Exhibit 10.1
NEXITY BANK
SALARY CONTINUATION
AGREEMENT
THIS SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT
(the “Agreement”) is adopted this
day of
, 200 , by and between Nexity Bank,
a state-chartered commercial bank located in Birmingham, Alabama
(the “Company”) and KEN VASSEY (the
“Executive”).
The purpose of this Agreement is to
provide specified benefits to the Executive, a member of a select
group of management or highly compensated employees of the Company
who contribute materially to the continued growth, development, and
future business success of the Company. This Agreement shall be
unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(“ERISA”), as amended from time to time.
Article 1
Definitions
Whenever used in this Agreement, the
following words and phrases shall have the meanings
specified:
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1.1
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“
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.
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1.2
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“
Beneficiary ” means each designated person, or the
estate of the deceased Executive, entitled to benefits, if any,
upon the death of the Executive determined pursuant to Article
4.
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1.3
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“
Beneficiary Designation Form ” means the form
established from time to time by the Plan Administrator that the
Executive completes, signs, and returns to the Plan Administrator
to designate one or more Beneficiaries.
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1.4
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“
Benefit Level ” means one hundred percent
(100%) of the Executive’s then Current
Compensation.
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1.5
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“
Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company as
from time to time constituted.
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1.6
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“
Cause ” means (i) in the event there is a written
employment agreement in effect between the Company and the
Executive that defines “cause” (or a term of similar
import), “cause” as defined in such agreement,
(ii) gross negligence or gross neglect of duties,
(iii) commission of a felony or of a gross misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude, (iv) fraud
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or willful violation of any law or
significant Company policy committed in connection with the
Executive’s employment and resulting in a material adverse
effect on the Company, or (v) issuance of an order for removal
of the Executive by the Company’s banking
regulators.
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1.7
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“
Change in Control ” means a change in the ownership of
the Company, a change in effective control of the Company, or a
change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of
the Company as provided under Section 409A of the Code and any
Internal Revenue Service guidance, including any Treasury
regulations issued in connection with Section 409A of the
Code.
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1.8
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“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
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1.9
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“
Current Compensation ” means, for the sole purposes of
calculating the Executive’s Benefit Level under this
Agreement, Fifty-Nine Thousand Dollars ($59,000) as of the
Effective Date of this Agreement and for the first Plan Year. Such
amount shall be increased by Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) as of
the beginning of each subsequent Plan Year with a maximum of One
Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($110,000).
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1.10
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“
Disability ” means the Executive is
(i) determined to be totally and permanently disabled by the
Social Security Administration or (ii) eligible to receive a
disability benefit pursuant to the group long term disability plan
sponsored by the Company.
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1.11
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“
Discount Rate ” means the rate used by the Plan
Administrator for determining the Accrual Balance. The rate is
based on the yield on a twenty (20) year corporate bond rated
Aa by Moody’s, rounded to the nearest one quarter percent
( 1
/ 4 %). The initial Discount Rate is
seven percent (7%). However, the Plan Administrator, in its
discretion, may adjust the Discount Rate to maintain the rate
within reasonable standards according to GAAP and/or applicable
bank regulatory guidance.
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1.12
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“
Effective Date ” means November 1,
2006.
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1.13
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“
Involuntary Separation from Service ” means the
Executive is notified in writing by the Company, that employment
with the Company is terminated for reasons other than an approved
leave of absence, Voluntary Separation from Service, or
Cause.
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1.14
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“
Normal Retirement Age ” means the Executive attaining
age sixty-five (65).
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1.15
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“
Normal Retirement Date ” means the later of Normal
Retirement Age or Separation from Service.
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1.16
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“ Plan
Administrator ” means the plan administrator described in
Article 8.
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1.17
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“ Plan
Year ” means each 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 and end on the following December 31.
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1.18
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“
Separation from Service ” means the Executive’s
separation from service as an employee of the Company for purposes
of Section 409A of the Code. A transfer of employment within
or among the Company or any member of a controlled group, as
provided in Section 409A(d)(6) of the Code shall not be deemed
to be a Separation from Service.
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1.19
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“
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.
