Document:

Exhibit 10.9

Exhibit 10.9
NII HOLDINGS, INC. 
CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN 
(As Amended and Restated Effective June 1, 2011)
     1. General Statement of Purpose. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of NII Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) has considered the effect a change of control of the Company may have on key management employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Given the level of acquisition and change of control activity in today's business environment, the Board recognizes and understands the concerns such employees have for their careers. The possible occurrence of a change of control transaction may cause key management employees to consider major career changes in an effort to assure financial security for themselves and their families. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of key management employees by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by pending or threatened change of control and to encourage the full attention and dedication of those employees to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending change of control, and to provide the Company's key management employees with compensation and benefit arrangements upon a change of control which ensure that the compensation and benefit expectations of those employees will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of comparable companies. 
     The Board recognizes that the possibility of a change of control exists and desires to assure itself of both the present and future continuity of management, desires to establish certain severance benefits for certain of its employees applicable in a change of control, and wishes to ensure that such employees are not practically disabled from discharging their duties in respect of a proposed or actual transaction involving a change of control. 
     2. Effective and Termination Dates. The Plan was originally effective as of July 23, 2003.  This Amendment and Restatement is effective June 1, 2011 (the “Effective Date”). The Plan will automatically terminate when all benefits payable hereunder have been paid. 
     3. Definitions. Where the following words and phrases appear in the Plan, they shall have the respective meanings set forth below: 
          (a) “Accrued Benefits” means Base Salary, Equity Compensation and other cash or non-cash benefits earned, vested, or accrued prior to a Covered Employee's termination under Section 4(b), as well as reimbursement for reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by a Covered Employee prior to termination under Section 4(b) and in accordance with the Company's applicable expense reimbursement policies. 
          (b) “Base Salary” means, with respect to each Covered Employee, the annual base salary, exclusive of any bonus, special pay (including any retention pay) or other benefits he or she may receive, but without giving effect to any salary reductions authorized by the Covered Employee under any qualified or non-qualified deferred compensation plan of an Employer, in effect (i) on the date immediately preceding the date of the relevant Change of Control or (ii) on the date of the Covered Employee's termination of employment with his or her Employer, whichever is the highest. 
(c) “Cause” shall mean with respect to any Covered Employee: 
          (i) conviction of a felony involving an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement or theft in connection with his employment with an Employer; 
          (ii) intentional wrongful damage to property, contractual interests or business relationships of an Employer; or 
          (iii) intentional wrongful disclosure of secret processes or confidential information of an Employer in violation of any agreement with or policy of the Employer. 
For purposes of the Plan, no act or failure to act on the part of the Covered Employee shall be deemed “intentional” if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence, but shall be deemed “intentional” only if done or omitted to be done by the Covered Employee not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of his or her Employer. Nothing herein will limit the right of the Covered Employee or his beneficiaries to contest the validity or propriety of any such determination. 
          (d) “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: 
          (i) The Company is merged or consolidated or reorganized into or with another company or other legal entity, and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such resulting company or entity immediately after such transaction is held directly or indirectly in the aggregate by the holders of voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction, including voting securities issuable upon the exercise or conversion of options, warrants or other securities or rights; 

or 
          (ii) The Company sells or otherwise transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another company or other legal entity, and as a result of such sale or other transfer of assets, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such company or other entity immediately after such sale or transfer is held directly or indirectly in the aggregate by the holders of voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale or transfer, including voting securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of options, warrants or other securities or rights; or 
          (iii) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person or entity other than the Board; or 
          (iv) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or 
          (v) An acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either the then outstanding shares (“Outstanding Company Stock”), or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Outstanding Company Voting Securities”), excluding, however, the following: (x) any acquisition directly from the Company other than the acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege unless the security being so converted was itself acquired directly from the Company, (y) any acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (z) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or 
          (vi) Approval by the Board of Directors of the Company of a resolution that a Change of Control has occurred. 
          (e) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto. 
          (f) “Covered Employee” means any individual to whom the Plan applies pursuant to Section 4(a) below. 
(g) “Employee Benefits” means benefits provided to all employees in similarly situated positions to a Covered Employee under the Company's pension (qualified and nonqualified), welfare and fringe benefit plans, programs, policies and agreements. 
          (h) “Employer” means the Company, each of its wholly owned subsidiaries, and any other subsidiary of the Company to which the Plan has been extended by the Board (or by the Compensation Committee of the Board) and which has adopted the Plan with the consent of the Company. 
          (i) “Equity Compensation” means stock options, restricted stock, performance shares and other equity incentive awards. 
          (j) “Good Reason” means, with respect to any Covered Employee:
          (i) any material and adverse change in or reduction of the Covered Employee's duties, responsibilities and authority, as compared in each case to the corresponding circumstances in place on the date immediately preceding the first occurrence of a Change of Control after the Effective Date (the “Reference Date”); or 
          (ii) a relocation of the principal work location at which the Covered Employee is based on the Reference Date to a location more than 40 miles away from such location or a requirement by the Company that the Covered Employee travel on Company business to a substantially greater extent than as compared in each case to the corresponding circumstances prior to the Reference Date which results in a material adverse change in employment conditions for such Covered Employee; or 
          (iii) a material reduction in Base Salary, Target Bonus or bonus potential not agreed to by the Covered Employee, or any other significant adverse financial consequences associated with the Covered Employee's employment in comparison to the corresponding circumstances in place on the Reference Date; or
          (iv) a discontinuance of Employee Benefits following a Change in Control that, in the aggregate, materially reduces in the aggregate the actuarial equivalent value of Employee Benefits available to the Covered Employee prior to the Change in Control; or 
          (v) a failure by the Company to comply with any material provisions of this Plan, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after 

