Exhibit 10(e)(5)

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT CONTINUATION AGREEMENT

WITH KEY OFFICER

 

This Amended and Restated Employment Continuation Agreement dated as of
November 3, 2008 (“Agreement”) is by and between Protective Life Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Andrew S. Martin (“Officer”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that Officer holds a position that is
critical to the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company believes that, if it is confronted with a situation that
could result in a change in ownership or control of the Company, continuity of
management will be essential to its ability to evaluate and respond to such
situation in the best interests of shareholders;

 

WHEREAS, the Company understands that any such situation could be a distraction
to Officer, to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself of Officer’s services during the
period in which it is confronting such a situation, and to provide Officer with
certain financial assurances to enable Officer to perform his or her
responsibilities without undue distraction and without bias due to Officer’s
personal circumstances; and

 

WHEREAS, to achieve these objectives, the Company and Officer have previously
entered into an Employment Continuation Agreement (the “Prior Agreement”) which
provided the Company and Officer with certain rights and obligations upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in Section 2);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein
contained, the Company and Officer hereby amend and restate the Prior Agreement
to bring it into compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to make certain
other changes (as so amended and restated, the “Agreement”) as follows:

 

1.               Effective Date.  The effective date of this Agreement (the
“Effective Date”) shall be the date on which a Change of Control occurs during
the term of this Agreement (as provided in Section 12(c)); provided that
(i) anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change of
Control occurs and if Officer’s employment with the Company is terminated before
the date on which the Change of Control occurs, and if it is reasonably
demonstrated by Officer that such termination of employment (A) was at the
request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a
Change of Control, or (B) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of
a Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the “Effective
Date” shall mean the date immediately before such termination of employment, and
(ii) except as provided in clause (i) above, if

 

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Officer is not employed by the Company on the date on which a Change of Control
occurs, this Agreement shall be void and without effect.

 

2.               Definition of Change of Control.  Subject to the provisions of
Code Section 409A, a “Change of Control” shall occur when (i) any one person (or
more than one person acting as a group (as provided in Code Section 409A)) (such
person or group, an “Acquiring Person”) acquires ownership of the Company’s
stock that, together with stock previously held by the Acquiring Person,
constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or more than 50% of the
total voting power of the Company, or (ii) a majority of the members of the
Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or
election was not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the
date of the appointment or election, or (iii) an Acquiring Person acquires (or
has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent
acquisition by such Acquiring Person) assets from the Company that have a total
gross fair market value equal to or more than 80% of the total gross fair market
value of the Company’s assets immediately before such acquisition or
acquisitions, or (iv) (except for purposes of Section 1) any other event or
transaction occurs that is declared by resolution of the Board to constitute a
Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement .

 

3.               Employment Period.  Subject to Section 6, the Company agrees to
continue Officer in its employ, and Officer agrees to remain in the employ of
the Company, for the period (the “Employment Period”) commencing on the
Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

4.               Position and Duties.  (a)  No Reduction in Position.  During
the Employment Period, Officer’s position (including titles), authority and
responsibilities shall be at least commensurate with those held, exercised and
assigned immediately before the Effective Date.  Officer’s services shall be
performed at the location where Officer was employed immediately before the
Effective Date.

 

(b)         Business Time.  From and after the Effective Date, Officer agrees to
devote Officer’s full attention during normal business hours to the business and
affairs of the Company and to perform faithfully and efficiently the
responsibilities assigned to Officer to the extent necessary to discharge such
responsibilities, except for periods of vacation, sick leave and other leave to
which Officer is entitled. Officer’s continuing to serve on any boards and
committees on which Officer is serving or with which Officer is otherwise
associated immediately before the Effective Date shall not be deemed to
interfere with the performance of Officer’s services for the Company.

