EXHIBIT 10.9
Form of Change-In-Control Agreement between NBT Bancorp Inc.
and the following officers of NBT Bancorp Inc. or one or more of its
subsidiaries: John R. Bradley, Michael J. Chewens, Rita K. DeMarko,
Martin A. Dietrich, Joseph J. Earyes, Daryl R. Forsythe, John G. Martines,
Joe C. Minor, Jane Neal, David E. Raven, Kenneth C. Reilly, and
John D. Roberts
[ 1 ], 2000
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Dear Mr./Ms. [ ]:
------------------------
NBT Bancorp Inc. (which, together with its wholly-owned [ 2 ] is
referred to as the "Company") considers the stability of its key management
group to be essential to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The Company recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly-held
corporations, the possibility of a change in control may arise and that the
attendant uncertainty may result in the departure or distraction of key
management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that appropriate steps should be taken to encourage members of the
Company's key management group to
[FN]
1 "January 1" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Forsythe,
Minor, Raven, Reilly, Roberts, Ms. DeMarko, and Ms. Neal; "February 17" for
Messrs. Earyes and Martines.
2 "subsidiary, NBT Bank, National Association," for Messrs.
Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Forsythe, Minor, Raven, Reilly, Roberts, Ms.
DeMarko, and Ms. Neal; "subsidiaries, NBT Bank, National Association and LA
Bank, National Association" for Messrs. Earyes and Martines.
</FN>
continue as employees notwithstanding the possibility of a change in control
of the Company.
The Board also believes it important that, in the event of a proposal
for transfer of control of the Company, you be able to assess the proposal and
advise the Board without being influenced by the uncertainties of your own
situation.
In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company, [ 3 ]
1. AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES; RIGHT TO TERMINATE.
(a) TERMINATION PRIOR TO CERTAIN OFFERS. Except as otherwise
provided in paragraph (b) below, or in any written employment agreement between
you and the Company, the Company or you may terminate your employment at any
time. If, and only if, such termination occurs after a change in control of the
Company (as defined in section 6), the provisions of this Agreement regarding
the payment of severance compensation and benefits shall apply.
[FN]
3 "we entered an agreement, approved by the Board, dated February 21, 1995, and
revised by Board action on April 28, 1998, providing for severance compensation
that the Board agreed would be provided to you in the event your employment with
the Company terminated subsequent to a change in control ("Agreement"). We have
agreed upon various changes to the Agreement, agreed to by the Board, and have
agreed to amend and restate the Agreement in its entirety as follows:" for Mr.
Forsythe; "we entered an agreement, approved by the Board, dated January 2, 1997
and revised by Board action on October 27, 1998, providing for severance
compensation that the Board agreed would be provided to you in the event your
employment with the Company terminated subsequent to a change in control
("Agreement"). We have agreed upon various changes to the Agreement, agreed to
by the Board, and have agreed to amend and restate the Agreement in its entirety
as follows:" for Messrs. Dietrich, Minor, and Roberts; "we entered an agreement,
approved by the Board, dated January 2, 1997 and revised by Board action on
April 28, 1998, providing for severance compensation that the Board agreed would
be provided to you in the event your employment with the Company terminated
subsequent to a change in control ("Agreement"). We have agreed upon various
changes to the Agreement, agreed to by the Board, and have agreed to amend and
restate the Agreement in its entirety as follows:" for Mr. Bradley; "we entered
an agreement, approved by the Board, dated January 1, 1998 and revised by Board
action on April 28, 1998, providing for severance compensation that the Board
agreed would be provided to you in the event your employment with the Company
terminated subsequent to a change in control ("Agreement"). We have agreed upon
various changes to the Agreement, agreed to by the Board, and have agreed to
amend and restate the Agreement in its entirety as follows:" for Messrs.
Chewens, Raven, and Reilly and Ms. Neal; "this Agreement, which has been
approved by the Board, sets forth the severance compensation which the Company
agrees will be provided to you in the event your employment with the Company is
terminated subsequent to a "change in control" of the Company under the
circumstances described below." for Messrs. Earyes and Martines and Ms. DeMarko.
