sec10k123115_ex10-1.htm

THIS EXECUTIVE GROUP LIFE SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is adopted this 31st day of December, 2011, by and between THE OHIO VALLEY BANK COMPANY, a state-chartered commercial bank located in Gallipolis, Ohio (the “Bank”), and THOMAS E. WISEMAN (the “Executive”).

The purpose of this Agreement is to retain and reward the Executive, by dividing the death proceeds of certain life insurance policies which are owned by the Bank on the life of the Executive with the designated beneficiary of the Executive. The Bank will pay the life insurance premiums from its general assets.

1.3	“Beneficiary Designation Form” means the form established from time to time by the Plan Administrator that the Executive completes, signs, and returns to the Plan Administrator to designate one or more Beneficiaries.

1.11

“Separation from Service” means that the Executive’s service, as an employee and independent contractor, to the Bank and any member of a controlled group as defined in Section 414 of the Code to which the Bank belongs, has terminated for any reason, other than by reason of a leave of absence approved by the Company or the death of the Executive.

1.12

“Total Annual Compensation” means the aggregate of: (i) the Executive’s base salary for the current calendar year; (ii) any Christmas gift, Executive bonus, and director fees and bonus (if applicable) from the previous calendar year; and (iii) any amounts described in (i) and (ii) herein that have been deferred under a qualified or non-qualified deferral plan.

2.1

Bank’s Interest. The Bank shall own the Policies and shall have the right to exercise all incidents of ownership, and, subject to Article 4, the Bank may terminate a Policy without the consent of the Executive. The Bank shall be the beneficiary of the remaining death proceeds of the Policies after the Executive’s Interest is determined according to Section 2.2 below.

2.2

Executive’s Interest. The Executive, or the Executive’s assignee, shall have the right to designate the Beneficiary of an amount of death proceeds equal to the lesser of: (i) two times the Executive’s highest Total Annual Compensation as determined during either the current calendar year in which the Executive’s death occurs or any calendar year prior to the Executive’s death; or (ii) the Net Death Proceeds. The Executive shall also have the right to elect and change settlement options with respect to the Executive’s Interest by providing written notice to the Company and the Insurer.

If the Bank discontinues a policy, the Bank shall give the Executive at least sixty (60) days to purchase such Policy. The purchase price shall be the fair market value of the Policy, as determined under Treasury Reg. § 1.61-22(g)(2) or any subsequent applicable authority. Such notification shall be in writing.

4.2

Economic Benefit. The Bank shall determine the economic benefit attributable to the Executive based on the life insurance premium factor for the Executive's age multiplied by the aggregate death benefit payable to the Beneficiary. The “life insurance premium factor” is the minimum factor applicable under guidance published pursuant to Treasury Reg. § 1.61-22(d)(3)(ii) or any subsequent authority.

5.1

Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive shall forfeit any right to a benefit under this Agreement if the Bank terminates the Executive’s employment for cause. Termination of the Executive’s employment for “Cause” shall mean termination because of personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order or material breach of any provision of the Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph, no act of failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Bank.

5.2

Removal. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive’s rights in the Agreement shall terminate if the Executive is subject to a final removal or prohibition order issued by an appropriate federal banking agency pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”).

5.3

Suicide or Misstatement. No benefits shall be payable if the Executive commits suicide within two years after the date of this Agreement, or if the insurance company denies coverage (i) for material misstatements of fact made by the Executive on any application for life insurance purchased by the Bank, or (ii) for any other reason; provided, however that the Bank shall evaluate the reason for the denial, and upon advice of legal counsel and in its sole discretion, consider judicially challenging any denial.

6.1

Beneficiary. The Executive shall have the right, at any time, to designate a Beneficiary(ies) to receive any benefits payable under the Agreement upon the death of the Executive. The Beneficiary designated under this Agreement may be the same as or different from the beneficiary designation under any other Agreement of the Bank in which the Executive participates.

6.2

Beneficiary Designation; Change. The Executive shall designate a Beneficiary by completing and signing the Beneficiary Designation Form, and delivering it to the Bank or its designated agent. 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. The Executive shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing and otherwise complying with the terms of the Beneficiary Designation Form and the Bank’s rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time. Upon the acceptance by the Bank of a new Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be cancelled. The Bank shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Executive and accepted by the Bank prior to the Executive’s death.

6.4

No Beneficiary Designation. If the Executive dies without a valid designation of beneficiary, or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, then the Executive’s surviving spouse shall be the designated Beneficiary. If the Executive has no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be made payable to the personal representative of the Executive's estate.