 

5.               Compensation.  (a) Base Salary.  During the Employment Period,
Officer shall receive a base salary at a monthly rate at least equal to the
monthly base salary paid to Officer by the Company immediately before the
Effective Date.  The base salary shall be reviewed at least once each year after
the Effective Date, and may be increased (but not decreased) at any time and
from time to time by action of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof
or any individual having authority to take such action in accordance with the
Company’s regular practices. Officer’s base salary, as it may be increased from
time to time, shall hereafter be referred to as “Base Salary”.  Neither the Base
Salary nor any increase in Base Salary after the Effective Date shall limit or
reduce any other obligation of the Company hereunder.

 

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(b)         Annual Bonus and Incentive Compensation.  During the Employment
Period, in addition to the Base Salary, for each fiscal year of the Company
ending during the Employment Period, Officer shall be entitled to receive an
(i) annual bonus which is at least equal to the greater of (A) the highest
annual bonus, including any bonus provided under the Company’s Annual Incentive
Plan (“AIP”), that had been payable to Officer in respect of either of the two
fiscal years ended immediately before the Effective Date or (B) the amount that
would have been payable to Officer as a target bonus under any bonus program in
which Officer participated (including the AIP) for the year in which the
Effective Date occurs and (ii) long-term incentive compensation opportunities on
terms and conditions no less favorable to Officer than those applicable to
Officer before the Effective Date.  Any amount payable hereunder as an annual
bonus shall be paid later than March 15 of the year following the year for which
the amount is payable, unless electively deferred by Officer pursuant to any
deferral programs or arrangements that the Company may make available to
Officer.

 

(c)          Benefit Plans.  During the Employment Period, Officer (and, to the
extent applicable, Officer’s dependents) shall be entitled to participate in or
be covered under all pension, retirement, deferred compensation, savings,
medical, dental, health, disability, group life, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans at a level that is commensurate with Officer’s
participation in such plans immediately before the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to Officer, at the level made available to Officer or other similarly
situated employees at any time thereafter.  Officer shall also be entitled to
receive such perquisites as were generally provided to Officer in accordance
with the Company’s policies and practices immediately before the Effective Date.

 

(d)         Expenses.  During the Employment Period, Officer shall be entitled
to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by Officer
in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company as in effect
immediately before the Effective Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company may apply the policies and procedures in effect after the Effective Date
to Officer, if such policies and procedures are more favorable to Officer than
those in effect immediately before the Effective Date.

 

(e)          Indemnification.  During and after the Employment Period, the
Company shall indemnify Officer and hold Officer harmless from and against any
claim, loss or cause of action arising from or out of or related in any way to
Officer’s performance as an officer, director or employee of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or in any other capacity, including any fiduciary capacity,
in which Officer serves at the request of the Company to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws (the “Governing Documents”); provided that in no event shall the
protection afforded to Officer hereunder be less than that afforded under the
Governing Documents as in effect immediately before the Effective Date.

 

6.               Termination of Employment.  (a)  Death or Disability. 
Officer’s employment shall automatically terminate upon Officer’s death or
termination of employment due to Disability (as defined below) during the
Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean
Officer’s inability to perform the duties of Officer’s position, as determined
in accordance with the policies and procedures applicable with respect to the
Company’s long-term disability plan as in effect immediately before the
Effective Date.

 

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(b)         Voluntary Termination.  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, Officer may, upon not less than 10 days’ written notice to the
Company, voluntarily terminate employment for any reason (including early
retirement under the terms of any of the Company’s retirement plans as in effect
from time to time) during the Employment Period; provided that any termination
of employment by Officer pursuant to Section 6(d) on account of Good Reason (as
defined therein) shall not be treated as a voluntary termination under this
Section 6(b).

 

(c)          Cause.  The Company may terminate Officer’s employment for Cause. 
For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) Officer’s conviction or
plea of nolo contendere to a felony; (ii) an act or acts of extreme dishonesty
or gross misconduct on Officer’s part which result or are intended to result in
material damage to the Company’s business or reputation; or (iii) repeated
material violations by Officer of Officer’s obligations under Section 4, which
violations are demonstrably willful and deliberate on Officer’s part and which
result in material damage to the Company’s business or reputation.

