Mr. Thomas P. Gibbons The Bank of New York Company, Inc. One Wall Street New York, New York 10286 Re: Transition Agreement Dear Todd:
Exhibit 10.6
June 25, 2007
Dear ▇▇▇▇:
As you are aware, The Bank of New York Company, Inc. (together with its affiliates, the
“Company”) and Mellon Financial Corporation (together with its affiliates, “Mellon”) have entered
an agreement and plan of merger dated as of December 3, 2006 (as amended and restated from time to
time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company and Mellon will merge (the “Merger”)
to form a new corporation as of the consummation of the Merger (the date of consummation, the
“Effective Date”) to be named The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (together with its
affiliates, “BNY-Mellon”). By operation of the Merger, BNY-Mellon will succeed to all of the
rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement from and after the Effective Date.
You are currently a senior executive officer of the Company. As such, you are an integral
part of the Company’s management, and a key participant in the decision-making process relative to
the planning and policy for BNY-Mellon. You will become a member of BNY-Mellon’s newly formed
“Executive Committee” as of the Effective Date.
The Company believes that it is critical to its continued success, and to the ultimate success
of the Merger, that you remain employed with the Company through the Effective Date, and with
BNY-Mellon after the consummation of the Merger. In order to induce you to remain with the Company
through the Merger and with BNY-Mellon after the Merger, the Company offers you the position and
benefits provided for in this Transition Agreement (this “Agreement”), including the special
protections applicable during the 36-month period following the Effective Date (such period, the
“Transition Period”) as described in this Agreement. This Agreement will become effective on the
Effective Date; in the event the consummation of the Merger does not occur for any reason before
the date the Merger Agreement terminates by its terms, this Agreement will terminate and will be of
no force or effect. Unless you become eligible to receive benefits under Section 3 of this Agreement during the Transition Period, this
Agreement will terminate and be of no force and effect as of the end of the Transition Period.
You understand that this Agreement supplements, and does not supersede in any way, the Change
in Control Agreement between you and the Company, dated as of July 11, 2000 (your “Existing CIC
Agreement”). You further understand that the Merger will not constitute a “Change in Control” of
the Company as defined under your Existing CIC Agreement. If a Change in Control of BNY-Mellon
occurs during the Transition Period, if applicable, you may elect to receive benefits under either
(1) the terms of this Agreement or (2) the terms of your Existing CIC Agreement. By operation of
the Merger, “BNY-Mellon” will be substituted for the Company effective as of the Effective Date for
purposes of your Existing CIC Agreement (including but not limited to the definitions contained
therein). A “Change in Control” of BNY-Mellon under this Agreement shall have the same meaning as
a “Change in Control” under your Existing CIC Agreement.
1. Position with BNY-Mellon.
Your employment with BNY-Mellon will begin on the Effective Date. You will have the position
of Senior Executive Vice President of BNY-Mellon and will serve on the BNY-Mellon Executive
Committee. Your responsibilities, authority and entitlements will be consistent and commensurate
with your position.
2. Special Team Bonus Award.
The Company and Mellon will propose to BNY-Mellon that, at its organizational meeting,
BNY-Mellon adopt a special Transition Team Bonus Award Program for members of BNY-Mellon’s
Executive Committee (the “Team Bonus Award Program”) and that you become a participant in, and be
granted an award under, the Team Bonus Award Program as of such date (your “Team Bonus Award”).
Your proposed Team Bonus Award would generally vest and be payable to you only if you remain
continuously employed with BNY-Mellon through the end of the Transition Period, except as otherwise
provided in Section 3. The proposed amount of your Team Bonus Award under the proposed Team Bonus
Award Program is set forth in the Schedule attached hereto.
3. Termination Provisions.
(a) Severance Payments. If your employment with BNY-Mellon is terminated during the
Transition Period either by BNY-Mellon other than for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d)) or by you
for Good Reason (as defined in Section 3(d)), which under either circumstance does not include a
termination for death, disability (as defined in Section 3(f)), Retirement (as defined in Section
3(d)) or resignation without Good Reason, then BNY-Mellon will provide to you, within 30 days
following your Termination Date (as defined in Section 3(d)) or for Performance Shares and
Performance Units, as soon as practicable after the end of the applicable performance period in
accordance with the applicable award agreements, if later, the following, subject in each case to
Section 3(c) and Section 4(j):
(i) Cash Severance. BNY-Mellon will pay you a lump sum in cash equal to 2 times the
sum of (x) your annual base salary in effect immediately before the
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time a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 3(d)) is provided to you or is provided by you or, if
higher, your annual base salary in effect immediately before the Effective Date, and (y) the
highest annual cash bonus earned by you from the Company or BNY-Mellon during the Company’s
and BNY-Mellon’s previous 3 completed fiscal years immediately before your Termination Date
(the “Bonus Amount”).
