Exhibit 10(j)
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made the ___ day of _____________, 1999, by
and between CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. (the "Company") and
_______________________ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to encourage the orderly
succession of management in the event of a Change in Control (as hereinafter
defined); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish a severance benefit
for the Executive covering the period from the date of a Change in Control (as
hereinafter defined) until the end of the twenty-four month period following the
date of a Change in Control, to avoid the loss or the serious distraction of the
Executive to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders prior to and
during such period when the Executive's undivided attention and commitment to
the needs of the Company would be particularly important; and
WHEREAS, the Executive desires to devote his time and energy
for the benefit of the Company and its stockholders and not to be distracted as
a result of a Change in Control.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
1.1 Board. The term "Board" means the Board of Directors of
the Company.
1.2 Change in Control. The term "Change in Control" means:
(i) the purchase or acquisition by any person, entity or group
of persons (within the meaning of section 13(d) or 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), or any comparable
successor provisions), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20 percent or more of
either the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding shares of
voting securities entitled to a vote generally, or
(ii) the consummation of, following the approval by the
Company's stockholders of, a reorganization, merger or consolidation of
the Company, in each case, with respect to which persons who were
stockholders of the Company
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immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do
not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50 percent of the combined
voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of
the reorganized, merged or consolidated entity's then outstanding
securities, or
(iii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale
of substantially all of its assets, or
(iv) a change of more than one-half of the members of the
Board within a 90-day period for reasons other than the death,
disability, or retirement of such members.
1.3 Qualifying Termination.
(a) The occurrence of any one or more of the following events
within twenty-four calendar months after the date of a Change in Control shall
constitute a "Qualifying Termination":
(i) The Company's termination of the Executive's employment
without Cause (as defined in Section 1.7); or
(ii) The Executive's resignation for Good Reason (as defined
in Section 1.6).
(b) A Qualifying Termination shall not include a termination
of employment by reason of death, disability, the Executive's voluntary
termination of employment without Good Reason, or the Company's termination of
the Executive's employment for Cause.
1.4 Ineligible to Retire. Ineligible to Retire, means an
Executive who has not either (i) attained age 55 and completed 20 years of
service with the Company and any successor company and any Affiliate or (ii)
attained age 60 and completed one year of service with the Company and any
successor company and any Affiliate, upon the occurrence of a Qualifying
Termination.
1.5 Eligible to Retire. Eligible to Retire, means an Executive
who has either (i) attained age 55 and completed 20 years of service with the
Company and any successor company and any Affiliate or (ii) attained age 60 with
one year of service with the Company and any successor company and any
Affiliate, upon the occurrence of a Qualifying Termination.
1.6 Good Reason. Good Reason means, without the Executive's
express written consent, the occurrence after the date of a Change in Control of
any one or more of the following:
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(a) The assignment to the Executive of duties materially
inconsistent with the Executive's authorities, duties, responsibilities, and
status (including offices, title and reporting relationships) as an executive
and/or officer of the Company or an Affiliate immediately prior to the date of
the Change in Control, or a material reduction or alteration in the nature or
status of the Executive's authorities, duties, or responsibilities from those in
effect immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control, unless such act
is remedied by the Company or such Affiliate within 10 business days after
receipt of written notice thereof given by the Executive; or
(b) A reduction by the Company or an Affiliate of the
Executive's base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of the Change in
Control or as the same shall be increased from time to time, unless such
reduction is less than ten percent (10%) and it is either (i) replaced by an
incentive opportunity equal in value; or is (ii) consistent and proportional
with an overall reduction in management compensation due to extraordinary
business conditions, including but not limited to reduced profitability and
other financial stress (i.e., the base salary of the Executive will not be
singled out for reduction in a manner inconsistent with a reduction imposed on
other executives of the Company or such Affiliate); or
(c) The relocation of the Executive's office more than 50
miles from the Executive's office immediately prior to the date of the Change in
Control; or
(d) Failure of the Company or an Affiliate (whichever is the
Executive's employer) to provide (i) the Executive the opportunity to
participate in all applicable incentive, savings and retirement plans,
practices, policies and programs of the Company or such Affiliate to the same
extent as other senior executives (or, where applicable, retired senior
executives) of the Company or such Affiliate, and (ii) the Executive and/or the
Executive's family, as the case may be, the opportunity to participate in, and
receive all benefits under, all applicable welfare benefit plans, practices,
policies and programs provided by the Company or such Affiliate, including,
without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, sick benefits,
employee life insurance, accidental death and travel insurance plans and
programs, to the same extent as other senior executives (or, where applicable,
retired senior executives) of the Company or such Affiliate; or
(e) Failure of the Company or an Affiliate (whichever is the
Executive's employer) to provide the Executive such perquisites as the Company
or such Affiliate may establish from time to time which are commensurate with
the Executive's position
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and at least comparable to those received by other senior executives at the
Company or such Affiliate; or
(f) The failure by the Company to comply with paragraph (c) of
Section 11 of this Agreement; or
(g) Any other substantial breach of this Agreement by the
Company that either is not taken in good faith or is not remedied by the Company
promptly after receipt of notice thereof from the Executive.
