Exhibit 10.1
PHH CORPORATION
CHANGE IN CONTROL
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
     This CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and
entered into effective October 13, 2008, by and between Sandra Bell
(“Executive”) and PHH Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”).
     WHEREAS, Executive is employed by the Company and the Company desires to
provide Executive with certain severance benefits in the event of a Change in
Control (as herein defined) as consideration for Executive’s service with the
Company.
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the aforementioned and of the mutual
covenants and conditions contained in this Agreement, it is agreed as follows:
     1. Change in Control Severance Benefits. In the event Executive incurs a
separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) within twelve months following a
Change in Control as the result of any (i) involuntary termination of employment
other than for Cause (as defined below) or Disability (as defined below), or
(ii) voluntary termination of employment by Executive as a result of any (I)
change in the required location of Executive’s employment as of the date of this
Agreement in excess of 50 miles other than changes in location required in
connection with Executive’s initial offer of employment, (II) material
diminution in Executive’s duties or responsibilities as of the date of this
Agreement, provided that the mere occurrence of the Change in Control (including
the failure of Executive to (x) retain responsibilities and duties in respect of
either the mortgage business or fleet business or (y) hold a position in a
public company) shall not constitute diminution in duties or responsibilities,
or (III) reduction of Executive’s base salary or material reduction in
compensation opportunity as of the date of this Agreement, the Company shall pay
Executive a single lump sum cash payment equal to $1,600,000 (“Severance
Benefits”); provided, that Executive executes the General Release substantially
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and does not revoke such General
Release as set forth therein. The Severance Benefits shall be paid no later than
five days after the expiration of the seven-day period for revocation of the
General Release.
     For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means (a) a material failure of
Executive to substantially perform Executive’s duties with the Company or its
subsidiaries (other than failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or
mental illness); (b) any act of fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty,
embezzlement or similar conduct against, or relating to the assets of, the
Company or its subsidiaries; (c) conviction (or plea of nolo contendere) of a
felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; (d) repeated instances of
negligence in the performance of Executive’s job or any instance of gross
negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties as an employee of the
Company or one of its subsidiaries; (e) any breach by Executive of any fiduciary
obligation owed to the Company or any subsidiary or any material element of the
Company’s Code of Ethics, the Company’s Code of Conduct or other applicable
workplace policies; or (f) failure by Executive to perform her job duties for
the Company to the best of Executive’s ability and in accordance with reasonable
instructions

 

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and directions from Executive’s supervisor, and the reasonable workplace
policies and procedures established by the Company, as applicable, from time to
time; and “Disability” means any condition which entitles Executive to benefits
under the Company’s long-term disability plan covering Executive, as in effect
at the time of any termination of employment.
     For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” means the occurrence of
any of the following events on or before December 31, 2009:
(a) any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) (other than (A) the
Company, (B) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Company, and (C) any corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company (“Stock”)), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (excluding any person who
becomes such a beneficial owner in connection with a transaction immediately
following which the individuals who comprise the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”) immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority
of the Board, the entity surviving such transaction or, if the Company or the
entity surviving the transaction is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent
thereof);
(b) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the number of directors of the Board then serving: individuals who, on the
effective date of a Change in Control (the “Effective Date”), constitute the
Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of
office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including
but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors
of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
directors on the Effective Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for
election was previously so approved or recommended;
(c) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct
or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation, other than a
merger or consolidation immediately following which the individuals who comprise
the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the Board
of the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the
entity surviving such merger is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof;
or
(d) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of
the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by
the Company of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, PHH
Mortgage Corporation or PHH Vehicle Management Services LLC (or any transaction
having a similar effect), other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all
or substantially all of its assets to an entity, immediately following which the
individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior

 

