Document:

Form of First Amendment to the Employee Retention Plan

 Exhibit 10.54 
 FIRST AMENDMENT 
 TO THE 

EMPLOYEE RETENTION PLAN 
 AirTran Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted that certain Employee Retention Plan, effective as of September 26, 2010, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
“Plan”), and pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator hereby amends the Plan (the “Amendment”) effective as of the          day of November 2010 (the
“Effective Date”): 
 WITNESSETH: 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Compensation Committee was appointed as the Administrator of the Plan; and

 WHEREAS, the Administrator is authorized and empowered to further amend or terminate the Plan at any time; and

 WHEREAS, the Administrator desires to amend and has authorized such amendment of the Plan, pursuant to that certain
Unanimous Written Consent of the Administrator, dated as of November     , 2010. 
 NOW,
THEREFORE, the Administrator hereby amends the Plan, as of the Effective Date, as follows: 
 1. Section 6,
“Payment of Retention Bonus,” sub-paragraph (a) shall be amended to delete the existing text in its entirety and to insert the following text in place thereof, such that Section 6(a) as amended reads as follows:

 “(a) If a Closing occurs on or before the End Date then, in the case of Covered
Employees who are Officers, and subject to Section 7(c), fifty percent (50%) of the Retention Bonus will be paid in a lump-sum payment on the first business day following the ninetieth (90th) day following the Closing and the remaining fifty percent
(50%) of the Retention Bonus will be paid in a lump-sum payment on the first business day following the one hundred eightieth (180th) day following the Closing.” 
 2. All the provisions of the Plan not specifically mentioned in this Amendment shall be considered modified to the extent necessary to be consistent with the changes made in this Amendment. Except as
specifically amended hereby, the Plan shall remain in full force and effect as prior to this Amendment. 
 IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed, in accordance with the Plan, by an authorized officer of the Company and AirTran Airways, Inc., the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, as of the Effective Date. 

 

									
	AIRTRAN HOLDINGS, INC.	 		 	AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC.
					
	By:	 	  
	 		 	By:	 	  

		 	Executive Vice President	 		 		 	Executive Vice President

 EXHIBIT A 

EMPLOYEE RETENTION PLAN 
 In connection with the transactions contemplated by the draft Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of September 26, 2010, by and among Southwest Airlines
Co., a Texas corporation (“Southwest”), Guadalupe Holdings Corp., a Nevada corporation and wholly owned direct subsidiary of Southwest (“Merger Sub”), and AirTran Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation
(“AirTran” provided that for purposes of this Agreement, AirTran shall also include its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and any successor thereto (as determined in accordance with Section 9 below) in which Merger Sub is
either merging with and into AirTran and as the surviving corporation of such merger, AirTran will thereby become a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest (the “Transaction”), AirTran hereby adopts this Employee Retention Plan (the
“Plan”) effective on the day preceding the date of Merger Agreement as set forth above (the “Effective Date”). 
 SECTION 1. PURPOSE. 
 (a) The
Compensation Committee recognizes that the consideration of the Transaction can be a distraction to AirTran’s Covered Employees and can cause AirTran’s Covered Employees to consider alternative employment opportunities. The Plan is
intended to (i) ensure that AirTran will have the continued dedication and objectivity of its Covered Employees notwithstanding the possibility or occurrence of the Transaction, (ii) provide AirTran’s Covered Employees with enhanced
financial security and incentive and encouragement to remain with AirTran notwithstanding the possibility or occurrence of the Transaction, and (iii) in the event the Transaction occurs, during the applicable retention period. 

(b) The Compensation Committee has determined that the adoption of the Plan is in the best interests of AirTran’s stockholders.

 SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.  
 (a) “Administrator” means the Compensation Committee of AirTran’s Board, or in the event the Compensation Committee is dissolved by the Board, then another
duly constituted committee of members of the Board, or officers of AirTran as delegated by the Board (a “Designee”). 
 (b) “Affiliate” with respect to any entity means any corporation or any other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlling, controlled by, or
under common control with the entity, whether now or hereafter existing, provided that prior to the Transaction, for the purposes of the Plan, AirTran shall not constitute an Affiliate of Southwest and Southwest shall not constitute an
Affiliate of AirTran. 
 (c) “Board” means AirTran’s Board of Directors. 

(d) “Cause” means: 
 (i) In the case of Covered Employees who are Officers with executive benefits agreements, “Cause” as defined therein prior to the Transaction and “Just and Substantial
Cause” as defined therein after the Transaction. 
 (ii) In the case of all other Covered Employees: 

  
 Exhibit A-1

 (I) the Covered Employee’s material failure to perform the reasonable duties and
responsibilities of his or her position; 
 (II) any act of personal dishonesty taken by the Covered Employee in
connection with his or her responsibilities as an employee of AirTran and intended to result in his or her material personal enrichment; 
 (III) the Covered Employee’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony that the Board reasonably believes has had or will have a detrimental effect on AirTran’s
reputation or business; or 
 (IV) the Covered Employee’s breach of any fiduciary duty owed to AirTran by the Covered
Employee that has a detrimental effect on AirTran’s reputation or business. 
 (e) “Closing” has the
same definition as such term has in the Merger Agreement. 
 (f) “Compensation Committee” means the
Compensation Committee of the AirTran Board. 
 (g) “Covered Employee” means each individual who is eligible to
participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 4(a) below. 
 (h) “End Date” means
September 26, 2011 or, if the End Date in the Merger Agreement is extended by written agreement among the parties thereto, then the End Date as specified in such written agreement. 

(i) “Excluded Officer” means Robert L. Fornaro, Steven A. Rossum, Richard P. Magurno or Stephen J. Kolski.

 (j) “Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following without the Covered
Employee’s written consent: 
 (i) In the case of Covered Employees who are Officers with executive benefits
agreements: 
  

	 	(I)	an event which shall give rise to a constructive termination right thereunder; or 

 

	 	(II)	any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of the terms of this Plan with respect to the applicable Covered Employee. 

(ii) In the case of all other Covered Employees: 
  

	 	(I)	a reduction in the Covered Employee’s annual base cash compensation equal to the lesser of (A) Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) or more or
(B) fifteen percent (15%) or more, in each case as compared to the Covered Employee’s annual base cash compensation immediately prior to the Closing; 

 

	 	(II)	a change in the Covered Employee’s principal work location resulting in a new one-way commute that is more than thirty (30) miles greater than the Covered
Employee’s one-way commute prior to the change in the Covered Employee’s principal work location, regardless of whether the Covered Employee receives an offer of relocation benefits; or 

  
 Exhibit A-2

	 	(III)	the failure to make a payment contemplated by Section 6 or any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of the terms of this Plan with
respect to the applicable Covered Employee. 

 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(j), any
assertion by a Covered Employee of a Separation from Service or other termination of employment for “Good Reason” shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) the Covered Employee must provide
written notice to the Administrator of such condition within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of the condition; (B) the condition specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for thirty (30) days after receipt of such
notice by the Administrator; and (C) the date of the Covered Employee’s Separation from Service or other termination of employment must occur within seventy (70) days after the initial existence of the condition specified in such
notice. 
 (k) “Notice of Participation” means the individual notice (a form of which is shown in
Appendix A) that informs the Covered Employee of his or her designation as a participant in the Plan and which sets forth the amount and schedule of payments that such Covered Employee may be eligible to receive under the Plan. 

(l) “Officers” means any officer of AirTran, who is not an Excluded Officer. 

(m) “Payment Date” means, if a Closing occurs on or prior to the End Date, each date on which a payment of all
or a portion of a Covered Employee’s Retention Bonus is scheduled to be made in accordance with Section 6(a) or Section 6(b), as applicable. 
 (n) “Plan” means this Employee Retention Plan. 