(ii) Pro Rata Bonus for Year of Termination. BNY-Mellon will pay you a lump sum in
cash equal to the pro rata portion of your annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the
Termination Date occurs, in an amount equal to the result of multiplying (x) the Bonus
Amount, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the
year in which the Termination Date occurs through the Termination Date, and the denominator
of which is 365.
(iii) Equity Awards.
(A) Unearned Performance Units. BNY-Mellon will pay you a pro rata portion of
any of your unearned Performance Units, based on the number of full months of the
relevant “Performance Cycle Measurement Period” (as defined in the Performance Share
Agreement of the Company’s 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)) which have
elapsed before your Termination Date, to the extent such Performance Units are
earned based on actual performance at the end of the applicable Performance Cycle
Measure Period, and the remainder of your Performance Units will be cancelled.
(B) Earned Unvested Performance Shares. At your Termination Date, any
Performance Shares awarded to you under the Performance Share Agreement of the LTIP
(or any successor plans) to the extent earned as of your Termination Date based on
actual performance at the end of the applicable performance period will be deemed
non-forfeitable, and you will be fully vested in such Performance Shares.
(C) Restricted Stock Awards. Except as otherwise provided for in your April 2,
2007 restricted share unit award, at your Termination Date, the restrictions
applicable to all shares of restricted stock and restricted share units awarded
under the LTIP (or any successor plans) will lapse, and you will be fully vested in
all such shares and share units.
(D) Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided for in your April 2, 2007
stock option award, any stock options granted under the LTIP (or any prior or
successor plans) (the “Options”) that are unvested at your Termination Date will
fully vest upon your Termination Date or if later, one year following the grant date
of the applicable Option, and such Options will remain exercisable for 5 years after
the Termination Date if you are eligible for Retirement on such date, or (y) 3 years
after the Termination Date if you are not eligible for Retirement on such date (but
in no event later than the original expiration date of the Options), notwithstanding any Option terms which may be
to the contrary.
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(E) BNY-Mellon Equity. Any shares of restricted stock and restricted share
units and any other forms of equity compensation (other than performance shares,
performance units and stock options) awarded to you following the Effective Date by
BNY-Mellon that remain unvested at your Termination Date will immediately vest in
full, and all restrictions thereon will immediately lapse. Any options to purchase
shares of BNY-Mellon granted to you by BNY-Mellon after the Effective Date will vest
and remain exercisable in accordance with the terms of the applicable BNY-Mellon
plans and award agreements. Any performance shares and performance units granted to
you by BNY-Mellon after the Effective Date will vest on a pro-rata basis, based on
the number of full months of the relevant performance period which have elapsed
before your Termination Date, and will be payable to the extent earned based on
actual performance as of the end of such performance period in accordance with the
terms of the applicable BNY-Mellon plans and award agreements.
(iv) Team Bonus Award. Your Team Bonus Award, if granted by BNY-Mellon, will vest in
full and be paid in accordance with the terms of the Team Bonus Award Program.
(v) Retirement Plan Payment. BNY-Mellon will pay to you the lump sum actuarial
equivalent (utilizing actuarial assumptions no less favorable to you than those in effect
under the Company’s Retirement Plan on the date of this Agreement) of the excess of the (A)
benefits under the Company’s Retirement Plan and Excess Benefit Plan and any other defined
benefit retirement plans of the Company and BNY-Mellon (excluding, however, any nonqualified
supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) in which you may have rights) (collectively,
the “Defined Benefit Plans”) which you would receive if your employment continued for 2
years after your Termination Date, assuming for this purpose that (x) your accrued benefits
under the Defined Benefit Plans were fully vested, (y) in each of the 2 years you received
salary at the annual rate in effect immediately before your Termination Date and bonus
compensation equal to the Bonus Amount and (z) there was no reduction or offset under the
Defined Benefit Plans for the actuarial value of your account under the Company’s Employee
Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”), over (B) the vested accrued benefits payable under the
Defined Benefit Plans as of your Termination Date if there was no reduction or offset
thereunder for the actuarial value of your ESOP account. For the avoidance of doubt, the
payments under this Section 3(a)(v) are in addition to any rights to payment you may have
with respect to vested accrued benefits under the Defined Benefit Plans as of your
Termination Date.
