EXHIBIT 10(ww)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and among American International Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Parent"), American General Corporation, a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxx X. Xxxx (the "Executive") dated as of the
11th day of May, 2001.
Parent has determined that it is in the best interests of
Parent and the Company and their respective shareholders to assure that the
Company will have the continued services of the Executive following the merger
(the "Merger") of the Company and Washington Acquisition Corporation, a Texas
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), pursuant to
the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 11th, 2001 (the "Merger
Agreement"), to provide the surviving corporation after the Merger with
continuity of management. Pursuant to the terms of the Prior Agreement (as
defined below), Executive would have had the right to terminate his employment
upon consummation of the Merger. However, Parent desires to retain the
Executive's continued services pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, Parent, the Company and the
Executive agree as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Effective Date. The "Effective Date" shall mean the "Effective
Date" (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger. This Agreement shall
be and become effective on the Effective Date. If the Effective Date does not
occur on or before February 28, 2002 or if the Merger Agreement is earlier
terminated in accordance with its terms, then this Agreement shall terminate
automatically on February 28, 2002 or on such earlier Merger Agreement
termination date and none of Parent, the Company or the Executive shall have any
obligation to the other hereunder.
2. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to employ the
Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to continue to serve the Company,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period
commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary thereof
(the "Employment Period").
3. Terms of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the
Executive shall serve in the position set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto,
with the duties and responsibilities associated with such position on the
Effective Date (except to the extent expressly provided in Exhibit A) as shall
be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed in the location set
forth on Exhibit A hereto.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding
any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the
Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his attention and time during
normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and Parent and
to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and
efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be
a violation of this
Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable
boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or
teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long
as such activities do not interfere with the performance of the Executive's
responsibilities as an employee of the Company and Parent in accordance with
this Agreement, and with respect to the activities described in clauses (A) and
(C) hereof subject to Parent's policies as in effect from time to time.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Initial Payment. On the Effective Date, the
Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum payment equal to the amount set
forth on Exhibit A hereto, which is equal to the cash payment that the Executive
would have been entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4.5 (the "Cash
Severance") of the Change in Control Severance Agreement between the Company and
the Executive dated as of April 1, 2000 (the "Severance Agreement"), had he been
terminated by the Company without "cause" (as defined therein) upon the
Effective Date. In addition, on the Effective Date, the Company shall pay to the
insurance company which has issued the policy which is the subject of the
Split-Dollar Agreement between the Executive and the Company, dated as of May
15, 1998 (the "Split-Dollar Agreement"); the amount set forth on Exhibit A
hereto (the "Split Dollar Payment"), which is equal to the projected amount of
the premium payments that the Company would have been required to make during
the three-year period immediately following the Effective Date on the policy
underlying the Split-Dollar Agreement, pursuant to Paragraph 5(b) of the
Split-Dollar Agreement. The Executive shall also be entitled to an excise tax
gross-up payment as set forth in Section 4.7 of the Severance Agreement solely
with respect to the payments and benefits that the Executive was entitled to
receive under the terms of the Severance Agreement, the Employment Agreement
between the Executive and the Company dated as of May 1, 2000 (the "Prior
Employment Agreement"), the Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement between
the Company and the Executive, dated as of May 1, 2000 (the "SERA") and the
Split-Dollar Agreement (collectively, the "Pre-Effective Date Agreements") or
with respect to the vesting of or lapse of restrictions on, as a direct result
of the Merger, compensation earned, benefits accrued or equity awards granted
prior to the Effective Date (including, without limitation, benefits due and
owing under the Pre-Effective Date Agreements and specifically incorporated
herein). Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, in no event shall the
Executive be entitled to an excise tax gross-up payment with respect to any
amounts payable or benefits provided under the terms of this Agreement. The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that in no event shall he be entitled to the
payments or benefits under the Severance Agreement based upon a termination
during a "Period of Anticipated Change in Control" (as defined in the Severance
Agreement).
(ii) Base Salary. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary") of no
less than the annual base salary in effect with respect to the Executive for
calendar year 2001.
(iii) Annual Bonus. For each calendar year ending
during the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive (or at his election
pursuant to the deferred compensation plan of the Company (if any) defer part or
all of) an annual cash bonus at least equal to the amount set forth on Exhibit A
hereto (the "Annual Bonus") no later than January 31 of the following year, and
the Annual Bonus hereunder shall be in lieu of any bonus amount (or portion
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thereof) payable to the Executive under any agreement or bonus plan of the
Company, including without limitation, the Company Performance-Based Plan for
Executive Officers with respect to the calendar year in which the Effective Date
occurs, and the Executive hereby waives all right under any such agreements or
plans. For the calendar year within which the Employment Period ends, the
Executive shall receive no later than January 31 of the following year (or at
his election pursuant to the applicable deferred compensation plan of the
Company (if any) defer part or all of) a bonus which shall equal or exceed an
amount determined by multiplying the Annual Bonus amount set forth on Exhibit A
by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of days in such
calendar year which were included in the Employment Period and the denominator
of which shall be 365.
(iv) Incentive Awards. At the time equity grants
are made to other employees of the Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the
Executive will be granted equity based awards with respect to the common stock
of Parent (the "2001 Service Awards"), pursuant to the terms of the applicable
Parent plan as in effect from time to time, that is equal in value to the value
of all options (valued using a Black-Scholes value of $10.00, after giving
effect to the stock split in 2001), restricted shares and Performance Awards
contained in a Performance Based Restricted Stock/Restricted Share Unit Award
(valued using the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of
grant) with respect to restricted share units and performance awards that were
granted to the Executive by the Company on January 17, 2001, and with the ratio
of the options, restricted shares and performance awards being the same as the
ratio of the awards granted to the Executive on January 17, 2001. For purposes
of the immediately preceding sentence, the value of the options in Parent's
common stock shall be determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, using
assumptions established in manner consistent with the assumptions applied by
Parent, consistent with past practices, in respect of stock option grants in
2001. Any stock options on Parent common stock granted in connection with the
2001 Service Awards will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value
of the Parent common stock subject thereto on the date of grant and, except as
otherwise provided herein, shall vest in four equal installments on each of the
first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant. Any
restricted shares and Performance Awards granted in respect of Parent common
stock shall have terms and conditions that are substantially comparable to those
applied in respect of the 2001 awards made by the Company. In the event that the
Executive receives any equity award grants (other than reload options) from the
Company after the date hereof, the 2001 Service Awards shall be reduced by the
value of any such awards (determined using a Black-Scholes value with respect to
options, using assumptions established on a basis consistent with those applied
by the Company in determining such Black-Scholes value in respect of the 2001
grants to the Executive, and the fair market value on the date of grant with
respect to performance based or restricted stock awards).
(v) Retirement Benefits. On the Effective Date,
the Executive shall be paid the benefits payable to the Executive under the
SERA, which benefits shall be calculated under the terms and conditions thereof
(including without limitation, any enhanced service and age credits provided
under Section 2.6 in respect of a termination of the Executive's employment
following the occurrence of a Change of Control) as though the Executive's
employment terminated on the Effective Date without Cause and the Executive
elected to receive a lump sum distribution of such benefits, with any offset
against such benefits related to the benefits payable to the Executive under any
other retirement plan maintained by the Company based on the benefits
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accrued by the Executive thereunder as of the Effective Date. From and after the
Effective Date, the Executive shall not be entitled to accrue any additional
benefit under the SERA. From and after the Effective Date, the Executive shall
participate in the applicable retirement plans of the Company as though no SERA
benefit was accrued, provided that the Executive shall not become a participant
in the Company's or Parent's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and that in
no event shall the Executive be entitled to duplicate benefits with respect to
the same period of service. To the extent anything contained in this Section
3(b)(v) is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the SERA, the SERA
shall be deemed amended hereby.
(vi) Other Employee Benefit Plans. During the
Employment Period, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Executive
shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit, welfare and other
plans, practices, policies and programs generally applicable to similarly
situated executives of the Company, provided that, in no event shall the
Executive be entitled to receive duplicate benefits with respect to the same
period of service under any plans, practices, policies or programs of the
Company and/or Parent. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, the Executive expressly understands and agrees that he will not
initially be entitled to become a participant in the STARR International Co.,
Inc. ("SICO") Deferred Compensation Profit Participation Plan ("SICO Plan") or
to become a stockholder of X.X. XXXXX & Co., Inc. ("STARR"), but that following
the first anniversary of the Effective Date, Parent will recommend to the Boards
of Directors of SICO and of STARR that the Executive be eligible to commence
participation in the SICO Plan and to become a stockholder of STARR, consistent
with similarly situated executives of subsidiaries of Parent. Any participation
in the SICO Plan or STARR will require a mutually agreeable reduction in the
other compensation payable or provided to the Executive, including without
limitation the Base Salary and the Annual Bonus, and such reduction will be a
condition to participation in such plans and will in no event be deemed a breach
of this Agreement. Any reduction in the compensation otherwise payable hereunder
shall be agreed to, in writing, by the parties in advance of the time such
reduction is to be effective, and such writing shall set forth, in reasonable
detail sufficient for the Executive to understand, the compensation being
provided in lieu thereof and all vesting and forfeiture provisions related
thereto (and other restrictions, if any, on the ability of the Executive to
access or receive such compensation).