 

(d)         Good Reason.  Officer may terminate employment for Good Reason.  For
purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following, without the express written consent of Officer, after the
Effective Date:

 

(i)  (A) the assignment to Officer of any duties inconsistent in any material
adverse respect with Officer’s position (including titles), authority or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4, or (B) any other material adverse
change in such position (including titles), authority or responsibilities;

 

(ii)  any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of
Section 5, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure remedied by the
Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Officer;

 

(iii)  the Company’s requiring Officer to be based at any office or location
more than 20 miles from that location at which Officer performed services
specified under the provisions of Section 4 immediately before the Change of
Control, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of Officer’s
responsibilities; or

 

(iv)  any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption and agreement to
perform this Agreement by a successor as contemplated by Section 11(b).

 

In no event shall the mere occurrence of a Change of Control, absent any further
impact on Officer, be deemed to constitute Good Reason.

 

(e)          Notice of Termination.  Any termination of Officer’s employment by
the Company for Cause or by Officer for Good Reason shall be communicated by
Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with
Section 12(e).  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall
mean a written notice given, in the case of a termination for Cause, within 10
business days of the Company’s having actual knowledge of the events giving rise
to such termination, and in the case of a termination for Good Reason, within
180 days of Officer’s having actual knowledge of the events giving rise to such

 

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termination, and which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Officer’s employment
under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the termination date is other
than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date of this
Agreement (which date shall be not more than 15 days after the giving of such
notice).  The failure by Officer to set forth in the Notice of Termination any
fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not
waive any right of Officer hereunder or preclude Officer from asserting such
fact or circumstance in enforcing Officer’s rights hereunder.

 

(f)            Date of Termination.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“Date of Termination” shall mean (i) in the case of a termination of employment
for which a Notice of Termination is required, the date of receipt of such
Notice of Termination or, if later, the date specified therein, and (ii) in all
other cases, the actual date on which Officer’s employment terminates during the
Employment Period.

 

7.               Obligations of the Company upon Termination.  (a)  Death or
Disability.  If Officer’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period
by reason of Officer’s death or Disability, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to Officer or Officer’s legal representatives under
this Agreement other than those obligations accrued hereunder at the Date of
Termination, and the Company shall pay to Officer (or Officer’s beneficiary or
estate) (i) Officer’s full Base Salary through the Date of Termination (the
“Earned Salary”), (ii) any vested amounts or benefits owing to Officer under the
Company’s otherwise applicable employee benefit plans and programs, including
any compensation previously deferred by Officer (together with any accrued
earnings thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay
not yet paid by the Company (the “Accrued Obligations”), and (iii) any other
benefits payable due to Officer’s death or Disability under the Company’s plans,
policies, programs or arrangements (the “Additional Benefits”).

 

Any Earned Salary shall be paid in cash in a single lump sum as soon as
practicable, but in no event more than 10 business days (or at such earlier date
required by law), following the Date of Termination.  Accrued Obligations and
Additional Benefits shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable
plan, policy, program or arrangement.

 

(b)         Cause and Voluntary Termination.  If, during the Employment Period,
Officer’s employment is terminated for Cause or voluntarily terminated by
Officer (other than on account of Good Reason following a Change of Control) in
accordance with Section 6(b), the Company shall pay Officer (i) the Earned
Salary in cash in a single lump sum as soon as practicable, but in no event more
than 10 business days (or such earlier date required by law), following the Date
of Termination, and (ii) the Accrued Obligations in accordance with the terms of
the applicable plan, policy, program or arrangement.

 

(c)          Termination by the Company other than for Cause and Good Reason
Termination by Officer.

