EXHIBIT 10.10
SPLIT-DOLLAR AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of August l, 2001, by and among
CONCORD EFS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware (hereinafter sometimes called the "Corporation"), XXXX X.
XXXXX, an individual resident of the State of Alabama, Trustee of the XXXXXX X.
XXXXXXX 2001 TRUST, a trust settled under the laws of the State of Alabama
(hereinafter called the "Owner"), and XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX, an individual resident
of the State of Tennessee ("Xxxxxxx").
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, Xxxxxxx is a valued officer, director and employee of the
Corporation and the Corporation desires to retain him in such capacities;
WHEREAS, as an inducement to such continued employment, the Corporation
desires to assist Xxxxxxx with his personal life insurance program by entering
into this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Corporation is desirous of assisting Xxxxxxx in paying for
life insurance on his life by entering into this Agreement with the Owner;
WHEREAS, the Corporation has determined that this assistance can best be
provided under a "split-dollar" arrangement and the Owner has applied for
Insurance Policy No. 1Y200636 (the "Policy") issued by The New England Life
Insurance Company (the "Insurer") in the face amount of $21,000,000 on Xxxxxxx'x
life; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Owner agree that the Policy shall be
subject to this Split-Dollar Agreement.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Corporation, Xxxxxxx and the Owner hereby mutually
covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Purchase of the Policy and Term of Funding Period
1.1 The Owner will purchase the Policy contemporaneously with the
execution of this Agreement. The Corporation, Xxxxxxx and the Owner agree that
(i) they will take all necessary actions to cause the Policy to be issued to the
Owner and cause the Policy to conform to the terms of this Agreement, and (ii)
the Policy will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
Collateral Assignment, as that term is defined in Section 3 2 hereof.
1.2 The term during which the Corporation will fund the Policy under this
Agreement shall commence on August 1, 2001, and shall end on the earlier of
August 1, 2011, or the normal retirement date of Xxxxxxx, whichever shall first
occur (the "Term"). For purposes of this Section 1, the term "normal retirement
date" means the latter of (i) the date of the 65th birthday of Xxxxxxx or (ii)
the date of the tenth anniversary of the date of hire of Xxxxxxx by the
Corporation.
1.3 During the Term, the Corporation agrees to pay all premiums due on the
Policy to the Insurer pursuant to the terms of the Policy, provided, however,
that the Corporation agrees to pay an amount to the Insurer on the Policy not to
exceed $1,500,000 per year. The Corporation shall, upon request of the Owner,
promptly furnish the Owner evidence of timely payment of such premiums.
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Section 2. Federal Income Tax Treatment
2.1 The Corporation and the Owner agree that, pursuant to Internal Revenue
Notice 2001-10, 2001-5 IRB 459 (the "Notice"), for federal income tax purposes,
the transactions set forth in this Agreement shall be characterized as an
investment in the Policy for the Corporation's own account and accounted for and
reported under Sections 61 and 83 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, as
set forth in Section IV, A., 3 of the Notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Corporation and the Owner reserve the right to amend or modify such federal
income tax treatment pursuant to further guidance issued by the Internal Revenue
Service subsequent to the date of this Agreement.
2.2 In accordance with Section 2.1 hereinabove, the Corporation and the
Owner agree that (a) the Corporation will be treated as having acquired
beneficial ownership of the Policy through its share of the premium payments;
(b) the Owner will have compensation income under Section 61 of the Code equal
to the value of the life insurance protection provided to the Owner each year
that the arrangement remains in effect, reduced by any payments made by the
Owner for such life insurance protection, (c) the Owner will have compensation
income under Section 61 of the Code equal to any dividends or similar
distributions made to the Owner under the Policy (including any dividends
described in Rev. Rule. 66-110 applied to provide additional policy benefits),
and (d) the Owner will have compensation income under Section 83(a) of the Code
to the extent that the Owner acquires a substantially vested interest in the
cash surrender value of the Policy, reduced under Section 83(a)(2) of the Code
by any consideration paid by the Owner for such interest in the cash surrender
value.
