Document:

ex_211982.htm

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

CHANGE OF CONTROL

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Change of Control Employment Agreement is made as of the 16th day of July, 2020 (this “Agreement”), by and between Cathay General Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Cathay Bank, a California state chartered commercial bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Bank”), and Chang M. Liu (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and the Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Bank Board”), have determined that it is in the best interests of the Bank and the Company and its stockholders to assure that the Company and/or the Bank (as applicable) will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined herein). The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company in the event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control that ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of the Executive will be satisfied and that provide the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements that are competitive with those of other corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the Company to enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1.     Certain Definitions. (a) “Effective Date” means the first date during the Change of Control Period (as defined herein) on which a Change of Control occurs. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if (i) the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company, (ii) the Date of Termination is prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and (iii) it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment (A) was at the request of a third party that has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or (B) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the “Effective Date” means the date immediately prior to such Date of Termination.

 

(b)     “Change of Control Period” means the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, that, commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof, the “Renewal Date”), unless previously terminated, the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless, at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date, the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended.

 

 

 

 

(c)     “Affiliated Company” means any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.

   

(d)     “Change of Control” means:

 

(1)     Any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 1(d), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliated Company or (iv) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 1(d)(3)(A), 1(d)(3)(B) and 1(d)(3)(C);

 

(2)     Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(3)     Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or securities of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

  

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(4)     Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Section 2.     Employment Period. The Company and/or the Bank (as applicable) hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Employment Period”). The Employment Period shall terminate upon the Executive’s termination of employment for any reason.

 

Section 3.     Terms of Employment. (a) Position and Duties. (1) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive’s services shall be performed at the office where the Executive is employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or at any other location less than 35 miles from such office.

 

(2)     During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that, to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities to the Company.

 

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(b)     Compensation. (1) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary (the “Annual Base Salary”) at an annual rate at least equal to 12 times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable, including any base salary that has been earned but deferred, to the Executive by the Company and the Affiliated Companies in respect of the 12-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. The Annual Base Salary shall be paid at such intervals as the Company or the Bank (as applicable) pays executive salaries generally. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually, beginning on the one year anniversary of the Effective Date, provided that if the Executive’s base salary has been reviewed within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date , it shall be reviewed beginning on the one year anniversary of such prior review, or if the Executive’s base salary has not been reviewed during such 12-month period, it shall be reviewed beginning within 30 days following the Effective Date. Any increase in the Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. The Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced during the Employment Period after any such increase or otherwise and the term “Annual Base Salary” shall refer to the Annual Base Salary as so increased.

  

(2)     Annual Bonus. In addition to the Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in cash at least equal to (A) the average of the bonuses earned by Executive under the Company’s or the Bank’s (as applicable) annual incentive plan or program, or any comparable bonus under any predecessor or successor plan, for the last three full fiscal years prior to the Effective Date (or for such lesser number of full fiscal years prior to the Effective Date for which the Executive was eligible to earn such a bonus, and annualized in the case of any pro rata bonus earned for a partial fiscal year) (the “Average Annual Bonus”), or (B) if the Executive has not been eligible to earn such a bonus for any period prior to the Effective Date, the Executive’s target annual bonus for the year in which the Effective Date occurs (the “Target Annual Bonus”). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than two and a half months after the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus pursuant to an arrangement that meets the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

(3)     Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all cash incentive, equity incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies, and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those provided by the Company and the Affiliated Companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.

 

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(4)     Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and the Affiliated Companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits that are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.

  

(5)     Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and the Affiliated Companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.

 

(6)     Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits, including, without limitation, tax and financial planning services, payment of club dues, and, if applicable, use of an automobile and payment of related expenses, in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and the Affiliated Companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.

 

(7)     Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and the Affiliated Companies at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.

 

(8)     Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and the Affiliated Companies as in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.

 

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Section 4.     Termination of Employment. (a) Death or Disability. The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically if the Executive dies during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability (as defined herein) of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of “Disability”), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 11(b) of its intention to terminate the Executive’s employment. In such event, the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive’s duties. “Disability” means the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company or the Bank (as applicable) on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness that is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative.

  

(b)     Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period with or without Cause. “Cause” means:

 

(1)     the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially the Executive’s duties (as contemplated by Section 3(a)(1)(A)) with the Company or any Affiliated Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness or following the Executive’s delivery of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company that specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s duties, or

 

(2)     the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross misconduct that is materially injurious to the Company.

