Document:

Exhibit 106 CIC Severance Plan for february 2015 8-K

		
			GUARANTY BANCORP
AMENDED AND RESTATED
		

		
			CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN
		

		
			(As Amended and Restated Effective February 3, 2015)
		

		
			 
		

		
			1.                                      Purpose. The purpose of the Amended and Restated Guaranty Bancorp Change in Control Severance Plan (as Amended and Restated Effective February 3, 2015) (the “Plan”) is to recruit and foster the continuous employment of key management personnel of the Company and to reinforce and encourage their continued attention and dedication to their duties in the event of any threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 2), although no such change is now apparent or contemplated.
		

		
			 
		

		
			2.                                      Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
		

		
			 
		

		
			(a)                                 “Annual Bonus” means the annual bonus awarded under the Company’s Executive Cash Incentive Plan or Annual Incentive Plan (or, in each case, any predecessor, substitute or successor plan designated as such by the Board), as in effect from time to time, or any discretionary annual bonus awarded by the Board.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)                                 “Base Salary” means the Participant’s annual base salary in effect immediately before the occurrence of the circumstance giving rise to the Participant’s termination, or, if greater, the Participant’s annual base salary in effect immediately before the Change in Control.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(c)                                  “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company and, after a Change in Control, the “board of directors” of the surviving company.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(d)                                 “Bonus Amount” means the average of a Participant’s 2 Annual Bonuses for the 2 fiscal years ending before the Participant’s Date of Termination; provided that (i) if a Participant has been an employee of the Company through the end of only one fiscal year before the Participant’s Date of Termination and was eligible for an Annual Bonus for such fiscal year (including on a pro rata basis), the Bonus Amount shall be the average of (x) the Annual Bonus for the fiscal year ending before the Date of Termination (if such bonus was made on a pro rata basis, such bonus shall be annualized for the purpose of calculating the Bonus Amount) and (y) the Participant’s target Annual Bonus, expressed as a percentage of base salary in the event the relevant goals are 100% achieved, for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs and (ii) if a Participant (x) has been an employee of the Company through the end of only one fiscal year before the Participant’s Date of Termination and was not eligible for an Annual Bonus for such fiscal year or (y) has not been an employee of the Company through the end of one fiscal year with the Company before the Participant’s Date of Termination, the Bonus Amount shall be the Participant’s target Annual Bonus, expressed as a percentage of base salary in the event the relevant goals are 100% achieved, for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(e)                                  “Cause” means (i) an intentional and continued failure of a Participant to perform duties with the Company and its subsidiaries (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any failure due to physical or mental illness) and such failure continues after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered by the Company to the Participant that specifically identifies the manner in which the Participant has failed to perform; (ii) an intentional act of illegal conduct or gross misconduct that is demonstrably injurious (other than to a de minimis extent) to the business, reputation or regulatory relationships of the Company; (iii) an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement or theft in connection with the business of the Company; (iv) intentional disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or confidential information relating to customers of the Company or its parent, a subsidiary or affiliate; (v) an act constituting a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude for which the Participant is convicted by any federal, state or local authority, or to which the Participant enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere; (vi) an act or omission that causes the Participant to be disqualified or barred by any governmental or self-regulatory authority from serving in his or her employment capacity or losing any governmental or self- regulatory license that is reasonably necessary for the Participant to perform his or her responsibilities to the Company; or (vii) intentional breach of corporate fiduciary duty involving personal profit. For the purposes of this Plan, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Participant shall be deemed “intentional” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall not be 
		

		 

		

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		deemed to have been terminated for Cause hereunder unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Board then in office at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to the Participant and an opportunity for the Participant, together with his or her counsel to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Participant had committed an act set forth above in clauses (i) through (vii) and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Nothing herein shall limit the right of the Participant or his or her beneficiaries to contest the validity or propriety of any such determination.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(f)                                   “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following events:
		

		
			 
		

		
			(i)                                     any “Person” or “Group” (as such terms are defined in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company, or of any entity resulting from a merger or consolidation involving the Company, representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or such entity;
		

		
			 
		

		
			(ii)                                  the individuals who, as of the date hereof, are members of the Board (the “Existing Directors”), cease, for any reason, to constitute more than 50% of the number of authorized directors of the Company as determined in the manner prescribed in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; provided that if the election, or nomination for election, by the Company’s stockholders of any new director was approved by a vote of at least 50% of the Existing Directors, such a new director shall be considered an Existing Director; provided further, that no individual shall be considered an Existing Director if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (“Election Contest”) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of anyone other than the Board (a “Proxy Contest”), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest; or
		

		
			 
		

		
			(iii)                               the consummation of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Company or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or deposits of the Company, except for a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale where (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately before such reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale own directly or indirectly at least 55% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or purchasing the assets or deposits (the “Surviving Company”) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of voting securities of the Company immediately before such reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale, and (B) the Existing Directors immediately before the execution of the agreement providing for such reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale constitute at least half of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Company, or of a company beneficially owning, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting securities of the Surviving Company (a “Resulting Parent”).
		

		
			 
		

		
			If there is a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of the Company that does not result in a Change in Control pursuant to clause (iii), references to “the Company” in this definition will be deemed to have been replaced by references to the Resulting Parent (or if there is no Resulting Parent, the Surviving Company).
		

		
			 
		

		
			(g)                                  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(h)                                 “Company” means Guaranty Bancorp and the tax-controlled group of which it is a member.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(i)                                     “Date of Termination” means (i) if a Participant’s employment is terminated for Disability, 30 days after notice of termination is given by the Company (provided that the Participant shall not have returned to the full-time performance of his or her duties during such 30 day period); (ii) if a Participant’s employment is terminated by the Participant, the date specified in the notice of termination, which shall not be less than 30 days after notice of termination is given (unless the Company selects an earlier Date of Termination); or (iii) if a Participant’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the notice of termination.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(j)                                    “Disability” shall occur if a Participant is incapacitated and absent from his or her duties on a full-time basis for 4 consecutive months or for at least 180 days (which need not be consecutive) during any 12 month period.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(k)                                 “Good Reason” means, without the Participant’s express written consent, the occurrence of any of the following events after a Change in Control:
		

		
			 
		

		
			(i)                                     the assignment to the Participant of any duties inconsistent with his or her title, position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company as in effect immediately before the Change in Control, or any other action by the Company that results in a diminution of the Participant’s title, duties, position or reporting relationships, or any removal of the Participant from, or any failures to re-elect the Participant to, any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of his or her employment for Cause or as a result of his or her Disability or death, or termination by the Participant other than for Good Reason; provided that insubstantial or inadvertent actions not taken in bad faith which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant shall not constitute Good Reason;
		

		
			 
		

		
			(ii)                                  any reduction in the Participant’s base salary, or a significant reduction in the aggregate employee benefits provided to the Participant, unless such reduction applies equally to other similarly situated employees of the Company, in each case, which is not remedied within 10 calendar days after receipt by the Company of written notice from the Participant of such change or reduction, as the case may be;
		

		
			 
		

		
			(iii)                               the Company requiring the Participant to be based more than 30 miles from the location of his or her place of employment immediately before the Change in Control, except for normal business travel in connection with his or her duties with the Company; or
		

		
			 
		

		
			(iv)                              the failure by the Company to require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume this Plan and all obligation hereunder.
		

		
			 
		

		
			An isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in good faith implicating clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this definition which is fully corrected by the Company before the Date of Termination specified in the notice of termination shall not constitute Good Reason. A Participant must provide a notice of termination for Good Reason within 90 days following the Participant’s knowledge of existence of the event constituting Good Reason or such event shall not constitute Good Reason under this Plan.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(l)                                     “Participant” means each of the employees of the Company who are selected by the Board for coverage by this Plan and identified on Schedule A.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(m)                             “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of the Participant’s employment (i) by the Company other than for Cause or (ii) by the Participant for Good Reason. Termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company on account of death, Disability or retirement (in accordance with the normal retirement policy of the Company as in effect before the Change in Control) shall not be treated as a Qualifying Termination. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the death or Disability of the Participant after notice of termination for Good Reason or without Cause has been validly provided shall be deemed to be a Qualifying Termination.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(n)                                 “Severance Multiple” means, for each Participant, a number determined by the Board in its sole discretion and noted on Schedule A.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(o)                                 “Termination Period” means the period of time beginning with a Change in Control and ending 2 years following such Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated before the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Participant’s employment will be deemed to have been terminated by the Company without Cause on the day after the occurrence of the Change in Control if (i) a Change in Control actually occurs, (ii) during the Change in Control Period (as defined in Section 16(d)) ending on such Change in Control, the Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason or (iii) the Participant reasonably demonstrates that the Company terminated the Participant’s employment, or gave the Participant Good Reason, at the request of a Person (other than the Company) who has indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control, or otherwise in connection with, or in anticipation of, the Change in Control.
		

