Exhibit 10.2 Change in Control Agreement dated January 14, 2022 between Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation and Julie A. Lewis
Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation
Change In Control Agreement
This Agreement (the “Agreement”) made as of the January 14, 2022, between Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation (the “Corporation”) and Julie A. Lewis (“Executive”).
— W I TN E S S E T H —
Whereas the Corporation desires for the Executive to be able to perform her executive duties and functions on an impartial and objective basis in the event of activities preceding, associated with, or resulting from a change in control of the Corporation as hereinafter defined (“Change in Control”);
Now, Therefore, the parties agree as follows:
1. Term. This Agreement is effective as of the date hereof and shall terminate, except to the extent that any obligation remains unpaid as of such time, upon the earliest of the following:
| (i) | termination of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation prior to a Change in Control; or |
| (ii) | one year from the date of a Change in Control; or |
| (iii) | May 1, 2025, but only if no Change in Control has occurred as of such date. |
2. Change in Control. For purposes of the Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person (individual, corporation, partnership or other entity) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 50 percent or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote at elections of directors (“Voting Securities”), (ii) in the event that following a merger, recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation or sale of assets by the Corporation, or any combination thereof, any person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the Voting Securities of the surviving entity, or (iii) the shareholders of the Corporation shall liquidate or sell substantially all of its assets. The first day upon which there exists a Change in Control shall be referred to herein as the “Operative Date.”
3. Termination Following Change in Control. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Executive will be entitled to the benefits provided in Paragraph 4 hereof if, within the one-year period beginning on the Operative Date, the Executive’s employment with the Corporation (hereinafter defined) is terminated unless such termination is (a) because of her death, (b) by the Corporation for Cause or Disability, or (c) by the Executive other than for Good Reason, all as hereinafter more particularly defined.
| (i) | Disability. If, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, she shall have been absent from her duties with the Corporation on a full-time basis for six (6) months and within thirty (30) days after written notice of termination is given she shall not have returned to the full-time performance of her duties, the Corporation may terminate the Agreement for “Disability.” |
| (ii) | Cause. The Corporation may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause. For purposes of the Agreement, the Corporation shall have “Cause” to terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder upon (A) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform her duties with the Corporation (other than any such failure resulting from her incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Corporation which specifically identifies the manner that the Executive has not substantially performed her duties or (B) the willful engaging by the Executive in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Corporation. For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by her not in good faith and without reasonable belief that her action or omission was in the best interests of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause based upon clauses (A) or (B) above unless and until there shall have been delivered to her a copy of a resolution, duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for her, together with her counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct set forth above in clauses (A) or (B) and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. |
| (iii) | Good Reason. The Executive may terminate her employment for Good Reason within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of any of the events specified below. For purposes of the Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean: |
| (A) | Without the Executive’s express written consent, the assignment to her of any duties materially inconsistent with her duties and responsibilities with the Corporation immediately prior to a Change in Control; |
| (B) | A reduction by the Corporation in the Executive’s annual base compensation below her total base compensation applicable to the 12 months preceding the Operative Date or as increased after such date; |
| (C) | The failure by the Corporation to provide the Executive with benefits whose aggregate value is at least as favorable as the aggregate value of benefits enjoyed by her under any thrift, incentive or compensation plan, or any pension, life insurance, health and accident or disability plan in which she is participating at the time of a Change in Control, or the taking of any action by the Corporation which would adversely affect her participation in or materially reduce her benefits under any of such plans at the time of a Change in Control, unless such reduction relates to a reduction in benefits applicable to all employees generally; |
2
| (D) | The failure by the Corporation to provide the Executive with any other material fringe benefit enjoyed by her at the time of the Change in Control; |
| (E) | Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of subparagraph (iv) below (and, if applicable, subparagraph (ii) above) and, for purposes of the Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective; or |
| (F) | Breach by the Corporation of its obligations under Paragraph 5 of this Agreement. |
If any of the events occur which would entitle the Executive to terminate her employment for Good Reason hereunder and she does not so exercise her right to terminate her employment, any such failure shall not operate to waive her right to terminate her employment for that or any subsequent action or actions, whether similar or dissimilar, which would constitute Good Reason.
| (iv) | Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Corporation pursuant to subparagraphs (i) or (ii) above or by the Executive pursuant to subparagraph (iii) above shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination. For purposes of the Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in the Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated. |
| (v) | Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean (a) if the Agreement is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of her duties on a full-time basis during such thirty-day period), (b) if her employment is terminated pursuant to subparagraph (iii) above, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and (c) if her employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Date of Termination shall not occur, and the Executive’s employment with the Corporation shall not be deemed to have occurred, until the Executive shall have a Separation from Service. The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this Agreement: |
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. A reference to any section or provision of the Code shall also be deemed to be a reference to any applicable regulations and rulings thereunder, as well as to comparable provisions of future laws.
