Involuntary Termination in Connection with a Change in Control Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in the event of an Involuntary Termination prior to a Change in Control, if the Involuntary Termination (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect such Change in Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of such Change in Control, then the Executive shall, in lieu of the payments described in Section 4 hereof, be entitled to the Post-Change in Control Severance Payment and the additional benefits described in this Section 5 as if such Involuntary Termination had occurred within two (2) years following the Change in Control. The amounts specified in Section 5 that are to be paid under this Section 5(h) shall be reduced by any amount previously paid under Section 4. The amounts to be paid under this Section 5(h) shall be paid within sixty (60) days after the Change in Control Date of such Change in Control.
Termination in Connection with a Change in Control a. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” means any of the following events:
Termination of Employment; Change in Control (i) For purposes of the grant hereunder, any transfer of employment by the Optionee among the Corporation and the Subsidiaries shall not be considered a termination of employment. Except as set forth below in this Section 4(c)(i), if the Optionee's employment with the Corporation shall terminate for any reason, (a) the Option (to the extent then vested) may be exercised at any time within ninety (90) days after such termination (but not beyond the Term of the Option) and (b) the Option, to the extent not then vested, shall immediately expire upon such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) if the Optionee's employment with the Corporation is terminated for Cause (as defined in the last Section hereof), the Option, whether or not then vested, shall be automatically terminated as of the date of such termination of employment, (b) if the Optionee's employment terminates by reason of Retirement, the termination of the Optionee's employment by the Company other than for Cause, or the termination of the Optionee's employment by the Optionee for Good Reason (as defined in the last Section hereof), the Option shall remain exercisable for three years from the date of such termination of employment (but not beyond the Term of the Option) and (c) if the Optionee dies or becomes Disabled (A) while employed by the Corporation or (B) within 90 days after the termination of his or her employment (other than a termination described in clause (a) or (b) of this sentence), the Option may be exercised at any time within one year after the Optionee's death or Disability (but not beyond the Term of the Option).
(ii) If the Optionee's employment terminates by reason of death, Disability, Retirement, the termination of the Optionee's employment by the Company other than for Cause, or the termination of the Optionee's employment by the Optionee for Good Reason, the Option shall become fully and immediately vested and exercisable. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the last Section hereof), the Option shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.
Change in Control Severance Benefits If there is a Change in Control, and within one (1) year of such Change in Control, the Executive’s employment is terminated under the circumstances described in Sections 4(a) through 4(f) above, the Executive shall be entitled to the following: (I) if such termination is a termination by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 4(a) or the Executive resigns for Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(b), the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus and, in addition, subject to the provisions of Section 19, (A) an amount equal to twenty-four (24) months of the Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination or resignation, payable in a lump sum within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of termination or resignation; and (B) provided the Executive timely elects continuation coverage under COBRA, the Company shall also pay, on the Executive’s behalf, the portion of monthly premiums for the Executive’s group health insurance, including coverage for the Executive’s dependents, that the Company paid immediately prior to the date of termination or resignation, during the eighteen (18) month period following the date of termination or resignation, subject to the Executive’s continued eligibility for COBRA coverage. The Company will pay for such COBRA coverage for eligible dependents only for those dependents who were enrolled immediately prior to the date of termination or resignation. The Executive will continue to be required to pay that portion of the premium for the Executive’s health coverage, including coverage for the Executive’s eligible dependents, that the Executive was required to pay as an active employee immediately prior to the date of termination or resignation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that under applicable guidance the reimbursement of COBRA premiums causes the Company’s group health plan to violate any applicable nondiscrimination rule, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith a mutually agreeable alternative arrangement; and (II) if such termination is a termination or resignation under the circumstances described in Sections 4(c), 4(d), 4(e) or 4(f), the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits for which the Executive is eligible under such sections.
Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason in Connection with a Change of Control If during the period commencing three (3) months before and ending twelve (12) months after a Change of Control, (1) Executive terminates his employment with the Company (or any Affiliate) for Good Reason or (2) the Company (or any Affiliate) terminates Executive’s employment for other than Cause, Executive becoming Disabled or Executive’s death, then, subject to Section 4, Executive will receive the following severance from the Company:
Termination in Connection with a Change of Control If during the two (2) year period that begins on the date that is one (1) year prior to a Change of Control and ends on that date which is one (1) year following a Change of Control, Conn’s (or its successor) terminates Executive’s employment other than for Cause or as a result of Executive’s death or Disability, or Executive voluntarily terminates his employment for Good Reason, Conn’s will pay the following amounts and provide the following benefits:
(i) A lump-sum cash payment in an amount equal to three (3) times the Executive’s Base Salary, payable not later than ten (10) days following (A) Executive’s termination (if Executive’s employment terminates on or after the date of the Change of Control), or (B) the date of the Change of Control (if Executive’s employment terminates during the one-year period prior to the date of the Change of Control). Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(c)(i)(B), the amount payable to Executive under this Section 3(c)(i) shall be reduced by the payments, if any, received by Executive pursuant to Section 3(b)(i).