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Section 3. Policy Ownership and Repayment of Premium Payments
3.1 The Owner shall be the sole and absolute owner of the Policy and may
exercise all ownership rights granted to the owner thereof by the terms of the
Policy, except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein. All incidents of
ownership in the Policy are expressly retained by the Owner, including, as
example and not as a limitation of the foregoing, the right to change the
beneficiary of the Policy, the right to borrow on the security of the Policy
(but only to the extent of the difference between (a) the cash value of the
Policy and (b) the cumulative amount of the Corporation's interest in the Policy
in excess of the amount of all outstanding prior loans to the Corporation made
against the Policy); the right to pledge or assign its interest in the Policy
for such loans or advances; the right, in the event of a termination of the
Agreement, to realize against the cash value of the Policy (to the extent such
cash value exceeds the Corporation's interest therein); the right, in the event
of the Employee's death (as defined in Section 8.2 hereof), to exercise
settlement options and realize against the proceeds of the Policy to the extent
said proceeds exceed the Corporation's interest; and the right, subject to the
interest of the Corporation to be reimbursed for its interest, to surrender or
cancel the policy. The Owner has the right to assign its ownership rights to any
person or entity it, in its absolute discretion, chooses, but such an assignment
will be subject to the collateral assignment to the Corporation set forth in
Section 3.2 hereof.
3.2 Except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein, the Corporation
shall have no rights, interests or privileges of ownership in the Policy. To
secure the repayment to the Corporation of the amount due the Corporation under
Section 4.l(a) hereof, the Owner has, contemporaneously herewith, assigned an
interest in the Policy to the Corporation as collateral (the "Collateral
Assignment"), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. which
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gives the Corporation the limited power to enforce its right to be repaid the
amount due the
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Corporation under Section 4.l(a) hereof. The Corporation may neither have nor
exercise any right as collateral assignee of the Policy that could in any way
defeat or impair the Owner's right to receive the net cash surrender value of
the Policy decreased by any outstanding Policy loans to him on the death benefit
proceeds of the Policy in excess of the amount due the Corporation under Section
4.l(a) hereof. The Collateral Assignment shall not be terminated, altered or
amended by the Owner without the express prior written consent of the
Corporation, except that the Owner may assign its ownership rights to a third
party, subject to the Collateral Assignment, as provided in Section 3.1 hereof.
3.3 The Owner will not exercise any right under the Policy without first
giving the Corporation written notice of the Owner's intention to exercise such
right; provided, however, that a change of beneficiary having no effect on the
Corporation's status as a beneficiary shall not require such notice. The Owner
shall take no action with respect to the Policy that would in any way compromise
or jeopardize the Corporation's right to be repaid the amount due the
Corporation under Section 4.l(a) hereof, without the Corporation's express
written consent.
3.4 The Corporation may not, without the prior written consent of the
Owner, exercise its rights under the Policy, including, but not limited to, the
transfer or assignment of its interest in the Policy to any person or entity as
collateral.
Section 4. Beneficiary Provisions
4.1 At the earliest time the life insurance proceeds become payable under
the Policy, the Corporation and the Owner agree the Corporation and the Owner
shall promptly take all action necessary to obtain payment of the death benefit
provided under the Policy from the Insurer of the amount payable under the
Policy, and payment of such death benefit will be divided and shared as follows:
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(a) The Corporation, as collateral assignee under the Collateral
Assignment, will be entitled to receive an amount of such death benefit
payment equal to the aggregate premiums paid by it as of the date of the
Employee's death (as defined in Section 8.2 hereof) reduced by the sum of
(i) any amounts previously received by the Corporation from or to the
credit of the Owner as a repayment of the liabilities created hereunder and
(ii) any outstanding indebtedness incurred by the Corporation and owed to
the Insurer which was secured by the Policy, including interest accrued
thereon. If the Corporation has paid additional premiums attributable to a
rider providing for waiver of premium in the event of the Xxxxxxx'x
disability, the term "premiums", as used in this Section 4 will not include
any premiums waived pursuant to the terms of such rider while this
Agreement is in force; and
(b) The beneficiary or beneficiaries specified by the Owner as then
in effect under the Policy shall receive the balance of the payment of such
death benefit, if any.