 

For purposes of this Section 4(b), no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act (A) based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board, or if the Company is not the ultimate parent corporation of the Affiliated Companies and is not publicly-traded, the board of directors of the ultimate parent of the Company (the “Applicable Board”), (B) based upon authority given by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or an executive officer of the Company that is senior to Executive or (C) based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Applicable Board (excluding the Executive, if the Executive is a member of the Applicable Board) at a meeting of the Applicable Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel for the Executive, to be heard before the Applicable Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Applicable Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described in Section 4(b)(1) or 4(b)(2), and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

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(c)     Good Reason. The Executive’s employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Executive voluntarily without Good Reason. “Good Reason” means:

 

(1)     the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3(a) unless the totality of the new duties is at least as significant as the prior duties, or any other diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities (whether or not occurring solely as a result of the Company’s ceasing to be a publicly traded entity), excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

   

(2)     any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 3(b), other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

 

(3)     the Company’s requiring the Executive (i) to be based at any office or location other than as provided in Section 3(a)(1)(B) of this Agreement, (ii) to be based at a location other than the principal executive offices of the Company if the Executive was employed at such location immediately preceding the Effective Date, or (iii) to travel on Company business to a substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the Effective Date;

 

(4)     any purported termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or

 

(5)     any action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company or the Bank (as applicable) of this Agreement, including any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 10(c).

 

For purposes of this Section 4(c), any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. The Executive’s mental or physical incapacity following the occurrence of an event described above in clauses (1) through (5) shall not affect the Executive’s ability to terminate employment for Good Reason and the Executive’s death following delivery of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason shall not affect the Executive’s estate’s entitlement to severance payments or benefits provided hereunder upon a termination of employment for Good Reason.

 

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(d)     Notice of Termination. Any termination of employment by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b). “Notice of Termination” means a written notice that (1) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (2) to the extent applicable, sets 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, and (3) if the Date of Termination (as defined herein) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the Date of Termination (which Date of Termination shall be not more than 30 days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s respective rights hereunder.

   

(e)     Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means (1) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified in the Notice of Termination, as the case may be, (2) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination, (3) if the Executive resigns without Good Reason, the date on which the Executive notifies the Company of such termination, and (4) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Date of Termination occur until the Executive experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and the date on which such separation from service takes place shall be the “Date of Termination.”

 

Section 5.     Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a) By the Executive for Good Reason; By the Company Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the Company terminates the Executive’s employment other than for Cause, Death or Disability or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason:

 

(1)     the Company or the Bank (as applicable) shall pay to the Executive, in a lump sum in cash on the 30th day following the Date of Termination, the aggregate of the following amounts:

 

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(A)     the sum of (i) the Executive’s Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) the Executive’s business expenses that are reimbursable pursuant to Section 3(b)(5) but have not been reimbursed by the Company or the Bank (as applicable) as of the Date of Termination; (iii) the Executive’s Annual Bonus for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs, if such bonus has been determined but not paid as of the Date of Termination; (iv) any accrued vacation pay to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in subclauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), the “Accrued Obligations”) and (v) an amount equal to the product of (x) the higher of (I) the Average Annual Bonus and (II) the Target Annual Bonus (such higher amount, the “Applicable Annual Bonus”) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is 365 (the “Pro Rata Bonus”); provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive has made an irrevocable election under any deferred compensation arrangement subject to Section 409A of the Code to defer any portion of the Annual Base Salary or Annual Bonus described in clause (i) or clause (iii) above, then for all purposes of this Section 5 (including, without limitation, Sections 5(b) through 5(d)), such deferral election, and the terms of the applicable arrangement shall apply to the same portion of the amount described in such clause (i) or clause (iii), and such portion shall not be considered as part of the “Accrued Obligations” but shall instead be an “Other Benefit” (as defined below);

 

(B)     the amount equal to the product of (i) one and one half and (ii) the sum of (x) the Executive’s Annual Base Salary and (y) the Applicable Annual Bonus; and

   

(C)     an amount equal to the sum of the Company or the Bank (as applicable) matching or other employer contributions under the Company’s or the Bank’s qualified defined contribution plans and any excess or supplemental defined contribution plans in which the Executive participates that the Company or the Bank (as applicable) would have made on behalf of the Executive during the eighteen months after the Date of Termination if the Executive’s employment continued for eighteen months after the Date of Termination (and without regard to any vesting requirement), assuming for this purpose that (i) the Executive’s compensation during the eighteen-month period is that required by Sections 3(b)(1) and 3(b)(2) and (ii) to the extent that the employer contributions are determined based on the contributions or deferrals of the Executive, that the Executive’s contribution or deferral elections, as appropriate, are those in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination; and

