EXHIBIT 10.4
HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC.
MANAGEMENT RECOGNITION PLAN
ARTICLE I
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN
1.01 The Company hereby establishes this Plan upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter stated.
1.02 Through acceptance of their appointment to the Committee, each member
of the Committee hereby accepts his or her appointment hereunder upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter stated.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
2.01 The purpose of the Plan is to reward and retain personnel of
experience and ability in key positions of responsibility by providing Employees
and Directors of the Company, the Association, and their Affiliates with a
proprietary interest in the Company, and as compensation for their past
contributions to the Association, and as an incentive to make such contributions
in the future.
ARTICLE III
DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases when used in this Plan with an initial
capital letter, shall have the meanings set forth below unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. Wherever appropriate, the masculine pronoun shall
include the feminine pronoun and the singular shall include the plural.
3.01 "Affiliate" shall mean any "parent corporation" or "subsidiary
corporation" of the Company, as such terms are defined in Section 424(e) and
(f), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
3.02 "Association" means Salida Building & Loan Association.
3.03 "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a Participant
to receive any benefits payable under the Plan in the event of such
Participant's death. Such person or persons shall be designated in writing on
forms provided for this purpose by the Committee and may be changed from time to
time by similar written notice to the Committee. In the absence of a written
designation, the Beneficiary shall be the Participant's surviving spouse, if any
or if none, his estate.
3.04 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
3.05 "Committee" means the Management Recognition Plan Committee appointed
by the Board pursuant to Article IV hereof.
3.06 "Common Stock" means shares of the common stock of the Company.
3.07 "Company" means High Country Bancorp, Inc.
3.08 "Continuous Service" shall mean the absence of any interruption or
termination of service as an Employee or Director of the Company or an
Affiliate. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case
of sick leave, military leave or any other leave of absence approved by the
Company in the case of transfers
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between payroll locations of the Company or between the Company, an Affiliate or
a successor, or in the case of a Director's performance of services in an
emeritus or advisory capacity.
3.09 "Date of Conversion" means the date of the conversion of the
Association from mutual to stock form.
3.10 "Director" means a member of the Board.
3.11 "Disability" shall mean a physical or mental condition, which in the
sole and absolute discretion of the Committee, is reasonably expected to be of
indefinite duration and to substantially prevent a Participant from fulfilling
his or her duties or responsibilities to the Company or an Affiliate.
3.12 "Effective Date" means the date on which the Plan first becomes
effective, as determined under Section 8.07 hereof.
3.13 "Employee" means any person who is employed by the Company or an
Affiliate.
3.14 "Non-Employee Director" shall have the meaning provided in Rule 16b-3
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
3.15 "Participant" means an Employee or Director who holds a Plan Share
Award.
3.16 "Plan" means this High Country Bancorp, Inc. Management Recognition
Plan.
3.17 "Plan Shares" means shares of Common Stock held in the Trust which
are awarded or issuable to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.
3.18 "Plan Share Award" means a right granted under this Plan to receive
Plan Shares.
3.19 "Plan Share Reserve" means the shares of Common Stock held by the
Trustee pursuant to Sections 5.02 and 5.03.
3.20 "Trust" and "Trust Agreement" mean that agreement entered into
pursuant to the terms hereof between the Company and the Trustee, and "Trust"
means the trust created thereunder.
3.21 "Trustee" means that person(s) or entity appointed by the Board
pursuant to the Trust Agreement to hold legal title to the Plan assets for the
purposes set forth herein.
3.22 "Year of Service" shall mean a full twelve-month period, measured
from the date of a Plan Share Award and each annual anniversary of that date,
during which a Participant's Continuous Service has not terminated for any
reason.
ARTICLE IV
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
4.01 ROLE AND POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered
and interpreted by the Committee, which shall consist of not less than two
members of the Board who are Non-Employee Directors. In the absence at any time
of a duly appointed Committee, the Plan shall be administered by those members
of the Board who are Non-Employee Directors, and by the Board if there are less
than two Non-Employee Directors.
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The Committee shall have all of the powers allocated to it in this and
other Sections of the Plan. Except as limited by the express provisions of the
Plan or by resolutions adopted by the Board, the Committee shall have sole and
complete authority and discretion (i) to make Plan Share Awards to such
Employees as the Committee may select, (ii) to determine the form and content of
Plan Share Awards to be issued under the Plan, (iii) to interpret the Plan, (iv)
to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and
(v) to make other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration
of the Plan. The Committee shall have and may exercise such other power and
authority as may be delegated to it by the Board from time to time. Subject to
Section 4.02, the interpretation and construction by the Committee of any
provisions of the Plan or of any Plan Share Award granted hereunder shall be
final and binding. The Committee shall act by vote or written consent of a
majority of its members, and shall report its actions and decisions with respect
to the Plan to the Board at appropriate times, but in no event less than one
time per calendar year. The Committee may recommend to the Board one or more
persons or entity to act as Trustee(s) in accordance with the provisions of this
Plan and the Trust.
