Termination Following a Change in Control (a) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company or any Subsidiary during the Severance Period, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided by Section 4 unless such termination is the result of the occurrence of one or more of the following events:
(i) The Executive's death;
(ii) If the Executive becomes permanently disabled within the meaning of, and begins actually to receive disability benefits pursuant to, the long-term disability plan in effect for, or applicable to, Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control; or
Termination Following a Change of Control If the Employee's employment terminates at any time within eighteen (18) months following a Change of Control, then, subject to Section 5, the Employee shall be entitled to receive the following severance benefits:
Following a Change in Control If, within thirty-six (36) months following a Change in Control, the Executive (i) is terminated without Cause, or (ii) resigns for Good Reason (as defined and qualified in Section 9(f) above), then the Executive will be entitled to receive (i) all Base Salary and benefits to be paid or provided to the Executive under this Agreement through the Date of Termination, (ii) the amount of any cash bonus related to any year ending before the Date of Termination that has been earned but remains unpaid, (iii) an amount equal to two hundred ninety-nine percent (299%) of the Adjusted Bonus Amount, (iv) an amount equal to two hundred ninety-nine percent (299%) of the Executive’s Base Salary, (v) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any equity incentive plan or agreement, all equity incentive awards which are then outstanding, to the extent not then vested, shall vest, (vi) health insurance benefits substantially commensurate with the Company’s standard health insurance benefits for the Executive and the Executive’s spouse and dependents through the third anniversary of the Date of Termination; provided, however, that such continued benefits shall terminate on the date or dates Executive receives substantially similar coverage and benefits, without waiting period or pre-existing condition limitations, under the plans and programs of a subsequent employer (such coverage and benefits to be determined on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis); provided further, that any continued health insurance benefits which are provided under this Agreement (including benefits under Section 9(m)) shall run concurrently with any continuation coverage that the Executive or the Executive’s spouse and dependents are entitled to under COBRA and any rights (including the length of coverage) that the Executive and the Executive’s spouse and dependents may be entitled to under COBRA shall not be increased (or extended) due to any continued health insurance benefits which may be provided to the Executive and the Executive’s spouse or dependents pursuant to this Agreement, and (vii) any other unpaid benefits to which the Executive is otherwise entitled under any plan, policy or program of the Company applicable to the Executive as of the Date of Termination (such benefits shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the applicable arrangements). The amounts referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above will collectively be referred to as the “Change in Control Severance Amount.” The Change in Control Severance Amount will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum no later than sixty (60) days following the Date of Termination, with the date of such payment determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The Executive agrees to execute, deliver and not revoke a general release in the form attached as Exhibit A. Payments pursuant to this Section 9(h) will be made in lieu of, and not in addition to, any payment pursuant to any other paragraph of this Section 9.
Termination Upon or Following a Change of Control (a) A Change of Control of the Company (“Change of Control”) shall be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of any of the following events:
(i) the consummation of a transaction that results in the reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more other persons, other than a transaction following which:
(A) at least 51% of the equity ownership interests of the entity resulting from such transaction are beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) in substantially the same relative proportions by persons who, immediately prior to such transaction, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) at least 51% of the outstanding equity ownership interests in the Company; and
(B) at least 51% of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such transaction are beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) in substantially the same relative proportions by persons who, immediately prior to such transaction, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) at least 51 % of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company;
(ii) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of the outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors by any person or by any persons acting in concert;
(iii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan for such liquidation or dissolution;
(iv) the occurrence of any event if, immediately following such event, at least 50% of the members of the Board do not belong to any of the following groups:
(A) individuals who were members of the Board on the Initial Effective Date; or
(B) individuals who first became members of the Board after the Initial Effective Date either:
(I) upon election to serve as a member of the Board by affirmative vote of three-quarters of the members of such Board, or of a nominating committee thereof, in office at the time of such first election; or
(II) upon election by the stockholders of the Company to serve as a member of the Board, but only if nominated for election by affirmative vote of three-quarters of the members of the Board, or of a nominating committee thereof, in office at the time of such first nomination; provided, however, that such individual's election or nomination did not result from an actual or threatened election contest (within the meaning of Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents (within the meaning of Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) other than by or on behalf of the Board; or
(v) any event which would be described in Section 11(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) if the term “Association” were substituted for the term “Company” therein or the term “Board of Directors of the Association” were substituted for the term “Board”. In no event, however, shall a Change of Control be deemed to have occurred as a result of any acquisition of securities or assets of the Company, the Association, or an affiliate or subsidiary of either of them, by the Company, the Association, or a subsidiary of either of them, or by any employee benefit plan maintained by any of them. For purposes of this Section 11 (a), the term “person” shall have the meaning assigned to it under Sections 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.