 

(2)     for eighteen months following the Date of Termination or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy (the applicable period hereinafter referred to as the “Benefit Continuation Period”), the Company or the Affiliated Companies shall provide health care and life insurance benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies providing health care and life insurance benefits and at the benefit level described in Section 3(b)(4) of this Agreement if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies and their families; provided, however, that, the health care benefits provided during the Benefit Continuation Period shall be provided in such a manner that such benefits (and the costs and premiums thereof) are excluded from the Executive’s income for federal income tax purposes and, if the Company reasonably determines that providing continued coverage under one or more of its health care benefit plans contemplated herein could be taxable to the Executive, the Company shall provide such benefits at the level required hereby through the purchase of individual insurance coverage; provided, further, however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive health care and life insurance benefits under another employer provided plan, the health care and life insurance benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility;

   

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(3)     the Company or the Bank (as applicable) shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide the Executive with outplacement services the scope and provider of which shall be selected by the Executive in the Executive’s sole discretion, provided that the cost of such outplacement shall not exceed $50,000; and provided, further, that, such outplacement benefits shall end not later than the last day of the second calendar year that begins after the Date of Termination; and

 

(4)     except as otherwise set forth in the last sentence of Section 6, to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company or the Bank (as applicable) shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any Other Benefits (as defined in Section 6) in accordance with the terms of the underlying plans or agreements.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Sections 5(a)(1) and 5(a)(2), in the event that the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the Date of Termination) (a “Specified Employee”), amounts that constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided under Section 5(a)(1) and 5(a)(2) during the six-month period immediately following the Date of Termination (other than the Accrued Obligations) shall instead be paid, with interest on any delayed payment at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code (“Interest”) determined as of the Date of Termination, or provided on the first business day after the date that is six months following the Date of Termination (the “Delayed Payment Date”).

 

(b)     Death. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death during the Employment Period, the Company or the Bank (as applicable) shall provide the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries with the Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus and the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits, and shall have no other severance obligations under this Agreement. The Accrued Obligations (subject to the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable) and the Pro Rata Bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of the Other Benefits, the term “Other Benefits” as utilized in this Section 5(b) shall include, without limitation, and the Executive’s estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided by the Company and the Affiliated Companies to the estates and beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives and their beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive’s estate and/or the Executive’s beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of the Executive’s death with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies and their beneficiaries.

 

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(c)     Disability. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period, the Company or the Bank (as applicable) shall provide the Executive with the Accrued Obligations and Pro Rata Bonus and the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits in accordance with the terms of the underlying plans or agreements, and shall have no other severance obligations under this Agreement. The Accrued Obligations (subject to the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable) and the Pro Rata Bonus shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination, provided, that in the event that the Executive is a Specified Employee, the Pro Rata Bonus shall be paid, with Interest, to the Executive on the Delayed Payment Date. With respect to the provision of the Other Benefits, the term “Other Benefits” as utilized in this Section 5(c) shall include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and the Affiliated Companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies and their families.

  

(d)     Cause; Other Than for Good Reason. If, during the Employment Period, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or the Executive voluntarily terminates employment (excluding a termination for Good Reason), the Company or the Bank (as applicable) shall provide the Executive with the Accrued Obligations, and the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits and shall have no other severance obligations under this Agreement. In such case, the Accrued Obligations (subject to the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable) shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.

 

Section 6.     Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company or the Affiliated Companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 11(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other contract or agreement with the Company or the Affiliated Companies. Amounts that are vested benefits or that the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any other contract or agreement with the Company or the Affiliated Companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination (“Other Benefits”) shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement, except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive’s resignation under this Agreement with or without Good Reason, shall in no way affect the Executive’s ability to terminate employment by reason of the Executive’s “retirement” under, or to be eligible to receive benefits under, any compensation and benefits plans, programs or arrangements of the Company or the Affiliated Companies, including without limitation any retirement or pension plans or arrangements or substitute plans adopted by the Company, the Affiliated Companies or their respective successors, and any termination which otherwise qualifies as Good Reason shall be treated as such even if it is also a “retirement” for purposes of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive receives payments and benefits pursuant to Section 5(a) of this Agreement, the Executive shall not be entitled to any severance pay or benefits under any severance plan, program or policy of the Company and the Affiliated Companies, unless otherwise specifically provided therein in a specific reference to this Agreement.