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1.20
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“
Voluntary Separation from Service ” means the
Executive’s Separation from Service prior to Normal
Retirement Age for reasons other than death, Involuntary Separation
from Service, or Cause.
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Article 2
Distributions During
Lifetime
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2.1
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Normal
Retirement Benefit . Upon
the Normal Retirement Date, the Company shall distribute (or
commence to distribute) to the Executive the benefit described in
this Section 2.1 in lieu of any other benefit under this
Article.
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2.1.1
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Amount of
Benefit . The annual
benefit under this Section 2.1 is One Hundred Ten Thousand
Dollars ($110,000).
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2.1.2
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Distribution
of Benefit . The Company
shall distribute the benefit to the Executive in twelve
(12) equal monthly installments commencing on the first day of
the month following Normal Retirement Date. The annual benefit
shall be distributed to the Executive for fifteen
(15) years.
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2.2
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Separation
from Service prior to Normal Retirement Age . Upon the Executive’s Voluntary or
Involuntary Separation from Service prior to Normal Retirement Age,
the Company shall distribute to the Executive the benefit described
in this Section 2.2 in lieu of any other benefit under this
Article.
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2.2.1
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Amount of
Benefit . The benefit
under this Section 2.2 is the vested Accrual Balance
determined as of the end of the Plan Year preceding the year of the
Executive’s Voluntary or Involuntary Separation from Service.
This benefit is determined by vesting the Executive in ten percent
(10%) of the Accrual Balance at the end of the first Plan
Year, and an additional ten percent (10%) of said amount at
the end of for each succeeding Plan Year thereafter until the
Executive becomes one hundred percent (100%) vested in the
Accrual Balance.
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2.2.2
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Distribution
of Benefit . The Company
shall distribute the benefit to the Executive in a lump sum within
sixty (60) days following the date of the Executive’s
Voluntary or Involuntary Separation from Service.
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2.2.3
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Distribution
of Benefit if 100% Vested . Notwithstanding Section 2.2.2, if the
Executive is one hundred percent (100%) vested in the Accrual
Balance on the date of his Voluntary or Involuntary Separation from
Service, the Company shall distribute the benefit to the Executive
in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the
first day of the month following Normal Retirement Age. The annual
benefit shall be distributed to the Executive for fifteen
(15) years.
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2.3
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Disability
Benefit . If Executive
experiences a Disability prior to Normal Retirement Age, the
Company shall distribute (or commence to distribute) to the
Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.3 in lieu of
any other benefit under this Article.
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2.3.1
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Amount of
Benefit . The benefit
under this Section 2.3 is one hundred percent (100%) of
the Benefit Level determined as of beginning of the Plan Year
during which the Executive’s Disability occurs.
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2.3.2
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Distribution
of Benefit . The Company
shall distribute the benefit to the Executive in twelve
(12) equal monthly installments commencing on the first day of
the month following Normal Retirement Age. The annual benefit shall
be distributed to the Executive for fifteen
(15) years.
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2.4
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Change in
Control Benefit . Upon a
Change in Control, the Company shall distribute to the Executive
the benefit described in this Section 2.4 in lieu of any other
benefit under this Article.
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2.4.1
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Amount of
Benefit . The benefit
under this Section 2.4 is one hundred percent (100%) of
the Benefit Level determined as of the beginning of the Plan Year
during which the Change in Control occurs.
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2.4.2
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Distribution
of Benefit . The Company
shall distribute the benefit to the Executive in twelve
(12) equal monthly installments commencing on the first day of
the month following Normal Retirement Age. The annual benefit shall
be distributed to the Executive for fifteen
(15) years.
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2.5
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Restriction
on Timing of Distribution . Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is considered a
Specified Employee at Separation from Service under such procedures
as established by the Company in accordance with Section 409A
of the Code, benefit distributions that are made upon Separation
from Service may not commence earlier than six (6) months
after the date of such Separation from Service.
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 Separation from
Service shall be accumulated and paid to the Executive in a lump
sum on the first day of the seventh month following the Separation
from Service. All subsequent distributions shall be paid in the
manner specified.