The Executive's right to terminate employment for Good Reason
shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental
illness. The Executive's continued employment shall not constitute consent to,
or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason
herein.
1.7 Cause. Cause shall mean the occurrence of any one or more
of the following:
(a) The Executive is convicted of a felony involving moral
turpitude; or
(b) The Executive engages in conduct or activities that
constitutes disloyalty to the Company or an Affiliate and such conduct or
activities are materially damaging to the property, business or reputation of
the Company or an Affiliate; or
(c) The Executive persistently fails or refuses to comply with
any written direction of an authorized representative of the Company other than
a directive constituting an assignment described in Section 1.6(a); or
(d) The Executive embezzles or knowingly, and with intent,
misappropriates property of the Company or an Affiliate, or unlawfully
appropriates any corporate opportunity of the Company or an Affiliate.
A termination of the Executive's employment for Cause for
purposes of this Agreement shall be effected in accordance with the following
procedures. The Company shall give the Executive written notice ("Notice of
Termination for Cause") of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment
for Cause, setting forth in reasonable detail the specific conduct of the
Executive that it considers to constitute Cause and the specific provision(s) of
this Agreement on which it relies, and stating the date, time and place of the
Board Meeting for Cause. The "Board Meeting for Cause" means a meeting of the
Board at which the Executive's termination for Cause will be considered, that
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takes place not less than ten (10) and not more than twenty (20) business days
after the Executive receives the Notice of Termination for Cause. The Executive
shall be given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard at the Board
Meeting for Cause. The Executive's Termination for Cause shall be effective when
and if a resolution is duly adopted at the Board Meeting for Cause by a
two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the Board, excluding employee
directors, stating that in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is
guilty of the conduct described in the Notice of Termination for Cause, and that
conduct constitutes Cause under this Agreement.
1.8 Annual Award Amount. The average of the two highest annual
incentive awards under the Company's Executive Incentive Plan (or the annual
cash incentive plan maintained by a successor company or an Affiliate) paid in
the last five years to the Executive prior to the occurrence of the Qualifying
Termination.
1.9. Affiliate. The term "Affiliate" means any company
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with
the Company or any successor company.
2. Severance Benefits for an Executive Ineligible to Retire.
Upon the occurrence of a Qualifying Termination with respect to an Executive who
is Ineligible to Retire:
(a) Severance Payment. The Company shall pay to the Executive
an amount equal to two times the Executive's annual base salary (as in effect on
the date of the Qualifying Termination, not reduced by any reduction described
in Section 1.6(b) above) and Annual Award Amount. The payment shall be made in
twenty-four equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of the month
following the Qualifying Termination.