</FN>
(b) TERMINATION SUBSEQUENT TO CERTAIN OFFERS. In the event a
tender offer or exchange offer is made by a person (as defined in section 6) for
more than 30 percent of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding
securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of directors
("Voting Securities"), including shares of common stock, no par value, of the
Company (the "Company Shares"), you agree that you will not leave the employ of
the Company (other than as a result of Disability as such term is defined in
section 6) and will render services to the Company in the capacity in which you
then serve until such tender offer or exchange offer has been abandoned or
terminated or a change in control of the Company has occurred as a result of
such tender offer or exchange offer. If, during the period you are obligated to
continue in the employ of the Company pursuant to this section 1(b), the Company
reduces your compensation, terminates your employment without Cause, or you
provide written notice of your decision to terminate your employment for Good
Reason, your obligations under this section 1(b) shall thereupon terminate and
you will be entitled to payments provided under Section 3(b).
2. TERM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof
and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2002; provided, however, that
commencing December 31, 2000 and each December 31 thereafter, the remaining term
of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional year (to a
total of three years) unless at least 90 days prior to such anniversary, the
Company or you shall have given notice that this Agreement shall not be
extended; and provided, however, that if a change in control of the Company
shall occur while this Agreement is in effect, this Agreement shall
automatically be extended for 24 months from the date the change in control
occurs. This Agreement shall terminate if you or the Company terminates your
employment prior to a change in control of the Company but without prejudice to
any remedy the Company may have for breach of your obligations, if any, under
section 1(b).
3. SEVERANCE PAYMENT AND BENEFITS IF TERMINATION OCCURS FOLLOWING
CHANGE IN CONTROL FOR DISABILITY, WITHOUT CAUSE, OR WITH GOOD REASON. If, within
24 months from the date of occurrence of any event constituting a change in
control of the Company (it being recognized that more than one such event may
occur in which case the 24-month period shall run from the date of occurrence of
each such event), your employment with the Company is terminated (i) by the
Company for Disability, (ii) by the Company without Cause, or (iii) by you with
Good Reason (as defined in section 6), or within 90 days of a Change in Control
by you without Good Reason, you shall be entitled to a severance payment and
other benefits as follows:
(a) DISABILITY. If your employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability, your benefits shall thereafter be determined in
accordance with the Company's long-term disability income insurance plan. If the
Company's long-term disability income insurance plan is modified or terminated
following a change in control, the Company shall substitute such a plan with
benefits applicable to you substantially similar to those provided by such plan
prior to its modification or termination. During any period that you fail to
perform your duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, you shall continue to receive your full base salary at the rate
then in effect until your employment is terminated by the Company for
Disability.
(b) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR WITH GOOD REASON OR WITHIN 90
DAYS OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. If your employment with the Company is terminated
without Cause by the Company or with Good Reason by you, or by you within 90
days of a Change in Control without Good Reason, then the Company shall pay to
you, upon demand, the following amounts (net of applicable payroll taxes):
(i) Your full base salary plus year-to-date
accrued vacation through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect on the
date the change in control occurs.
(ii) As severance pay, an amount equal to the
product of your "Base Amount" multiplied by the number [
4 ]. As used in the previous sentence, your "Base Amount" will be determined in
accordance with Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
which generally provides that the base amount is your average annual
compensation includible in your gross income for federal income tax purposes for
the five years immediately preceding the year in which the change in control
occurs (or, if you shall have been employed by the Company for less than those
five years, for the number of those years during which you shall have been
employed by the Company, with any partial year annualized), including base
salary, non-deferred amounts under annual incentive, long-term performance, and
profit-sharing plans, distributions of previously deferred amounts under such
plans, and ordinary income recognized with respect to stock options.
(C) RELATED BENEFITS. Unless you die or your employment is terminated by the
Company for Cause or Disability, or by you other than for Good Reason or
within 90 days of a Change in Control by you without Good Reason, the
Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for the continued benefit
of you for one year after the Date of Termination, all noncash employee
benefit plans, programs, or arrangements (including, without limitation,
pension and retirement plans and arrangements, stock option plans, life
insurance and health and accident plans and arrangements, medical insurance
plans, disability plans, and vacation plans) in which you were entitled to
participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination provided that your
continued participation is possible after Termination under the general
terms and provisions of such plans, programs, and arrangements; provided,
however, that if you become eligible to participate in a benefit plan,
program, or arrangement of another employer which confers substantially
similar benefits upon you, you shall cease to receive benefits under this
subsection in respect of such plan, program, or arrangement. In the event
that your participation in any such plan, program, or arrangement is
barred, the Company shall arrange to provide you with benefits
substantially similar to those which you are entitled to receive under such
plans, programs and arrangements or alternatively, pay an amount equal to
the reasonable value of such substantially similar benefits. If, after
termination of employment following a Change in Control, you elect COBRA
continuation coverage, the Company will pay you [ 5 ] worth of the
applicable COBRA premium. If termination follows a Change in Control
specified in Section 6(b)(iii), then you may elect in lieu of COBRA
continuation
[FN]
4 "2.99" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Forsythe,
Martines, Minor, Roberts, and Ms. Neal; "2" for Mr. Earyes; "1" for Messrs.