4.02 ROLE OF THE BOARD. The members of the Committee shall be appointed
or approved by, and will serve at the pleasure of, the Board. The Board may in
its discretion from time to time remove members from, or add members to, the
Committee. The Board shall have all of the powers allocated to it in this and
other Sections of the Plan, may take any action under or with respect to the
Plan which the Committee is authorized to take, and may reverse or override any
action taken or decision made by the Committee under or with respect to the
Plan, provided, however, that the Board may not revoke any Plan Share Award
already made or impair a participant's vested rights under a Plan Share Award.
Members of the Board who are eligible for or who have been granted Plan Share
Awards (other than pursuant to Section 6.04) may not vote on any matters
affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of Plan Shares or Plan
Share Awards (although such members may be counted in determining the existence
of a quorum at any meeting of the Board during which actions with regard thereto
are taken). Further, with respect to all actions taken by the Board in regard
to the Plan, such action shall be taken by a majority of the Board where such a
majority of the directors acting in the matter are Non-Employee Directors.
4.03 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. No member of the Board or the Committee or
the Trustee(s) shall be liable for any determination made in good faith with
respect to the Plan or any Plan Shares or Plan Share Awards granted under it.
If a member of the Board or the Committee or any Trustee is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by
reason of anything done or not done by him in such capacity under or with
respect to the Plan, the Company shall indemnify such member, subject to the
indemnification provisions of 12 C.F.R. Section 545.121, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company and its
Affiliates and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
ARTICLE V
CONTRIBUTIONS; PLAN SHARE RESERVE
5.01 AMOUNT AND TIMING OF CONTRIBUTIONS. The Board shall determine the
amounts (or the method of computing the amounts) to be contributed by the
Company to the Trust, provided that the Association may also make contributions
to the Trust. Such amounts shall be paid to the Trustee at the time of
contribution. No contributions to the Trust by Employees shall be permitted.
5.02 INVESTMENT OF TRUST ASSETS; MAXIMUM PLAN SHARE AWARDS. The Trustee
shall invest Trust assets only in accordance with the Trust Agreement; provided
that the Trust shall not purchase, and Plan Share Awards shall not be made with
respect to, more than four percent (4%) of the number of Shares issued on the
Date of Conversion. Common stock purchased by the Trust may be newly issued
shares, treasury shares, or shares held in a grantor trust.
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5.03 EFFECT OF ALLOCATIONS, RETURNS AND FORFEITURES UPON PLAN SHARE
RESERVES. Upon the allocation of Plan Share Awards under Section 6.02, the Plan
Share Reserve shall be reduced by the number of Shares subject to the Awards so
allocated. Any Shares subject or attributable to an Award which may not be
earned because of a forfeiture by the Participant pursuant to Section 7.01 shall
be added to the Plan Share Reserve.
ARTICLE VI
ELIGIBILITY; ALLOCATIONS
6.01 ELIGIBILITY. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.04 hereof,
the Committee shall make Plan Share Awards only to Employees. In selecting
those Employees to whom Plan Share Awards will be granted and the number of
shares covered by such Awards, the Committee shall consider the position, duties
and responsibilities of the eligible Employees, the value of their services to
the Company and its Affiliates, and any other factors the Committee may deem
relevant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Committee shall automatically
make the Plan Share Awards specified in Sections 6.04 and 6.05 hereof; and (ii)
no Employee shall receive Plan Share Awards relating to more than 25% of the
Plan Shares reserved under Section 5.02, and no non-employee Director shall
receive Plan Share Awards relating to more than 5% of the Plan Shares reserved
under Section 5.02, with all non-employee Directors as a group receiving Plan
Share Awards on the Effective Date relating to no more than 30% of the Plan
Shares reserved under Section 5.02. [THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INAPPLICABLE IF
THE PLAN RECEIVES STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL MORE THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF
CONVERSION.]
6.02 ALLOCATIONS. The Committee will determine which Employees will be
granted discretionary Plan Share Awards, and the number of Shares covered by
each Plan Share Award, provided that in no event shall any Awards be made which
will violate the governing instruments of the Association or its Affiliates or
any applicable federal or state law or regulation. In the event Plan Shares are
forfeited for any reason or additional shares of Common Stock are purchased by
the Trustee, the Committee may, from time to time, determine which of the
Employees referenced in Section 6.01 above will be granted additional Plan Share
Awards to be awarded from the forfeited or acquired Plan Shares.