(o) “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the final
regulations and any guidance promulgated thereunder. 
 (p) “Separation from Service” means a Covered
Employee’s “separation from service” as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h). 

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION.  
 With respect to all Covered Employees, the Plan will be interpreted and administered by the Administrator. The Administrator will have the exclusive power and discretion to construe the terms of the Plan
and perform such acts as it deems necessary or appropriate to effect the purpose of the Plan. The Administrator’s actions will be final and binding on all persons, including the Covered Employees, and will have the maximum deference afforded by
law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board, as the case may be, has delegated authority to one or more officers of AirTran in accordance with Section 2(a) above, the delegate may not interpret or construe the terms of the Plan in a
manner that would otherwise materially increase the cost or materially change the type or scope of benefits, whether individually or in the aggregate, to be provided under the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator shall have no
authority to affect any amendment or termination of the Plan other than in accordance with Section 8 hereof, including, without limitation, to affect any amendment of the Plan following the Closing that reduces the amount payable
pursuant to Section 6 to any Covered Employee without the consent of each Covered Employee affected by the amendment or termination. 
 The Administrator, or such officer or officers of AirTran designated by the Compensation Committee, each of whom shall be deemed to be an “Administrator” solely for the purposes of this Section,
shall provide each Covered Employee who is identified pursuant to Appendix B with a Participation 

  
 Exhibit A-3

 
Agreement on which the Administrator shall designate the amount of such Covered Employee’s Retention Bonus as determined in accordance with Section 5. 

The Administrator will not be liable for any action or determination made by the Administrator with respect to the Plan or any
distribution paid under the Plan. All expenses and liabilities that the Administrator incurs in connection with the administration of this Plan will be borne by the Company. The Administrator will not be personally liable for any action,
determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any distribution paid hereunder, and the Administrator will be fully indemnified and held harmless by AirTran in respect of any such action, determination or
interpretation. 
 SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY. 

(a) Each of AirTran’s executive officers, senior and junior officers, directors, staff managers, field managers, and
administrative/clerical specialists identified by the Administrator shall be eligible for consideration to participate in this Plan, provided that such individual is employed by AirTran on the Effective Date of the Plan, receives a Notice of
Participation, and is not excluded from the Plan by Section 4(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Covered Employee described in the preceding sentence who is on short-term disability leave, as determined in accordance
with AirTran’s leave policies, on the Payment Date will continue to be eligible to receive a Retention Bonus. 
 (b) A
Covered Employee of AirTran will not be eligible to participate in the Plan or receive payments pursuant to Section 6 if: 
 (i) AirTran terminates and rehires the Covered Employee after the Effective Date. 
 (ii) On the Closing, the Covered Employee is on long-term disability leave, as determined in accordance with AirTran’s leave policies. 

(iii) The Covered Employee is not an officer of AirTran and is on any seniority list of any union which is party to a collective
bargaining agreement with AirTran. 
 (iv) The Covered Employee is an Excluded Officer. 

SECTION 5. AMOUNT OF RETENTION BONUS. 

Each Covered Employee will be eligible to earn a retention bonus under the Plan (the “Retention Bonus”). The Retention
Bonus will be a fixed dollar amount determined as a function of the Covered Employee’s job category as determined by the Designee. The maximum amount of the Plan is set forth on Appendix B. 

SECTION 6. PAYMENT OF RETENTION BONUS. 

If the conditions for payment of any Retention Bonus set forth in this Plan are satisfied, the Retention Bonus has not, prior to such
payment, been forfeited as provided in Section 7, and subject to Section 12(a), the payment of the Retention Bonus will occur as follows: 

(a) If a Closing occurs on or before the End Date then, in the case of Covered Employees who are Officers, and
subject to Section 7(c), fifty percent (50%) of the Retention Bonus will be paid in a lump-sum payment on the date of the Closing and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the Retention Bonus will be paid in a lump-sum payment
on the first business day following the one hundred eightieth (180th) day following the Closing. 