Raven and Reilly and Ms. DeMarko.
5 "18 months" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Earyes,
Forsythe, Martines, Minor, Roberts, and Ms. Neal; "12 months" for Messrs.
Raven and Reilly and Ms. DeMarko.
</FN>
coverage to have the acquiring entity obtain an individual or
group health insurance coverage and the acquiring entity will pay [ 6 ] worth of
premiums thereunder.
[FN]
6 "18 months" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Earyes,
Forsythe, Martines, Minor, Roberts, and Ms. Neal; "12 months" for Messrs. Raven
and Reilly and Ms. DeMarko.
</FN>
(d) ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST. Within five days following
conclusion of a Change in Control, the Company shall establish a trust that
conforms in all regards with the model trust published in Revenue Procedure
92-64 and deposit an amount sufficient to satisfy all liabilities of the Company
under Section 3(b) of this Agreement.
(e) AUTOMATIC EXTENSION. Notwithstanding the prior provisions
of this Section, if an individual is elected to the Board of Directors who has
not been nominated by the Board of Directors as constituted prior to his
election, then the term of this Agreement will automatically be extended until
two years from the date on which such individual was elected if such extended
termination date is later than the normal termination date of this Agreement,
otherwise, the termination date of this Agreement will be as provided above.
This extension will take effect only upon the first instance of an individual
being elected to the Board of Directors without having been nominated by the
original Board.
(f) ALTERNATIVE TO LUMP SUM PAYOUT. The amount described in
this subsection will be paid to you in a single lump-sum unless, at least 30
days before the conclusion of a Change in Control, you elect in writing to
receive the severance pay in 3 equal annual payments with the first payment to
be made within 30 days of demand and the subsequent payments to be made by
January 31st of each year subsequent to the year in which the first payment is
made, provided that under no circumstances will two payments be made during a
single tax year of the recipient.
4. PAYMENT IF TERMINATION OCCURS FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL, BECAUSE
OF DEATH, FOR CAUSE, OR WITHOUT GOOD REASON. If your employment shall be
terminated following any event constituting a change in control of the Company
because of your death, or by the Company for Cause, or by you other than for
Good Reason and not within 90 days of a Change in Control, the Company shall pay
you your full base salary plus year-to-date accrued vacation through the Date of
Termination at the rate in effect on the date of the change in control occurs.
The Company shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement.
5. NO MITIGATION. You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or
otherwise, nor, except as expressly set forth herein, shall the amount of any
payment provided for in this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by
you as the result of employment by another employer after the Date of
Termination, or otherwise.
6. DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS. For the purpose of this
Agreement, the terms defined in this section 6 shall have the meanings assigned
to them herein.
(a) CAUSE. Termination of your employment by the Company for
"Cause" shall mean termination because, and only because, you committed an act
of fraud, embezzlement, or theft constituting a felony or an act intentionally
against the interests of the Company which causes the Company material injury.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be deemed to have been terminated
for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters
of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held
for the purpose (after reasonable notice to you and an opportunity for you,
together with your counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the
good faith opinion of the Board you were guilty of conduct constituting Cause as
defined above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
(b) CHANGE IN CONTROL. A "Change in Control" of the
Company shall mean:
(i) A change in control of a nature that would
be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A as in effect on the date hereof pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"); provided that, without
limitation, such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred at such
time as any Person hereafter becomes the "Beneficial Owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 30 percent or more of
the combined voting power of the Company's Voting Securities; or
(ii) During any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
thereof unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company's
shareholders, of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the
period; or
(iii) There shall be consummated (x) any
consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is
not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which Voting
Securities would be converted into cash, securities, or other property, other
than a merger of the Company in which the holders of Voting Securities
immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of common
stock of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger, or (y) any
sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of
related transactions) of all, or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
provided that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer consummated at the insistence of an appropriate banking regulatory
agency shall not constitute a change in control; or
(iv) Approval by the shareholders of the Company
of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(c) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i)
if your employment is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after
Notice of Termination is given (provided that you shall not have returned to the
performance of your duties on a full-time basis during such 30-day period), and
(ii) if your employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a
Notice of Termination is given; provided that if within 30 days after any Notice
of Termination is given the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies
the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either
by mutual written agreement of the parties or by a final judgment, order, or
decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom
having expired and no appeal having been perfected). The term of this Agreement
shall be extended until the Date of Termination.