(ii) During the eighteen (18) month period following such termination (the “Change of Control Severance Period”), Executive shall receive continued coverage under the Conn’s medical, dental, life, disability, and other employee welfare benefit plans in which senior executives of Conn’s are eligible to participate, to the extent Executive is eligible under the terms of such plans immediately prior to Executive’s termination. For purposes of clarity, during the term of this Agreement Conn’s shall provide Executive coverage under a major medical plan. Conn’s obligation to provide the foregoing benefits shall terminate upon Executive’s becoming eligible for comparable employee welfare benefits under a plan or arrangement provided by a new employer. Executive agrees to promptly notify Conn’s of any such employment and the material terms of any employee welfare benefits offered to Executive in connection with such employment.
(iii) All awards held by Executive under the Conn’s Amended and Restated 2003 Incentive Stock Option Plan and/or the Conn’s 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan shall immediately vest and, if applicable, continue to be exercisable during the Change of Control Severance Period as if Executive had remained an employee of Conn’s. The terms of this Section 3(c) are continuing in nature and shall survive until the one (1) year anniversary of the earlier of Executive’s termination of employment or termination of this Agreement.
Change in Control Benefits In the event there is a Change in Control, as defined below, and the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Employer without Cause (other than on account of the Executive’s death or disability), in each case within twelve (12) months either (a) after Executive’s employment has terminated or (b) following a Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to be paid, in a single lump sum, severance equal to two (2) years’ salary at that salary rate being paid to Executive as of the date of the Executive’s termination together with an amount equal to one times (1.0x) the average of the Annual Bonus paid to Executive for services during the preceding three (3) calendar years (or the Executive’s period of employment, if less than three (3) years), provided; that, in the event the Executive’s employment has terminated and Executive has been paid a severance benefit under Section 6 of this Agreement, such change in control benefit under this Section 7 shall be reduced by the amount of the severance benefit previously paid. Executive acknowledges and agrees that such payment is in lieu of all damages, payments and liabilities on account of the early termination of this Agreement and is the sole and exclusive remedy for Executive (other than rights, if any, to exercise any of the stock options vested prior to such termination), and shall only be paid, within 60 days after his separation from service with Employer, subject to Executive’s execution and delivery to Employer, within such 60-day period, of a complete release of all claims Executive may have against the Employer, its officers, directors, agents, employees, predecessors, successors, parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates. If the 60-day period referred to in the immediately preceding sentence begins in one calendar year and ends in the following calendar year, then the payment shall be made in the latter calendar year. If upon termination of employment Executive chooses to arbitrate any claims pursuant to Section 18, Executive shall be deemed to have waived Executive’s right, if any, to severance.
Termination of Employment with Severance Benefits (a) In the event that the Officer’s employment with the Bank shall terminate during the Assurance Period, or prior to the commencement of the Assurance Period but within three (3) months of and in connection with a Change of Control as defined in section 10 of this Agreement on account of:
(i) The Officer’s voluntary resignation from employment with the Bank within ninety (90) days following:
(A) the failure of the Bank’s Board to appoint or re-appoint or elect or re-elect the Officer to serve in the same position in which the Officer was serving, on the day before the Assurance Period commenced or a more senior office;
(B) the failure of the stockholders of the Holding Company to elect or re-elect the Officer as a member of the Board, if he was a member of the Board on the day before the Assurance Period commenced;
(C) the expiration of a thirty (30) day period following the date on which the Officer gives written notice to the Bank of its material failure, whether by amendment of the Bank’s Organization Certificate or By-laws, action of the Board or the Holding Company’s stockholders or otherwise, to vest in the Officer the functions, duties, or responsibilities vested in the Officer on the day before the Assurance Period commenced (or the functions, duties and responsibilities of a more senior office to which the Officer may be appointed), unless during such thirty (30) day period, the Bank fully cures such failure;
(D) the failure of the Bank to cure a material breach of this Agreement by the Bank, within thirty (30) days following written notice from the Officer of such material breach;
(E) a reduction in the compensation provided to the Officer, or a material reduction in the benefits provided to the Officer under the Bank’s program of employee benefits, compared with the compensation and benefits that were provided to the Officer on the day before the Assurance Period commenced;
(F) a change in the Officer’s principal place of employment that would result in a one-way commuting time in excess of the greater of (I) 30 minutes or (II) the Officer’s commuting time immediately prior to such change; or
(ii) the discharge of the Officer by the Bank for any reason other than for “cause” as provided in section 9(a); then, subject to section 21, the Bank shall provide the benefits and pay to the Officer the amounts provided for under section 8(b) of this Agreement; provided, however, that if benefits or payments become due hereunder as a result of the Officer’s termination of employment prior to the commencement of the Assurance Period, the benefits and payments provided for under section 8(b) of this Agreement shall be determined as though the Officer had remained in the service of the Bank (upon the terms and conditions in effect at the time of his actual termination of service) and had not terminated employment with the Bank until the date on which the Officer’s Assurance Period would have commenced.