(vi) Welfare Benefits. BNY-Mellon will maintain in full force and effect, for you and
your dependents, for a period terminating on the earliest of (a) 2 years after your
Termination Date, (b) the commencement date of equivalent benefits from a new employer or
(c) your attainment of age 65, all insured and self-insured employee welfare benefit plans
in which you were entitled to participate immediately before your
Termination Date, to the extent that your continued participation is possible under the
general terms and provisions of such plans (and any applicable funding media) and that you
continue to pay an amount equal to your regular contribution to participate in such
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plans. If your participation in any such plan is barred, BNY-Mellon will arrange, at its sole cost
and expense, to cause to have issued for your dependents’ and your benefit individual
policies of insurance providing benefits substantially similar (on a pre-tax basis) to those
which you otherwise would have been entitled to receive under such plans pursuant to this
Section 3(a)(vi). If such insurance is not available at a reasonable cost to BNY-Mellon,
BNY-Mellon will provide you and your dependents with equivalent benefits (on a pre-tax
basis). You will not be required to pay any premiums or other charges (other than any
applicable taxes) in an amount greater than that which you would have paid in order to
participate in such plans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no benefits
will be provided pursuant to this Section 3(a)(vi) to the extent such benefits would result
in the duplication of any benefits provided to you under another BNY-Mellon plan.
(b) Special Termination Right. You may terminate your employment for any reason or for no
reason within 30 days immediately following the 30-month anniversary of the Effective Date,
provided you give BNY-Mellon at least three months notice of your intent to so terminate your
employment (your “Special Termination Right”). If you exercise your Special Termination Right, you
will receive, within 30 days following your Termination Date or for Performance Shares and
Performance Units, as soon as practicable after the end of the applicable performance period in
accordance with the applicable award agreements, if later, subject in each case to Section 3(c) and
Section 4(j): (1) immediate vesting of any unvested Options (other than your April 2, 2007 stock
option award) and BNY-Mellon stock options which you hold at the date of your Termination Date, and
such Options and BNY-Mellon stock options will remain exercisable for (x) 5 years if you are
eligible for Retirement on such date (as defined in Section 3(d)), or (y) 3 years if you are not
eligible for Retirement on such date, notwithstanding the original terms of such Options and
BNY-Mellon stock options (but not later than the original expiration dates of such respective
options), (2) pro rata vesting of any unearned Performance Shares and Performance Units, in each
case based on actual performance as of the end of the applicable performance period in accordance
with Section 3(a)(iii)(A) hereof, and full vesting of any earned (as of your Termination Date based
on actual performance at the end of the applicable performance period) unvested Performance Shares
and Performance Units, (3) pro rata vesting of your April 2, 2007 restricted share unit and stock
option awards pursuant to the terms of such awards, (4) pro rata vesting of your Team Bonus Award,
if granted by BNY-Mellon, based on the number of days during the Transition Period which have
elapsed before your Termination Date, valued, as applicable, using the Termination Price and to be
paid in accordance with the terms of the Team Bonus Award Program and (5) a lump-sum cash payment
equal to the pro rata portion of your annual bonus for the fiscal year in which you exercise your
Special Termination Right, calculated in accordance with Section 3(a)(ii) hereof, except that “Bonus Amount” in clause (x) of Section 3(a)(ii) shall mean the amount of your annual
bonus for the fiscal year of your termination as determined by BNY-Mellon based on actual
performance achieved through the end of such fiscal year, to be paid, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary herein, at the same time that annual bonuses for such year are paid to other
BNY-Mellon executives but in no event later than two and one half months after the end of such
fiscal year. For the avoidance
of doubt, the payments under this Section 3(b) are in addition to any rights to payment you may
have with respect to vested accrued benefits under the Defined Benefit Plans as of your Termination
Date.
(c) Release Condition and Restrictive Covenants. In consideration of and as a condition to
your receipt of the compensation and benefits to be provided to you under this Agreement, and in recognition of your access to the confidential and proprietary information
and valued client relationships and trade secrets of the Company and, in the future, BNY-Mellon,
if on your Termination Date you are eligible to receive Severance Payments under Section 3(a) of
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this Agreement or if you are exercising your Special Termination Right, you agree that (A) you will
execute a release in favor of BNY-Mellon and all of its affiliates substantially in the form
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, and the release must become effective and irrevocable in
accordance with its terms and (B) you will be subject to the following:
(i) Noncompete. During your employment and through the end of the Restricted Period,
you will not, directly or indirectly (A) hold a 3% or greater equity, voting or profit
participation interest in a Competitive Enterprise (as defined below) or (B) render any
services, whether as an employee, officer, consultant, agent or otherwise, to a Competitive
Enterprise (as defined in Section 3(d)) including, without limitation, engaging in, directly
or indirectly, or managing or supervising personnel engaged in, any of the Relevant
Activities (as defined in Section 3(d)).
(ii) Nonsolicit of Employees. During your employment and through the end of the
Restricted Period, you will not, directly or indirectly, for yourself or for any third
party, solicit, influence, encourage, induce, recruit or cause any employee of BNY-Mellon or
any person who was an employee of the Company, Mellon or BNY-Mellon within the 6 month
period before your Termination Date to resign from BNY-Mellon or to apply for or accept
employment with any Competitive Enterprise.
