FIRST AMENDMENT
TO
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, by and between
Duke Energy Corporation, a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and
Xxxxxxx X. Priory (the "Executive"), is made as of this 22nd day of October,
1997.
WHEREAS, the Executive has entered into an employment
agreement, dated November 24, 1996, with the Company (f.k.a. Duke Power Company)
(the "Employment Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Employment Agreement provides that it may be
amended by the written agreement of the parties; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive now wish to amend the
Employment Agreement in certain respects.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual agreements hereinafter contained, the parties do hereby amend the
Employment Agreement as follows:
1. Section 3(b) (ii) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
the text thereof in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
"(ii) Annual Bonus. (a) In respect of calendar year 1997, the
Executive shall be eligible, based upon the achievement of performance
goals during such year, to receive a bonus with a target level not less
than the target level applicable to the Executive for the 1996 calendar
year under the Company's Executive Short Term Incentive Plan. The
establishment of the performance goals, the evaluation of the actual
performance against such goals, and the determination of the bonus (if
any) actually payable to the Executive (which may be at, above or below
the target level) shall be made by the Compensation Committee of the
Board acting in its sole discretion.
(b) Commencing in calendar year 1998, the Executive shall be
eligible, based upon the achievement of performance goals during such
year, to receive an annual bonus with a target level of 100% of the
Executive's base salary for purposes of the applicable annual bonus
plan. The establishment of the performance goals, the evaluation of the
actual performance against such goals, and the determination of the
bonus (if any) actually payable to the Executive (which may be at,
above or below the target level) shall be made by the Compensation
Committee of the Board acting in its sole discretion. At the discretion
of the Board, such bonus may be made payable pursuant to the terms of
an annual bonus plan
that is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code, and that is subject to the approval of the
Company's stockholders at its 1998 annual meeting.
(c) For purposes of Section 5(a) hereof concerning the
Company's obligations upon termination of employment, the term "Target
Annual Bonus" shall mean the target level of the Executive's annual
bonus multiplied by his Annual Base Salary, each as in effect under
this Section 3 immediately prior to the Date of Termination."
2. Section 3(b)(iii) of the Employment Agreement is hereby
amended by deleting the text thereof in its entirety and by replacing it with
the following:
"(iii) Long-Term Incentives. The Compensation Committee of the
Board shall award to the Executive one or more nonqualified stock
options to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company's
common stock, without par value (the "Option"), pursuant to the terms
of the Company's Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The number of
shares covered by the Option in excess of 100,000 (400,000 shares)
shall be subject to the approval by the stockholders of the Company of
an amendment to the Plan to increase the number of shares that may be
subject to stock options granted during a year to any one participant.
The option may be granted in one or more installments at the discretion
of the Compensation Committee, but in any event shall be fully granted
by the date of the 1998 annual meeting (subject to stockholder approval
as described above). The exercise price per share of the Option shall
be the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date(s) of grant,
determined in accordance with the terms of the Plan. The Option shall
vest in accordance with a schedule no less favorable than equal annual
installments of 20 percent each as to the number of shares subject to
the Option, commencing on the first anniversary of the date(s) of
grant, and shall have a maximum term of exercise of 10 years from the
date(s) of grant (subject in each case to your continued employment by
the Company). The Option shall also include provisions consistent with
the Plan with respect to the vesting and term of the Option in
connection with a "change of control" of the Company and the death or
disability of the Executive. The foregoing and other applicable terms
and conditions of the Option shall be set forth in a stock option
agreement approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board.
Notwithstanding any prior agreement between the Company and the
Executive, the Company is under no obligation to make any other stock
option or other long-term incentive awards to the Executive during the
Employment Period."
Except as amended and modified hereby, the terms of the
Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this
First Amendment to Employment Agreement as of the day and year first above
written.
/s/ R. B. Priory
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Xxxxxxx X. Priory
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
/s/ P.M. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------
By: P.M. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President & COO
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