  
 Exhibit A-4

 (b) If a Closing occurs on or before the End Date then, in the case
of Covered Employees who are not Officers, and subject to Section 7(c), one hundred percent (100%) of the Retention Bonus will be paid in a lump-sum payment on the first business day following the ninetieth (90th) day following the Closing. 

SECTION 7. TERMINATION AND FORFEITURE OF BONUS
AMOUNTS. 
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7(c) or Section 7(d), a
Covered Employee must remain employed with AirTran through the applicable Payment Date in order to receive his or her Retention Bonus (or the portion thereof) that is scheduled to be paid on such date. 

(b) If a Closing does not occur on or prior to the End Date, all Retention Bonuses awarded under this Plan will be forfeited and
this Plan will terminate as of the End Date. 
 (c) In the case of Covered Employees who are Officers,
if, on or after a Closing, which has occurred on or before the End Date, the Covered Employee is terminated by AirTran other than for Cause or the Covered Employee terminates his or her employment for Good Reason within one hundred eighty
(180) days of the Closing, then subject to Section 12(b) any unpaid Retention Bonus (or portion thereof) will be paid on the first business day occurring on or after the forty-fifth (45th) day following the Covered Employee’s Separation from
Service. 
 (d) In the case of Covered Employees who are not Officers, if, on or after a
Closing, , which has occurred on or before the End Date, the Covered Employee is terminated by AirTran other than for Cause within ninety (90) days of the Closing, then subject to Section 12(b) any unpaid Retention Bonus (or portion
thereof) will be paid on the first business day occurring on or after the forty-fifth (45th) day following the Covered Employee’s Separation from Service. 

(e) Any Retention Bonus payable in accordance with Section 6 which is not paid to a Covered Employee in accordance with
the terms of this Section 7 will revert to AirTran and will not be reallocated to any other Covered Employee. 

(f) If Retention Bonuses are payable in accordance with Section 6(a) and a Covered Employee dies after the Closing but
prior to the final Payment Date, the portion of his or her Retention Bonus scheduled to be paid after the Closing shall be paid to his or her designated beneficiary, if the Administrator permits the designation of a beneficiary, or, if no
beneficiary has been designated (or the Administrator determines that it will not permit the designation of a beneficiary), to his or her estate within seventy (70) days following the death of such Covered Employee). 

SECTION 8. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE
PLAN. 
 Although AirTran currently expects to continue the Plan, the Administrator reserves the right to
amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, after a Closing, AirTran may not, without the Covered Employee’s written consent, amend or terminate the Plan in any way that (a) prevents the Covered Employee from
becoming eligible for his or her Retention Bonus under the Plan, (b) reduces the amount of Retention Bonuses payable, or potentially payable, to a Covered Employee under the Plan. Any Plan amendment or termination will be made in writing and
approved by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may terminate the Plan in its sole discretion, without limitation and without requiring the consent of any other person (including any Covered Employee), upon or following the
termination of the Agreement or (c) is adverse to a Covered Employee in any material respect. 

  
 Exhibit A-5

 SECTION 9. ASSUMPTION BY SUCCESSOR.

 Any successor to AirTran or to all or substantially all of AirTran’s business and/or assets (whether direct or
indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) will assume the obligations under this Plan and agree expressly to perform the obligations under this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent as AirTran would
be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession. For all purposes under this Plan, the term “AirTran” will include any successor to AirTran or to AirTran’s business and/or assets which become bound by the
terms of this Plan by operation of law, or otherwise. 
 SECTION 10. RIGHTS UNDER
THE PLAN. 
 This Section 10 will survive the consummation of the Transaction and
the Closing. This Plan is intended to benefit, and may be enforced by, the Covered Employee and his or her respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns, and will be binding on all successors and assigns of AirTran and Southwest.

 SECTION 11. NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE SERVICE.

