EXHIBIT 10.15.1
TRUST UNDER AGREEMENT WITH ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ AND ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
This Trust Agreement is made this 20th day of December, 1995, by and
between THE MERCHANTS BANK (the "Company") and THE MERCHANTS TRUST COMPANY
(the "Trustee").
Background
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1. The Company has entered into a nonqualified deferred compensation
Plan with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the
"Agreement; capitalized terms used in this Trust Agreement that are not
otherwise defined herein have the meanings and definitions set forth in the
Agreement).
2. The Company has incurred liability under the terms of such
Agreement with respect to the Participants.
3. The Company wishes to establish a trust (hereinafter called
"Trust") and to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein,
subject to the claims of Company's creditors in the event of the Company's
Insolvency, as herein defined, until paid to the Participants and their
beneficiaries in such manner and at such times as is specified and provided
for in the Agreement.
4. It is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall
constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the
Agreement as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing
deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated
employees for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974.
5. It is the intention of the Company to make contributions to the
Trust to provide itself with a source of funds and resources to assist it in
the meeting of its liabilities under the Agreement.
N O W , T H E R E F O R E ,
The parties do hereby establish the Trust and agree that the Trust
shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:
Section 1. Establishment Of Trust.
(a) The Company hereby deposits with the Trustee in trust $160,862,
which shall become the principal of the Trust to be held,
administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this
Trust Agreement.
(b) The Trust hereby established shall be irrevocable.
(c) The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which the Company
is the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I,
subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and shall be construed accordingly.
(d) The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be
held separate and apart from other funds of the Company and
shall be used exclusively for the uses and purposes of the
Participants and general creditors, as herein set forth. The
Participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred
claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of
the Trust. Any rights created under the Agreement and this
Trust Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of
the Participants and their beneficiaries against the Company.
Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of
Company's general creditors under federal and state law in the
event of Insolvency, as defined in Section 3(a) herein.
(e) The Company, in its sole discretion, may at any time, or from
time to time, make additional deposits of cash or other property
in trust with the Trustee to augment the principal to be held,
administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this
Trust Agreement. Neither the Trustee nor any Participant or
beneficiary shall have any right to compel such additional
deposits.
Section 2. Payments to Participants and Their Beneficiaries.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee a schedule (the "Payment
Schedule") that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each
Participant (and his or her beneficiaries), that provides a
formula or other instructions acceptable to the Trustee for
determining the amounts so payable, the form in which such
amount is to be paid (as provided for or available under the
Agreement), and the time of commencement for payment of such
amounts. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall
make payments to the Participants and their beneficiaries in
accordance with such Payment Schedule. The Trustee shall make
provision for the reporting and withholding of any federal,
state or local taxes that may be required to be withheld with
respect to the payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the
Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing
authorities or determine that such amounts have been reported,
withheld and paid by the Company.
(b) The entitlement of a Participant or his or her beneficiaries to
benefits under the Agreement shall be determined by the Company
or such party as it shall designate under the Agreement, and any
claim for such benefits shall be considered and reviewed under
the procedures set out in the Agreement.
(c) The Company may make payment of benefits directly to Participants
or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the
Agreement. The Company shall notify the Trustee of its decision
to make payment of benefits directly prior to the time amounts
are payable to participants or their beneficiaries. In
addition, if the principal of the Trust, and any earnings
thereon, are not sufficient to make payments of benefits in
accordance with the terms of the Agreement, the Company shall
make the balance of each such payment as it falls due. The
Trustee shall notify the Company where principal and earnings
are not sufficient.
Section 3. Trustee Responsibility Regarding Payments to Trust
Beneficiary When The Company Is Insolvent.
(a) The Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to the Participants
and their beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. The
Company shall be considered "Insolvent" for purposes of this
Trust Agreement if: (i) the Company is unable to pay its debts
as they become due; (ii) the Company is subject to a pending
proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code;
or (iii) the Company is determined to be insolvent by the
federal and/or state regulatory agencies having authority over
the Company and its operations.
(b) At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in
Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall
be subject to claims of general creditors of the Company under
federal and state law as set forth below.
(i) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company shall have the duty to inform the Trustee in
writing of the Company's Insolvency. If a person claiming
to be a creditor of the Company alleges in writing to the
Trustee that the Company has become Insolvent, the Trustee
shall determine whether the Company is Insolvent and,
pending such determination, the Trustee shall discontinue
payment of benefits to the Participants or their
beneficiaries.
