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:
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 by Company Without Cause The Company may terminate Employee’s employment without Cause upon thirty (30) days written notice to Employee. If Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause, and Employee signs and does not revoke a Release, then Employee shall be entitled to the following:
(i) a one-time “lump sum” payment of severance pay (less applicable withholding taxes) in an amount equal to Employee’s annual base salary, as then in effect, to be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies no later than the Company’s first regular payroll date following the Termination Date;
(ii) a one-time “lump sum” payment of severance pay (less applicable withholding taxes) in an amount equal to 100% of Employee’s annual bonus rate, as then in effect, to be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies no later than the Company’s first regular payroll date following the Termination Date; and
(iii) the same level of health (i.e., medical, vision and dental) coverage and benefits as in effect for the Employee on the day immediately preceding the Termination Date; provided, however, that (A) the Employee constitutes a qualified beneficiary, as defined in Section 4980B(g)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and (B) Employee elects continuation coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA. The Company shall continue to provide Employee with Company-paid health coverage until the earlier of (y) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA, or (z) twelve (12) months from the Termination Date.
(iv) Fifty percent (50%) of the Employee’s then unvested stock options shall immediately vest and become exercisable and Employee shall have twelve (12) months following the Termination Date to exercise such vested shares; provided, however, that in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of any such stock option agreement and this Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall prevail unless the conflicting provision(s) in any such stock option agreement shall be more favorable to Employee in which case the provision(s) more favorable to Employee shall govern; provided further, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing in no event shall the extended twelve (12) month exercise period specified in this Section 6(b)(iv) modify or extend the Expiration Date of any stock option as set forth in such stock option agreement.
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.
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 by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason During the Term, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), then the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Benefit. In addition, subject to the Executive signing a separation agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Separation Agreement and Release”) and the Separation Agreement and Release becoming fully effective, all within the time frame set forth in the Separation Agreement and Release but in no event more than 60 days after the Date of Termination:
(i) the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to nine months of the Executive’s Base Salary (the “Severance Amount”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive breaches any of the provisions contained in the Restrictive Covenants Agreement, all payments of the Severance Amount shall immediately cease; and
(ii) if the Executive properly elects to receive benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), nine months of COBRA premiums for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents at the Company’s normal rate of contribution for employees for the Executive’s coverage at the level in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination; provided, however, if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), provided that the Executive is enrolled in the Company’s health care programs immediately prior to the Date of Termination, the Company will in lieu thereof provide to the Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the portion of the COBRA premiums for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents to continue the Executive’s group health coverage in effect on the Date of Termination at the Company’s normal rate of contribution for employee coverage at the level in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination for a period of nine months. For the avoidance of doubt, the taxable payments described above may be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, continuation coverage under COBRA; and
(iii) the amounts payable under Section 4(b)(i) and (ii), to the extent taxable, shall be paid out in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice over nine months commencing on the first payroll date following the effective date of the Separation Agreement and Release and, in any case, within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, the Severance Amount to the extent it qualifies as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, shall begin to be paid no earlier than the first Company payroll date in the second calendar year and, in any case, by the last day of such 60-day period; provided, further, that the initial payment shall include a catch-up payment to cover amounts retroactive to the day immediately following the Date of Termination. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).
Termination Without Cause The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause.
Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason (a) Employee shall not receive any of the benefits pursuant to this Section 5.2 unless he executes a general release in favor of the Company, in a form acceptable to the Company and substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Schedule B (the “Release”) within the consideration period specified therein (the “Release Review Period”) and until the Release becomes effective and can no longer be revoked by Employee under its terms. Employee’s ability to receive benefits pursuant to this Section 5.2 is further conditioned upon his: returning all Company property; complying with his post termination obligations under this Agreement and the Proprietary Information, Inventions and Non-Competition Agreement; and complying with the Release including without limitation any non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions contained therein.
(b) In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4.2 by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive as severance twelve months of his annual Base Salary then in effect, together with an additional amount calculated by dividing by 365 the number of days employed in the year of termination and multiplying that number by the amount of the Executive’s previous year’s bonus (if any), such amount to be paid in one lump sum on the date the Release becomes effective, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings, provided, however, that if the Release Review Period begins in one tax year and ends in a later tax year, the payments under this Section 5.2(b) will be made following the date that the Release is effective that occurs in the later tax year . Additionally, if Executive timely elects and remains eligible for continued coverage under COBRA, the Company, as part of this Agreement, will pay that portion of Executive’s COBRA premiums it was paying prior to the Separation Date for twelve (12) months.
(c) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4.2, and not for Cause, death or Disability, all unvested equity awards shall become fully vested, all unvested stock options shall become fully vested and exercisable and any ISO’s issued to Executive will automatically convert to a non-qualified options on the 91st day following termination, provided it has not been exercised, subject to the terms of the applicable stock plan and option agreement.
Termination in Connection with Change of Control If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason within sixty (60) days prior to or twelve (12) months following a Change of Control, Executive shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of any severance benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled under any severance plan or program of the Company, the benefits provided below:
(A) the Company shall pay to Executive his or her fully earned but unpaid base salary, when due, through the date of termination at the rate then in effect, plus all other amounts to which Executive is entitled under any compensation plan or practice of the Company at the time of termination;
(B) on the first scheduled payment date pursuant to the usual payroll practices of the Company (or successor entity, as applicable) immediately after the 60th day following the date of termination or Change of Control, in the event the date of termination precedes a Change of Control, with respect to those payments the amount of which is not administratively practicable by the foregoing date because it is not yet known whether a Change of Control will occur within sixty (60) days following the date of termination, as applicable, Executive shall be entitled to receive a lump sum severance payment equal to the sum of:
(1) twelve (12) months of Executive’s monthly base salary as in effect immediately prior to the date of termination, plus
(2) an amount equal to Executive’s Bonus;
(C) The vesting and/or exercisability of all of Executive’s outstanding unvested Stock Awards shall be automatically accelerated on the date of termination;
(D) for the period beginning on the date of termination and ending on the date which is twelve (12) full months following the date of termination (or, if earlier, the date on which Executive accepts employment with another employer that provides comparable benefits in terms of cost and scope of coverage), the Company shall pay for and provide Executive and his or her dependents with healthcare and life insurance benefits which are substantially the same as the benefits provided to Executive immediately prior to the date of termination, including, if necessary, paying the costs associated with continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA;
(E) Executive shall be entitled to executive-level outplacement services at the Company’s expense, not to exceed $15,000. Such services shall be provided by a firm selected by Executive from a list compiled by the Company; and
(F) The payments and benefits provided for in this Section 4(d)(ii) shall only be payable in the event Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason within sixty (60) days prior to or twelve (12) months following a Change of Control. If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason prior to a Change of Control and such Change of Control is not consummated within sixty (60) days following such termination, then Executive shall receive the payments and benefits described in Section 4(d)(i) and shall not be eligible to receive any of the payments and benefits described in this Section 4(d)(ii).
Involuntary Termination Without Cause In the event of the Participant’s involuntary Termination by the Company without Cause, the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof.
