Exhibit 10.1 

 

**CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT**

 

This AGREEMENT is made as of the 1st day of August, 2003, between BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Florida corporation (the “Corporation”), and Bernardo M. Argudin (“Officer”). 

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has determined that it is in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders to obtain theservices of the Officer; 

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation wishes toengage the services of Officer as a Senior Vice President of BANKUNITED, FSB (the “Bank”); 

 

WHEREAS, Officer is expected to make a significant contribution to the management, profitability and growth of the Bank, and, consequently, of its parent,the Corporation; and 

 

WHEREAS, Officer is expected to possessan intimate knowledge of the Bank’s business and affairs, including its policies, plans, methods, personnel and problems; and 

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Bank consider the continued employment of Officer to be in the best interests of the Corporation, the Bank and theshareholders of the Corporation, and desire to assure themselves of Officer’s continued services on an objective and impartial basis and without distraction or conflict of interest in the event of any efforts to effect a change of ownership orcontrol of the Corporation and/or the Bank; and 

 

WHEREAS,Officer is willing to remain in the employ of the Bank upon the understanding that it will provide Officer with income security in the event of a change in control of the Corporation and/or the Bank, upon the terms and conditions provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, theCorporation and Officer agree as follows: 

 

1.    Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1: 

 

a.    “Cause” shall mean (i) Officer’s refusal or failure to perform Officer’s material duties for the Corporation(other than a failure resulting from Officer’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness), which refusal or failure has continued for a period of at least 30 days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance, signed by a dulyauthorized officer of the Corporation, has been delivered to Officer specifying the manner in which Officer has refused or failed substantially to perform; (ii) an act(s) of personal dishonesty, incompetence, or willful misconduct in connection withher employment or the performance of services for or the handling of the affairs of the Corporation or the Bank, (iii) the conviction of Officer for, or a plea of guilty or nolocontendere to, a criminal act which is a felony, or whichis a misdemeanor involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iv) the breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or the Bank involving personal profit or intentional failure to perform stated duties, 

 

or which could seriously prejudice the interest of the Corporation, the Bank, its depositors, or shareholders; or (v) thebreach or willful violation of any law, rule, regulation, corporate policy (other than traffic violations or similar non-material offenses), or final cease and desist order in connection with her performance of services for the Corporation or theBank, including, but not limited to, federal and state securities laws. 

 

b.    A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if the conditions set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have been satisfied: 

 

(a)    any person, as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as such term is modified in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act),directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 51% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities (other than (A) any employee plan established by any “Corporation”which for these purposes shall be deemed to be the Corporation and any corporation, association, joint venture, proprietorship or partnership which is connected with the Corporation either through stock ownership or through common control, withinthe meaning of Sections 414(b) and (c) and 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (B) the Corporation or any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), (C) an underwriter temporarily holdingsecurities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by shareholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporation or (E) Alfred R. Camner anymember(s) of his family or an entity, person, or group acting in concert with him or his family or on his behalf. 

 

(b)    the shareholders of the Corporation approve a merger of consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation other than(A) a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the survivingentity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of any Corporation, at least 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of theCorporation or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger of consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Corporation (or similar transaction ) in which noPerson is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in clause (a) above), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Corporation or of the surviving entity of such merger or consolidation or any parent thereof representing 51% or more ofthe combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities or the Corporation or any surviving entity or parent (other than Alfred R. Camner or any member(s) of his family or an entity, person, or group acting in concertwith him or his family or on his behalf); or 

 

(c)    the shareholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’sassets, other than a sale or disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets to an entity, at least 75% of the combined 

 

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voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by persons in substantially the same proportions as theirownership of the Corporation immediately prior to such sale. 

 

c.    The “Change in Control Date” shall be the later to occur of the closing date or the effective date (as the case may be) of the transaction or event resulting in the Change in Control. 

