COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC
10-K, 2000-03-24
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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EXHIBIT 10.15.6


SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT

    THIS AGREEMENT is made this 10th day of January, 1996 by and between Valle de Oro Bank, N.A. (the "Company"), and William Ehlen (the "Executive").


INTRODUCTION

    To encourage the Executive to remain an employee of the Company, the Company is willing to provide salary continuation benefits to the Executive. The Company will pay the benefits from its general assets.


AGREEMENT

    The Executive and the Company agree as follows:


ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

    1.1 Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings specified:


ARTICLE 2

LIFETIME BENEFITS

    2.1 Normal Retirement Benefit. If the Executive terminates employment on or after the Normal Retirement Date for reasons other than death, the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.1.

    2.2 Termination Benefit Before Age 62. If the Executive terminates employment for any reason prior to attaining age 62, the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.2.

    2.3 Termination by the Company on Account of or After a Change of Control. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the event: (i) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company within two years of or by reason of a Change of Control or (ii) by reason of the Company's actions any adverse and material change occurs in the scope of the Executive's position, responsibilities, duties, salary, benefits, or location of employment after a Change of Control occurs; or (iii) the Company causes an event to occur which reasonably constitutes or results in a demotion, a significant diminution of responsibilities or authority, or a constructive termination (by forcing a resignation or otherwise) of the Executive's employment after a Change of Control occurs, then the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.3, in lieu of any other benefit under this Agreement.

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ARTICLE 3

DEATH BENEFITS

    3.1 Death During Active Service. If the Executive dies while in the active service of the Company, the Company shall pay to the Executive's beneficiary the benefit described in this Section 3.1.

    3.2 Death During Benefit Period. If the Executive dies after benefit payments have commenced under this Agreement but before receiving all such payments, the Company shall pay the remaining benefits to the Executive's beneficiary at the same time and in the same amounts they would have been paid to the Executive had the Executive survived.


ARTICLE 4

BENEFICIARIES

    4.1 Beneficiary Designations. The Executive shall designate a beneficiary by filing a written designation with the Company. The Executive may revoke or modify the designation at any time by filing a new designation. However, designations will only be effective if signed by the Executive and accepted by the Company during the Executive's lifetime. The Executive's beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the beneficiary predeceases the Executive, or if the Executive names a spouse as beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. If the Executive dies without a valid beneficiary designation, all payments shall be made to the Executive's surviving spouse, if any, and, if none, to the Executive's surviving children and the descendants of any deceased child by right of representation, and if no children or descendants survive, to the Executive's estate.

    4.2 Facility of Payment. If a benefit is payable to a minor, to a person declared incompetent, or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of his or her property, the Company may pay such benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care or custody of such minor, incompetent person or incapable person. The Company may require proof of incompetency, minority or guardianship as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the benefit. Such distribution shall completely discharge the Company from all liability with respect to such benefit.


ARTICLE 5

GENERAL LIMITATIONS

    Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not pay any benefit under this Agreement.

    5.1 Excess Parachute Payment. To the extent the benefit would be an excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code.

    5.2 Termination for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executive's employment for:

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    5.3 Suicide. No benefits shall be payable if the Executive commits suicide within two years after the date of this Agreement, of if the Executive has made any material misstatement of fact on any application for life insurance purchased by the Company.


ARTICLE 6

CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

    6.1 Claims Procedure. The Company shall notify the Executive's beneficiary in writing, within ninety (90) days of his or her written application for benefits, of his or her eligibility or non-eligibility for benefits under the Agreement. If the Company determines that the beneficiary is not eligible for benefits or full benefits, the notice shall set forth (1) the specific reasons for such denial, (2) a specific reference to the provisions of the Agreement on which the denial is based, (3) a description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect his or her claim, and a description of why it is needed, and (4) an explanation of the Agreement's claims review procedure and other appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the beneficiary wishes to have the claim reviewed. If the Company determines that there are special circumstances requiring additional time to make a decision, the Company shall notify the beneficiary of the special circumstances and the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and may extend the time for up to an additional ninety-day period.