(vii) Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify
the Executive during his employment hereunder and following the termination of
the Executive's employment hereunder, on the same basis as the Company
indemnifies similarly situated executives of the Company.
(viii) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the Company's policies.
(ix) Perquisites. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to perquisites in accordance with the plans,
practices, policies and programs generally applicable to similarly situated
executives of the Company.
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(x) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans,
policies, programs and practices of the Company as in effect with respect to the
similarly situated executives of the Company.
(xi) Other Benefits From Prior Employment
Agreement. Upon and following any termination of the Executive's employment with
the Company following the Effective Date, regardless of the reason, the Company
shall provide the Executive with the benefits described in Section 8(c)(iv) of
the Prior Employment Agreement for the duration described in the Prior
Employment Agreement, based on the comparable benefits provided immediately
prior to the Date of Termination.
4. Termination of Employment.
(a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall
terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period.
If the Company or Parent determines in good faith that the Disability of the
Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition
of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in
accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate
the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the
Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice
by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30
days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time
performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties
with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a
result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be
total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and
reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal representative.
(b) With or Without Cause. The Company or Parent may
terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period with or
without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) the continued failure of the Executive to
perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its
affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance
is delivered to the Executive by Parent that specifically identifies the manner
in which Parent believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the
Executive's duties, or
(ii) the engaging by the Executive in illegal
conduct or gross misconduct that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the
Company or one of its affiliates, or
(iii) conviction of a felony or guilty or nolo
contendere plea by the Executive with respect thereto.
Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given
pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Parent Board or the Board of
Directors of the Company or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer
of Parent or the Company or based upon the advice of counsel for Parent or the
Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the
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Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The acts
and/or omissions which are alleged to constitute the basis for a Cause
termination shall be identified to the Executive in reasonable detail in
writing, at the time of any such termination of the Executive's employment for
Cause.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be
terminated by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Good Reason" shall mean a material breach by the Company or Parent of a
material provision of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Parent and the Executive agree that any of the following would
constitute a material breach of this Agreement by Parent: (i) any reduction in
the Executive's base salary or annual bonus (other than a reduction consented
to by the Executive in writing, including, without limitation, any reduction
contemplated by Section 3(b)(vi)); (ii) any material adverse change (without
his prior written consent) in the Executive's duties and responsibilities, or
titles, as set forth in Section 3(a)(i) and Exhibit A attached hereto; and (iii)
any relocation of his principal place of employment in violation of Section
3(a)(i) and Exhibit A attached hereto.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company
for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice
of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 10(b)
of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination"
means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in
this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and
(iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of
receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not
more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the
Executive, the Company or Parent to set forth in the Notice of Termination any
fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause
shall not waive any right of the Executive, the Company or Parent, respectively,
hereunder or preclude the Executive, the Company or Parent, respectively, from
asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's, the Company's
or Parent's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i)
if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company or Parent for Cause,
or by the Executive with or without Good Reason, the date of receipt of the
Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein within 30 days of such
notice, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by
the Company or Parent other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the Company or Parent notifies the
Executive of such termination and (iii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be
the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case
may be.
5. Obligations of the Company upon Termination, (a) Good Reason;
Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the
Company or Parent shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for
Cause, death or Disability or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good
Reason:
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(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a
lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of
the following amounts:
A. (1) the Executive's Annual Base Salary
through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore
paid ("Accrued Salary"), (2) the benefits described in Section
3(b)(xi) hereof and (3) any benefits to which the Executive is
entitled under the terms and conditions of any applicable
employee benefits plan, program or agreement (collectively,
subclause (l)-(3) shall be referred to as the "Accrued
Obligations"); and
B. a lump sum amount equal to the greater of
(x) the severance under the severance policy applicable to
similarly situated executives of the Company, as in effect
from time to time, and (y) the sum of the Executive's Annual
Base Salary and the Annual Bonus amount set forth in Section
3(b)(iii); and
C. a pro-rata portion of the Annual Bonus
payable to the Executive under Section 3(b)(iii), which shall
be determined by multiplying such bonus by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days in the calendar year
in which the Executive's date of termination occurs which have
elapsed prior to such date of termination and the denominator
of which is 365; and
D. outplacement services for the duration and
of the nature described in Section 8(c)(v) of the Prior
Employment Agreement; and
(ii) to the extent granted prior to the Date of
Termination, the 2001 Service Awards shall vest immediately.
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal
representatives under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Obligations (to the
extent applicable upon the Executive's death). Accrued Salary shall be paid to
the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, (i) to the extent
granted prior to the Date of Termination, all of the 2001 Service Awards shall
become fully vested and, to the extent applicable, exercisable for the maximum
period allowable under the applicable plan for a termination due to death and
(ii) the Executive's estate shall be entitled to the death benefits as in effect
on the date of the Executive's death with respect to similarly situated
executives of the Company (including, without limitation, any rights to
accelerated vesting and enhanced exercise periods applicable in respect of any
equity awards made to the Executive in connection with his employment after the
Effective Date (excluding the 2001 Service Awards, which are addressed in
subclause (i)) that are generally available to similarly situated executives of
subsidiaries of Parent whose employment has terminated for such reason under
the terms of the plan, program or arrangement under which such awards have been
made (the "Equity Enhancements")).
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period,
this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive,
other than in respect of the Accrued Obligations. Accrued
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Salary shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of
the Date of Termination. In addition, (i) to the extent granted prior to the
Date of Termination, all of the 2001 Service Awards shall become fully vested
and, to the extent applicable, exercisable for the maximum period allowable
under the applicable Parent plan for a termination due to disability and (ii)
the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive,
disability and other benefits as in effect at any time thereafter generally with
respect to similarly situated executives of the Company and to the Equity
Enhancements).
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive's
employment shall be terminated for Cause or the Executive terminates his
employment without Good Reason during the Employment Period, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the
obligation to pay to the Executive the Accrued Obligations and the only duties,
obligations and liabilities of the Executive to the Company or Parent thereafter
shall be the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 7 hereof.
6. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action which the Company or Parent may have
against the Executive or others.
7. Confidential Information; Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation.
(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for
the benefit of the Company and Parent all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company, Parent or any of their affiliated
companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by
the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company, Parent or any of
their affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge
(other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in
violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment
with the Company, Parent or any of their affiliated companies, the Executive
shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent or as may otherwise be
required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information,
knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company, Parent or any of their
affiliated companies and those designated by them.
(b) The Executive agrees that until the earlier of (i)
the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the first anniversary of
the Executive's termination of employment for any reason (the "Restricted
Period"), the Executive will not, without the written consent of Parent, engage
in any business of, or enter the employ of, or have any interest in, directly or
indirectly, any other person, firm, corporation or other entity engaged in a
business that competes with, or provides services and/or products of a nature
substantially similar to those provided by, the Company, Parent or their
affiliates, with an office or facility in any geographic area in which the
Company, Parent or their affiliates do business. Nothing herein shall restrict
the Executive from owning 1% or less of the outstanding securities of any
corporation or other entity whose securities are listed on any national
securities exchange or traded over-the-counter, if the Executive has no other
connection or relationship with the issuer of such securities.
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(c) During the Restricted Period, the Executive will not,
directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Executive or any other person, solicit
for employment or employ by other than the Company or Parent any person who, at
any time during the six-month period immediately preceding the date of such
solicitation, was an employee of the Company, Parent or any of their affiliates.
(d) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that due to the
nature of the business in which the Company, Parent and their affiliates are
engaged and because of the nature of the confidential information to which the
Executive has access, it would be impractical and excessively difficult to
determine the actual damages of the Company or Parent in the event the Executive
breached any of the covenants of this Section 7 and that remedies at law (such
as monetary damages) for any breach of the Executive's obligations under this
Section 7 would be inadequate. The Executive therefore agrees and consents that,
if the Executive commits any breach of a covenant under this Section 7 or
threatens to commit any such breach, the Company and Parent shall have the right
(in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other right or remedy that may be
available to each of them) to temporary and permanent injunctive relief from a
court of competent jurisdiction. With respect to any provision of this Section 7
finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, the
Executive, the Company and Parent hereby agree that such court shall have
jurisdiction to reform this Agreement or any provision hereof so that it is
enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the parties agree to
abide by such court's determination.
(e) The provisions of this Section 7 shall remain in full
force and effect until the expiration of the period specified therein,
notwithstanding the earlier termination of the Executive's employment
hereunder, the Employment Period or this Agreement, provided that the Effective
Date has occurred.
8. Successors.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and
without the prior written consent of the Company and Parent shall not be
assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and Parent and their respective successors and assigns.
(c) The Company and Parent will require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise)
to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company or
Parent, as applicable, to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement
in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company and/or Parent would
be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this
Agreement, "Company" and "Parent" shall mean the Company and Parent as
hereinbefore defined and any successor to their respective businesses and/or
assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated
companies" and "affiliates" shall include any company controlled by, controlling
or under common control with the Company.
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9. Dispute Mechanism.