6.03 FORM OF ALLOCATION. As promptly as practicable after a determination
is made pursuant to Section 6.02 that a Plan Share Award is to be made, the
Committee shall notify the Participant in writing of the grant of the Award, the
number of Plan Shares covered by the Award, and the terms upon which the Plan
Shares subject to the Award may be earned. The date on which the Committee so
notifies the Participant shall be considered the date of grant of the Plan Share
Awards. The Committee shall maintain records as to all grants of Plan Share
Awards under the Plan.
6.04 AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Plan, each Director who is not an Employee but is a
Director on the Effective Date shall receive, on said date, a Plan Share Award
for a number of Shares equal to the lesser of five (5%) of the number of Plan
Shares which the Trust is authorized to purchase pursuant to Section 5.02 of the
Plan and the quotient obtained by dividing --
(i) 30 percent (30%) of the number of Plan Shares which the Trust is
authorized to purchase pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Plan, by
(ii) the number of Directors entitled to receive Plan Share Awards on the
Effective Date, pursuant to this Section 6.04.
Directors, including Non-Employee Directors who join the Board after the
Effective Date, are eligible to receive discretionary Awards under the Plan.
Plan Share Awards received under the provisions of this Section shall become
vested and nonforfeitable according to the general rules set forth in
subsections (a), and (b) of Section 7.01, and the Committee shall have no
discretion to alter or accelerate said vesting requirements. Unless otherwise
inapplicable or inconsistent with the provisions of this Section, the Plan Share
Awards to be granted hereunder shall be subject to all other provisions of this
Plan.
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6.05 AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO EMPLOYEES. On the Effective Date, each of the
following individuals shall receive a Plan Share Award as to the number of Plan
Shares listed below, provided that such award shall not be made to an individual
who is not an Employee on the Effective Date:
Employee Shares Subject to Plan Share Award
-------- ----------------------------------
Larry D. Smith 25%
Plan Share Awards received under the provisions of this Section shall
become vested and nonforfeitable according to the general rules set forth in
subsections (a) and (b) of Section 7.01, and the Committee shall have no
discretion to alter said vesting requirements. Unless otherwise inapplicable or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Section, the Plan Share Awards to be
granted hereunder shall be subject to all other provisions of this Plan.
6.06 ALLOCATIONS NOT REQUIRED. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in Sections 6.01 and 6.02, but subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.05, no Employee or
Director shall have any right or entitlement to receive a Plan Share Award
hereunder, such Awards being at the total discretion of the Committee, nor shall
any Employees or Directors as a group have such a right. The Committee may,
with the approval of the Board (or, if so directed by the Board) return all
Common Stock in the Plan Share Reserve to the Company at any time, and cease
issuing Plan Share Awards.
ARTICLE VII
EARNINGS AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES; VOTING RIGHTS
7.01 EARNING PLAN SHARES; FORFEITURES.
(a) GENERAL RULES. Twenty percent (20%) of the Plan Shares subject to a
Plan Share Award shall be earned and become non-forfeitable by a Participant
upon his or her completion of each of five Years of Service. [MAY BE DIFFERENT
IF PLAN RECEIVES STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL MORE THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF
CONVERSION.]
(b) EXCEPTION FOR TERMINATIONS DUE TO DEATH OR DISABILITY.
Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01(a) above, all Plan
Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Participant whose service with
the Company or an Affiliate terminates due to the Participant's death or
Disability shall be deemed earned as of the Participant's last day of service
with the Company or an Affiliate and shall be distributed as soon as practicable
thereafter. [IF THE PLAN RECEIVES STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL MORE THAN ONE YEAR AFTER
THE DATE OF CONVERSION, VESTING WOULD ACCELERATE TO 100% UPON A PARTICIPANT'S
RETIREMENT OR TERMINATION OF SERVICE IN CONNECTION WITH A CHANGE IN CONTROL.]
7.02 ACCRUAL OF DIVIDENDS. Whenever Plan Shares are paid to a Participant
or Beneficiary under Section 7.03, such Participant or Beneficiary shall also be
entitled to receive, with respect to each Plan Share paid, an amount equal to
any cash dividends (including special large and nonrecurring dividends,
including one that has the effect of a return of capital to the Company's
stockholders) and a number of shares of Common Stock equal to any stock
dividends, declared and paid with respect to a share of Common Stock between the
date the relevant Plan Share Award was initially granted to such Participant and
the date the Plan Shares are being distributed. There shall also be distributed
an appropriate amount of net earnings, if any, of the Trust with respect to any
cash dividends so paid out.
7.03 DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES.
(a) TIMING OF DISTRIBUTIONS: GENERAL RULE. Except as provided in
Subsections (c), and (d) below, the Trustee shall distribute Plan Shares and
accumulated cash from dividends and interest to the Participant or his
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Beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after they have been
earned. No fractional shares shall be distributed.