4.2 It is agreed and understood that receipt by the Corporation of any
death benefit proceeds as a beneficiary under the Policy shall be considered a
repayment of the Corporation's premium payments under Section 4.1(a) hereof to
the extent of such proceeds. To the extent that the Corporation does not receive
death benefit proceeds or in the event that such proceeds are insufficient to
repay the Corporation the amount provided in Section 4.l(a), the Owner shall be
liable for the remaining balance of the amount provided in Section 4.1(a).
Section 5. Termination of Agreement
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement shall
terminate on the first to occur of the following:
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(a) Express cancellation of this Agreement by the Owner upon ninety
(90) days written notice to the Corporation; or
(b) Lapse or termination of the Policy after mutual written consent
of the Owner and the Corporation to such lapse or termination.
Section 6. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
6.1 For the purpose of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
("ERISA"), the Corporation will be the named fiduciary (the "Named Fiduciary")
and the plan administrator (the "Plan Administrator") of the split-dollar life
insurance arrangement created by this Agreement (the "Plan") for which this
Agreement is hereby designated the written plan instrument.
6.2 The Corporation's Board of Directors may authorize a person or group
of persons to fulfill the responsibilities of the Corporation as Plan
Administrator, The Named Fiduciary or the Plan Administrator may employ others
to render advice with regard to its responsibilities under the Plan. The Named
Fiduciary may also allocate fiduciary responsibilities to others and may
exercise any other powers necessary for the discharge of its duties, to the
extent such exercise is not in conflict with ERISA.
6.3 The following claims procedures shall control the determination of
benefit payments under the Plan:
(a) Filing of a Claim for Benefits. Any insured, beneficiary or other
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individual ("Claimant") entitled to benefits under the Plan or under the
Policy will file a claim request with the Insurer with respect to such
benefits (the "Claim for Benefits"). The Plan Administrator will, upon
written request of a Claimant, make available copies
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of any claim forms or instructions provided by the Insurer or advise the
Claimant where copies of such forms or instructions may be obtained.
(b) Denial of Claim. A Claim for Benefits will be denied if the
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Insurer determines that the Claimant is not entitled to receive such
benefits. Notice of denial shall be furnished to the Claimant within a
reasonable period of time after receipt of the Claim for Benefits by the
Insurer.
(c) Content of Notice. The Insurer shall provide to every Claimant
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who is denied a Claim for Benefits written notice setting forth, in a
manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, the following:
1. The specific reason or reasons for the denial;
2. Specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
denial is based;
3. A description of any additional material or information
necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim, and an explanation of
why such material or information is necessary; and
4. An explanation of the Plan's Claim Review Procedure as set
forth below.
(d) Claim Review Procedure. The purpose of the Claim Review Procedure
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is to provide a method by which a Claimant may have a reasonable
opportunity to appeal a denial of a Claim for Benefits to the Insurer for a
full and fair review. To accomplish that purpose, the Claimant or his duly
authorized representative:
1. May request a review upon written application to the
Insurer;
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2. May review pertinent Plan documents; and
3. May submit issues and comments in writing to the Insurer. A
Claimant (or his duly authorized representative) shall request a
review by filing a written application for review with the Insurer at
any time within 60 days after receipt by the Claimant of written
notice of the denial of his Claim for Benefits.
(e) Decision on Review. A decision on review of a denied Claim for
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Benefits shall be made in the following manner:
1. The decision on review shall be made by the Insurer, who may
in its discretion hold a hearing on the denied claim. Such decision
shall be made promptly, and not later than 60 days after receipt of
the request for review, unless special circumstances (such as the need
to hold a hearing) require an extension of time for processing, in
which case a decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not
later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review.
2. 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, and specific references to the
pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision is based.