(a) Pre-Effective Date Agreements. To the extent that
there is any dispute between the parties with respect to any benefits payable
hereunder which are due and payable under a Pre-Effective Date Agreement
(including, without limitation, the amounts payable under Section 3(b)(i), the
SERA benefits payable under Section 3(b)(v) and the benefits payable or provided
under Section 5(a)(i)(D)), such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to the
mechanism set forth in Section 20 of the Prior Employment Agreement, which is
incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof, and Parent shall be
obligated to pay (or shall cause the Company to pay) the Executive's legal and
arbitration fees and expenses as provided under Section 10 of the Prior
Employment Agreement, which is incorporated by reference herein and made a part
hereof.
(b) Benefits and Claims Not Related to the Pre-Effective
Date Agreements. To the extent that there is any dispute between the parties
with respect to any benefits payable hereunder which are not due and payable
under a Pre-Effective Date Agreement (and therefore not subject to the dispute
mechanism set forth in Section 9(a) above), Parent shall be obligated to pay (or
shall cause the Company to pay) the Executive's legal and arbitration fees and
expenses related to such dispute in the event that the Executive prevails at
arbitration or trial as to any material issue presented in such dispute.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not
be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to the Executive: At the most recent address on file
at the Company
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If to the Company: American General Corporation
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Copy to Parent: American International Group, Inc.
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company's obligations (i) to indemnify the
Executive pursuant to Section 3(vii), (ii) to provide the Executive with
benefits and compensation pursuant to Section 5, (iii) to pay any gross-up
payment required to be paid under Section 3(b)(i), and (iv) to pay any amount
not previously paid (and required to be paid hereunder ) in respect of any
Pre-Effective Date Agreement, as well as the dispute mechanisms set forth in
Section 9, shall survive the termination of the Executive's employment
hereunder, the Employment Period or this Agreement, provided that the Effective
Date has occurred.
(e) None of the benefits provided to the Executive under
any of the Pre-Effective Date Agreements or under Section 5 hereof shall be
subject to any mitigation or offset, except as may otherwise be expressly
provided hereunder.
(f) The Company or Parent may withhold from any amounts
payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as
shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(g) The Executive's or the Company's or Parent's failure
to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the
failure to assert any right the Executive, the Company or Parent may have
hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any
other provision or right of this Agreement.
(h) From and after the Effective Date, this Agreement
shall supersede and terminate the Severance Agreement, the Prior Employment
Agreement, and any amendments thereto, except to the extent that any of the
benefits made available under the Prior Employment Agreement are expressly
intended to continue under the terms of this Agreement. From and after the
Effective Date, the SERA and the Split-Dollar Agreement shall be amended in
accordance with the terms hereof, and, upon satisfaction of the Company's
obligations as set forth herein, the Company and Parent shall have no further
obligations under such agreements.
-11-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the
Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from their respective Boards
of Directors, each of the Company and Parent has caused these presents to be
executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above
written.
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------------------------------------
XXXX X. XXXX
AMERICAN GENERAL CORPORATION
BY /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Executive Vice President and General Counsel
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.
BY /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel
-12-
Exhibit A
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Position: Senior Vice Chairman
Adjustments to Responsibilities: Excluding responsibilities related to
investments.
Location: Houston, Texas
Cash Severance Amount: $4,875,000
Split-Dollar Payment: $222,387
Annual Bonus: $1,250,000
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.
00 XXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
TELEPHONE: (000) 000-0000
July 27, 2001
Xxxx X. Xxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Re: Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of May 11, 2001
Dear Xx. Xxxx:
This letter confirms the following understandings reached among you, American
International Group, Inc. ("Parent"), SunAmerica Inc., a Delaware corporation
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("SunAmerica"), and American General
Corporation ("Company") with respect to the Employment Agreement dated as of May
11,2001( the "Agreement") and constitutes an amendment to such Agreement:
1. As of the Effective Date (as defined in the Agreement"), (a) the Company's
rights and obligations under the Agreement will be assigned to SunAmerica
without further action required, (b) SunAmerica will assume all rights and
obligations of the Company under the Agreement, and (c) all references in
the Agreement to the Company (other than references to specifically
identified employee benefits or benefit or other plans of the Company which
remain in effect subsequent to the Effective Date (which references will
remain references to such continuing plans of the Company so long as such
plans remain in effect in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement
(as defined in the Agreement)) will be deemed to be references to
SunAmerica.
2. Exhibit A to the Agreement is amended as follows:
"Position: Vice Chairman, SunAmerica Inc. You will be elected as a
member of the Board of Directors of SunAmerica Inc.
Adjustments to Responsibilities: The Executive acknowledges and agrees
that the businesses comprising the Retirement Services Division of
American General Corporation are being integrated into SunAmerica Inc.
and its subsidiaries (excluding American General Investment Management,
which is being integrated into the Fixed Income operations of Parent).
The Executive's responsibilities will include the Fixed Annuity
business, the non-profit group Retirement Plan business (i.e., Variable
Annuity Life Insurance Company) and the Broker-Dealer business (i.e.,
The SunAmerica Financial Network) (these businesses collectively
referred to herein as the "Reference Businesses"). The Executive's
responsibilities will exclude responsibilities related to investments,
the mutual fund business (acknowledging that the mutual fund business
of American General Corporation is being combined with SunAmerica Asset
Management Corp.) and Individual Variable Annuities
Location: Houston, Texas, then Los Angeles, California (after an agreed
upon transitional period not to exceed 12 months."
3. Section 3(b)(iii) of the Agreement is amended as follows: "Bonus. For each
calendar year ending during the Employment Period, (a) the Executive shall
receive (or at his election pursuant to the deferred compensation plan of
the Company, if any, defer part or all of) an annual cash bonus of not less
than $1,250,000 (the "Annual Bonus") no later than January 31 of the
following year and (b) the Annual Bonus hereunder shall be in lieu of any
bonus amount (or portion thereof) payable to the Executive under any
agreement or bonus plan of the Company, Parent or any subsidiary of Parent
(other than the Supplementary Bonus as hereinafter described), including
without limitation, the Company Performance-Based Plan for Executive
Officers with respect to the calendar year in which the Effective Date
occurs, and the Executive hereby waives all rights under such agreement or
plans. For the calendar year within which the Employment Period ends, the
Executive shall receive no later than January 31 of the following year (or
at his election pursuant to the applicable deferred compensation plan of the
Company, if any, defer part or all of) a bonus which shall
2
equal or exceed an amount determined by multiplying the Annual Bonus by a
fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of days in such calendar
year which were included in the Employment Period and the denominator of
which shall be 365.
For each calendar year ending during the Employment Period, the
Executive will receive a minimum of $90,000 of bonus compensation (the
"Supplementary Bonus") payable in equal quarterly amounts with regard to
services performed in that year provided the Executive is employed by Parent
or a subsidiary of Parent at the time of the respective quarterly payment
when such payment becomes due."
4. Section 3(b)(iv) of the Agreement is amended as follows: "Incentive Awards.
At the time equity grants are made to executive officers of the Parent in
respect of services performed in the calendar year ending December 31, 2001,
the Executive will be granted equity-based awards with respect to the common
stock of Parent (the "2001 Service Awards"), pursuant to the terms of the
applicable Parent plans or the applicable plans of Starr International
Company, Inc. ("SICO"), which the parties agree has an aggregate value as of
the date of this letter of at least $8,731,163 comprised of the following:
- stock options with an exercise price equal to the fair market
value of Parent common stock on the date of grant, vesting
(subject to your continued employment with Parent or its
subsidiaries on the vesting dates) in four equal installments
on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries
of the date of grant having an aggregate Black-Scholes
valuation of $2,148,023 using a Black-Scholes factor of
0.4059;
- Five year cliff vesting stock options vesting (subject to your
continued employment with Parent or its subsidiaries on the
vesting date) in full on the fifth anniversary of the date of
grant with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
Parent common stock on the date of grant having an aggregate
Black Scholes valuation of $2,520,000 using a Black-Scholes
factor of 0.40;
3
- Performance share units having a maximum aggregate value of
$3,825,000 based upon the fair market value on the date of
grant which shall vest (subject to your continued employment
with the Parent or its subsidiaries on the vesting date) from
0 to 100 percent as soon as administratively feasible after
December 31, 2004 (provided that, the receipt of shares of
Parent common stock pursuant to such units may be deferred, at
the election of the Executive, pursuant to an applicable
deferral program of the Parent, if any ) upon achievement of
the following implied growth rates of Cumulative Pre-Tax
Operating Earnings of (a) the Reference Businesses (with
respect to 50% of the maximum shares earned shown below) and
(b) SunAmerica (with respect to the other 50% of the maximum
shares earned shown below):
Maximum Implied Growth Rate--------- 15.0% Maximum Shares Earned------ 100%
Target Implied Growth Rate---------- 12.5% Maximum Shares Earned------ 50%
Threshold Implied Growth Rate---- -- 8.5% Maximum Shares Earned------ 25%
Below Implied Growth Rate-------- -- 8.50% Maximum Shares Earned------ 0%
Cumulative Pre-Tax Operating Earnings means the consolidated
pretax operating earnings of the Reference Businesses or
SunAmerica, as applicable, excluding net realized investment
gains, non-recurring items, and the cumulative effect of
accounting changes under generally accepted accounting
principles;
and
- 900 participation units in the then current SICO Deferred
Compensation Profit Participation Plan ("SICO Plan") (number
of units determined using a valuation model for the shares of
Parent common stock expected to be distributable with respect
to such units in accordance with the terms of the SICO Plan
using assumptions established on a basis consistent with those
applied by Parent in valuing participation units for similarly
situated executives of Parent.)
