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 Upon a Change in Control If Executive’s employment with the Employer is subject to a Termination within a Covered Period, then, in addition to Minimum Benefits, the Employer shall provide Executive the following benefits:
(i) On the sixtieth (60th) day following the Termination Date, the Employer shall pay Executive a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the Severance Amount.
(ii) Executive (and Executive’s dependents, as may be applicable) shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Section 4(e).
Termination of Employment Due to Death or Disability If your employment with the Company terminates due to death or Disability, in each case, prior to the Vesting Date, your Adjusted PSUs will vest and convert into Shares on the Adjustment Date (even though you are not employed by the Company on the Vesting Date). Upon a termination of employment due to death, the Adjusted PSUs shall be delivered in accordance with Section 10.
Termination Upon Death or Permanent Disability This Agreement shall be automatically terminated on the death of Executive or on the permanent disability of Executive if Executive is no longer able to perform in all material respects the usual and customary duties of Executive’s employment hereunder. For purposes hereof, any condition which in reasonable likelihood is expected to impair Executive’s ability to materially perform Executive’s duties hereunder for a period of three months or more shall be considered to be permanent.
TERMINATION FOR DISABILITY OR DEATH (a) Termination of Executive’s employment based on “Disability” shall be construed to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death, or last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death, or last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, Executive is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Bank or the Company; or (iii) Executive is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration. The provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) shall apply upon the termination of the Executive’s employment based on Disability. Upon the determination that Executive has suffered a Disability, disability payments hereunder shall commence within thirty (30) days.
(b) Executive shall be entitled to receive benefits under all short-term or long-term disability plans maintained by the Bank for its executives. To the extent such benefits are less than Executive’s Base Salary, the Bank shall pay Executive an amount equal to the difference between such disability plan benefits, Social Security disability benefits and the amount of Executive’s Base Salary for the longer of one (1) year following the termination of his employment due to Disability or the remaining term of this Agreement, which shall be payable in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Bank.
(c) The Bank shall cause to be continued non-taxable medical and dental coverage substantially comparable, as reasonably available, to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to the termination of his employment based on Disability, except to the extent such coverage may be changed in its application to all Bank employees or not available on an individual basis to an employee terminated based on Disability. This coverage shall cease upon the earlier of (i) the date Executive returns to the full-time employment of the Bank; (ii) Executive’s full-time employment by another employer; (iii) expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement; or (iv) Executive’s death.
(d) In the event of Executive’s death during the term of this Agreement, his estate, legal representatives or named beneficiaries (as directed by Executive in writing) shall be paid Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect at the time of Executive’s death in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Bank for a period of one (1) year from the date of Executive’s death, and the Bank shall continue to provide non-taxable medical, and dental insurance benefits normally provided for Executive’s family (in accordance with its customary co-pay percentages) for twelve (12) months after Executive’s death. Such payments are in addition to any other life insurance benefits that Executive’s beneficiaries may be entitled to receive under any employee benefit plan maintained by the Bank for the benefit of Executive, including, but not limited to, the Bank’s tax-qualified retirement plans.
OBLIGATIONS SURVIVE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT Executive agrees that any and all of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to Exhibits B and C, shall survive the termination of employment and the termination of this Agreement.
PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION (a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined) during EXECUTIVE's term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of Termination" shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the termination by the BANK of EXECUTIVE's full-time employment hereunder for any reason other than a Change in Control, as defined in Section 5(a) hereof; disability, as defined in Section 6(a) hereof; death; retirement, as defined in Section 7 hereof; or Termination for Cause, as defined in Section 8 hereof; (ii) EXECUTIVE's resignation from the BANK's employ, upon (A) unless consented to by EXECUTIVE, a material change in EXECUTIVE's function, duties, or responsibilities, which change would cause EXECUTIVE's position to become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from the position and attributes thereof described in Sections 1 and 2, above (any such material change shall be deemed a continuing breach of this Agreement), (B) a relocation of EXECUTIVE's principal place of employment by more than 35 miles from its location at the effective date of this Agreement, or a material reduction in the benefits and perquisites to EXECUTIVE from those being provided as of the effective date of this Agreement, (C) the liquidation or dissolution of the BANK, or (D) any material breach of this Agreement by the BANK. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A), (B), (C) or (D), above, EXECUTIVE shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment under this Agreement by resignation upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice given within a reasonable period of time not to exceed, except in case of a continuing breach, four (4) calendar months after the event giving rise to said right to elect.
Termination Upon a Change of Control (a) In the event a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs, and within 24 months after such Change of Control: (i) your employment with the Company is terminated by you pursuant to a Termination for Good Reason (as defined below); or (ii) your employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for any reason other than death, disability or for Cause pursuant to Sections 9(a), (b) or (c); or (iii) this Agreement is not renewed due to a Termination Notice given by the Company, as provided in Section 1(a), (the events under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) herein collectively called a "Change of Control Termination"), you shall be entitled to receive the payments and benefits set forth in Section 10(e) and (f) below, which payments and benefits shall be in substitution for, and not in addition to, the payments and benefits otherwise payable under Section 2(a) or 2(b) of this Agreement in the event of termination. Your right to receive such payments and benefits, other than the Accrued Obligations, shall be in consideration of your agreements under this Agreement, including but not limited to your agreement not to compete with the Company for two years after a Change of Control pursuant to Section 6, and shall be conditioned upon your execution of a Release. Such Release shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A but may be modified by the Company as it deems appropriate to reflect changes in law or circumstances arising after the date of this Agreement; provided that no such modification shall increase any of your obligations to the Company over those contemplated by this Agreement, including Exhibit A hereto.