 

(i)             Lump Sum Payments.  If either (a) the Company terminates
Officer’s employment other than for Cause during the Employment Period or
(b) Officer

 

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terminates employment for Good Reason at any time during the Employment Period,
then the Company shall pay to Officer the following amounts:

 

(A) Officer’s Earned Salary;

 

(B) a cash amount (the “Severance Amount”) equal to the sum of:

 

(1)                                 Officer’s annual Base Salary; and

 

(2)                                 the greater of (i) the average of the bonus
amount payable (including any amounts payable under the AIP) to Officer
(including any amounts the receipt of which Officer elected to defer) with
respect to the three fiscal years of the Company (or, if fewer, the number of
such fiscal years in which Officer was an employee of the Company or its
affiliates) immediately before the Change in Control (including, for this
purpose, any AIP Payout (as defined in Section 7(c)(i)(C)) or (ii) the average
of the bonus amount payable (including any amounts payable under the AIP) to
Officer (including any amounts the receipt of which Officer elected to defer)
with respect to the three fiscal years of the Company (or, if fewer, the number
of such fiscal years in which Officer was an employee of the Company or its
affiliates) immediately before the Date of Termination (including, for this
purpose, any AIP Payout); and

 

(C) if Officer has an annual cash bonus opportunity (including a cash bonus 
opportunity under the AIP) outstanding and unpaid as of the Date of Termination,
a cash payment (the “AIP Payout”) equal to (1) if the Date of Termination is
before December 31 of the fiscal year of the Company to which such bonus
opportunity relates, an amount equal to Officer’s target bonus opportunity under
such bonus plan for such fiscal year, and (2) if the Date of Termination is on
or after December 31 of the fiscal year of the Company to which such bonus
opportunity relates, an amount equal to the amount Officer would have received
under such bonus plan for such fiscal year based on actual achievement of the
performance goals with respect thereto (assuming, for this purpose, that all
subjective performance measures are achieved at a level equal to the greater of
the level determined by the Company pursuant to the terms of such bonus plan and
100%).  Payment of the AIP Payout shall be in lieu of payment of any annual cash
bonus opportunity otherwise due and payable with respect to the fiscal year of
the Company referred to in this Section 7(c)(i)(C).

 

(D) the Accrued Obligations.

 

Subject to Section 7(f), the Earned Salary and Severance Amount shall be paid in
cash in a single lump sum as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 10
business days (or such earlier date required by law), following the Date of
Termination.  Subject to Section 7(f), the AIP Payout shall be paid in cash in a
single lump sum (a) if payable under Section 7(c)(i)(C)(1), as soon as
practicable, but in no event more than 10 business days (or such earlier date
required by law),

 

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following the Date of Termination, and (b) if payable under
Section 7(c)(i)(C)(2), as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the
earlier of (i) 30 business days (or such earlier date required by law) following
the Date of Termination and (ii) March 15 of the year following the calendar
year for which the AIP Payout is payable.  Accrued Obligations shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of the applicable plan, policy, program or
arrangement.

 

(ii)          Supplemental Retirement Payment.  If Officer is entitled to
receive the Severance Amount described in Section 7(c)(i), Officer shall be
entitled to receive a supplemental retirement payment, payable in a cash lump
sum, equal in value to the actuarial equivalent (as defined below) of (A) the
monthly benefit payable to Officer (expressed as a life annuity payable
commencing at the later of the Date of Termination and age 65) determined by
adding three years to Officer’s credited service as determined at Officer’s Date
of Termination under the terms of Company’s qualified defined benefit pension
plan and supplemental or excess pension plan (collectively, the “Pension Plans”)
as in effect immediately before the Change in Control (subject to any maximum on
credited service set forth in the Pension Plans), minus (B) the monthly benefit
payable to Officer (expressed as a life annuity payable commencing at the later
of the Date of Termination and age 65) determined pursuant to the terms of all
defined benefit pension plans (including the Pension Plans), active or frozen,
in which Officer is a participant at Officer’s Date of Termination if such plans
are sponsored by the Company or its successors or affiliates.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “actuarial equivalent” shall mean a benefit
actuarially equal in value to the value of a given benefit in a given form or
schedule, based upon (1) the mortality table or tables (including any set backs
of ages) used to calculate actuarial equivalents under the Pension Plans as of
the date on which an actuarial equivalent is being determined under this
Agreement and (2) an interest rate equal to the sum of (A) the yield on U.S.
10-year Treasury Notes at constant maturity as most recently published by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York before Officer’s Date of Termination; provided,
however, that if such yield has not been so published within 90 days before
Officer’s Date of Termination, the interest rate shall be the yield on
substantially similar securities on the business day before Officer’s Date of
Termination as determined by Regions Bank N.A. upon the request of either the
Company or Officer, plus (B) .75%.