(b) FORM OF DISTRIBUTION. The Trustee shall distribute all Plan Shares,
together with any shares representing stock dividends, in the form of Common
Stock. One share of Common Stock shall be given for each Plan Share earned.
Payments representing cash dividends (and earnings thereon) shall be made in
cash.
(c) WITHHOLDING. The Trustee shall withhold from any cash payment made
under this Plan sufficient amounts to cover any applicable withholding and
employment taxes, and if the amount of such cash payment is not sufficient, the
Trustee shall require the Participant or Beneficiary to pay to the Trustee the
amount required to be withheld as a condition of delivering the Plan Shares.
The Trustee shall pay over to the Company or Affiliate which employs or employed
such Participant any such amount withheld from or paid by the Participant or
Beneficiary.
(d) TIMING: EXCEPTION FOR 10% SHAREHOLDERS. Notwithstanding Subsections
(a) and (b) above, no Plan Shares may be distributed prior to the date which is
five (5) years from the Date of Conversion to the extent the Participant or
Beneficiary, as the case may be, would after receipt of such Shares own in
excess of ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
unless such action is approved in advance by a majority vote of non-employee
directors of the Board. To the extent this limitation would delay the date on
which a Participant receives Plan Shares, the Participant may elect to receive
from the Trust, in lieu of vested Plan Shares, a cash amount equal to the fair
market value of such Plan Shares. Any Plan Shares remaining undistributed
solely by reason of the operation of this Subsection (d) shall be distributed to
the Participant or his Beneficiary on the date which is five years from the Date
of Conversion.
(e) REGULATORY EXCEPTIONS. No Plan Shares shall be distributed unless and
until all of the requirements of all applicable law and regulation shall have
been fully complied with, including the receipt of approval of the Plan by the
stockholders of the Company by such vote, if any, as may be required by
applicable law and regulations.
7.04 VOTING OF PLAN SHARES. All shares of Common Stock held by the Trust
(whether or not subject to a Plan Share Award) shall be voted by the Trustee in
the same proportion as the trustee of the Company's Employee Stock Ownership
Plan votes Common Stock held in the trust associated therewith, and in the
absence of any such voting, shall be voted in the manner directed by the Board.
7.05. DEFERRAL ELECTIONS BY PARTICIPANTS. At any time that is at least
six months prior to the date on which a Participant becomes vested in the first
20% of his or her Plan Share Award, the Participant may irrevocably elect, on
the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A" (the "Election Form"), to defer the
receipt of all or a percentage of the Plan Shares that would otherwise be
transferred to the Participant upon the vesting of such award (the "Deferred
Shares"). The MRP Committee shall establish and maintain an individual account
in the name of each Participant who files an Election Form for the purpose of
tracking deferred earnings attributable to cash dividends paid on Deferred
Shares (the "Cash Account"). On the last day of each fiscal year of the
Company, the Committee shall credit to the Participant's Cash Account earnings
on the balance of the Cash Account at a rate equal to the yield on Common Stock,
as determined from time to time by the MRP Committee in its sole discretion.
The Deferred Shares, together with any cash or stock dividends attributable
thereto (the "Deferred Earnings"), will be distributed to the Participant in
accordance with the deferral schedule (the "Deferral Schedule") selected by the
Participant in his or her Election Form. The Trustees shall hold each
Participant's Deferred Shares and Deferred Earnings in the Trust until
distribution is required pursuant to the election set forth in the
Participant's Election Form.
The Trustee shall distribute a Participant's Deferred Shares and Deferred
Earnings in accordance with the Participant's Election Form, unless the
Participant terminates Continuous Service for a reason other than the
Participant's (i) death, (ii) Disability, (iii) early retirement after age 55
and completion of 10 or more years of
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Continuous Service, or (iv) normal retirement after age 65. Within 90 days after
receiving notice of a Participant's death, the Trustee shall distribute any
balance of the Participant's Deferred Shares and Deferred Earnings to the
Participant's designated beneficiary, if living, or if such designated
beneficiary is deceased or the Participant failed to designate a beneficiary, to
the Participant's estate. Notwithstanding the preceding, at any time prior to
his or her death, a Participant may elect to have the balance of his or her
Deferred Shares and Deferred Earnings distributed to his or her beneficiary or
estate over a period of time designated by the Participant. If, on the other
hand, a Participant's Continuous Service terminates for a reason other than the
Participant's death, Disability, early retirement, or normal retirement, the
Participant's Deferred Shares and Deferred Earnings shall be distributed to the
Participant in a lump sum occurring as soon as reasonably practicable.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or a Participant's Election
Form, in the event the Participant suffers an unforeseeable emergency hardship
within the contemplation of this paragraph, the Participant may apply to the
Committee for a distribution of all or a portion of his Deferred Shares and
Deferred Earnings prior to the basis for any such distribution. The hardship
must result from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant
or a dependent of the Participant, casualty loss of property, or other similar
conditions beyond the control of the Participant. Examples of purposes which
are not considered hardships include post-secondary school expenses or the
desire to purchase a residence. In no event will a distribution be made to the
extent the hardship could be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by
insurance or otherwise, or by liquidation of the Participant's nonessential
assets to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause a severe financial
hardship. The amount of any distribution hereunder shall be limited to the
amount necessary to relieve the Participant's financial hardship. The
determination of whether a Participant has a qualifying hardship and the amount
which qualifies for distribution, if any, shall be made by the Committee in its
sole discretion. The Committee may require evidence of the purpose and amount
of the need, and may establish such application or other procedures as it deems
appropriate.
No Participant may assign his or her claim to Deferred Shares and Deferred
Earnings during his or her lifetime, and any deferral election made hereunder
shall be irrevocable. A Participant's right to Deferred Shares and Deferred
Earnings shall at all times constitute an unsecured promise of the Company to
pay benefits as they come due. The right of the Participant or his or her
beneficiary to receive benefits hereunder shall be solely an unsecured claim
against the general assets of the Company. Neither the Participant nor his or
her beneficiary shall have any claim against or rights in any specific assets or
other fund of the Company, and any assets in the Trust shall be deemed general
assets of the Company.
All distributions made by the Company and/or the Trustees pursuant to
elections made hereunder shall be subject to applicable federal, state, and
local tax withholding and to such other deductions as shall at the time of such
payment be required under any income tax or other law, whether of the United
States or any other jurisdiction, and, in the case of payments to a beneficiary,
the delivery to the Committee and/or Trustees of all necessary waivers,
qualifications and other documentation.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.01 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CAPITAL CHANGES.
(a) RECAPITALIZATIONS; STOCK SPLITS, ETC. The number and kind of shares
which may be purchased under the Plan, and the number and kind of shares subject
to outstanding Plan Share Awards, shall be proportionately adjusted for any
increase, decrease, change or exchange of shares of Common Stock for a different
number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company which results from a
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, stock
dividend, split-up, combination of shares, or similar event in which the number
or kind of shares is changed without the receipt or payment of consideration by
the Company.
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(b) TRANSACTIONS IN WHICH THE COMPANY IS NOT THE SURVIVING ENTITY. In the
event of (i) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (ii) a merger or
consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or (iii) the
sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets (any of
the foregoing to be referred to herein as a "Transaction"), all outstanding Plan
Share Awards shall be adjusted for any change or exchange of shares of Common
Stock for a different number or kind of shares or other securities which results
from the Transaction.
(c) CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON NEW, ADDITIONAL, OR DIFFERENT SHARES
OR SECURITIES. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section, a
Participant becomes entitled to new, additional, or different shares of stock or
securities, such new, additional, or different shares of stock or securities
shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions and restrictions which were
applicable to the shares pursuant to the Plan Share Award before the adjustment
was made. In addition, the Committee shall have the discretionary authority to
impose on the Shares subject to Plan Share Awards to Employees such restrictions
as the Committee may deem appropriate or desirable, including but not limited to
a right of first refusal, or repurchase option, or both of these restrictions.
(d) OTHER ISSUANCES. Except as expressly provided in this Section, the
issuance by the Company or an Affiliate of shares of stock of any class, or of
securities convertible into shares of Common Stock or stock of another class,
for cash or property or for labor or services either upon direct sale or upon
the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, shall not affect, and
no adjustment shall be made with respect to, the number or class of shares of
Common Stock then subject to Plan Share Awards or reserved for issuance under
the Plan.
8.02 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Board may, by resolution, at
any time amend or terminate the Plan; provided that no amendment or termination
of the Plan shall, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any
rights or obligations under a Plan Share Award theretofore granted to the
Participant.
The power to amend or terminate the Plan in accordance with this Section
8.02 shall include the power to direct the Trustee to return to the Company all
or any part of the assets of the Trust, including shares of Common Stock held in
the Plan Share Reserve. However, the termination of the Trust shall not affect
a Participant's right to earn Plan Share Awards and to receive a distribution of
Common Stock relating thereto, including earnings thereon, in accordance with
the terms of this Plan and the grant by the Committee or the Board.
8.03 NONTRANSFERABILITY. Plan Share Awards may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
or any other provision of this Plan, a Participant who holds Plan Share Awards
may transfer such Awards to his or her spouse, lineal ascendants, lineal
descendants, or to a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of
these individuals. Plan Share Awards so transferred may thereafter be
transferred only to the Participant who originally received the grant or to an
individual or trust to whom the Participant could have initially transferred the
Awards pursuant to this Section 8.03. Plan Share Awards which are transferred
pursuant to this Section 8.03 shall be exercisable by the transferee according
to the same terms and conditions as applied to the Participant.
8.04 NO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RIGHTS. Neither the Plan nor any grant of a
Plan Share Award or Plan Shares hereunder nor any action taken by the Trustee,
the Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any right,
either express or implied, on the part of any Employee or Director to continue
in the service of the Company, the Association, or an Affiliate thereof.
8.05 VOTING AND DIVIDEND RIGHTS. No Participant shall have any voting or
dividend rights or other rights of a stockholder in respect of any Plan Shares
covered by a Plan Share Award prior to the time said Plan Shares are actually
distributed to him.
8.06 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan and Trust shall be governed and construed
under the laws of the State of Colorado to the extent not preempted by Federal
law.
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8.07 EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall become effective immediately upon its
approval by a favorable vote of stockholders of the Company who own at least a
majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at a duly called meeting of the
Company's stockholders held in accordance with applicable laws, provided that
the Plan shall not be submitted for such approval within the six-month period
after the Date of Conversion. Stockholder approval may be unnecessary, or
involve a different vote requirement, if the Plan is implemented more than one
year after the Conversion. In no event shall Plan Share Awards be made prior to
the Effective Date.
8.08 TERM OF PLAN. This Plan shall remain in effect until the earlier of
(i) termination by the Board, or (ii) the distribution of all assets of the
Trust. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any Plan Share Awards
previously granted, and such Awards shall remain valid and in effect until they
have been earned and paid, or by their terms expire or are forfeited.
8.09 TAX STATUS OF TRUST. It is intended that (i) the Trust associated
with the Plan be treated as a grantor trust of the Company under the provisions
of Section 671 et seq. of the Code, as the same may be amended from time to
-- ---
time, and (ii) that in accordance with Revenue Procedure 92-65 (as the same may
be amended from time to time), Participants have the status of general unsecured
creditors of the Company, the Plan constitutes a mere unfunded promise to make
benefit payments in the future, the Plan is unfunded for tax purposes and for
purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the Trust has been and will continue to be maintained in conformity
with Revenue Procedure 92-64 (as the same may be amended from time to time).
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TRUST AGREEMENT UNDER THE
HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC.
MANAGEMENT RECOGNITION PLAN
_______________
Trust Agreement
_______________
This Agreement made this _____ day of _________, 1997 by and between High
Country Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and Non-Employee Directors Mitchell,
Glenn, Young, and Harsh (acting by majority, the "Trustee").
WHEREAS, the Company maintains the High Country Bancorp, Inc. Management
Recognition Plan (the "Plan"), and has incurred or expects to incur liability
under the terms of the Plan with respect to the individuals participating in the
Plan ("Participants"); and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to establish a trust (the "Trust") and to
contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein, subject to the claims
of the Company's general creditors in the event of Insolvency, as defined in
Section 3(a) hereof, until paid to Participants and their beneficiaries in such
manner and at such times as specified in the Plan;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall
constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan
as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees
for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Company to make contributions to the
Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in the meeting of
its liabilities under the Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby establish this Trust and agree that
the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:
Section 1. Establishment of Trust
----------------------------------
(a) The Company hereby deposits, or will shortly hereafter deposit, with
the Trustee in trust (i) a number of shares of the Company's common stock
("Common Stock") equal to four percent (4%) of the number of shares of Common
Stock issued by the Company in connection with the conversion of Salida Building
& Loan Association (the "Association") from mutual-to-stock form, or (ii) an
amount expected to be sufficient to permit the Trust to purchase said shares.
Said shares or amount shall become the initial principal of the Trust to be
held, administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Trust
Agreement.
(b) The Trust shall become irrevocable upon the effective date of the
Plan.
(c) The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which the Company is
the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1,
subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and
shall be construed accordingly.
(d) The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, shall be held
separate and apart from other funds of the Company and shall be used exclusively
for the uses and purposes of Participants and general creditors
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as herein set forth. Participants and their beneficiaries shall have no
preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the
Trust. Any rights created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall be mere
unsecured contractual rights of Participants and their beneficiaries against the
Company. Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of the
Company's general creditors under federal and state law in the event of
Insolvency, as defined in Section 3(a) herein.
(e) The Company, in its sole discretion, may at any time, or from time to
time, make additional deposits of cash or other property in trust with the
Trustee to augment the principal to be held, administered and disposed of by
Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement. Neither the Trustee nor any
Participant or beneficiary shall have any right to compel such additional
deposits.
Section 2. Payments to Plan Participants and Their Beneficiaries.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee a schedule (the "Payment
Schedule") that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each Participant
(and his or her beneficiaries), that provides a formula or other instructions
acceptable to the Trustee for determining the amounts so payable, the form in
which such amount is to be paid (as provided for or available under the Plan),
and the time of commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as otherwise
provided herein, the Trustee shall make payments to Participants and their
beneficiaries in accordance with such Payment Schedule. The Trustee shall make
provision for the reporting and withholding of any federal, state or local taxes
that may be required to be withheld with respect to the payment of benefits
pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the
appropriate taxing authorities or determine that such amounts have been
reported, withheld and paid by the Company.