 

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Section 7.     Full Settlement; Legal Fees. (a) The Company’s and/or the Bank’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform their obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim, right or action that the Company or the Bank may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and, except as specifically provided in Section 5(a)(2), such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.

 

(b) This Section 7(b) shall only apply following a Change of Control. The Company or the Bank (as applicable) agrees to pay as incurred (within 10 days following the Company’s or the Bank’s receipt of an invoice from the Executive), at any time from the date of the Change of Control through the Executive’s remaining lifetime (or, if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the date of the Change of Control) to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses that the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company or the Bank, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus, in each case, Interest determined as of the date such legal fees and expenses were incurred. In order to comply with Section 409A of the Code, in no event shall the payments by the Company or the Bank under this Section 7(b) be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred; provided, that the Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least 10 days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred. The amount of such legal fees and expenses that the Company or the Bank is obligated to pay in any given calendar year shall not affect the legal fees and expenses that the Company or the Bank is obligated to pay in any other calendar year, and the Executive’s right to have the Company or the Bank pay such legal fees and expenses may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.

   

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Section 8.     Certain Reduction of Payments by the Company or the Bank. (a) Anything in this Agreement or any other agreement between the Executive and the Company or the Bank (as applicable) to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that a nationally-recognized accounting firm selected in the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control (the “Accounting Firm”) shall determine that receipt of all payments or distributions by the Company or its Affiliated Companies in the nature of compensation to or for the Executive’s benefit, whether paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”) would subject the Executive to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, the Accounting Firm shall determine whether to reduce any of the Payments paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement (the “Agreement Payments”) to the Reduced Amount (as defined below). The Agreement Payments shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount only if the Accounting Firm determines that the Executive would have a greater Net After-Tax Receipt (as defined below) of aggregate Payments if the Executive’s Agreement Payments were reduced to the Reduced Amount. If such a determination is not made by the Accounting Firm, the Executive shall receive all Agreement Payments to which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement. All determinations made by the Accounting Firm under this Section shall be binding upon the Company, the Bank and Executive and shall be made within 15 days following a termination of employment of the Executive. The reduction of the amounts payable hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing the payments and benefits under the following sections in the following order: (1) Section 5(a)(1)(B), (2) Section 5(a)(1)(C), (3) Section 5(a)(1)(A)(v) and (4) Section 5(a)(2).

 

(b)     As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that amounts will have been paid or distributed by the Company or the Bank (as applicable) to or for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement which should not have been so paid or distributed (“Overpayment”) or that additional amounts which will have not been paid or distributed by the Company or the Bank (as applicable) to or for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement could have been so paid or distributed (“Underpayment”), in each case, consistent with the calculation of the Reduced Amount hereunder. In the event that the Accounting Firm, based upon the assertion of a deficiency by the Internal Revenue Service against either the Company or the Bank (as applicable) or the Executive which the Accounting Firm believes has a high probability of success determines that an Overpayment has been made, any such Overpayment paid or distributed by the Company or the Bank (as applicable) to or for the benefit of the Executive shall be repaid to the Company or the Bank (as applicable) together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code; provided, however, that no such amount shall be payable by the Executive to the Company or the Bank (as applicable) if and to the extent such payment would not either reduce the amount on which the Executive is subject to tax under Section 1 and Section 4999 of the Code or generate a refund of such taxes. In the event that the Accounting Firm, based upon controlling precedent or substantial authority, determines that an Underpayment has occurred, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company or the Bank (as applicable) to or for the benefit of the Executive together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

 

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(c)     All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm in implementing the provisions of this Section 8 shall be borne by the Company or the Bank (as applicable).

 

(d)     For purposes of this Section 8, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

 

(i)     “Net After-Tax Receipt” shall mean the present value (as determined in accordance with Sections 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) and 280G(d)(4) of the Code) of a Payment net of all taxes imposed on the Executive with respect thereto under Sections 1 and 4999 of the Code and under applicable state and local laws, determined by applying the highest marginal rate under Section 1 of the Code and under state and local laws which applied to the Executive’s taxable income for the immediately preceding taxable year, or such other rate(s) as the Executive certifies, in the Executive’s sole discretion, as likely to apply to him in the relevant tax year(s).

