Document:

exv10w21

Exhibit 10.21

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO SEVERANCE PAY AGREEMENT

     This Amendment is made and entered into this 12th day of May 2008, by and between Ralf Suerken
(“Executive”) and SoftBrands, Inc. (the “Company”).

     WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Severance Pay Agreement dated
as of November 10, 2005 (the “Agreement”); and

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to comport with proposed
regulations under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

     NOW, THEREFORE, inconsideration of the foregoing recitals, and for other valid consideration,
the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Section 2(i) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

     (i) If a Change in Control (as defined in Section 3(i) hereof) occurs during the term of this
Agreement and either of the events described in clause (a) or (b) below occurs, the terminated
Executive shall be entitled to receive the cash payment provided in Section 4 hereof:

(a) the Company shall, within one year after such Change of Control occurs, have
exercised its right to terminate the Executive without cause; or

(b) the Executive shall, prior to March 15 of the calendar year following the year
in which the Change of Control occurs, have voluntarily exercised his option to
terminate his employment for Good Reason (as defined in Section 3(ii) hereof).
Notice of election of this option must identify the Executive who desires to
terminate his employment and set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to constitute Good Reason.

2. Section 3(ii) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

     (ii) “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) the assignment to Executive of employment responsibilities which are not
materially of comparable responsibility and status as the employment
responsibilities held by Executive immediately prior to a Change in Control;

(b) a material reduction by the Company in Executive’s compensation (including a
material change in the form of the bonus compensation plan that makes less likely
the achievement of a targeted bonus) as in effect immediately prior to a Change in
Control;

(c) except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law, the failure by the
Company, or the entity that acquires the Company, to continue in effect a material
benefit or compensation plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, bonus plan,
life insurance plan, health-and-accident plan or disability plan in which Executive
is participating immediately prior to a Change in Control (or plans providing
Executive with substantially similar benefits), the taking of any action by the
Company which would have a material adverse affect upon Executive’s

 

 

participation in, or materially reduce Executive’s benefits under, any of such plans
or deprive Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by Executive immediately
prior to such Change in Control, or the failure by the Company to provide Executive
with the number of paid vacation days to which Executive is entitled immediately
prior to such Change in Control in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy as
then in effect; or

(d) the failure by the Company to obtain, as specified in Section 6(i) hereof an
assumption of the obligations of the Company to perform this Agreement by any
successor to the Company.

     For purposes of the foregoing, Executive shall not be considered to have been assigned
employment of lesser responsibility if Executive manages, has control over, or serves in a
similar position with a subsidiary, division or operating unit of an acquiring entity that
generates revenues of comparable amounts to the revenues generated by the Company before
such Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the forgoing events shall be
considered “Good Reason” if it occurs in connection with the Executive’s death or
disability.

3. Section 4(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

(b) In lieu of any further base salary payments to Executive for periods subsequent
to the date that the termination of Executive’s employment becomes effective, the
Company shall pay as severance pay to Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to
twelve months Executive’s salary (subject to withholding for applicable taxes);
subject, however, to the restriction that the Executive shall not be entitled to
receive any amount pursuant to this Agreement which constitutes an “excess parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor provision or regulations promulgated thereunder. In case
of uncertainty as to whether some portion of a payment might constitute an excess
parachute payment, the Company shall initially make the payment to the Executive and
Executive agrees to refund to the Company any amounts ultimately determined to be
excess parachute payments;

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this amendment as of the date
first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	SoftBrands, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Its	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Ralf Suerken	 	 

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO SEVERANCE PAY AGREEMENT

     This Amendment is made and entered into this 12th day of May 2008, by and between Steven J.
VanTassel (“Executive”) and SoftBrands, Inc. (the “Company”).

     WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Severance Pay Agreement dated
as of November 10, 2005 (the “Agreement”); and

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to comport with proposed
regulations under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

     NOW, THEREFORE, inconsideration of the foregoing recitals, and for other valid consideration,
the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Section 2(i) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

     (i) If a Change in Control (as defined in Section 3(i) hereof) occurs during the term of this
Agreement and either of the events described in clause (a) or (b) below occurs, the terminated
Executive shall be entitled to receive the cash payment provided in Section 4 hereof:

(a) the Company shall, within one year after such Change of Control occurs, have
exercised its right to terminate the Executive without cause; or

(b) the Executive shall, prior to March 15 of the calendar year following the year
in which the Change of Control occurs, have voluntarily exercised his option to
terminate his employment for Good Reason (as defined in Section 3(ii) hereof).
Notice of election of this option must identify the Executive who desires to
terminate his employment and set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to constitute Good Reason.

