SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT AGREEMENT
This Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into by and between the Bank of New Orleans (the Bank or Employer) and John LeBlanc (the Executive), effective as of March 1, 2007.
PREAMBLE
The purpose of this Agreement is to provide the Executive with supplemental retirement benefits in order to provide him with a reasonable level of retirement income which will assist him in maintaining an appropriate standard of living in retirement. An integral part of the Agreement is to encourage and induce the Executive to remain as a full-time executive officer of the Bank until he attains the retirement age of sixty-five (65) and to recognize his service to the Bank. The parties intend that this Agreement shall at all times be characterized as a top hat plan of deferred compensation maintained for the Executive who is a highly compensated employee, as described under Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the ERISA), and the Agreement shall at all times satisfy Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and as enacted under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The provisions of the Agreement shall be construed to effectuate such intentions. The Agreement shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank;
WHEREAS, the Executive has provided valuable service as an executive officer of the Bank for many years, and the Bank wishes to recognize such service and his continued service through his retirement at age sixty-five (65); and
WHEREAS, to induce the Executive to continue in the Banks employ to age sixty-five (65), the Bank proposes to supplement the benefits payable to the Executive under the Banks 401(k) retirement plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises of the parties hereto, the parties agree as follows:
1. Establishment of Accumulation Account. An Accumulation Account shall be maintained on the books of the Employer for the Executive with respect to this Agreement. The Accumulation Account shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the benefits, if any, payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.
2. Annual Credits to Accumulation Account. Each calendar year commencing January 1, 2007 and ending the following December 31st, the Board of Directors of the Bank shall credit the Executives Accumulation Account with an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the Executives Base Salary (which shall mean, for each calendar year, the base salary payable to the Executive by the Bank in such calendar year). The Accumulation Account shall be credited as of each December 31st. The Executive may not make any contributions under this Agreement.
3. Earnings on Accumulation Account. All amounts credited to the Accumulation Account shall be credited with earnings, as of the last day of each calendar year commencing December 31, 2008, at a rate to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Bank annually. The rate for the year ending December 31, 2008 shall be the average of the Employers average cost of funds and the average yield on the interest earning assets for such calendar year.
4. Normal Retirement Benefit. If the Executive remains in the employ of the Employer to age sixty-five (65) (the Normal Retirement Age), the Executive shall be one-hundred percent (100%) vested in his Accumulation Account. Upon a Separation from Service on or after reaching the Normal Retirement Age, the payments elected pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement shall commence on the first day of the month following the lapse of six months after such Separation from Service. For purposes hereof, Separation from Service shall mean a separation from service for reasons other than death or disability within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
5. Early Retirement Benefit.
(a) If the Executive remains in the employ of the Employer to age fifty-five (55) (the Early Retirement Age), the Executive shall be seventy-five percent (75%) vested in his Accumulation Account. Upon a Separation from Service on or after reaching Early Retirement Age, the payments elected pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement shall commence on the first day of the month following the lapse of six months after such Separation from Service.
(b) Upon a Separation from Service after attaining Early Retirement Age but prior to attaining the Normal Retirement Age, (i) the vested portion of the Executives Accumulation Account shall be seventy-five percent (75%) plus two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) for each full year after the Executive has attained the age of fifty-five (55); and (ii) the payments elected pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement shall commence on the first day of the month following the lapse of six months after such Separation from Service. For example, if the Executive has a Separation from Service at age fifty-eight (58), his vested benefit shall be 82.50% and he shall be entitled to 82.50% of his Accumulation Account, payable pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executives Accumulation Account shall become one-hundred percent (100%) vested in the amount accrued as of
2
the date of the Executives death, permanent disability (as defined in Section 8(a) of this Agreement), termination without Cause (as defined in Section 9(a) of this Agreement), or the termination of the Executives employment in anticipation of, concurrently with or following a Change in Control (as defined in Section 9(b) of this Agreement).
6. Forfeiture of Accumulation Account. If the Executive has a Separation from Service prior to attaining the age of fifty-five (55) or if the Executives employment with the Employer is terminated with Cause (as defined in Section 9(a) of this Agreement), the vested amount of his benefit will be zero percent (0%) and he will not be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement,
7. Distribution of Accumulation Account in the Event of Normal or Early Retirement.
(a) Initial Election. Payment of the Accumulation Account shall be a single lump sum payment or quarterly installment payments over a period not in excess of ten (10) years as elected by the Executive on an election form, which must specify the form (e.g., lump sum or installments) in which payments will be made. Such election form must be completed and submitted to the Committee (as defined in Section 10 of this Agreement) within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Agreement. In the event installment payments are elected, payment of the Accumulation Account shall include any earnings on the outstanding undistributed and unpaid balance of the Accumulation Account. A new quarterly installment payment shall be calculated for each successive calendar year based on the earnings on the Executives outstanding undistributed and unpaid balance of the Accumulation Account.
(b) Subsequent Election. Notwithstanding Section 7(a) of this Agreement or any other provision of this Agreement that may be construed to the contrary, the Executive may make one (1) or more additional payment elections (a Subsequent Election) to change the form of the payment (i.e., lump sum or installment); provided, however, any such Subsequent Election will be null and void unless accepted by the Committee no later than one (1) year prior to the date in which, but for the Subsequent Election, such payment would be made and such Subsequent Election provides for a deferral of at least five (5) years following the year in which the payment, but for the Subsequent Election, would be made. For purposes of this Agreement, all installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a single payment.
8. Disability or Death.
(a) In the event that the Executive becomes permanently disabled while in the employ of the Employer, the Executive will be entitled to receive one-hundred percent (100%) of his Accumulation Account. Payment of the Accumulation Account shall be made by lump sum on the first day of the first full quarter following the disability of the Executive. For purposes hereof, permanent disability shall mean the Executive (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
3
medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months; or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Bank. The determination of the Board of Directors of the Bank as to disability shall be binding on the Executive. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit or affect the Executives right to the continuation of his salary during any waiting period imposed by a disability plan.