(b) Supplemental Retirement Benefits. For purposes of
determining the Executive's supplemental retirement benefits which the Executive
is entitled to under the Company's Executive Benefits Plan (or the supplemental
retirement plan maintained by a successor company or an Affiliate), (i) the
Executive's age shall be deemed equal to the greater of (A) age 55 or (B) the
Executive's actual age, (ii) the Executive's service shall be deemed equal to
the greater of (A) 10 or (B) the Executive's actual service plus 3, and (iii)
any minimum service eligibility requirements for such benefits shall be waived.
(c) Severance Health Benefits. The Company shall provide to
the Executive and the Executive's family medical and dental benefits on the same
basis and on the same terms as any retiree of the Company or a successor or an
Affiliate (whichever
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is the Executive's employer) who has attained the deemed age and service used to
compute supplemental retirement benefits in Section 2(b) above.
(d) Split Dollar. The Qualifying Termination shall not
constitute a termination of the Split Dollar Agreement between the Company and
the Executive (or the split dollar agreement between a successor company or an
Affiliate and the Executive), and the Executive shall be deemed to have retired
upon such Qualifying Termination for purposes of such Split Dollar Agreement (or
the split dollar agreement between a successor company or an Affiliate and the
Executive).
3. Severance Benefits for an Executive Eligible to Retire.
Upon the occurrence of a Qualifying Termination with respect to an Executive who
is Eligible to Retire:
(a) Severance Payment. The Company shall pay to the Executive
an amount equal to two times the Executive's annual base salary (as in effect on
the date of the Qualifying Termination, not reduced by any reduction described
in Section 1.6(b) above) and Annual Award Amount. The payment shall be made in
twenty-four equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of the month
following the Qualifying Termination.
(b) Supplemental Retirement Benefits. For purposes of
determining the Executive's supplemental retirement benefits which the Executive
is entitled to under the Company's Executive Benefits Plan (or the supplemental
retirement plan maintained by a successor company or an Affiliate), (i) the
Executive's service shall be deemed equal to the greater of (A) 10 or (B) the
Executive's actual service, and (ii) the Early Retirement Adjustment Factor (as
such term is defined in the Company's Pension Plan or within the meaning of the
tax qualified retirement plan maintained by a successor company or such
Affiliate) will be one (l).
(c) Severance Health Benefits. The Company shall provide to
the Executive and the Executive's family medical and dental benefits on the same
basis and on the same terms as any retiree of the Company or a successor company
or an Affiliate (whichever is the Executive's employer) who has attained age 65
and completed the greater of 20 years or actual years of service.
(d) Retirement. The Executive shall be treated as having
retired at the Company's request for purposes of all of the Company's benefit
plans (or the benefit plans maintained by a successor company or an Affiliate
(whichever is the Executive's employer)).
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4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan,
program, policy or practice provided by the Company or a successor company or an
Affiliate (whichever is the Executive's employer) for which the Executive may
qualify, nor shall anything in this Agreement limit or otherwise affect such
rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the
Company or a successor Company or such Affiliate. Vested benefits and other
amounts that the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any incentive
compensation, deferred compensation and other benefit programs listed in Section
1.6(d), life insurance coverage, or any other plan, policy, practice or program
of, or any contract or agreement with, the Company or a successor Company or
such Affiliate on or after the date of the Qualifying Termination shall be
payable in accordance with the terms of each such plan, policy, practice,
program, contract or agreement, as the case may be, except as explicitly
modified by this Agreement.
5. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the
payments provided for in, and otherwise to perform its obligations under, this
Agreement shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, such amounts
shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other
employment.
6. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or
distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive (other than a
payment or distribution made in respect of any program in which the Executive
participated prior to the Change in Control, while employed by Constellation
Energy Group, Inc. or an Affiliate, regardless whether paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
otherwise, and determined without regard to any additional payments required
under this Section 6) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed
by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or
any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such
excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive
shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an
amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including
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any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including,
without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed
with respect thereon) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the
Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax
imposed upon the Payments.
