Document:

EX-10.5

Exhibit 10.5

NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY

AND PARTICIPATING SUBSIDIARIES

EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

Amended and Restated as of September 20, 2007

Further Amended and Restated as of September 24, 2008

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE	 	PAGE NO.
	ARTICLE 1 Purpose
	 	 	 	1
	 
	ARTICLE 2 Definitions
	 	 	 	1
	 
	ARTICLE 3 Determination of Retirement Benefits
	 	 	 	7
	 
	ARTICLE 4 Vesting; Forfeiture
	 	 	 	11
	 
	ARTICLE 5 Form of Payment of Benefits
	 	 	 	12
	 
	ARTICLE 6 Source of Payment
	 	 	 	18
	 
	ARTICLE 7 Administration of the Plan
	 	 	 	18
	 
	ARTICLE 8 Amendment and Termination
	 	 	 	20
	 
	ARTICLE 9 General Provisions
	 	 	 	20

i 

 

 

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

     1.1 National Fuel Gas Company established this National Fuel Gas Company and Participating
Subsidiaries Executive Retirement Plan effective as of February 19, 1987 for the purpose of
attracting and retaining executives, and for these additional purposes: (1) to provide
retirement benefits to eligible employees in addition to basic retirement benefits provided them
under the National Fuel Gas Company Retirement Plan as it may be amended and restated;
(2) to provide retirement benefits to such employees to make up for benefit reductions, if
any, under the National Fuel Gas Company Retirement Plan caused by participation in the National
Fuel Gas Company Deferred Compensation Plan, as it may be amended and restated; (3) to
provide retirement benefits to such employees without regard to the $200,000 limit on qualified
plans’ covered compensation that became effective respecting the National Fuel Gas Company
Retirement Plan effective July 1, 1989 (and as that limit may change from time to time); and
(4) to provide to such employees benefits which would have been payable from the tax-exempt
trust under the National Fuel Gas Company Retirement Plan but for the limitations placed by Section
415 of the Code on benefits payable and contributions made with respect to such employees under
such plans.

     1.2 The National Fuel Gas Company and Participating Subsidiaries Executive Retirement Plan is
intended to constitute an unfunded deferred compensation plan under Section 201(2) of the Act and
the Company’s obligation to pay benefits hereunder, if any, is unfunded and unsecured.

     1.3 The National Fuel Gas Company and Participating Subsidiaries Executive Retirement Plan has
been amended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

     When used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

     2.1 Act means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from
time to time.

     2.2 Annual Cash Compensation with respect to any Member shall include the following:

 

 

     (i) The Member’s base salary, whether or not the receipt of a portion thereof has been
deferred;

     (ii) The Member’s compensation (whether or not the receipt of all or a portion thereof
has been deferred) under National Fuel Gas Company’s short-term annual incentive program,
known as the Annual At Risk Compensation Incentive Program (“AARCIP”) or any
successor program thereto; and

     (iii) The Member’s other performance-related lump sum compensation (i.e. lump sum
payments other than expense or tuition reimbursements, moving expense reimbursements, lump
sum payments for eligible unused vacation, worker’s compensation payments, award payments
for suggestions, severance payments or any other non-performance related lump sum payments)
made on or after August 1, 1997.

The Member’s Annual Cash Compensation shall also exclude all commissions, stock, option or SAR
awards, restricted stock awards, special allowances, supplemental compensation, any payment under
the National Fuel Gas Company Performance Incentive Program and any other extra compensation or
incentives or bonuses not expressly included in Annual Cash Compensation pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 2.2.

     2.3 Basic Pension Plan means the National Fuel Gas Company Retirement Plan, as amended
and restated from time to time.

     2.4 Basic Pension Plan Benefit means the benefit, stated as a monthly annuity for the
Member’s life, commencing at the Member’s Normal Retirement Date, under which the annual payments
shall equal the Benefit Base as determined under the Basic Pension Plan, taking into account the
effect, if any, of the Benefit Limitations and the fact that deferrals under the National Fuel Gas
Company Deferred Compensation Plan are excluded from the definition of Final Average Pay under the
Basic Pension Plan.

     2.5 Beneficiary means the person or persons entitled to receive the amount, if any,
payable under the Plan upon the death of a Member or retired Member in the Plan in accordance with
the form of benefit distribution selected by the Member pursuant to Sections 5.2 and 5.3.

     2.6 Benefit Limitations means (i) the maximum “annual benefit” payable under
the Basic Pension Plan in accordance with Section 415 of the Code and the implementing provisions
of the Basic Pension Plan (as they operate in conjunction with the relevant provisions of other
Company employee benefit plans), and (ii) the maximum amount of annual compensation of an
employee that may be taken into account under the Basic Pension Plan in accordance with Section
401(a)(17) of the Code, as amended and supplemented, and the implementing provisions of the Basic
Pension Plan.

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     2.7 Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of National Fuel Gas Company.

     2.8 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

     2.9 Committee means the committee appointed from time to time by the Board of
Directors to administer the Plan.

     2.10 Company means National Fuel Gas Company and each of the following subsidiaries,
which participate in the Plan: National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, National Fuel Gas
Supply Corporation, Seneca Resources Corporation, National Fuel Resources Inc., Penn-York Energy
Corporation, Empire Exploration, Inc. and Horizon Energy Development, Inc., each of which has
adopted or has indicated that it will adopt the Plan.

     2.11 Early Retirement Date shall be the Retirement Date selected by the Member that is
no earlier than the first day of the calendar month immediately following or coinciding with the
Member’s 55th birthday, or any first of a month thereafter, but prior to the Member’s Normal
Retirement Date, provided the Member is Vested in either or both the Top-Hat Benefit or the
Supplemental Benefit.

     2.12 Employment Year is the consecutive 12-month period commencing on the date on
which the Member commenced employment with a Company, and each subsequent 12-month period
commencing on each anniversary thereof.

     2.13 Final Average Pay means an amount equal to the average of the Annual Cash
Compensation payable by the Company to a Member for the 60 consecutive month period during the 120
consecutive month period immediately preceding the date the Member retires which results in the
Member receiving the highest average. If an AARCIP or other annual performance bonus is granted
following the Member’s retirement date, unless such payment is expressly excluded from
consideration in the computation of the Member’s benefits, that award shall be used in determining
the Member’s Final Average Pay, if it is payable in connection with employment periods included in
the 60-month period referred to above. In this event, the Member’s Retirement Benefits shall be
increased, once the effect of such award is determined, and the increase shall be made retroactive
to the Member’s Retirement Date, without interest (provided that no such retroactive application
shall have the effect of accelerating the date at which Retirement Benefits shall commence to be
paid in accordance with Section 5.2).

     Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph of this Section 2.13, if any such post retirement
AARCIP award included in the definition of Annual Cash Compensation is used in determining Final
Average Pay hereunder, AARCIP awards relating to no more

3

 

than five of National Fuel Gas Company’s fiscal years may be used in determining Final Average
Pay. An example of the effect of this provision is as follows. Assume that a Member retires on
October 1, 2006, and that his salary and AARCIP awards were as follows for the following calendar
year:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	AARCIP Award (relating to
	 	 	 	 	 	 	fiscal year ending September
	 	 	Salary	 	30 but paid in December)
	2001
	 	$	480,000	 	 	$	120,000	 
	2002
	 	$	540,000	 	 	$	150,000	 
	2003
	 	$	600,000	 	 	$	180,000	 
	2004
	 	$	660,000	 	 	$	210,000	 
	2005
	 	$	780,000	 	 	$	240,000	 
	2006
	 	$	840,000	 	 	$	270,000	 

     This Member’s Final Average Pay would be $876,000 computed as follows:

[9/12 ($840,000) + 12/12 ($780,000) + 12/12 ($660,000) + 12/12 ($600,000) + 12/12
($540,000) + 3/12 ($480,000) + $270,000 + $240,000 + $210,000 + $180,000 + $150,000] ÷ 5.

     2.14 409A Election Date means December 31, 2007 or such other date as the Company
shall determine to be the latest date that benefits payable under the Plan may commence to be paid
based on the Member’s election as to the form and timing of payment in respect of his or her
benefits payable under the Basic Pension Plan without violating the election requirements
applicable under Section 409A of the Code and any regulations, proposed regulations or other
guidance promulgated thereunder.

     2.15 Future Supplemental Benefit means the portion of a Member’s Supplemental Benefit
attributable to services rendered to the Company during any calendar year, or portion thereof,
following the calendar year in which the Member first became eligible to commence participation in
the Plan.

     2.16 Member means any person employed by a Company who is designated as a Member by
the Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel Gas Company.

     2.17 Normal Retirement Date is the first day of the month coinciding with or
immediately following the Member’s 65th birthday.

     2.18 Past Service Supplemental Benefit means the portion of a Member’s Supplemental
Benefits attributable to services rendered to the Company during any calendar year, or portion
thereof, prior to and including the year in which such Member commences participation in the Plan.

4

 

     2.19 Plan means the National Fuel Gas Company and Participating Subsidiaries Executive
Retirement Plan as set forth herein and as amended and restated from time to time.

     2.20 Retirement Benefits means the benefits payable under this Plan.

     2.21 Retirement Date is the date with respect to which payment of Retirement Benefits
under the Plan commence (which for this purpose shall be determined without regard to any six-month
delay pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof).

     2.22 Social Security Benefit means the annual amount estimated by the Committee to be
payable to a Member under the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, at the Member’s Retirement
Date, calculated on the assumption that the Member will not receive any future wages that would be
treated as such for purposes of that act. If a Member’s Retirement Date precedes his attainment of
age 62, the amount estimated to be payable to the Member at age 62 (without assuming any cost of
living increases) shall be reduced as follows. The percentage early retirement factor applicable
at age 62 (e.g., 80%) shall be further reduced by .75% per month for the first 24 months, and by
..5% per month for the remaining months, if any, by which the Member’s Retirement Date precedes his
attainment of age 62. The Social Security Benefit, once calculated, will be frozen as of the
Member’s Retirement Date. For example, assume that the Member retired on his 59th birthday, and
that his estimated Social Security benefit beginning at age 65 (Primary Insurance Amount) was
$15,912 per annum. Using current Social Security tables, his age 62 early retirement factor (80%)
would be further reduced to 56%. This Member’s Social Security Benefit would therefore equal
$8,910.72.

     2.23 Social Security Offset means, in respect of a Member’s Supplemental Benefit, the
product of (i) .0125 times the Member’s Years of Service times (ii) the Member’s
Social Security Benefit.

     2.24 Supplemental Benefit means a benefit which is stated as a monthly annuity for the
Member’s lifetime, commencing at the Member’s Normal Retirement Date, under which the annual
payments shall equal the remainder of (1) minus (2) below, where (1) and (2) are:

	 	(1)	 	the Member’s Total Benefit Base;
	 
	 	(2)	 	the sum of

	 	(i)	 	the Member’s Social Security Offset and
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the Member’s Basic Pension Plan Benefit.

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If the remainder of (1) minus (2) is negative, the Member’s Supplemental Benefit shall be zero.

     2.25 Termination of Employment means the termination of a Member’s employment with the
Company and each other entity which is in the same controlled group of affiliated employers as the
Company, as determined in accordance with the rules under Section 414(b) and (c) of the Code (the
“409A Service Recipients”); provided, however, that in the case of any Member who ceases to
be an employee but continues to provide services to any of the 409A Service Recipients following
his termination of employment, or is reasonably expected (at the time of such termination of
employment) to provide services to any of the 409A Service Recipients within 12 months of such
termination of employment (a “Continuing Service Member”), the term Termination of
Employment (and any similar terms used in this Plan) shall be deemed to refer to the date at which
such Member incurs a “separation from service,” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder, from the 409A Service Recipients. This means that rather
than being entitled to receive a distribution hereunder upon, or at a specified time following, a
Termination of Employment, a Continuing Service Member shall only be entitled to receive such
distribution upon, or at a specified time following, such a separation from service.

     2.26 Top-Hat Benefit means a benefit which is stated as a monthly annuity for the
Member’s life, commencing at the Member’s Normal Retirement Date, under which the annual payments
shall equal the remainder of (1) minus (2) below, where (1) and (2) are:

	 	(1)	 	the Member’s Benefit Base as determined under the Basic Pension Plan, but
without reduction on account of Benefit Limitations and adjusted as if deferrals
under the National Fuel Gas Company Deferred Compensation Plan were not excluded
from the definition of Final Average Pay under the Basic Pension Plan and
	 
	 	(2)	 	the Member’s Basic Pension Plan Benefit.

     2.27 Total Benefit Base means, with respect to a Vested Member, a monthly annuity for
the Member’s life, commencing at his Normal Retirement Date, under which the annual payments shall
equal an amount calculated by multiplying the sum of (1) and (2) by (3), where (1), (2) and (3)
are:

	 	(1)	 	.0197 times the Member’s Years of Service not in excess of 30;
	 
	 	(2)	 	.0132 times the Member’s Years of Service, if any, in excess of 30 (but not to
exceed 10);
	 
	 	(3)	 	the Member’s Final Average Pay.

6

 

     2.28 Vesting

     (a) A Member’s Top-Hat Benefit shall vest in the same manner and subject to the same service
requirements and/or other conditions that apply to become vested in the retirement benefits
provided under the Basic Pension Plan.

     (b) A Member’s Supplemental Benefit shall vest on the later of (i) the first of the
month coinciding with or immediately following his 55th birthday or (ii) the date on which
the Member has completed five Years of Service with a Company.

     A “Vested” Member is a Member with respect to whom “Vesting” has occurred.