(b) In the event of a Change of Control, the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits contemplated by Section 9(b) in the event of his or her termination of employment with the Company under any of the circumstances described in Section 9(a) of this Agreement or under any of the following circumstances:
(i) resignation, voluntary or otherwise, by the Executive at any time during the Employment Period within six (6) months following his or her demotion, loss of title, office or significant authority or responsibility or following any reduction in any element of his or her package of compensation and benefits;
(ii) resignation, voluntary or otherwise, by the Executive at any time during the Employment Period within six (6) months following any relocation of his or her principal place of employment or any change in working conditions at such principal place of employment which the Executive, in his or her reasonable discretion, determines to be embarrassing, derogatory or otherwise adverse;
(iii) resignation, voluntary or otherwise, by the Executive at any time during the Employment Period within six (6) months following the failure of any successor to the Company in the Change of Control to include the Executive in any compensation or benefit program maintained by it or covering any of its executive officers, unless the Executive is already covered by a substantially similar plan of the Company which is at least as favorable to him or her; or
(iv) resignation, voluntary or otherwise, for any reason whatsoever during the Employment Period within six months following the effective date of the Change of Control.
Termination of Employment Following a Change in Control Subject to Section 11(a) hereunder, the Executive shall be entitled to the Change in Control Severance Benefits (as defined in Section 4(c) below) set forth in this Section 4, in lieu of the severance benefits the Executive is entitled to under Section 3 of this Agreement, if there has been a Change in Control and the Executive has incurred a Termination of Employment. The severance benefit provided under this Section 4 is in lieu of cash severance payments offered under the Company's documented severance policy, if any.
(a) For purposes of Section 4 of the Agreement, "Termination of Employment" shall be defined as:
(i) The Executive's involuntary termination by the Company for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause; or
(ii) The Executive's termination for "Good Reason," defined as the occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive's written consent, if the Executive terminates employment within one (1) year following the occurrence of such event:
(A) Any reassignment of the Executive to substantial duties materially inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control or a substantial diminution in the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company from his position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided that the fact that the Company is no longer a publicly traded company or the Executive no longer has duties and responsibilities associated exclusively with a publicly traded company, such as Securities and Exchange Commission or stock exchange reporting responsibilities or investor or analyst relations responsibilities, shall not be deemed to be a reassignment of the Executive to substantial duties materially inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control or a substantial diminution in the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company from his position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control;
(B) Any reduction in the Executive's base salary or targeted incentive bonus or commissions in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, or failure by the Company to continue any bonus, stock or other incentive plans in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (without the implementation of comparable successor plans that provide comparable award opportunities/benefits), or any removal of the Executive from participation in such aforementioned plans;
(C) The discontinuance or reduction in benefits to the Executive under any qualified or nonqualified retirement or welfare plan maintained by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control (without the implementation of comparable successor plans that provide comparable benefits), or the discontinuance of any fringe benefits or other perquisites that the Executive received immediately prior to the Change in Control (without the implementation of comparable successor plans that provide comparable benefits);
(D) Required relocation of the Executive's principal place of employment more than 50 miles from the Executive's place of employment prior to the Change in Control; or
(E) The Company's breach of any provision in this Agreement, provided that the Company has not cured such breach within 10 days following written notice by the Executive to the Company of such breach.
(b) The Executive who believes the Executive is entitled to a Termination of Employment for Good Reason, as defined in Section 4 above, may apply in writing to the Company for confirmation of such entitlement prior to the Executive's actual separation from employment, by following the claims procedure set forth in Section 15 hereof. The submission of such a request by the Executive shall not constitute "Cause" for the Company to terminate the Executive as defined under Section 2(a) hereof. If the Executive's request for a Good Reason Termination of Employment is denied under both the request and appeal procedures set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 15 hereof, then the parties shall use their best efforts to resolve the claim within 90 days after the claim is submitted to arbitration pursuant to Section 15(d).