 

d.    “Employer” shall mean any one or more ofthe following with respect to which Officer shall have been employed: the Corporation, the Bank and/or a subsidiary or affiliate of the foregoing corporations, and/or any successor thereto or subsidiary or affiliate of a successor thereto.

 

e.    “Severance Payment” shallmean an amount equal to the sum of: 

 

(i)    Officer’s base salary as in effect on the Change in Control Date; provided, however, that Officer’s base salary as in effect on the Change in Control Date shall be annualized, and provided further that,in the event that there occurs any reduction in Officer’s base salary and such reduction occurs (A) any time commencing with the date sixty (60) days prior to the date on which the Corporation, the Bank, Camner and/or a subsidiary or affiliateof the foregoing persons entered into an oral or written, binding or nonbinding, agreement with a third party to effect a Change in Control (an “Agreement to Effect a Change in Control”) or (B) any time within the sixty (60) day periodending on the Change in Control Date where such Change in Control has been effected without the entering into an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control, then, for purposes of determining the amount of the Severance Payment, such reduction shall bedisregarded and Officer’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction shall be used in lieu of Officer’s base salary as in effect on the Change in Control Date; and 

 

(ii)    the sum of all bonuses awarded to Officer inrespect of services rendered by Officer to Employer in the fiscal year of Employer (the “Employer’s Prior Fiscal Year”) which immediately precedes the fiscal year in which there occurs a Change in Control (collectively,“Officer’s Prior Year Bonus”); provided, however, that, in the event that there is entered into an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control any time commencing with the date one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the final day of theEmployer’s Prior Fiscal Year or, absent the entering into of an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control, the Change in Control Date shall occur within one hundred twenty (120) days after the final day of the Employer’s Prior Fiscal Year,then there shall be included in the Severance Payment the greater of Officer’s Prior Year Bonus or the sum of all bonuses awarded to Officer in respect of services rendered by Officer to Employer in the fiscal year immediately preceding theEmployer’s Prior Fiscal Year. 

 

f.    “Disability” shall mean any physical or mental condition that prevents the Officer from performing the essential function of her position for at least three (3) months after the commencement of suchcondition and that is determined to be of a permanent duration by a physician acceptable to the Corporation and the Officer or the Officer’s legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be unreasonably withheld). If theCorporation determines in good faith that the Disability of the Officer has occurred, and that it cannot reasonably accommodate the disability as defined by law it may give to the Officer written notice of its intention to terminate theOfficer’s employment. In such event, the Officer’s 

 

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employment with the Corporation shall terminate effective as of the Disability Effective Date, provided that the Officershall not have returned to full-time performance of the Officer’s duties prior to the Disability Effective Date. Any subsequent different Disability shall not be deemed a continuation of a prior Disability and, the determination of time periodsfor the purposes of this provision shall recommence. Any dispute shall be resolved by arbitration as provided in Section 24. 

 

g.    “Disability Effective Date” shall mean the thirty (30) days following receipt by the Officer of notice from theCorporation of the Corporation’s intention to terminate the Officer’s employment because of the Officer’s disability. 

 

2.    Operation Of Agreement. This Agreement shall be effective immediately upon its execution; provided, however, that theCorporation shall only be obligated to pay to Officer the Severance Payment in the event of a Change in Control and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. 

 

3.    Termination Of Agreement Prior To A Change In Control; Effect Of Agreement Prior To OrFollowing A Change In Control.

 

a.    This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless and until the earlier of: 

 

(i)     its termination by the written agreement of the parties hereto; or 

 

(ii)    the termination of Officer’s employmentwith the Bank and its subsidiaries and affiliates prior to a Change in Control (other than a termination by the Bank without Cause, which termination occurs (A) any time commencing with the date sixty (60) days prior to the date on which there isentered into an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control or (B) any time within the sixty (60) day period ending on the Change in Control Date where such Change in Control has been effected without the entering into of an Agreement to Effect a Changein Control), in which case this Agreement shall terminate concurrently with the termination of Officer’s employment and shall be of no further force or effect. 

