DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

THIS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN (this “Plan”), adopted this 19th day of December, 2012, by Park Sterling Bank located in Charlotte, North Carolina (hereinafter referred to as the “Bank”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Bank recognizes the valuable services the Participants have performed for the Bank and wishes to encourage the Participants’ continued service and to provide the Participants with additional incentive to achieve corporate objectives;

 

WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Bank shall pay additional retirement benefits to the Participants;

 

WHEREAS, the Bank and the Participants intend this Plan shall at all times be administered and interpreted in compliance with Code Section 409A; and

 

WHEREAS, the Bank intends this Plan shall at all times be administered and interpreted in such a manner as to constitute an unfunded nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement, maintained primarily to provide supplemental retirement benefits for the Participants, members of select group of management or highly compensated employee of the Bank;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises forgoing the Bank hereby creates the following:

 

 

For the purpose of this Plan, the following phrases or terms shall have the indicated meanings:

 

1.1           “Administrator” means the Board or its designee.

 

1.2           “Affiliate” means any business entity with whom the Bank would be considered a single employer under Section 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code.  Such term shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the definition of “service recipient” contained in Code Section 409A.

 

1.3           “Base Salary” means the cash compensation relating to services performed during any calendar year, excluding bonuses, commissions, distributions from nonqualified deferred compensation plans, fringe benefits, incentive payments, non-monetary awards, overtime, relocation expenses, stock options and other fees, and automobile and other allowances paid to the Participant for services rendered (whether or not such allowances are included in the Participant’s gross income).  Base Salary shall be calculated before reduction for amounts voluntarily deferred or contributed by the Participant pursuant to qualified or non-qualified plans and shall be calculated to include amounts not otherwise included in the Participant’s  gross income under Code Sections 125, 402(e)(3), 402(h), or 403(b) pursuant to plans established by the Bank; provided, however, that all such amounts will be included in compensation only to the extent that had there been no such plan, the amount would have been payable in cash to the Participant.

 

1.4           “Beneficiary” means the person or persons designated in writing by the Participant to receive benefits hereunder in the event of the Participant’s death.

 

 

1.5           “Beneficiary Designation Form” means the form established from time to time by the Administrator that the Participant completes signs and returns to the Administrator to designate one or more Beneficiaries.

 

1.6           “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Bank.

 

1.7           “Bonus” means the cash bonus, if any, awarded to the Participant for services performed for the Bank during the Plan Year.

 

1.8           “Cause” means any of the following acts or circumstances: gross negligence or gross neglect of duties to the Bank; conviction of a felony or of a gross misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in connection with the Participant’s employment with the Bank; or fraud, disloyalty, dishonesty or willful violation of any law or significant Bank policy committed in connection with the Participant’s employment and resulting in a material adverse effect on the Bank.

 

1.9           “Change in Control” means a change in the ownership or effective control of the Bank, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Bank, as such change is defined in Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder.

 

1.10          “Contribution” means the amount the Bank contributes to the Deferral Account, calculated according to the provisions of Article 2.

 

1.11          “Crediting Rate” means the Wall Street Journal prime rate as of the first day of each calendar quarter, provided however that at no point shall the Crediting Rate be less than fifty (50) basis points.

 

1.12          “Claimant” means a person who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit to which he or she is entitled hereunder.

 

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

 

1.14          “Deferral Account” means the Bank’s accounting of the accumulated Deferrals and Contributions plus accrued interest.

 

1.15          “Deferral Election Form” means each form established from time to time by the Administrator that the Participant completes, signs and returns to the Administrator to designate the amount of Deferrals.

 

1.16          “Deferrals” means the amount of Base Salary, Bonus and/or Fees the Participant elects to defer according to this Plan.

 

1.17          “Disability” means a condition of the Participant whereby the Participant either: (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 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 Administrator will determine whether the Participant has incurred a Disability based on its own good faith determination and may require the Participant to submit to reasonable physical and mental examinations for this purpose.  The Participant will also be deemed to have incurred a Disability if determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or in accordance with a disability insurance program, provided that the definition of disability applied under such disability insurance program complies with the initial sentence of this Section.