 

For purposes of making the foregoing determinations, at the request of Officer
in writing within 5 days of Officer’s receipt of Notice of Termination or
Officer’s Date of Termination, but in either event at the Company’s expense, the
independent pension consultants most recently used by the Company in connection
with its qualified pension plan before the Change in Control shall be engaged
and shall certify the benefits due to Officer under this Section 7(c)(ii) in
writing within 30 days after the Date of Termination.  In any event, the
supplemental retirement payment shall be paid to Officer (subject to
Section 7(f)) no later than 45 days after the Date of Termination.  If the
amount to be offset under clause (B) of the first paragraph of this Section
7(c)(ii) has not been determined within 30 days after the Date of Termination,
no such offset shall be permitted.

 

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(iii)  Continuation of Benefits. If Officer is entitled to receive the Severance
Amount described in Section 7(c)(i), Officer (and, to the extent applicable,
Officer’s dependents) shall be entitled, after the Date of Termination and until
the earlier of (A) the second anniversary of the Date of Termination (the “End
Date”) or (B) the date Officer becomes eligible for comparable benefits under a
similar plan, policy or program of a subsequent employer, to continue
participation in all of the Company’s employee welfare benefit plans including
the Company’s hospital, medical, accident, disability, and life insurance plans
(the “Benefit Plans”) as were generally provided to Officer in accordance with
the Company’s policies and practices immediately before the Effective Date.  To
the extent any such benefits cannot be provided under the terms of the
applicable plan, policy or program, the Company shall pay Officer an amount
equal to the cost to the Company of providing such coverage at the same time as
the Severance Amount is payable to Officer.  Officer’s participation in the
Benefit Plans will be on the same terms and conditions that would have applied
had Officer continued to be employed by the Company through the End Date.  To
the extent any Benefit Plan is a self-insured group health or dental benefit
plan, then in addition to any other limitation provided hereunder, the period of
coverage provided by this Section 7(c)(iii) under such self-insured group health
or dental benefit plan shall not exceed the period of time during which Officer
would be entitled to receive continuation coverage under Code Section 4980B
(“COBRA”) if Officer had elected such coverage and paid the premiums required by
COBRA.  To the extent that immediately preceding sentence applies, the Company
shall pay Officer an amount equal to the cost of such COBRA continuation
coverage for a period equal to the excess of (i) 24 months minus (ii) the number
of months of COBRA coverage initially available to Officer, as determined in
good faith by the Company, at the same time as the Severance Amount is payable
to Officer.

 

(d)  Discharge of the Company’s Obligations.  Except as expressly provided in
the last sentence of this Section 7(d), the amounts payable to Officer pursuant
to this Section 7 (whether or not reduced pursuant to Section 7(e)) following
termination of Officer’s employment shall be in full and complete satisfaction
of Officer’s rights under this Agreement and any other claims Officer may have
in respect of employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  Such
amounts shall constitute liquidated damages with respect to any and all such
rights and claims and, upon Officer’s receipt of such amounts, the Company shall
be released and discharged from any and all liability to Officer in connection
with this Agreement or otherwise in connection with Officer’s employment with
the Company and its subsidiaries.  Nothing in this Section 7(d) shall be
construed to release the Company from its commitment to indemnify Officer and
hold Officer harmless as provided in Section 5(e).