(b) Upon the termination of the Officer’s employment with the Bank under circumstances described in section 8(a) of this Agreement, the Bank shall pay and provide to the Officer (or, in the event of the Officer’s death, to the Officer’s estate) on his termination of employment, subject to section 24 :
(i) the Officer’s earned but unpaid compensation (including, without limitation, all items which constitute wages under section 190.1 of the New York Labor Law and the payment of which is not otherwise provided for under this section 8(b)) as of the date of the termination of the Officer’s employment with the Bank, such payment to be made at the time and in the manner prescribed by law applicable to the payment of wages but in no event later than thirty (30) days after termination of employment;
(ii) the benefits, if any, to which the Officer is entitled as a former employee under the employee benefit plans and programs and compensation plans and programs maintained for the benefit of the Bank’s officers and employees;
(iii) continued group life, health (including hospitalization, medical and major medical), accident and long term disability insurance benefits, in addition to that provided pursuant to section 8(b)(ii) and after taking into account the coverage provided by any subsequent employer, if and to the extent necessary to provide for the Officer, for the remaining unexpired Assurance Period, coverage equivalent to the coverage to which the Officer would have been entitled under such plans (as in effect on the date of his termination of employment, or, if his termination of employment occurs after a Change of Control, on the date of such Change of Control, whichever benefits are greater) if the Officer had continued working for the Bank during the remaining unexpired Assurance Period at the highest annual rate of compensation achieved during the Officer’s period of actual employment with the Bank;
(iv) a lump sum payment, in an amount equal to the present value of the salary that the Officer would have earned if the Officer had continued working for the Bank during the remaining unexpired Assurance Period at the highest annual rate of salary achieved during the Officer’s period of actual employment with the Bank, where such present value is to be determined using a discount rate equal to the applicable short-term federal rate prescribed under section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“Code”) (“Applicable Short-Term Rate”), compounded using the compounding periods corresponding to the Bank’s regular payroll periods for its officers, such lump sum to be paid in lieu of all other payments of salary provided for under this Agreement in respect of the period following any such termination;
(v) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of:
(A) the present value of the aggregate benefits to which the Officer would be entitled under any and all qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans maintained by, or covering employees of, the Bank if the Officer were 100% vested thereunder and had continued working for the Bank during the remaining unexpired Assurance Period, such benefits to be determined as of the date of termination of employment by adding to the service actually recognized under such plans an additional period equal to the remaining unexpired Assurance Period and by adding to the compensation recognized under such plans for the year in which termination of employment occurs all amounts payable under sections 8(b)(I), (iv) and (vii);
(B) the present value of the benefits to which the Officer is actually entitled under such defined benefit pension plans as of the date of his termination; where such present values are to be determined using the mortality tables prescribed under section 415(b)(2)(E)(v) of the Code and a discount rate, compounded monthly, equal to the applicable long-term federal rate prescribed under section 1274(d) of the Code for the month in which his employment terminates; provided, however, that if payments are made under this section 8(b)(v) as a result of this section deeming otherwise unvested amounts under such defined benefit plans to be vested, the payments, if any, attributable to such deemed vesting shall be paid in the same form, and paid at the same time, and in the same manner, as benefits under the corresponding non-qualified plan;
(vi) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value of the additional employer contributions (or if greater in the case of a leveraged employee stock ownership plan or similar arrangement, the additional assets allocable to him through debt service, based on the fair market value of such assets at termination of employment) to which he would have been entitled under any and all qualified and non-qualified defined contribution plans maintained by, or covering employees of, the Bank, if he were 100% vested thereunder and had continued working for the Bank during the remaining unexpired Assurance Period at the highest annual rate of compensation achieved during the Officer’s period of actual employment with the Bank, and making the maximum amount of employee contributions, if any, required under such plan or plans, such present value to be determined on the basis of the discount rate, compounded using the compounding period that corresponds to the frequency with which employer contributions are made to the relevant plan, equal to the Applicable Short-Term Rate; provided, however, that if payments are made under this section 8(b)(vi) as a result of this section deeming otherwise unvested amounts under such defined contribution plans to be vested, the payments, if any, attributable to such deemed vesting shall be paid in the same form, and paid at the same time, and in the same manner, as benefits under the corresponding non-qualified plan;