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2.6
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Distributions Upon Income Inclusion Under
Section 409A of the Code . Upon the inclusion of any portion of the
Accrual Balance 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
Executive’s vested Accrual Balance, a distribution shall be
made as soon as is administratively practicable following the
discovery of such plan failure.
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2.7
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Changes in
Form or Timing of Distributions . For distribution of benefits under this
Article 2, the Executive and the Company may, subject to the terms
of Section 8.1, amend the Agreement to change the timing or
form of distributions. Any such amendment:
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(a)
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may not
accelerate the time or schedule of any distribution, except as
permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations
thereunder;
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(b)
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must, for
benefits distributable under Article 2 be made at least twelve
(12) months prior to the first scheduled
distribution;
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(c)
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must, for
benefits distributable under Article 2, 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
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(d)
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must take
effect not less than twelve (12) months after the amendment is
made.
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Article 3
Distribution at
Death
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3.1
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Death During
Active Service . If the
Executive dies while in the active service of the Company, the
Company shall distribute to the Beneficiary the benefit described
in this Section 3.1. This benefit shall be distributed in lieu
of the benefits under Article 2.
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3.1.1
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Amount of
Benefit . The benefit
under this Section 3.1 is the Accrual Balance for the Plan
Year during which the Executive dies. This benefit is determined by
vesting the Executive’s beneficiary in one hundred percent
(100%) of the Accrual Balance.
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3.1.2
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Distribution
of Benefit . The Company
shall distribute the benefit to the Beneficiary in a lump sum
within sixty (60) days following receipt by the Company of the
Executive’s death certificate.
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3.2
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Death During
Distribution of a Benefit . If the Executive dies after any benefit
distributions have commenced under this Agreement but before
receiving all such distributions, the Company shall distribute to
the Beneficiary the remaining benefits at the same time and in the
same amounts that would have been distributed to the Executive had
the Executive survived.
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3.3
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Death After
Separation from Service But Before Benefit Distributions
Commence. If the
Executive is entitled to benefit distributions under this
Agreement, but dies prior to the
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commencement of said benefit
distributions, the Company shall distribute to the Beneficiary the
same benefits 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
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4.1
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Beneficiary . The Executive shall have the right, at any
time, to designate a Beneficiary to receive any benefit
distributions under this Agreement upon the death of the Executive.
The Beneficiary designated under this Agreement may be the same as
or different from the beneficiary designated under any other plan
of the Company in which the Executive participates.
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4.2
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Beneficiary
Designation: Change . The
Executive shall designate a Beneficiary by completing and signing
the Beneficiary Designation Form, and delivering it to the Plan
Administrator or its designated agent. 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.
The Executive shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by
completing, signing and otherwise complying with the terms of the
Beneficiary Designation Form and the Plan Administrator’s
rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time. Upon the
acceptance by the Plan Administrator of a new Beneficiary
Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed
shall be cancelled. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to
rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the
Executive and accepted by the Plan Administrator prior to the
Executive’s death.
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4.3
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Acknowledgment . No designation or change in designation of a
Beneficiary shall be effective until received, accepted and
acknowledged in writing by the Plan Administrator or its designated
agent.
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4.4
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No
Beneficiary Designation .
If the Executive dies without a valid beneficiary designation, or
if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, then the
Executive’s spouse shall be the designated Beneficiary. If
the Executive has no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be made
to the personal representative of the Executive's
estate.
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4.5
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Facility of
Distribution . If the
Plan Administrator determines in its discretion that a benefit is
to be distributed to a minor, to a person declared incompetent, or
to a person incapable of handling the disposition of that
person’s property, the Plan Administrator may direct
distribution of such benefit to the guardian, legal representative
or person having the care or custody of such minor, incompetent
person or incapable person. The Plan Administrator may require
proof of incompetence, minority or guardianship as it may deem
appropriate prior to distribution of the benefit. Any distribution
of a benefit shall be a distribution for the account of the
Executive and the Executive’s Beneficiary, as the case may
be, and shall be a complete discharge of any liability under the
Agreement for such distribution amount.
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Article 5
General
Limitations
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5.1
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Termination
for Cause .
Notwithstanding any provis
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