s beneficiary at the same time and in the same amounts they would have been paid to the Executive had the Executive survived.
3.3 Death After Termination of Employment But Before Payment of a Lifetime Benefit Commences. If the Executive is entitled to a Lifetime Benefit under this Agreement, but dies prior to the commencement of said benefit payments, the Company shall pay the same benefit payments to the Executive’s beneficiary that the Executive was entitled to prior to death except that the benefit payments shall commence on the first day of the month following the date of the Executive’s death.
Article 4
Beneficiaries
4.1 Beneficiary Designations. The Executive shall designate a beneficiary by filing a written
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designation with the Company. The Executive may revoke or modify the designation at any time by filing a new designation. However, designations will only be effective if signed by the Executive and accepted by the Company during the Executive’s lifetime. The Executive’s beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the beneficiary predeceases the Executive, or if the Executive names a spouse as beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. If the Executive dies without a valid beneficiary designation, all payments shall be made to the Executive’s estate.
4.2 Facility of Payment. If a benefit is payable to a minor, to a person declared incapacitated, or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of his or her property, the Company may pay such benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care or custody of such minor, incapacitated person or incapable person. The Company may require proof of incapacity, minority or guardianship as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the benefit. Such distribution shall completely discharge the Company from all liability with respect to such benefit.
Article 5
General Limitations
5.1 Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not pay any benefit under this Agreement if the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for:
(a) Gross negligence or gross neglect of duties;
(b) Commission of a felony or of a gross misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or
(c) Fraud, disloyalty, dishonesty or willful violation of any law or significant Company policy committed in connection with the Executive’s employment and resulting in an adverse effect on the Company.
5.2 Suicide or Misstatement. The Company shall not pay any benefit under this Agreement if the Executive commits suicide within two years after the date of this Agreement, or if the Executive has made any material misstatement of fact on any application for life insurance purchased by the Company.
Article 6
Claims and Review Procedures
| 6.1 | Claims Procedure. An Executive or Beneficiary (“claimant”) who has not received benefits under this Agreement that he or she believes should be distributed shall make a claim for such benefits as follows: |
| 6.1.1 | Initiation – Written Claim. The claimant initiates a claim by submitting to the Plan Administrator a written claim for the benefits. If such a claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be made within sixty (60) days after such notice was received by the claimant. All other claims must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date on which the event that caused the claim to arise occurred. The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the claimant. |
| 6.1.2 | Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator |
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| can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety (90) day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision. |
| 6.1.3 | Notice of Decision. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth: |
| (a) | The specific reasons for the denial; |
| (b) | A reference to the specific provisions of this Agreement on which the denial is based; |
| (c) | A description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed; |
| (d) | An explanation of this Agreement’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures; and |
| (e) | A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review. |
| 6.2 | Review Procedure. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Plan Administrator of the denial as follows: |
| 6.2.1 | Initiation – Written Request. To initiate the review, the claimant, within sixty (60) days after receiving the Plan Administrator’s notice of denial, must file with the Plan Administrator a written request for review. |
| 6.2.2 | Additional Submissions – Information Access. The claimant shall then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The Plan Administrator shall also provide the claimant, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits. |
| 6.2.3 | Considerations on Review. In considering the review, the Plan Administrator shall take into account all materials and information the claimant submits relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. |
| 6.2.4 | Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60) day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision. |
| 6.2.5 | Notice of Decision. The Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth: |
| (a) | The specific reasons for the denial; |
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| (b) | A reference to the specific provisions of this Agreement on which the denial is based; |
| (c) | A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits; and |
| (d) | A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a). |
Article 7
Amendments and Termination
| 7.1 | Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by a written agreement signed by the Company and the Executive. However, the Company may unilaterally amend this Agreement to conform with written directives to the Company from its auditors or Companying regulators or to comply with legislative changes or tax law, including without limitation Section 409A of the Code and any and all Treasury regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder. |