In the event that the Executive receives any equity award grants (other than
reload options) from the Company after the date hereof prior to the
Effective Date, the 2001
4
Service Awards shall be reduced by the value of any such awards (determined
using a Black-Scholes value with respect options, using assumptions
established on a basis consistent with those applied by the Company in
determining such Black-Scholes value in respect of the 2001 grants to the
Executive, and the fair market value on the date of grant with respect to
performance based and restricted stock awards.)"
5. Section 3(b)(vi) of the Agreement is amended as follows: "Other Employee
Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
employee benefit, welfare and other plans, practices, policies and programs
generally applicable to similarly situated executives of the Company,
provided that in no event shall the Executive be entitled to receive
duplicate benefits with respect to the same period of service under any
plans, practices, policies or programs of the Company and/or Parent.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Executive
expressly understands and agrees that he will not initially be entitled to
become a stockholder of X.X. Xxxxx & Co., Inc. ("Starr"), but that following
the first anniversary of the Effective Time, Parent will recommend to the
Board of Directors of Starr that the Executive be eligible to become a
stockholder of Starr, consistent with similarly situated executives of
subsidiaries of Parent. Any Participation as a stockholder of Starr will
require a mutually agreeable reduction in other compensation payable or
provided to the Executive, including without limitation the Base Salary, the
Annual Bonus and the Supplementary Bonus, and such reduction will be a
condition to such participation and will in no way be deemed a breach of
this Agreement. Any reduction in the compensation otherwise payable
hereunder shall be agreed to, in writing, by the parties in advance of the
time such reduction is to be effective, and such writing shall set forth, in
reasonable detail sufficient for the Executive to understand, the
compensation being provided in lieu thereof and all vesting and forfeiture
provisions related thereto (and other restrictions, if any, on the ability
of the Executive to access or receive such compensation).
6. The Executive agrees that this letter agreement constitutes his written
consent to changes in his compensation arrangements, duties and
responsibilities and principal
5
place of employment and under no circumstances shall such changes constitute
"Good Reason" for termination by the Executive as defined in Section 4(c) of
the Agreement.
7. From and after the date hereof, the Agreement is hereby amended by this
letter agreement, in accordance with Section 10 of the Agreement.
Very truly yours,
American International Group, Inc. American General Corporation
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------- ----------------------------
Name: X.X. Xxxxxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chairman Title: Executive Vice President
SunAmerica Inc.
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------
Name: Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President and CEO
Accepted and Agreed as of August 6, 2001:
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx
6
March 25, 2003
Xxxx X. Xxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Re: Second Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of May 11, 2001
Dear Xx. Xxxx:
This letter confirms the following understandings reached among you, American
International Group, Inc. ("Parent"), AIG SunAmerica Inc. (formerly SunAmerica
Inc.), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("AIG
SunAmerica"), and American General Corporation ("Company") with respect to the
Employment Agreement dated as of May 11, 2001 (the "Original Agreement") and
the Amendment to the Original Agreement dated July 27, 2001 (the "First
Amendment" and, together with the Original Agreement, the "Agreements") and
constitutes an amendment to the Agreements:
1. As of November 6, 2002, (a) AIG SunAmerica's rights and obligations under the
Agreements will be assigned to Parent without further action required, (b)
Parent will assume all rights and obligations of AIG SunAmerica under the
Agreements, and (c) all references in the Agreements to the Company or AIG
SunAmerica (other than references to specifically identified employee
benefits or benefit or other plans of the Company which remain in effect
subsequent to the Effective Date (which references will remain references to
such continuing plans of the Company so long as such plans remain in
effect)), will be deemed to be references to Parent.
2. Exhibit A to the Original Agreement is amended as follows (superceding
Section 2 of the First Amendment):
"POSITION: Executive Vice President, Retirement Savings, American
International Group, Inc. Vice Chairman, AIG SunAmerica Inc. Executive will
continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of AIG SunAmerica
Inc.
ADJUSTMENTS TO RESPONSIBILITIES: The Executive will head the international
retirement savings operations of the AIG companies. The operations include
the pension, annuity, and retail asset management businesses of the AIG
companies internationally.
LOCATION: New York, New York."
3. Section 4 of the First Amendment (amending Section 3(b)(iv) of the Original
Agreement) is amended to delete the third bullet point contained therein in
its entirety and to insert in lieu thereof the following:
"Performance share units having a maximum aggregate value of $3,825,000
based upon the fair market value on the date of grant which shall vest
(subject to your continued employment with the Parent or its subsidiaries
on the vesting date) from 25 to 100 percent as soon as administratively
feasible after December 31, 2004 (provided that, the receipt of shares of
Parent common stock pursuant to such units may be deferred, at the election
of the Executive, pursuant to an applicable deferral program of the Parent,
if any), such vesting percentage to be at the discretion of the Chief
Executive Officer of Parent based upon his assessment of the growth and
profitability of (i) the international retirement savings operations and
(ii) the domestic fixed annuity and non-profit group retirement plan
businesses of AIG SunAmerica, otherwise referred to as AIG Annuity and AIG
VALIC."
4. The Executive agrees that this letter agreement constitutes his written
consent to changes in his compensation arrangements, duties and
responsibilities and principal place of employment and under no
circumstances shall change constitute
"Good Reason" for termination by the Executive as defined in Section 4(c) of
the Original Agreement.
5. From and after the date hereof, the Agreements are hereby amended by this
letter agreement, in accordance with Section 10 of the Original Agreement.
Very truly yours,
American International Group, Inc. American General Corporation
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------- --------------------------
Name: X.X. Xxxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Chairman and Chief Title: Executive Vice President
Executive Officer
AIG SunAmerica Inc.
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------
Name: Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
Accepted and Agreed as of March 25, 2003:
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx
2
SPLIT-DOLLAR AGREEMENT
THIS SPLIT-DOLLAR AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of May 15, 1998 (the "Effective Date"), by and among AMERICAN
GENERAL CORPORATION, a Texas corporation, with principal offices and place of
business in Houston, Texas (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), XXXX X.
XXXX (hereinafter referred to as the "Executive"), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Trustee
of the Xxxx 1998 Family Trust (hereinafter referred to as the "Owner"),(1/)
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed by the Company or an
affiliate of the Company; and
WHEREAS, in order to retain the benefits of the services of the
Executive for the Company and its affiliates, the Company desires to assist the
Executive in providing life insurance protection for the Executive's family
under a policy of life insurance (hereinafter referred to as the "Policy")
insuring the life of the Executive, which Policy is described in Exhibit A
attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof, and which is being
issued by American General Life Insurance Company (hereinafter referred to as
the "Insurer"); and
WHEREAS, the Company is willing to pay all of the premiums due on the
Policy as an additional employment benefit for the Executive, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Owner will be the owner of the Policy and, as such, will
possess all incidents of ownership in and to the Policy; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to have the Policy collaterally assigned to
it by the Owner in order to secure the repayment of the amounts which it will
pay toward the premiums on the Policy;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
promises contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
----------------
(1/) If the Executive will be the owner of the policy (as opposed to an
insurance trust or other entity), then the Executive's name should be inserted
in each of the blank spaces provided for the name of the Executive and the name
of the Owner. If the space provided for the name of the Owner is not completed,
then the Executive shall be deemed to be the Owner.
1. DEFINED TERMS. The terms "Agreement," "Company," "Effective
Date," "Executive," "Insurer," "Owner," and "Policy" shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the preceding provisions of this Agreement. Where the
following words and terms are used in this Agreement, they shall have the
respective meanings set forth below, unless the context clearly indicates to the
contrary:
(a) AFFILIATE: The term "Affiliate" shall have the
meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
(b) ANNIVERSARY DATE: Each annual anniversary of the
Effective Date; provided, however, that for purposes of Paragraph l(d)
below, the Effective Date shall also be considered an Anniversary Date.
(c) AVERAGE ANNUAL BONUS: As of any date for which the
Benefit Amount must be determined pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement that occurs (1) during the period beginning on the Effective
Date and ending on the first Anniversary Date, an amount equal to 75%
of the Executive's annual base salary from the Company or an Affiliate
of the Company at the rate in effect on the Effective Date (the "Deemed
Bonus"), (2) during the period beginning on the day immediately
following the first Anniversary Date and ending on the second
Anniversary Date, an amount equal to the average of the Deemed Bonus
and the most recent annual incentive bonus paid in cash by the Company
(or an Affiliate of the Company) to the Executive on or before the
first Anniversary Date, (3) during the period beginning on the day
immediately following the second Anniversary Date and ending on the
third Anniversary Date, an amount equal to the average of the Deemed
Bonus and the two most recent annual incentive bonuses paid in cash by
the Company (or an Affiliate of the Company) to the Executive on or
before the second Anniversary Date, and (4) after the third Anniversary
Date, an amount equal to the average of the three most recent annual
incentive bonuses paid in cash by the Company (or an Affiliate of the
Company) to the Executive on or before the Anniversary Date next
preceding such date for which the Benefit Amount is determined.