 

(ii)     “Reduced Amount” shall mean the greatest amount of Agreement Payments that can be paid that would not result in the imposition of the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code if the Accounting Firm determines to reduce Agreement Payments pursuant to Section 8(a).

 

Section 9.     Confidential Information. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company and the Bank all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or the Affiliated Companies, and their respective businesses, which information, knowledge or data shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s employment by the Company or the Affiliated Companies and which information, knowledge or data shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and/or the Bank, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or the Bank or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company or the Bank and those persons designated by the Company or the Bank. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 9 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.

 

Section 10.     Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive, and, without the prior written consent of the Company and the Bank, shall not be assignable by the Executive other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

 

(b)     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Bank and their respective successors and assigns. Except as provided in Section 10(c), without the prior written consent of the Executive, this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Company or the Bank.

 

(c)     The Company and the Bank will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company or the Bank to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company and the Bank would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. “Company” and “Bank” mean the Company and the Bank as hereinbefore defined and any successor to their business and/or assets as aforesaid that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.

 

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Section 11.     Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. Subject to the last sentence of Section 11(g), this Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

 

(b)     All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

if to the Executive:

 

At the most recent address on file at the Company.

 

if to the Company or the Bank:

 

9650 Flair Drive, 8th Floor

El Monte, CA 91731

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

  

 

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

 

(c)     The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(d)     The Company or the Bank (as applicable) may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such United States federal, state or local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

(e)     The Executive’s, the Company’s or the Bank’s (as applicable) failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive, the Company or the Bank (as applicable) may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Sections 4(c)(1) through 4(c)(5), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

 

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(f)     The Executive, the Company and the Bank acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive, the Company and/or the Bank, the employment of the Executive by the Company or the Bank (as applicable) is “at will” and, subject to Section 1(a), the Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive, the Company or the Bank (as applicable) at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement. From and after the Effective Date, except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. 

 

(g)     The Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption or exclusion therefrom and, with respect to amounts that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall in all respects be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Each payment under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. In no event may the Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement. If the Executive dies following the Date of Termination and prior to the payment of the any amounts delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code, such amounts shall be paid to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate within 30 days after the date of the Executive’s death. All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement that constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, without limitation, that (i) in no event shall reimbursements by the Company or the Bank under this Agreement be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the applicable fees and expenses were incurred, provided, that the Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least 10 days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred; (ii) the amount of in-kind benefits that the Company or the Bank is obligated to pay or provide in any given calendar year shall not affect the in-kind benefits that the Company or the Bank is obligated to pay or provide in any other calendar year; (iii) the Executive’s right to have the Company or the Bank pay or provide such reimbursements and in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and (iv) in no event shall the Company’s or the Bank’s obligations to make such reimbursements or to provide such in-kind benefits apply later than the Executive’s remaining lifetime (or if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the Effective Date). Prior to the Effective Date but within the time period permitted by the applicable Treasury Regulations, the Company may, in consultation with the Executive, modify the Agreement, in the least restrictive manner necessary and without any diminution in the value of the payments to the Executive, in order to cause the provisions of the Agreement to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, so as to avoid the imposition of taxes and penalties on the Executive pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(h)     This Agreement comprises the entire agreement among the Executive, the Company and the Bank with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements and undertakings by or among them with respect to such subject matter.

 

Section 12.     Survivorship. Upon the expiration or other termination of this Agreement or the Executive’s employment, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall survive to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorizations from the Board and the Bank Board, the Company and the Bank have each caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
			CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

				 	
			CHANG M. LIU

			
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	By: 	/s/ Dunson K. Cheng	 	 /s/ Chang M. Liu
	Name:  Dunson K. Cheng	 	 
	Title:     Executive ChairmanExhibit 10.1

 

SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

 

This Separation and Release Agreement is
made among Ferrell Companies, Inc. (“FCI”), Ferrellgas, Inc. of Liberty, Missouri ("Ferrellgas"),
and their affiliates, Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., and/or Ferrellgas, L.P., (all of which will collectively be referred to as "Ferrell"
or the “Company”) and Bill Ruisinger ("Employee").