		
			 
		

		
			For purposes of determining the timing of payments and benefits to the Participant under Section 4, (A) if a Participant’s employment is terminated prior to the date of the Change in Control, the date of the actual Change in Control shall be treated as the Participant’s Date of Termination under Section 2(i) and (B) if a Participant’s employment is terminated after the date of the Change in Control, the Participant’s Date of Termination shall be determined under Section 2(i).  For purposes of determining the amount of payments and benefits owed to the Participant under Section 4, the date the Participant’s employment is actually terminated shall be treated as the Participant’s Date of Termination under Section 2(i).
		

		
			 
		

		
			3.                                      Eligibility. The Board shall determine in its sole discretion which employees of the Company shall be Participants. Once an employee becomes a Participant, the employee shall remain a Participant until the earlier of (1) the expiration of the Participant’s “participation period” noted on Schedule A and (2) the Board’s removal of the employee as a Participant in this Plan. The Board may remove an employee as a Participant in this Plan at any time in its sole discretion except that a Participant may not be removed as a Participant without his or her prior written consent either (i) during a Change in Control Period or Termination Period or (ii) unless the Company provides Participant with at least 6 months prior notice of such removal which is not during a Change in Control Period or Termination Period.  For the avoidance of doubt, if a Participant is removed as a Participant in this Plan pursuant to clause (ii) in the immediately preceding sentence and during such 6 month notice period a Change in Control Period is triggered pursuant to which an actual Change in Control occurs, the Participant shall not be removed or be deemed to have been removed from this Plan.
		

		
			 
		

		
			4.                                      Payments Upon Termination of Employment. If during the Termination Period the employment of the Participant is terminated pursuant to a Qualifying Termination, then, subject to the Participant’s execution of a Separation Agreement and Release in the form attached to this Plan as Schedule C (the “Separation Agreement and Release”), the Company shall provide to the Participant:
		

		
			 
		

		
			(a)                                 his or her full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time notice of termination is given, plus all other amounts to which he or she is entitled under any compensation plan of the Company, as the case may be, in effect immediately before the Change in Control, at the time such payments are due;
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)                                 on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Date of Termination, provided the Participant has not revoked the Separation Agreement and Release as of such date, a lump sum cash payment equal to the result of multiplying (i) the Participant’s current target Annual Bonus, expressed as a percentage of base salary in the event the relevant goals are 100% achieved, for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs by (ii) a fraction, (A) the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed from the beginning of the relevant period for which performance is measured in determining such Annual Bonus until the Date of Termination and (B) the denominator of which is the number of days of such relevant period;
		

		
			 
		

		
			(c)                                  on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Date of Termination, provided the Participant has not revoked the Separation Agreement and Release as of such date, a lump sum cash payment equal to the result of multiplying (i) the sum of (A) the Participant’s Base Salary, plus (B) the Participant’s Bonus Amount by (ii) the Participant’s Severance Multiple;
		

		
			 
		

		
			(d)                                 for the lesser of (i) the number of years from the Date of Termination equal to the Severance Multiple and (ii) through the date the Participant ceases to be eligible for COBRA, continued provision of medical, dental, and vision benefits to the Participant, his or her spouse and his or her eligible dependants on the same basis as such benefits are then currently provided to such Participant (the “Medical Benefits”); provided that such benefits shall be secondary to any other coverage obtained by the Participant and shall be paid or provided in accordance with Section 8 below; provided further that if the Company’s welfare plans do not permit such coverage, the Company will provide the Participant the Medical Benefits with the same tax effect; and
		

		
			 
		

		
			(e)                                  if the Participant is subject to any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”) by reason of a Change in Control, then the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount as specified in Schedule B.
		

		
			 
		

		
			Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to this Plan, this Plan shall be construed and administered in a manner which avoids duplication of compensation and benefits which may be provided under any other plan, program, policy, or other arrangement or individual contract. In the event a Participant is covered by any other plan, program, policy, individually negotiated agreement or other arrangement, in effect as of his or her Date of Termination, that may duplicate the payments and benefits provided for in this Section 4, the Board is specifically empowered to reduce or eliminate the duplicative benefits provided for under the Plan, provided such elimination or reduction does not cause the Participant to incur additional tax or interest under Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”).
		

		
			 
		

		
			This Plan does not abrogate any of the usual entitlements which a Participant has or will have, first, while a regular employee, and subsequently, after termination, and thus a Participant shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable to him or her under each and every qualified plan, welfare plan and any other plan or program relating to benefits and deriving from his or her employment with the Company, but solely in accordance with the terms and provisions thereof.
		

		
			 
		

		
			5.                                      Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from all payments due to the Participant (or his or her beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to withhold therefrom.
		

		
			 
		

		
			6.                                      Reimbursement of Expenses. If a Change in Control actually occurs and any contest or dispute shall arise under this Plan involving termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company or involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Participant on a current basis (and in accordance with Section 8 below) for all reasonable legal fees and related expenses, if any, incurred by the Participant in connection with such contest or dispute, provided that the Participant shall be required to repay immediately any such amounts to the Company to the extent that a court or an arbitration panel issues a final and non- appealable order setting forth the determination that the position taken by the Participant was frivolous or advanced by the Participant in bad faith.
		

		
			 
		

		
			7.                                      Scope of Plan. Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to entitle the Participant to continued employment with the Company, and if a Participant’s employment with the Company shall terminate before a Change in Control, the Participant shall have no further rights under this Plan (except as specifically provided herein); provided that any termination of a Participant’s employment during the Termination Period shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Plan.
		

		
			 
		

		
			8.                                      Certain Additional Agreements under Section 409A.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(a)                                 The Plan is not intended to constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and to the extent that  (i) any payment or benefit is determined by the Company to constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, (ii) such payment or benefit under this Plan or otherwise is provided to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and as determined pursuant to procedures established by the Company) and (iii) such payment or benefit must be delayed for six months from the Participant’s Date of Termination (or an earlier date) in order to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and not cause the Participant to incur any additional tax under Section 409A, then the Company will delay making any such payment or providing such benefit until the expiration of such six month period.  Any payment or benefit due upon a termination of the Participant’s employment that represents a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall only be paid or provided to the Executive upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(h)).  If a Participant dies within 6 months following such separation from service, any such delayed payments or benefits shall not be further delayed, and shall be immediately payable to his or her estate in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Plan.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any payment or benefit under Section 4 or 6 or otherwise that is exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)(A), (B) or (C) shall be paid or provided to the Participant only to the extent that the expenses are not incurred, or the benefits are not provided, beyond the last day of the second taxable year of the Participant following the taxable year of the Participant in which the “separation from service” occurs; and provided further that such expenses are reimbursed no later than the last day of the third taxable year following the taxable year of the Participant in which the “separation from service” occurs.  For purposes of this Section 8(b), the taxable year of the Participant’s “separation from service” is the year determined in accordance with the Code.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(c)                                  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to the extent any expense reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit under this Plan is determined to be subject to Section 409A, the amount of any such expenses eligible for reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit, in one calendar year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year (except for any life-time or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses), in no event shall any expenses be reimbursed after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participant incurred such expenses, and in no event shall any right to reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(d)                                 For the purposes of this Plan, each payment made pursuant to Section 4(b) or (c) shall be deemed to be separate payments, and amounts payable under Section 4 of this Plan shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treas. Reg. Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1 through A-6.
		