(d) BASE SALARY: As of any date for which the Benefit
Amount must be determined pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the
Executive's annual base salary from the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company at the rate in effect on the Anniversary Date next preceding
such date.
(e) BENEFIT AMOUNT: As of any given date, an amount equal
to 200% of the sum of the Executive's Base Salary and Average Annual
Bonus as of such date; provided, however, that on the Executive's
Normal Retirement Date, the Benefit Amount shall be reduced to 100% of
the sum of the Executive's Base Salary and Average Annual Bonus as of
the Measurement Date (except that if the Executive continues his or her
employment beyond the Executive's Normal Retirement Date, then such
reduction shall occur on the date
-2-
of the Executive's termination of employment with the Company for a
reason other than death). Notwithstanding the foregoing or any
provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Benefit Amount shall
not be increased at any time after the Effective Date to the extent
such increase is subject to the medical underwriting requirements of
the Insurer and the Insurer refuses to increase the face amount of the
Policy based upon the health or medical condition of the Executive.
(f) CAUSE: The term "Cause" shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in the Change in Control Severance Agreement.
(g) CHANGE IN CONTROL: The term "Change in Control" shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in the Change in Control
Severance Agreement.
(h) CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT: The Change in
Control Severance Agreement between the Company and the Executive that
is in effect on the Effective Date (or any successor agreement
thereto).
(i) CLAIMANT: The term "Claimant" shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Paragraph 10 hereof.
(j) DISABLED: The Executive shall be considered
"Disabled" for purposes of this Agreement at such time as the Executive
becomes entitled to receive long-term disability benefits under a
long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or an Affiliate of
the Company.
(k) MEASUREMENT DATE: The earlier of (1) the date upon
which the Executive's employment with the Company terminates for any
reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, termination of
employment by reason of the death or retirement of the Executive), (2)
the date upon which the Executive becomes Disabled, or (3) the
effective date of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Paragraph 8 hereof.
(l) NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE: The term "Normal Retirement
Date" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Company's
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan that is in effect on the
Effective Date.
(m) PREMIUM PAYMENT PERIOD: A period of 10 years
commencing on the Effective Date; provided, however, that upon written
notice to the Owner and the Executive prior to the occurrence of a
Change in Control, the Company may from time to time extend the Premium
Payment Period for any period determined by the Company that ends on or
before the later of (1) the Executive's Normal Retirement Date or (2)
the fifteenth Anniversary Date.
-3-
(n) RELEVANT ASSUMPTIONS: As of any given date, (1) the
Company's assumption as of such date with respect to the rate of
increase, if any, in the Benefit Amount from such date to the
Executive's Normal Retirement Date (or, if the Executive continues his
or her employment with the Company beyond the Executive's Normal
Retirement Date, to the Executive's projected date of retirement from
the Company) and (2) current mortality rates and charges, crediting
rates, expenses, and other relevant matters applicable to the Policy as
of such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the assumed rate of
increase in the Benefit Amount shall be 0% from and after the
Measurement Date.
2. ACQUISITION AND OWNERSHIP OF POLICY; LIMITATIONS ON OWNER'S
RIGHTS IN POLICY.
(a) The Owner shall contemporaneously purchase the Policy
from the Insurer in the initial total face amount specified in Exhibit A
attached hereto. The parties hereto agree that they shall take all reasonable
action necessary to cause the Insurer to issue the Policy, and shall take any
further reasonable action which may be necessary to cause the Policy to conform
to the provisions of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that the Policy
shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the
collateral assignment filed with the Insurer relating to the Policy.
(b) The Policy names the Owner, and the Owner shall be,
the sole and absolute owner of the Policy. The Owner shall not exercise any of
the ownership rights granted to the owner of the Policy by the terms thereof
except with the express written consent of the Company. Without limiting the
scope of the foregoing, the Owner shall not sell, assign, transfer, borrow
against or withdraw from the cash surrender value of the Policy, change the
beneficiary designation provision of the Policy, change the elected death
benefit option provisions of the Policy, decrease or increase the face amount of
insurance, surrender or cancel the Policy, or take any other action with respect
to the Policy without, in any such case, the express written consent of the
Company.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 2(b)
above, the Owner shall have the right to take any of the following actions
without the express written consent of the Company, provided that the Owner
provides the Company with 15 days prior written notice of any such action: (1)
designate the beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the portion of the
proceeds payable under the Policy specified in Paragraph 7(b) hereof; (2) elect
the settlement option with respect to such proceeds from among the settlement
options available under the Policy; and (3) change such beneficiary designation
and settlement option from time to time.
3. COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT: LIMITATION ON COMPANY'S RIGHTS IN
POLICY.
(a) To secure the repayment to the Company of the amount
of the premiums on the Policy paid by the Company hereunder, the Owner has,
contemporaneously herewith, assigned the Policy to the Company as collateral
under a separate assignment instrument The collateral assignment of the Policy
to the Company shall not be terminated, altered or amended by the Owner, without
the express written consent of the Company. The parties hereto agree to take all
action
-4-
necessary to cause such collateral assignment to conform to the provisions of
this Agreement and to be accepted by the Insurer. Without limiting the scope of
the preceding provisions of this Paragraph 3, the parties hereto agree that the
Company shall have an interest in the cash surrender value and the death
benefits under the Policy to secure the amounts due to the Company hereunder,
which interest shall in no event be less than the aggregate premium payments
made with respect to the Policy by the Company pursuant to Paragraph 5 below.
(b) The Company shall not at any time prior to the
termination of this Agreement (1) take any action that would cause the death
benefits under the Policy that would be available for distribution to the
beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Owner as provided herein to be
less than the Benefit Amount (determined as of the earlier of the Measurement
Date or the date such action was taken by the Company) and (2) from and after
the date upon which a Change in Control occurs, borrow against the Policy,
pledge the Policy as collateral for a loan, withdraw any amount from the Policy
or otherwise access any funds held under the Policy until such time as the
beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Owner have received all of the
Policy death benefits to which they are entitled pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement.
4. ADJUSTMENTS TO POLICY FACE AMOUNT. On each Anniversary Date
that occurs prior to the Measurement Date, the parties hereto shall cause the
total face amount of the Policy to be adjusted to the extent necessary, if any,
so that such face amount is equal to the Benefit Amount (which Benefit Amount
shall be determined as of the day immediately following such Anniversary Date);
provided, however, that if any such adjustment would require a reduction in the
face amount of the Policy, then the Company may, in its sole discretion,
determine that no such adjustment to the face amount of the Policy shall be made
for such Anniversary Date. Further, on, or as soon as administratively
practicable after, the Executive's Normal Retirement Date (or, if later, the
date of the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company for a
reason other than death), the parties hereto shall cause the total face amount
of the Policy to be reduced to the extent necessary, if any, so that such face
amount is equal to the Benefit Amount in effect at such time. The parties hereto
agree that they shall take all reasonable action necessary to cause the Insurer
to adjust the face amount of the Policy as provided in the preceding provisions
of this Paragraph 4. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, (a) the
Executive and the Owner shall furnish any and all information requested by the
Company or the Insurer to facilitate an adjustment to the face amount of the
Policy and (b) the Executive shall take such physical examinations as the
Insurer may deem necessary.
5. PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS.
(a) On the Effective Date and on or before each
Anniversary Date, the Company shall pay to the Insurer, as premium payments with
respect to the Policy, the amount, if any, determined by the Company in its sole
discretion; provided, however, that:
(1) on the Effective Date and on each
Anniversary Date that occurs during the Premium Payment Period and
prior to the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall make
substantially level premium payments with respect to the Policy based
upon a
-5-
premium payment policy established by the Company that is designed to
(i) maintain the Policy in a manner sufficient to provide the level of
death benefits to the Owner's beneficiary or beneficiaries pursuant to
Paragraph 7(b) hereof in the event of the Executive's death prior to
the end of the Premium Payment Period and (ii) accumulate sufficient
funds under the Policy (based upon the assumption that the Executive
will retire as of the Executive's Normal Retirement Date) so that as of
the end of the Premium Payment Period the Policy is projected to have
sufficient funds to (A) at all times thereafter provide a minimum death
benefit in an amount equal to the Benefit Amount without any further
premium payments and (B) permit the Owner to terminate this Agreement
as of the later of the Executive's Normal Retirement Date or the
fifteenth Anniversary Date and use accumulations under the Policy to
obtain the release of the collateral assignment of the Policy to the
Company; and
(2) on each Anniversary Date that occurs after
the end of the Premium Payment Period and prior to the termination of
this Agreement, the Company shall make a premium payment with respect
to the Policy in at least the amount required so that as of such
Anniversary Date the Policy is projected to have sufficient funds to
(i) at all times thereafter provide a minimum death benefit in an
amount equal to the Benefit Amount without any further premium payments
and (ii) permit the Owner to terminate this Agreement as of the later
of the Executive's Normal Retirement Date or the fifteenth Anniversary
Date and use accumulations under the Policy to obtain the release of
the collateral assignment of the Policy to the Company.