 

 

1.18           “Distribution Date” means the date, if any, selected by the Participant on the Deferral Election Form to receive an In Service Distribution.

 

1.19           “Early Termination” means Separation from Service before Normal Retirement Age except when such Separation from Service occurs following a Change in Control or due to termination for Cause.

 

1.20           “Effective Date” means January 1, 2013.

 

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

 

1.22           “Fees” means the total amount of fees payable to a member of the Board.

 

1.23           “In Service Distribution” means a distribution from the Deferral Account made at the election of the Participant and prior to Separation from Service, Disability, Change in Control and the Participant’s death.  The election to receive an In Service Distribution shall be made by the Participant on a Deferral Election Form.

 

1.24           “Normal Retirement Age” means the Participant attaining age sixty-five (65).

 

1.25           “Participant” means an employee or director of the Bank (i) who is selected to participate in the Plan, (ii) who elects to participate in the Plan, (iii) who signs a Participation Agreement, (iv) whose Participation Agreement, Beneficiary Designation Form and Deferral Election Form are accepted by the Administrator, (v) who commences participation in the Plan, and (vi) whose participation has not terminated.

 

1.26           “Participation Agreement” means the form established by the Administrator that the Participant completes, signs and returns to the Administrator to acknowledge participation in the Plan.

 

1.27           “Plan Year” means each twelve (12) month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year.  The initial Plan Year shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the following December 31.

 

1.28           “Separation from Service” means, with respect to any Participant, a termination of the Participant’s service with the Bank and its Affiliates for reasons other than death or Disability.  A Separation from Service may occur as of a specified date for purposes of the Plan even if the Participant continues to provide some services for the Bank or its Affiliates after that date, provided that the facts and circumstances indicate that the Bank and the Participant reasonably anticipated at that date that either no further services would be performed after that date, or that the level of bona fide services the Participant 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 over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period (or the full period during which the Participant performed services for the Bank, if that is less than thirty-six (36) months).  A Separation from Service will not be deemed to have occurred while the Participant is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed six (6) months or, if longer, the period for which a statute or contract provides the Participant with the right to reemployment with the Bank.  If the Participant’s leave exceeds six (6) months but the Participant is not entitled to reemployment under a statute or contract, the Participant incurs a Separation of Service on the next day following the expiration of such six (6) month period.  In determining whether a Separation of Service occurs the Administrator shall take into account, among other things, the definition of “service recipient” and “employer” set forth in Treasury regulation §1.409A-1(h)(3).  The Administrator shall have full and final authority, to determine conclusively whether a Separation from Service occurs, and the date of such Separation from Service.

 

1.29           “Specified Employee” means an individual that satisfies the definition of a “key employee” of the Bank as such term is defined in Code §416(i) (without regard to Code §416(i)(5)), provided that the stock of the Bank is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, as defined in Code §1.897-1(m).  If a Participant is a key employee at any time during the twelve (12) months ending on December 31, the Participant is a Specified Employee for the twelve (12) month period commencing on the first day of the following April.

 

 

1.30           “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship to a Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Beneficiary, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code), loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

 

2.1           Selection by Administrator.  Participation in the Plan shall be limited to those employees and directors of the Bank selected by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, to participate in the Plan.  Participation in the Plan shall be limited to a select group of management or highly compensated individuals employed by or providing services to the Bank.

 

 

 

2.4          Termination of Participation.  If the Administrator determines that a Participant no longer qualifies as a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees as such group is determined according to ERISA, the Administrator shall have the right to prevent the Participant from accruing additional benefits hereunder.

 

 

3.1           Elections Generally.  Each Participant may annually file a Deferral Election Form with the Administrator no later than the end of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year in which services leading to the compensation to be deferred will be performed.