		
			 
		

		
			9.                                      Participant Covenants.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(a)                                 In the performance of the Participant’s duties, the Participant has previously had, and may in the future have, access to confidential records and information, including, but not limited to, development, marketing, purchasing, organizational, strategic, financial, managerial, administrative, manufacturing, production, distribution and sales information, data, specifications and processes presently owned or at any time hereafter developed by the Company or its agents or consultants or used presently or at any time hereafter in the course of its business, that are not otherwise part of the public domain (collectively, the “Confidential Material”). All such Confidential Material is considered secret and has been and/or will be disclosed to the Participants in confidence. By executing a Separation Agreement and Release, a Participant shall agree that:
		

		
			 
		

		
			(i)                                 the Confidential Material constitutes propriety information of the Company which draws independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who could obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and that the Company has taken efforts reasonable under the circumstances, of which this Section 9(a) is an example, to maintain its secrecy;
		

		
			 
		

		
			(ii)                              except in the performance of a Participant’s duties to the Company, he or she shall not, directly or indirectly for any reason whatsoever, disclose or use any such Confidential Material that (x) has been publicly disclosed or was within the Participant’s possession before its being furnished to him or her by the Company or becomes available to him or her on a nonconfidential basis from a third party (in any of such cases, not due to a breach by the Participant or his or her obligations to the Company or by breach of any other person of a confidential, fiduciary or confidential obligation, the breach of which the Participant knows or reasonably should know), (y) is required to be disclosed by the Participant pursuant to applicable law, and the Participant provides notice to the Company of such requirement as promptly as possible, or (z) was independently acquired or developed by the Participant without violating any of the obligations under this Plan and without relying on Confidential Material of the Company; and
		

		
			 
		

		
			(iii)                           All records, files, drawings, documents, equipment and other tangible items, wherever located, relating in any way to the Confidential Material or otherwise to the Company’s business, which a Participant has prepared, used or encountered shall be and remain the Company’s sole and exclusive property and shall be included in the Confidential Material, and, upon a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company, or whenever requested by the Company, he or she shall promptly deliver to the Company any and all of the Confidential Material and copies thereof, not previously delivered to the Company, that may be, or at any previous time has been, in his or her possession or under his or her control.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)                                 By executing a Separation Agreement and Release, a Participant shall agree that, for a number of years following his or her Date of Termination equal to the Severance Multiple (except in the case of a Participant whose Severance Multiple is more than 2, in which case the restrictions of this Section 9(b) shall apply for two years following his or her Date of Termination), he or she shall not, in any manner, directly or indirectly (without the prior written consent of the Company):  (i) Solicit any Client to transact business with a Competitive Enterprise or to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Company, (ii) interfere with or damage any relationship between the Company and a Client or (iii) Solicit anyone who is then an employee of the Company (or who was an employee of the Company within the prior 12 months) to resign from the Company or to apply for or accept employment with any other business or enterprise. For purposes of this Plan: (i) “Competitive Enterprise” means any business enterprise that either (A) engages in any activity closely associated with commercial banking or the operation of an institution, the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, in a Restricted Territory (as defined below), or (B) holds a 25% or greater equity, voting or profit participation interest in any enterprise that engages in such a competitive activity; (ii) “Client” means any client or prospective client of the Company to whom the Participant provided services, or for whom the Participant transacted business; and (iii) “Solicit” means any direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it, that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to take or refrain from taking any action. Nothing in this Section 9(b), however, shall prohibit a Participant or any Person or entity in which he or she has an interest from placing advertisements in periodicals of general circulation soliciting applications for employment, or from employing any person who answers any such advertisement. A Participant shall not be deemed to violate this Section 9(b) solely by virtue of his or her interest in a Person whose stock is publicly traded if he or she is the owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding shares of any class of stock of such corporation, provided he or she has no active participation in the business of such corporation (other than voting his or her stock) and he or she does not provide services to such corporation in any capacity (whether as an employee, an independent contractor or consultant, a board member, or otherwise).
		

		
			 
		

		
			(c)                                  Solely in the case of a Participant whose Severance Multiple is more than 2, by his or her executing a Separation Agreement and Release, he or she agrees that, for 18 months following the Date of Termination, he or she shall not directly or indirectly (without the prior written consent of the Company) associate (including as a director, officer, employee, partner, consultant, agent or advisor) with a Competitive Enterprise in a Restricted Territory and in connection with such Participant’s association engage, or directly or indirectly manage or supervise personnel engaged, in any activity:
		

		
			 
		

		
			(i)                        that is substantially related to any activity that the Participant was engaged in with the Company during the 12 months before the date of termination of the Participant’s employment,
		

		
			 
		

		
			(ii)                              that is substantially related to any activity for which the Participant had direct or indirect managerial or supervisory responsibility with the Company during the 12 months before the Date of Termination, or
		

		
			 
		

		
			(iii)           that calls for the application of specialized knowledge or skills substantially related to those used by the Participant in his or her activities with the Company during the 12 months before the Date of Termination.
		

		
			 
		

		
			For purposes of this Plan, “Restricted Territory” means the geographic area of all counties in which the Company (or its subsidiaries) has a branch. In addition, for the purposes of this Plan, each Participant whose Severance Multiple is more than 2 is part of “executive and management personnel” of the Company within the meaning of C.R.S. § 8-2-113(2).
		

		
			 
		

		
			(d)           By a Participant’s acceptance of payments under this Plan, he or she shall be deemed to have acknowledged that violation of Sections 9(a), 9(b) or 9(c) of this Plan would cause the Company irreparable damage for which the Company cannot be reasonably compensated in damages in an action at law, and that therefore, in the event of any breach by him or her of such Sections, the Company shall be entitled to make application to a court of competent jurisdiction for equitable relief by way of injunction or otherwise (without being required to post a bond). This provision shall not, however, be construed as a waiver of any of the rights which the Company may have for damages under this Plan or otherwise, and, except as limited in Section 13(b), all of the Company’s rights and remedies shall be unrestricted.
		

		
			 
		

		
			10.          Successors; Binding Agreement.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(a)           The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to unconditionally assume all of the obligations of the Company hereunder. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption before the effectiveness of any such succession shall constitute Good Reason hereunder and shall entitle the Participant to compensation and other benefits from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Participant would be entitled hereunder if the Participant’s employment were terminated following a Change in Control by reason of a Qualifying Termination, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)           The benefits provided under this Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Participant shall die while any amounts would be payable to the Participant hereunder had the Participant continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to such person or persons appointed in writing by the Participant to receive such amounts or, if no person is so appointed, to the Participant’s estate.
		

		
			 
		

		
			11.          Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of a Participant’s employment by the Company, or by a Participant, as the case may be, shall be communicated by written notice of termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 12 hereof. For purposes of this Plan, a “notice of termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Participant’s employment under the provision so indicated. The failure by the Participant or the Company to set forth in such notice any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Participant or the Company hereunder or preclude the Participant or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Participant’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.
		

		
			 
		

		
			12.          Notice. For purposes of this Plan, all notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or 5 days after deposit in the United States mail, certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
		

		
			 
		

		
			If to the Participant:  the address listed as the Participant’s address in the Company’s personnel files.
		

		
			 
		

		
			If to the Company:
		

		
			 
		

		
			Guaranty Bancorp
1331 Seventeenth Street, Suite 200
Denver, Colorado  80202
		

		
			Attention:  Corporate Secretary
		

		
			 
		

		
			or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
		

		
			 
		

		
			13.          Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes.
		