The amount of each premium payment required pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) of
the preceding sentence shall be determined based upon (i) the Relevant
Assumptions in effect as of the date such premium payment is required to be paid
by the Company pursuant to this Paragraph 5(a) and (ii) if the Measurement Date
has not occurred as of such premium payment date, the Company's estimate of the
date upon which the Measurement Date will occur (which date shall be estimated
to be no earlier than the Executive's Normal Retirement Date). The Owner and the
Executive acknowledge and agree that (A) the Company is agreeing to make premium
payments with respect to the Policy as described above based upon the Relevant
Assumptions and for the period of time set forth in this Agreement, (B) the
actual crediting rates under the Policy and the charges and expenses incurred
with respect to the Policy may deviate from the rates, charges and expenses
utilized from time to time under the Relevant Assumptions, and (C) accordingly,
the Company makes no guarantee that the Policy will, in fact, have sufficient
funds to provide a minimum death benefit in an amount equal to the Benefit
Amount at all times after the termination of this Agreement without any further
premium payments. The Company shall promptly notify the Owner of the date and
the amount of each premium payment made by the Company with respect to the
Policy and, promptly upon receipt, the Owner shall furnish the Company with a
copy of the annual report for the Policy received by the Owner from the Insurer.
(b) If the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated under circumstances pursuant to which the Executive is entitled to a
severance benefit under the Change in Control Severance Agreement, then the
Company shall promptly pay into a rabbi trust a single
-6-
lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the projected amount of premium
payments that the Company would be required to make with respect to the Policy
pursuant to Paragraph 5(a) hereof during the 36 month period immediately
following such termination of employment. Pursuant to the terms of the rabbi
trust, on each of the first three Anniversary Dates that occur after the
termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the trustee of the
rabbi trust shall pay to the Insurer as a premium with respect to the Policy
one-third of the amount initially deposited in the rabbi trust by the Company.
After the trustee has made three such premium payments, the rabbi trust shall
terminate and any remaining funds held by the trustee shall be returned to the
Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall remain obligated to
make all premium payments required pursuant to Paragraph 5(a) hereof; provided,
however, that the Company shall be relieved of such obligation to the extent of
the amount of each premium payment made by the trustee of the rabbi trust with
respect to the Policy. All costs and expenses associated with the establishment
and maintenance of the rabbi trust shall be paid by the Company.
(c) Neither the Executive nor the Owner shall have any
obligation to pay any premiums with respect to the Policy prior to the
termination of this Agreement. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any
premiums with respect to the Policy from and after the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 8 below.
6. PROVISION OF INFORMATION. On or before January 31 of each
calendar year, the Company shall furnish to the Executive a statement of the
amount of income, if any, reportable by the Executive for federal and state
income tax purposes for the preceding calendar year as a result of the existence
and maintenance of the Policy. The Owner and the Executive shall promptly
furnish the Company with (a) copies of any information or notices provided by
the Insurer from time to time with respect to the Policy and (b) any other
material or information relating to the Policy and reasonably requested by the
Company from time to time. Upon request, the Company shall promptly furnish to
the Owner evidence of timely payment of any amount required to be paid by the
Company pursuant to Paragraph 5 hereof.
7. COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DEATH PROCEEDS.
(a) Upon the death of the Executive prior to the
termination of this Agreement during the Executive's lifetime, the Company and
the Owner shall cooperate with the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by
the Owner to take whatever action is necessary to collect the death benefit
provided under the Policy. When such benefit has been collected and paid as
provided herein, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate.
(b) Upon the death of the Executive prior to the
termination of this Agreement during the Executive's lifetime, the beneficiary
or beneficiaries designated by the Owner pursuant to Paragraph 2(c) hereof shall
be entitled to receive a portion of the death benefits provided under the Policy
in an amount equal to the Benefit Amount determined as of the Measurement Date
(which amount shall be reduced as provided in Paragraph 1(e) hereof upon the
later of the Executive's Normal Retirement Date or the date of the termination
of the Executive's employment with the
-7-
Company for a reason other than death). This amount shall be paid under the
settlement option elected by the Owner.
(c) Upon the death of the Executive prior to the
termination of this Agreement during the Executive's lifetime, the Company shall
have the unqualified right to receive any and all of the death benefits provided
under the Policy in excess of the amount payable pursuant to Paragraph 7(b)
above to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Owner. This amount
shall be paid to the Company in a single lump sum cash payment.
(d) The parties hereto agree that, upon the request of
the Company, the beneficiary designation provision of the Policy shall conform
to the provisions hereof.
8. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
(a) This Agreement may be terminated by the Owner at any
time during the Executive's lifetime and after the fifteenth Anniversary Date
upon written notice to the Company and payment to the Company by the Owner at
the time of such notice of a single lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to
the aggregate premium payments made by the Company pursuant to Paragraph 5
hereof on or before the date of such termination, less any withdrawals from the
Policy by the Company prior to the date of such termination and any indebtedness
secured by the Policy which was incurred by the Company and remains outstanding
as of the date of such termination, including any unpaid accrued interest on
such indebtedness. Upon receipt of such amount, the Company shall release the
collateral assignment of the Policy by the execution and delivery of an
appropriate instrument of release.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated by the Company at
any time during the Executive's lifetime (including, without limitation, upon
the Executive's termination of employment with the Company or at any time before
or after such termination); provided, however, that (i) from and after the
Executive's Normal Retirement Date, this Agreement may not be terminated by the
Company until the later of such Normal Retirement Date, the date upon which the
Executive's employment with the Company terminates, the expiration of the
Premium Payment Period or the fifteenth Anniversary Date, (ii) from and after
the date upon which the Executive becomes Disabled, this Agreement may not be
terminated by the Company until the earlier of the Executive's Normal Retirement
Date, the expiration of the Premium Payment Period, the fifteenth Anniversary
Date, or the third anniversary of the date upon which the Executive becomes
Disabled, and (iii) from and after the date upon which a Change in Control
occurs, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company only on or after the
date upon which the Executive's employment with the Company terminates (except
that, if the Executive's employment with the Company terminates under
circumstances pursuant to which the Executive is entitled to a severance benefit
under the Change in Control Severance Agreement, then this Agreement may not be
terminated by the Company until the third anniversary of the date of such
termination of employment). The Company shall provide the Owner and the
Executive with 30 days' prior written notice of any such termination of this
Agreement by the Company. If this Agreement is terminated by the Company as
provided in the
-8-
preceding provisions of this Paragraph 8(b), then for 60 days after the
effective date of the termination of this Agreement, the Owner shall have the
option of obtaining the release of the collateral assignment of the Policy to
the Company. To obtain such release, the Owner shall repay to the Company the
total amount of the premium payments made by the Company hereunder, less any
withdrawals from the Policy by the Company prior to the date of such termination
and any indebtedness secured by the Policy which was incurred by the Company and
remains outstanding as of the date of such termination, including any unpaid
accrued interest on such indebtedness. Upon receipt of such amount, the Company
shall release the collateral assignment of the Policy by the execution and
delivery of an appropriate instrument of release. If the Owner fails to exercise
such option within such 60 day period, then the interest of the Owner in the
Policy shall automatically be transferred to the Company and the Owner shall
execute any document or documents requested by the Company or the Insurer to
effect such transfer. Alternatively, the Company may enforce its right to be
repaid the amount due it hereunder from the cash surrender value of the Policy
under the collateral assignment of the Policy; provided that in the event the
cash surrender value of the Policy exceeds the amount due the Company, such
excess shall be paid to the Owner. Thereafter, neither the Owner nor any person
claiming under the Owner shall have any further interest in and to the Policy,
either under the terms thereof or under this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to
the contrary, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for
Cause at any time (whether before or after the Executive attains his or her
Normal Retirement Date), then (i) this Agreement shall automatically terminate
upon such termination of employment, (ii) the interest of the Owner in the
Policy shall automatically be transferred to the Company and the Owner shall
execute any document or documents requested by the Company or the Insurer to
effect such transfer, (iii) the Company may exercise all rights of ownership of
the Policy, take all proceeds of the Policy, take proceeds designated for the
beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Owner, assign its ownership
interest in the Policy to any other party or take any other action the Company
determines in its sole discretion, and (iv) neither the Owner, the Executive nor
their respective heirs, assigns, personal representatives, or beneficiaries
shall have any further rights, claims, or interests of any nature whatsoever in
the Policy or in this Agreement.
(d) It is a condition precedent to the execution of this
Agreement that the Owner and the Executive acknowledge and agree that the
Company has the right, subject to certain limitations set forth in Paragraph
8(b) hereof, to terminate this Agreement at any time for any reason whatsoever
or for no reason at all. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Owner
and the Executive specifically acknowledge and agree that the Company shall have
the right to terminate this Agreement prior to the occurrence of a Change in
Control in the event that the premiums required to be paid under the Policy are
increased due to a deterioration in the health or medical condition of the
Executive after the Effective Date. In such event, the Owner and the Executive
hereby waive, and agree that they shall not assert, any claim or cause of
action, in contract, tort or otherwise, against the Company, any Affiliate of
the Company or any employee, director, officer or agent of the Company or any
such Affiliate with respect to the termination of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, any claim or cause of action based on any alleged
discriminatory practice. By
-9-
entering into this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that the conditions and
provisions set forth in this Paragraph 8(d) are an essential component of this
Agreement, and it is their intent that such conditions and provisions not be
severed from the other terms and provisions of this Agreement.
9. INSURER NOT A PARTY. Subject to the terms and conditions of
the Policy, 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 and upon the performance of its other
obligations in accordance with the terms 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.