     2.29 Years of Service equals the number of Employment Years completed by a Member.
With respect to an Employment Year in which a Member completed 1,000 or more hours, but less than a
full year of service, the Member shall be credited with a fractional Year of Service equal to the
quotient of (i) the number of full months of the Member’s service during such Employment Year and
(ii) 12. Years of Service shall not exceed 40. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if a
Member retires prior to having completed 1,000 hours in his final Employment Year, the Member shall
be credited with a fractional Year of Service as calculated above. No more than one Year of Service
shall be credited in any Employment Year.

     2.30 In construing the Plan, masculine pronouns shall refer to both males and females, as
appropriate.

ARTICLE 3

DETERMINATION OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS

     3.1 Introduction. The Plan provides a Member with a two-part benefit: the Top-Hat
Benefit and the Supplemental Benefit. The Top-Hat Benefit makes a Member whole for any reduction
in the regular pension he receives under the Basic Pension Plan resulting from Internal Revenue
Code limitations and/or his participation in the National Fuel Gas Company Deferred Compensation
Plan. The Supplemental Benefit provides an additional retirement benefit to the Basic Pension
Plan. Unless the Past Service Supplemental Benefit and the Future Supplement Benefit are to be
paid at the same time and in the same form, each shall be calculated in accordance with the terms
of the Plan, but separately from each other.

     A Member who does not satisfy the requirements to Vest in a Top-Hat Benefit prior to the date
his service for the Company terminates shall receive no benefit under the Plan. A Member who Vests
in the Top-Hat Benefit, but does not Vest in the Supplemental Benefit, shall receive only a Top-Hat
Benefit. A Member who is Vested in

7

 

both the Top-Hat Benefit and the Supplemental Benefit and who terminates service with the
Company after having attained an Early Retirement Date shall receive the Top-Hat Benefit and a
portion of the Supplemental Benefit, as described in Section 3.3.

     3.2 Benefit for Member Retiring at Normal Retirement Date. A Member who retires on or
after the Member’s Normal Retirement Date shall receive only the Supplemental Benefit if he shall
have Vested in such Supplement Benefit. A Member who retires on or after his Normal Retirement
Date, but has not Vested in the Supplement Benefit, shall receive the Top-Hat Benefit.

     3.3 Benefit for Members Terminating Service After Qualifying for Early Retirement.

     (a) The benefit payable under the Plan to a Vested Member whose Termination of Employment
occurs after the Member has satisfied the conditions to retire at an Early Retirement Date shall
equal the sum of (1) plus [(2) minus (3)], where (1), (2) and (3) are:

	 	(1)	 	the product of (i) and (ii), where (i) and (ii) are

	 	(i)	 	 the Member’s Top-Hat Benefit,
	 
	 	(ii)	 	 the early retirement percentage that would be applicable to
the Member were the Top-Hat Benefit actually payable from the Basic
Pension Plan commencing on the date on which payment of the Top-Hat
Benefit is to commence hereunder (regardless of when payment of the Basic
Pension Plan Benefit actually commences);

	 	(2)	 	the product of (i) and (ii ), where (i) and (ii) are

	 	(i)	 	 the remainder of (x) minus [the sum of (y) and (z)], where
(x), (y) and (z) are:

	 	(x)	 	 the Member’s Total Benefit Base;
	 
	 	(y)	 	 the amount determined under Section 3.3(a)(1);
	 
	 	(z) 	 	(A) the Member’s Basic Pension Plan Benefit times (B) the
early retirement percentage that would be applicable to the Member
were the Basic Pension Plan to commence on the date on which payment
of the Top-Hat Benefit is to commence hereunder (regardless of when
payment of the Basic Pension Plan Benefit actually commences);

8

 

	 	(ii)	 	 the Member’s Early Retirement Percentage as determined in
Section 3.3(b) below; and

	 	(3)	 	the Member’s Social Security Offset.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the remainder of subclause (2) minus subclause (3) above is less
than zero, then the Member shall receive (instead of the benefit calculated pursuant to the
foregoing formula) the benefit described in subclause (1) above.

     (b) The Early Retirement Percentage applicable under the Plan to the Member’s Supplemental
Benefit is determined in accordance with the following scale:

	 	 	 
	Age at Early Retirement Date	 	Early Retirement Percentage
	65

	 	100
	64
	 	94
	63
	 	88
	62
	 	82
	61
	 	70
	60
	 	58
	59
	 	46
	58
	 	34
	57
	 	22
	56
	 	10
	55 years and 2 months

	 	0

     The Early Retirement Percentage determined in accordance with the above scale respecting ages
62, 63 and 64, shall be increased by 1/2 of 1% for each whole calendar month by which a Member’s
Early Retirement Date follows the first of the month coinciding with or immediately following his
62nd, 63rd, or 64th birthday, as the case may be. The Early Retirement Percentage determined in
accordance with the above scale respecting ages 55 years and 2 months, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, and 61,
shall be increased by 1% for each whole calendar month by which his Early Retirement Date follows
the first of the month coinciding with or immediately following his 55 year and 2 month, 56th,
57th, 58th, 59th, 60th and 61st birthdays, as the case may be. Furthermore, the Early Retirement
Percentage shall be increased by .125% for each whole calendar month by which a Member’s Years of
Service exceed 30; provided, however, that this shall never result in an Early Retirement
Percentage in excess of 100%. (In the event a Member desires to retire on the earliest possible
Early Retirement Date, i.e., on the first of the month coinciding with or immediately following his
55th birthday, the increase in percentage as a result of Years of Service in excess of 30 shall be
made from a base percentage of -2%, in computing Early Retirement Percentage.)

     (c) The provisions of this Section 3.3 are illustrated by the following example. Assume that
(i) a Member has 30 Years of Service under this Plan (29 under the Basic

9

 

Pension Plan) and a Final Average Pay of $300,000; (ii) he desires to retire in 2006 at age 58
(10% reduction under the Basic Pension Plan); (iii) the maximum amount of the Member’s Final
Average Pay allowed to be taken into account under the Basic Pension Plan applicable limits under
Section 401(a)(17) of the Code is limited to $220,000; and (iv) his Social Security Benefit was
$15,000:

Step 1. Calculate the Top-Hat Benefit

[(.015 x $300,000) x 29] – the Member’s Basic Pension Plan Benefit

	 	 	 	 	 
	The Member’s Base Pension Plan Benefit is

   
[(.015 x $220,000) x 29]

           
($3,300) x 29 = $95,700
	 	 	 	 
	so the Top-Hat Benefit is

   
[(.015 x $300,000) x 29] -$95,700

           
[$4,500 x 29] - $95,700

               
$130,500 – 95,700=
	 	 	$	34,800

Step 2. Adjust the Top-Hat Benefit for Early Retirement

	 	 	 	 	 
	$34,800 x .9 =
	 	$	31,320	 

Step 3. Determine the Total Benefit Base

	 	 	 	 	 
	[(.0197 x $300,000) x 30]

