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:
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 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.
Voluntary Termination by the Executive Without Good Reason If the Executive terminates employment without Good Reason, the Executive shall receive the Base Salary and expense reimbursement to which the Executive is entitled through the date on which termination becomes effective.
Termination by Employee for Good Reason Employee may terminate his employment hereunder for "Good Reason." As used herein, "Good Reason" shall mean the continuance of any of the following after ten (10) days' prior written notice by Employee to the Company, specifying the basis for such Employee's having Good Reason to terminate this Agreement:
Termination by Employee without Good Reason Employee may terminate Employee’s employment without Good Reason by providing the Company sixty (60) days’ written notice of such termination. In the event of a termination of employment by Employee under this Section 8(f), Employee shall be entitled only to the Accrued Obligations, and any equity awards or equity-related awards that are not vested as of the date of termination shall be cancelled. In the event of termination of Employee’s employment under this Section 8(f), the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, by written notice accelerate such date of termination without changing the characterization of such termination as a termination by Employee without Good Reason. Following such termination of Employee’s employment by Employee without Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 8(f), Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
Voluntary Termination by Employee Subject to Section 12 hereof, the Employee may voluntarily terminate employment with the Bank during the term of this Agreement, upon at least 90 days' prior written notice to the Board of Directors, in which case the Employee shall receive only his compensation, vested rights and employee benefits up to the date of his termination (unless such termination occurs pursuant to Section 10(d) hereof or within the Protected Period, in Section 12(a) hereof, in which event the benefits and compensation provided for in Sections 10(d) or 12, as applicable, shall apply).
Termination by Employee with Good Reason Employee may terminate his employment with Good Reason by providing the Company thirty (30) days’ written notice setting forth with reasonable specificity the event that constitutes Good Reason, which written notice, to be effective, must be provided to the Company within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of such event. During such thirty (30) day notice period, the Company shall have a cure right (if curable), and if not cured within such period, Employee’s termination will be effective upon the date immediately following the expiration of the thirty (30) day notice period, and Employee shall be entitled to the same payments and benefits as provided in Section 8(d) above for a termination without Cause, it being agreed that Employee’s right to any such payments and benefits shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as described in Section 8(d) above. Following such termination of Employee’s employment by Employee with Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 8(e), Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
Voluntary Termination by the Executive The Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company at any time prior to the expiration of the term of this Agreement. Such termination shall constitute a voluntary termination and, in such event, the Executive shall be limited to the same rights and benefits as applicable to the termination for Cause, as described in Section 10(c) above.