(b) The entitlement of a Participant or his or her beneficiaries to
benefits under the Plan shall be determined by the Company or such party as it
shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be
considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.
(c) The Company may make payment of benefits directly to Participants or
their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. The Company
shall notify the Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly
prior to the time amounts are payable to Participants or their beneficiaries.
In addition, if the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not
sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the
Plan, the Company shall make the balance of each such payment as it falls due.
The Trustee shall notify the Company where principal and earnings are not
sufficient.
Section 3. Trustee Responsibility Regarding Payments to Trust Beneficiary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Company Is Insolvent.
- -------------------------
(a) The Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to Participants and their
beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. The Company shall be considered
"Insolvent" for purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i) the Company is unable to
pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) the Company becomes subject to a
pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.
(b) At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in
Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to
claims of general creditors of the Company under federal and state law as set
forth below.
(c) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
shall have the duty to inform the Trustee in writing of the Company's
Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of the Company alleges in
writing to the Trustee that the Company has become Insolvent, the Trustee shall
determine whether the Company is Insolvent and, pending such determination, the
Trustee shall discontinue payment of benefits to Participants or their
beneficiaries.
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(1) Unless the Trustee has actual knowledge of the Company's
Insolvency, or has received notice from the Company or a person claiming to be a
creditor alleging that the Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall have no duty
to inquire whether the Company is Insolvent. The Trustee may in all events rely
on such evidence concerning the Company's solvency as may be furnished to the
Trustee and that provides the Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a
determination concerning the Company's solvency.
(2) If at any time the Trustee has determined that the Company is
Insolvent, the Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan participants or their
beneficiaries, shall liquidate the Trust's investment in Common Stock, and shall
hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of the Company's general creditors.
Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any way diminish any rights of
Participants or their beneficiaries as general creditors of the Company with
respect to benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.
(3) The Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Participants
or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 2 of this Trust Agreement only
after the Trustee has determined that the Company is not Insolvent (or is no
longer Insolvent).
(d) Provided that there are sufficient assets, if the Trustee
discontinues the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b)
hereof and subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment following such
discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of all payments due to
Participants or their beneficiaries under the terms of the Plan for the period
of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments made to
Participants or their beneficiaries by the Company in lieu of the payments
provided for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.
Section 4. Payments to the Company.
-----------------------------------
Except as provided in Section 3 hereof, after the Trust has become
irrevocable, the Company shall have no right or power to direct the Trustee to
return to the Company or to divert to others any of the Trust assets before all
payment of benefits have been made to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries
pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
Section 5. Investment Authority.
--------------------------------
(a) The Trustee shall have sole discretion as to the investment of Trust
assets, except that to the extent reasonably practicable, the Trustee shall
invest all assets of the Trust in Common Stock provided that the Trust shall not
purchase from time to time a number of shares of Common Stock exceeding 4% of
the shares of Common Stock issued in the Association's mutual-to-stock
conversion.
(b) All rights associated with assets of the Trust shall be exercised by
the Trustee or the person designated by the Trustee, and shall in no event be
exercisable by or rest with Participants, except that voting rights with respect
to Common Stock will be exercised in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
(c) Subject to applicable federal and state securities laws, if for any
reason the Trustee will be selling shares of Common Stock, the Trustee shall
sell such shares by (i) giving each Beneficiary 20 business days within which to
purchase, at fair market value, all or part of the shares of Common Stock that
the Trustee holds for the benefit of the Beneficiary, and (ii) to the extent
purchases by Beneficiaries are insufficient to eliminate the Trusts' excess
holdings of Common Stock, to offer to sell, and to sell, all or any part of the
excess shares held by the Trust to the following purchasers, listed here by
order of priority: first, the Company; second, any benefit plan maintained by
the Company or the Association; third, directors of the Association; fourth,
officers of the Association; fifth, members of the general public.
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Section 6. - Disposition of Income.
----------------------------------
During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of
expenses and taxes, shall be accumulated and reinvested.
Section 7. Accounting by Trustee.
---------------------------------
The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all investments,
receipts, disbursements, and all other transactions required to be made,
including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing between the
Company and the Trustee. Within 60 days following the close of each calendar
year and within 20 days after the removal or resignation of the Trustee, the
Trustee shall deliver to the Company a written account of its administration of
the Trust during such year or during the period from the close of the last
preceding year to the date of such removal or resignation, setting forth all
investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions effected by it,
including a description of all securities and investments purchased and sold
with the cost or net proceeds of such purchased and sold with the cost or net
proceeds of such purchases or sales (accrued interest paid or receivable being
shown separately), and showing all cash, securities and other property held in
the Trust at the end of such year or as of the date of such removal or
resignation, as the case may be.