(ii) Unless the Trustee has actual knowledge of Company's
Insolvency, or has received notice from the Company or a
person claiming to be a creditor alleging that the Company
is Insolvent, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire
whether the Company is Insolvent. The Trustee may in all
events rely on such evidence concerning the Company's
solvency as may be furnished to the Trustee and that
provides the Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a
determination concerning the Company's solvency.
(iii) If at any time the Trustee has determined that the
Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall discontinue
payments to the Participants or their beneficiaries and
shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of the
Company's general creditors. Nothing in this Trust
Agreement shall in any way diminish any rights of
Participants or their beneficiaries to pursue their rights
as general creditors of the Company with respect to
benefits due under the Agreement or otherwise.
(iv) The Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to the
Participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with
Section 2 of this Trust Agreement only after the Trustee
has determined that the Company is not Insolvent (or is no
longer Insolvent).
(c) Provided that there are sufficient assets, if the Trustee
discontinues the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to
Section 3(b) hereof and subsequently resumes such payments, the
first payment following such discontinuance shall include the
aggregate amount of all payments due to the Participants or
their beneficiaries under the terms of the Agreement for the
period of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any
payments made to Participants or their beneficiaries by the
Company in lieu of the payments provided for hereunder during
any such period of discontinuance.
Section 4. Payments to the Company. Except as provided in Section 3
hereof, or on account of the Company's direct payments pursuant to Section
2(c), the Company shall have no right or power to direct the Trustee to
return to the Company or to divert to others any of the Trust assets before
all payment of benefits have been made to the Participants and their
beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.
Section 5. Investment Authority. The Trustee shall invest the amount
deposited with it pursuant to Section 1(a) initially in shares of Merchants
Bancshares, Inc. stock except to the extent otherwise instructed by the
Company. Following such initial investment, the Trustee may invest in
securities (including stock or rights to acquire stock) or obligations
issued by the Company or its affiliates and may dispose of the amount of the
initial investment in Merchants Bancshares, Inc. stock and take such other
actions with respect to the Trust assets as directed by the Company, or, in
the absence of such direction, as the Trustee, in its sole discretion,
determines to be appropriate. All rights associated with assets of the
Trust shall be exercised by the Trustee or the person designated by the
Trustee, and shall in no event be exercisable by, or rest with, the
Participants, except that voting rights with respect to Trust assets will be
exercised by the Company. The Company shall have the right at any time, and
from time to time in its sole discretion, to substitute assets of equal fair
market value for any asset held by the Trust. This right is exercisable by
the Company in a nonfiduciary capacity without the approval or consent of
any person in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 6. Disposition of Income. During the term of this Trust, all
income received by the Trust, net of expenses and taxes, shall be
accumulated and reinvested.
Section 7. Accounting by the Trustee. The Trustee shall keep
accurate and detailed records of all investments, receipts, disbursements,
and all other transactions required to be made, including such specific
records as shall be agreed upon in writing between the Company and the
Trustee. Within sixty (60) days following the close of each calendar year
and within sixty (60) days after the removal or resignation of the Trustee,
the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a written account of its
administration of the Trust during such year or during the period from the
close of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or resignation,
setting forth all investments, receipts, disbursements and other
transactions effected by it, including a description of all securities and
investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds of such
purchases or sales (accrued interest paid or receivable being shown
separately), and showing all cash, securities and other property held in the
Trust at the end of such year or as of the date of such removal or
resignation, as the case may be.
Section 8. Responsibility of the Trustee.
(a) The Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and
diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent
person acting in like capacity and familiar with such matters
would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character
and with like aims, provided, however, that the Trustee shall
incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant
to a direction, request or approval given by the Company which
is contemplated by, and in conformity with, the terms of the
Agreement or this Trust and is given in writing by the Company.
In the event of a dispute between the Company and a party, the
Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to
resolve the dispute.
(b) If the Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in
connection with this Trust, the Company agrees to indemnify the
Trustee against Trustee's costs, expenses and liabilities
(including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses)
relating thereto and to be primarily liable for such payments.
If the Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities
in a reasonably timely manner, the Trustee may obtain payment
from the Trust.
(c) The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be
counsel for the Company generally) with respect to any of its
duties or obligations hereunder.
(d) The Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment
advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist
it in performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(e) The Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred
on Trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided
otherwise herein, provided, however, that if an insurance policy
is held as an asset of the Trust, the Trustee shall have no
power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the Trust,
to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy
to a different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to
loan to any person the proceeds of any borrowing against such
policy.