 

3.2           Initial Election.  After being notified by the Administrator of becoming eligible to participate in this Plan, each Participant may make an initial deferral election by delivering to the Administrator a signed Deferral Election Form within thirty (30) days of becoming eligible.  The Deferral Election Form shall set forth the amount of Base Salary, Bonus and/or Fees to be deferred.  However, if the Participant was eligible to participate in any other account balance plans (as referenced in Code Section 409A) sponsored by the Bank prior to becoming eligible to participate in this Plan, the initial election to defer under this Plan shall not be effective until the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the Participant became eligible to participate in this Plan.

 

3.3           Election Changes.  The Participant may modify the amount of Deferrals annually by filing a new Deferral Election Form with the Bank.  The modified deferral shall not be effective until the calendar year following the year in which the subsequent Deferral Election Form is received by the Bank.  Any changes to an In Service Distribution election must comply with the restrictions described in Section 5.16.

 

 

3.4           Hardship.  If an Unforeseeable Emergency occurs, a Participant, by written instructions to the Bank, may discontinue deferrals hereunder.  Any subsequent Deferral Elections may be made only in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof.

 

3.5           Bank Contributions.  In addition to any Deferrals, the Bank may, at any time, make a Contribution to the Deferral Account.  Such Contributions, at the election of the Bank, be subject a vesting schedule or such other provisions as the Bank may provide.

 

 

4.1           Establishing and Crediting.  The Bank shall establish a Deferral Account on its books for the Participant and shall credit to the Deferral Account the following amounts:

 

 

4.2           Recordkeeping Device Only.  The Deferral Account is solely a device for measuring amounts to be paid under this Plan and is not a trust fund of any kind.

 

 

5.1           In Service Distributions.  If the Participant has properly elected an In Service Distribution on the Deferral Election Form, and the Distribution Date occurs prior to Separation from Service, Disability, Change in Control and the Participant’s  death, the Bank shall pay the Participant the In Service Distribution Amount on the Distribution Date.  Any In Service Distribution will reduce the Deferral Account balance.

 

5.2           Normal Retirement Benefit.  Upon Separation from Service on or after Normal Retirement Age, the Bank shall pay the Participant the Deferral Account balance calculated at Separation from Service.  This benefit shall be paid as elected by the Participant on the Participant’s Participation Agreement.

 

5.3           Early Termination Benefit.  If Early Termination occurs, the Bank shall pay the Participant the Deferral Account balance calculated at Separation from Service in lieu of any other benefit hereunder.  This benefit shall be paid as elected by the Participant on the Participant’s Participation Agreement.

 

5.4           Disability Benefit.  If the Participant experiences a Disability prior to Normal Retirement Age, the Bank shall pay the Participant the Deferral Account balance calculated as of the date of Disability in lieu of any other benefit hereunder.  This benefit shall be paid as elected by the Participant on the Participant’s Participation Agreement.

 

5.5           Change in Control Benefit.  If a Change in Control occurs, the Bank shall pay the Participant the Deferral Account balance calculated as of the date of Change in Control in lieu of any other benefit hereunder. This benefit shall be paid as elected by the Participant on the Participant’s Participation Agreement.

 

 

5.6           Death Prior to Commencement of Benefit Payments.  In the event the Participant dies prior to Separation from Service, Disability and Change in Control, the Bank shall pay the Beneficiary the Deferral Account balance calculated as of the date of the date of the Participant’s  death.  This benefit will be paid in a lump sum within sixty (60) days following the Participant’s  death, with the actual date of payment determined by the Bank in its sole discretion.

 

5.7           Death Subsequent to Commencement of Benefit Payments.  In the event the Participant dies while receiving payments, but prior to receiving all payments due and owing hereunder, the Bank shall pay the Beneficiary the remaining Deferral Account balance in a lump sum within sixty (60) days following the Participant’s  death, with the actual date of payment determined by the Bank in its sole discretion.

 

5.8           Hardship Distribution.  If an Unforeseeable Emergency occurs, the Participant may petition the Board to receive a distribution from the Plan (a “Hardship Distribution”).  The Board in its sole discretion may grant such petition.  If granted, the Participant shall receive, within sixty (60) days, a distribution from the Plan only to the extent deemed necessary by the Board to remedy the Unforeseeable Emergency, plus an amount necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.  In any event, the maximum amount which may be paid out as a Hardship Distribution is the Deferral Account balance as of the day the Participant petitioned the Board to receive a Hardship Distribution.  A Hardship Distribution shall reduce the Deferral Account balance.