$5,910 x 30 =
	 	$	177,300	 

Step 4. Reduce the Total Benefit Base by the Top-Hat Benefit and the
Basic Pension Plan Benefit, each as Adjusted for Early Retirement

	 	 	 	 	 
	$177,300 – [Adjusted Top-Hat Benefit + Adjusted Basic Pension
Plan Benefit]
	 	 	 	 
	 
	$177,300 – [$31,320 + (95,700 x .9)]

    
$177,300 – [$31,320 + 86,130]

            
$177,300 - $117,450 =
	 	$	59,850	 

Step 5.  Adjust Reduced Total Benefit Base for the Early
Retirement Percentage

	 	 	 	 	 
	$59,850 x .34 =
	 	$	20,349	 

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Step 6. Calculate the Social Security Offset

	 	 	 	 	 
	[(.0125 x 30) x $15,000]

   
(0.3750) x $15,000 =
	 	$	5,625	 

Step 7. Determine the ERP Benefit Payable

Add the Adjusted Top-Hat Benefit (shown in Step 2) and the Adjusted Total Benefit Base, (shown in
Step 5), then subtract the Social Security Offset (shown in Step 6)

	 	 	 	 	 
	($31,320
+ 20,349) - $5,625

   
$51,669- $5,625 =
	 	$	46,044	 

     3.4 Benefit for Members Terminating Service Before Qualifying for Early Retirement.
The benefit payable under the Plan to a Member whose Termination of Employment occurs before the
Member has attained an Early Retirement Date, but after the Member has Vested in his Top-Hat
Benefit, and who has elected to commence receipt of his Top-Hat Benefit at an Early Retirement Date
shall equal the Member’s Top-Hat Benefit adjusted to reflect the actuarial reduction therein for
early commencement of the benefit that would be applicable to the Member were the Top-Hat Benefit
actually payable from the Basic Pension Plan commencing on the date on which payment of the Top-Hat
Benefit is to commence hereunder (regardless of when payment of the Basic Pension Plan Benefit
actually commences).

     3.5 Late Retirement. A Member’s Years of Service shall be credited if they extend
beyond his Normal Retirement Date (but shall not exceed 40 in total), and the Final Average Pay
determination shall reflect such Years of Service. However, there shall be no actuarial adjustment
to his Additional Benefit Base on account of a Member’s retirement after Normal Retirement Date;
for such purpose the Additional Benefit Base hereunder shall be computed as if his late retirement
date were his Normal Retirement Date.

ARTICLE 4

VESTING; FORFEITURE

     4.1 Time of Vesting. No Retirement Benefits will be payable to or in respect of any
Member unless that Member remains employed by the Company until he is Vested in at least the
Top-Hat Benefit under this Plan.

     4.2 Misconduct. Notwithstanding Section 4.1 hereof, no Retirement Benefits will be
payable to or in respect of a Member whose employment is terminated by the

11

 

Company for serious, willful misconduct in respect of his obligations to the Company,
including but not limited to the commission of a felony or a perpetration of a common law fraud
which has damaged, or is likely to result in damage to, the Company (provided that, the same result
shall obtain if, in the case of Member who terminates service before the Company is aware or has a
reasonable opportunity to act on such conduct, the Committee determines that the Member could have
been terminated by the Company due to such conduct in accordance with this Section 4.2.)

     4.3 Competition. If and so long as a Member or retired Member shall be employed by
any corporation, entity or individual which is then engaged in a business competitive with the
Company, or shall be engaged in any such business, or shall aid, advise or assist or attempt to
aid, advise or assist any corporation, individual or entity in engaging in any such business, or
shall endeavor, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the relations between the Company and any
customer or engage in any activity that would be deemed by the Committee in its sole discretion to
be detrimental to the Company’s best interests, the rights of such Member or retired Member to
Retirement Benefits, including the rights of any Beneficiary, shall be forfeited with the same full
force and effect as though the Retirement Benefits had not been granted under any of the provisions
of the Plan, unless the Committee determines that such activity is not detrimental to the best
interests of the Company; provided that from and after 60 days following cessation by the Member or
retired Member of such activity and written notice by him to the Committee, his right to receive
Retirement Benefits hereunder shall be restored, unless the Committee, in its sole discretion,
determines that the prior activity has caused substantial damage to the Company. Notwithstanding
anything else contained in this Section 4.3 to the contrary, this Section shall not apply following
the occurrence of a Change in Control.

ARTICLE 5

FORM OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

     5.1 Time of Distribution of Retirement Benefits. Retirement Benefits shall be payable
as soon as practicable after the Member’s Normal Retirement Date
or Early Retirement Date; provided
that after the 409A Election Date, no payment of benefits under this Plan shall commence prior to
the six-month anniversary of the date of the Member’s
Termination of Employment; and provided
further, that, to the extent that the immediately preceding proviso delays payment of the Member’s
Retirement Benefit, the Member shall be paid a lump sum, as soon as practicable (but not later than
30 days) after such six-month anniversary of the Member’s Termination of Employment, equal to the
sum of (i) the Retirement Benefits that would have been payable prior to the six month
anniversary of such Termination of Employment but for such mandatory delay in payment and
(ii) an amount of interest on the Retirement Benefits referenced in subclause (i), at the
short-term applicable federal rate (within the meaning of Section 1274(d) of the

12

 

Code), compounded semi-annually, in effect for January in the calendar year in which the
Member’s Retirement Benefits would have commenced but for such six month delay (or at such other
rate as the Committee shall specify from time to time), from the date such Retirement Benefits
would otherwise have been paid to the Member until the six month anniversary of the Member’s
Termination of Employment.

     5.2 Elections with Respect to Distribution of Retirement Benefits. Retirement
Benefits shall be payable to or in respect of a Member eligible therefor in accordance with
distribution elections made by the Member. Such election must specify the date at which any
benefits payable to such Member under the Plan shall be payable, as well as the form in which such
benefits are to be provided from among the options available under, and described in, Section 5.3.
A Member who does not elect the date on which any benefits payable under the Plan shall commence to
be paid shall commence receipt of such benefits on the later of (i) the earliest date on
which the Member’s benefits hereunder could commence or (ii) the six-month anniversary of
the date of the Member’s Termination of Employment. The following rules shall apply with respect
to the distribution elections made in respect of the receipt of Retirement Benefits:

     (a) A Member who commences receipt of payment of his or her Retirement Benefit on or before
the 409A Election Date and, on the 409A Election Date, was receiving Retirement Benefits in the
same form of annuity as is applicable to the benefits payable to such Member under the Basic
Pension Plan shall continue to receive such benefit in the same manner and form as the benefit
received by such Member under the Basic Pension Plan.

