Exhibit 10.19

 

TIDELANDS BANK

ENDORSEMENT SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

 

This ENDORSEMENT SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of
this 1 day of May, 2008 by and between Tidelands Bank, a South
Carolina-chartered bank (the “Bank”), and James M. Bedsole, an executive of the
Bank (the “Executive”).  This Agreement shall append the Split Dollar Policy
Endorsement entered into on even date herewith or as subsequently amended, by
and between the Bank and the Executive.

 

WHEREAS, to encourage the Executive to remain a Bank employee, the Bank is
willing to divide the death proceeds of a life insurance policy on the
Executive’s life, and

 

WHEREAS, the Bank will pay life insurance premiums from its general assets.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows.

 

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

 

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement are used herein as
defined in the Salary Continuation Agreement between the Bank and the
Executive.  The following terms shall have the meanings specified.

 

1.1          “Administrator” means the administrator described in Article 7.

 

1.2          “Executive’s Interest” means the benefit set forth in section 2.2.

 

1.3          “Insured” means the Executive.

 

1.4          “Insurer” means each life insurance carrier for which there is a
Split Dollar Policy Endorsement attached to this Agreement.

 

1.5          “Net Death Proceeds” means the total death proceeds of the Policy
minus the cash surrender value.

 

1.6          “Policy” means the specific life insurance policy or policies
issued by the Insurer.

 

1.7          “Salary Continuation Agreement” means the Salary Continuation
Agreement between the Bank and the Executive, as the same may hereafter be
amended.

 

1.8          “Split Dollar Policy Endorsement” means the form required by the
Administrator or the Insurer to indicate the Executive’s interest, if any, in a
Policy on the Executive’s life.

 

ARTICLE 2

POLICY OWNERSHIP/INTERESTS

 

2.1          Bank Ownership.  The Bank is the sole owner of the Policy and shall
have the right to exercise all incidents of ownership.  The Bank shall be the
beneficiary of the remaining death proceeds of the Policy after the Executive’s
interest is paid according to section 2.2 below.

 

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2.2          Death Benefit.  Provided the Executive’s death occurs both before
the Executive’s Separation from Service and before the Executive attains age 65,
at the Executive’s death the Executive’s beneficiary designated in accordance
with the Split Dollar Policy Endorsement shall be entitled to Policy proceeds in
an amount equal to the lesser of (x) 100% of the Net Death Proceeds or (y) a
portion of the Net Death Proceeds equal to 100% of the Accrual Balance required
at Normal Retirement Age under the Salary Continuation Agreement (the lesser of
the amounts specified in clauses (x) and (y) being referred to in this Agreement
as the “Executive’s Interest”).  The Executive’s Interest shall be extinguished
at the earlier of the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or the
date the Executive attains age 65, and the Executive’s beneficiary shall be
entitled to no benefits under this Agreement for the Executive’s death occurring
thereafter.  The Executive shall have the right to designate the beneficiary of
the Executive’s Interest.

 

2.3          Option to Purchase.  The Bank shall not sell, surrender, or
transfer ownership of the Policy before the Executive’s Separation from Service
without first giving the Executive or the Executive’s transferee the option to
purchase the Policy for a period of 60 days.  The purchase price shall be an
amount equal to the Policy cash surrender value.  The option to purchase the
Policy shall lapse if not exercised within 60 days after the date the Bank gives
written notice of the Bank’s intention to sell, surrender, or transfer ownership
of the Policy.  This provision shall not impair the Bank’s rights to terminate
this Agreement.

 

2.4          Comparable Coverage.  The Bank shall maintain the Policy in full
force and effect.  The Bank may not amend, terminate, or otherwise abrogate the
Executive’s interest in the Policy before the Executive’s Separation from
Service unless the Bank replaces the Policy with a comparable insurance policy
to cover the benefit provided under this Agreement and executes a new split
dollar agreement and endorsement for the comparable insurance policy.  The
Policy or any comparable policy shall be subject to claims of the Bank’s
creditors.

 

2.5          Internal Revenue Code Section 1035 Exchanges.  The Executive
recognizes and agrees that the Bank may after this Agreement is adopted wish to
exchange the Policy of life insurance on the Executive’s life for another
contract of life insurance insuring the Executive’s life.  Provided that the
Policy is replaced (or intended to be replaced) with a comparable policy of life
insurance, the Executive agrees to provide medical information and cooperate
with medical insurance-related testing required by a prospective insurer for
implementing the Policy or, if necessary, for modifying or updating to a
comparable insurer.

 

ARTICLE 3

PREMIUMS

 

3.1          Premium Payment.  The Bank shall pay any premiums due on the
Policy.

 

3.2          Economic Benefit.  The Administrator shall annually 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 Executive’s beneficiary.   The “life insurance premium factor” is
the minimum factor applicable under guidance published pursuant to Treasury Reg.
section 1.61-22(d)(3)(ii) or any subsequent authority.

 

3.3          Imputed Income.  The Bank shall impute the economic benefit to the
Executive on an annual basis by adding the economic benefit to the Executive’s
W-2, or if applicable, Form 1099.

 

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ARTICLE 4

ASSIGNMENT

 

The Executive may irrevocably assign without consideration all of the
Executive’s interest in the Policy and in this Agreement to any person, entity,
or trust established by the Executive or the Executive’s spouse.  If the
Executive transfers all of the Executive’s interest in the Policy, all of the
Executive’s interest in the Policy and in the 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.