 

WHEREAS, the Employee has been employed
by the Company as the Chief Financial Officer;

 

WHEREAS, the parties desire to mutually
terminate their relationship; and

 

WHEREAS, in light of the Employee’s
separation, the Company wishes to provide the Employee with certain payments in exchange for the entry into and non-revocation
of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
promises and benefits set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged by the Employee and the Company, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1.     Separation
from Employment. The Employee’s separation of employment with the Company will be effective November 3, 2020, which
shall also constitute the Employee’s employment termination date (the “Separation Date”). Effective as
of the Separation Date, the Employee does hereby and herewith resign from any and all officer and director positions the Employee
holds with the Company and with each of the Company’s Affiliates (including any committee thereof).

 

2.     Severance
Payments and Benefits. Subject to this Agreement becoming effective (as defined in paragraph 8(c) of this Agreement),
the Company will provide the Employee the following:

 

(a)     $450,000
(four hundred fifty thousand dollars), less applicable withholdings and taxes (the “Severance Payment”), to
be paid in a lump-sum within sixty (60) days after the Separation Date; provided that the Employee has returned a signed copy of
this Agreement to the Company and has not revoked such Agreement during the revocation period that expires within such sixty (60)
day period; and

 

The Employee acknowledges that the Employee
is not entitled to any Severance Payment but for the entry into this Agreement.

 

3.     Release
of Claims and Covenant Not to Sue.

 

(a)     In
exchange for the consideration received by the Employee herein, which such consideration the Employee was not entitled to but for
the Employee’s entry into this Agreement, the Employee hereby releases, discharges and forever acquits the Company, its respective
parent, Affiliates and subsidiaries and each of their respective past, present and future shareholders, partners, directors, trustees,
officers, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, heirs, legal representatives, insurers, benefit plans (and their fiduciaries,
administrators and trustees), and successors and assigns of the foregoing, in their personal and representative capacities (collectively,
the “Company Parties”), from liability for, covenants not to sue or initiate any action, and hereby waives,
any and all claims, damages, or causes of action of any kind related to the Employee’s employment with any Company Party,
the termination of such employment, and any other acts or omissions related to any matter occurring on or prior to the Execution
Date, including without limitation any alleged violation of: (i) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended;
(ii) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; (iii) the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended; (iv) Sections
1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended; (v) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended; (vi) the Immigration Reform Control Act, as amended; (vii) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as
amended; (viii) the National Labor Relations Act, as amended; (ix) the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended;
(x) the Family and Medical Leave Act; (xi) Employment Relations and Collective Bargaining Act; (xii) Massachusetts
Fair Employment Practices Act; (xiii) Massachusetts Wage  Act; (xiv) any federal, state or local anti-discrimination
law, (xv) any federal, state or local wage and hour, overage or payment law; (xvi) any other local, state or federal
law, regulation or ordinance in the United States of America and in any jurisdiction anywhere in the world; (xvii) any public
policy, contract, tort, or common law claim; (xviii) any allegation for costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’
fees incurred in the matters referenced herein; and (xix) any and all claims the Employee may have arising as the result of
any alleged breach of contract, compensation, incentive, bonus or commission plan or agreement with any Company Party (collectively,
the “Released Claims”).

 

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(b)     The
Employee agrees that the release set forth in this paragraph 3 shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general
release as to the matters released. This release does not extend to any obligations incurred under this Agreement. The Employee
understands that nothing in this Agreement precludes the Employee from filing any charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, the National Labor Relations Board or other governmental agency or from participating in any investigation, hearing,
or proceeding of governmental agency. However, the Employee does forever waive the Employee’s right to recover or receive
any personal relief, monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, back pay, reinstatement or injunctive relief from the Company and/or
Company Parties relating to any matter whatsoever up to the date of this Agreement. The Employee further understand that this release
does not extend to: (i) any rights or claims that arise after the Execution Date; (ii) any vested benefits; or (iii) any
rights that cannot be waived by operation of law.

 

(c)     The
Employee represents that the Employee has received all leaves (paid and unpaid) that the Employee was owed by the Company Parties
and that the Employee has received all salary, wages, bonuses, accrued vacation/paid time off, severance, stock options, and any
and all other benefits and compensation that the Employee is and has been owed by the Company Parties as of the Execution Date
(which such amount does not include the Severance Payment).

 

(d)     The
Employee hereby represents and warrants that the Employee has not filed or reported any claims or complaints in any forum and that
he has not assigned to any third party or filed with any agency or court any claim released by this paragraph 3.