 

5.9           Termination for Cause.  If the Bank terminates a Participant’s service for Cause, then the Participant shall forfeit all amounts credited to the Deferral Account except the Deferrals.

 

5.10           Restriction on Commencement of Distributions.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if the Participant is considered a Specified Employee at the time of Separation from Service, the provisions of this Section shall govern all distributions hereunder.  Distributions which would otherwise be made to the Participant due to Separation from Service shall not be made during the first six (6) months following Separation from Service.  Rather, any distribution which would otherwise be paid to the Participant during such period shall be accumulated and paid to the Participant in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following Separation from Service, or if earlier, upon the Participant’s death.  All subsequent distributions shall be paid as they would have had this Section not applied.

 

5.11           Acceleration of Payments.  Except as specifically permitted herein, no acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment may be made hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments may be accelerated, in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(j)(4) in the following circumstances: (i) as a result of certain domestic relations orders; (ii) in compliance with ethics agreements with the federal government; (iii) in compliance with the ethics laws or conflicts of interest laws; (iv) in limited cash outs (but not in excess of the limit under Code §402(g)(1)(B)); (v) to pay employment-related taxes; or (vi) to pay any taxes that may become due at any time that the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

5.12           Delays in Payment by Bank.  A payment may be delayed to a date after the designated payment date under any of the circumstances described below, and the provision will not fail to meet the requirements of establishing a permissible payment event.  The delay in the payment will not constitute a subsequent deferral election, so long as the Bank treats all payments to similarly situated Participants on a reasonably consistent basis.

 

(a)           Payments subject to Code Section 162(m).  If the Bank reasonably anticipates that the Bank’s deduction with respect to any distribution under this Plan would be limited or eliminated by application of Code Section 162(m), then to the extent deemed necessary by the Bank to ensure that the entire amount of any distribution from this Plan is deductible, the Bank may delay payment of any amount that would otherwise be distributed under this Plan.  The delayed amounts shall be distributed to the Participant (or the Beneficiary in the event of the Participant’s death) at the earliest date the Bank reasonably anticipates that the deduction of the payment of the amount will not be limited or eliminated by application of Code Section 162(m).

 

 

(b)           Payments that would violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law.  A payment may be delayed where the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law provided that the payment is made at the earliest date at which the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such violation.  The making of a payment that would cause inclusion in gross income or the application of any penalty provision of the Internal Revenue Code is not treated as a violation of law.

(c)           Solvency.  Notwithstanding the above, a payment may be delayed where the payment would jeopardize the ability of the Bank to continue as a going concern.

 

5.13           Treatment of Payment as Made on Designated Payment Date.  Solely for purposes of determining compliance with Code Section 409A, any payment under this Plan made after the required payment date shall be deemed made on the required payment date provided that such payment is made by the latest of: (i) the end of the calendar year in which the payment is due; (ii) the 15th day of the third calendar month following the payment due date; (iii) if Bank cannot calculate the payment amount on account of administrative impracticality which is beyond the Participant’s  control, the end of the first calendar year which payment calculation is practicable; and (iv) if Bank does not have sufficient funds to make the payment without jeopardizing the Bank’s solvency, in the first calendar year in which the Bank’s funds are sufficient to make the payment.

 

5.14           Facility of Payment.  If a distribution is to be made to a minor, or to a person who is otherwise incompetent, then the Administrator may make such distribution: (i) to the legal guardian, or if none, to a parent of a minor payee with whom the payee maintains his or her residence; or (ii) to the conservator or administrator or, if none, to the person having custody of an incompetent payee.  Any such distribution shall fully discharge the Bank and the Administrator from further liability on account thereof.