(iii) Nonsolicit of Customers. During your employment and through the end of the
Restricted Period, you will not directly or indirectly (A) solicit or attempt to solicit any
of the BNY-Mellon clients and/or customers for whom you, the Company, Mellon or BNY-Mellon
either performed the Relevant Activities, or actively solicited work from during the 6-month
period before your Termination Date, to transact business with a Competitive Enterprise or
to reduce or refrain from doing any business with BNY-Mellon or (B) otherwise interfere with
or damage any relationship between BNY-Mellon and any such client or customers.
(iv) Nondisclosure. During your employment and thereafter, you will not at any time
communicate or disclose to any unauthorized person, without the written consent of
BNY-Mellon, any proprietary processes of BNY-Mellon or other confidential information
concerning its business, affairs, products, suppliers or customers which, if disclosed,
would have a material adverse effect upon the business or operations of BNY-Mellon. You
understand, however, that the obligations of this Section 3(c)(iv) shall not interfere with
your: (a) making any disclosure of information in any action or proceeding relating to this
Agreement or as otherwise required by law or legal process; or (b) participating,
cooperating, or testifying in any action, investigation or proceeding brought by any
governmental agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or BNY-Mellon’s
Legal or Compliance Departments; provided that, to the extent permitted by law, upon receipt
of any such subpoena, court order or other legal process compelling the disclosure of any
such information, you will give prompt written notice to BNY-Mellon so as to provide it an
opportunity to protect its interests in confidentiality to the fullest extent possible. You
understand that you will not be entitled to any compensation
from BNY-Mellon or to recover monetary damages or any other form of personal relief
from BNY-Mellon for your time incurred in responding to or participating in any proceeding
relating to any such subpoena, court order or other legal process or otherwise
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in connection with any such action, investigation or proceeding, provided however, that nothing contained
in this Section shall (1) limit your rights or the limit obligations of BNY-Mellon (A) under
Section 4(b)(i) of this Agreement or (B) under the by-laws and Certificate of Incorporation
of BNY-Mellon, including without limitation, your rights to, and BNY-Mellon’s obligation to
provide, indemnification or (2) limit or restrict your rights and remedies against any party
other than BNY-Mellon or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries. You also agree to cooperate
with BNY-Mellon with respect to any past, present or future legal matters that relate to or
arise out of your employment with it or its predecessors. The obligations of this Section
3(c)(iv)) will not apply to the extent that the aforesaid matters (a) are disclosed in
circumstances where you are legally required to do so or (b) become generally known to and
available for use by the public otherwise than by your wrongful act or omission.
(v) Nondisparagement. During your employment and thereafter, you will not, in any
manner, directly or indirectly make or publish any statement (orally or in writing) that
would libel, slander, disparage, denigrate, ridicule or criticize BNY-Mellon, any of its
affiliates or any of their employees, officers or directors, and BNY-Mellon will instruct
the Executive Chairman, the Chairman, the President and the Vice-Chairmen of BNY-Mellon, and
the BNY-Mellon directors, not to, in any manner, directly or indirectly make or publish any
statement (orally or in writing) that would libel, slander, disparage, denigrate, ridicule
or criticize you.
(vi) Severability; Equitable Relief. You and the Company agree that the covenants
contained herein are reasonable, that valid consideration has been and will be received
therefor and that the agreements set forth herein are the result of arm’s-length
negotiations between the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you and the Company
agree that if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the length of time or any
other restriction, or portion thereof, set forth in this Section 3(c) is overly restrictive
and unenforceable, the court may reduce or modify such restrictions to those which it deems
reasonable and enforceable under the circumstances, and as so reduced or modified, the
restrictions of this Section 3(c) will remain in full force and effect. You and the Company
further agree that if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of
this Section 3(c) is invalid or against public policy, the remaining provisions of this
Section 3(c) and the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby, and will
remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding Section 4(i) of this Agreement, in the
event of any violation by you of this Section 3(c), BNY-Mellon, in addition to any other
remedies it may have, will have the right to institute and maintain a proceeding in a court
of competent jurisdiction to compel specific performance of the provisions of this Section
3(c) or to issue an injunction restraining any action by you in violation of this Section
3(c), and/or to obtain other equitable and monetary relief.