 

(e)     The
Employee is not waiving any claim for workers’ compensation, although the Employee acknowledges (s)he has not sustained a
work-related injury or illness and has no intent to file a claim against the Company as a result of any work-related injury or
illness sustained in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Company.

 

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4.     Non-Disclosure
of Agreement. The Employee agrees to keep the terms of this Agreement completely confidential and not to disclose any
information concerning the Agreement to anyone other than the Employee’s attorney, tax advisor and/or spouse. However, nothing
in this Agreement prohibits, limits or restricts, or shall be construed to prohibit, limit or restrict, Employee from exercising
any legally protected whistleblower rights, without notice to or consent from the Company.

 

5.     Return
of Company Property. The Employee represents that he has returned all property of the Company, the Company Parties and
their respective Affiliates in the Employee’s possession or control, including, but not limited to all hard copy or electronic
documents and/or data, computer hardware (laptop, docking station, storage media, air cards, building access cards/fobs, cell phones,
tablets, external hard drives, company issued keys, credit cards, USB flash drives, etc.), company-owned software, and Confidential
Information. The Employee represents that he has not retained or transferred any Company data or information outside of the Company
and has deleted any Company data or information from any personal device, email account or cloud storage account. The Employee
represents that he has provided to the Employee’s direct supervisor all current passwords to the Company’s equipment
or online accounts utilized by the Employee.

 

6.     Confidentiality
Agreement. The Employee understands and agrees that the Employee’s employment created a relationship of confidence
and trust between the Employee and the Company with respect to all Confidential Information. Accordingly at all times during the
Employee’s employment with the Company, the Employee had a duty to keep in confidence and trust all such Confidential Information
and not use or disclose any such Confidential Information without the written consent of the Company, except as was necessary in
the ordinary course of performing the Employee’s duties to the Company. The Employee further understands and agrees that
notwithstanding the termination of his(her) employment with the Company, the Employee remains bound to keep in confidence and trust
all such Confidential Information and expressly agrees not to hereafter use or disclose any such Confidential Information without
the written consent of the Company. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information belonging
to the Company which is of value to the Company in the course of conducting its business and the disclosure of which could result
in a competitive or other disadvantage to the Company. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, financial information,
reports, and forecasts; inventions, improvements and other intellectual property; trade secrets; know-how; designs, processes or
formulae; software; market or sales information or plans; customer lists; and business plans, prospects and opportunities (such
as possible acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or facilities) which have been developed by the management of the Company.
Confidential Information includes information developed by the Employee in the course of the Employee’s employment by the
Company, as well as other information to which the Employee may have accessed in connection with the Employee’s employment.
Confidential Information also includes the confidential information of others with which the Company has a business relationship.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information does not include information in the public domain, unless the presence
of such information in the public domain is due to breach of the Employee’s duties under this paragraph 6.

 

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Nothing in this Agreement
prohibits, limits or restricts, or shall be construed to prohibit, limit or restrict, the Employee from exercising any legally
protected whistleblower rights, without notice to or consent from the Company. The federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 immunizes
employees against criminal and civil liability under federal or state trade secret laws – under certain circumstances –
if the employee discloses a Trade Secret for the purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law. Immunity is available if a
trade secret is disclosed in either of these two circumstances: (1) in confidence, directly or indirectly to a government
official (federal, state or local) or to a lawyer, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of
law; or (2) in the complaint or other documents filed in a legal proceeding, so long as the document is filed “under
seal” (meaning that it is not accessible to the public).

 

7.     Legal
and Equitable Remedies. The Employee stipulates that the covenants contained herein are essential for the protection
of the trade secrets, confidential business and technological information, relationships, and competitive position of the Company;
that a breach of any covenant contained herein would cause the Company irreparable damage for which damages at law would not be
an adequate remedy; and that, in addition to damages and other remedies to which the Company would otherwise be entitled, it will
be entitled to whatever injunctive relief is appropriate for any such breach. The Employee also agrees that the Employee will be
responsible for attorney fees and other legal expenses incurred by the Company or its successors or assigns to enforce any of the
covenants in paragraph 6 against the Employee provided the Company prevails in such action. In addition to such other rights and
remedies as the Company may have at equity or in law with respect to any breach of this Agreement, if the Employee commits a material
breach of any of the provisions of paragraph 6, the Company shall have the right and remedy to have such provisions specifically
enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction. The term(s) of any covenant(s) in paragraph 6 will not run during any
time in which the Employee is in violation of said covenant(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a restriction or any portion thereof,
contained in paragraph 6 is deemed to be unreasonable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Employee and the Company agree
that such restriction, or portion thereof, shall be modified in order to make it reasonable and shall be enforceable accordingly.