 

ARTICLE 5

INSURER

 

The Insurer shall be bound by the terms of the Policy only.  Any payments the
Insurer makes or actions it takes in accordance with the Policy shall fully
discharge it from all claims, suits, and demands of all entities or persons. 
The Insurer shall not be bound by or be deemed to have notice of the provisions
of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 6

CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

 

6.1          Claims Procedure.  Any person or entity who has not received
benefits under this Agreement that he or she believes should be paid (the
“claimant”) shall make a claim for benefits as follows —

 

6.1.1        Initiation — written claim.  The claimant initiates a claim by
submitting to the Administrator a written claim for benefits.  If the claim
relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be
made within 60 days after the notice was received by the claimant.  All other
claims must be made within 180 days after the date of the event that caused the
claim to arise.  The claim must state with particularity the determination
desired by the claimant.

 

6.1.2        Timing of Administrator response.  The Administrator shall respond
to the claimant within 90 days after receiving the claim.  If the Administrator
determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the
claim, the Administrator can extend the response period by an additional 90 days
by notifying the claimant in writing, before the end of the initial 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 Administrator expects
to render its decision.

 

6.1.3        Notice of decision.  If the Administrator denies part or all of the
claim, the Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of the denial. 
The Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be
understood by the claimant.  The notification shall set forth —

 

(a)           The specific reasons for the denial,

(b)           A reference to the specific provisions of this Agreement on which
the denial is based,

(c)           A description of any additional information or material necessary
for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed,

(d)           An explanation of the Agreement’s review procedures and the time
limits applicable to such procedures, and

(e)           A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under
ERISA section 502(a) after an adverse benefit determination on review.

 

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6.2          Review Procedure.  If the Administrator denies part or all of the
claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the
Administrator of the denial, as follows —

 

6.2.1        Initiation — written request.  To initiate the review, the claimant
must file with the Administrator a written request for review within 60 days
after receiving the Administrator’s notice of denial.

 

6.2.2        Additional submissions — information access.  The claimant shall
then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records, and
other information relating to the claim.  Upon request and free of charge, the
Administrator shall also provide the claimant 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.

 

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

 

6.2.4        Timing of Administrator response.  The Administrator shall respond
in writing to the claimant within 60 days after receiving the request for
review.  If the Administrator determines that special circumstances require
additional time for processing the claim, the Administrator can extend the
response period by an additional 60 days by notifying the claimant in writing
before the end of the initial 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 Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

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

 

(a)           The specific reasons for the denial,

(b)           A reference to the specific provisions of the Agreement on which
the denial is based,

(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

(d)           A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under
ERISA section 502(a).

 

ARTICLE 7

ADMINISTRATION OF AGREEMENT

 

7.1          Administrator Duties.  This Agreement shall be administered by an
Administrator, which shall consist of the Bank’s board of directors or such
committee as the board shall appoint.  The Executive may not be a member of the
Administrator.  The Administrator shall have the discretion and authority to
(x) make, amend, interpret, and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations
for the administration of this Agreement and (y) decide or resolve any and all
questions that may arise, including interpretations of this Agreement.

 

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7.2          Agents.  In the administration of this Agreement, the 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.

 

7.3          Binding Effect of Decisions.  The decision or action of the
Administrator about any question arising out of 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 the Agreement.

 

7.4          Indemnity of Administrator.  The Bank shall indemnify and hold
harmless the members of the 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
Administrator or any of its members.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 8

MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1          Amendment and Termination of Agreement.  This Agreement may be
amended or terminated solely by a written agreement signed by the Bank and the
Executive.  However, this Agreement shall terminate upon the first to occur of
(w) distribution of the death benefit proceeds in accordance with section 2.2
above, or (x) termination of the Salary Continuation Agreement under Article 5
of the Salary Continuation Agreement, or (y) the Executive’s Separation from
Service, or (z) the date the Executive attains age 65.

 

8.2          Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall bind the Executive and the
Bank and their beneficiaries, survivors, executors, administrators, and
transferees, and any Policy beneficiary.

 

8.3          No Guarantee 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 Bank nor does it interfere with the Bank’s right to discharge
the Executive.  It also does not require the Executive to remain an employee or
interfere with the Executive’s right to terminate employment at any time.

 

8.4          Successors; Binding Agreement.  By an assumption agreement in form
and substance satisfactory to the Executive, the Bank shall require any
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Bank to
expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Bank would be required to perform this Agreement had no
succession occurred.

 

8.5          Applicable Law.  This Agreement and all rights hereunder shall be
governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of South Carolina,
except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America.

 

8.6          Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the Salary Continuation
Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the Bank and the Executive
concerning the subject

 

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matter.  No rights are granted to the Executive under this Agreement other than
those specifically set forth.

 

8.7          Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid,
such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement not held
invalid, and each such other provision shall continue in full force and effect
to the full extent consistent with law.  If any provision of this Agreement is
held invalid in part, such invalidity shall not affect the remainder of the
provision not held invalid, and the remainder of the provision together with all
other provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect to
the full extent consistent with law.

 

8.8          Headings.  Headings and subheadings herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of
any provision of this Agreement.

 

8.9          Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, with postage prepaid, to the following addresses or to such other
address as either party may designate by like notice.  Unless otherwise changed
by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to
the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Bank at the time of
the delivery of such notice, and properly addressed to the Bank if addressed to
the board of directors, Tidelands Bank, 875 Lowcountry Boulevard, Mount
Pleasant, South Carolina 29464.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and a duly authorized representative of the
Bank have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

EXECUTIVE:

 

BANK:

 

 

Tidelands Bank

 

 

 

/s/ James M. Bedsole

 

 

James M. Bedsole

 

By:

/s/ Robert E. Coffee, Jr.

 

 

Robert E. Coffee Jr.

 

 

Its:

President and CEO

 

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