10. NAMED FIDUCIARY, DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS, CLAIMS PROCEDURE
AND ADMINISTRATION.
(a) NAMED FIDUCIARY. The Company 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
premium payment 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 Company, setting forth his or her
claim. The request must be addressed to the Company at its then
principal place of business.
(2) CLAIM DECISION. Upon receipt of a claim, the
Company shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be forthcoming
within 90 days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within such
period. The Company 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 Company shall adopt a written opinion, using language calculated to
be understood by the Claimant, setting forth: (i) the specific reason
or reasons for such denial; (ii) the specific reference to pertinent
provisions of this Agreement on which such denial is based; (iii) a
description of any additional material or information necessary for the
Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation why such
material or such information is necessary; (iv) appropriate information
as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim
for review; and (v) the time limits for requesting a review under
subsection (3) and for review under subsection (4) hereof.
-10-
(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 Company review its
determination. Such request must be addressed to the Company, 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 Company. If the Claimant does not request a review of the
Company's determination within such 60 day period, he or she shall be
barred and estopped from challenging the Company's determination.
(4) REVIEW OF DECISION. Within 60 days after the
Company's receipt of a request for review, it will review the
determination. After considering all materials presented by the
Claimant, the Company 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 Company 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.
11. ARBITRATION.
(a) Upon completion of the claims procedure described in
Paragraph 10(b) hereof (if applicable), all claims, demands, causes of action,
disputes, controversies, and other matters in questions arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, any provision hereof, the alleged breach thereof, or
in any way relating to the subject matter of this Agreement involving the
parties hereto and/or their respective representatives, even though some or all
of such claims allegedly are extra-contractual in nature, whether such claims
sound in contract, tort, or otherwise, at law or in equity, under state or
federal law, whether provided by statute or the common law, for damages or any
other relief, shall be resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal
Arbitration Act in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules then
in effect with the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration proceeding
shall be conducted in Houston, Texas. This agreement to arbitrate shall be
enforceable in either federal or state court.
(b) The enforcement of this agreement to arbitrate and
all procedural aspects of this agreement to arbitrate, including but not limited
to, the construction and interpretation of this agreement to arbitrate, the
issues subject to arbitration (i.e., arbitrability), the scope of the arbitrable
issues, allegations of waiver, delay or defenses to arbitrability, and the rules
governing the conduct of the arbitration, shall be governed by and construed
pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and shall be decided by the arbitrators.
In deciding the substance of any such claims, the arbitrators shall apply the
substantive laws of the State of Texas (excluding Texas choice-of-law principles
that might call for the application of some other state's law); provided,
however, it is expressly agreed that the arbitrators shall have no authority to
award treble, exemplary, or punitive damages under any circumstances regardless
of whether such damages may be available under Texas law, the parties hereby
waiving their right, if any, to recover treble, exemplary, or punitive damages
in connection
-11-
with any such claims. If any party to this Agreement institutes arbitration to
enforce the terms of this Agreement, the party who prevails in such
arbitration, whether plaintiff or defendant, in addition to the remedy or relief
obtained in such arbitration proceeding shall be entitled to recover its or his
expenses incurred in connection with such arbitration proceeding, including,
without limitation, arbitrators and attorneys fees, and the arbitrators are
authorized to so award such costs and fees.
(c) The arbitration may be initiated by any party by
providing to the other parties a written notice of arbitration specifying the
claims. Within 30 days of the notice of initiation of the arbitration procedure,
(1) the Owner and the Executive, acting together, shall denominate one
arbitrator and (2) the Company shall denominate one arbitrator. The two
arbitrators shall select a third arbitrator failing agreement on which within 60
days of the original notice, either the Owner, the Executive or the Company
shall apply to the Senior Active United States District Judge for the Southern
District of Texas, who shall appoint a third arbitrator. While the third
arbitrator shall be neutral, the two party-appointed arbitrators are not
required to be neutral and it shall not be grounds for removal of either of the
two party-appointed arbitrators or for vacating the arbitrators' award that
either of such arbitrators has past or present minimal relationships with the
party that appointed such arbitrator. Evident partiality on the part of an
arbitrator exists only where the circumstances are such that a reasonable person
would have to conclude there in fact existed actual bias. A mere appearance or
impression of bias will not constitute evident partiality or otherwise
disqualify an arbitrator.
(d) The three arbitrators shall by majority vote resolve
all disputes between the parties. There shall be no transcript of the hearing
before the arbitrators. The arbitrators' decision shall be in writing, but shall
be as brief as possible. The arbitrators shall not assign the reasons for their
decision. The arbitrators shall certify in their award that they have faithfully
applied the terms and conditions of this Agreement and that no part of their
award includes any amount for exemplary or punitive damages. All proceedings
conducted hereunder and the decision of the arbitrators shall be kept
confidential by the parties, e.g., the arbitrators' award shall not be released
to the press or published in any of the various arbitration reporters. Judgment
upon any award rendered in any such arbitration proceeding may be entered by any
federal or state court having jurisdiction.
12. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended, altered, or
modified, except by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto, or their
respective successors or assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other
provision herein to the contrary, the Premium Payment Period, the face amount of
the Policy, the amount of premiums to be paid by the Company, and/or the
references in this Agreement to the fifteenth Anniversary Date may be changed by
the Company without the consent of the Owner or the Executive to the extent
necessary to (a) maintain the Policy as a "life insurance contract" (within the
meaning of Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and the interpretative authority promulgated thereunder) and (b)
prevent the Policy from constituting a "modified endowment contract" (within the
meaning of Section 7702A of the Code and the interpretative authority
promulgated thereunder). The Company shall provide the Owner and the Executive
with prompt written notice of any such change.
-12-
13. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns, and the Owner, the
Executive and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors,
administrators, and beneficiaries; provided, however, that the rights and
obligations of the Owner and the Executive hereunder are personal and neither
this Agreement, nor any right, benefit, or obligation of the Owner or the
Executive hereto, shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment,
alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the
prior written consent of the Company.
14. NOTICE. 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 registered
or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party's last known address
as shown on the records of the Company. The date of such mailing shall be deemed
the date of notice, consent or demand.
15. EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP. For all purposes of this Agreement,
the Executive shall be considered to be in the employment of the Company as long
as the Executive remains an employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company. However, this Agreement is not an employment agreement This Agreement
shall not be construed as creating an express or implied contact of
employment and does not modify the nature of the Executive's employment
relationship with the Company or its Affiliates, as the case may be. Except as
otherwise agreed in writing between the Executive and the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company, the employment relationship between the Executive and
the Company or its Affiliates is at-will, i.e., the employment relationship may
be terminated at any time at the will of either the Company or the Executive for
any reason or no reason at all.
16. TAXES AND POLICY ILLUSTRATIONS. The Company makes no
guarantees and assumes no obligations or responsibilities with respect to the
Owner's or the Executive's federal, state, or local income, estate, inheritance,
and gift tax obligations, if any, under this Agreement, the Policy or the
collateral assignment of the Policy to the Company. The Executive and the Owner
agree and acknowledge that the Policy illustrations provided prior to the
Effective Date and any Policy illustrations that may be provided from time to
time thereafter by the Company, the Insurer or their respective agents and
representatives are not guaranteed and are not a part of the Policy or this
Agreement. Such Policy illustrations shall not create any additional obligations
or responsibilities to the Executive or the Owner by the Company, the Insurer,
or their respective agents and representatives.
17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, and the rights of the parties
hereunder, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas.
-13-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
this the 15th day of May, 1998, effective as of the Effective Date.
AMERICAN GENERAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
--------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President - Benefits/Payroll
"COMPANY"
XXXX X. XXXX
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
----------------------
"EXECUTIVE"
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------
XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
"OWNER"
Notarized for Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
[NOTARY PUBLIC STAMP]
State of New York SS
County of New York
Subscribed and sworn (affirmed)
before me this 23 day of Dec. 1998
L.S. /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------
-14-
EXHIBIT A
The following life insurance policy is subject to the attached
Split-Dollar Agreement:
Insurer: American General Life Insurance Company
Insured: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Policy Number: CM0002178L
Face Amount on the Effective Date: $ 1,266,824.00
Effective Date of Policy: May 15, 1998
-15-
ASSIGNMENT OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICY AS COLLATERAL
A. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (hereinafter the "Owner")
hereby assigns, transfers and sets over to American General Corporation, with
principal offices and place of business in Houston, Texas, its successors and
assigns (hereinafter the "Assignee"), Policy No. CM0002178L issued by American
General Life Insurance Company (hereinafter the "Insurer"), and any
supplementary contracts issued in connection therewith (said policy and
contracts hereinafter the "Policy"), insuring the life of XXXX X. XXXX (the
"Executive"), and all claims, options, privileges, rights, title and interest
therein and thereunder (except as otherwise provided herein), subject to all the
terms and conditions of the Policy and to all superior liens, if any, which the
Insurer may have against the Policy. The Owner, by this Assignment, and the
Assignee, by acceptance of the assignment of the Policy to it hereunder, agree
to the terms and conditions contained herein.