 Participation in the Plan will not provide any guarantee or promise of continued service of the Covered Employee with the
Company, and AirTran retains the right to terminate the employment of any Covered Employee at any time, with or without Cause, for any reason or no reason. However, as described in the Plan, a Covered Employee who terminates employment on or after
the Transaction may be entitled to benefits under the Plan depending upon the circumstances of the Covered Employee’s Separation from Service or other termination of employment. 
 SECTION 12. TAXES. 
 (a) AirTran
will withhold from any distributions under the Plan any amount required to satisfy any applicable income, employment and other tax withholding obligations. 
 (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, if AirTran determines that the Covered Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of
the Covered Employee’s Separation from Service (other than due to death), then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which the Covered Employee is entitled pursuant to this Plan, when considered together with any
other payments or benefits that are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits”), is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under
Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits will become payable on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of the Covered
Employee’s Separation from Service. All subsequent Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. An employee generally will be a specified employee only
if (among other things) he or she owns at least one percent (1%) of AirTran’s stock or is considered an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. AirTran will inform the Covered Employee if it determines
that he or she is a specified employee at the time of his or her Separation from Service. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Covered Employee dies following his or her Separation from Service but prior to the six (6) month
anniversary of his or her Separation from Service, then any payments delayed in accordance with this Section 12(b) will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of the Covered Employee’s death.

 (c) The foregoing provisions of this Plan are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none
of the benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax 

  
 Exhibit A-6

 
imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply. AirTran reserves the right to amend the Plan and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary,
appropriate, or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to a Covered Employee under Section 409A, provided that such amendment or action may not materially reduce the benefits provided
or to be provided to the Covered Employee under the Plan. In no event will AirTran reimburse the Covered Employee for any taxes that may be imposed on him or her as a result of Section 409A. 

SECTION 13. FUNDING. 
 No provision of the Plan will require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions
are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor will AirTran maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in
this Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. No property that may be acquired or invested by AirTran in connection with the Plan will be deemed a security for
the obligations to the Covered Employees hereunder, but will be, and continue for all purposes to be, part of the general funds of the Company. Covered Employees will have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the
Company. 
 SECTION 14. BONUS PLAN. 

This Plan is intended to be a “bonus program” as defined under U.S. Department of Labor regulation 2510.3-2(c) and will be
construed and administered in accordance with such intention. 
 SECTION 15. NONASSIGNABILITY.

 To the maximum extent permitted by law, a Covered Employee’s right or benefits under this Plan will not be subject to
anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge the same will be void. No right or benefit hereunder will in any manner be liable for or
subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the person entitled to such benefit. 
 SECTION 16.
SEVERABILITY. 
 If any provision of the Plan is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall
not affect the other provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid provision had been omitted. 

SECTION 17. CHOICE OF LAW. 

All questions concerning the construction, validation and interpretation of the Plan will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida
without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. 
 SECTION 18. ARBITRATION. 

AirTran and each Covered Employee agree that any and all disputes arising out of the terms of this Plan, the Covered Employee’s
employment by AirTran or Southwest with respect to this Plan, the Covered Employee’s service as an Officer of AirTran or Southwest with respect to this Plan, or the Covered Employee’s compensation and benefits with respect to this Plan or
their interpretation and any of 

  
 Exhibit A-7

 
the matters herein, will be subject to binding arbitration. In the event of a dispute, the parties (or their legal representatives) will promptly confer to select a single arbitrator mutually
acceptable to both parties. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, then the moving party may file a demand for arbitration with the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) in Orlando, Florida, who will be
selected and appointed consistent with the JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules and Procedures, except that such arbitrator must have the qualifications set forth in this Section. Any arbitration will be conducted in a manner consistent with the JAMS
Employment Arbitration Rules and Procedures, supplemented by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. The parties further agree that the prevailing party in any arbitration will be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to
enforce the arbitration award. The parties hereby agree to waive their right to have any dispute between them resolved in a court of law by a judge or jury. This Section will not prevent either party from seeking injunctive relief (or
any other provisional remedy) from any court having jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of their dispute relating to the Covered Employee’s obligations under this Plan. 
 SECTION 19. HEADINGS. 
 The headings in
the Plan are inserted for convenience only and will not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof. 