(b) In the event that the Executive elects installment payments and commences to receive the Accumulation Account under this Agreement and dies prior to the receipt of the remaining installment payments, the remainder of the Accumulation Account shall be payable until the expiration of such term to the beneficiary(ies) designated by the Executive. In the event the Executive dies while employed by the Employer whether before or after age sixty-five (65), the Executives beneficiary will be entitled to receive one-hundred percent (100%) of his Accumulation Account. The beneficiary(ies) designated by the Executive shall receive the Accumulation Account payable by lump sum on the first day of the first full quarter following the Executives death.
9. Termination of Employment.
(a) In the event that the Executives employment with the Employer is terminated by the Employer without Cause (as defined herein), the Executive shall be entitled to receive one-hundred percent (100%) of his Accumulation Account payable in a lump sum on the first day of the month following the lapse of six months after a Separation from Service. For purposes of this Agreement, termination of the Executives employment for Cause shall mean termination because of personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order or material breach of any provision of this Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph, no act or failure to act on the Executives part shall be considered willful unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executives action or omission was in the best interest of the Bank.
(b) In the event that the Executives employment with the Employer is terminated, other than for Cause (as defined herein), in anticipation of, concurrently with or following a Change in Control of the Employer, the Executive shall receive one-hundred percent (100%) of his Accumulation Account in a lump sum on the first day of the first full quarter following the termination of employment. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall mean a change in the ownership of the Bank, a change in the effective control of the Bank or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Bank, in each case as provided under Section 409A of the
4
Code and the regulations thereunder; provided, however, a conversion of the Bank from mutual to stock form of organization shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control.
10. Designation of Beneficiary. The Executive may from time to time, by providing a written notification to the Employer, designate any person or persons (who may be designated concurrently, contingently or successively), his estate or any trust or trusts created by him to receive benefits which are payable under this Agreement. Each beneficiary designation shall revoke all prior designations and will be effective only when filed in writing with the Employers Compensation Committee, or any successor thereto (the Committee). If the Executive fails to designate a beneficiary or if a beneficiary dies before the date of the Executives death and no contingent beneficiary has been designated, then the benefits which are payable as aforesaid shall be paid to his estate. If benefits to be paid to a beneficiary commence and such beneficiary dies before all benefits to which such beneficiary is entitled have been paid, the remaining benefits shall be paid to the successive beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Executive, if any, and if none to the estate of such beneficiary.
11. Claims Procedure. The Executive or his designated beneficiary or beneficiaries may make a claim for benefits under this Agreement by filing a written request with the Committee. If a claim is wholly or partially denied, the Committee shall furnish the claimant with written notice setting forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant;
(a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial;
(b) specific reference to the pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which the denial is based;
(c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect his claim and an explanation why such material or information is necessary; and
(d) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the claimant wishes to submit his claim for review.
Such notice shall be furnished to the claimant within ninety (90) days after the receipt of his claim, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing his claim. If an extension of time for processing is required, the Committee shall, prior to the termination of the initial ninety (90) day period, furnish the claimant with written notice indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which the Committee expects to render its decision. In no event shall an extension exceed a period of ninety (90) days from the end of the initial ninety (90) day period.
A claimant may request the Committee to review a denied claim. Such request shall be in writing and must be delivered to the Committee within sixty (60) days after
5
receipt by the claimant of written notification of denial of claim. A claimant or his duly authorized representative may:
(a) review pertinent documents, and
(b) submit issues and comments in writing.
The Committee shall notify the claimant of its decision on review not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of a request for review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of a request for review. If an extension of time for review is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension must be furnished to the claimant prior to the commencement of the extension. The Committees decision on the review shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision, as well as specific references to the pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which the decision is based.
12. Statement of Accumulation Account. Within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, the Committee shall submit to the Executive a statement in such form as the Committee deems desirable setting forth the balance as of the last day of the calendar year in the Accumulation Account maintained for the Executive.
13. Withholding. To the extent required by the law in effect at the time payment of the Accumulation Account is made, the Bank shall withhold from such payment any taxes or other amounts required by law to be withheld.
14. Unsecured Promise. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall create or require the Employer to create a trust of any kind to fund the benefits payable hereunder. To the extent that the Executive or any other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Employer, such individual shall at all times remain an unsecured general creditor of the Employer.
15. Assignment. The right of the Executive or any other person to the payment of benefits under this Agreement shall not be subject to alienation, assignment, garnishment, attachment, execution or levy of any kind, and any attempt to cause such benefits to be so subjected shall not be recognized by the Employer.
16. Employment. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to grant the Executive the right to be retained in the employ of the Employer or any other rights or interests other than those specifically set forth.
17. Amendment, Suspension or Termination. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Employer and the Executive. Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Bank may amend in good faith any terms of the Agreement, including retroactively, in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Prior to the commencement of payment
6
of benefits to the Executive or his beneficiary, the Employer, upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Executive, shall have the right to suspend, terminate or amend this Agreement; provided, however, no such suspension, termination or amendment shall adversely affect the rights of the Executive or any beneficiary to the funds and benefits which have accrued as of the date of such action.
18. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Employer, its successors and assigns and the Executive and his heirs, executors, administrators, and legal representatives.
19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first above written.
BANK OF NEW ORLEANS | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Gordon K. Konrad | |||||||
Gordon K. Konrad | ||||||||
Chairman of the Compensation Committee | ||||||||
On behalf of the Board of Directors | ||||||||
By: | /s/ John LeBlanc | |||||||
John LeBlanc |
7