2. Section 3(ii) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

     (ii) “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) the assignment to Executive of employment responsibilities which are not
materially of comparable responsibility and status as the employment
responsibilities held by Executive immediately prior to a Change in Control;

(b) a material reduction by the Company in Executive’s compensation (including a
material change in the form of the bonus compensation plan that makes less likely
the achievement of a targeted bonus) as in effect immediately prior to a Change in
Control;

(c) except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law, the failure by the
Company, or the entity that acquires the Company, to continue in effect a material
benefit or compensation plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, bonus plan,
life insurance plan, health-and-accident plan or disability plan in which Executive
is participating immediately prior to a Change in Control (or plans providing
Executive with substantially similar benefits), the taking of any action

 

 

by the Company which would have a material adverse affect upon Executive’s
participation in, or materially reduce Executive’s benefits under, any of such plans
or deprive Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by Executive immediately
prior to such Change in Control, or the failure by the Company to provide Executive
with the number of paid vacation days to which Executive is entitled immediately
prior to such Change in Control in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy as
then in effect; or

(d) the failure by the Company to obtain, as specified in Section 6(i) hereof an
assumption of the obligations of the Company to perform this Agreement by any
successor to the Company.

     For purposes of the foregoing, Executive shall not be considered to have been assigned
employment of lesser responsibility if Executive manages, has control over, or serves in a
similar position with a subsidiary, division or operating unit of an acquiring entity that
generates revenues of comparable amounts to the revenues generated by the Company before
such Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the forgoing events shall be
considered “Good Reason” if it occurs in connection with the Executive’s death or
disability.

3. Section 4(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

(b) In lieu of any further base salary payments to Executive for periods subsequent
to the date that the termination of Executive’s employment becomes effective, the
Company shall pay as severance pay to Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to
twelve months Executive’s salary (subject to withholding for applicable taxes);
subject, however, to the restriction that the Executive shall not be entitled to
receive any amount pursuant to this Agreement which constitutes an “excess parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor provision or regulations promulgated thereunder. In case
of uncertainty as to whether some portion of a payment might constitute an excess
parachute payment, the Company shall initially make the payment to the Executive and
Executive agrees to refund to the Company any amounts ultimately determined to be
excess parachute payments;

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this amendment as of the date
first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	SoftBrands, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Its	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Steven J. VanTassel	 	 

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO SEVERANCE PAY AGREEMENT

     This Amendment is made and entered into this 12th day of May 2008, by and between Gregg A.
Waldon (“Executive”) and SoftBrands, Inc. (the “Company”).

     WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are party to that certain Severance Pay Agreement dated
as of June 2, 2006 (the “Agreement”); and

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to comport with proposed
regulations under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

     NOW, THEREFORE, inconsideration of the foregoing recitals, and for other valid consideration,
the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Section 2(i) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

     (i) If a Change in Control (as defined in Section 3(i) hereof) occurs during the term of this
Agreement and either of the events described in clause (a) or (b) below occurs, the terminated
Executive shall be entitled to receive the cash payment provided in Section 4 hereof:

(a) the Company shall, within one year after such Change of Control occurs, have
exercised its right to terminate the Executive without cause; or

(b) the Executive shall, prior to March 15 of the calendar year following the year
in which the Change of Control occurs, have voluntarily exercised his option to
terminate his employment for Good Reason (as defined in Section 3(ii) hereof).
Notice of election of this option must identify the Executive who desires to
terminate his employment and set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to constitute Good Reason.

2. Section 3(ii) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

     (ii) “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) the assignment to Executive of employment responsibilities which are not
materially of comparable responsibility and status as the employment
responsibilities held by Executive immediately prior to a Change in Control;

(b) a material reduction by the Company in Executive’s compensation (including a
material change in the form of the bonus compensation plan that makes less likely
the achievement of a targeted bonus) as in effect immediately prior to a Change in
Control;

(c) except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law, the failure by the
Company, or the entity that acquires the Company, to continue in effect a material
benefit or compensation plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, bonus plan,
life insurance plan, health-and-accident plan or disability plan in which Executive
is participating immediately prior to a Change in Control (or plans providing
Executive with substantially similar benefits), the taking of any action

 

 

by the Company which would have a material adverse affect upon Executive’s
participation in, or materially reduce Executive’s benefits under, any of such plans
or deprive Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by Executive immediately
prior to such Change in Control, or the failure by the Company to provide Executive
with the number of paid vacation days to which Executive is entitled immediately
prior to such Change in Control in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy as
then in effect; or

(d) the failure by the Company to obtain, as specified in Section 6(i) hereof an
assumption of the obligations of the Company to perform this Agreement by any
successor to the Company.

     For purposes of the foregoing, Executive shall not be considered to have been assigned
employment of lesser responsibility if Executive manages, has control over, or serves in a
similar position with a subsidiary, division or operating unit of an acquiring entity that
generates revenues of comparable amounts to the revenues generated by the Company before
such Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the forgoing events shall be
considered “Good Reason” if it occurs in connection with the Executive’s death or
disability.