Section 8. Responsibility of Trustee.
-------------------------------------
(a) The Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence
under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like
capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an
enterprise of a like character and with like aims, provided, however, that the
Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to
a direction, request or approval given by the Company which is contemplated by,
and in conformity, the terms of the Plan or this Trust and is given in writing
by the Company. In the event of a dispute between the Company and a party, the
Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.
(b) If the Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in
connection with this Trust, the Company agrees to indemnify the Trustee against
Trustee's costs, expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation,
attorneys' fees and expenses) relating thereto and to be primarily liable for
such payments, except in those cases where the Trustee shall have been found by
a court of competent jurisdiction to have acted with gross negligence or willful
misconduct. If the Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities in
a reasonably timely manner, the Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust.
(c) The Trustee may consult with legal counsel with respect to any of its
duties or obligations hereunder.
(d) The Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment
advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in
performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(e) The Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on
trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein,
provided, however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust,
the Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than
the Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a
different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to loan to any person the
proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.
(f) Notwithstanding any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to this
Trust Agreement or to applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any power that
could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the
gains therefrom, within the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and
Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code.
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Section 9. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.
------------------------------------------------
The Company shall pay all administrative expenses and the Trustee's fees
and expenses relating to the Plan and this Trust. If not so paid, the fees and
expenses shall be paid from the Trust.
Section 10. Resignation and Removal of Trustee.
-----------------------------------------------
The Trustee (or any individual serving as one of the trustees who act by
majority as the Trustee) may resign at any time by written notice to the
Company, which resignation shall be effective 30 days after the Company receives
such notice (unless the Company and the Trustee agree otherwise). The Trustee
(or any individual serving as one of the trustees who act by majority as the
Trustee) may be removed by the Company on 30 days notice or upon shorter notice
accepted by the Trustee.
If the Trustee (or any individual serving as one of the trustees who act by
majority as the Trustee) resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed,
in accordance with Section 11 hereof, by the effective date or resignation or
removal under this section. If no such appointment has been made, the Trustee
may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor or
for instructions. All expenses of the Trustee in connection with the proceeding
shall be allowed as administrative expenses of the Trust. Upon resignation or
removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee, all assets shall
subsequently be transferred to the successor trustee. The transfer shall be
completed within 60 days after receipt of notice of resignation, removal or
transfer, unless the Company extends the time limit.
Section 11. Appointment of Successor.
-------------------------------------
If the Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 10 hereof,
the Company may appoint any other party as a successor to replace the Trustee
upon resignation or removal. The appointment shall be effective when accepted
in writing by the new trustee, who shall have all of the rights and powers of
the former trustee, including ownership rights in the Trust assets. The former
trustee shall execute any instrument necessary or reasonably requested by the
Company or the successor trustee to evidence the transfer.
A successor trustee need not examine the records and acts of any prior
trustee and may retain or dispose of existing Trust assets, subject to Sections
7 and 8 hereof. The successor trustee shall not be responsible for, and the
Company shall indemnify and defend the successor trustee from, any claim or
liability resulting from any action or inaction of any prior trustee or from any
other past event, or any condition existing at the time it becomes successor
trustee.
Section 12. Amendment or Termination.
-------------------------------------
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed
by the Trustee and the Company, provided that no such amendment shall make the
Trust revocable.
(b) The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Participants
and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits pursuant to the terms
hereof. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustee shall return any assets
remaining in the Trust to the Company.
(c) Upon written approval of all Participants (or their beneficiaries if
they are then entitled to payment of benefits), the Company may terminate this
Trust prior to the time all benefit payments under the Plan have been made. All
assets in the Trust at termination shall be returned to the Company.
5
Section 13. Miscellaneous.
--------------------------
(a) Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be
ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof.
(b) Benefits payable to Participants and their beneficiaries under this
Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in equity),
alienated, pledged, encumbered or subjected to attachment, garnishment, levy,
execution or other legal or equitable process, except pursuant to the terms of
the Plan.
(c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Colorado, to the extent not preempted by federal
law.
(d) The Trustee agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan, as in effect
from time to time.
(e) The Trustee shall act by vote or written consent of a majority of its
duly appointed members.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officer, has caused
this Agreement to be executed, and its corporate seal affixed, and the Trustees
have executed this Agreement, this ___ day of August, 1997.
ATTEST: HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC.
______________________________ By: ____________________________________
Its President
ATTEST:
______________________________ ____________________________________
Trustee
______________________________ ____________________________________
Trustee
______________________________ ____________________________________
Trustee
______________________________ ____________________________________
Trustee
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