SECTION 20. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. 

This Plan and the corresponding Notice of Participation for each Covered Employee constitute the entire understanding and agreement with
respect to the subject matter contained herein, and there are no agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations or warranties among any Covered Employee and AirTran other than those as set forth or provided for herein; provided
that nothing in this Plan will replace, supersede or reduce any change-of-control, severance, termination, bonus or other similar payment(s) to which the Covered Employee may be entitled pursuant to any other written plan(s) of AirTran in which the
Covered Employee may participate or agreement(s) between AirTran and the Covered Employee including any employment agreement or executive benefits agreement. 
 [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank] 

  
 Exhibit A-8

 An authorized officer of AirTran hereby certifies the adoption of the Employee Retention
Plan effective as of September 26, 2010. 
  

			
	AIRTRAN HOLDINGS, INC.
		
	By:	 	  

		 	Executive Vice President
	
	AIRTRAN AIRWAYS, INC.
		
	By:	 	  

		 	Executive Vice President

  
 Exhibit A-9Northeast Utilities Retention Program

 Exhibit 10.1 
 Northeast Utilities Retention Program 
 1. Purpose. The Program has
been established by the Company for the purpose of compensating executives and employees of the Company for their services and loyalty to the Company and to encourage them to remain in the employ of the Company and to use their best efforts to
consummate the merger between the Company and NSTAR, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and ensure the performance of the combined company. 
 2. Definitions. For purposes of the Program: 
  

	 	(a)	“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to the Company, any company that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company.

  

	 	(b)	“Cause” shall have the meaning set forth for that term in the Company’s Special Severance Program for Officers. 

 

	 	(c)	“Closing Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Merger Agreement. 

 

	 	(d)	“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

 

	 	(e)	“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Company. 

 

	 	(f)	“Company” shall mean Northeast Utilities and any successor thereto. 

 

	 	(g)	“Disability” shall mean a mental or physical condition that qualifies a Participant for benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan.

  

	 	(h)	“Merger Agreement” shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, NU Holding Energy 1 LLC, NU Holding Energy 2 LLC, and NSTAR dated as
of October 16, 2010, as it may be amended from time to time. 

  

	 	(i)	“Participant” shall mean those individuals identified on Exhibit A hereto. 

 

	 	(j)	“Program” shall mean this Northeast Utilities Retention Program, as set forth herein. 

 

	 	(k)	“Retention Payment” shall mean, with respect to each respective Participant, the amount of the retention value as of the date of grant, as set forth on
Exhibit A hereto in respect of that Participant, and, as applicable, as may change prior to the Retention Payment Date as the result of a change in share price or the imputation of dividend shares. Such amount may be expressed and be payable in
cash, or it may be a cash-settled or share-settled restricted share unit grant with or without dividend equivalent reinvestment that are made under the terms of the Northeast Utilities Incentive Plan (or any successor thereof), or any combination
thereof. The number of any restricted share units (where such number is determined by reference to a dollar value) shall be based on the closing price of common shares of the Company on the day on which an award hereunder is granted.

  

	 	(l)	“Retention Payment Date” shall mean, with respect to each respective Participant, the third anniversary of the Closing Date or such other date as is otherwise
set forth on Exhibit A hereto in respect of that Participant, provided that the Committee in its discretion at any time may accelerate the Retention Payment Date in respect of any Participant. 

3. Effectiveness of Program. The Program shall cease to be of any force or effect if the Merger Agreement is terminated before the
Closing Date occurs. 
 4. Administration. The Program shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have
the authority to interpret the Program and to make all determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Program, including without limitation the determination of whether a Participant’s employment has been
terminated for Cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, the 

  
 1 

 
Committee may delegate some or all of its authority under the Program in respect of any individuals who are not in a position of “vice president” or above to any one or more officers of
the Company designated by the Committee from time to time. The determinations of the Committee and its delegates, if any, with respect to the Program shall be binding on all parties. 