 

b.    Employer’s employment rights and obligations with respect to Officer are not affected by thisAgreement prior to the occurrence of any event which constitutes a Change in Control. Subject to any employment agreement which may hereinafter be entered into between Officer and Employer, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to (i)require or imply any obligation on the part of Officer to continue in the employment of Employer prior to or following a Change in Control, (ii) require or imply any right on the part of Officer to continue in the employment of Employer prior to aChange in Control or (iii) limit in any way the right of Employer to terminate the employment of Officer, with or without Cause, at any time prior to a Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Section 3b.shall be construed to alter or limit in any way Employer’s obligations under Section 4 in the event of a Change in Control. 

 

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4.    Severance Payment Following A Change In Control. In the event that aChange in Control occurs while this Agreement is in effect and there is satisfied one of the conditions set forth in subsections a., b. c. or d. of this Section 4, the Corporation shall pay to Officer any compensation, remuneration or other benefitsthen owed to Officer, and any payout required by any such subsections a., b., c. or d. in one lump sum payment payable in full as described below: 

 

a.    If Officer is not employed by Employer on the Change in Control Date due to the termination by Employer of Officer’semployment without Cause, which termination of employment occurs (i) any time commencing with the date sixty (60) days prior to the date on which there is entered into an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control or (ii) any time within the sixty (60)day period ending on the Change in Control Date where such Change in Control has been effected without the entering into of an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control, then the Severance Payment shall be payable to Officer on the Change in ControlDate and upon payment in full thereof, this Agreement shall terminate; or 

 

b.    If Officer is employed by Employer on the Change in Control Date, the Severance Payment shall be payable to Officer on the earliest of six (6) months after the Change in Control Date, thedate that the acquiring entity terminates Officer for any reason regardless of when such termination occurs, or the date that the Officer terminates employment as a result of any of the following grounds, and upon payment in full thereof, thisAgreement shall terminate: 

 

(i)    Officerhas been assigned any duties inconsistent with her position, duties, responsibilities and status with Employer as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control Date; 

 

(ii)    Employer has reduced Officer’s annual salary or other compensation or remuneration as ineffect immediately prior to the Change in Control Date; 

 

(iii)    Employer has required Officer to be based more than fifty (50) miles from the offices where Officer was based immediately prior to the Change in Control Date, except for required travel on Employer’sbusiness to an extent substantially consistent with her previous business travel obligations or, in the event that Officer consents to any such relocation, Employer has failed to pay (or reimburse Officer for) all reasonable moving expensesincurred; or 

 

(iv)    Employer has failedto continue in effect any benefit, retirement or compensation plan, thrift and savings plan, stock bonus plan, stock option/stock appreciation rights plan, life insurance plan, health plan or disability plan in which Officer was participating on theChange in Control Date (or plans providing substantially similar benefits), or Employer has taken any action which would adversely affect (A) Officer’s participation in or materially reduce Officer’s benefits under any of such plans or (B)any material fringe benefit or perquisite enjoyed by Officer as of the Change in Control Date, or Employer has failed to provide Officer with the number of paid vacation days to which she is entitled in accordance with Employer’s normalvacation policy in effect on the Change in Control Date. 

 

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For purposes of determining Officer’s right to receive the Severance Payment pursuant to thissubsection b, in the event that there occurs any diminution in Officer’s duties, annual salary or other compensation or remuneration and/or entitlements under or with respect to such plans, fringe benefits, perquisites or vacation days as aredescribed in clause (iv) of this subsection b, or any change in the office in which Officer is based such that there occurs an increase in the distance of Officer’s commute to such office, and such diminution or change occurs (A) any timecommencing with the date sixty (60) days prior to the date on which there is entered into an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control or (B) any time within the sixty (60) day period ending on the Change in Control Date where such Change in Controlhas been effected without the entering into of an Agreement to Effect a Change in Control, such diminution and/or change shall be disregarded, and Officer’s duties, annual salary or other compensation or remuneration, entitlements and/or baseof employment immediately prior to such diminution or change shall be used to determine Officer’s right to receive the Severance Payment pursuant to this subsection b; or 