 

5.15           Excise Tax Limitation.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if any benefit payment hereunder would be treated as an “excess parachute payment” under Code Section 280G, the Bank shall reduce such benefit payment to the extent necessary to avoid treating such benefit payment as an excess parachute payment.  The Participant shall be entitled to only the reduced benefit and shall forfeit any amount over and above the reduced amount.

 

5.16           Changes in Form of Timing of Benefit Payments.  The Bank and the Participant may, subject to the terms hereof, amend this Plan to delay the timing or change the form of payments.  Any such amendment:

 

(a)           must take effect not less than twelve (12) months after the amendment is made;

(b)           must, for benefits distributable due solely to the arrival of a specified date, or on account of Separation from Service or Change in Control, delay the commencement of distributions for a minimum of five (5) years from the date the first distribution was originally scheduled to be made;

(c)           must, for benefits distributable due solely to the arrival of a specified date, be made not less than twelve (12) months before distribution is scheduled to begin; and

(d)           may not accelerate the time or schedule of any distribution.

 

 

6.1           Designation of Beneficiaries.  The Participant may designate any person to receive any benefits payable under the Plan upon the Participant’s death, and the designation may be changed from time to time by the Participant by filing a new designation.  Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the Participant, shall be in the form prescribed by the Administrator and shall be effective only when filed in writing with the Administrator during the Participant’s  lifetime.  If the Participant names someone other than the Participant’s spouse as a Beneficiary, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, determine that spousal consent is required to be provided in a form designated by the Administrator, executed by the Participant’s spouse and returned to the Administrator.  The Participant’s beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the Beneficiary predeceases the Participant or if the Participant names a spouse as Beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved.

 

 

6.2           Absence of Beneficiary Designation.  In the absence of a valid Beneficiary designation, or if, at the time any benefit payment is due to a Beneficiary, there is no living Beneficiary validly named by the Participant, the Bank shall pay the benefit payment to the Participant’s spouse.  If the spouse is not living then the Bank shall pay the benefit payment to the Participant’s living descendants per stirpes, and if there no living descendants, to the Participant’s  estate.  In determining the existence or identity of anyone entitled to a benefit payment, the Bank may rely conclusively upon information supplied by the Participant’s personal representative, executor, or administrator.

 

 

7.1           Administrator Duties.  The Administrator shall be responsible for the management, operation, and administration of the Plan.  When making a determination or calculation, the Administrator shall be entitled to rely on information furnished by the Bank, Participant or Beneficiary.  No provision of this Plan shall be construed as imposing on the Administrator any fiduciary duty under ERISA or other law, or any duty similar to any fiduciary duty under ERISA or other law.

 

7.2           Administrator Authority.  The Administrator shall enforce this Plan in accordance with its terms, shall be charged with the general administration of this Plan, and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish its purposes.

 

7.3           Binding Effect of Decision.  The decision or action of the Administrator with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation or application of this Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in this Plan.

 

7.4           Compensation, Expenses and Indemnity.  The Administrator shall serve without compensation for services rendered hereunder.  The Administrator is authorized at the expense of the Bank to employ such legal counsel and recordkeeper as it may deem advisable to assist in the performance of its duties hereunder.  Expense and fees in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be paid by the Bank.

 

7.5           Bank Information.  The Bank shall supply full and timely information to the Administrator on all matters relating to the Participant’s  compensation, death, Disability or Separation from Service, and such other information as the Administrator reasonably requires.

 

7.6           Termination of Participation.  If the Administrator determines in good faith that the Participant no longer qualifies as a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees, as determined in accordance with ERISA, the Administrator shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to prohibit the Participant from making any additional Deferrals hereunder.

 

7.7           Compliance with Code Section 409A.  The Bank and the Participants intend that the Plan comply with the provisions of Code Section 409A to prevent the inclusion in gross income of any amounts deferred hereunder in a taxable year prior to the year in which amounts are actually paid to the Participant or Beneficiary.  This Plan shall be construed, administered and governed in a manner that affects such intent, and the Administrator shall not take any action that would be inconsistent therewith.

 

 

 

8.1           Claims Procedure.  A Claimant who has not received benefits under this Plan that he or she believes should be distributed shall make a claim for such benefits as follows.