| 7.2 | Plan Termination Generally. The Company and Executive may terminate this Agreement at any time. The benefit hereunder shall be the Accrual Balance as of the date the Agreement is terminated. However, if the Company’s Board of Directors determines in good faith that the Executive is no longer a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees, as that phrase applies to ERISA, for reasons other than death, Disability or retirement, the Company may terminate this Agreement. Upon such termination, the Executive shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested in the Accrual Balance. Except as provided in Section 7.3, the termination of this Agreement shall not cause a distribution of benefits under this Agreement. Rather, after such termination benefit distributions will be made at the earliest distribution event permitted under Article 2 or Article 3. |
| 7.3 | Plan Terminations Under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 7.2, if this Agreement terminates in the following circumstances: |
| (a) | Within thirty (30) days before, or twelve (12) months after a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company as described in Section 409A(2)(A)(v) of the Code, provided that all distributions are made no later than twelve (12) months following such termination of the Agreement and further provided that all the Company’s arrangements which are substantially similar to the Agreement are terminated so the Executive and all participants in the similar arrangements are required to receive all amounts of compensation deferred under the terminated arrangements within twelve (12) months of the termination of the arrangements; |
| (b) | Upon the Company’s dissolution or with the approval of a bankruptcy court provided that the amounts deferred under the Agreement are included in the Executive’s gross income in the latest of (i) the calendar year in which the Agreement terminates; (ii) the calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the first calendar year in which the distribution is administratively practical; or |
| (c) | Upon the Company’s termination of this and all other non-account balance plans (as referenced in Section 409A of the Code or the regulations thereunder), provided that all distributions are made no earlier than twelve (12) months and no later than twenty-four (24) months following such termination, and the Company does not adopt any new non-account balance plans for a minimum of five (5) years following the date of such termination; |
the Company may distribute the vested Accrual Balance, determined as of the date of the termination of the Agreement, to the Executive in a lump sum subject to the above terms.
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Article 8
Miscellaneous
8.1 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall bind the Executive and the Company, and their beneficiaries, survivors, executors, successors, administrators and transferees.
8.2 No Guarantee of Employment. This Agreement is not an employment policy or contract. It does not give the Executive the right to remain an employee of the Company, nor does it interfere with the Company’s right to discharge the Executive. It also does not require the Executive to remain an employee nor interfere with the Executive’s right to terminate employment at any time.
8.3 Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Agreement cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached or encumbered in any manner.
8.4 Reorganization. The Company shall not merge or consolidate into or with another company, or reorganize, or sell substantially all of its assets to another company, firm, or person unless such succeeding or continuing company, firm, or person agrees to assume and discharge the obligations of the Company under this Agreement. Upon the occurrence of such event, the term “Company” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the successor or survivor company.
8.5 Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold any taxes that are required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Agreement.
8.6 Applicable Law. The Agreement and all rights hereunder shall be governed by the laws of Ohio, except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America.
8.7 Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and beneficiary are general unsecured creditors of the Company for the payment of benefits under this Agreement. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Company to pay such benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors. Any insurance on the Executive’s life is a general asset of the Company to which the Executive and beneficiary have no preferred or secured claim.
8.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Company and the Executive as to the subject matter hereof. No rights are granted to the Executive by virtue of this Agreement other than those specifically set forth herein.
8.9 Administration. The Company shall have powers which are necessary to administer this Agreement, including but not limited to:
(a) Interpreting the provisions of the Agreement;
(b) Establishing and revising the method of accounting for the Agreement;
(c) Maintaining a record of benefit payments; and
(d) Establishing rules and prescribing any forms necessary or desirable to administer the Agreement.
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8.10 Named Fiduciary. The Company shall be the named fiduciary and plan administrator under this Agreement. It may delegate to others certain aspects of the management and operational responsibilities including the employment of advisors and the delegation of ministerial duties to qualified individuals.
8.11 Compliance with Section 409A. This Agreement shall at all times be administered and the provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any and all regulations thereunder, including such regulations as may be promulgated after the Effective Date of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have signed this Agreement.
| EXECUTIVE: | COMPANY: | |||||
| CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK | ||||||
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