(vii) the payments that would have been made to the Officer under any cash bonus or long-term or short-term cash incentive compensation plan maintained by, or covering employees of, the Bank, if he had continued working for the Bank during the remaining unexpired Assurance Period and had earned the maximum bonus or incentive award in each calendar year that ends during the remaining unexpired Assurance Period, such payments to be equal to the product of:
(A) the maximum percentage rate at which an award was ever available to the Officer under such incentive compensation plan; multiplied by
(B) the salary that would have been paid to the Officer during each such calendar year at the highest annual rate of salary achieved during the remaining unexpired Assurance Period, such payments to be made without discounting for early payment .. The Bank and the Officer hereby stipulate that the damages which may be incurred by the Officer following any such termination of employment are not capable of accurate measurement as of the date first above written and that the payments and benefits contemplated by this section 8(b) constitute a reasonable estimate under the circumstances of all damages sustained as a consequence of any such termination of employment, other than damages arising under or out of any stock option, restricted stock or other non-qualified stock acquisition or investment plan or program, it being understood and agreed that this Agreement shall not determine the measurement of damages under any such plan or program in respect of any termination of employment. Such damages shall be payable without any requirement of proof of actual damage and without regard to the Officer’s efforts, if any, to mitigate damages. The Bank and the Officer further agree that the Bank may condition the payments and benefits (if any) due under sections 8(b)(iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) on the receipt of the Officer’s resignation from any and all positions which he holds as an officer, director or committee member with respect to the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of either of them.
Change in Control Severance If, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company or an Affiliate terminates the Executive's employment during the Post-Change Period other than as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 8(a), or if the Executive terminates his employment pursuant to Section 8(b), the Executive shall not be entitled to the severance compensation described in Section 7, and the Company will (i) pay or cause to be paid to the Executive the amounts described in Sections 8(c)(1), 8(c)(2), 8(c)(3), 8(c)(6) and 8(c)(7) within five business days after the Termination Date; (ii) pay or cause to be paid to the Executive the amount described in Section 8(c)(4), such amount to be payable no earlier than the date on which such Incentive Pay, if any, would have been paid under the applicable plan or policy of the Company absent such termination of employment; and (iii) provide the Executive the benefits described in Section 8(c)(5) for the period described therein.
(1) A lump sum payment in an amount equal to all Base Pay and Incentive Pay (other than for the calendar year of such termination of employment) owed to the Executive for periods on or prior to the Termination Date.
(2) A lump sum payment in an amount equal to two times the Executive's base salary pursuant to Section 4(a) (at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date).
(3) A lump sum payment equal to two times Incentive Pay (in an amount equal to the highest amount of Incentive Pay earned by the Executive in any calendar year during the three calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurred).
(4) In the event that the Termination Date occurs after June 30 in any calendar year, a lump sum payment equal to one times Incentive Pay for such calendar year, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days between (and including) January 1 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs and the Termination Date, and the denominator of which is 365.
(5) For a period of 24 months following the Termination Date (the "Continuation Period"), the Company will provide the Executive with medical, dental and life insurance benefits consistent with the terms in effect for such benefits for active employees of the Company during the Continuation Period. If and to the extent that any benefit described in this Section 8(c)(5) is not or cannot be paid or provided under any Company plan or program, then the Company will pay or provide for the payment to the Executive, his dependants and beneficiaries, of such employee benefits. Without otherwise limiting the purposes of Section 8(d), employee benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section 8(c)(5) will be reduced to the extent comparable welfare benefits are actually received by the Executive from another employer during the Continuation Period following the Executive's Termination Date, and any such benefits actually received by the Executive shall be reported by the Executive to the Company.
(6) The Company will pay to the Executive the cost of employee outplacement services for the Executive in the amount of $30,000.
(7) The Company will pay the Executive a two-year automobile allowance in the amount provided to the Executive immediately prior to the Termination Date.
Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate under the following circumstances:
