Exhibit 10.5(b)
Form of Change in Control Agreement
– Executive Vice President
CHANGE IN CONTROL
AGREEMENT
THIS CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
(this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of the
day of
,
20 between People’s
United Financial, Inc. (the “ Company ”), and
,
an officer of the Company or its wholly-owned subsidiary,
People’s United Bank (the “Bank”) or one of the
Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “
Executive ”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to
secure Executive’s continued services and to ensure
Executive’s continued dedication to Executive’s duties
in the event of any threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as
defined in Section 2(e)); and
WHEREAS the Company desires to enter
into this Agreement with Executive according to the terms set forth
herein, and Executive desires to enter into this Agreement with the
Company on such terms.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as
follows:
1. Term of Agreement
.
(a) This Agreement is effective on
the date hereof and shall continue in effect until the third
anniversary of the date hereof; provided , that ,
notwithstanding the occurrence of such third anniversary, this
Agreement shall continue in effect until the end of the Protection
Period (as defined in Section 1(b)) if a Change in Control
shall have occurred during the term of this Agreement. This
Agreement shall terminate if (1) either Executive or the
Company terminates Executive’s employment for any reason
before a Change in Control, or (2) a Change in Control occurs
and Executive’s employment continues through the end of the
Protection Period.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement,
the “ Protection Period ” means the period
commencing on the date on which a Change in Control occurs and
ending on the third anniversary of such date.
2. Termination .
(a) Rights and Duties . If
Executive’s employment terminates for any reason during the
Protection Period, Executive shall be entitled to receive the
payment and benefits shown on the applicable row of the following
table, subject to the balance of this Section 2, beyond which
the Company and Executive shall have no further obligations to each
other, except: (1) Executive’s obligations under
Section 3; (2) the Company’s obligation’s
under Sections 2, 4 and 18; (3) the Company’s and
Executive’s
respective obligations under Sections 8 and 10;
and (4) as set forth in any written agreement the parties may
subsequently enter into. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree
that, upon a Change in Control, all equity or equity-based awards
that have been granted to Executive by the Company, its
subsidiaries and/or their affiliates shall be subject to the terms
and conditions contained in the applicable plans and award
agreements. For purposes of clarity, Executive shall not be
entitled to any payment under this Section 2 if
Executive’s Employment does not terminate during the
Protection Period.
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(i)
DISCHARGE FOR CAUSE DURING THE PROTECTION PERIOD
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Payment when due of any unpaid base salary,
awarded but unpaid cash bonus, and expense reimbursements; plus
base salary for any accrued but unused vacation.
In addition, Executive shall be
entitled to any rights and benefits under any retirement and
non-retirement employee benefit plans and programs (including
deferred compensation programs) and under any outstanding long-term
incentives in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
relevant plan or program.
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(ii)
DISCHARGE OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE DURING THE PROTECTION
PERIOD
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Same as “Discharge for Cause” EXCEPT
that, in exchange for Executive’s execution of a claims
release in accordance with this Section 2 and subject to Sections
8, 13, and 18 below, in addition, Executive shall
receive:
(1) additional cash severance equal
to two and one-half (2- 1 / 2
) times the sum of (i)
Executive’s annual base salary as of the date immediately
before Executive’s termination, and (ii) the amount of
Executive’s target annual cash bonus for the year prior to
the Change in Control (the amount in clause (ii) of this paragraph
is referred to as the “ Target Bonus Level
”);
and
(2) for two years, Executive,
Executive’s spouse and dependents (if any) will continue to
be entitled to participate in the Company’s group health
plans in which Executive participates immediately prior to the Date
of Termination at the Company’s expense, provided that
Executive timely elects continuation coverage under COBRA, and
provided that if the Company is unable to provide such coverage
after the end of the COBRA continuation period under the
Company’s group health plan, the Company shall, following the
expiration of the COBRA coverage period, provide Executive and
Executive’s dependents with substantially identical medical
coverage to that provided under the Company’s group health
plan during the remainder of such post-COBRA period.
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For purposes of
this Agreement, “ Date of Termination ” means
(i) the effective date on which Executive’s employment with
the Company terminates as specified in a prior written notice by
the Company or Executive, as the case may be, to the other,
delivered pursuant to Section 12, or (ii) if Executive’s
employment by the Company terminates by reason of death, the date
of death of Executive.
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(iii) RESIGNATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON
DURING THE PROTECTION PERIOD
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Same as above
for “Discharge for Cause During the Protection
Period.”
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(iv) RESIGNATION FOR GOOD REASON DURING THE
PROTECTION PERIOD
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Same as above
for “Discharge Other Than for Cause During the Protection
Period”
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(v) DEATH OR
DISABILITY DURING THE PROTECTION PERIOD
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Same as “Discharge for Cause During the
Protection Period” EXCEPT that, in addition, Executive shall
receive:
(1) cash severance equal to one
times Executive’s annual base salary at the rate applicable
as of the Date of Termination due to Executive’s death or
disability; and
(2) a pro rata amount of
Executive’s annual bonus during the year of termination,
based on the Target Bonus Level.
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(b) Discharge for Cause . The
Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time for
Cause. “ Cause ” shall mean
(i) Executive’s willful failure to perform or
substantially perform Executive’s duties with the Company or
People’s United Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company (the “ Bank ”)); (ii) illegal
conduct or gross misconduct by Executive that is willful and
demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company’s or the
Bank’s business, monetarily or otherwise; (iii) a
willful and material breach by Executive of Section 3 of this
Agreement or the Company’s written code of conduct;
(iv) Executive’s indictment for, or entry of a plea of
guilty or nolo contendere with respect to, a felony crime or a
crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, forgery, embezzlement or
similar conduct; or (v) Executive is removed and/or
permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the
Company’s affairs pursuant to an order issued under
Section 21C(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or in
the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act; provided , however , that the actions in
(i) through (iii), above, shall not be considered Cause unless
Executive has failed to cure such actions within 30
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days of receiving written notice specifying with
particularity the events allegedly giving rise to Cause and that
such actions shall not be considered Cause unless the Company
provides such written notice within 180 days of any Board member
(other than Executive, if applicable at the time of such notice)
having knowledge of the relevant action. Further, no act or failure
to act by the Executive shall be deemed “willful”
unless done or omitted to be done not in good faith and without
reasonable belief that such action or omission was in the
Company’s best interests, and any act or omission by
Executive pursuant to authority given pursuant to a resolution duly
adopted by the Board or on the advice of counsel for the Company
will be deemed made in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company. Executive shall not be deemed to be discharged for Cause
hereunder unless and until there is delivered to Executive a copy
of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less
than a majority of the entire membership of the Board (excluding
Executive, if applicable), at a meeting called and duly held for
such purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an
opportunity for Executive and Executive’s counsel to be heard
before the Board), finding in good faith that Executive is guilty
of the conduct set forth above and specifying the particulars
thereof in detail.
(c) Discharge Other Than for
Cause or Resignation for Good Reason, in each case during the
Protection Period . The Company may terminate the
Executive’s employment at any time for any reason, and
without advance notice. If, during the Protection Period, the
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other
than for Cause or Executive resigns for Good Reason, then Executive
will only receive the special benefits provided under
Section 2(a) if Executive signs and delivers a release of
claims in the form of Annex 1 in favor of the Company and
its related companies and affiliates within 21 days following the
date of Executive’s termination. Unless such release is
timely executed and delivered in accordance herewith and such
release becomes effective in accordance with applicable law
following the expiration of any applicable revocation period, no
payments or benefits shall be provided to Executive pursuant to
Section 2 of this Agreement. Within 30 days following the
earlier of the effective date of the general release and the 30th
day following the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay
Executive a lump sum equal to any cash payments that Executive is
entitled in accordance with Section 2(a) of this Agreement (it
being acknowledged by the parties that this Agreement is intended
to provide for payments that satisfy the short term deferral
exception under Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(4) and are thus not
intended to be deferred compensation under Internal Revenue Code
section 409A).
(d) Resignation . During the
Protection Period, Executive shall not resign from employment
without giving the Company at least 30 days advance written notice
unless Executive has Good Reason to resign. The Company may accept
Executive’s resignation effective on the date set forth in
Executive’s notice or any earlier date. “ Good
Reason ” for resignation shall exist upon (i) a
material diminution of Executive’s duties or
responsibilities, authorities, powers, or functions without
Executive’s written consent, (ii) any material reduction
in Executive’s rate of annual base salary or target annual
cash bonus, in each case as in effect immediately prior to the date
of the Change in Control, (iii) a relocation that would result
in Executive’s principal
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location of employment being moved fifty miles
or more away from the Executive’s principal location
immediately prior to a Change in Control, or (iv) the
Company’s material breach of this Agreement without
Executive’s written consent, provided , however
, that the actions in (i) through and (iv), above, shall not
be considered Good Reason unless Executive notifies the Company in
writing within 30 days of Executive’s knowledge of the
actions giving rise to the Good Reason, and the Company has failed
to cure such actions within 30 days of receiving written notice
thereof.
(e) Change in Control . For
purposes of this Agreement, “ Change in Control
” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following
events during the term of this Agreement:
(i) Any individual, entity or group
(within the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange
Act”)) (“Person”) becomes the beneficial owner
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act) of 25% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares
of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company
Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding
Company Voting Securities”); provided , however
, that for purposes of this paragraph, the following acquisitions
shall not constitute a Change in Control: (X) any acquisition
by the Company, (Y) any acquisition by any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or
any of its affiliates or (Z) any acquisition pursuant to a
transaction that complies with Sections 2(e)(iii)(A), 2(e)(iii)(B),
and 2(e)(iii)(C) of this Agreement;
(ii) Individuals who, as of the date
hereof, constitute the Company’s Board (the “Incumbent
Board”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
Board; provided , however , that any individual
becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election,
or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for
this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either (A) an actual or
threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal
of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies
or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board or
(B) agreement with any third party;
(iii) Consummation of a
reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation
or similar transaction involving the Company or the Bank (or the
issuance of stock by the Company), a sale or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the
deposits of the Bank, or the acquisition of assets or stock of
another entity by the Company (each, a
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“ Business Combination
”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination,
(A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately
prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common
stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and
the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a
non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may
be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination
(including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such
transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any
corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such
corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting
power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior
to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of
the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate
entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from
such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action
of the Board providing for such Business Combination;
(iv) Approval by the shareholders of
the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the
Company; or
(v) Any event that would be
described in Section 2(e)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) if
the term “Bank” were substituted for the term
“Company” therein.
(f) Golden Parachute Tax and
Related Limitations .
(i) If there is a change in
ownership or control of any member of the Bank’s or the
Company’s “affiliated group” (within the meaning
of Treas. Reg. 1.280G-1 or any successor thereto) (collectively,
the “ Company Group ”) that causes any payment
or distribution by any member of the Bank, the Company or any other
person or entity to Executive or for Executive’s benefit
(whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without
regard to any additional payments required under this Section) (a
“ Payment ”) to be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (such excise tax, together
with any interest or penalties
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incurred by Executive with respect
to such excise tax, the “ Excise Tax ”), then
Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a
“ Gross-Up Payment ”) in an amount such that
after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any interest or
penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any income
taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto)
and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive will
retain an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax
imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it is
determined that Executive would otherwise be entitled to a Gross-Up
Payment but that the Payments would not be subject to the Excise
Tax if the Payments were reduced by an amount that is less than 10%
of the Payments, then Executive will not receive the Gross-Up
Payment, and the Payments will be reduced to the maximum amount
that would not result in the imposition of the Excise Tax. The
payments to be reduced will be determined in a manner which has the
least economic cost to Executive and, to the extent the economic
cost is equivalent, will be reduced in the inverse order of when
payment would have been made to Executive until the 10% reduction
is achieved.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of
this Section 2(ii), all determinations required to be made
under this Section, 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 an outside nationally recognized accounting firm
selected by the Company or the Board, in its sole and absolute
discretion (the “ Accounting Firm ”), which
shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company
and Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from
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 effecting the Change in Control, the Company shall appoint
another nationally recognized accounting firm 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, if applicable, as determined
pursuant to this Section 2(f), shall be paid by the Company to
the Executive within 30 days of the receipt of the Accounting
Firm’s determination. All determinations made by the
Accounting Firm shall be based on detailed supporting calculations
provided both to the Company and Executive at such time as is
requested by either party. Any determination by the Accounting Firm
shall be binding upon the Company and Executive. In the event that
the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 2(f)
(and Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any
Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the
Underpayment (as defined below) that has occurred which shall be
promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the
Executive. In no event shall the Gross-Up Payment be made later
than the end of the Executive’s taxable year next following
the Executive’s taxable year in which the related taxes are
remitted to the taxing authority.
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