(d) DISABILITY. Termination of your employment by the Company
for "Disability" shall mean termination because of your absence from your duties
with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive days as a result of
your incapacity due to physical or mental illness and your failure to return to
the performance of your duties on a full-time basis during the 30-day period
after Notice of Termination is given.
(e) GOOD REASON. Termination by you of your employment
for "Good Reason" shall mean termination based on any of the following:
(i) A change in your status or position(s) with
the Company, which in your reasonable judgment, does
not represent a promotion from your status or position(s) as in effect
immediately prior to the change in control, or a change in your duties or
responsibilities which, in your reasonable judgment, is inconsistent with such
status or position(s), or any removal of you from, or any failure to reappoint
or reelect you to, such position(s), except in connection with the termination
of your employment for Cause or Disability or as a result of your death or by
you other than for Good Reason.
(ii) A reduction by the Company in your base
salary as in effect immediately prior to the change in control.
(iii) The failure by the Company to continue in
effect any Plan (as hereinafter defined) in which you
are participating at the time of the change in control of the Company (or Plans
providing you with at least substantially similar benefits) other than as a
result of the normal expiration of any such Plan in accordance with its terms as
in effect at the time of the change in control, or the taking of any action, or
the failure to act, by the Company which would adversely affect your continued
participation in any of such Plans on at least as favorable a basis to you as is
the case on the date of the change in control or which would materially reduce
your benefits in the future under any of such Plans or deprive you of any
material benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the change in control.
(iv) The failure by the Company to provide and
credit you with the number of paid vacation days to
which you are then entitled in accordance with the Company's normal vacation
policy as in effect immediately prior to the change in control.
(v) The Company's requiring you to be based
anywhere other than where your office is located
immediately prior to the change in control except for required travel on the
Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with the business
travel obligations which you undertook on behalf of the Company prior to the
change in control.
(vi) The failure by the Company to obtain from
any successor the assent to this Agreement contemplated by section 8 hereof.
(vii) Any purported termination by the Company of
your employment which is not effected pursuant to a
Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of this Agreement; and for
purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.
(viii) Any refusal by the Company to continue to
allow you to attend to matters or engage in activities
not directly related to the business of the Company which, prior to the change
in control, you were permitted by the Board to attend to or engage in.
For purposes of this subsection, "Plan" shall mean any compensation plan such as
an incentive or stock option plan or any employee benefit plan such as a thrift,
pension, profit sharing, medical, disability, accident, life insurance plan, or
a relocation plan or policy or any other plan, program, or policy of the Company
intended to benefit employees.
(f) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. A "Notice of Termination" of your
employment given by the Company shall mean a written notice given to you of the
termination of your employment which shall indicate the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
your employment under the provision so indicated.
(g) PERSON. The term "Person" shall mean and include any
individual, corporation, partnership, group, association, or other "person," as
such term is used in section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company
or any employee benefit plan(s) sponsored by the Company.
7. NOTICE. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this
Agreement, provided that all notices to the Company shall be directed to the
attention of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company with a copy to the
Secretary of the Company, or to such other address as either party may have
furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of
change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
8. SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be
binding upon, any corporate or other successor or assignee of the Company which
shall acquire, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation or purchase, or
otherwise, all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.
The Company shall require any such successor, by an agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to you, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be
required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If you
should die while any amount would still be payable to you hereunder if you had
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee, or
other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate.