 

 

(b)           Timing of Administrator Response.  The Administrator shall respond to such Claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim.  If the Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Administrator 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 Administrator expects to render its decision.

(c)           Notice of Decision.  If the Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Administrator shall notify the Claimant in writing of such denial.  The Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant.  The notification shall set forth:  (i) the specific reasons for the denial; (ii) a reference to the specific provisions of this Plan on which the denial is based; (iii) a description of any additional information or material necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed; (iv) an explanation of this Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures; and (v) a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review.

 

8.2           Review Procedure.  If the Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Administrator of the denial as follows.

 

(a)           Initiation – Written Request.  To initiate the review, the Claimant, within sixty (60) days after receiving the Administrator’s notice of denial, must file with the Administrator a written request for review.

(b)           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 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.

(c)           Considerations on Review.  In considering the review, the 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.

(d)           Timing of Administrator Response.  The Administrator shall respond in writing to such Claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review.  If the Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the 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 Administrator expects to render its decision.

(e)           Notice of Decision.  The Administrator shall notify the Claimant in writing of its decision on review.  The 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 Plan 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).

 

 

 

9.1           Plan Amendment Generally.  This Plan may be amended only by a written agreement signed by the Bank, provided that such amendment does not reduce or eliminate any vested benefit hereunder.

 

9.2           Amendment to Insure Proper Characterization of Plan.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Plan may be amended by the Bank at any time, if found necessary in the opinion of the Bank, i) to ensure that the Plan is characterized as plan of deferred compensation maintained for a select group of management or highly compensated employees as described under ERISA, ii) to conform the Plan to the requirements of any applicable law or iii) to comply with the written instructions of the Bank’s auditors or banking regulators.

 

9.3           Plan Termination Generally.  This Plan may be terminated only by a written document signed by the Bank.  In case of such termination, the benefit to be paid to each Participant hereunder shall be the Participant’s Deferral Account balance.  However, except as provided in Section 9.4, Plan termination shall not cause a distribution of benefits hereunder.  Rather, upon termination benefit distributions will be made at the earliest distribution event permitted under Article 4.

 

9.4           Effect of Complete Termination.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.3, and subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A and Treasury Regulations §1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix), at certain times the Bank may completely terminate and liquidate the Plan.  In the event of such a complete termination, the Bank shall pay the Deferral Account balance to the Participant.  Such complete termination of the Plan shall occur only under the following circumstances and conditions.

 

(a)           Corporate Dissolution or Bankruptcy.  The Bank may terminate and liquidate this Plan within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §503(b)(1)(A), provided that all benefits paid under the Plan are included in the Participant’s  gross income in the latest of: (i) the calendar year which the termination occurs; (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 payment is administratively practicable.

(b)           Discretionary Termination.  The Bank may terminate and liquidate this Plan provided that: (i) the termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Bank; (ii) all arrangements sponsored by the Bank and Affiliates that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangements under Treasury Regulations §1.409A-1(c) are terminated; (iii) no payments, other than payments that would be payable under the terms of this Plan if the termination had not occurred, are made within twelve (12) months of the date the Bank takes the irrevocable action to terminate this Plan; (iv) all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months following the date the Bank takes the irrevocable action to terminate and liquidate this Plan; and (v) neither the Bank nor any of its Affiliates adopt a new arrangement that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangement under Treasury Regulations §1.409A-1(c) if the Participant participated in both arrangements, at any time within three (3) years following the date the Bank takes the irrevocable action to terminate this Plan.

 

 

 

10.1           No Effect on Other Rights.  This Plan, and each Participant’s Participation Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the Bank and the Participant as to the subject matter hereof.  No rights are granted to the Participants by virtue of this Plan other than those specifically set forth herein.  Nothing contained herein will confer upon any Participant the right to be retained in the service of the Bank nor limit the right of the Bank to discharge or otherwise deal with the Participant without regard to the existence hereof.