 

(e)  Certain Further Payments by the Company.

 

(i)  If any amount or benefit paid or distributed to Officer pursuant to this
Agreement, taken together with any amounts or benefits otherwise paid or
distributed to Officer by the Company or any affiliated company (including any
distribution or payment made pursuant to the terms of the Company’s compensation
plans or arrangements) (collectively, the “Covered Payments”) are or become
subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under Code Section 4999

 

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or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed, the Company shall pay to
Officer at the time specified in Section 7(e)(v) an additional amount (the “Tax
Reimbursement Payment”) such that the net amount retained by Officer with
respect to such Covered Payments, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the
Covered Payments and any Federal, state and local income or employment tax and
Excise Tax on the Tax Reimbursement Payment provided for by this Section 7(e),
but before deduction for any Federal, state or local income or employment tax
withholding on such Covered Payments, shall be equal to the amount of the
Covered Payments.

 

(ii)  For purposes of determining whether any of the Covered Payments will be
subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (A) such Covered
Payments will be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code
Section 280G, and as all “parachute payments” in excess of the “base amount” (as
defined under Code Section 280G(b)(3)) shall be treated as subject to the Excise
Tax, unless, and except to the extent that, in the good faith judgment of the
Company’s independent certified public accountants appointed before the
Effective Date or tax counsel selected by such accountants (collectively, the
“Accountants”), the Company has a reasonable basis to conclude that such Covered
Payments (in whole or in part) either do not constitute “parachute payments” or
represent reasonable compensation for personal services actually rendered
(within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(4)(B)) in excess of the “base
amount,” or such “parachute payments” are otherwise not subject to such Excise
Tax, and (B) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or
benefit shall be determined by the Accountants in accordance with the principles
of Code Section 280G.

 

(iii)  For purposes of determining the amount of the Tax Reimbursement Payment,
Officer shall be deemed to pay: (A) Federal income taxes at the highest
applicable marginal rate of Federal income taxation for the calendar year in
which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is to be made, and (B) any applicable state
and local income taxes at the highest applicable marginal rate of taxation for
the calendar year in which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is to be made, net of
the maximum reduction in Federal income taxes which could be obtained from the
deduction of such state or local taxes if paid in such year.

 

(iv)  If the Excise Tax is subsequently determined by the Accountants or
pursuant to any proceeding or negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service to
be less than the amount taken into account hereunder in calculating the Tax
Reimbursement Payment made, Officer shall repay to the Company, at the time that
the amount of such reduction in the Excise Tax is finally determined, the
portion of such prior Tax Reimbursement Payment that would not have been paid if
such Excise Tax had been applied in initially calculating such Tax Reimbursement
Payment, plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in
Code Section 1274(b)(2)(B).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any portion of
the Tax Reimbursement Payment to be refunded to the Company has been paid to any
Federal, state or local tax authority, repayment thereof shall not be required
until actual refund or credit of such portion has been made to Officer,

 

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and interest payable to the Company shall not exceed interest received or
credited to Officer by such tax authority for the period it held such portion. 
Officer and the Company shall mutually agree upon the course of action to be
pursued (and the method of allocating the expenses thereof) if Officer’s good
faith claim for refund or credit is denied.

 

If the Excise Tax is later determined by the Accountants or pursuant to any
proceeding or negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service to exceed the
amount taken into account hereunder at the time the Tax Reimbursement Payment is
made (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot
be determined at the time of the Tax Reimbursement Payment), the Company shall
make an additional Tax Reimbursement Payment in respect of such excess (plus any
interest or penalty payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the
amount of such excess is finally determined but in no event later than
December 31 of the year following the calendar year in which such excess is paid
by Officer.