(d) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Cause” means termination upon (A) your willful and continued failure to
substantially perform your duties with BNY-Mellon other than any such failure resulting from
your incapacity due to physical or mental illness after the Board of
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Directors of BNY-Mellon delivers to you a demand for substantial performance, which specifically identifies the
manner in which such Board believes that you have not substantially performed your duties,
(B) your willful engaging in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and
demonstrably injurious to BNY-Mellon, (C) your conviction of, or plea or nolo contendere to,
a felony, (D) your refusal to cooperate in any BNY-Mellon investigations after BNY-Mellon
has requested your cooperation, or (E) any other material violations of BNY-Mellon’s written
Code of Conduct. For purposes of this paragraph (i), no act or failure to act on your part
will be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you in bad faith and
without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in, or not opposed to,
BNY-Mellon’s best interest. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant
to a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of BNY-Mellon or based upon the
advice of counsel for BNY-Mellon will be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be
done, by you in good faith and in BNY-Mellon’s best interests. It is also expressly
understood that your attention to matters not directly related to BNY-Mellon’s business will
not provide a basis for termination for Cause so long as either the Board of Directors of
the Company or BNY-Mellon has approved your engagement in such activities. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, you will not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until
there has 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 of Directors of
BNY-Mellon at meeting held for that purpose after reasonable notice to you and an
opportunity for you, together with your counsel, to be heard before the Board of Directors
of BNY-Mellon, finding that in the good faith opinion of such Board you were guilty of the
conduct set forth above in (A) through (E) of this paragraph (i) and specifying the
particulars thereof in detail.
(ii) “Competitive Enterprise” means any business enterprise that either (A) is
a banking institution, whether incorporated or not, a substantial portion of the business of
which consists of exercising fiduciary powers similar to those permitted to national banks
under the authority of the Comptroller of the Currency pursuant to 12. U.S.C. 92a, that
competes anywhere with any trust, safekeeping, custodial or related activities that
BNY-Mellon is then engaged in or (B) holds a 5% or greater equity, voting or profit
participation interest in any such banking institution.
(iii) “Good Reason” means your termination of your employment during the
Transition Period based on the occurrence of any of the following events without your prior
written consent if within 30 days after receipt from you of a notice describing the
circumstances that constitute Good Reason BNY-Mellon fails to cure such circumstances:
(A) your removal from BNY-Mellon’s Executive Committee;
(B) any material and adverse change in your duties or responsibilities with
BNY-Mellon (including your reporting responsibilities), or any material and adverse change in your corporate title or status with
BNY-Mellon, in any case from that established by BNY-Mellon as of the Effective
Date, consistent with the position set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement;
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(C) BNY-Mellon’s reduction of your base salary or reduction of your annual and
long-term target bonus opportunities (other than any across-the-board bonus
opportunity reductions applicable to all members of the Executive Committee), in
each case as in effect immediately before the Effective Date. Subject to the
foregoing, you acknowledge that a reduction in your earned annual or long term bonus
amounts do not constitute Good Reason under this Agreement as long as any such
amounts have been determined and earned in accordance with the applicable bonus
opportunity guidelines;
(D) BNY-Mellon’s requirement that you are based at an office located more than
50 miles from where your office with BNY-Mellon is located established as of the
Effective Date, except for travel required by BNY-Mellon’s business or travel to an
extent substantially consistent with your business travel obligations for the
Company immediately before the Effective Date; or
(E) BNY-Mellon’s failure to obtain from any Successor (defined below) the
assent to this Agreement contemplated by Section 4(a)(i) hereof.
If you do not provide written notice to BNY-Mellon within 90 days after you have
knowledge that an event constituting Good Reason has occurred and terminate
employment within two years following the first occurrence of such event, that event
will no longer constitute Good Reason.
(iv) “Relevant Activities” include any activity (A) which is similar or
substantially related to any activities in which you were engaged, in whole or in part, at
the Company or BNY-Mellon; (B) for which you had direct or indirect managerial or
supervisory responsibility at the Company or BNY-Mellon or (C) which calls for the
application of the same or similar specialized knowledge or skills as those used by you in
your activities with the Company and BNY-Mellon.
(v) “Restricted Period” means the period beginning on your Termination Date and
ending on the date 12 months thereafter.
(vi) “Retirement” means termination after you reach age 55.
(vii) “Termination Date” means (a) if your employment is terminated by
BNY-Mellon for Cause or by you for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of
Termination, or (b) if your employment is terminated by BNY-Mellon for any reason other than
Cause, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which in no event will be a date
earlier than 90 days after the date on which a Notice of Termination is given, unless an
earlier date has been expressly agreed to by you in writing either in advance of, or after,
receiving such Notice of Termination. If BNY-Mellon terminates your employment for Cause, and if you have not previously expressly agreed in writing to the
termination, then within 30 days after your receipt of the Notice of Termination with
respect thereto, you may notify BNY-Mellon that a dispute exists concerning the termination,
in which event the Termination Date will be the date set either by mutual
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written agreement of the parties or by the arbitrators in a proceeding as provided in Section 4(i) hereof.