     (b) A person who is (or becomes) a Member, who has not commenced receipt of a distribution of
his or her Retirement Benefit prior to the 409A Election Date and who has not otherwise made an
election prior to the 409A Election Date, shall make an election in accordance with Section 5.3, on
or prior to the 409A Election Date, regarding the form of distribution of such Retirement Benefits,
provided that such election shall also be applicable with respect to any Retirement
Benefits accrued by the Member under this Plan after the 409A Election Date. A Member described in
this Section 5.2(b) must also elect whether, if the Member terminates employment prior to his
Normal Retirement Date, distribution of his or her Retirement Benefits shall commence as of an
Early Retirement Date and, if so, when such benefits shall commence.

     (c) A Member who commences participation in the Plan after the 409A Election Date may, on the
first day of the calendar year following the date that such Member is eligible to commence
participation in the Plan, make an election in accordance with Section 5.3 regarding the
distribution of his or her Top-Hat Benefit and his or her Future Supplemental Benefit accrued under
this Plan and an election as to the date (which shall be at least six months) following the
Member’s Termination of Employment (or, if later, at the earliest date as of which such Member’s
benefits hereunder could otherwise commence) that such Member’s Vested Top-Hat Benefit and

13

 

Vested Future Supplemental Benefit, if any, payable under the Plan is to commence to be paid.

     (d) Unless the Member shall make a different election in accordance with Section 5.5, a
Member’s Past Service Supplemental Benefit shall be paid to the Member in the normal form of
payment as set forth in Section 5.3(a), commencing on the first day of the month coinciding with or
immediately following the later of (i) the Member’s 55th birthday and
(ii) the Member’s Termination of Employment. For the avoidance of doubt, no election,
other than an election made in compliance with Section 5.5 of the Plan, shall be made with respect
to a Member’s Past Service Supplemental Benefit.

     5.3 Forms of Payment. Unless a Member shall elect an alternative form of payment in
the manner described in Section 5.2 and except as described in Section 5.2(d), the Member’s
Retirement Benefits shall be paid in the form specified in Section 5.3(a). A Member may elect to
receive benefits, by making an election within the time period established under Section 5.2, in
any of the alternative forms described in Sections 5.3(b) through 5.3(d). Each form of benefit is
intended to be of actuarial equivalent value.

     (a) Normal Form of Payment. The normal benefit form for Retirement Benefits is a
four-year period certain annuity that is actuarially equivalent to the lump-sum present value
(calculated using the most recently published mortality table that is generally accepted by
American actuaries and reasonably applicable to the Plan, and a 6 percent annual interest rate or
discount rate) of (i) the Member’s Supplemental Benefit, if the Member is Vested therein or (ii)
otherwise, the Member’s Top-Hat Benefit. The first payment will paid on the six-month anniversary
of the date of the Member’s Retirement or Early Retirement; provided that, at the time the Member
makes an election pursuant to Section 5.2, the Member may elect to have the first payment be
payable on the later of (i) the six-month anniversary of the Member’s Termination of
Employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) the first business day of the
calendar year following the Member’s Retirement or Early Retirement. If a Member elects a delayed
commencement date for Retirement Benefits, as permitted under the immediately preceding sentence,
the lump sum present value of such Retirement Benefits shall be calculated as of the delayed
commencement date, and no interest shall be payable in accordance with Section 5.1 due to such
delay. Subsequent installments shall be paid on each of the first three anniversaries of the date
on which the first installment is due to be paid. The Retirement Benefits of a Member who fails to
make a timely distribution election under Section 5.2 shall be paid in accordance with the normal
benefit form provided for in this Section 5.3(a).

     (b) Single Life Annuity. Retirement Benefits may be paid in the form of a single life
annuity for the Member’s lifetime payable in equal monthly installments which shall commence not
earlier than the six-month anniversary of the Retirement or Early Retirement of the Member, as
elected by such Member. The date on which such benefits

14

 

commence to be paid shall be established pursuant to the Member’s election or, in the absence
of a timely election, pursuant to the default provided under Section 5.2.

     (c) Ten-Year Period Certain and Life. Retirement Benefits may be paid in the form of
an annuity in monthly installments for ten years from the Member’s Retirement or Early Retirement,
as elected by such Member, and for life thereafter if the Member survives such ten-year period.
Such payments shall commence not earlier than the six-month anniversary of the Member’s Retirement
or Early Retirement, as elected by such Member. If the Member’s death occurs within such ten-year
period, annuity payments shall continue for the remainder of the ten-year period to the Member’s
Beneficiary. To provide for the possibility that benefit payments will continue after the Member’s
lifetime, the benefit payable to the Member during his or her lifetime under this Section 5.3(c)
shall be reduced from the benefit that would have been payable as a single life annuity under
Section 5.3(b), based on the same factors that would apply were such benefit payable under the
Basic Pension Plan, including the Member’s age. No adjustment shall be made to the amount payable
to the Member in the event that no survivor benefit should become payable because the Member lives
longer than 10 years following the date the Retirement Benefits commence to be paid. The date on
which such benefits commence to be paid shall be established pursuant to the Member’s election or,
in the absence of a timely election, pursuant to the default election provided under Section 5.2.

     (d) Joint and Survivor Annuity. Retirement Benefits may be paid in the form of a
joint and survivor annuity so that the Member receives a monthly installment for the duration of
the Member’s life and the Member’s Beneficiary receives a monthly installment for the duration of
his or her life in an amount that is either 50% or 100% of the Member’s monthly installment, as so
elected by the Member. To provide for the possibility that benefit payments will continue after
the Member’s lifetime, the benefit payable to the Member during his or her lifetime under this
Section 5.3(d) shall be reduced from the benefit that would have been payable as a single life
annuity under Section 5.3(b), based on the same factors that would apply were such benefit payable
under the Basic Pension Plan, including the Member’s age and that of his or her Beneficiary. The
date on which such benefits commence to be paid shall be established pursuant to the Member’s
election or, in the absence of a timely election, pursuant to the default election provided under
Section 5.2. No adjustment shall be made to the amount payable to the Member in the event that no
survivor benefit should become payable because the Beneficiary that the Member selects shall not
survive the Member. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, if the Beneficiary selected hereunder
is the Member’s spouse and if said spousal Beneficiary dies prior to the fifth anniversary of the
Member’s retirement date, the Member’s benefit shall be adjusted to be that which would have been
payable as a single life annuity under Section 5.3(b), as of the first of the month coinciding with
or next following the spouse’s date of death. There will be no actuarial adjustment made in
calculating the benefit under this Section 5.3(d) as a result

15

 

of the availability of this pop-up benefit other than as provided to reflect commencement of
benefits prior to the Normal Retirement Date.

