Exhibit 10(a)
PROVIDENT COMMUNITY BANK
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
THIS AGREEMENT is made effective as of October 1, 1997 by and between
Provident Community Bank (the "Bank"), and Dwight V. Neese (the "Executive").
INTRODUCTION
To encourage the Executive to remain an employee of the Bank, the Bank
is willing to provide salary continuation benefits to the Executive. The Bank
will pay such benefits from its general assets.
The Executive and the Bank agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Definitions
1.1 Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings specified:
1.1.1 "Change in Control" shall mean an event deemed to occur
if and when (a) an offeror other than the Company purchases shares of the common
stock of the Company or the Bank pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for such
shares, (b) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is or becomes the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company or the Bank representing
25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's or the Bank's then
outstanding securities, (c) the membership of the board of directors of the
Company or the Bank changes as the result of a contested election, such that
individuals who were directors at the beginning of any twenty-four month period
(whether commencing before or after the date of adoption of this Agreement) do
not constitute a majority of the Board at the end of such period, or (d)
shareholders of the Company or the Bank approve a merger, consolidation, sale or
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's or the Bank's assets,
or a plan of partial or complete liquidation.
1.1.2 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. References to a Code section shall be deemed to be that section as it
now exists and to any successor provision.
1.1.3 "Company" means Union Financial Bancshares, Inc., a
Delaware corporation.
1.1.4 "Disability" means the Executive's inability to perform
substantially all normal duties of the Executive's positions, as determined by
the Bank's Board of Directors in its sole discretion. As a condition to any
benefits, the Bank may require the Executive to submit to such physical or
mental evaluations and tests as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
1.1.5 "Normal Retirement Date" means the date on which
Executive attains age 65.
1.1.6 'Termination of Employment" means the Executive's
ceasing to be employed by the Bank for any reason whatsoever, voluntary or
involuntary, other than by reason of an approved leave of absence.
1.1.7 "Plan Year" means the twelve-month period ending
December 31.
Article 2
Lifetime Benefits
2.1 Normal Retirement Benefit. If the Executive terminates employment
on or after the Normal Retirement Date for reasons other than death, the Bank
shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.1.
2.1.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.1 is
$6,341.67 per month.
2.1.2 Payment of Benefit. The Bank shall pay the benefit under
Section 2.1.1 to the Executive on the first day of each month commencing with
the month following his termination of employment and continuing for 239
additional months.
2.2 Early Retirement Benefit. If the Executive terminates employment
before the Normal Retirement Date, and for reasons other than death or
Disability, the Bank shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in Section
2.2.
2.2.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.2 is
the benefit determined under Schedule A, Column 2 based on the date of the
Executive's termination of employment.
2.2.2 Payment of Benefits. The Bank shall pay the benefit
under Section 2.1.1 to the Executive on the first date of each month commencing
with the month following the Executive's Normal Retirement Date and continuing
for 239 additional months. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Executive may, prior to his termination of employment, elect to commence payment
of the Early Retirement Benefit on the first day of the month following his
termination of employment in the form of a reduced benefit determined under
Schedule A, Column 1 and continuing for 239 additional months.
2.3 Disability Benefit. If the Executive terminates employment for
Disability prior to the Normal Retirement Date, the Bank shall pay the Executive
the benefit described in this Section 2.3.
2
2.3.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.3 is
the benefit determined under Schedule A, Column 1 based on the date of the
Executive's termination of employment for Disability.
2.3.2 Payment of Benefit. The Bank shall pay the benefit to
the Executive on the first day of each month commencing with the month following
the Executive's termination of employment for disability and continuing for 239
additional months.
2.4 Change of Control Benefit. Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control while the Executive is in the active service of the Bank, the Bank shall
pay the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.4 in lieu of any other
benefit under this Agreement.
2.4.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.4 is
the Executive's Normal Retirement Benefit as provided in Section 2.1.1.
2.4.2 Payment of Benefit. The Bank (or any successor thereto)
shall pay the benefit to the Executive on the first day of each month commencing
with the month following the Executive's Normal Retirement Date and continuing
for 239 additional months.