5. Retention Payment. The Company shall pay each Participant the applicable Retention Payment on the Participant’s Retention
Payment Date, provided the Participant is employed by the Company or one of its Affiliates on the Participant’s Retention Payment Date. If a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by the Company or one
of its Affiliates without Cause prior to the Participant’s Retention Payment Date, such Participant shall be entitled to receive the Participant’s Retention Payment as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business days,
following the effective date of such termination of employment, with such Retention Payment reduced by the amount of any cash severance payable (or scheduled to be payable within a 12-month period of the termination of employment) to the
Participant, including amounts payable for non-compete or non-solicitation under any severance plan maintained by the Company or its Affiliates or any individual employment or severance agreement between the Participant on the one hand and the
Company or its Affiliates on the other. If a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by reason of death or Disability prior to the Participant’s Retention Payment Date, such Participant (or his estate, as
the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Participant’s Retention Payment as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 30 days following the effective date of such termination of employment. 

6. Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from amounts to be paid to any Participant hereunder any standard
Company deductions and any federal, state or local withholding or other taxes or charges which it is from time to time required to withhold. 
 7. Amendment and Termination. The Program may be amended by the Committee at any time for any reason, provided that no amendment shall adversely affect a Participant’s right to his or her
Retention Payment without his or her consent. The Program shall terminate when no Retention Payments remain outstanding under the Program. 
 8. Assignment or Transfer. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, no right or interest of any Participant under the Program shall be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either
directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including without limitation by execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or in any manner. No attempted assignment or transfer thereof shall be effective, and no right or interest of any
Participant under the Program shall be liable for, or subject to, any obligation or liability of such Participant. 
 9. No
Right of Employment. Neither the establishment of the Program, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any benefits, hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant, or any person
whomsoever, the right to be retained in the service of the Company or its Affiliates, and all Participants shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Program had never been adopted. 

10. Severability. If any provision of the Program shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Program shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included. 
 11. Other Plans. Amounts payable under the Program shall not be treated as compensation for purposes of computing or determining any benefit under any pension, savings, severance, bonus/incentive,
insurance, or other employee compensation or benefit plan of the Company. 
 12. Successors. The Program shall be binding
upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties, including each Participant, present and future, and any successor to the Company. 

  
 2 

 13. Funding Status. The Program shall be unfunded. No Participant shall have a right
to, or any interest in, any assets of the Company which may be applied by the Company to the payment of benefits or other rights under the Program. 
 14. Headings. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Program, and shall not be employed in the construction of the
Program. 
 15. Section 409A. The intent of the Company is that payments and benefits under the Program comply with
Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Program shall be interpreted and be administered to be in compliance therewith. It is intended that payments made under this Program
on or before the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s first taxable year in which the right to the payment is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture shall be exempt from compliance with
Section 409A of the Code pursuant to the exception for short-term deferrals set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to
avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, a Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Program and no payment shall be due to the
Participant under the Program until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company or its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the
Program that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as subject to Section 409A of the Code unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in the Program, to the extent that any Awards are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition on any individual of additional income tax under Section 409A of the Code, the settlement and
payment of such awards shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). 
 16. Governing Law. The Program shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Connecticut, to the extent not preempted by federal law, which shall otherwise control.

  
 3 

 Exhibit A 
  

															
	 Name
	  	Date of
Retention
Grant	 	  	Retention
Value at
Grant	  	Number of
RSUs at
Grant (if
applicable)	 	  	Retention
Payment
Date*	 
		  				  	$            	  				  			
		  				  	$            	  				  			
		  				  	$            	  				  			
		  				  	$            	  				  			

 * Third anniversary of the Closing Date unless otherwise indicated. 

  
 4

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00181-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00181-of-00352.parquet"}]]