(c) Upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Sections 4 or 11(a) hereof and with respect to any one or more Changes in Control that may occur during the term of this Agreement, upon the Executive's execution of a release (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A), the Executive shall be entitled to (the "Change in Control Severance Benefits"):
(i) A cash severance benefit equal to one times the Executive's current annual base salary, as in effect at the time of the Change in Control;
(ii) A prorated portion of the Executive's target bonus for the year of termination, based on the number of days worked in the year of termination;
(iii) Subject to Section 6, continuation of Company-provided health (including vision and dental, if provided by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control) and welfare benefits (including executive life insurance coverage, if provided by the Company to the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control) for one year, on the terms (or comparable terms) provided by the Company to the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control. Health benefits shall be provided through continued coverage under the Company's group health plan, if allowed under the terms of such plan, or by the reimbursement of COBRA continuation coverage premiums paid by the Executive, as determined by the Company; provided, however, if the health plan is self-insured by the Company, then the determination shall be made by the Executive. Any continuation of group health plan coverage under this paragraph shall run concurrently with the period of required COBRA continuation coverage under the Code. If COBRA continuation coverage is not available, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for premiums for comparable coverage, provided, however, that the reimbursement shall not exceed the greater of (i) two times the annual premium paid by the Company for such coverage at the date of termination or (ii) two times the amount of the COBRA premium under the Company's group health plan for coverage comparable to that elected by the Executive, (A) at the time of the Change of Control or (B) at the time of the required payment, whichever is greater. Welfare benefits (other than health benefits) shall be continued only to the extent permitted under the terms of such plans;
(iv) Continuation of the Executive's then current car benefit for one year in accordance with the Company car policy in effect at the time of termination.
(v) Continued coverage, during the six (6) years following the Executive's termination for his actions or omissions as an officer and, if applicable, director of the Company prior to the date of termination of his employment, under any directors and officers liability insurance policy maintained by the Company (or, if the Company does not maintain such a policy, by its affiliates) for its former directors and officers or, at the Company's election, for the current directors and officers. If the Company or its affiliates does not otherwise maintain such a policy, then the Company shall be required to provide the Executive with such a policy, to the extent available. The policy dollar coverage limits of any such policy shall be not less than the policy limit under any Company policy in place within the one (1) year prior to the Executive's termination of employment (the "Existing Policy") or, if less, the policy dollar coverage limit that can be purchased by the Company for all of its current and former directors and officers at an annual premium equal to two times the Company's annual premium for the Existing Policy.
(d) Subject to Section 11(a) hereof, the Executive's cash severance benefit under Section 4(c)(i) and (ii) shall be paid in a lump sum cash payment within ten (10) days following the Executive's Termination of Employment, as defined in Section 4. Any payment made later than 10 days following the Executive's Termination of Employment (or applicable due date under Section 11(a) hereof) for whatever reason, shall include interest at the prime rate plus two percent, which shall begin accruing on the 10th day following the Executive's Termination of Employment (or applicable due date under Section 11(a) hereof). For purposes of this Section 4, "prime rate" shall be determined by reference to the prime rate established by Comerica Bank (or its successor), in effect from time to time commencing on the 10th day following the Executive's Termination of Employment (or applicable due date under Section 11(a) hereof).
(e) Section 4 of this Agreement shall terminate upon the first of the following events to occur:
(i) Three years from the date hereof if a Change in Control has not occurred within such three-year period;
(ii) Termination of the Executive's employment with the Company prior to a Change in Control, provided, however, if there is a Change in Control within six months after the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, other than a termination due to the Executive's death or Disability, an involuntary termination by the Company for Cause or a termination of employment by the Executive, then the Agreement shall not be deemed to have terminated and the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Change in Control Severance Benefits provided in Section 4, less any Regular Severance Benefits the Executive has been paid under Section 3, in lieu of the severance benefits the Executive is entitled to under Section 3;
(iii) The expiration of two years following a Change in Control;
(iv) Termination of the Executive's employment with the Company following a Change in Control due to the Executive's death or Disability;
(v) Termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause following a Change in Control; or
(vi) Termination of employment by the Executive for other than Good Reason following the date of a Change in Control. Unless Section 4 of this Agreement has first terminated under clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof, commencing on the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement, and on each one-year anniversary thereafter, Section 4 of this Agreement shall be extended for one additional year, unless at least 180 days prior to any such anniversary, the Company notifies the Executive in writing that it shall not extend the term of Section 4 of this Agreement.