Article 3
Death Benefits
3.1 Death During Active Service. If the Executive dies while in the
active service of the Bank, the Bank shall pay to the Executive's beneficiary
the benefit described in this Section 3.1
3.1.1 Amount of Benefits. The benefit under Section 3.1 is the
lifetime benefits that would have been paid to the Executive under Section 2.1
calculated as if the date of the Executive's death were his Normal Retirement
Date.
3.1.2 Payment of Benefit. The Bank shall pay the benefit to
the Beneficiary on the first day of each month following the Executive's death
and continuing for 239 months.
3.2 Death During Benefit Period. If the Executive dies after benefit
payments have commenced under this Agreement but before receiving all such
payments, the Bank shall pay the remaining benefits to the Executive's
beneficiary at the same time and in the same amounts they would have been paid
to the Executive had the Executive survived.
3.3 Death After Early Retirement. If the Executive dies after
terminating employment for Early Retirement under Section 2.2 but prior to
commencement of benefits payments under this Agreement, the Bank shall pay to
the Executive's beneficiary the benefit described in this Section 3.3.
3
3.3.1 Amount of Benefit. The benefit under Section 3.3 is the
lifetime benefits that would have been paid to the Executive under Section 2.2.
3.3.2 Payment of Benefit. The Bank shall pay the benefit to
the Beneficiary of the first day of each month commencing with the month
following the Executive's death and continuing for 239 months.
Article 4
Beneficiaries
4.1 Beneficiary Designations. The Executive shall designate a
beneficiary by filing a written designation with the Bank. The Executive may
revoke or modify the designation at any time by filing a new designation.
However, designations will only be effective if signed by the Executive and
accepted by the Bank during the Executive's lifetime. 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. If the Executive dies without a valid
beneficiary designation, all payments shall be made to the Executive's surviving
spouse, if any, and if none, to the Executive's surviving children and the
descendants of any deceased child by right of representation, and if no children
or descendants survive, to the Executive's estate.
4.2 Facility of Payment. If a benefit is payable to a minor, to a
person declared incompetent, or to a person incapable of handling the
disposition of his or her property, the Bank may pay such benefit to the
guardian, legal representative or person having the care or custody of such
minor, incompetent or person or incapable person. The Bank may require proof of
incompetency, minority, or guardianship as it may deem appropriate prior to
distribution of the benefit. Such distribution shall completely discharge the
Bank from all liability with respect to such benefit.
Article 5
General Limitations
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Bank shall not pay any benefit under this Agreement:
5.1 Excess Parachute Payment. To the extent that the benefits payable
under this Agreement, taken together with any other payments of benefits to be
provided to Executive upon a Change in Control, would be an excess parachute
payments under Section 280G of the Code.
5.2 Termination of Cause. If the Bank terminates the Executive's
employment for:
5.2.1 Gross negligence or gross neglect of duties;
4
5.2.2 Commission of a felony or of a gross misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude; or
5.2.3 Fraud, disloyalty, dishonestly or willful violation of
any law, regulation or significant Bank policy committed in connection with the
Executive's employment and resulting in an adverse effect on the Bank.
5.3 Suicide, Misstatement. No benefits shall be payable if the
Executive commits suicide within two years after the date of this Agreement, or
if the Executive has made any material misstatement of fact on any application
for life insurance purchased by the Bank.
Article 6
Claims and Review Procedures
6.1 Claims Procedure. The Bank shall notify the Executive's
beneficiary in writing, within ninety (90) days of his or her written
application for benefits, of his or her eligibility or noneligibility for
benefits under the Agreement. If the Bank determines that the beneficiary is not
eligible for benefits or full benefits, the notice shall set forth (1) the
specific reasons for such denial, (2) a specific reference to the provisions of
the Agreement on which the denial is based, (3) a description of any additional
information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect his or her claim,
and a description of why it is needed, and (4) an explanation of the Agreement's
claims review procedure and other appropriate information as to the steps to be
taken if the beneficiary wishes to have the claim reviewed. If the Bank
determines that there are special circumstances requiring additional time to
make a decision, the Bank shall notify the beneficiary of the special
circumstances and the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and may
extend the time for up to an additional ninety-day period.
