Exhibit 10.25
Split-Dollar Agreement between NBT Bancorp Inc., NBT Bank, National Association
and Daryl R. Forsythe made January 25, 2002.
SPLIT-DOLLAR AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of this 25th
day of January, 2002, by and among NBT Bancorp Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
NBT Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the
United States (collectively, the "Bank"), and Daryl R. Forsythe, an individual
residing in the State of New York (the "Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee is employed by the Bank as its president and chief
executive officer;
WHEREAS, the Employee wishes to provide additional life insurance
protection for his family in the event of his death;
WHEREAS, the Bank is willing to pay the premiums due on a policy of life
insurance as an employment benefit for the Employee, on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the Bank and the Employee have applied for Insurance Policy Number
28105185 on the life of the Employee (the "Policy") from New England Financial
(the "Insurer") in the face amount of $1,500,000, pursuant to which the Bank
will be the owner of the Policy;
WHEREAS, the Bank and the Employee agree to make the Policy subject to this
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is understood and agreed that this Agreement is to be effective
as of the date on which the Policy is issued by the Insurer.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. INSURANCE POLICY. The Bank shall purchase the Policy from the Insurer and
shall be the sole and absolute owner of the Policy. The parties agree that the
Policy shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement and of the endorsement to
the Policy filed with the Insurer to implement the provisions of this Agreement.
The Bank may exercise all ownership rights granted to the owner of the Policy by
the terms thereof, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The Bank
shall be the direct beneficiary of the total death proceeds, less $ 1,000,000
(the "Bank's Interest in the Policy"). The Bank will keep possession of the
Policy. The Bank agrees to make the Policy available at reasonable times to the
Employee or the Insurer for the purpose of endorsing or filing any change of
beneficiary on the Policy for the portion of the death
proceeds that is in excess of the Bank's Interest in the Policy, but the Policy
shall thereafter be promptly returned to the Bank. Any indebtedness on the
Policy will first be deducted from the proceeds payable to the Bank. Also, any
collateral assignment made by the Bank will be deducted from the proceeds
payable to it. The Employee shall be entitled to designate the beneficiary or
beneficiaries of the remainder of the Policy death proceeds in excess of the
Bank's Interest in the Policy.
2. ELECTION OF SETTLEMENT OPTION AND BENEFICIARY. By notice to the Bank, the
Employee may select the settlement option for payment of, and the beneficiary or
beneficiaries to receive, the portion of the death benefit provided under the
Policy in excess of the Bank's Interest in the Policy. Upon receipt of such
notice, the Bank shall execute and deliver to the Insurer the forms necessary to
elect the requested settlement option and to designate the requested person,
persons or entity as the beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive such portion of
the death proceeds of the Policy. The parties hereto agree to take all actions
necessary to cause the beneficiary designation and settlement election
provisions of the Policy to conform to the provisions hereof. The Bank shall not
terminate, alter or amend such designation or election without the express
written consent of the Employee.
3. POLICY DIVIDENDS. Any dividend declared on the Policy shall be applied to
reduce premiums on the Policy.
4. PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS. The Bank shall pay a sufficient amount of premiums
to the Insurer to maintain the Policy in force, and shall, upon request, provide
evidence to the Employee that the Policy remains in force. The Bank shall
annually furnish the Employee a statement of the amount of income reportable by
the Employee for federal and state income tax purposes, as a result of the
insurance protection provided the Employee.
5. LIMITATION ON THE BANK'S RIGHTS IN THE POLICY. The Employee will have
rights set out in Section 2 hereof with respect to the death benefit provided
under the Policy in excess of the Bank's Interest in the Policy. The Bank shall
not sell, surrender, change the insured or assign or transfer ownership of the
Policy except after termination of the Agreement pursuant to Section 6 hereof,
other than for the purpose of obtaining a loan against the Policy. The aggregate
amount of such loans, together with the unpaid interest accrued thereon, will at
no time exceed the lesser of (a) the Bank's Interest in the Policy or (b) the
loan value of the Policy as determined by the Insurer. The Bank will not take
any action dealing with the Insurer that would impair any right or interest of
the Employee in the Policy. Without limiting the foregoing, following
termination of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the Policy, the Bank
may designate any officer or
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other employee of the Bank as the insured under the Policy and may continue this
Agreement with such officer or employee. The exercise by the Bank of the right
to surrender the policy or to change the insured will terminate the rights of
the Employee in the Policy.
6. TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT DURING THE EMPLOYEE'S LIFETIME. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time while the Employee is living by a
written instrument signed by the Bank and the Employee, provided, that the Bank
may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the Employee at any time after
the Employee has ceased to be the Chairman of the Bank other than because of his
death; and, in any event, this Agreement will terminate upon termination of the
Employee's employment with the Bank for any reason whatsoever other than
Employee's death.