		
			 (a)           The Company’s obligation to make any payments provided for in this Plan and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall be in lieu and in full settlement of all other severance payments to the Participant under any other severance or employment agreement between the Participant and the Company, and any severance plan of the Company. In no event shall the Participant be obligated to seek other employment or take other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Participant under any of the provisions of this Plan and, except as provided in the Separation Agreement and Release, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Participant obtains other employment.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)           Any controversy or claim between the Participant and the Company arising out of or relating to or concerning this Plan (including the covenants contained in Section 9) and any dispute regarding the Participant’s employment or the termination of Participant’s employment or any dispute regarding the application, interpretation or validity of this Plan (each, an “Employment Matter”) will be finally settled by arbitration in Denver County, Colorado and administered by the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect. In the event of any conflict between this Plan and the rules of the American Arbitration Association, the provisions of this Plan shall be determinative. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator, they shall select a single arbitrator from a list of 5 arbitrators designated by the office of the American Arbitrator Association having responsibility for Denver County, Colorado, all of whom shall be retired judges who are actively involved in hearing private cases or members of the National Academy of Arbitrators, and who, in either event, are residents of such forum. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator from such list, they shall each strike names alternatively from the list, with the first to strike being determined by lot. After each party has used 2 strikes, the remaining name on the list shall be the arbitrator. The AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules will be modified in the following ways:  (i) each arbitrator will agree to treat as confidential evidence and other information presented to them, (ii) there will be no authority to award punitive damages, (iii) there will be no authority to amend or modify the terms of the Plan and (iv) a decision must be rendered within 10 business days of the parties’ closing statements or submission of post-hearing briefs. A Participant or the Company may bring an action or special proceeding in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Denver County, Colorado to enforce any arbitration award under this Section 13(b).
		

		
			 
		

		
			14.          Survival. The respective obligations and benefits afforded to the Company and the Participant as provided in Sections 4 (to the extent that payments or benefits are owed as a result of a termination of employment that occurs during the term of this Plan) 5, 6, 9, 10(b), 12, 13, 14 and 15 shall survive the termination of this Plan.
		

		
			 
		

		
			15.          GOVERNING LAW; VALIDITY. THE INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF THIS PLAN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLE OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS, AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS. THE INVALIDITY OR UNENFORCEABILITY OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS PLAN SHALL NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS PLAN, WHICH OTHER PROVISIONS SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
		

		
			 
		

		
			16.          Term; Amendment and Termination.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(a)           This Plan shall continue in full force and effect until its terms and provisions are completely carried out except that (i) the Board may terminate this Plan at a time that is both before a Change in Control and not during a Change in Control Period and (ii) the Board may terminate this Plan as to future Changes in Control beginning on the second anniversary of the last Change in Control then to occur.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)           This Plan may be amended in any respect by the Board so long as the amendment is made at a time that is both before a Change in Control and not during a Change in Control Period and so long as any such amendment does not cause a Participant to incur additional tax or penalties under Section 409A. In addition, the Board may amend this Plan as to future Changes in Control beginning on the second anniversary of the last Change in Control then to occur.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(c)           For the avoidance of doubt, during a Change in Control Period or Termination Period, this Plan shall not be subject to amendment, change, substitution, deletion, revocation or termination in any respect.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(d)           A “Change in Control Period” shall begin on the occurrence of any of (i) the Company (or any Person acting on the Company’s behalf) conducting negotiations to effect a Change in Control and (ii) the Company (or any Person acting on its behalf) executing a letter of intent (whether or not binding) or a definitive agreement to effect a Change in Control and shall end on the earlier of (A) the date of the occurrence of a Change in Control and (B) 90 days after both (x) the Company (or any Person acting on the Company’s behalf) ceases conducting negotiations to effect a Change in Control and (y) any letter of intent (whether or not binding) or a definitive agreement to effect a Change in Control has terminated or expired (other than with respect to provisions relating to confidentiality or other provisions reasonably determined by the Board to be unrelated to effecting a future Change in Control).
		

		
			 
		

		
			17.          Interpretation and Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. The Board may delegate any of its powers under the Plan to a committee thereof.  Unless otherwise provided in this Plan, actions of the Board or such committee shall be taken by a majority vote of its members. All references to the “Board” herein shall be deemed to be references to such delegate, as appropriate. The Board shall have the authority (i) to exercise all of the powers granted to it under the Plan, (ii) to construe, interpret and implement the Plan, (iii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, (iv) to make all determinations necessary or advisable in administration of the Plan and (v) to correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary and to the extent applicable, it is intended that the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 409A, and the Plan shall be interpreted, construed and administered in accordance with this intent, so as to avoid the imposition of taxes and penalties on the Participant pursuant to Section 409A.  However, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant, beneficiary or otherwise if the Plan or any amounts paid or payable hereunder are subject to the additional tax and penalties under Section 409A.
		

		
			 
		

		
			18.          Type of Plan. This Plan is intended to be, and shall be interpreted as an unfunded employee welfare plan under Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and Section 2520.104-24 of the Department of Labor Regulations, maintained primarily for the purpose of providing employee welfare benefits, to the extent that it provides welfare benefits, and under Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA, as a plan that is unfunded and maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation, to the extent that it provides such compensation, in each case for a select group of management or highly compensated employees.
		

		
			 
		

		
			19.          Severability. If a provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
		

		
			 
		

		
			20.          Nonassignability. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10(b), benefits under the Plan may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, anticipated, mortgaged, or otherwise encumbered, transferred, hypothecated, or conveyed in advance of actual receipt the amounts, if any, payable hereunder, or any part thereof by the Participant.
		

		
			 
		

		
			21.          Effective Date. The Plan was adopted and became effective as of December 11, 2006, was amended and restated as of May 7, 2007, January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2012 and was further amended and restated effective as of February 3, 2015.
		

		

		

		 

		

			2

		

		

			 

		

 

		 
		

		
			Schedule A
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						Employee

					
					
						 

					
					
						Severance Multiple

					
					
						 

					
					
						Participation Period

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						Paul W. Taylor

					
					
						 

					
					
						3

					
					
						 

					
					
						Until removed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						Michael B. Hobbs

					
					
						 

					
					
						2

					
					
						 

					
					
						Until removed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						Cathy P. Goss

					
					
						 

					
					
						2

					
					
						 

					
					
						Until removed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						Christopher G. Treece

					
					
						 

					
					
						2

					
					
						 

					
					
						Until removed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		

		

		 

		

			3

		

		

			 

		

 

		 
		

		
			Schedule B
		

		
			 
		

		
			Additional Reimbursement Payments by the Company
		

		
			 
		

		
			(a)           Pursuant to Section 4(e) of the Plan, in the event it shall be determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution (or any acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) by the Company (or any of its affiliated entities or any entity which effectuates a Change in Control (or any of its affiliated entities) to or for the benefit of the Participant (whether pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Schedule B) (the “Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Participant with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Company shall pay to the Participant an additional payment (a “Reimbursement Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by the Participant of all taxes (including any Excise Tax) imposed upon the Reimbursement Payment, the Participant retains an amount of the Reimbursement Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. For purposes of determining the amount of the Reimbursement Payment, the Participant shall be deemed to (i) pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rates of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Reimbursement Payment is to be made and (ii) pay applicable state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in which the Reimbursement Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.  The Excise Reimbursement Payment shall be paid to the Participant on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Date of Termination (at the same time as the payments are made pursuant to Section 4(b) and Section 4(c) of the Plan).
		

		
			 
		

		
			(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) above, if it shall be determined that the Participant is entitled to a Reimbursement Payment, but that the Payments would not be subject to the Excise Tax if the Payments were reduced by an amount that is no more than 10% of the portion of the Payments that would be treated as “parachute payments” under Section 280G of the Code, then the amounts payable to the Participant under this Plan shall be reduced (but not below zero) to the maximum amount that could be paid to the Participant without giving rise to the Excise Tax (the “Safe Harbor Cap”), and no Reimbursement Payment shall be made to the Participant.  The reduction of the amounts payable hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing first the benefits under Section 4(d), followed by the payments under Section 4(c) and then the payment under Section 4(b).
		