Termination Following Change in Control In the event of the occurrence of Constructive Termination within twelve (12) months after the effective date of a Change in Control, Employee may, at Employee's option, terminate Employee's employment due to Constructive Termination unless Employee has entered into an employment agreement with Successor. Such termination shall be effective upon Employee giving notice to Successor. In the event of termination of Employee's employment (1) by Successor within twelve (12) months after the effective date of a Change of Control, or (2) by Employee within twelve (12) months after the effective date of a Change of Control as a result of a Constructive Termination, then (a) Successor shall pay Employee a lump sum cash payment equal to the Severance Amount within 10 business days after the termination of employment; (b) Successor shall make available to Employee, at Employee's cost and expense, medical and other insurance coverage at a level and to the extent required by COBRA; and (c) any outstanding options held by Employee that remain unvested as of the date of termination shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of termination of Employee's employment with Successor and prior to the occurrence of an event otherwise terminating the options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any payments under this Section 2 will be deemed to constitute an "excess parachute payment" as defined in Section 280G(b)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (an "Excess Parachute Payment"), then the payments to Employee under this Section 2 shall be limited to an amount equal to the maximum amount that could be paid to Employee so that no such amount, along with all other payments to Employee by Successor, will be deemed to constitute an Excess Parachute Payment. Subject to the terms of this Section 2, Employee shall not be entitled to receive any other compensation or benefits under this Agreement as a result of the termination of Employee's employment following a Change of Control or Constructive Termination.
Payments Following a Sequential Pay Event Payments of interest and principal shall be made to the Noteholders in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement; provided, if a Sequential Pay Event, as determined by the applicable Servicer in accordance with the Servicing Standard and as set forth in the Servicing Agreement, shall have occurred and be continuing, all amounts tendered by the Mortgage Loan Borrower or otherwise available for payment on or with respect to or in connection with the Mortgage Loan or the Mortgaged Property or REO Property or amounts realized as proceeds thereof (including without limitation amounts received by the Master Servicer or Special Servicer pursuant to the Servicing Agreement as reimbursements on account of recoveries in respect of Advances), whether received in the form of monthly payments, any operating income from or any proceeds from the sale or distribution of any REO Property, the Balloon Payment, Liquidation Proceeds, proceeds under any guaranty, letter of credit or other collateral or instrument securing the Mortgage Loan or Insurance and Condemnation Proceeds (other than proceeds, awards or settlements to be applied to the restoration or repair of the Mortgaged Property or released to the Mortgage Loan Borrower in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Loan Documents, to the extent permitted by the REMIC Provisions), but excluding (x) all amounts for required reserves or escrows required by the Mortgage Loan Documents to continue to be held as reserves or escrows or received as reimbursements on account of recoveries in respect of Advances then due and payable or reimbursable to the Servicer under the Servicing Agreement and (y) all amounts that are then due, payable or reimbursable to any Servicer, Operating Advisor, Certificate Administrator or Trustee with respect to the Mortgage Loan pursuant to the Servicing Agreement, shall be applied by the Lead Securitization Note Holder (or its designee) and distributed by the Servicer for payment in the following order of priority without duplication (and payments shall be made at such times as are set forth in the Servicing Agreement):
(a) first, to the Senior Noteholders, pro rata, in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the aggregate Principal Balance of the Senior Notes at the Net Note A Rate;
(b) second, to the Senior Noteholders, pro rata based on their respective outstanding Principal Balances, until their respective Principal Balances have been reduced to zero;