 

(v)  The Tax Reimbursement Payment (or portion thereof) provided for in
Section 7(e)(i) shall be paid to Officer not later than 10 business days
following the payment of the Covered Payments; provided, however, that if the
amount of such Tax Reimbursement Payment (or portion thereof) cannot be finally
determined on or before the date on which payment is due, the Company shall pay
to Officer by such date an amount estimated in good faith by the Accountants to
be the minimum amount of such Tax Reimbursement Payment and shall pay the
remainder of such Tax Reimbursement Payment (together with interest at the rate
provided in Code Section 1274(b)(2)(B)) as soon as the amount thereof can be
determined, but in no event later than 45 calendar days after payment of the
related Covered Payment.  If the amount of the estimated Tax Reimbursement
Payment exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due, such excess
shall constitute a loan by the Company to Officer, payable on the fifth business
day after written demand by the Company for payment (together with interest at
the rate provided in Code Section 1274(b)(2)(B)).

 

(f)   Delay of Payments.  Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding and subject to Code Section 409A, if Officer is a Specified
Employee (as defined below), any payments due under this Agreement to Officer
that are treated as deferred compensation for purposes of Code Section 409A
(such as the Severance Amount) and that are payable on account of a termination
of employment shall be made on the later to occur of the time otherwise
specified in this Section 7 and the first business day after the date that is
six months after Officer’s Date of Termination (or, if earlier, within 15
business days after the date of death of Officer). Officer will be a Specified
Employee if, with respect to April 1 of each calendar year (beginning April 1,
2005) and for the 12-month period thereafter, Officer meets the definition of
“key employee” of the Company under Code Section 416(i) (without regard to Code
Section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the preceding calendar year, all as
provided in Code Section 409A.

 

8.    Non-exclusivity of Rights.  Except as expressly provided herein, nothing
in this Agreement shall prevent or limit Officer’s continuing or future
participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided
by the Company or any of its affiliated

 

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companies and for which Officer may qualify, or limit or otherwise prejudice
such rights as Officer may have under any other agreements with the Company or
any of its affiliated companies.  Amounts which are vested benefits or which
Officer is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the
Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of
Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan or program.

 

9.   Full Settlement.  The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided
for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall
not be affected by any circumstances, including any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against Officer or
others whether by reason of the subsequent employment of Officer or otherwise.

 

10.  Legal Fees and Expenses.  If Officer asserts any claim in any contest
(whether initiated by Officer or by the Company) as to the validity,
enforceability or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement, the Company
shall pay Officer’s legal expenses (or cause such expenses to be paid) in
accordance with Section 12(j) of this Agreement, including Officer’s reasonable
attorney’s fees, on a quarterly basis, upon presentation of proof of such
expenses; provided that Officer shall reimburse the Company for such amounts,
plus simple interest thereon at the 90-day United States Treasury Bill rate as
in effect from time to time, compounded annually, if Officer shall not prevail,
in whole or in part, as to any material issue as to the validity, enforceability
or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

 

11.  Successors.  (a)  This Agreement is personal to Officer and, without the
prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by Officer
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Officer’s legal
representatives.

 

(b)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors.  The Company shall require any successor to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, whether direct
or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock, or
otherwise, by an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Officer,
expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and
to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform if no such
succession had taken place.

 

12.  Miscellaneous.  (a)  Applicable Law; Interpretation.  This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed and conferred in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware applied without reference to principles of conflict of laws. 
If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the validity and
enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be affected.  The
masculine shall include the feminine (and vice versa), the single shall include
the plural (and vice versa), and the words “include” and “including” shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation” unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.  This Agreement may be executed by manual or
facsimile signature.  The headings in this Agreement are solely for convenience
and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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(b)  Arbitration.  Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection
with this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration.  The arbitration
shall be held at a site selected by the arbitrators and except to the extent
inconsistent with this Agreement, shall be conducted in accordance with the
Expedited Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association
then in effect at the time of the arbitration, and otherwise in accordance with
principles which would be applied by a court of law or equity.  The arbitrator
shall be acceptable to both the Company and Officer.  If the parties cannot
agree on an acceptable arbitrator, the dispute shall be heard by a panel of
three arbitrators, one appointed by each of the parties and the third appointed
by the other two arbitrators.