		
			 
		

		
			(c)           Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, all determinations required to be made under this Schedule B, including whether and when a Reimbursement Payment is required, the amount of such Reimbursement Payment, the amount of any Option Redetermination (as defined below), the reduction of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Cap and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by a public accounting firm that is retained by the Company as of the date immediately before the Change in Control (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Participant within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Company or the Participant that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company (collectively, the “Determination”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Accounting Firm may use the Option Redetermination amount in determining the reduction of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Cap. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event (i) the Board shall determine before the Change in Control that the Accounting Firm is precluded from performing such services under applicable auditor independence rules or (ii) the Audit Committee of the Board determines that it does not want the Accounting Firm to perform such services because of auditor independence concerns or (iii) the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the person(s) effecting the Change in Control, the Board shall appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the “Accounting Firm” for all purposes of this Plan). All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company, and the Company shall enter into any agreement reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the performance of the services hereunder.  If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by a Participant, it shall furnish the Participant with a written opinion to such effect, and to the effect that failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on the Participant’s applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. In the event the Accounting Firm determines that the Payments shall be reduced to the Safe Harbor Cap, it shall furnish the Participant with a written opinion to such effect. The Determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Participant.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(d)           As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the Determination, it is possible that Reimbursement Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (“Underpayment”) or Reimbursement Payments are made by the Company which should not have been made (“Overpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event the amount of the Reimbursement Payment is determined by the Accounting Firm, the Company (which includes the position taken by the Company on its federal income tax return), or by final determination of a court or Internal Revenue Service proceeding (that is final and conclusively resolved) to be less than the amount necessary to reimburse the Participant for the Excise Tax, the amount of such Underpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) shall be paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Participant as follows: (1) if the determination is made by the Accounting Firm or the Company, such payment shall be paid within thirty (30) days after such determination, or (2) if the determination is made by a court or Internal Revenue Service proceeding, such payment shall be paid within thirty (30) days after such determination is final.  In the event the amount of the Reimbursement Payment is determined, by final determination of a court or Internal Revenue Service proceeding (that is final and conclusively resolved), to exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the Participant for the Excise Tax, the amount of such Overpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2) of the Code) shall be promptly paid by the Participant (to the extent the Participant has received a refund if the applicable Excise Tax has been paid to the Internal Revenue Service) to or for the benefit of the Company. The Participant shall cooperate, to the extent his or her expenses are reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the Company in connection with any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the Excise Tax. In the event that the Company makes a Reimbursement Payment to the Participant and subsequently the Company determines that the value of any accelerated vesting of stock options held by the Participant shall be redetermined within the context of Treasury Regulation § 1.280G-1 Q/A 33 (the “Option Redetermination”), the Participant shall (i) file with the Internal Revenue Service an amended federal income tax return that claims a refund of the overpayment of the Excise Tax attributable to such Option Redetermination and (ii) promptly pay the refunded Excise Tax to the Company; provided that the Company shall pay all reasonable professional fees incurred in the preparation of the Participant’s amended federal income tax return. If the Option Redetermination occurs in the same year that the Reimbursement Payment is included in the Participant’s taxable income, then in addition to returning the refund to the Company, the Participant will also promptly return to the Company any tax benefit realized by the return of such refund and the return of the additional tax benefit payment (all determinations pursuant to this sentence shall be made by the Accounting Firm). In the event that amounts payable to the Participant under this Plan were reduced pursuant to paragraph (b) above and subsequently the Participant determines there has been an Option Redetermination that reduces the value of the Payments attributable to such options, the Company shall promptly pay to the Participant any amounts payable under this Plan that were not previously paid solely as a result of the provisions of paragraph (b) above, up to the Safe Harbor Cap.
		

		
			 
		

		

		

		 

		

			4

		

		

			 

		

 

		 
		

		
			Schedule C
		

		
			 
		

		
			FORM OF CIC SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE (HEREIN
“AGREEMENT”)
		

		
			 
		

		
			In connection with the termination of your employment by Guaranty Bancorp (the “Company”), effective                      , 20      , and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Guaranty Bancorp Change In Control Severance Plan, as amended and restated effective February 3, 2015 and as further amended from time to time (the “Plan”), the Company agrees to provide you, contingent upon your execution of this Agreement, with the following severance payment and benefits:
		

		
			 
		

		
			      [description of severance payment and benefits to be inserted]
		

		
			 
		

		
			In consideration of the payment and benefits set forth above, you agree knowingly and voluntarily as follows:
		

		
			 
		

		
			1.                                      You knowingly and voluntarily waive and release forever whatever claims you ever had, now have or hereafter may have against the Company and any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, any of their successors or assigns and any of their present and former employees, directors, officers and agents (collectively referred to as “Releasees”), based upon any matter, occurrence or event existing or occurring before the execution of this Agreement, including anything relating to your employment with the Company and any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or to the termination of such employment or to your status as a shareholder or creditor of the Company.
		

		
			 
		

		
			This release and waiver includes but is not limited to any rights or claims under United States federal, state or local law and the national or local law of any foreign country (statutory or decisional), for wrongful or abusive discharge, for breach of any contract, for misrepresentation, for breach of any securities laws, or for discrimination based upon race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other unlawful criterion or circumstance, including rights or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”)(except that you do not waive ADEA rights or claims that may arise after the date of this Agreement).
		

		
			 
		

		
			2.                                      You agree never to institute any claim, suit or action at law or in equity against any Releasee in any way by reason of any claim you ever had, now have or hereafter may have relating to the matters described in the two preceding paragraphs.
		

		
			 
		

		
			3.                                      The payment and benefits described herein shall be in lieu of any and all other amounts to which you might be, are now or may become entitled from the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you hereby expressly waive any right or claim that you may have or assert to payment for salary, bonuses, medical, dental or hospitalization benefits, life insurance benefits or attorneys’ fees; provided that notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, you do not waive any of your rights and the Company shall comply with its obligations with respect to continuation coverage requirements under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (commonly referred to as “COBRA”).
		

		
			 
		

		
			4.                                      You hereby expressly agree to comply with the restrictions on your conduct set forth in Section 9 of the Plan for the periods applicable to you (as if such Section 9 were directly incorporated in this Agreement). You acknowledge that your compliance with Section 9 of the Plan is a material condition to the Company providing you with the payment and benefits described herein and that the Company would not have agreed to provide such payment or benefits absent your agreement. You also acknowledge that Section 9 of the Plan limits your ability to earn a livelihood in a Competitive Enterprise (as defined in the Plan) and your relationships with Clients (as defined in the Plan). You acknowledge, however, that complying with Section 9 of the Plan will not result in severe economic hardship for you or your family.
		

		
			 
		

		
			[Your signature below will also constitute confirmation that (i) you have been given at least 21 days within which to consider this release and its consequences, (ii) you have been advised before signing this Agreement to consult, and have consulted, with an attorney of your choice, and (iii) you have been advised that you may revoke this Agreement at any time during the 7 day period immediately following the date you signed this letter.] [Subject to revision based on circumstances of participant, and in accordance with applicable law]
		

		
			 
		

		
			This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of State of Colorado.
		

		
			 
		

		
			Please confirm by returning to                             the enclosed copy of this Agreement, signed in the place provided, that you have knowingly and voluntarily decided to accept and agree to the foregoing.
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
					
						GUARANTY BANCORP

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						Name:

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						Title:

				

		
			 
		

			
					
						AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						Name:

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						Date:

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		 

		

			5brx8k02092015ex101

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of February 5, 2015 (this “Amendment No. 1”), is by and among BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”).  Reference is made to that certain Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2013 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders referenced therein and the Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended to release the Parent Guarantors from their respective obligations under the Parent Guaranty, and the Lenders are willing to so amend the Credit Agreement as set forth herein; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1.    AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT.  As of the Amendment Effective Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

1.1    Amendments to Section 1.01.  

(a)The definition of “Guaranties” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is restated in its entirety to read as follows:

““Guaranties” means, collectively, any Subsidiary Guaranty (and each individually a “Guaranty”).”
(b)    The definition of “Guarantors” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is restated in its entirety to read as follows:

““Guarantors” means, subject to release as provided in Section 5.10(a), any Additional Subsidiary Guarantor, if it provides a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.10(a).”
(c)    The definitions of “Parent Guarantors” and “Parent Guaranty” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement are hereby deleted in their entirety.

(d)    Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding the following new definition of “Parent Companies” immediately after the definition of “Ownership Share”:

““Parent Companies” means the Limited Partner and the General Partner.”
(e)    The definition of “Subsidiary Guaranty” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is restated in its entirety to read as follows:

““Subsidiary Guaranty” means, collectively, any Guaranty in substantially the form of Exhibit F that may be executed and delivered after the Effective Date by an Additional Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.10(a).