receipt of notice thereof given by the Covered Employee; or 
          (vi) a failure by any successor after a Change of Control has occurred to assume and agree to perform the obligations under the Plan (unless the successor has a legal obligation to assume the Plan and perform the obligations hereunder by operation of law or otherwise).
Any reasonable, good faith determination by the Covered Employee that “Good Reason” exists will be presumptively correct for purposes of this Plan. 
          (k) “Plan” means the NII Holdings, Inc. Change of Control Severance Plan. 
          (l) “Severance Compensation” means Severance Pay and other benefits provided by Sections 5(a) and (b). 
          (m) “Severance Pay” means the amounts payable as set forth in Sections 5(a) and (b). 
          (n) “Severance Period” means the period of time commencing on the date of the first occurrence of a Change of Control and continuing until the earlier of (i) eighteen (18) months after such date or (ii) the Covered Employee's death.  
          (o) “Target Bonus” means the amount obtained by multiplying the Covered Employee's target bonus percentage as established and in effect for the Covered Employee (i) on the Reference Date, or (ii) on the date of the Covered Employee's termination of employment with his or her Employer, whichever is the highest, by the Covered Employee's Base Salary. 
     4. Eligibility; Termination Following a Change of Control. 
          (a) Subject to the limitations described below, the Plan applies to all individuals who are recognized by an Employer as regular full-time salaried employees in any of the position levels (as determined on the Effective Date, and adjusting as appropriate for any changes to the Company's system of classifying employees by position level implemented subsequent to such date) or as otherwise designated in Exhibit A, who are a select group of highly compensated or management employees and either (i) employed by an Employer on or after the date that (x) the Company enters into a definitive agreement providing for a Change of Control, (y) a third party publicly announces a bona fide intention to commence a tender offer for outstanding voting securities of the Company or otherwise to take actions that are reasonably designed and expected to result in a Change of Control or (z) a Change of Control otherwise occurs (the date described in the foregoing clauses (x), (y) or (z) and (ii) below, as appropriate, the “Trigger Date”) or (ii) terminated prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Covered Employee that such termination of employment was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change of Control, then for purposes of this Agreement the Trigger Date shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. 
          (b) A Covered Employee will be entitled to the Severance Compensation described in Section 5 if (i) the Covered Employee's employment is terminated by an Employer during the Severance Period or prior thereto as provided in Section 4(a)(ii) and such termination is without Cause and is not described in Subsection (d) of this Section, or (ii) the Covered Employee voluntarily terminates his employment with his Employer during the Severance Period for Good Reason. 
          (c) A termination of employment described in Subsection (b) of this Section will not affect any rights that the Covered Employee may have pursuant to any agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any other Employer providing Employee Benefits, which rights shall be governed by the terms thereof.  Any Covered Employee entitled to Severance Compensation pursuant to this Plan shall not be entitled to cash severance under any other Company severance plan or program; provided, that, if necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code (or any regulations thereunder), the Severance Compensation of any affected Covered Employee hereunder shall be paid at the same time and in the same form as provided under the other severance plan or program. 
          (d) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section, a Covered Employee will not be entitled to Severance Compensation if his employment with an Employer is terminated during the Severance Period for Cause or because: 
          (i) of the Covered Employee's retirement or voluntary withdrawal from employment, other than as described in Subsection (b)(ii) of this Section;  
          (ii) of the Covered Employee's death; 
          (iii) the Covered Employee becomes permanently disabled within the meaning of, and begins actually to receive disability benefits pursuant to, the long-term disability plan in effect for, or applicable to, the Covered Employee; 
          (iv) of the Covered Employee's failure to return to work after a temporary lay-off; or 
          (v) of the Covered Employee's withdrawal or loss of employment due to personal leave, other than as described in Subsection (b)(ii) of this Section. 
     5. Severance Compensation. 
          (a) If a Covered Employee's employment is terminated in circumstances that entitle the Covered Employee to Severance 