(c) third, to the Senior Noteholders that have paid any unreimbursed costs and expenses, on a Pro rata and Pari Passu Basis up to the amount of such unreimbursed costs and expenses paid by such Noteholders including any Recovered Costs not previously reimbursed to such Noteholders (or paid or advanced by any Servicer on any such Noteholder’s behalf and not previously paid or reimbursed) with respect to the Mortgage Loan pursuant to this Agreement or the Servicing Agreement;
(d) fourth, to the Senior Noteholders on a Pro rata and Pari Passu Basis, in an aggregate amount equal to the product of (i) the sum of the Percentage Interests of the Senior Notes, multiplied by (ii) the Note A Relative Spread, multiplied by (iii) any Prepayment Premium paid by the Mortgage Loan Borrower;
(e) fifth, if the proceeds of any foreclosure sale or any liquidation of the Mortgage Loan or the Mortgaged Property exceed the amounts required to be applied in accordance with the foregoing clauses (a)-(d), such excess amount shall be paid to the Senior Noteholders, on a Pro rata and Pari Passu Basis in an amount up to the aggregate of unreimbursed Realized Principal Losses previously allocated to the Senior Noteholders in accordance with the terms of Section 5, plus interest on such amount at the Note A Net Rate;
(f) sixth, to the Note B Holder in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Note B Principal Balance at the Net Note B Rate,
(g) seventh, to the Note B Holder, until the Note B Principal Balance has been reduced to zero;
(h) eighth, to the Note B Holder in an amount equal to the product of (i) the Percentage Interest of such Note, multiplied by (ii) the Note B Relative Spread, multiplied by (iii) any Prepayment Premium paid by the Mortgage Loan Borrower;
(i) ninth, to the extent the Note B Holder has made any payments or advances to cure defaults pursuant to Section 11, to reimburse the Note B Holder for all such amounts;
(j) tenth, if the proceeds of any foreclosure sale or any liquidation of a Mortgage Loan or the Mortgaged Property exceed the amounts required to be applied in accordance with the foregoing clauses (a)-(i), such excess amount shall be paid to the Note B Holder in an amount up to the aggregate of unreimbursed Realized Principal Losses previously allocated to the Note B Holder in accordance with the terms of Section 5, plus interest on such amount at the related Note B Rate;
(k) eleventh, to the extent assumption or transfer fees actually paid by the Mortgage Loan Borrower are not required to be otherwise applied under the Servicing Agreement, including, without limitation, to provide reimbursement for interest on any Advances, to pay any Additional Servicing Expenses or to compensate a Servicer (in each case provided that such reimbursements or payments relate to the Mortgage Loan), any such assumption or transfer fees, to the extent actually paid by the Mortgage Loan Borrower, shall be paid to the Noteholders, pro rata based on their respective Percentage Interests; and
(l) twelfth, if any excess amount is available to be distributed in respect of the Mortgage Loan, and not otherwise applied in accordance with the foregoing clauses (a)-(k), any remaining amount shall be paid pro rata to the Noteholders in accordance with their respective initial Percentage Interests. Penalty Charges paid on the Senior Notes pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 hereunder, shall be allocated to each Senior Noteholder on a Pro rata and Pari Passu Basis and applied first, to reduce, on a pro rata basis, the amounts payable on the Senior Notes by the amount necessary to pay the Master Servicer, the Trustee or the Special Servicer for any interest accrued on any Servicing Advances and reimbursement of any Servicing Advances in accordance with the terms of the Securitization Servicing Agreement, second, to reduce, on a pro rata basis, the respective amounts payable on Senior Notes by the amount necessary to pay the Master Servicer, Trustee, Non-Lead Master Servicer or Non-Lead Trustee for any interest accrued on any P&I Advance made with respect to such Notes by such party (if and as specified in the Securitization Servicing Agreement or any Non-Lead Servicing Agreement, as applicable), third, to reduce, on a pro rata basis, the amounts payable on the Senior Notes by the amount necessary to pay additional trust fund expenses (other than Special Servicing Fees, unpaid Workout Fees and Liquidation Fees) incurred with respect to the Mortgage Loan (as specified in the Securitization Servicing Agreement) and finally, in the case of the remaining amount of Penalty Charges allocable pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 hereunder, to be paid to the Master Servicer and/or the Special Servicer as additional servicing compensation as provided in the Securitization Servicing Agreement.