 

c.    If Officer is employed by Employer on the Change in Control Date and Officer determines to resignsuch employment, an amount equal to the annualized amount of Officer’s base salary as in effect on the Change in Control Date shall be payable to Officer on the last day of Officer’s employment provided that Officer remains in the employof the acquiring entity for a period not to exceed six (6) months if the acquiring entity so requests in writing within one business day of Officer’s notice of decision to resign and upon payment in full thereof, this Agreement shall terminate;or 

 

d.    If Officer is employed byEmployer on the Change in Control Date and, thereafter, Officer ceases to be employed by Employer due to Officer’s death or Disability, then the Severance Payment shall be payable to Officer, or Officer’s estate or legal representative, asthe case may be, within thirty (30) days of such cessation of employment and upon payment in full thereof, this Agreement shall terminate. 

 

5.    Certain Regulatory Considerations. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary: 

 

a.    any payments made to Officer pursuant to thisAgreement or otherwise are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. Sec. 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder; 

 

b.    if Officer is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by a noticeserved under Sections 8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(3) or (g)(1)), (the “Act”), the obligations of the Corporation under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service of suchnotice, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in such notice are dismissed, then immediately upon such dismissal, the obligations hereunder of the Corporation shall be reinstated, including, without limitation, the obligation topay to Officer the Severance Payment if a Change in Control has occurred; 

 

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c.    if Officer is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in theconduct of the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or (g)(1) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1818 (e)(4) or (g)(1)), all obligations of the Corporation hereunder shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rightsof the parties hereto shall not be affected; 

 

d.    if the Bank is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Act)(12 U.S.C. 1813(x)(1)), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this subsection d. shall not affectany vested rights of the parties hereto; and 

 

e.    except to the extent determined by the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision or his/her designee (the “Director”) that the continuation of this Agreement is necessary for the continued operation ofthe Bank, all obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated at the time that (i) the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf ofthe Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1823(c)), (ii) the Director approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to operation of the Bank or (iii) the Bank is determined by the Director to be in anunsafe or unsound condition; provided, however, that any rights of the parties hereto that have already vested shall not be affected by such action. 

 

6.    Effect Of Agreement On Other Rights. This Agreement shall not diminish or enhance other rights which Officer (or herestate, survivors or heirs) may have under any other contract, employee benefit plan or policy of Employer except as expressly provided in this Agreement. 

 

7.    Arbitration.

 

a.    All disputes under this Agreement shall be settled by arbitration in Miami, Florida, before a single arbitrator pursuant to theemployment rules of arbitration (the “AAA Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”). Arbitration may be commenced at any time by any party hereto giving written notice (the “Arbitration Notice”) to theother party that such dispute has been referred to arbitration under this Section 7. The arbitrator shall be selected by the joint agreement of the Corporation and Officer, but if they do not so agree within 20 days after the date of the giving ofthe Arbitration Notice, the selection shall be made pursuant to the AAA Rules from the panels of arbitrators maintained by the AAA. Any award rendered by the arbitrator shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto and not subject toappeal; provided, however, that any such award shall be accompanied by a written opinion of the arbitrator giving the reasons for the award. This provision for arbitration shall be specifically enforceable by the parties and judgment upon the awardrendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The expenses of the arbitrator shall initially be shared equally by the parties; provided, however, that the arbitrator shall award to the prevailing party all feesand expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses and expenses of the arbitrator) incurred by such prevailing party in connection with the arbitration. The prevailing party shall also be entitled to recover from thenon-prevailing party reasonable attorneys’ fees (including, without limitation, all such fees, costs and expenses incident to appellate, bankruptcy and post-judgment proceedings) incurred as a result of any judicial proceedings relating to thespecific enforcement of this Section 7 or judgment upon the award 

 

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rendered by the arbitrator hereunder, in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled. Forpurposes of this Section 7, “attorneys’ fees” shall include, without limitation, paralegal fees, investigative fees, administrative costs and all other charges billed by the attorney to the prevailing party. 