(f) However, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8(e) above,
the Trustee may loan to the Company the proceeds of any
borrowing against an insurance policy held as an asset of the
Trust.
(g) Notwithstanding any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to
this Trust Agreement or to applicable law, the Trustee shall not
have any power that could give this Trust the objective of
carrying on a business and dividing the gains therefrom, within
the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and
Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal
Revenue Code.
Section 9. Compensation and Expenses of the Trustee. The Company
shall pay all administrative and Trustee's fees and expenses. If not so
paid, the fees and expenses shall be paid from the Trust.
Section 10. Resignation and Removal of the Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to the
Company, which shall be effective thirty (30) days after receipt
of such notice unless the Company and the Trustee agree
otherwise.
(b) The Trustee may be removed by the Company on thirty (30) days'
notice or upon shorter notice accepted by the Trustee.
(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed within five (5) years of a
Change of Control, as defined in Section 13(d), the Trustee
shall select a successor trustee in accordance with the
provisions of Section 11(b) hereof prior to the effective date
of Trustee's resignation or removal.
(d) Upon resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred
to the successor trustee. The transfer shall be completed
within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice of resignation,
removal or transfer, unless the Company extends the time limit.
(e) If the Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be
appointed, in accordance with Section 11 hereof, by the
effective date of resignation or removal under Section 10(a) or
10(b). If no such appointment has been made, the Trustee may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a
successor or for instructions. All expenses of the Trustee in
connection with the proceeding shall be allowed as
administrative expenses of the Trust.
Section 11. Appointment of Successor.
(a) Except as provided in Section 11(b), if the Trustee resigns or is
removed in accordance with Section 10(a) or 10(b) hereof, the
Company may appoint any third party, such as a bank trust
department or other party that may be granted corporate trustee
powers under state law, as a successor to replace the Trustee
upon resignation or removal. The appointment shall be effective
when accepted in writing by the new trustee, who shall have all
of the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including
ownership rights in the Trust assets. The former Trustee shall
execute any instrument necessary or reasonably requested by the
Company or the successor trustee to evidence the transfer.
(b) If the Trustee resigns or is removed pursuant to the provisions
of Section 10(c) hereof and is to select a successor trustee,
the Trustee may appoint any third party such as a bank trust
department or other party that may be granted corporate trustee
powers under state law. The appointment of a successor trustee
shall be effective when accepted in writing by the new trustee.
The new trustee shall have all the rights and powers of the
former Trustee, including ownership rights in Trust assets. The
former Trustee shall execute any instrument necessary or
reasonably requested by the successor trustee to evidence the
transfer.
(c) The successor trustee need not examine the records and acts of
any prior Trustee and may retain or dispose of existing Trust
assets, subject to Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The successor
trustee shall not be responsible for and the Company shall
indemnify and defend the successor trustee from any claim or
liability resulting from any action or inaction of any prior
trustee or from any other past event, or any condition existing
at the time it becomes successor trustee.
Section 12. Amendment or Termination.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 1(b) hereof, the Trustee and the Company,
acting jointly or solely, shall have the power to amend the
Trust in any manner required for the sole purpose of insuring
that the Trust qualifies and continues to qualify as a "rabbi
trust" for purposes of Revenue Procedure 92-64, any successor
provisions thereto or any other similar or successor provisions
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(b) The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which the
Participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to
benefits pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Upon
termination of the Trust any assets remaining in the Trust shall
be returned to the Company.
Section 13. Miscellaneous.
(a) Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be
ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.
(b) Benefits payable to the Participants and their beneficiaries
under this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned
(either at law or in equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or
subjected to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other
legal or equitable process.
(c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of Vermont.
(d) For purposes of this Trust, "Change of Control" shall mean the
purchase or other acquisition by any person, entity or group of
persons, within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"), or any comparable
successor provisions, of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule l3d-3 promulgated under the Act) of 30 percent
or more of either the outstanding shares of common stock or the
combined voting power of Company's then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally, or the approval by the
stockholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger, or
consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who
were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such
reorganization-merger or consolidation do not, immediately
thereafter, own more than 50 percent of the combined voting
power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of
the reorganized, merged or consolidated Company's then
outstanding securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of the
Company or of the sale of all or substantially all of Company's
assets.
Section 14. Effective Date. The effective date of this Trust
Agreement shall be December 20, 1995.
THE MERCHANTS BANK THE MERCHANTS TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Duly Authorized Duly Authorized