(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section
6, all determinations required to be made under this Section 6, including
whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up
Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination,
shall be made by one of the major internationally recognized certified public
accounting firms (commonly referred to, as of the date hereof, as a Big Five
firm) designated by the Executive and approved by the Company (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld) (the "Accounting Firm"), which shall provide
detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within
fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that
there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.
In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for
the individual, entity or group affecting the change of control, the Executive
shall designate another Big Five accounting firm (subject to the approval of the
Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) to make the
determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred
to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the Accounting
Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined
pursuant to this Section 6, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five (5) days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. Any
determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the
Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of
the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made
by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment") consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company
exhausts its remedies pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 6 and the
Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the
Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred
and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the
benefit of the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any
claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the
payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given
as soon as practicable but no
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later than ten (10) business days after the Executive is informed in writing of
such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the
date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay
such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period following the
date on which he gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending
on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the
Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period
that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by
the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim
as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with
respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the
Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
effectively to contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
relating to such claim;
PROVIDED, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and
payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of
this paragraph (c) of Section 6, the Company shall control all proceedings taken
in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego
any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with
the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option,
either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund or
contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to
prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in
a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the
Company shall determine; PROVIDED, however, that if the Company directs the
Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the
amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any
Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto)
imposed with respect
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to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such
advance; and PROVIDED, further, that any extension of the statute of limitations
relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect
to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such
contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be
limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable
hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case
may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other
taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 6, the
Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the
Executive shall promptly take all necessary action to obtain such refund and
(subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of paragraph (c) of
this Section 6) upon receipt of such refund shall promptly pay to the Company
the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon
after taxes applicable thereto). If after the receipt by the Executive of an
amount advanced by the Company pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 6, a
determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund
with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in
writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration
of thirty (30) days after such determination, then such advance shall be
forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance
shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to
be paid.
7. Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in
effect from the date hereof until the last day of the twenty-fourth calendar
month following the date of a Change in Control. Further, upon the date of a
Change in Control, this Agreement shall continue until the Company or its
successor shall have fully performed all of its obligations thereunder with
respect to the Executive, with no future performance being possible.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by the Board at
any time prior to the date of a Change in Control.
8. Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by
the Board at any time prior to the date of a Change in Control. At and after the
date of a Change in Control, this Agreement may not be amended in any respect
without the written consent of the Executive.
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9. Construction. Wherever any words are used herein in the
masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the
feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever any words
are used herein in the singular form, they shall be construed as though they
were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.
10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of Maryland.
11. Successors and Assigns.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company expressly to
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean both
the Company as defined above and any such successor that assumes and agrees to
perform this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise.
12. Indemnification. The Company will pay all reasonable fees
and expenses, if any, (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses)
that are incurred by the Executive to enforce this Agreement and that result
from a breach of this Agreement by the Company.
13. Notice. Any notices, requests, demands, or other
communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing
and if sent by registered or certified mail to the Executive at the last address
he has filed in writing with the Company, or in the case of the Company, to its
principal offices.
14. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement shall
be held invalid or unenforceable in part, the remaining portion of such
provision, together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall remain
valid and enforceable and continue in full force and effect to the fullest
extent consistent with law.
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15. Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Company may withhold from amounts payable under this Agreement
all federal, state, local and foreign taxes that are required to be withheld by
applicable laws or regulations.
16. Entire Agreement. Unless otherwise specifically provided
in this Agreement, the Executive and the Company acknowledge that this Agreement
supersedes any other agreement between them or between the Executive and the
Company or an Affiliate, concerning the subject matter hereof.
17. Alienability. The rights and benefits of the Executive
under this Agreement may not be anticipated, alienated or subject to attachment,
garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process except as
required by law. Any attempt by the Executive to anticipate, alienate, assign,
sell, transfer, pledge, encumber or charge the same shall be void. Payments
hereunder shall not be considered assets of the Executive in the event of
insolvency or bankruptcy.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and said counterparts
shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the
Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization of the Board, the Company
has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of
the day and year first above written.
CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC.
By:_______________________________
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