7. INSURER NOT A PARTY. The Insurer shall be fully discharged from its
obligations under the Policy by payment of the Policy death benefit to the
beneficiary or beneficiaries named in the Policy, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Policy. In no event shall the Insurer be considered a party to
this Agreement, or any modification or amendment hereof. No provision of this
Agreement, nor of any modification or amendment hereof, shall in any way be
construed as enlarging, changing, varying, or in any other way affecting the
obligations of the Insurer as expressly provided in the Policy, except insofar
as the provisions hereof are made a part of the Policy by the beneficiary
designation executed by the Bank and filed with the Insurer in connection
herewith. The Insurer shall not be obligated to inquire as to the distribution
of any monies payable or paid by it under the Policy on the Employee's life
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
8. ASSIGNMENT BY THE EMPLOYEE. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the
contrary, the Employee shall have the right to absolutely and irrevocably assign
by gift all of his right, title and interest in and to this Agreement and to the
Policy to an assignee. This right shall be exercisable by the execution and
delivery to the Bank of a written assignment, in the form provided by the Bank.
Upon receipt of such written assignment executed by the Employee and duly
accepted by the assignee thereof, the Bank shall consent thereto in writing, and
shall thereafter treat the Employee's assignee as the sole owner of all of the
Employee's right, title and interest in and to this Agreement and in and to the
Policy. Thereafter the Employee shall have no right, title or interest in and to
this Agreement or the Policy, all such rights being vested in and exercisable
only by such assignee.
9. NAMED FIDUCIARY, DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS, CLAIMS PROCEDURE AND
ADMINISTRATION.
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a. The Bank is hereby designated as the named fiduciary under this
Agreement. The named fiduciary shall have authority to control and manage the
operation and administration of this Agreement, and it shall be responsible for
establishing and carrying out a funding policy and method consistent with the
objectives of this Agreement.
b. (1) Claim.
A person who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit to which
he or she is entitled under this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as a
"Claimant") may file a written request for such benefit with the Bank, setting
forth his or his claim. The request must be addressed to the general counsel of
the Bank at its then principal place of business.
(2) Claim Decision.
Upon receipt of a claim, the Bank shall advise the Claimant that a reply
will be forthcoming within 90 days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within
such period. The Bank may, however, extend the reply period for an additional 90
days for reasonable cause.
If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Bank shall adopt a written
opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting
forth: (a) the specific reason or reasons for such denial; (b) the specific
reference to pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which such denial is
based; (c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for
the Claimant to perfect his or his claim and an explanation why such material or
such information is necessary; (d) appropriate information as to the steps to be
taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review; and (e) the time
limits for requesting a review under subsection (3) and for review under
subsection (4) hereof.
(3) Request for Review.
Within 60 days after the receipt by the Claimant of the written opinion
described above, the Claimant may request in writing that the Bank review the
determination of the Bank. Such request must be addressed to the general counsel
of the Bank, at its then principal place of business. The Claimant or his or her
duly authorized representative may, but need not, review the pertinent documents
and submit issues and comments in writing for consideration by the Bank. If the
Claimant does not request a review of the Bank's determination within such 60
day period, he or she shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Bank's
determination.
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(4) Review of Decision.
Within 60 days after the general counsel's receipt of a request for review,
he or she will review the Bank's determination. After considering all materials
presented by the Claimant, the general counsel will render a written opinion,
written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth
the specific reasons for the decision and containing specific references to the
pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which the decision is based. If
special circumstances require that the 60 day time period be extended, the
Secretary will so notify the Claimant and will render the decision as soon as
possible, but no later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review.
10. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended, altered or modified, except
by a written instr-ument signed by the parties hereto, or their respective
successors or assigns, and may not be other-wise terminated except as provided
herein.
11. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Bank and its successors and assigns, and the Employee, his
successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and beneficiaries.
12. NOTICES. Any notice, consent or demand required or permitted to be given
under the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be signed
by the party giving or making the same. If such notice, consent or demand is
mailed to a party hereto, it shall be sent by United States certified mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such party's last known address as shown on the
records of the Bank. The date of such mailing shall be deemed the date of
notice, consent or demand.
13. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, and the rights of the parties hereunder,
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United
States, to the extent applicable, and otherwise by the laws of the State of New
York applicable to contracts entered into and performed wholly within its
borders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, in
duplicate, as of the day and year first above written.
NBT BANCORP INC.
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By: /S/ Andrew S. Kowalczyk , Jr.
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Title: Chairman Compensation Committee
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NBT BANK, N.A.
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By: /S/ Michael J. Chewens
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Title: CFO & Secretary
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DARYL R. FORSYTHE
/S/ Daryl R. Forsythe
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