Exhibit 10(ee)
SPLIT DOLLAR
LIFE INSURANCE AGREEMENT
THIS SPLIT DOLLAR LIFE INSURANCE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of the 31ST day of December, 1999, by and between BANK OF
AMERICA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A., as Trustee under the Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
1999 Irrevocable Trust dated December 11, 1999 (the "Owner").
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "Executive") is employed by the Corporation as
its President, Global Corporate and Investment Banking. The Corporation, the
Owner and Executive desire to insure the lives of Executive and Executive's
spouse, Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "Executive's Spouse"), for the benefit and
protection of both the Corporation and the Executive's family under a Variable
Survivorship Life Insurance Policy (the "Policy") to be issued by Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Variable Life Insurance Company (the "Insurer"). The Corporation, as the
employer of Executive, is willing to pay a portion of the premiums due on the
Policy as an additional employment benefit for Executive on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. The Corporation desires to have the Policy
collaterally assigned to it by the Owner in order to secure repayment of the
portion of the premiums paid by the Corporation on the Policy.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Statement of Purpose aforesaid
and of the mutual promises contained herein, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) "Beneficial Owner" or "Beneficial Ownership" shall have the meaning
ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the general rules and regulations under
the Exchange Act.
(b) "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the
Corporation.
(c) "Change in Control" of the Corporation means, and shall be deemed
to have occurred upon, any of the following events:
(i) The acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of
twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either:
(A) The then-outstanding shares of common stock of
the Corporation (the "Outstanding Shares"); or
(B) The combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of Directors (the "Outstanding
Voting Securities");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute
a Change in Control for purposes of this subparagraph (i): (1) any
acquisition directly from the Corporation, (2) any acquisition by the
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, (3) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, or (4) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A),
(B) and (C) of subparagraph (iii) below; or
(ii) Individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement,
constitute the Board of Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any individual who becomes a Director
subsequent to the date of this Agreement and whose election, or whose
nomination for election by the Corporation's shareholders, to the Board
of Directors was either (A) approved by a vote of at least a majority
of the Directors then comprising the Incumbent Board or (B) recommended
by a Nominating Committee comprised entirely of Directors who are then
Incumbent Board members shall be considered as though such individual
were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose,
any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such
terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange Act), other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents or an actual or threatened tender offer; or
(iii) Approval by the Corporation's shareholders of a
reorganization, merger, or consolidation or sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (a
"Business Combination"), in each case, unless following such Business
Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the Persons who were the
Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Shares and
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
Combination own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%)
of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be, of the corporation resulting from the Business Combination
(including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such
transaction owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding
Shares and Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be (PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that for purposes of this clause (A), any shares of common
stock or voting securities of such resulting corporation received by
such Beneficial Owners in such Business Combination other than as the
result of such Beneficial Owners' ownership of Outstanding Shares or
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
Combination shall not be considered to be owned by such Beneficial
Owners for the purposes of calculating their percentage of ownership of
the outstanding common stock and voting power of the resulting
corporation), (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting
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from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) of the Corporation or such corporation resulting from the
Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting
from the Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation unless such Person
owned twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Outstanding Shares or
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to the Business
Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination
were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement, or the action of the Board, providing for such
Business Combination; or
(iv) Approval by the Corporation's shareholders of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.
(d) "Director" means any individual who is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation.
(e) "Disability" means "disability" as such term is defined from time
to time under any long-term disability plan of the Corporation covering the
Executive.
(f) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time or any successor act thereto.
(g) "Person" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof,
including "group" as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
(h) "Subsidiary" means any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
affiliate or other entity in which the Corporation owns more than fifty percent
(50%) of the voting stock or voting ownership interest, as applicable, or any
other business entity designated by the Corporation as a Subsidiary for purposes
of this Agreement.
2. PURCHASE OF THE POLICY. The Owner has made application for and has
purchased a Variable Survivorship Life Insurance Policy issued by Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Variable Life Insurance Company in the initial face amount of Ten Million Three
Hundred Seventy-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($10,378,275)
insuring the lives of Executive and Executive's Spouse, a copy of which shall be
attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1 as soon as practicable after issuance by the
Insurer. A complete hypothetical illustration of the Policy assuming an eight
percent (8%) gross rate of return on the premiums over the life of the contract
is attached hereto as EXHIBIT 2.
The parties hereto have taken all necessary action to cause Insurer to
issue the Policy and shall take any further action which may be necessary to
cause the Policy to conform to the provisions of this Agreement. The parties
hereto further agree that the Policy shall be subject to
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the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Collateral Assignment
referred to in Paragraph 5 below.
3. OWNERSHIP OF THE POLICY. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement
and the Collateral Assignment, the Owner shall be the sole and absolute owner of
the Policy and may and shall exercise all ownership rights granted to the owner
thereof by the terms of the Policy. It is the intention of the parties that the
Owner shall retain all rights which the Policy grants to the owner of the
Policy, except the right of the Corporation to recover the amount due to the
Corporation under this Agreement. Specifically, without limitation, the
Corporation shall neither have nor exercise any right as the collateral assignee
of the Policy which could in any way defeat or impair the Owner's right to
receive the cash surrender value or the death proceeds of the Policy in excess
of the Corporation's Interest (as hereinafter defined). All provisions of this
Agreement and the Collateral Assignment shall be construed so as to carry out
such intention.
4. PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS. As a convenience to the parties, the
Corporation shall pay all premiums under the Policy to the Insurer as and when
such premiums become due. During the five (5) year period following the
effective date of the Policy, the Corporation shall pay the full amount of the
premiums to the Insurer as set forth on EXHIBIT 2 attached hereto. Within thirty
(30) days of each such premium payment by the Corporation during the five (5)
year period following the effective date of the Policy and within thirty (30)
days of each anniversary of the effective date of the Policy thereafter, the
Owner shall pay to the Corporation the economic value of the death benefit under
the Policy as determined by the Insurer from time to time while the Policy
remains in effect. A schedule of the premiums to be paid by the Owner based on
the Insurer's current rates is set forth on EXHIBIT 2.
Should actual investment returns vary from those assumed in EXHIBIT 2,
the Corporation's share of the premiums shall continue to be equal to the
amounts set forth on EXHIBIT 2 as if no such variation occurred. Any increase or
decrease in the premiums required to provide the total death benefits described
on EXHIBIT 2 resulting from a variation in investment returns shall affect only
the Owner's share of the premiums.
Upon request by the Owner, the Corporation shall promptly furnish
evidence of timely payment to the Owner. The Corporation shall annually furnish
to the Owner a statement of the amount of income reportable by the Executive for
federal and state income tax purposes, if any, as determined in accordance with
applicable Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations, as a result of the
Corporation's payment of a portion of the premiums hereunder.
5. COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT. The total amount of the Corporation's share
of the Policy premium payments paid by the Corporation pursuant to this
Agreement, less any amounts previously paid to the Corporation by the Owner
pursuant to this Agreement, shall constitute the total indebtedness of the Owner
to the Corporation, which amount shall accrue no interest (the "Corporation's
Interest"). As security for and to secure the repayment of the Corporation's
Interest, as it may exist from time to time pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, the Owner has, contemporaneously herewith, executed and delivered to
the Corporation a collateral assignment of the Policy substantially in the form
as set forth in EXHIBIT 3 attached hereto (the "Collateral Assignment").
Repayment of the Corporation's Interest shall be made (i) from the
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cash surrender value of the Policy if this Agreement is terminated or the Owner
surrenders or cancels the Policy prior to the death of the survivor of Executive
or Executive's Spouse, or (ii) from the death proceeds of the Policy if
Executive and Executive's Spouse should die while the Policy and this Agreement
remain in effect. The Collateral Assignment shall not be terminated, altered or
amended by the Owner without the express written consent of the Corporation. The
parties hereto agree to take all action necessary to cause the Collateral
Assignment to conform to the provisions of this Agreement.
6. EXERCISE OF OWNER'S RIGHTS WHILE COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT IS IN EFFECT.
Under the terms of the Policy, the Owner has the right to make certain asset
allocation decisions among various investment funds. While the Collateral
Assignment is in effect, any such asset allocation decisions by the Owner shall
be subject to the approval of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Owner shall have the sole right to surrender or cancel the Policy for its
cash surrender value; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, upon such surrender or cancellation of
the Policy the Corporation shall have the unqualified right to receive a portion
of the cash surrender value from the Insurer equal to the Corporation's
Interest.
7. COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, the parties intend for the Policy to be
classified as a "life insurance contract" as defined in Section 7702(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and not as a "modified endowment contract" as
defined in Section 7702A(a) of the Code. If at any time during the term of this
Agreement either the Corporation or the Owner determines that, based on the
schedule of anticipated premium payments and withdrawals set forth in EXHIBIT 2,
the Policy would not constitute a "life insurance contract" under Section
7702(a) of the Code or would constitute a "modified endowment contract" under
Section 7702A(a) of the Code, the parties agree to restructure the premium
payments and withdrawals to cause the Policy at all times to constitute a "life
insurance contract" under Section 7702(a) of the Code and not a "modified
endowment contract" under Section 7702A(a) of the Code.
8. DEATH OF EXECUTIVE AND EXECUTIVE'S SPOUSE. If this Agreement is
still in effect upon the death of the survivor of Executive and Executive's
Spouse, the Corporation and the Owner shall promptly take all action necessary
to obtain the death benefits provided under the Policy. The Owner agrees that
the Corporation shall have the unqualified right to receive a portion of such
death benefits from the Insurer equal to the Corporation's Interest and that no
beneficiary under the Policy shall have the right to receive any portion of the
Policy proceeds prior to the repayment of the full amount of the Corporation's
Interest. The balance of the death benefits provided under the Policy, if any,
shall be paid directly to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the
Owner in the manner and in the amount or amounts provided in the beneficiary
designation provision of the Policy. In no event shall the amount payable to the
Corporation hereunder exceed the Policy death benefits. The parties hereto agree
that the beneficiary designation provision of the Policy shall conform to the
provisions hereof.
9. TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall terminate prior
to the death of the survivor of Executive and Executive's Spouse upon the
occurrence of any of the following:
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(a) either party may terminate this Agreement effective as of a Policy
anniversary date by providing thirty (30) days' advance written notice of such
election to terminate to the other party;
(b) the total cessation of the business of the Corporation;
(c) the bankruptcy, receivership or dissolution of the Corporation;
(d) the termination of Executive's employment with the Corporation
other than (i) by reason of Executive's death or "Disability" or (ii) following
a "Change in Control;"
(e) if either the Corporation or the Owner fails to comply with any of
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the other party may elect to
terminate this Agreement by providing written notice of such election to the
other party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such election must be made within sixty
(60) days after such failure to comply;
(f) payment in full by the Owner to the Corporation of the
Corporation's Interest in the Policy; or
(g) the mutual written agreement of the Owner and the Corporation.
10. DISPOSITION OF THE POLICY UPON TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT. If
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 9, the
Owner shall be required, within sixty (60) days after such termination, to repay
the Corporation the entire amount of the Corporation's Interest in the Policy.
Upon receipt by the Corporation of the entire amount of the Corporation's
Interest in the Policy, the Corporation shall release the Collateral Assignment.
If the Owner does not repay the entire amount of the Corporation's Interest in
the Policy within such sixty (60) day time period, the Corporation may enforce
its rights under the Collateral Assignment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the Owner shall
not be liable for any deficiency realized by the Corporation upon the exercise
of the Corporation's rights under the Collateral Assignment.
11. DISCHARGE OF THE INSURER. The Insurer shall be fully discharged
from its obligations under the Policy by payment of the Policy death benefits to
the beneficiary or beneficiaries named in the Policy subject to the terms and
conditions of the Policy and the Collateral Assignment. In no event shall the
Insurer be considered a party to this Agreement or to any modification or
amendment hereof. No provision of this Agreement, nor any modification or
amendment hereof, shall in any way be construed as enlarging, changing, varying
or in any other way affecting the obligations of the Insurer as expressly
provided in the Policy except insofar as the provisions hereof are made a part
of the Policy by the Collateral Assignment.
12. ERISA INFORMATION. The following provisions are part of this
Agreement and are intended to meet the requirements of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974:
(a) The named fiduciary under this Agreement is the Corporation.
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(b) The funding policy under this Agreement is that all premiums on the
Policy be remitted to the Insurer when due.
(c) Direct payment by the Insurer is the basis of payment of benefits
under this Agreement, with those benefits in turn being based on the payment of
premiums as provided in this Agreement.
(d) For claims procedure purposes, the "Claims Manager" shall be the
Corporate Personnel Group of the Corporation or its delegee.
(i) If for any reason a claim for benefits under this
Agreement is denied by the Corporation, the Claims Manager shall
deliver to the claimant a written explanation setting forth the
specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the pertinent
Agreement provisions on which the denial is based, such other data as
may be pertinent and information on the procedures to be followed by
the claimant in obtaining a review of his claim, all written in a
manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. For this purpose:
(A) The claimant's claim shall be deemed filed when
presented orally or in writing to the Claims Manager.
(B) The Claims Manager's explanation shall be in
writing delivered to the claimant within ninety (90) days of
the date the claim is filed.
(ii) The claimant shall have sixty (60) days following his
receipt of the denial of the claim to file with the Claims Manager a
written request for review of the denial. For such review, the claimant
or his representative may submit pertinent documents and written issues
and comments.
(iii) The Claims Manager shall decide the issue on review and
furnish the claimant with a copy within sixty (60) days of receipt of
the claimant's request for review of his claim. The decision on review
shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the
decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the
claimant, as well as specific references to the pertinent Agreement
provisions on which the decision is based. If a copy of the decision is
not so furnished to the claimant within such sixty (60) days, the claim
shall be deemed denied on review.
13. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) 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 and may not be otherwise terminated except as provided herein.
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(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their
heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
(c) This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North
Carolina except to the extent (if any) superceded by the laws of the United
States.
(d) Headings in this Agreement are provided for purposes of convenience
only and shall not affect the interpretation of the terms hereof.
(e) All notices and other communications hereunder must be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given when either personally delivered or
placed in the United States mails by Certified Mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, addressed to the party to whom such notice is being given as
follows:
As to the Corporation: Bank of America Corporation
Bank of America Corporate Center
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Personnel
Group Executive
As to the Owner: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx 1999
Irrevocable Trust
c/o Bank of America, N.A.
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
CA5-162-28-25
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Either party may change its address (or the name of the person to whose
attention communications hereunder shall be directed) from time to time by
serving notice thereof upon the other party as provided herein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Trustee under the
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx 1999
Irrevocable Trust dated December 11, 1999
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Senior Vice President
"Owner"
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Senior Vice President
"Corporation"
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