9. INCREASED SEVERANCE PAYMENTS UPON APPLICATION OF EXCISE TAX.
(a) ADJUSTMENT OF PAYMENT. In the event any payments or
benefits you become entitled to pursuant to the Agreement or any other payments
or benefits received or to be received by you in connection with a change in
control of the Company or your termination of employment (whether pursuant to
the terms of any other agreement, plan, or arrangement, or otherwise, with the
Company, any person whose actions result in a change in control or any person
affiliated with the Company or such person) (collectively the "Severance
Payments") will be subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by section 4999
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Company shall
pay you an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") so that the net amount
retained by you, after deduction of the Excise Tax (but before deduction for any
federal, state or local income tax) on the Severance Payments and after
deduction for the aggregate of any federal, state, or local income tax and
Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Severance Payments.
For purposes of determining whether any of the Severance Payments will be
subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) the entire
amount of the Severance Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments" within
the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code and as subject to the Excise Tax,
unless and to the extent, in the written opinion of outside tax counsel selected
by the Company's independent accountants and reasonably acceptable to you, such
payments (in whole or in part) are not subject to the Excise Tax; and (ii) the
value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit (constituting a
part of the Severance Payments) shall be determined by the Company's independent
auditors in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the
Code. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, you shall
be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of the
federal income taxation applicable to individuals (without taking into account
surtaxes or loss or reduction of deductions) for the calendar year in which the
Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest
marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality of your residence on the
date of Termination. In the event that the amount of Excise Tax you are required
to pay is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account
hereunder, you shall repay to the Company promptly after the time that the
amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined the amount of the
reduction, together with interest on the amount of such reduction at the rate of
6 percent per annum from the date of the Gross-Up Payment, plus, if in the
written opinion of outside tax counsel selected by the Company's independent
accountants and reasonably acceptable to you, such payment (or a portion
thereof) was not taxable income to you when reported or is deductible by you for
federal income tax purposes, the net federal income tax benefit you actually
realize as a result of making such payment pursuant to this sentence. In the
event that the amount of Excise Tax you are required to pay is subsequently
determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder, the Company shall
make an additional Gross-Up Payment in the manner set forth above in respect of
such excess (plus any interest, additions to tax, or penalties payable by you
with respect to such excess) promptly after the time that the amount can be
reasonably determined.
(b) TIME OF PAYMENT: ESTIMATED PAYMENT. The payments provided
for in subsection (a) above, shall be made not later than the fifth business day
following the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the amounts of
such payments cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Company
shall pay to you on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the
Company, of the minimum amount of such payments, and shall pay the remainder of
such payments (together with interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum) as
soon as the amount thereof can be determined. In the event that the amount of
the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been
due, such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to you, payable on the
fifth day after demand by the Company (together with interest at the rate of 6
percent per annum).
10. MISCELLANEOUS. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived, or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed
to in a writing signed by you and the Chief Executive Officer or President of
the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the
other party hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same, or at any prior or
subsequent, time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express
or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either
party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. The validity,
interpretation, construction, and performance of this Agreement shall be
governed by laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the
principles of conflict of laws thereof.
11. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES. The Company shall pay or reimburse any
reasonable legal fees and expenses you may incur in connection with any legal
action to enforce your rights under, or to defend the validity of, this
Agreement. The Company will pay or reimburse such legal fees and expenses on a
regular, periodic basis upon presentation by you of a statement or statements
prepared by your counsel in accordance with its usual practices.
12. VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
13. PAYMENTS DURING CONTROVERSY. Notwithstanding the pendency of any
dispute or controversy, the Company will continue to pay you your full
compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given
(including, but not limited to, base salary and installments of incentive
compensation) and continue you as a participant in all compensation, benefit,
and insurance plans in which you were participating when the notice giving rise
to the dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance
with section 7(c). Amounts paid under this section are in addition to all other
amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any
other amounts due under this Agreement. You shall be entitled to seek specific
performance of your right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the
pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement.
14. ILLEGALITY. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, this Agreement is not intended and shall not be construed to
require any payment to you which would violate any federal or state statute or
regulation, including without limitation the "golden parachute payment
regulations" of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation codified to Part 359
of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations.
If this letter correctly sets forth our agreement on the subject matter
hereof, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copy of this letter,
which will then constitute our agreement on this subject.
Very truly yours,
NBT BANCORP INC.
By:__________________________
AGREED TO: ___________________________________