 

8.     Consideration
of Agreement by the Employee.

 

(a)     The
Company hereby advises the Employee and the Employee acknowledges that the Employee has been so advised, to consult with an attorney
before executing this Agreement.

 

(b)     The
Employee acknowledges that, before entering into this Agreement, the Employee had twenty-one (21) calendar days after receipt of
this Agreement (the “Consideration Period”) to consider this Agreement before signing it. If the Employee signs
this Agreement, the date on which he signs the Agreement shall be the “Execution Date.” In the event the Employee
executes and returns this Agreement prior to the end of the Consideration Period, he acknowledges that his decision to do so was
voluntary and that he had the opportunity to consider this Agreement for the entire Consideration Period.

 

(c)     The
Parties agree that this Agreement will not become effective until seven (7) calendar days after the Execution Date and that
the Employee may, within seven (7) calendar days after the Execution Date, revoke the Agreement in its entirety by providing
written notice to Tracy Thomas, (tracythomas@ferrellgas.com), at the Company. If written notice of revocation is not received by
the Company by the 8th day after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement will become effective and enforceable on that
day (the “Effective Date”).

 

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9.     Definition.
For the purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliate” means, with respect to any given entity, any other
entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such entity. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by”
and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

10.     Non-Competition &
Invention Agreements. The Parties agree and affirm that the Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement entered on
August 22, 2012 (“Non-Compete Agreement”) remain in full force and effect and Employee continues to be
bound by their terms.

 

11.     Assignment
and Assumption. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor or assigns.
This Agreement shall also be binding and inure to the benefit of the Employee and his/her heirs. This Agreement is not assignable
by the Employee. The Company may unilaterally assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to Company’s
rights and obligations hereunder as a result of any change in control, merger, consolidation, restructuring or reorganization or
to any other successor to all or substantially all of the securities, business and/or assets of the Company or any of its affiliates,
and the Employee shall continue to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

12.     Amendment;
Entire Agreement. This Agreement may not be changed orally but only by an agreement in writing agreed to and signed
by the Employee and the Company. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of both parties about the subjects in it, and it
replaces all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements, understandings, statements, representations, and promises by
either party. It may be modified or amended only by a writing signed by both parties. Should any provision of the Agreement be
declared or determined by any court to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms or provisions shall not
be affected thereby and the illegal or invalid part, term or provision shall be deemed not to be a part of the Agreement.

 

13.     Applicable
Law. To the extent permitted by federal law, this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Kansas without regard to conflicts of the law principles. The spirit and intent of this Agreement is to terminate
with finality any and all issues or claims existing between the Company and the Employee on the date hereof, whether known or unknown,
and this Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with such spirit and intent.

 

14.     Severability.
 To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Parties agree that any term or provision of this Agreement that renders
such term or provision or any other term or provision hereof invalid or unenforceable in any respect shall be modified to the extent
necessary to avoid rendering such term or provision invalid or unenforceable, and such modification shall be accomplished in the
manner that most nearly preserves the benefit of the Parties’ bargain hereunder.

 

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15.     Third-Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and each other Company Party, as each other
Company Party shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

16.     Counterparts.
This 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 Agreement.

 

The Employee represents and agrees that
he has fully read and understands the meaning of this Agreement and is voluntarily entering into this Agreement with the intention
of giving up all claims against the Company and Company Parties.

 

 

	 	FERRELLGAS, INC.;
	 	FERRELL COMPANIES, INC.;
	 	FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
	 	FERRELLGAS, L.P.
	 	by FERRELLGAS, INC., a Delaware Corporation, their General Partner

 

 

	Date:	11/7/20	 	By: 	/s/ Jim Ferrell
	 	 	 	Interim CEO and President, Ferrellgas
	 
	 	 	Name:  	Jim Ferrell
	 
	 	 	Title:   	Interim CEO and President
	 
	 
	Date:  	11/7/20	 	/s/ Bill Ruisinger
	 	 	Bill Ruisinger

 

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Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00316-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00316-of-00352.parquet"}]]