     5.4 Distribution of Benefits to Spouses/Beneficiaries. If the Member’s Retirement
Benefits are payable to the Member in the normal form, and the Member dies prior to the date the
last installment of such benefit is paid, any installments remaining to be paid at the date of the
Member’s death will be paid to the Member’s Beneficiary at the same time and in the same amounts as
they would have been paid to the Member. If the Member selects an optional form of distribution of
his or her Retirement Benefits such that a portion of such Retirement Benefits is eligible to be
paid to his Beneficiary after the Member’s death, such benefits shall be paid in accordance with
the terms of the form of distribution elected by the Member; that is (i) with respect to
any remaining payments related to the minimum 120 payments payable under the ten-year certain and
life option, such remaining monthly payments shall continue to be paid to the Member’s Beneficiary
at the same time and in the same amounts as they would have been payable to the Member, until a
total of 120 monthly payments have been made to the Member and the Member’s Beneficiary (at which
time payment to the Beneficiary will cease) and (ii) with respect to either joint and
survivor annuity options, in the form of an annuity for the lifetime of the Member’s Beneficiary
(if living at the time of the Member’s death) in a monthly amount that is equal to the percentage
(50% or 100%) of the monthly benefit payable to the Member immediately prior to his or her death
that was elected by the Member pursuant to Section 5.3(d). To the extent that payment of
Retirement Benefits to a Member has been delayed from his Termination of Employment pursuant to
Section 5.1 and the Member dies prior to the time such delayed payments shall have been made to the
Member, the Member’s Beneficiary shall be paid a lump sum, as soon as practicable (but not later
than 60 days) after the Member’s death, equal to the sum of (i) the Retirement Benefits
that would have been payable to the Member prior to his death but for such mandatory delay in
payment and (ii) an amount of interest on the Retirement Benefits referenced in subclause
(i), at the short-term applicable federal rate (within the meaning of Section 1274(d) of the Code),
compounded semi-annually, in effect for January in the calendar year in which the Member’s
Retirement Benefits would have commenced but for such mandatory delay (or at such other rate as the
Committee shall specify from time to time), from the date such Retirement Benefits would otherwise
have been paid to the date of the Member’s death.

     5.5 Changes in Distributions Elections. A Member may only change (i) an
election previously filed pursuant to Section 5.2 or (ii) the timing and form of payment of
any Past Service Supplemental Benefit in accordance with the conditions specified in this Section
5.5. Except as otherwise expressly provided below, any such change in such an election or timing
and form of payment, whether as to when payment of Retirement Benefits is to commence, or the form
of distribution of such Retirement Benefits, must (1) be made in writing, (2) be
delivered at least 12 months prior to the date as of which the applicable Member’s Retirement
Benefits would otherwise have commenced to be

16

 

paid hereunder, and (3) delay commencement of payment of such applicable Retirement
Benefits for at least five years from the date payment of such applicable Retirement Benefits would
otherwise have commenced. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, a Member’s applicable Retirement
Benefits means (i) in the case of a change to the timing or form of payment of the Past
Service Supplemental Benefit, only the Past Service Supplemental Benefit, and (ii) in all
other cases, any of the Member’s Retirement Benefits other than the Past Service Supplemental
Benefit. For the avoidance of doubt, a Member may make a change pursuant to this Section 5.5,
(i) solely in respect of the Member’s Past Service Supplemental Benefit, (ii)
solely in respect of the Member’s Retirement Benefits other than the Member’s Past Service
Supplemental Benefit or (iii) jointly or separately as to both the Member’s Past Service
Supplemental Benefit and all of the Member’s other Retirement Benefits. In the event that payment
of any portion of a Member’s Retirement Benefits are deferred following the Member’s Termination of
Employment by reason of a change in the time and form of election pursuant to this Section 5.5,
such delay shall not increase the Early Retirement Percentage applied to determine the amount of
benefits payable to such Member under Section 3.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Member who has
elected to receive a distribution in the form of a life annuity under Section 5.3(b), a ten-year
period certain and life annuity under Section 5.3(c) or either joint and survivor annuity form
under Section 5.3(d) may elect to change from that form to any other annuity form at any time prior
to the commencement of the receipt of Retirement Benefits hereunder. For example, a Member who has
elected to receive his Retirement Benefits in the form of an annuity just for his life may change
that election to a joint and survivor annuity without the 12 months advance notice and five year
delay in commencement of payments described in the second sentence of this Section 5.5.

     5.6 Right to Adjust. The Committee shall have the right to adjust Retirement Benefits
payable under this Plan to correct errors, and/or to provide uniform treatment of Members, retired
Members or Beneficiaries.

     5.7 Spouse’s Benefit. In the event of a Vested Member’s death prior to the
commencement of the receipt of Retirement Benefits hereunder, his spouse, if she shall survive him,
shall receive Retirement Benefits hereunder for her lifetime commencing as of the first day of the
month following the Member’s death equal to the greater of (i) or (ii):

     (i) .50 times the Member’s Supplemental Benefit, except that if the Member’s surviving
spouse is more than five years younger than the Member, the .50 multiplier described in
this clause shall be reduced by .00125 for each month in excess of 60 that the surviving
spouse’s age is less than that of the Member. Thus, for example, the multiplier declines
to .30 if the surviving spouse is 220 months younger than the Member.

17

 

     (ii) 50% of the Retirement Benefit which the Member would have received had payment
thereof commenced on the day before the date of his death in the form of the Automatic
Joint and Survivor Annuity (as defined and described in the Basic Pension Plan), determined
without regard to whether the Member could have commenced such benefit on such date.

ARTICLE 6

SOURCE OF PAYMENT

     6.1 All payments provided for under the Plan shall be paid in cash from the general funds of
the Company; provided, however, that such payments shall be reduced by the amount of any payments
made to or in respect of a Member from any trust or special or separate fund established by the
Company to assure such payments. The Company shall not be required to establish a special or
separate fund or other segregation of assets to assure such payments, and, if the Company shall
make any investments to aid it in meeting its obligations hereunder, the Member and his Beneficiary
shall have no right, title, or interest whatever in or to any such investments except as may
otherwise be expressly provided in a separate written instrument relating to such investments.
Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be
construed to create a trust of any kind between the Company and any Member or Beneficiary. To the
extent that any Member or Beneficiary acquires a right to receive payments from the Company
hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

ARTICLE 7

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

     7.1 Committee to Administer. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which
shall have full power and authority to interpret, construe and administer the Plan, and review
claims for benefits under the Plan, and the Committee’s interpretations and constructions of the
Plan and actions thereunder shall be binding and conclusive on all persons and for all purposes.

     7.2 Agents. For purposes of the Act, the members of the Committee shall be the named
fiduciaries of the Plan for administration of the Plan (including but not limited to complying with
reporting and disclosure requirements and establishing and maintaining Plan records), and shall
engage such certified public accountants, who may be accountants for the Company, as it shall
require or may deem advisable for purposes of the Plan. The Committee may arrange for the
engagement of such legal counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, and make use of such agents
and clerical or other

18

 

personnel as they each shall require or may deem advisable for purposes of the Plan. The
Committee may rely upon the written opinion of such counsel and the accountants engaged by the
Committee and may delegate to any agent, who may be a Company employee, or to any sub-committee or
member of the Committee, its authority to perform any act hereunder, including without limitation
those matters involving the exercise of discretion, provided that such delegation shall be subject
to revocation at any time at the discretion of the Committee.