During the pendency of any such dispute, BNY-Mellon may place you on unpaid leave, provided
that you will be permitted to continue to participate in any BNY-Mellon group health plans
in which you were a participant just before the time the Notice of Termination is given and
until the dispute is resolved in accordance with Section 4(i).
(e) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination by you or BNY-Mellon occurring after the
Effective Date will be communicated to the other party by a written Notice of Termination. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Notice of Termination” means a notice indicating the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon.
(f) Death or Disability. If your employment terminates due to your death or “disability” (as
defined for purposes of the Team Bonus Award Program, or if no such definition applies, under the
BNY-Mellon disability policy then in effect) during the Transition Period, in addition to any other
rights you may have, you will be entitled to full vesting and payment of your Team Bonus Award.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of this Agreement, a termination as a
result of your death or disability will not be treated as a termination other than for Cause
pursuant to Section 3(a).
4. Additional Provisions.
(a) Successors; Binding Agreement.
(i) BNY-Mellon will require, by agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to you, assent to the fulfillment of BNY-Mellon’s obligations under this Agreement from any
Successor (as defined herein). For purposes of this Agreement, “Successor” means any person
(as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that succeeds to, or has the practical ability
to control (either immediately or with the passage of time), BNY-Mellon’s business directly,
by merger or consolidation, or indirectly, by purchase of the combined voting power of
BNY-Mellon’s then outstanding securities or otherwise.
(ii) This Agreement will 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, will 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.
(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, references to “BNY-Mellon” include any
corporation or other entity which is the surviving or continuing entity in
respect of any merger, consolidation or form of business combination in which
BNY-Mellon ceases to exist, including but not limited to any Successor.
(b) Fees, Expenses and Interest; Mitigation.
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(i) BNY-Mellon will reimburse you, on a current basis, for all reasonable legal fees
and related expenses you incur in connection with this Agreement after the Merger,
including, without limitation, all such fees and expenses, if any, that you incur in (1)
contesting or disputing any termination of your employment, or which you incur in seeking
advice with respect to the matters set forth in this Agreement; (2) your seeking to obtain
or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement, in each case, regardless of
whether or not your claim is upheld or ultimately successful on the merits and (3)
responding to any subpoena, court order or other legal process as described in Section
3(c)(iv). You will be required, however, to repay any such amounts to BNY-Mellon to the
extent that a court issues a final and non-appealable order setting forth the determination
that the position taken by you was frivolous or advanced by you in bad faith. In addition
to the fees and expenses provided herein, you will also be paid interest on any disputed
amount ultimately paid to you at the prime rate announced by BNY-Mellon from time to time
from the date payment should have been made until paid in full. Such rights are in addition
to and shall not limit any indemnification rights you may have under the Certificate of
Incorporation of BNY-Mellon, and the by-laws of the Company and The Bank of New York.
(ii) You will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment BNY-Mellon becomes
obligated to make to you in connection with this Agreement by seeking other employment or
otherwise.
(c) Certain Additional Payments. The parties hereto acknowledge that the Company will not
undergo a change in its ownership or effective control due to the Merger for purposes of Sections
280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and, therefore, any
payments made to you pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise from the Company or BNY-Mellon in
connection with the Merger will not be deemed “parachute payments” as defined under Section 280G of
the Code. However, in the event of a subsequent change in the ownership or effective control of
BNY-Mellon following the Merger, if any payments under this Agreement at any time would constitute
“excess parachute” payments under Section 280G Code, BNY-Mellon’s obligations to you with respect
to such payments will be determined in accordance with applicable provisions of your Existing CIC
Agreement which require that you be provided with a gross-up for any excise taxes imposed under
Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code (for purposes of clarity, and for purposes of example only,
notwithstanding your election to receive benefits under this Agreement rather than the Existing CIC
Agreement in the event of a Change in Control of BNY-Mellon).
(d) Taxes. All payments to be made to you under this Agreement will be subject to required
withholding of federal, state and local income and employment taxes.
(e) Survival. The respective obligations of, and benefits afforded to, BNY-Mellon and you
under this Agreement will survive termination of this Agreement, except in the event that the
consummation of the Merger does not occur.
(f) Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided
for in the Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when delivered
or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt
11
requested, postage prepaid and addressed, to the appropriate address set forth on the first page of this Agreement, provided that
all notices to BNY-Mellon will be directed to the attention of the General Counsel of BNY-Mellon,
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notice of change of address will be effective only upon receipt.
(g) 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, before
the Effective Date, the Company, and after the Effective Date, BNY-Mellon. 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 will 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 will be
governed by the laws of the State of New York applied without regard to conflict of laws
principles.