 

10.2           State Law.  To the extent not governed by ERISA, the provisions of this Plan shall be construed and interpreted according to the internal law of the State of North Carolina without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

 

10.3           Validity.  In case any provision of this Plan shall be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been inserted herein.

 

10.4           Nonassignability.  Benefits under this Plan cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached or encumbered in any manner.

 

10.5           Unsecured General Creditor Status.  Payment to the Participant or any Beneficiary hereunder shall be made from assets which shall continue, for all purposes, to be part of the general, unrestricted assets of the Bank and no person shall have any interest in any such asset by virtue of any provision of this Plan.  The Bank’s obligation hereunder shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.  In the event that the Bank purchases an insurance policy insuring the life of the Participant to recover the cost of providing benefits hereunder, neither the Participant nor the Beneficiary shall have any rights whatsoever in said policy or the proceeds therefrom.

 

10.6           Unclaimed Benefits.  The Participant shall keep the Bank informed of the Participant’s current address and the current address of the Beneficiary.  If the location of the Participant is not made known to the Bank within three years after the date upon which any payment of any benefits may first be made, the Bank shall delay payment of the Participant’s benefit payment(s) until the location of the Participant is made known to the Bank; however, the Bank shall only be obligated to hold such benefit payment(s) for the Participant until the expiration of three (3) years.  Upon expiration of the three (3) year period, the Bank may discharge its obligation by payment to the Beneficiary.  If the location of the Beneficiary is not made known to the Bank by the end of an additional two (2) month period following expiration of the three (3) year period, the Bank may discharge its obligation by payment to the Participant’s estate.  If there is no estate in existence at such time or if such fact cannot be determined by the Bank, the Participant and Beneficiary shall thereupon forfeit all rights to any benefits provided under this Plan.

 

10.7           Removal. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Bank shall not distribute any benefit under this Plan if the Participant is subject to a final removal or prohibition order issued pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.  Furthermore, any payments made to the Participant pursuant to this Plan shall, if required, comply with 12 U.S.C. 1828, FDIC Regulation 12 CFR Part 359 and any other regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

10.8           Notice.  Any notice, consent or demand required or permitted to be given to the Bank or Administrator under this Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered or sent by registered or certified mail to the Bank’s principal business office.  Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Participant or Beneficiary under this Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered or sent by mail to the last known address of the Participant or Beneficiary, as appropriate.  Any notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark or on the receipt for registration or certification.

 

 

10.9           Headings and Interpretation.  Headings and sub-headings in this Plan are inserted for reference and convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Plan.  Wherever the fulfillment of the intent and purpose of this Plan requires and the context will permit, the use of the masculine gender includes the feminine and use of the singular includes the plural.

 

10.10         Alternative Action.  In the event it becomes impossible for the Bank or the Administrator to perform any act required by this Plan due to regulatory or other constraints, the Bank or Administrator may perform such alternative act as most nearly carries out the intent and purpose of this Plan and is in the best interests of the Bank, provided that such alternative act does not violate Code Section 409A.

 

10.11         Coordination with Other Benefits.  The benefits provided for the Participant or the Beneficiary under this Plan are in addition to any other benefits available to the Participant under any other plan or program for employees of the Bank.  This Plan shall supplement and shall not supersede, modify, or amend any other such plan or program except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein.

 

10.12         Inurement.  This Plan shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Bank, its successor and assigns, and the Participant, the Participant’s successors, heirs, executors, administrators, and the Beneficiary.

 

10.13        Tax Withholding.  The Bank may make such provisions and take such action as it deems necessary or appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the Bank is required by any law or regulation to withhold in connection with any benefits under the Plan.  The Participant shall be responsible for the payment of all individual tax liabilities relating to any benefits paid hereunder.

 

10.14        Aggregation of Plan.  If the Bank offers other account balance deferred compensation arrangements in addition to this Plan, this Plan and those arrangements shall be treated as a single plan to the extent required under Code Section 409A.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, a representative of the Bank has executed this Plan as indicated below:

 

Bank: Park Sterling Bank

 

By:

 

/s/ James C. Cherry

 

James C. Cherry

 

Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: December 19, 2012