     7.3 Liability; Indemnity. To the maximum extent permitted by the Act, no member of
the Committee, nor any of their agents, including Company officers or employees, shall be
personally liable by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by any of them in their
capacity as members of the Committee or otherwise, nor for any mistake of judgment made in good
faith, and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, directly from its own assets, each member
of the Committee and each other officer, employee, or director of the Company to whom any duty or
power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan or to the management or control
of the assets of the Plan may be delegated or allocated, against any cost or expense (including
counsel fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of
the Company) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan unless arising
out of such person’s own fraud or bad faith. Said persons shall be entitled to rely conclusively
upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken by them or any of them in good faith in
reliance upon, any table, valuation, certificate, opinion or report which shall be furnished to
them or any of them by an actuary, accountant, counsel or other expert who shall be employed or
engaged by them.

     7.4 Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of this Committee with
respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation and
application of the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final,
conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan.

     7.5 Effect of Restatement. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the
contrary, in no event shall the restatements of this Plan as of September 20, 2007 and September
24, 2008 reduce the amount of Retirement Benefits payable to any Member hereunder, or otherwise
reduce the amount of such Member’s Final Average Pay, in either case below the amount that would
have applied under the terms of this Plan as in effect immediately prior to such restatements.

     7.6 Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Committee and any of its delegates shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts to
administer the plan in a manner that will cause the Plan and any payments to be made hereunder, to
comply with the requirements of Section 409A, with the intent of avoiding the imposition of an
additional tax under Section 409A of the Code on any Member.

19

 

ARTICLE 8

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     8.1 General Power to Amend. Subject to the application of Article 4 in the situations
therein enumerated, the Plan may be amended, suspended or terminated, in whole or in part, by the
Board of Directors, and Members may be adversely affected thereby provided that such actions may
not deprive Vested Members of Retirement Benefits accrued until the date of such actions. In
addition, the rights of Vested Members may be affected if (i) failing to make changes would
be administratively burdensome; (ii) the Member voluntarily consents to such change in
writing; or (iii) if changes are required by law.

     8.2 Limited Power of the President. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, the President of
National Fuel Gas Company is empowered to amend, restate or otherwise change the Plan
(i) as counsel may advise to be necessary or appropriate in order to ensure that the Plan
continues to operate as a plan of deferred compensation for tax purposes in compliance with
requirements of Section 409A, remain exempt from many of the provisions of the Act and otherwise
continues to fulfill the purposes for which the Plan was adopted and intended; (ii) as he
or she may deem necessary in order to make technical or clarifying changes not inconsistent with or
in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan; (iii) as counsel may advise to be necessary
to reflect the impact of Benefit Limitations, as they may change from time to time; and
(iv) in other respects except as will materially increase the cost of the Plan to the
Companies or the benefits of the Plan to Members or as will otherwise reduce the accrued benefits
of any Member without his or her consent.

ARTICLE 9

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     9.1 Effect of Corporate Reorganization. This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and the Member, and his designees,
Beneficiaries, legal representatives and estate. Nothing in this Plan shall preclude the Company
from consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets
to, another corporation which assumes this Plan and all obligations of the Company hereunder. Upon
such a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets, and assumption of the Plan, the term “Company”
shall refer to such other corporation and this Plan shall continue in full force and effect.

     9.2 Right to Discharge Member. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall
be construed as giving to a Member the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or as
affecting the right of the Company to discharge any Member, at

20

 

any time without regard to the effect such discharge would have upon his eligibility for or
receipt of benefits under the Plan.

     9.3 Withholding. The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Plan
all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required (as determined by the Company)
pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

     9.4 Assignability. No right to any amount payable at any time under the Plan may be
assigned, transferred, pledged, or encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except as
provided expressly herein as to payments to a Beneficiary or as may otherwise be required by law.
If, by reason of any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or encumbrance, or any bankruptcy or
other event happening at any time, any amount payable under the Plan would be made subject to the
debts or liabilities of the Member or his Beneficiary or would otherwise not be enjoyed by him,
then the Committee, if it so elects, may terminate such person’s interest in any such payment and
direct that the same be held and applied to or for the benefit of the Member, his Beneficiary, or
any other person deemed to be the natural objects of his bounty, taking into account the expressed
wishes of the Member (or, in the event of his death, his Beneficiary).

     9.5 Inability to Utilize Benefits. If the Committee shall find that any person to
whom any amount is or was payable hereunder is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or
accident or other reasons, or has died, then the Committee, if it so elects, may direct that any
payment or any part thereof due such person shall be paid to his estate (unless a prior claim
therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) or be paid or applied for the
benefit of such person or to or for the benefit of his spouse, children or other dependents, an
institution maintaining or having custody of such person, any other person deemed by the Committee
to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment, or any of them, in
such manner and proportion as the Committee may deem proper. Any such payment shall be in complete
discharge of the liability therefor of the Company, the Plan or the Committee or any member,
officer or employee thereof. The Committee may withhold the payment of any amount that shall be
payable in accordance with the provisions of the Plan to a person under legal disability until a
representative of such person competent to receive such payment on his behalf shall have been
properly appointed.

     9.6 Actuarial Equivalents. Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever it is
necessary to determine under this Plan whether one benefit is less than, equal to, or larger than
another, or whether one benefit is the actuarial equivalent of another whether or not such benefits
are provided under this Plan, such determination shall be made using mortality, interest and any
other assumptions used at the time in determining actuarial equivalents under the Basic Pension
Plan.

21

 

     9.7 Health Information. The Member shall provide to the Company, if so requested and
as a precondition for remaining a Member, all health information and other information as the
Company may require should it decide to purchase life insurance policies or annuity contracts.

     9.8 Additional Benefit. The benefits payable under this Plan shall be in addition to
all other benefits provided for Employees of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this
Plan.

     9.9 Headings. The captions preceding the sections and articles hereof have been
inserted solely as a matter of convenience and in no way define or limit the scope or intent of any
provisions of the Plan.

     9.10 Governing Law. Except to the extent that such laws are pre-empted by the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, this Plan shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New York as from time to time in effect.

22<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                     [Tecumseh Products Company Letterhead]

                               November 20, 2008

Edwin L. Buker
President & CEO
Tecumseh Products Company
1136 Oak Valley Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

     Re: Amendments to Employment Agreement and 2008 Retention Arrangements

Dear Mr. Buker:

     You agreed to become the Company's CEO based on your understanding that in
the event Todd and Kent Herrick and their affiliates reasserted control of the
Company you would be entitled to resign your position and receive enhanced
severance benefits under the terms of your Employment Agreement dated August 1,
2007, as amended by an agreement dated March 4, 2008 (the "Employment
Agreement"). The Company understands that it is your view that the current
effort by the Herricks, acting through Herrick Foundation, to remove two of the
Company's directors and replace them with the Herricks' nominees at the
shareholders' meeting to be held November 21, 2008 (the "Contested Election")
would, if such effort is successful, constitute such a reassertion of control by
the Herricks, possibly leading to your terminating your employment for Good
Reason on Change of Control, with the meaning and effect provided in your
Employment Agreement.