3. Section 4(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

(b) In lieu of any further base salary payments to Executive for periods subsequent
to the date that the termination of Executive’s employment becomes effective, the
Company shall pay as severance pay to Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to
twelve months Executive’s salary (subject to withholding for applicable taxes);
subject, however, to the restriction that the Executive shall not be entitled to
receive any amount pursuant to this Agreement which constitutes an “excess parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor provision or regulations promulgated thereunder. In case
of uncertainty as to whether some portion of a payment might constitute an excess
parachute payment, the Company shall initially make the payment to the Executive and
Executive agrees to refund to the Company any amounts ultimately determined to be
excess parachute payments;

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this amendment as of the date
first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	SoftBrands, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Its	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Gregg A. Waldonexv10w51

Exhibit 10.51

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 28, 2004

WITH JAMES J. GIANCOLA

     This Amendment No. 2 by and among Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), Midwest Bank
and Trust Company (the “Bank,” and together with the Company, the “Employer”) and James J. Giancola
(the “Executive”), dated effective as of March 12,
2008.

R E C I T A L S

     A. The Employer and the Executive are parties to an Employment Agreement entered into as of
September 28, 2004, as amended as of January 1, 2006 (the “Agreement”) governing the terms and
conditions of Executive’s employment with the Employer.

     B. The Employer desires to continue to employ the Executive and to make certain changes to
extend the Term of Employment of the Agreement.

     C. The Employer and the Executive desire to amend certain provisions to the Agreement to
comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

     D. The Employer and the Executive desire to clarify the limitation on the benefits in the
event there is a change in control.

     NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

     1. Section 1 of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following,
effective January 1, 2008:

     1. Term of Employment. The term of this Agreement and Executive’s employment
shall be the period commencing on September 28, 2004 and ending on the second
anniversary of the date on which notice of termination of this Agreement is
provided by either party to the other party as provided in this Agreement, unless
terminated earlier pursuant to Section 4. The employment period shall be referred
to herein as the “Term of Employment.”

     2. The first paragraph of Section 14 of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following, effective January 1, 2008:

     14. Change in Control. Upon a Change in Control, whether or not Executive
continues his employment, all of Executive’s outstanding stock options and other
incentive awards from the Company in the nature of rights that may be exercised
shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions on Executive’s outstanding
awards of restricted stock shall lapse. In addition, upon a Change in Control,
whether or not Executive continues his employment, the Employer shall pay to
Executive a cash lump sum payment equal to 299% of his “Base Amount” (“Change in
Control Payment”) as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), within seventy-four (74) days of the Change in
Control event; provided, however, that if Executive experiences an Involuntary
Termination (as defined in Section 24(d) below) within the one year period
following the Change in Control

 

 

and, as a result of that Involuntary Termination, Executive is entitled to
receive, and receives, full payment of the Liquidated Damages (as defined in
Section 24(a) below), then the “Change in Control Payment” payable hereunder shall
be automatically reduced to a cash lump sum payment equal to 199% of Executive’s
compensation as defined in Section 14(g) of this Agreement and any amount paid to
Executive in excess of such reduced amount will be treated as a loan to the
Executive by the Employer and shall be repayable on the ninetieth day following
demand by the Company, together with interest at the lowest “applicable federal
rate” provided in Section 1274(d) of the Code, from the date on which the excess
amount was paid to Executive through the first day of the month in which the excess
amount is repaid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Change in Control Payment
to Executive would cause the Employer to contravene any law, regulation or policy
applicable to the Employer, the Employer and Executive agree that such Change in
Control Payment shall be made to the extent permitted by law, regulation and
policy, and the remainder of such Change in Control Payment shall be made from time
to time at the earliest time permitted by law, regulation and policy. For purposes
of this Agreement, “Change in Control” means:

     3. The Agreement is amended by adding the following Section 24 at the end thereof, effective
January 1, 2008:

          24. Damages.

     (a) If the Executive experiences an “Involuntary Termination” (as defined in
Section 24(e) below) within the one year period following a Change in Control (as
defined in Section 14), such termination of employment shall be subject to the
Company’s obligations under this Section 24. In the event of such an Involuntary
Termination of the Executive, if the Executive has offered to continue to provide
the services contemplated by and on the terms provided in this Agreement and such
offer has been declined, then, subject to Section 24(b) of this Agreement, the
Company shall pay, as damages for breach of contract (“Liquidated Damages), the
Executive a cash lump sum payment equal to (i) the present value (using the
Short-Term Applicable Federal Rate on the date the Executive’s employment is
terminated) of the Executive’s Base Salary (as defined in Section 3(a) below) that
he would have received under this Agreement if the Executive had continued to
perform services for the Employer for the two year period remaining in the Term of
Employment (such two year period is referred to hereafter as the “Liquidated Damage
Period”), and (ii) one half of the Executive’s annual cash incentive compensation
(set forth under Section 3(b) hereof) which shall be an amount equal to the average
of the amount of the Executive’s annual cash incentive compensation for the last
three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the Executive’s termination of
employment for the Liquidated Damage Period. The Company shall pay such Liquidated
Damages to the Executive within seventy-four (74) days of his Involuntary
Termination. In the event Executive is paid Liquidated Damages pursuant to this
Section 24(a), Executive shall not be entitled to the severance payment
contemplated in Section 3(i)(ii) of this Agreement, but Executive shall be entitled
to participate in the Company’s medical, dental and hospitalization benefits as
contemplated in Section 3(i)(ii) of this Agreement.