(f)    The definition of “Total Secured Indebtedness” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended by deleting the words “or Section 5.10(b)” at the end of such definition.

1.2    Amendments to Articles I, III, V, VI and VII Regarding Parent Guarantors.  Each of the definitions of “Material Adverse Effect” and “Material Indebtedness” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement and each of Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.08, 3.09, 3.12, 5.02(b), 5.03, 5.04, 5.05, 5.06, 5.07, 6.02, 6.04, 7.01(f), 7.01(g), 7.01(h), 7.01(i), 7.01(j) and 7.01(k) of the Credit Agreement are amended by (a) deleting the words “Parent Guarantor” each time they appear in such definition or section and substituting the words “Parent Company” in place thereof and (b) deleting the words “Parent Guarantors” each time they appear in such definition or section and substituting the words “Parent Companies” in place thereof.

1.3    Amendment to Section 2.17.  Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement is amended by inserting the following new clause (j) after clause (i) thereof:

“(j)    FATCA Acknowledgement.  For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after February __, 2015, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Loans as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).”
1.4    Amendment to Section 5.10.  Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement is amended by deleting paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 5.10 in their entirety and relabeling the current paragraph (d) of Section 5.10 as paragraph (b).

1.5    Amendment to Section 9.02.  Clause (vii) of the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) of the Credit Agreement is amended by deleting the words “release either of the Parent Guarantors from its obligations under the Parent Guaranty, or” in their entirety.

1.6    Amendment to Exhibits.  The exhibits to the Credit Agreement are amended by adding a new Exhibit F in the form attached hereto as Annex I.

SECTION 2.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER

In order to induce the Lenders and Administrative Agent to enter into this Amendment No. 1, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders and Administrative Agent that the following statements are true, correct and complete:
(i)    the Borrower has the requisite power and authority to make, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment No. 1 and the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment No. 1 (the “Amended Agreement”, and together with this Amendment No. 1, the “Amendment Documents”);
(ii)    the execution, delivery and performance of the Amendment Documents are within the Borrower’s partnership powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary partnership or other organizational action on the part of the Borrower;
(iii)    the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment No. 1 (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Parent Companies, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority, except 

for any violation of any applicable law or regulation that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Parent Companies, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Parent Companies, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any violation or default that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Parent Companies, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(iv)    each of the Amendment Documents has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law);
(v)    the representations and warranties made or deemed made by the Borrower in any Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on the Amendment Effective Date except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date); and
(vi)    no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment No. 1.
SECTION 3.    RELEASE OF THE PARENT GUARANTORS

As of the Amendment Effective Date, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders hereby (a) agree that the Parent Guaranty is terminated and is of no further force and effect and (b) release and forever discharge each of the Parent Guarantors from any obligations it may have to the Administrative Agent and Lenders as a Guarantor under the Parent Guaranty.
SECTION 4.    CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS
This Amendment No. 1 shall become effective only upon the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (the date of satisfaction of such conditions being referred to as the “Amendment Effective Date”):
(a)    The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have indicated their consent to this Amendment No. 1 by the execution and delivery of the signature pages hereto to the Administrative Agent.

(b)The Administrative Agent shall have received all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel for which the Borrower agrees it is responsible pursuant to Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement) that are due and payable in connection with this Amendment No. 1.

SECTION 5.    MISCELLANEOUS

(a)    Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and the Other Loan Documents.

(i)    On and after the effective date of this Amendment No. 1, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof”, “herein” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the “Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.
(ii)    Except as specifically amended by this Amendment No. 1, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.
(iii)    The execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment No. 1 shall not, except as expressly provided herein, constitute a waiver of any provision of, or operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
(iv)    This Amendment No. 1 shall constitute a Loan Document.
(b)    Headings.  Section and subsection headings in this Amendment No. 1 are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment No. 1 for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

(c)Applicable Law.  THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(d)Counterparts; Effectiveness.  This Amendment No. 1 may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to the same document.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment No. 1 by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment No. 1.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 1 to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

BORROWER:
	
		
	BRIXMOR OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP

	 
	 

	By:
	Brixmor OP GP LLC, its general partner

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Steven F. Siegel

	Name:
	Steven F. Siegel

	Title:
	Executive Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

LENDERS:
	
		
	J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

	as Administrative Agent and as Lender

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Mohammad S. Hasan

	Name:
	Mohammad S. Hasan

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Ann E. Kenzie

	Name:
	Ann E. Kenzie

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Bryan Gregory

	Name:
	Bryan Gregory

	Title:
	Director

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	BARCLAYS BANK PLC

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Christine Aharonian

	Name:
	Christine Aharonian

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	CITIBANK, N.A.

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/John C. Rowland

	Name:
	John C. Rowland

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/J.T. Johnston Coe

	Name:
	J.T. Johnston Coe

	Title:
	Managing Director

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Joanna Soliman

	Name:
	Joanna Soliman 

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Joshua Freedman 

	Name:
	Joshua Freedman

	Title:
	Authorized Signatory

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Brian P. Kelly

	Name:
	Brian P. Kelly

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Darlene Arias

	Name:
	Darlene Arias

	Title:
	Director

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Houssem Daly

	Name:
	Houssem Daly

	Title:
	Associate Director

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Andrew Agius

	Name:
	Andrew Agius

	Title:
	Associate

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	SUNTRUST BANK

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Bryan P. McFarland

	Name:
	Bryan P. McFarland

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	REGIONS BANK

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Lori Chambers

	Name:
	Lori Chambers

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Jennifer L. Power

	Name:
	Jennifer L. Power

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Gary D. Houston

	Name:
	Gary D. Houston

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Eric Searls

	Name:
	Eric Searls

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Rick Laudisi

	Name:
	Rick Laudisi

	Title:
	Managing Director

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAl ASSOCIATION

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Frederick H. Denecke

	Name:
	Frederick H. Denecke

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	RBS CITIZENS BANK, N.A.

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Craig Aframe

	Name:
	Craig Aframe

	Title:
	U.P.

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Hideo Notsu

	Name:
	Hideo Notsu

	Title:
	Executive Director

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	TD BANK, N.A.

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Anthony A. Filorimo

	Name:
	Anthony A. Filorimo

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Marla S Bergrin

	Name:
	Marla S. Bergrin

	Title:
	Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A.

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/James M. Armstrong

	Name:
	James M. Armstrong

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

	
		
	FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	 
	 

	By:
	/s/Matthew T. Mathis

	Name:
	Matthew T. Mathis

	Title:
	Senior Vice President

	 
	 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement]

EXHIBIT F                                                ANNEX I

FORM OF 
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

THIS    GUARANTY  ("Guaranty")   is   executed   as   of    [______________],  by
[________________], (the "Guarantor"), for the benefit of JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
("Administrative Agent"), in its capacity as the administrative agent for the Lenders under the Loan Agreement defined below, for the benefit of itself and such Lenders.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Loan Agreement defined below.

RECITALS

A.        Brixmor Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership ("Borrower"), Administrative Agent and the Lenders have entered into that certain Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 16, 2013, as amended (as amended and in effect from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed to make available to Borrower Loans and certain other financial accommodations on the terms and conditions set forth in the Loan Agreement.

B.    Pursuant to Section 5.10(a) of the  Loan Agreement, Borrower has elected that the
Guarantor become an Additional Subsidiary Guarantor (as defined therein).