    6.2 Review Procedure. If the beneficiary is determined by the Company not to be eligible for benefits, or if the beneficiary believes that he or she is entitled to greater or different benefits, the beneficiary shall have the opportunity to have such claim reviewed by the Company by filing a petition for review with the Company within sixty (60) days after receipt of the notice issued by the Company. Said petition shall state the specific reasons which the beneficiary believes entitle him or her to benefits or to greater or different benefits. Within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the petition, the Company shall afford the beneficiary (and counsel, if any) an opportunity to present his or her position to the Company orally or in writing, and the beneficiary (or counsel) shall have the right to review the pertinent documents. The Company shall notify the beneficiary of its decision in writing within the sixty-day period, stating specifically the basis of its decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the beneficiary and the specific provisions of the Agreement on which the decision is based. If, because of the need for a hearing, the sixty-day period is not sufficient, the decision may be deferred for up to another sixty-day period at the election of the Company, but notice of this deferral shall be given to the beneficiary.


ARTICLE 7

AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

    This Agreement may be amended or terminated only by a written agreement signed by the Company and the Executive.


ARTICLE 8

MISCELLANEOUS

    8.1 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall bind the Executive and the Company, and their beneficiaries, survivors, executors, administrators and transferees.

    8.2 No Guaranty of Employment. This Agreement is not an employment policy or contract. It does not give the Executive the right to remain an employee of the Company, nor does it interfere with the

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Company's right to discharge the Executive. It also does not require the Executive to remain an employee nor interfere with the Executive's right to terminate employment at any time.

    8.3 Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Agreement cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached or encumbered in any manner.

    8.4 Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold any taxes that are required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Agreement.

    8.5 Applicable Law. The Agreement and all rights hereunder shall be governed by the laws of California, except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America.

    8.6 Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and beneficiary are general unsecured creditors of the Company for the payment of benefits under this Agreement. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Company to pay such benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors. Any insurance on the Executive's life is a general asset of the Company to which the Executive and beneficiary have no preferred or secured claim.

    8.7 Determination of Golden Parachute Payments. The determination as to whether a provision of this Agreement must be limited by the application of the "golden parachute" provisions of §280G of the Internal Revenue Code shall be made by a "Big 6", accounting firm acceptable to the Company and the Executive. The determination shall be made within 90 days of notice of termination by the Executive, and the accountant's fees shall be paid by the Company.

    8.8 Mediation of Dispute. In the event of a dispute between the Company and the Executive, the dispute shall be submitted to an independent, private mediator agreeable to both the Company and the Executive. The mediator's fees shall be paid by the Company. The results of the mediation shall be non-binding unless the parties agree otherwise.

    8.9 Attorney Fees. In the event of a dispute between the Company and the Executive, the attorney fees of each party shall be borne by the non-prevailing party.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and a duly authorized Company officer have signed this Agreement.

    VALLE DE ORO BANK, N.A.
 
/s/ 
WILLIAM EHLEN   
William Ehlen
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
/s/ 
JAMES F. CARROLL   
  Title: Chairman

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SCHEDULE A


PARTICIPANT BALANCE SHEET AND POLICY DATA
SALARY CONTINUATION PLAN
VALLE DE ORO BANK, N.A.


WILLIAM EHLEN


AGE 49, RETIRES AT AGE 62 WITH
$108,000 ANNUAL BENEFIT,
FOR 13 YEARS

Plan
Year

  Accrued
Salary
Continuation
Liability

  Plan
Year

  Accrued
Salary
Continuation
Liability

1   37,699   23   433,559
2   78,935   24   361,662
3   124,039   25   283,020
4   173,374   26   197,001
5   227,337   27   102,913
6   286,362   28   0
7   350,924        
8   421,543   —post life expectancy—
9   498,786        
10   583,275   29   0
11   675,690   30   0
12   776,774   31   0
13   887,340   32   0
        33   0
 
—post retirement—
 
 
 
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0
        35   0
14   858,010   36   0
15   825,929   37   0
16   790,839   38   0
17   752,457   39   0
18   710,474        
19   664,553        
20   614,324        
21   559,384        
22   499,290        



QuickLinks

SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT
INTRODUCTION
AGREEMENT
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE 2
LIFETIME BENEFITS
ARTICLE 3
DEATH BENEFITS
ARTICLE 4
BENEFICIARIES
ARTICLE 5
GENERAL LIMITATIONS
ARTICLE 6
CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES
ARTICLE 7
AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS
SCHEDULE A
PARTICIPANT BALANCE SHEET AND POLICY DATA SALARY CONTINUATION PLAN VALLE DE ORO BANK, N.A.
WILLIAM EHLEN
AGE 49, RETIRES AT AGE 62 WITH $108,000 ANNUAL BENEFIT, FOR 13 YEARS


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