“Leave of Absence” means a military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence of the Executive which does not exceed six months (or such longer period for which the Executive retains a right to reemployment with the Corporation or a Related Entity under an applicable statute or by contract), but only if there is a reasonable expectation that the Executive will return to perform services for the Corporation or a Related Entity.
3
“Related Entity” means any entity which is aggregated with the Corporation pursuant to Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code or would be so aggregated if the language “at least 50 percent” were used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Section 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.414(c)-2.
“Separation from Service” means the Executive’s separation from service (as such term is used for purposes of Section 409A of the Code) with the Corporation and any Related Entities. The Executive shall be deemed to have a Separation from Service on a date only if the Corporation and the Executive reasonably anticipate that (a) no further services will be performed for the Corporation or any Related Entities after such date or (b) the level of bona fide services the Executive will perform for the Corporation or any Related Entities after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) will permanently decrease to no more than 20% of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services to the Corporation and any Related Entities if the Executive has then been providing services to the Corporation and any Related Entities for less than 36 months). For purposes of this section, for periods during which the Executive is on a paid Leave of Absence and has not otherwise terminated employment, the Executive shall be treated as providing bona fide services at a level equal to the level of services that he would have been required to perform to receive the compensation paid with respect to such Leave of Absence. Also for purposes of this section, periods during which the Executive is on an unpaid Leave of Absence and has not otherwise terminated employment shall be disregarded (including for purposes of determining the 36-month, or shorter, period).
4. Compensation Upon Termination. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control of the Corporation, unless such termination is because of the Executive’s death, or by the Corporation for Cause or Disability or by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the Corporation shall pay to the Executive the following:
| (i) | The Corporation shall pay the Executive her full salary (whether such salary has been paid by the Corporation or by any of its subsidiaries) through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given and all other unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of Termination under any plan or other arrangement of the Company, at the time such payments are due (and in any event within 90 days after the Separation from Service); |
| (A) | The Corporation shall pay to the Executive an amount equal to 1.0 multiplied by the Executive’s annualized includable compensation for the base period, within the meaning of Section 280G(d)(1) of the Code, provided, however, that if any of such payment is or will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed (“Excise Tax”), such payment shall be reduced to a smaller amount, even to zero, which smaller amount shall be the largest amount payable under this paragraph that would not be subject in whole or in part to the Excise Tax after considering all other payments to the Executive required to be considered under Sections 4999 or 280G of the Code. Such payment shall be referred to as the “Severance Payment.” The Severance Payment shall be made in a lump sum within 90 days after the Separation from Service. |
4
| (B) | In the event that the Severance Payment is subsequently determined to be less than the amount actually paid hereunder, the Executive shall repay the excess to the Corporation at the time that the proper amount is finally determined, plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the Applicable Federal Rate. In the event that the Severance Payment is determined to exceed the amount actually paid hereunder, the Corporation shall pay the Executive such difference plus interest on the amount of such additional payment at the Applicable Federal Rate at the time that the amount of such difference is finally determined. |
| (C) | In the event that the amount of the Severance Payment exceeds or is less than the amount initially paid, such difference shall constitute a loan by the Corporation to the Executive, or by the Executive to the Corporation, as the case may be, payable on the fifth (5th) day after demand (together with interest at the Applicable Federal Rate). |
| (D) | The amount of any payment provided for in this subparagraph shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company or the Company’s Successor by reason of any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another Corporation after the Date of Termination, or otherwise. |
| (ii) | The Corporation shall also pay to the Executive all legal fees and related expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with this Agreement, whether or not the Executive prevails (including, without limitation, all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement). |
| (iii) | The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided under the Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise. It is specifically understood that any compensation the Executive receives from the Corporation or any other person for services rendered prior to or after termination of employment, such as a payment under any deferred compensation plan maintained by the Corporation, will not reduce or offset the benefits to which she is entitled hereunder. |
| (iv) | The Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, divisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable to her hereunder if she had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the Agreement to her devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to her estate. |
5. Agreement Binding on Successors. The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, share exchange, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement. Failure of the Corporation to obtain such agreement prior to or simultaneously with a Change of Control shall be a breach of the Agreement which shall entitle the Executive to terminate her employment for Good Reason under Paragraph 3(iii) on or after the Operative Date, except that, for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date of her Notice of Termination shall be deemed the Date of Termination.
5
6. Notice. For the purposes of the Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date hand delivered or the date mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Executive at her residence address and to the Corporation directed to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, 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.
7. Modification and Waiver. No provisions of the Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and the Corporation. No waiver by any party hereto at any time or the breach by the other party hereto or of compliance with any condition or provision of the 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 of representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in the Agreement.
8. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of the Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of the Agreement and such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
9. Counterparts and Governing Law. The Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. The Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, excepting its principles of conflict of laws.
In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed the Agreement as of the date first above written.
| Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation /s/ Michael I. German |
/s/ Julie A Lewis | |
| By Michael I. German Chief Executive Officer | Julie A. Lewis |
6