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thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity
to which such assets are sold or disposed of or, if such entity is a subsidiary,
the ultimate parent thereof.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to
have occurred by virtue of an offering of the equity securities of the Company
that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the
consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately
following which the holders of the Stock immediately prior to such transaction
or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate
ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.
     2. Notice and Opportunity to Cure. Notwithstanding anything in Section 1 to
the contrary, (i) no Severance Benefits shall be paid in connection with any
voluntary termination of employment described in clause (ii) of Section 1 unless
Executive provides the Company with written notice of the existence of the
condition described in clause (ii) no later than 90 days after the initial
existence of such condition is known to Executive and the Company fails to
remedy such condition within 30 days of the date of such written notice; and
(ii) no termination shall be deemed to be for Cause as described in clauses (a),
(d), (e) or (f) of the second paragraph of Section 1 unless the Company provides
Executive with written notice of the existence of the conditions that constitute
Cause no later than 90 days after the initial existence of such condition is
known to the Company and Executive fails to remedy such condition within 30 days
of the date of such written notice.
     3. Parachute Payments. In the event that any payment or distribution by the
Company for the benefit of Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or, including without
limitation, pursuant to the vesting and acceleration provisions under the PHH
2005 Equity and Incentive Plan) (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (such excise tax is hereinafter referred to
as the “Excise Tax”), then with the consent of Executive, Severance Benefits
shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Payment shall
be subject to the Excise Tax but only if, by reason of such reduction, the net
after-tax benefit received by Executive shall exceed the net after-tax benefit
that would be received by Executive if no such reduction was made. The “net
after-tax benefit” shall equal the total of all Payments, less the Excise Tax.
The Company shall retain a nationally recognized accounting firm (the
“Accounting Firm”) that is reasonably acceptable to Executive (which may be, but
will not be required to be, the Company’s independent auditors) to make a
determination of whether the Severance Benefits should be reduced. The
Accounting Firm shall submit its determination and detailed supporting
calculations to both Executive and the Company no later than 10 days prior to
the date on which the Severance Benefits are to be paid. If the Accounting Firm
determines that the Severance Benefits should be reduced and Executive consents,
the Severance Benefits shall be reduced but only to the extent necessary so that
no portion of the Payments shall be subject to the Excise Tax, and the Company
shall pay such reduced amount to Executive at the time prescribed by Section 1
of the Agreement. If the Accounting Firm determines that none of the Payments,
after taking into account any reduction pursuant to this Section 3, constitutes
a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, it will,
at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive and the
Company an opinion that Executive has substantial authority not to report any
Excise Tax. Executive and the

 

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Company shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any
books, records, and documents in the possession of Executive or the Company, as
the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise
cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and
issuance of the determinations and calculations contemplated by this Section 3.
The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with
the determinations and calculations contemplated by this Section 3 shall be
borne by the Company.
     4. Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration,
conducted before a panel of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by
Executive within fifty (50) miles from the location of Executive’s employment as
of the date hereof, in accordance with the JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules and
Procedures then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in
any court having jurisdiction. Any dispute or controversy or claim in connection
with this Agreement shall be reviewed based on the de novo standard of review
with respect to any determinations made by the Company. In the event that
Executive substantially prevails in any such dispute, controversy or claim, all
costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees paid or incurred by Executive in connection
with such dispute, controversy or claim shall be paid or reimbursed by the
Company.
     5. Amendment and Termination. This Agreement may not be amended or
terminated without written consent by both Executive and the Company.
     6. Employment and Assumption by a Successor. In the event that a successor
entity to the Company by virtue of a Change in Control (a “Successor”)
(i) offers Executive employment under terms and conditions which, if provided by
the Company, would not constitute a (I) change in required location as described
in Section 1(ii)(I) of this Agreement, (II) material diminution in Executive’s
duties or responsibilities as described in Section 1(ii)(II) of the Agreement,
or (III) reduction in Executive’s base salary or material reduction in
compensation opportunities as described in Section 1(ii)(III) of this Agreement,
and (ii) assumes all obligations of the Company under this Agreement, then
(x) if Executive does not accept such offer of employment, she will not be
entitled to any Severance Benefits under Section 1 of this Agreement in the
event Executive’s employment is terminated on account of the failure to accept
such employment, and (y) if Executive does accept such employment, on and after
the effective date of such employment with a Successor, all references in the
Agreement to “Company” shall be deemed to be references to the Successor (except
where the context requires otherwise) and the Successor shall be liable for the
payment of all Severance Benefits as provided in Section 1 of this Agreement in
connection with any termination of employment described in clause (i) or (ii) of
Section 1 of this Agreement which occurs after Executive accepts employment with
a Successor or one of its subsidiaries. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 6, none of the rights or obligations of either of the parties to the
Agreement may be assigned or assumed without the written agreement of Executive
and the Company.
     7. No Duty to Mitigate; Obligations of the Company. Executive shall not be
required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit contemplated by this
Agreement by seeking employment with a new employer or otherwise, nor shall any
such payment or benefit be reduced by any compensation or benefits that
Executive may receive from employment by another employer. Except as otherwise
provided by this Agreement, the obligations of the Company to make payment to
Executive as described herein are absolute and unconditional and may not be

 