6.2 Review Procedure. If the beneficiary is determined by the Bank not
to be eligible for benefits, or if the beneficiary believes that he or she is
entitled to greater or different benefits, the beneficiary shall have the
opportunity to have such claim reviewed by the Bank by filing a petition for
review with the Bank within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the notice
issued by the Bank. Said petition shall state the specific reasons which the
beneficiary believe entitle him or her to benefits or to greater or different
benefits. Within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Bank of the petition, the
Bank shall afford the beneficiary (and counsel, if any) an opportunity to
present his or her positions to the Bank orally or in writing, and the
beneficiary (or counsel) shall have the right to review the pertinent documents.
The Bank shall notify the beneficiary of its decision, written in a manner
calculated to be understood by the beneficiary and the specific provisions of
the Agreement on which the decision is based. If, because of the need for a
hearing, the sixty-day period is not sufficient , the decision may be deferred
for up to another sixty-day period at the election of the Bank, but notice of
this deferral shall be given to the beneficiary.
5
Article 7
Amendment and Termination
The Bank may amend or terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the
Executive's Termination of Employment by written notice to the Executive;
provided, however, that any amendment or termination of this Agreement shall not
affect the vested benefit of the Executive as of the date of such amendment or
termination.
Article 8
Miscellaneous
8.1 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall bind the Executive and the
Bank, and their beneficiaries, survivors, executors, administrators and
transferees. The Bank, or the Company acting on behalf of the Bank, shall
require any successor or assignee, whether director indirect, by purchase,
merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all the business or
assets of the Bank, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform
the Bank's obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Bank would be required to perform if no such succession or
assignment had taken place.
8.2 No Guaranty of Employment. This Agreement is not an employment
policy or contract. It does not give the Executive the right to remain an
employee of the Bank, nor does it interfere with the Bank's right to discharge
the Executive. It also does not require the Executive to remain an employee nor
interfere with the Executive's right to terminate employment at any time.
8.3 Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Agreement cannot be
sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached or encumbered in any manner.
8.4 Tax Withholding. The Bank shall withhold any taxes that are
required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Agreement.
8.5 Applicable Law. The Agreement and all rights hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of South Carolina, except to the extent preempted
by the laws of the United States of America.
8.6 Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and beneficiary are general
unsecured creditors of the Bank for the payment of benefits under this
Agreement. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Bank to pay such
benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner or anticipation,
alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or
garnishment by creditors. Any insurance on the Executive's life is a general
asset of the Bank to which the Executive and beneficiary have no preferred or
secured claim.
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and a duly authorized officer of the
Bank have signed this Agreement on the 19 day of February, 1998.
Attest: PROVIDENT COMMUNITY BANK
/s/ Wanda J. Wells /s/ Carl L. Mason
- --------------------------- ----------------------------------
Chairman of the Board
Witness:
/s/ Wanda J. Wells /s/ Dwight V. Neese
- --------------------------- ----------------------------------
Dwight V. Neese
7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Continuation Agreement
Dwight V. Neese
Schedule A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Termination After Column 1 Column 2
Plan Year Ending Immediate Monthly Benefit Age 65 Monthly Benefit
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/98 $163.50 $634.17
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/99 354.17 1,268.33
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/00 575.33 1,902.50
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/01 830.75 2,536.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/02 1,124.60 3,170.83
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/03 1,461.58 3,805.00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9130104 1,846.67 4,439.17
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/05 2,285.66 5,073.33
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/06 2,784.75 5,707.50
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/07 3,351.00 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/08 3,629.17 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/09 3,390.33 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/10 4,256.58 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/11 4,609.92 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/12 4,992.50 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/13 5,406.92 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/14 5,855.67 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/30/15 6,341.67 6,341.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------