 

(c)  Agreement Term, Termination and Amendment.  The initial term of this
Agreement shall begin on the date hereof and shall terminate on May 1, 2012.  On
each May 1 beginning May 1, 2009, the term of this Agreement shall automatically
extend by one year unless at least 30 days prior to such May 1 the Board of
Directors of the Company determines, and the Company so notifies Officer, that
there will be no such extension.  The determination made by the Board of
Directors as set forth in the preceding sentence shall not be effective if it is
reasonably demonstrated by Officer that such determination (i) was at the
request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a
Change of Control, or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of
a Change of Control.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
written agreement signed by the parties hereto or by their respective successors
and legal representatives.

 

(d)  Entire Agreement. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the matters referred to herein and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Employment Continuation
Agreement executed between the Company and Officer before the date of this
Agreement is hereby terminated.  There are no promises, representations,
inducements or statements between the parties other than those that are
expressly contained herein.  Officer is entering into this Agreement of
Officer’s own free will and accord, and with no duress, has read this Agreement,
and understands it and its legal consequences.

 

(e)  Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand-delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:

 

If to Officer:

 

at the home address of Officer as set forth in the records of the Company

 

 

 

If to the Company:

 

Protective Life Corporation

 

 

2801 Highway 280 South

 

 

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA  35223

 

 

Attn: General Counsel

 

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith.  Notices and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.

 

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(f)  Confidentiality.  Officer agrees to keep the terms of this Agreement
confidential and agrees not to voluntarily disclose any information concerning
this Agreement to anyone except Officer’s spouse, parents, legal counsel or
accountant and provided that they (each and all) agree at Officer’s risk to keep
such information confidential and not disclose it to others; provided that this
nondisclosure provision does not prohibit disclosure (1) at the direction or
with the consent of the President or an Executive Vice President of the Company,
(2) to tax agencies, (3) as required by law or court order, or (4) as may be
necessary to enforce Officer’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(g)  Tax Withholding.  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under
this Agreement such Federal, state, local, or foreign taxes as shall be required
to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

(h) Waivers.  The failure of Officer or the Company to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any
right Officer or the Company may have hereunder, including the right of Officer
to terminate employment for Good Reason, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of
such provision or right or of any other provision or right of this Agreement.

 

(i)  Employment at Will.  Officer and the Company acknowledge that, except as
may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between Officer and
the Company, the employment of Officer by the Company is “at will” and, subject
to Section 1, Officer’s employment may be terminated by either Officer or the
Company at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case Officer shall
have no further rights under this Agreement.

 

(j)  Reimbursement of Expenses.  Except as permitted by Code Section 409A,
(i) the right to reimbursement of expenses under this Agreement shall not be
subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (ii) the amount of
expenses eligible for reimbursement under this Agreement provided during any
taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement to be
provided in any other taxable year, provided that the foregoing clause
(ii) shall not be violated without regard to expenses reimbursed under any
arrangement covered by Code Section 105(b) solely because such expenses are
subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect and
(iii) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of Officer’s taxable
year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred.

 

(k)  Termination of Employment.  For all purposes of this Agreement, Officer
shall not have “termination of employment” (and corollary terms) from the
Company unless and until Officer has a “separation from service” (as determined
under Code Section 409A as uniformly applied in accordance with such rules as
shall be established from time to time by the Company).

 

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(l)  Amendment to LTIP.  Officer hereby agrees to the terms of the Company’s
Long-Term Incentive Plan as amended and restated as of December 31, 2008 (the
“Amended LTIP”) and to the application of terms of the Amended LTIP to any
awards previously granted to Officer.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Officer have duly executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

John D. Johns

 

Title:

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive

 

 

Officer

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICER

 

 

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

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