Section 7. Reorganization
7.1 Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent any consolidation or
merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations
(whether or not affiliated with the Corporation, or successive consolidations or
mergers in which the Corporation or its successor or successors shall be a party
or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance or lease (or successive sales,
conveyances or leases) of all or substantially all of the property of the
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Corporation to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the
Corporation) authorized to acquire and operate the same and which shall be
organized under the laws of a State of the United States or the District of
Columbia; provided, however, and the Company hereby covenants and agrees, that
upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, the due and
punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of
this Agreement to be performed by the Corporation shall be expressly assumed, by
written instrument executed and delivered to Xxxxxxx, by the corporation (if
other than the Corporation) formed by such consolidation, or into which the
Corporation shall have been merged, or by the corporation which shall have
acquired or leased such property.
7.2 In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease,
and upon the assumption, as provided in Section 7,1 above, by the successor
corporation of the due and punctual performance and observance of all covenants
and conditions of this Agreement to be performed by the Corporation, such
successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the Corporation
with the same effect as it had been named herein as the "Corporation". In the
event of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, the party
named as the "Corporation" in this Agreement or any successor which shall
thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in Section 7.1 above may be
dissolved, wound-up and liquidated at any time thereafter and such party shall
be released from its liabilities and obligations under this Agreement.
7.3 Except as provided in Section 7.2 above, upon any distribution of
assets of the Corporation, upon any dissolution, winding up, total or partial
liquidation of the Corporation, voluntary or involuntary, or upon any
reorganization or similar proceeding relating to the Corporation or any of its
property, whether, bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings,
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or upon a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or any other
marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Corporation (each a "Winding
Up"), the Corporation shall, prior to the taking of any corporate action in
furtherance of any Winding Up, set aside in trust, irrevocably, for the benefit
of Xxxxxxx, sufficient funds to satisfy all then-remaining obligations and
liabilities of the Corporation under this Agreement; and if such trust is not
established for the benefit of Xxxxxxx, then, upon any payment or distribution
of assets of the Corporation of any kind or character, whether in cash, property
or securities, an amount sufficient to satisfy such obligations and liabilities
shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such
payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or
liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to Xxxxxxx in satisfaction of the
Corporation's obligations and liabilities hereunder.
Section 8. Miscellaneous Provisions
8.1 This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Tennessee applied without giving effect to any
conflicts-of-law principles.
8.2 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrases, "Employee dies",
"Employee's death" or the "death of the Employee", mean the death of Xxxxxxx,
8.3 This Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of
employment between the parties, nor shall any provision hereof restrict the
right of the Corporation to discharge Xxxxxxx, or restrict the right of Xxxxxxx
to terminate employment.
8.4 This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement among the parties
concerning the subject matter hereof, and any amendment or discharge will be
made only in writing. This Agreement is binding on, enforceable by and against
and shall benefit the parties, their legal
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representatives, successors and assigns. No beneficiary under the Policy shall
obtain any vested right to have this Agreement continued in full.
8.5 (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any life
insurance company which has issued a policy of insurance which is subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the Insurer and the
Policy, is hereby authorized to act in accordance with the terms of such policy
as if this Agreement did not exist, and the payment or other performance of its
contractual obligations by any such insurance company, in accordance with the
terms of any such policy, shall completely discharge such insurance company from
all claim, suits and demands of all persons whatsoever.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6 hereof, the Insurer is not deemed a
party to this split-dollar arrangement, is not bound by the split-dollar
arrangement, or deemed to have notice of the provisions of this split-dollar
arrangement. Rather, the Insurer will be bound only by the provisions of and
endorsements on the Policy, and any payments made or actions taken by it in
accordance with said provisions or endorsements will fully discharge it from
all claims, suits and demands of all persons whatsoever.
8.6 Whenever possible each provision of this Agreement is to be
interpreted in a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but
if any provision is prohibited or invalid under applicable law, that provision
will be ineffective to the extent of the prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of the provisions or the remaining portions of this
Agreement. To the extent permitted by law, the parties waive any provision of
the law that renders a provision contained in this Agreement prohibited or
unenforceable in any respect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and
affixed their seals as of the date first above written.
CONCORD EFS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Its:_____________________________________________
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX 2001 TRUST
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Its Trustee
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (L.S.)
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XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
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