Termination Following Change of Control Should Employee at any time within two years of a change of control cease to be an employee of the Company (or its successor), by reason of (i) involuntary termination by the Company (or its successor) other than for “cause” (following a change of control), “cause” shall be limited to the conviction of or a plea of nolo contendere to the charge of a felony (which, through lapse of time or otherwise, is not subject to appeal), a material breach of fiduciary duty to the Company through the misappropriation of Company funds or property) or (ii) voluntary termination by Employee for “good reason upon change of control” (as defined below), the Company (or its successor) shall pay to Employee within ten days of such termination the following severance payments and benefits:
(a) A lump-sum payment equal to two times the base salary of the Employee at the then current rate; and
(b) A lump-sum payment equal to (i) two times the sum of the target bonuses under all of the Company’s incentive bonus plans applicable to the Employee for the year in which the termination occurs or the year in which the change of control occurred, whichever is greater, and (ii) if termination occurs in the fourth quarter of a calendar year, the sum of the target bonuses under all of the Company’s incentive bonus plans applicable to Employee for the year in which the termination occurs prorated daily based on the number of days from the beginning of the calendar year in which the termination occurs to and including the date of termination. The Company (or its successor) shall also provide continuing coverage and benefits comparable to all life, health and disability plans of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of termination, and Employee shall receive two years additional service credit under the current non-qualified supplemental pension plans, or successors thereto, of the Company applicable to the Employee on the date of termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a “change of control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) there shall be consummated (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares of the Company’s Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of the Company where a majority of the Board of Directors of the surviving corporation are, and for a two year period after the merger continue to be, persons who were directors of the Company immediately prior to the merger or were elected as directors, or nominated for election as directors, by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors of the Company immediately prior to the merger, or (B) any sale, lease, exchange or transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (ii) the shareholders of the Company shall approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iii) (A) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than the Company or a subsidiary thereof or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or a subsidiary thereof, shall become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company representing 20 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing in special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors, as a result of a tender or exchange offer, open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise, and (B) at any time during a period of one year thereafter, individuals who immediately prior to the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company shall cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or the nomination by the Board of Directors for election by the Company’s shareholders of each new director during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period. For purposes of this Section 1, “good reason upon change of control” shall exist if any of the following occurs:
(i) without Employee’s express written consent, the assignment to Employee of any duties inconsistent with the employment of Employee immediately prior to the change of control, or a significant diminution of Employee’s positions, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company from those immediately prior to a change of control or a diminution in Employee’s titles or offices as in effect immediately prior to a change of control, or any removal of Employee from, or any failure to reelect Employee to, any of such positions;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in Employee’s base salary in effect immediately prior to a change of control;
(iii) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any thrift, stock ownership, pension, life insurance, health, dental and accident or disability plan in which Employee is participating or is eligible to participate at the time of the change of control (or plans providing Employee with substantially similar benefits), except as otherwise required by the terms of such plans as in effect at the time of any change of control or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect Employee’s participation in or materially reduce Employee’s benefits under any of such plans or deprive Employee of any material fringe benefits enjoyed by Employee at the time of the change of control or the failure by the Company to provide the Employee with the number of paid vacation days to which Employee is entitled in accordance with the vacation policies of the Company in effect at the time of a change of control;
(iv) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any incentive plan or arrangement (including without limitation, the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan and similar incentive compensation benefits) in which Employee is participating at the time of a change of control (or to substitute and continue other plans or arrangements providing the Employee with substantially similar benefits), except as otherwise required by the terms of such plans as in effect at the time of any change of control;
(v) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any plan or arrangement with respect to securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any plan or arrangement to receive and exercise stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or grants thereof or to acquire stock or other securities of the Company) in which Employee is participating at the time of a change of control (or to substitute and continue plans or arrangements providing the Employee with substantially similar benefits), except as otherwise required by the terms of such plans as in effect at the time of any change of control or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect Employee’s participation in or materially reduce Employee’s benefits under any such plan;
(vi) the relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices to a location outside the San Antonio, Texas, area, or the Company’s requiring Employee to be based anywhere other than at the location of the Company’s principal executive offices, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with Employee’s present business travel obligations, or, in the event Employee consents to any such relocation of the Company’s principal executive or divisional offices, the failure by the Company to pay (or reimburse Employee for) all reasonable moving expenses incurred by Employee relating to a change of Employee’s principal residence in connection with such relocation and to indemnify Employee against any loss (defined as the difference between the actual sale price of such residence and the higher of (a) Employee’s aggregate investment in such residence or (b) the fair market value thereof as determined by a real estate appraiser reasonably satisfactory to both Employee and the Company at the time the Employee’s principal residence is offered for sale in connection with any such change of residence;
(vii) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company; In the event of a change of control as “change of control” is defined in any stock option plan or stock option agreement pursuant to which the Employee holds options to purchase common stock of the Company, Employee shall retain the rights to all accelerated vesting and other benefits under the terms thereof. The Company shall pay any attorney fees incurred by Employee in reasonably seeking to enforce the terms of this Paragraph 1.