2

 

     (b) In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to Liquidated Damages
pursuant to Section 24(a), the Company’s obligation thereunder with respect to cash
damages shall be reduced by the amount of the Executive’s earned income (within the
meaning of Section 911(d)(2)(A) of the Code), if any, from providing personal
services during the Liquidated Damage Period. To the extent the provisions of this
Section 24(b) are applicable and an overpayment has been made to the Executive as
of the expiration of Liquidated Damage Period, the Executive shall reimburse the
Company an amount equal to such overpayment.

     (c) The Employer and Executive acknowledge that this Agreement and all
amendments effective on or prior to January 1, 2008 were not entered into, amended,
or renewed in contemplation of a Change in Control, and that the compensation that
Executive would have received during the Liquidated Damage Period would have
qualified as reasonable compensation under Section 162 of the Code.

     (d) For purposes of this Section 24, the term “Involuntary Termination” means
the termination of the employment of the Executive (i) by either the Company or the
Bank or both without his express written consent; or (ii) by the Executive by
reason of (1) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary; (2) a material
diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities as Chief
Executive Officer and President of both Company and Bank; (3) a material change in
the geographic location at which the Executive must perform the services; or (4)
any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of
this Agreement. The term “Involuntary Termination” does not include discharge for
cause within the meaning of Section 4(c)(i)-(v) or termination of employment due to
retirement, death, or disability.

     4. The Agreement is amended by adding the following Section 25 immediately after the newly
added Section 24, effective January 1, 2008:

          25. Adjustment Due to Excise Tax.

     (a) If it is determined (in the reasonable opinion of independent public
accountants then regularly retained by the Company), that any amount payable to
Executive by the Company under this Agreement (excluding the Liquidated Damages set
forth in Section 24 above) or any other plan, program or agreement under which
Executive participates or is a party (collectively, the “Potential Payments”) would
constitute an “Excess Parachute Payment” within the meaning of Section 280G (or any
similar provision) of the Code, subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
of the Code, as amended from time to time (the “Excise Tax”), then the Potential
Payments payable to the Executive shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that
no portion of the Potential Payments payable to the Executive is subject to the
Excise Tax. Executive shall be responsible for any and all Excise Tax (or similar
taxes imposed upon such payments).

     (b) The determination of the amount of reduction, if any, in the amounts
payable to the Executive shall be made in good faith and in the

3

 

reasonable opinion of the independent public accountants then regularly
retained by the Company, and a written statement setting forth the calculation
thereof shall be provided to the Executive. If amounts payable to the Executive
are to be reduced pursuant to this Section 25, the Executive, in consultation with
the chief financial officer, shall determine the compensation and benefits to be so
reduced.

     (c) The Company and the Executive hereby recognize that the restrictive
covenants in Sections 5, 7 and 8 of this Agreement (“Restrictive Covenants”) have
value and that value shall be recognized in the Section 280G calculations by an
allocation of the Potential Payments between the Restrictive Covenants and such
payments based on the value of the fair market value of the Restrictive Covenants.
The Employer shall make the determination of the fair value to be assigned.

     5. The Agreement is amended by adding the following Section 26 immediately after the newly
added Section 25, effective January 1, 2008:

     26. Restriction on Timing of Distribution Pursuant to Section 409A.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if at the time of a
termination of employment, (i) Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in
Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and guidance thereunder in effect at
the time of such termination (“409A”), and, (ii) any of the payments or benefits
provided hereunder may constitute “deferred compensation” under 409A, then, and
only to the extent required by such provisions to avoid the imposition of a
penalty, the date of payment of such payments or benefits otherwise provided shall
be delayed for a period of up to six (6) months following the date of termination.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Employer have executed
this Amendment No. 2 as of the date set forth above.

	 	 	 	 	 
	Executive:

	 	Employer:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	MIDWEST BANC HOLDINGS, INC. for itself
and its Subsidiaries
	 
	 	 	 	 
	/s/  James
J. Giancola

	 	By:	 	/s/  Daniel R. Kadolph
	 

	 	 	 	 
	James J. Giancola

	 	As its:	 	Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer 
	 

	 	 	 	 

4

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