C.    The .Guarantor is a subsidiary of Borrower and will directly benefit from the
Lenders' making the Loans and other financial accommodations to Borrower.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement to the Lenders to continue extending credit and other financial accommodations to Borrower, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor agrees with Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as follows:

Section I.    Guaranty of Obligations.    The Guarantor hereby absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, jointly and severally with all existing and future guarantors of the Obligations, the payment and performance of the Obligations as and when the same shall be due and payable, whether by lapse of time, by acceleration of maturity or otherwise.  The Guarantor hereby absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally covenants and agrees that it is liable, jointly and severally with all existing and future guarantors of the Obligations, for the Obligations 

as a primary obligor, and that the Guarantor shall fully perform each and every term and provision hereof.   This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection only.   Administrative Agent shall not be required to exhaust any right or remedy or take any action against Borrower

or any other person or entity.   The Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantor and Administrative Agent and the Lenders, the Obligations may be declared to be due and payable for the purposes of this Guaranty notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition which may prevent, delay or vitiate any declaration as regards Borrower and that in the event of a declaration or attempted declaration, the Obligations shall immediately become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of this Guaranty.   Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guarantor, and by its acceptance of this Guaranty, Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, hereby confirms that the parties intend that this Guaranty not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law (as defined below), the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal, state or foreign law to the extent applicable to this Guaranty.  In furtherance of that intention, the liabilities of the Guarantor under this Guaranty (the "Liabilities") shall be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other person with respect to the Liabilities, result in the Liabilities of the Guarantor under this Guaranty not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.   For purposes hereof, "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors. This paragraph with respect to the maximum liability of the Guarantor is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and neither the Guarantor nor any other person or entity shall have any right or claim under this paragraph with respect to such maximum liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law.  The Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the maximum liability of the Guarantor without impairing this Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders, hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase the Guarantor's obligations hereunder beyond its maximum liability.

Section 2.  Guaranty Absolute.  The Guarantor guarantees that the Obligations shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.  The liability of the Guarantor under this Guaranty is absolute and unconditional irrespective of:   (a) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any of the terms of any Loan Document, including any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon; (b) any release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, or failure to act by Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect to, any other guaranty or support document, or any exchange, release or non-perfection of, or failure to act by Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect to, any collateral, for all or any of the Obligations; (c) any present or future law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction (whether of right or in fact) or of any agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend, 

restructure or otherwise affect any term of the Obligations or any Loan Document; (d) any change in the corporate existence, structure, or ownership of Borrower; (e) without being limited by the foregoing, any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; and (f) any other setoff, recoupment, defense or counterclaim whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other  theory)  with respect to the  Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated   thereby  which  might  constitute  a  legal  or  equitable  defense  available  to,  or discharge of, Borrower or a guarantor, other than the payment in full of the Obligations.

Section 3.  Guaranty Irrevocable.  This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty of the payment of all Obligations  now or hereafter  existing  and shall remain in full force and effect until this Guaranty is terminated pursuant to Section 17 hereof.

Section 4.  Waiver of Certain Rights and Notices.   To the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable  law, except as specifically  provided herein, the Guarantor  hereby waives and agrees not to assert or take advantage of (a) any right to require Administrative  Agent or any Lender to proceed against or exhaust its recourse against Borrower, any other guarantor or endorser, or any security or collateral held by Administrative  Agent (for the benefit of Lenders) at any time or to pursue  any other  remedy  in its power before  proceeding  against  Guarantor  hereunder; (b) the defense of the statute of limitations  in any action hereunder; (c) any defense that may arise by reason of (i) the incapacity,  lack of authority,  death or disability of Borrower, the Guarantor or any other or others, (ii) the revocation or repudiation  hereof by the Guarantor or the revocation or repudiation of any of the Loan Documents by Borrower or any other or others, (iii) the failure of Administrative  Agent (on behalf of the Lenders)  to file or enforce a claim against the estate (either in administration,  bankruptcy or any other proceeding) of Borrower or any other or others, (iv) the unenforceability  in whole or in part of any Loan Document, (v) Administrative  Agent's election  (on behalf of the Lenders),  in any proceeding  instituted  under the federal Bankruptcy Code,  of  the  application  of  Section  1111(b)(2)  of  the  federal  Bankruptcy  Code,  or  (vi)  any borrowing or grant of a security interest under Section 364 of the federal Bankruptcy Code; (d) presentment,  demand  for  payment,  protest,  notice  of  discharge,  notice  of  acceptance  of  this Guaranty, and indulgences and notices of any other kind whatsoever; (e) any defense based upon an election  of remedies  by Administrative  Agent (on behalf of the Lenders)  which destroys or otherwise impairs the subrogation rights of the Guarantor or the right of the Guarantor to proceed against   Borrower   for   reimbursement,   or   both;   (f)  any   defense   based   upon  any   taking, modification or release of any collateral or other guarantees, or any failure to perfect any security interest  in, or the  taking  of or failure  to take  any  other  action  with  respect  to any collateral securing payment or performance of the Obligations; (g) any right to require marshaling of assets and liabilities,  sale in inverse order of alienation,  notice of acceptance of this Guaranty and of any obligations  to which it applies or may apply; and (h) any rights or defenses based upon an offset  by  the  Guarantor  against  any  obligation  now  or  hereafter  owed  to  the  Guarantor  by Borrower; provided,  however, that this Section 4 shall not constitute a waiver on the part of the Guarantor of any defense of payment.  The Guarantor shall remain liable hereunder to the extent set forth herein, notwithstanding  any act, omission  or thing which might otherwise operate as a legal  or  equitable  discharge  of  the  Guarantor,  until  the  termination  of  this  Guaranty  under Section 3.

Section 5.  Reinstatement.  This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise   be  returned   by  the  Lenders  on  the  insolvency,  bankruptcy  or  reorganization   of Borrower   or  otherwise,   all  as  though  the  payment  had  not  been  made,  whether  or  not Administrative   Agent  is  in  possession  of  the  Guaranty;  provided,   

however,  that  no  such reinstatement shall occur if this Guaranty has terminated pursuant to Section 17(b) hereof.

Section 6.   Subrogation.   The Guarantor shall  not exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation, by any payment made under this Guaranty or otherwise, until all the Obligations have been paid in full and the Loan Documents are no longer in effect.  If any amount is paid to the Guarantor on account of subrogation rights under this Guaranty at any time when all the Obligations have not been paid in full, the amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Lenders and shall be promptly paid to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, to be credited and applied to the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured or absolute or contingent, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.   If the Guarantor makes payment to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, of all or any part of the Obligations and all the Obligations are paid in full and the Loan Documents are no longer in effect,  Administrative  Agent  shall,  at  the  Guarantor's  request,  execute  and  deliver  to  the Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Guarantor of the interest in the Obligations resulting from the payment.

Section 7.   Subordination.   Without limiting Administrative Agent's  rights under any other agreement, any liabilities owed by Borrower to the Guarantor in connection with any extension of credit or financial accommodation by the Guarantor to or for the account of Borrower, including but not limited to interest accruing at the agreed contract rate after the commencement of  a  bankruptcy  or  similar  proceeding,  are  hereby  subordinated  to  the Obligations, and such liabilities of Borrower to the Guarantor, if Administrative Agent so requests, shall be collected, enforced and received by the Guarantor as trustee for the Lenders and shall be paid over to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, on account of the Obligations but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty.

Section 8.  Certain Taxes.  The Guarantor further agrees that all payments to be made hereunder shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and free and clear of, and without deduction for, any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, withholdings or restrictions or conditions of any nature whatsoever now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any country or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein as provided in Section 2.17 of the Loan Agreement.

Section 9. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor represents and warrants that: 

(a) (i) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty are within the Guarantor's corporate, limited liability company  or  other  organizational  powers  and  have  been  duly  authorized  by  all  necessary corporate, limited liability company or other 

organizational action, (iii) this Guaranty has been duly  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Guarantor  and  constitutes  a  legal,  valid  and  binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty by the Guarantor (A) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (B) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Guarantor or any order  of  any  Governmental  Authority,  except  for  any  violation  of  any  applicable law  or regulation that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (C) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Guarantor or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Guarantor, except for any violation or default that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (D) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Guarantor; and

(b) in executing and delivering this Guaranty, the Guarantor has (i) without reliance on Administrative Agent or any Lender or any information received from Administrative Agent or any Lender and based upon such documents and information it deems appropriate, made an independent investigation of the transactions contemplated hereby and Borrower, Borrower's business, assets, operations, prospects and condition, financial or otherwise, and any circumstances which may bear upon such transactions, Borrower or the obligations and risks undertaken herein with respect to the Obligations; (ii) adequate means to obtain from Borrower on a continuing basis information concerning Borrower; (iii) full and complete access to the Loan Documents and any other documents executed in connection with the Loan Documents; and (iv) not relied and will not rely upon any representations or warranties of Administrative Agent or any Lender not embodied herein or any acts heretofore or hereafter taken by Administrative Agent or any Lender  (including but not limited to any review by Administrative Agent or any Lender of the affairs of Borrower).