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reduced by any circumstances, including without limitation any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have
against Executive or any third party at any time.
     8. Facility of Payment. If Executive is under legal disability or, in the
Company’s reasonable opinion, is in any way incapacitated so as to be unable to
manage her affairs, the Company may cause payments or benefits that would
otherwise be provided to such person to be provided to Executive’s legal
representative for her benefit or to be applied for the benefit of such person
in any other manner that the Company may determine. Such provision shall
completely discharge the liability of the Company for payments and benefits
hereunder.
     9. Application of Section 409A. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision
of this Agreement, to the extent the Company determines in good faith that
(i) payments or benefits received or to be received by Executive pursuant to
this Agreement in connection with Executive’s termination of employment would
constitute deferred compensation subject to the rules of Section 409A of the
Code, and (ii) Executive is a “specified employee” under Section 409A of the
Code, then only to the extent required to avoid Executive’s incurrence of any
additional tax or interest under Section 409A, such payment or benefit will be
delayed until the earliest date following Executive’s “separation from service”
within the meaning of Section 409A which will permit Executive to avoid such
additional tax or interest. The Company and Executive agree to negotiate in good
faith to reform any provisions of this Agreement to maintain to the maximum
extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provisions without
violating the provisions of Section 409A, if the Company deems such reformation
necessary or advisable pursuant to guidance under Section 409A to avoid the
incurrence of any such interest and penalties. Such reformation shall not result
in a reduction of the aggregate amount of payments or benefits under this
Agreement.
     10. Confidential Information and Return of Company Property. Executive
recognizes and acknowledges that all information pertaining to the affairs,
business, results of operations, accounting methods, practices and procedures,
members, acquisition candidates, financial condition, clients, customers or
other relationships of the Company (“Information”) is confidential and is a
unique and valuable asset of the Company. Executive shall not, at any time,
including following Executive’s separation from service with the Company, give
to any person, firm, associate, corporation, or governmental agency any
Information, except as may be required by law. Executive will not make use of
the Information for Executive’s own purposes or for the benefit of any person or
organization other than the Company. Executive will also use Executive’s best
efforts to prevent the disclosure of Information by others. The foregoing shall
not apply to information that (i) was known to the public prior to its
disclosure to the Executive; (ii) becomes known to the public subsequent to
disclosure to the Executive through no wrongful act of Executive or any
representative of the Executive; or (iii) the Executive is required to disclose
by applicable law, regulation or legal process (provided that the Executive
provides the Company with prior notice of the contemplated disclosure and
reasonably cooperates with the Company at its expense in seeking for a
protective order or other appropriate protection of such information).
Nothwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) of the proceeding sentence, the
Executive’s obligation to maintain such disclosed information in confidence
shall not terminate where only portions of the information are in the public
domain. All records, memoranda, etc. relating to the business of the Company are
confidential and will remain

 

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the property of the Company. Executive shall return all Company property to the
Company within three days of the effective date of Executive’s separation from
service. If Executive violates the terms of this Section 10, the Company will be
entitled, upon making the requisite showing, to, among other things, preliminary
and/or permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to
restrain the breach of or otherwise to specifically enforce any of the covenants
contained in this Section 10 without the necessity of showing any actual damage
or that monetary damages would not provide an adequate remedy. Such right to an
injunction will be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights or
remedies the Company may have under this Agreement.
     11. Notices. Notices and all other communications provided for herein shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally
delivered or when mailed by United States certified mail, return receipt
requested, or by overnight courier, postage prepaid, as follows:

     
a.
  If to the Company,

 
  PHH CORPORATION
 
  3000 Leadenhall Road
 
  Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
 
  Attn: General Counsel

     
b.
  If to Executive, at the home address which Executive most recently
communicated to the Company in writing.

         
c.
  With a copy to:   James H. Smith III, Esq.
 
      Lindhorst & Dreidame LPA
 
      312 Walnut Street, Suite 3100
 
      Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

     Either party may provide the other with notice of a change of address,
which shall be effective upon receipt.
     12. Gender and Number. A pronoun or adjective in the masculine gender
includes the feminine gender and vice versa, the singular includes the plural
and the plural includes the singular, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
     13. Waiver of Certain Severance Benefits. Executive hereby agrees to waive
any rights to receive severance benefits under the Company’s Severance Pay Plan
for Officers or the Company’s Severance Pay Plan for Non-Officers, as
applicable, during the period commencing on the effective time of a Change in
Control and ending after the first anniversary of the effective time of a Change
in Control.
     14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed, administered and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey to the extent
not superseded by federal law.

 

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     15. Integration with Other Benefit Programs. Except as provided in
Section 13, benefits payable under this Agreement will not increase or decrease
the benefits otherwise available to Executive under any of the Company’s
retirement plans, welfare plans or any other employee benefit plans or programs
unless otherwise expressly provided in any particular plan or program.
     16. No Employment Rights Created. This Agreement does not constitute a
contract of employment and the Agreement does not give any person the right to
be retained in the employ or service of the Company.
     17. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be
invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force
and effect.
     18. Tax Withholding. The Company retains the right to withhold from any
amounts due under this Agreement, any income, employment, payroll, excise and
other taxes as the Company may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary.
     19. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be
binding upon, each successor of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation,
transfer of all or substantially all of its assets or otherwise.
     20. Counterparts. For convenience of the parties and to facilitate
execution, this Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the
same document. Transmission by facsimile of an executed counterpart signature
page hereof by a party hereto shall constitute due execution and delivery of
this Agreement by such party.
***Signature on Following Page***

 

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have executed this Agreement
on the date written below.

            Executed this 13 day of October, 2008

/s/ Sandra Bell                                                               
Sandra Bell

PHH CORPORATION
      By:   /s/ Terence W. Edwards       Its: President & CEO      
Date: October 13, 2008