(b) For purposes of the Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) any person (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof)), excluding the Company, any subsidiary and any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary (including any trustee of any such plan acting in his capacity as trustee), but including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of shares of the Company having at least 30% of the total number of votes that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company; (ii) the shareholders of the Company shall approve any merger or other business combination of the Company, sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or combination of the foregoing transactions (a "Transaction"), other than a Transaction involving only the Company and one or more of its subsidiaries, or a Transaction immediately following which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the Transaction continue to have a majority of the voting power in the resulting entity (excluding for this purpose any shareholder of the Company owning directly or indirectly more than 10% of the shares of the other company involved in the Transaction) and no person is the beneficial owner of at least 30% of the shares of the resulting entity as contemplated by Section 10(b)(i) above; or (iii) within any 24-month period beginning on or after the date hereof, the persons who were directors of the Company immediately before the beginning of such period (the "Incumbent Directors") shall cease (for any reason other than death) to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or the board of directors of any successor to the Company, provided that any director who was not a director as of the date hereof shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if such director was elected to the Board by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually or by prior operation of this Section 10(b)(iii), unless such election, recommendation or approval was the result of an actual or threatened election contest of the type contemplated by Regulation 14a-11 under the Exchange Act or any successor provision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Agreement by reason of any actions or events in which you participate in a capacity other than in your capacity as an executive or director of the Company.
Termination Upon Death or Disability If Executive dies during the Term, the obligations of the Company to or with respect to Executive shall terminate in their entirety except as otherwise provided under this Section 4.1. If Executive becomes eligible for disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plans and arrangements (or, if none, if Executive by virtue of ill health or other disability is unable to perform substantially and continuously the duties assigned to him for at least 120 consecutive or non-consecutive days out of any consecutive 12-month period), the Company shall have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to terminate the employment of Executive upon notice in writing to Executive; provided that the Company will have no right to terminate Executive’s employment if, in the reasonable opinion of a qualified physician acceptable to the Company, it is substantially certain that Executive will be able to resume Executive’s duties on a regular full-time basis within 30 days of the date Executive receives notice of such termination. Upon death or other termination of employment by virtue of disability in accordance with this Section 4.1, Executive (or Executive’s estate or beneficiaries in the case of the death of Executive) shall have no right to receive any compensation or benefit hereunder on and after the effective date of the termination of employment other than (i) Annual Salary and other benefits earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to the date of termination (and reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination); (ii) a cash payment equal to the prorated portion of the Annual Bonus at the “target” level for the Contract Year or partial Contract Year in which Executive’s employment hereunder terminates; (iii) elimination of any exclusively time-based vesting conditions on any restricted stock, stock option or other equity awards in the Company he had been granted which he then continues to hold, to the extent then unvested (it being expressly understood and agreed that any performance-based vesting conditions (whether or not in tandem with such time-based vesting conditions) will continue in effect in accordance with their terms, except as may otherwise be provided to the contrary in the applicable award agreements); (iv) in the event of Executive’s death, (A) a cash payment equal to two months of Executive’s Annual Salary payable no later than 10 days after such termination, and (B) continuation to Executive’s spouse and dependents of fully paid health insurance benefits under the Company’s health plans and programs applicable to senior executives of the Company generally (if and as in effect from time to time) during the one year following the date of termination; and (v) Executive (or, in the case of his death, his estate and beneficiaries) shall have no further rights to any other compensation or benefits hereunder on or after the termination of employment, or any other rights hereunder.
Upon Death or Disability If the Executive dies, all provisions of Section 3 of this Agreement (other than rights or benefits arising as a result of such death) and the Employment Term shall be automatically terminated; provided, however, that an amount equal to the earned and unpaid Incentive Payments to the date of death and the Standard Termination Payments shall be paid to the Executive’s surviving spouse or, if none, the Executive’s estate (as set forth above), and the death benefits under the Company’s employee benefit plans shall be paid to the Executive’s beneficiary or beneficiaries as properly designated in writing by the Executive. If the Executive is unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s job under this Agreement, with or without reasonable accommodation, by reason of physical or mental disability or incapacity (“Disability”) and such disability or incapacity shall have continued for any period aggregating six months within any 12 consecutive months, the Company may terminate this Agreement and the Employment Term at any time thereafter. In such event, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive’s normal compensation hereunder during said time of disability or incapacity, and shall thereafter be entitled to receive the “Disability Incentive Payment” (as described in the penultimate sentence of this subsection (b)) and the Standard Termination Payments (as set forth above). The portion of the payment representing the Disability Incentive Payment shall be paid in a lump sum determined on a net present value basis, using a reasonable discount rate determined by the Board. The Disability Incentive Payment shall be equal to the target Incentive Payment that the Executive would have been eligible to receive for the year in which the Employment Term is terminated multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such year before and including the day of termination of the Employment Term and the denominator of which is the total number of days in such year. Subject to Section 19 below, the Disability Incentive Payment shall be payable in a lump sum on the 60th day after termination of the Executive’s employment.