 

b.    Notwithstanding subsection a. of this Section 7, tothe extent that arbitration of a dispute hereunder is not legally permitted such that the parties to such dispute are prohibited at the time of such dispute from mutually agreeing to submit such dispute to arbitration, either party may commence acivil action in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to resolve such dispute. The prevailing party in such proceedings shall be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing party reasonable attorneys’ fees (including, without limitation, all suchfees, costs and expenses incident to appellate, bankruptcy and post-judgment proceedings) incurred in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled. 

 

c.    Nothing contained in this Section 7 shall preventthe parties from settling any dispute by mutual agreement at any time. 

 

8.    Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given if and when mailed in the continental United States byregistered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or personally delivered to the party entitled thereto at the address stated below or to such changed address as the addressee may have given by a similar notice: 

 

If to Officer: 

Bernardo M. Argudin, Senior Vice President 

BankUnited, FSB 

7815 N. W. 148th Street 

Miami Lakes, Florida33016 

 

If to the Corporation: 

Ramiro A. Ortiz, President 

BankUnited Financial Corporation 

255 Alhambra Circle 

Coral Gables, Florida 33134 

 

9.    Successors; Nonassignability. 

 

a.    Any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger or consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of thebusiness or assets of the Corporation shall be bound by this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Corporation as if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, the term “Corporation” shall includeany successor to all or substantially all of the Corporation’s business or assets or which otherwise becomes bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement, whether by the terms hereof, by operation of law or otherwise. Except as providedin this Section 9(a), this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Corporation. 

 

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b.    All rights of Officer under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and beenforceable by Officer and her personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If Officer should die while any amount would still be payable to her hereunder if she had continuedto live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to her devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to her estate. 

 

10.    Entire Agreement. This Agreementconstitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and representations, whether oral or written, relating to such subject matter. Notwithstanding theforegoing, this Agreement does not supersede any benefits provided by the Corporation’s employee benefit plans, including, without limitation, the Corporation’s stock option and stock award plans, to employees, including the Officer, upona change in control as defined in such plans or as provided in any agreement relating to a specific benefit or award under those plans. 

 

11.    Severability. The invalidity or unenforceablity of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity orenforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. 

 

12.    Modifications; Waiver. This Agreement may be modified, waived or amended at any time prior to a Change in Control by written agreement signed by Officer and the Corporation. Upon the occurrence of a Changein Control, no provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Officer and by such officer of the Corporation as may be specifically authorized anddesignated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemeda waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior to or subsequent time. 

 

13.    Withholding Taxes. The Corporation may withhold from the Severance Payment all federal, state, city or other taxes asshall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling. 

 

14.    Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida without giving effect to theprinciples of conflict of laws thereof. 

 

15.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts will together constitute but one Agreement.

 

16.    Application of Section 280g ofthe Internal Revenue Code. It is the intention of the parties that, in the event of a Change in Control, the Severance Payment shall not constitute “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal RevenueCode of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service thereunder. In the event that the independent accountants acting as auditors for the Corporation 

 

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on the Change in Control Date (or another accounting firm designated by such auditor and reasonably acceptable toOfficer) determine that the Severance Payment may constitute “excess parachute payments,” the Severance Payment shall be reduced to the maximum amount that may be paid without such Severance Payment constituting “excess parachutepayments.” Such determination pursuant to this Section 16 shall take into account (a) whether the payments under this Agreement are “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G and, if so, (b) the portion of such SeverancePayment which constitutes “reasonable compensation” within the meaning of Section 280G. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Corporation after a Change in Control from agreeing with Officer to pay Officer’scompensation or benefits in excess of those provided in this Agreement. 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written. 

 
  
WITNESS:
   
CORPORATION:

BankUnited Financial Corporation
      By:                 
Ramiro A. Ortiz
        
President and Chief Operating Officer
        
 
  
WITNESS:
   
OFFICER:
                        
Bernardo M. Argudin
                 
 

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