(h) Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement will not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain
in full force and effect. Any such invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed severed
from, and no longer a part of, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
(i) Arbitration. Other than as specifically described in Section 3(c)(vi) of this Agreement,
any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement will be settled
exclusively by arbitration in New York City by 3 arbitrators in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award
in any court having jurisdiction. BNY-Mellon will bear all costs and expenses arising in
connection with any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section 4(i).
(j) Section 409A of the Code. If your termination of employment occurs during 2007, there
will be no payment under Section 3(a)(iii)(A), (B) or (C) or clause (2) or (3) of Section 3(b)
until January 1, 2008 unless the LTIP and the accompanying award agreement would have provided for
an earlier payment on such termination. In addition, if you are a “specified employee” within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code at the time of your termination of employment, any payments to
you pursuant to Section 3(a)(i), Section 3(a)(iii) (other than with respect to stock options,
restricted shares or performance shares that are not subject to Section 409A of the Code), Section
3(a)(v), or clause (2) with respect to Performance Units, clause (3) with respect to restricted
share units or clause (4) of Section 3(b), and any benefits to you pursuant to Section 3(a)(vi) to
the extent required by Treas. Reg. §409A-1(a)(5), will be delayed until the day after the six-month anniversary of your Termination Date, or if
earlier, the date of your death (at which time you will be provided with all payments that would
have been made to you through such time but for this sentence and provided reimbursement for all
benefits that would have been provided to you through such time but for this sentence). Without
limiting the foregoing, this Agreement will be interpreted in a manner to avoid adverse
consequences to you under Section 409A of the Code. If any compensation or benefits provided by
this Agreement may result in the application of Section 409A of the Code, after giving effect
12
to the first two sentences of this Section 4(j), you and BNY-Mellon will agree on a modification to
the Agreement in the least restrictive manner necessary in order to, where applicable (1) exclude
such compensation from the definition of “deferred compensation” within the meaning of such Section
409A, or (2) comply with the provisions of Section 409A, other applicable provision(s) of the Code
and/or any rules, regulations or other regulatory guidance issued under such statutory provisions
and to make such modifications such that you will receive all payments and benefits hereunder in
the shortest amount of time from the date otherwise due, while no portion of any payments to you
hereunder will be subject to the excise taxes of Section 409A of the Code, in each case, without
any diminution in the value of the payments to you.
13
If this Agreement is acceptable to you, please sign both copies of this letter indicating your
agreement to its terms, keep one signed copy of the letter for yourself and return the other signed
copy to me. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be
deemed to be an original. A signature transmitted by facsimile will be deemed an original
signature.
We thank you for the valuable services you have performed for the Company, and we look forward
to your continued contribution to the success of the Company through its transition into
BNY-Mellon.
| Sincerely, The Bank of New York Company, Inc. |
||||
| /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||
| Title: | Vice Chairman and General Counsel | |||
| Accepted and Agreed: | ||||
| /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
Date: |
June 26, 2007 | |||
14
Exhibit A
G E N E R A L R E L E A S E
GENERAL RELEASE (this “Release”) by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (“you”) in favor of The Bank of New York
Mellon Corporation (the “Company”), its subsidiaries, affiliates, and all of their officers,
directors, employees, shareholders, attorneys and agents and their predecessors, successors and
assigns, individually and in their official capacities (together, the “Released Parties”).
WHEREAS, you have been employed as [title] of the Company; and
WHEREAS, you are seeking payments under your Transition Agreement, dated June 25, 2007 (as the
same may have been amended from time to time, the “Transition Agreement”), with the Company that
are conditioned on the effectiveness of this Release.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the
parties agree as follows:
1. General Release. You, for yourself and for your heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns, knowingly and voluntarily forever waive, terminate, cancel, release and
discharge the Released Parties from and against any and all legally waivable claims, causes of
action, allegations, rights, obligations, liabilities or charges (collectively, “Claims”) that you
(or your heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns) have or may have, whether known
or unknown, by reason of any matter, cause or thing occurring at any time before and including the
date of this Release, including, without limitation, claims for compensation or bonuses (including,
without limitation, any claim for an award under any compensation plan or arrangement); breach of
contract; tort; wrongful, abusive, unfair, constructive or unlawful discharge or dismissal;
impairment of economic opportunity defamation; age and national origin discrimination; sexual
harassment; back pay; front pay; benefits’ attorneys’ fees; whistleblower claims; emotional
distress’ intentional infliction of emotional distress’ assault’ battery; pain and suffering;
punitive or exemplary damages; violations of the Equal Pay Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”), the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Older
Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002, the Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act of 1989, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the New York State
and New York City anti-discrimination laws, including all amendments to any of the aforementioned
acts; and violations of any other federal, state, or municipal fair employment statutes or laws,
including, without limitation, violations of any other law, rule, regulation or ordinance
pertaining to employment, wages, compensation, hours worked, or any other matters related in any
way to your employment with the Company and its affiliates (and their respective predecessors) or
the termination of that employment. In addition, in consideration of the provisions of this
Release, you further agree to waive any and all rights under the laws of any jurisdiction in the
United States or any other country that limit a general release to those claims that are known or
suspected to exist in your favor as of the Effective Release Date (as defined
15
below). You also understand you are releasing any rights or claims concerning bonus(es) and
any award(s) or grant(s) under any incentive compensation plan or program, except as specifically
set forth in the Transition Agreement.