6.5

Facility of Payment. If the Bank determines in its discretion that a benefit is to be paid to a minor, to a person declared incompetent, or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of that person’s property, the Bank may direct payment of such benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care or custody of such minor, incompetent person or incapable person. The Bank may require proof of incompetence, minority or guardianship as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the benefit. Any payment of a benefit shall be a payment for the account of the Executive and the Executive’s Beneficiary, as the case may be, and shall be a complete discharge of any liability under the Agreement for such payment amount.

The Executive may irrevocably assign without consideration all of the Executive’s Interest in this Agreement to any person, entity, or trust. In the event the Executive shall transfer all of the Executive’s Interest, then all of the Executive’s Interest in this Agreement shall be vested in the Executive’s transferee, who shall be substituted as a party hereunder, and the Executive shall have no further interest in this Agreement.

The Insurer shall be bound only by the terms of its given Policy. The Insurer shall not be bound by or deemed to have notice of the provisions of this Agreement. The Insurer shall have the right to rely on the Bank’s representations with regard to any definitions, interpretations or Policy interests as specified under this Agreement.

9.1	Claims Procedure. The Executive or Beneficiary (“claimant”) who has not received benefits under the Agreement that he or she believes should be paid shall make a claim for such benefits as follows:

9.1.1

Initiation – Written Claim. The claimant initiates a claim by submitting to the Bank a written claim for the benefits. If such a claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be made within sixty (60) days after such notice was received by the claimant. All other claims must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date on which the event that caused the claim to arise occurred. The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the claimant.

9.1.2

Timing of Company Response. The Bank shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim. If the Bank determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Bank can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety (90) day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Bank expects to render its decision.

9.1.3

Notice of Decision. If the Company denies part, or all of the claim, the Bank shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial. The Bank shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

9.2.1

Initiation – Written Request. To initiate the review, the claimant, within sixty (60) days after receiving the Bank’s notice of denial, must file with the Bank a written request for review.

9.2.2

Additional Submissions – Information Access. The claimant shall then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The Bank shall also provide the claimant, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits.

9.2.3

Considerations on Review. In considering the review, the Bank shall take into account all materials and information the claimant submits relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

9.2.4

Timing of Bank’s Response. The Bank shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review. If the Bank determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Bank can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60) day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Bank expects to render its decision.

9.2.5

Notice of Decision. The Bank shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review. The Bank shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

(c)	A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits; and

The Bank or the Executive may terminate this Agreement at any time by giving written notice to the other party. Subject to terms of Article 5, this Agreement shall continue after the Executive’s Separation from Service, unless otherwise agreed to by the Bank and the Executive.

11.1

Plan Administrator Duties. This Agreement shall be administered by a Plan Administrator which shall consist of the Board, or such committee or persons as the Board may choose. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretion and authority to (i) make, amend, interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Agreement and (ii) decide or resolve any and all questions including interpretations of this Agreement, as may arise in connection with this Agreement.

11.2	Agents. In the administration of this Agreement, the Plan Administrator may employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit, (including acting through a duly appointed representative), and may from time to time consult with counsel who may be counsel to the Bank.

11.3

Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation and application of this Agreement and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in this Agreement.

11.4

Indemnity of Plan Administrator. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Plan Administrator against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses or liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Agreement, except in the case of willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator or any of its members.

11.5

Information. To enable the Plan Administrator to perform its functions, the Bank shall supply full and timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the Base Salary of the Executive, the date and circumstances of the retirement, death, or Separation from Service of the Executive, and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator may reasonably require.

12.2

No Guarantee of Employment. This Agreement is not an employment policy or contract. It does not give the Executive the right to remain an Executive of the Bank, nor does it interfere with the Bank’s right to discharge the Executive. It also does not require the Executive to remain an Executive nor interfere with the Executive’s right to separate from service at any time.

12.3	Applicable Law. The Agreement and all rights hereunder shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of Ohio, except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America.

12.4

Reorganization. The Bank shall not merge or consolidate into or with another company, or reorganize, or sell substantially all of its assets to another company, firm or person unless such succeeding or continuing company, firm or person agrees to assume and discharge the obligations of the Bank under this Agreement. Upon the occurrence of such event, the term “Bank” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the successor or survivor company.

12.5	Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Bank under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the address below:

Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Executive under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered, or sent by mail, to the last known address of the Executive.

12.6	Entire Agreement. This Agreement, along with the Executive’s Beneficiary Designation Form, constitutes the entire agreement between the Bank and the Executive as to the subject matter hereof. No rights are granted to the Executive under this Agreement other than those specifically set forth herein.