     The Company has determined your resignation at this point in the Company's
turnaround and development efforts based on the Herricks' success in the
Contested Election could have an adverse effect on the Company and its
prospects. Moreover, any controversy over the interpretation of your Employment
Agreement would be distracting and not be in the bests interests of the Company.
In order to avoid those results, the Company is prepared to make certain
payments and provide other benefits to you contingent on your remaining with the
Company, notwithstanding the results of the Contested Election. In exchange, you
would agree that success by the Herricks in the Contested Election, absent a
subsequent termination by you for Good Reason or by the Company without Cause,
would not provide a basis for you to terminate your employment and collect the
enhanced severance benefits provided in Section 8(f) of your Employment
Agreement, but you would retain all of the rights and benefits provided in your
Employment Agreement arising from a resignation by you for Good Reason, or a
termination of your employment by the Company without Cause, whether before or
after a Change of Control (the definition of which would be changed to
specifically include success by the Herricks in the Contested Election).

<PAGE>

     Based on actions taken by the Company's Compensation Committee and Board,
and the Company's discussions and negotiations with you, this Letter Agreement
will memorialize the agreements reached between you and the Company concerning
certain amendments to your Employment Agreement, and to set forth certain
payments and benefits to you to encourage you to remain with, and focused on,
the Company's business.

     1.   AMENDMENTS TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

          (a) Section 8(h)(v)(b) of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted
          in its entirety and replaced with the following:

               "(b) Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason."

          (b) Section 8(h)(vi) of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted in
          its entirety and replaced with the following:

               "(b) "Incumbent Board" shall mean the individuals who, as of
          November 1, 2008, constituted the entire Board of Directors of the
          Company, and any new director whose appointment by the Board of
          Directors or nomination for election by the shareholders of the
          Company is approved by the vote of at least the majority of directors
          then still in office who were either directors on November 1, 2008 or
          whose appointment or nomination for election was previously so
          approved, but excluding from any such determination (a) any individual
          elected as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or
          threatened solicitation of proxies or consents or otherwise by or on
          behalf of any person other than the Board of Directors ("Election
          Contest"), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or
          settle any Election Contest, (b) any individual nominated, appointed
          or otherwise selected (whether in connection with the Election Contest
          or any time prior to the Election Contest) by the person or entity who
          solicited proxies or consents in connection with the Election Contest
          or such person's or entity's affiliates, and (c) those individuals
          appointed to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 1(b)(ii) and
          1(c)(ii) of that certain Settlement and Release Agreement dated as of
          April 2, 2007."

     2.   RETENTION PAYMENTS: CASH AND PHANTOM SHARES

          (a) The Company shall pay you $1.5 million in cash, payable in
     installments as follows: $500,000 shall vest and be payable on the six
     month anniversary of the date of this Letter Agreement; $500,000 shall vest
     and be payable on the twelfth month anniversary of the date of this Letter
     Agreement; and $500,000 shall vest and be payable on the eighteenth month
     anniversary of the date of this Letter Agreement; provided, however, in
     each instance on the applicable payment date your employment by the Company
     has not terminated for any reason. All payments otherwise due according to
     the foregoing after your employment has been terminated for any reason
     shall lapse and be forfeited. In addition, it is understood and agreed that
     the amount of any cash payments due and paid to you in accordance with the
     foregoing shall be set off against

<PAGE>

     the cash payments, if any, due you under Section 8 of your Employment
     Agreement in respect of any termination of your employment by the Company
     during the Employment Period (as defined in your Employment Agreement).

          (b) You will receive a grant of $1.5 million of phantom shares
     pursuant to the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP"), with the
     actual number of shares being determined on the basis of the closing price
     of the Company's Class A shares on the date of this Letter Agreement (the
     "Phantom Shares"). This grant is in addition to any annual grant under the
     LTIP to which you might be entitled. The Phantom Shares shall be issued in
     accordance with the LTIP, and shall vest and be payable in installments as
     follows: one-third shall vest and be payable on the nine month anniversary
     of the date of this Letter Agreement; one-third shall vest and be payable
     on the fifteenth month anniversary of the date of this Letter Agreement;
     and one-third shall vest and be payable on the twenty-first month
     anniversary of the date of this Letter Agreement.

          Vesting and payment for the Phantom Shares will, in each instance be
     contingent on your remaining in the employ of the Company on each
     applicable vesting and payment date, except that (i) if you are terminated
     by the Company without Cause (as defined in your Employment Agreement) or
     resign from the Company with Good Reason (as defined in your Employment
     Agreement), all Phantom Shares not then vested shall immediately vest and
     be payable as of the effective date of your termination. If your employment
     by the Company is terminated for any other reason, all Phantom Shares then
     not vested shall be canceled and forfeited.

     3.   EFFECT OF AGREEMENT

     Except as modified and supplemented herein, your Employment Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement between Company and you with respect to the
subject matter hereof. No change to this Letter Agreement shall be effective
unless it is in writing and signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of
the Company.

     4. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

     This Letter Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
respective heirs, executors, administrators, representatives, successors and
assigns of the parties hereto; provided, however, that you may not assign your
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Company. The Company or its successors may assign its rights and obligations
hereunder to any affiliate of the Company or its successor, as the case may be,
provided, that the Company or its successor, as the case may be, remains jointly
and severally liable for the performance by any such affiliate of its
obligations hereunder.

     5. SURVIVAL

     This Letter Agreement shall survive the termination of your employment with
the Company or any successor thereof.

<PAGE>

     6.   GOVERNING LAW; VENUE AND JURISDICTION; ENFORCEMENT

          (a) This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
     accordance with the internal laws of the State of Michigan.

          (b) The parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the state and
     federal courts located in or serving the County of Washtenaw, Michigan,
     which shall be the exclusive venue for any legal action or proceeding filed
     by either party with respect to this agreement. The parties hereby further
     agree and irrevocably waive any objection, including any objection to the
     laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens that either
     of them may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or
     proceedings in such jurisdictions.

          (c) In connection with any proceeding brought by you or your heirs or
     other successors or assigns, to enforce any provision of this Letter
     Agreement or your Employment Agreement, whether brought by you as plaintiff
     or as a counter- or cross-claim by you, the Company shall advance to you
     all cash amounts required to pay your costs, expenses and fees (including
     actual attorneys' fees) incurred by you in connection with such proceeding.

     This Letter Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.

     Please indicate your acceptance of these terms by countersigning a copy of
this Letter Agreement and returning it to the undersigned at your earliest
convenience.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY

                                        By: /S/ James S. Nicholson
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Its: Vice President, Treasurer and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
                                                 -------------------------------

Accepted and agreed:

/s/ Edwin L. Buker
-------------------------------------
Edwin L. Buker

Dated: November 20, 2008

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