2. Surviving Claims: Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Release
shall not:
(a) release any Claims relating to the payments and benefits set forth in the
Transition Agreement;
(b) release any Claims arising after the date of this Release;
(c) limit or prohibit in any way your (or your beneficiaries’ or legal
representatives’) ability to bring an action to enforce the terms of this Release;
(d) release the Company’s obligations to you as a past, present, or future customer or
client of the Company or its affiliates;
(e) release any claim for employee benefits under plans covered by the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or other vested benefits to the extent
that such claims may not lawfully be waived or for any payments or benefits under any plans
of the Company that have vested according to the terms of those plans;
(f) release any claims for indemnification in accordance with applicable laws and the
corporate governance documents of the Company including any right to contribution, in
accordance with their terms as in effect from time to time or pursuant to any applicable
directors and officers insurance policy with respect to any liability incurred by you as an
officer or director of the Company or any right you may have to obtain contribution as
permitted by law in the event of entry of judgment. The Claims that are not released
pursuant to this Section 2 are collectively referred to as the “Surviving Claims.”
3. Additional Representations and Covenants. You represent and warrant that you have
not filed any civil action, suit, arbitration, administrative charge, or legal proceeding against
any Released Party nor have you assigned, pledged, or hypothecated as of the Effective Release Date
your claim to any person and no other person has an interest in the claims that you are releasing.
You also agree that should any person or entity file or cause to be filed any civil action, suit,
arbitration, administrative charge or other legal proceeding seeking equitable or monetary relief
concerning any claim released by you herein, you shall not seek or accept any personal relief from
or as the result of such civil action, suit, arbitration, administrative charge or other legal
proceeding.
4. Your Acknowledgements. You acknowledge and agree that you have read this Release
in its entirety and that, except for the Surviving Claims, this Release is a general release of all
known and unknown claims, including, without limitation, to rights and claims arising under ADEA.
You further acknowledge and agree that:
(a) this Release does not release, waive or discharge any rights or
claims that may arise for actions or omissions after the date of this Release;
16
(b) you are entering into this Release and releasing, waiving and discharging rights or
claims only in exchange for consideration which you are not already entitled to receive;
(c) you have been advised, and are being advised by this Release, to consult with an
attorney before executing this Release, and you acknowledge that you have consulted with
counsel of your choice concerning the terms and conditions of this Release;
(d) you have been advised, and are being advised by this Release, that you have 21 days
within which to consider this Release; and
(e) you are aware that this Release shall become null and void if you revoke your
agreement to this Release within 7 days following the date of execution and delivery of this
Release. You may revoke this Release at any time during such 7-day period by delivering (or
causing to be delivered) to the Company’s Director of Human Resources a written notice of
your revocation of this Release. In the event that the 7th day following the
date you sign this Release falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, you will have until
5:00 p.m. on the next business day to deliver your written notice of revocation. You
expressly understand and agree that if you do not sign this Release, or if you revoke it
within this 7-day period, you are not entitled to, and will not receive, any of the payments
or benefits provided for under the Transition Agreement.
(f) this Release shall become effective and irrevocable on the 8th day following the
day on which you have signed it, unless you have revoked it as provided in Paragraph 4(e)
above (“Effective Release Date”).
5. Additional Agreements. You acknowledge and represent that you have returned or will
return prior to the Effective Release Date , all Company-owned property, including but not limited
to, all documents and records, materials, policies, procedures, forms and documents, identification
cards, credit cards, telephone cards, files, memoranda, keys and other equipment and/or supplies in
your possession, custody or control and all copies thereof, that you have retained no such item in
your possession, custody or control, and you understand that the Company has relied upon your
representation and that the return of such property is an express condition of your Transition
Agreement and this Release. You may retain all benefits-related documents pertaining to you.
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
17
STATE OF
|
) | |||
| )ss.: | ||||
COUNTY OF
|
) |
On this day of , before me personally came ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to me known and known
to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing Release and he duly acknowledged
to me that he executed the same.
| Notary Public |
Schedule
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ — Proposed Team Bonus Award: $3,750,000