Prior to a Change in Control Termination by Executive for Good Reason; Termination by the Company Other Than for Poor Performance, Cause or Disability. If, prior to a Change in Control and during the Executive’s Employment Period, the Company terminates Executive’s employment other than for Poor Performance, Cause or Disability, or Executive terminates employment for Good Reason within a period of 90 days after the occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason, then (and with respect to the payments and benefits described in clauses (ii) through (vii) below, only if Executive executes a Release in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Release”)):
(i) the Company will pay to Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the sum of (A) Executive’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, and (B) any accrued vacation pay to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (A) and (B) will be hereinafter referred to as the “Accrued Obligations”); and
(ii) for the longer of six months or until Executive becomes employed with a subsequent employer, but in no event to exceed the lesser of (A) 18 months from the Date of Termination or (B) the remaining term of Executive’s Employment Period (the “Normal Severance Period”), the Company will continue to pay Executive an amount equal to his monthly Base Salary, payable in equal monthly or more frequent installments as are customary under the Company’s payroll practices from time to time; provided, however, that the Company’s obligation to make or continue such payments will cease if Executive violates any of the Restrictive Covenants (as defined in Section 13(b) of this Agreement) and fails to remedy such violation to the satisfaction of the Board within 10 days of notice of such violation; and
(iii) during the Normal Severance Period, if and to the extent Executive timely elects COBRA continuation coverage, the Company will pay for the full premium amount of such COBRA continuation coverage and will impute taxable income to the Executive equal to the full premium amount; provided, however that the Company’s obligation to provide such benefits will cease if Executive violates any of the Restrictive Covenants (as defined in Section 13(b) of this Agreement) and fails to remedy such violation to the satisfaction of the Board within 10 days of notice of such violation; provided further, that to the extent Executive continues COBRA continuation coverage beyond his Normal Severance Period, Executive will be responsible for paying the full cost of the COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with the procedures of the Company generally applicable to all qualified beneficiaries receiving COBRA continuation coverage; and
(iv) not later than 30 days after the Date of Termination, Executive will be paid a bonus for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs in a lump sum cash amount equal to 100% of his Bonus Opportunity (prorated through the Date of Termination) adjusted up or down by reference to his year-to-date performance at the Date of Termination in relation to the prior established performance objectives under Executive’s bonus plan for such year; provided, however that the bonus payment described in this Section 8(b)(iv) will be reduced by the amount (if any) of the Bonus Opportunity that Executive had previously elected to receive in the form of restricted stock of the Company; and
(v) all grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units and similar Company stock-based awards (“Restricted Stock”) held by Executive as of the Date of Termination will become immediately vested as of the Date of Termination; and
(vi) all of Executive’s options to acquire Common Stock of the Company, stock appreciation rights in Common Stock of the Company and similar Company stock-based awards (“Options”) that would have become vested (by lapse of time) within the 24-month period following the Date of Termination had Executive remained employed during such period will become immediately vested as of the Date of Termination; and
(vii) notwithstanding the provisions of the applicable Option agreement, all of Executive’s vested but unexercised Options as of the Date of Termination (including those with accelerated vesting pursuant to Section 8(b)(vi) above) will remain exercisable through the earlier of (A) the original expiration date of the Option, or (B) the 90th day following the end of the Normal Severance Period; and
(viii) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company will timely pay or provide to Executive his Other Benefits.
Change in Control Defined For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