B. This Assignment is made and the Policy is to be held as
collateral security for any and all liabilities and obligations of the Owner to
the Assignee, either now existing or that may hereafter arise, under and
pursuant to that certain Split-Dollar Agreement by and among the Owner, the
Assignee, and the Executive, dated effective as of May 15, 1998 (hereinafter the
"Split-Dollar Agreement"). The liabilities and obligations described in the
preceding sentence are hereinafter referred to as the "Liabilities."
C. It is expressly agreed that, without detracting from the
generality of the foregoing, the following specific rights are included in this
Assignment and pass to the Assignee by virtue hereof:
1. The sole right to collect from the Insurer the net
proceeds of the Policy when it becomes a claim by death or maturity;
2. The sole right to surrender the Policy and receive
the surrender value thereof at any time provided by the terms of the
Policy and at such other times as the Insurer may allow; and
3. The sole right to obtain one or more withdrawals,
loans or advances on the Policy, either from the Insurer or, at any
time, from other persons, and to pledge or assign the Policy as
security for such loans or advances.
D. It is expressly agreed that the following specific rights, so
long as the Policy has not been surrendered and to the extent permitted under
the Split-Dollar Agreement, are reserved by the Owner and excluded from this
Assignment and do not pass by virtue hereof:
1. The right to designate and change the beneficiary to
receive the portion of the proceeds under the Policy specified in
Paragraph 7(b) of the Split-Dollar Agreement; and
2. The right to elect any optional mode of settlement
permitted by the Policy or allowed by the Insurer with respect to such
proceeds.
However, the reservation of these rights by the Owner shall in no way impair
the right of the Assignee to surrender the Policy nor impair any other right of
the Assignee hereunder. Further, any exercise of these rights shall be made
subject to this Assignment and to the rights of the Assignee hereunder.
E. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Assignee covenants and
agrees with the Owner as follows:
1. Any balance of sums received hereunder from the
Insurer remaining after payment of the then existing Liabilities shall
be paid by the Assignee to the persons entitled thereto under the terms
of the Policy, had this Assignment not been executed;
2. The Assignee will not exercise the right to surrender
the Policy, nor the right to make withdrawals from the Policy or obtain
policy loans from the Insurer, unless and until there has been default
in any of the Liabilities or the Split-Dollar Agreement has been
terminated, pursuant to its terms; in any event, the Assignee will not
exercise any such right until 15 days after the Assignee shall have
mailed notice of intention to exercise such right, by first class mail,
to the Owner at the address last supplied in writing to the Assignee
specifically referring to this Assignment; and
3. The Assignee will, upon request, forward the Policy
to the Insurer without unreasonable delay, for endorsement of any
designation or change of beneficiary or any election of an optional
mode of settlement that has been elected by the Owner.
F. The Insurer is hereby authorized to recognize the Assignee's
claims to rights hereunder without investigating the reason for any action taken
by the Assignee, the validity or the amount of the Liabilities, the existence of
any default therein, termination of the Split-Dollar Agreement, the giving of
any notice hereunder, or the application to be made by the Assignee of any
amounts to be paid to the Assignee. The sole signature of the Assignee shall be
sufficient for the exercise of any rights under the Policy assigned hereby and
the sole receipt of the Assignee for any sums received shall be a full discharge
and release therefor to the Insurer. Payment for all or any part of the sums due
under the policy and assigned herein shall be drawn to the exclusive order of or
as directed by the Assignee if, when, and in such amounts as may be requested by
the Assignee.
G. The Assignee shall be under no obligation to pay any premium
on the Policy nor the principal of or interest on any loans or advances on the
Policy, whether or not obtained by the Assignee, or any other charges on the
Policy.
H. The exercise of any right, option, privilege or power given
herein to the Assignee shall be at the option of the Assignee, and (except as
provided herein) the Assignee may exercise any
-2-
such right, option, privilege or power without notice to, or assent by, or
affecting the liability of, or releasing any interest hereby assigned by the
Owner.
I. If applicable, the Assignee may take or release other
security, may release any party primarily or secondarily liable for any of the
Liabilities, may grant extensions, renewals or indulgences with respect to the
Liabilities, or may apply the proceeds of the Policy hereby assigned or any
amount received on account of the Policy by the exercise of any right permitted
under this Assignment to the Liabilities in such order as the Assignee shall
determine, without resorting to or regard to other security.
J. As applied to the duties and responsibilities of the Insurer,
in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Assignment and the
provisions of the Split-Dollar Agreement with respect to the Policy or the
Assignee's rights of collateral security therein, the provisions of this
Assignment shall prevail. As applied between the Owner and the Assignee, in the
event of any such conflict, the provisions of the Split-Dollar Agreement shall
prevail.
K. The Owner declares that no proceedings in bankruptcy are
pending against the Owner and that the Owner's property is not subject to any
assignment for the benefit of creditors of the Owner.
SIGNED this 15th day of May, 1998, effective as of May 15, 1998.
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------
_______________________
_______________________
"OWNER"
This Assignment is hereby accepted and agreed to by the Assignee.
AMERICAN GENERAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
---------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President- Benefits/Payroll
"ASSIGNEE"
-3-
STATE OF N.Y. Section )
Section )
N.Y. COUNTY Section )
On the 23 day of Dec., 1998, before me personally came, XXXXX X.
XXXXXXXX, to me known to be the individual who executed the Assignment on the
preceding pages hereof and acknowledged to me that he or she executed the same.
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------
Notary Public in and for
THE STATE OF___________________
My Commission Expires:
[NOTARY PUBLIC STAMP]
-4-
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
SPLIT-DOLLAR AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company initially authorized the Company to establish and pay premiums under a
split-dollar life insurance arrangement relating to a life insurance policy
insuring the life of the Executive and providing the Executive's family with a
death benefit equal to 200% of the sum of the Executive's base salary and
average annual incentive bonus (the death benefit) being reduced to 100% of the
sum of the Executive's base salary and average annual incentive bonus upon
Executive's Normal Retirement Date; and
WHEREAS, the Personnel Committee has subsequently authorized the
Company, to amend Executive's Split Dollar Agreement so that Executive's death
benefit upon his Normal Retirement Date shall not be reduced to 100% of the sum
of the Executive's base salary and average annual incentive bonus, but remain at
200% of the sum of the Executive's base salary and average annual incentive
bonus; and
WHEREAS, the Personnel Committee has subsequently authorized the
Company to enter into an employment agreement with the Executive which was not
in effect at the time of Executive's Split Dollar Agreement and which contains
certain provisions with respect to split-dollar insurance following termination
of Executive's employment.
Now, THEREFORE, this First Amendment to the Split-Dollar Agreement
made as of May 15,1998 (the "Agreement"), by and among American General
Corporation, a Texas corporation (the "Company"), XXXX X. XXXX (the "Executive")
and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx as Trustee of the Xxxx 1998 Family Trust (the "Owner") is
made as of May 15,2000 by amending the Agreement as follows:
1. Paragraph 1(e) is hereby amended to read, in its entirety, as follows:
Benefit Amount: As of any given date, an amount equal to 200% of the
sum of the Executive's Base Salary and Average Annual Bonus as of such
date. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision in this Agreement
to the contrary, the Benefit Amount shall not be increased at any time
after the Effective Date to the extent such increase is subject to the
medical underwriting requirements of the Insurer and the Insurer
refuses to increase the face amount of the Policy based upon the health
or medical condition of the Executive.
2. Paragraph 1(l) is hereby amended to read, in its entirety, as follows:
Normal Retirement Date: The term "Normal Retirement Date" shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in the Supplemental Executive
Retirement Agreement between the Company and the Executive that is in
effect on the date of the execution of the First Amendment to this
Agreement.
3. Paragraph 4 is hereby amended to read, in its entirety, as follows:
Adjustments to Policy Face Amount. On each Anniversary Date that occurs
prior to the Measurement Date, the parties hereto shall cause the total
face amount of the Policy to be adjusted to the extent necessary, if
any, so that such face amount is equal to the Benefit Amount (which
Benefit Amount shall be determined as of the day immediately following
such Anniversary Date); provided, however, that if any such adjustment
would require a reduction in the face amount of the Policy, then the
Company may, in its sole discretion, determine that no such adjustment
to the face amount of the Policy shall be made for such Anniversary
Date. The parties hereto agree that they shall take all reasonable
action necessary to cause the Insurer to adjust the face amount of the
Policy as provided in the preceding provisions of this Paragraph 4.
Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, (a) the Executive and the
Owner shall furnish any and all information requested by the Company or
the Insurer to facilitate an adjustment to the face amount of the
Policy and (b) the Executive shall take such physical examinations as
the Insurer may deem necessary.
4. Paragraph 8(e) is added to read as follows:
Should Executive and Company enter into an Employment Agreement which
is in effect on the date of the termination of Executive's employment,
and which contains specific terms with respect to the treatment of
Executive's split-dollar insurance following termination of employment,
such terms of the Employment Agreement shall control notwithstanding
any provisions to the contrary set forth in Paragraph 8 herein.
5. As amended by this First Amendment, the Agreement is hereby
specifically ratified and reaffirmed.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this First
Amendment on October 12, 2000.
AMERICAN GENERAL CORPORATION
By:/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Executive Vice President and
Chief Administrative Officer - Corporate Operations
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
----------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx
Executive
THE XXXX 1998 FAMILY TRUST
By:/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Trustee
Owner
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