Section 10.  Covenants.  The Guarantor will perform and comply with all covenants applicable to the Guarantor, or which Borrower is required to cause the Guarantor to comply with, under the terms of the Loan Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents as if the same were more fully set forth herein.

Section 11. Remedies Generally. The remedies provided in this Guaranty are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

Section 12.  Setoff.  If a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and to the extent permitted under Section 9.08 of the Loan Agreement, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Guarantor against any of and all the Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand 

under this Guaranty and although such Obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

Section 13.  Formalities.  The Guarantor waives presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of acceptance of this Guaranty or incurrence of any of the Obligations and any other formality with respect to any of the Obligations or this Guaranty.

Section 14.  Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, nor consent to any departure by the Guarantor therefrom, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by Administrative Agent, and then the waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No failure on the part of Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under this Guaranty shall operate as a waiver or preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

Section 15.   Expenses.   The Guarantor shall reimburse Administrative Agent and the Lenders on demand for all costs, expenses and charges incurred by Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the performance or enforcement of this Guaranty, subject, in each case, to the terms and limitations set forth in Section 9.03 of the Loan Agreement.   The obligations of the Guarantors under this Section shall survive the termination ofthis Guaranty.

Section 16.   Assignment.   This Guaranty shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of the Guarantor, Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns; provided that the Guarantor may not assign or transfer its rights or obligations under this Guaranty except as provided in the Loan Agreement.   Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent and each Lender may assign, sell participations in or otherwise transfer its rights under the Loan Documents to any other person or entity in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, and the other person or entity shall then become vested with all the rights granted to Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, in this Guaranty or otherwise.

Section 17.    Termination.  This Guaranty and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent and the Guarantor hereunder shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party upon (a) the payment in full of the obligations and other amounts payable under this Guaranty and the Loan Documents, or (b) the release of this Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.10 of the Loan Agreement, whereby the Administrative Agent shall, at the request and expense of Borrower and without the need for any consent or approval by the Lenders, execute and deliver an instrument to evidence any such release in a form reasonably acceptable to Borrower and Administrative Agent.

Section 18.  Captions.  The headings and captions in this Guaranty are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of this Guaranty.

Section 19.  Notices.  All notices or other written communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy or email, as follows:

(a)     if to the Guarantor, to it at [_________________________], Attention of
[_________________] (TelecopyNo. [________________]); and

(b)     if to Administrative  Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Services Group, 500 Stanton Christiana Road, Ops Building 2, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19713-2107, Attention of Taieshia Reefer (Telecopy No. (302) 634-4733), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 383 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10179, Attention of Mohammad S. Hasan (Telecopy No. (646) 328-3040).

The Guarantor and Administrative Agent may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications  hereunder by notice to the other party.  All notices and other communications  given to the Guarantor or Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Guaranty shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

Section 20.  Governing Law: Jurisdiction: Consent to Service of Process.

(a)        This Guaranty shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State ofNew York.

(b)       Each party to this Guaranty hereby irrevocably  and unconditionally  submits, for itself and its property,  to the exclusive jurisdiction  of the Supreme  Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and of the United States District Court for the Southern District ofNew York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each party to this Guaranty hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined  solely in such New York State or, to the extent permitted  by law, in such Federal court.   Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced  in other jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment  or in any other manner provided by law.   Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  nothing  in this  Guaranty  shall  be deemed  or operate to preclude (i) Administrative  Agent or any Lender from bringing suit or taking other legal action in any other jurisdiction  to realize on any security for the Obligations  (in which case any party shall be entitled to assert any claim or defense other than any objection to the laying of venue of such action or the action having been brought in an inconvenient forum but including any claim or defense that this Section 20(b) would otherwise require to be asserted in a legal action or proceeding in a New York court), or to enforce a judgment or other court order in favor of Administrative Agent or any Lender, (ii) any party from bringing any legal action or proceeding in any jurisdiction  for the recognition  and enforcement  of any judgment,  (iii) if all such New York  courts  decline  jurisdiction  over  any  Person,  or  decline  (or,  in the  case  of  the  Federal District  court, lack) jurisdiction  over any subject  matter  of such action or proceeding,  a legal action or proceeding may be brought with respect thereto in another court having jurisdiction and (iv) in the event a legal action or proceeding is brought against any party 

hereto or involving any of its assets or property in another court (without any collusive assistance by such party or any of its subsidiaries  or Affiliates), such party from asserting a claim or defense (including any claim or defense that this Section 20(b) would otherwise require to be asserted in a legal action or proceeding in a New York court) in any such action or proceeding.

(c)        Each party to this Guaranty hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this Guaranty in any court referred to in subsection (b) above.  Each party to this Guaranty hereby irrevocably  waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d)       Each  party  to  this  Guaranty  irrevocably  consents  to service  of  process  in the manner provided for notices herein.  Nothing in this Guaranty will affect the right of any party to this Guaranty to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 21.   Invalid Provisions.   If any provision  of this Guaranty is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term of this Guaranty, such provision shall be fully severable  and this Guaranty shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable  provision had never comprised a part of this Guaranty, and the remaining  provisions  of this Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Guaranty, unless such continued effectiveness of this Guaranty, as modified, would be contrary to the basic understandings and intentions of the parties as expressed herein.

Section  22.     ENTIRETY.      THIS  GUARANTY  AND  THE  OTHER  LOAN DOCUMENTS EXECUTED BY THE GUARANTOR EMBODY THE FINAL, ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE GUARANTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS WITH  RESPECT  TO  THE  SUBJECT  MATTER  HEREOF  AND  THEREOF  AND SUPERSEDES ANY AND ALL PRIOR COMMITMENTS, AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS, AND UNDERSTANDINGS, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, RELATING  TO THE SUBJECT  MATTER  HEREOF  AND THEREOF.   THIS GUARANTY AND  THE  OTHER   LOAN   DOCUMENTS   EXECUTED   BY  THE  GUARANTOR   ARE INTENDED BY THE GUARANTOR,  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT AND THE LENDERS AS A FINAL  AND  COMPLETE  EXPRESSION  OF  THE  TERMS  HEREOF  AND  THEREOF, AND  NO  COURSE   OF  DEALING   AMONG   THE  GUARANTOR,   ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT  AND  THE  LENDERS,  NO  COURSE  OF  PERFORMANCE,  NO  TRADE PRACTICES,  AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS OR OTHER EXTRINSIC EVIDENCE OF ANY NATURE SHALL BE USED TO CONTRADICT,  VARY, SUPPLEMENT OR MODIFY ANY TERM OF THIS GUARANTY  OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT  EXECUTED BY THE GUARANTOR.   THERE ARE NO ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GUARANTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS.

Section  23.   WAIVER  OF RIGHT  TO  TRIAL  BY  JURY.    THE  GUARANTOR AND, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE  HEREOF, ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, ON BEHALF OF THE    LENDERS,     EACH    HEREBY    WAIVES,     TO    THE    FULLEST    EXTENT PERMITTED  BY APPLICABLE  LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY  IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING  DIRECTLY  OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING  OUT OF  OR  RELATING   TO  THIS   GUARANTY   OR  THE  TRANSACTIONS 

CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER  THEORY).     THE  GUARANTOR   AND,  BY  ITS  ACCEPTANCE  HEREOF, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ON BEHALF OF THE LENDERS, EACH (A) CERTIFIES THAT  NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT  OR  ATTORNEY  OF  THE  OTHER  PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY  OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER  PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK  TO ENFORCE  THE FOREGOING WAIVER  AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT  IT  AND SUCH  OTHER PARTY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO EXECUTE OR ACCEPT THIS GUARANTY BY, AMONG  OTHER  THINGS,  THE  MUTUAL  WAIVERS  AND  CERTIFICATIONS  IN THIS SECTION.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

EXHIBIT F

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first above written.

[GUARANTOR]

By:_________________________________
       Name:
                                                                                      Title:

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