Compensation pursuant to Section 4(b), the Company will: (i) pay to the Covered Employee as Severance Pay in a single lump sum payment the amounts set forth in Exhibit A within thirty (30) days after the termination date, (ii) for certain of the Covered Employees designated in Exhibit A, pay COBRA continuation coverage premiums (as provided in Section 5(b) below) pursuant to COBRA, (iii) provide the Covered Employee with outplacement assistance (as defined in Section 5(c) below), and (iv) provide reimbursement of legal, accounting and other fees and expenses (as defined in Section 5(h) below). 
          (b) The Company shall pay the full premium cost of continued group health care coverage (except that the Company shall not pay for continued coverage under any Company health care flexible spending account) for the Covered Employee identified in Exhibit A and any of his or her dependents participating in the Company's group health care plans under the federal law known as “COBRA” for up to and the lesser of (i) eighteen months or (ii) the time in which the Covered Employee becomes reemployed by another employer and is eligible to receive group health coverage benefits under another employer provided plan; provided, however, that such payments are contingent on the Covered Employee's timely election of COBRA continuation coverage and shall terminate early for any reason permitted under COBRA.  In the event the group health care coverage is provided by the Company on a self-insured basis, any premiums paid by the Company for such coverage shall be treated as paid by the Covered Employee on an after-tax basis.  Except with respect to the foregoing premium payment provisions, this Plan does not otherwise modify the Company's standard COBRA procedures and administration, including, without limitation, the Covered Employee's obligation to notify the Company promptly if the Covered Employee or any of his or her dependents become eligible for benefits under the group health plan of another employer or entitled to Medicare benefits. 
          (c) For six (6) months after a Covered Employee is entitled to Severance Compensation pursuant to Section 4(b), the Company shall provide outplacement assistance to the Covered Employee through an outside management consulting firm selected by the Company and at the sole cost of the Company. 
          (d) Without limiting the rights of a Covered Employee at law or in equity, if the Company fails to make any payment or provide any benefit required to be made or provided hereunder on a timely basis, the Company will pay interest on the amount or value thereof at an annualized rate of interest equal to the so-called composite “prime rate” as quoted from time to time during the relevant period in the Eastern Edition of The Wall Street Journal plus the lesser of 5% or the maximum rate of interest allowed by law. Such interest will be payable quarterly. Any change in such prime rate or maximum rate will be effective on and as of the date of such change. 
          (e) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the rights and obligations under this Section 5 will survive any termination or expiration of the Plan. 
          (f) Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that it shall be determined that any payment or distribution of cash or other compensation or benefit by the Company or any of its affiliates to or for the benefit of any Covered Employee, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement (a “Payment”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto), by reason of being considered “contingent on a change in ownership or control” of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or to any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, being hereafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Covered Employee will be entitled to receive from the Company an additional payment or payments (collectively, a “Gross-Up Payment”). The Gross-Up Payment will be in an amount such that, after payment by the Covered Employee of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Covered Employee retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed on the Payment. The Gross-Up Payment shall be paid to the Covered Employee prior to the date on which any Payment part or all of which is subject to the Excise Tax is made to the Covered Employee. The Covered Employee shall cooperate in all reasonable respects with the Company (but at the Company's sole cost and expense) to attempt to minimize any such tax liability (such cooperation not to include foregoing or deferring any payments or benefits to which he or she is otherwise entitled), and if the Covered Employee later receives a refund of any part of the Excise Tax, such Covered Employee shall promptly after receipt of such refund pay back to the Company so much of the Gross-Up Payment as is required to avoid a windfall.  Any Gross-Up Payment subject Section 409A of the Code shall not exceed the amount permitted, and shall be paid within the timeframe required, under Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(v).
          (g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, on termination of employment of any Covered Employee pursuant to Section 4(b), the Company shall (i) pay to the Covered Employee all Accrued Benefits and (ii) pay or provide to the Covered Employee any others amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Covered Employee is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract or agreement of the Company or its subsidiaries.  
          (h) If a Covered Employee incurs legal, accounting or other fees and expenses in a good faith effort to obtain benefits under this Plan, the Company shall reimburse the Covered Employee upon written request and submission of invoices for 

reasonable legal, accounting or other fees and expenses, regardless of whether the Covered Employee prevails; provided, however that such reimbursement shall apply only with respect to a termination of employment of any Covered Employee pursuant to Section 4(b) or a successor's failure to assume this Plan after a Change in Control. The existence of any controlling case or regulatory law which is directly inconsistent with the position taken by the Covered Employee shall be evidence that the Covered Employee did not act in good faith.  The amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement hereunder during one year shall not be reduced or otherwise affected by the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other year.  The Company shall reimburse any such expenses subject Section 409A of the Code within the timeframe required under Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) or other applicable regulation under Section 409A.
          (i) For purposes of any payment under this Plan to which Section 409A of the Code applies, an employee's termination of employment shall have the same meaning as “separation from service” under Section 409A (and any related regulations).  In the event that an employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A (as determined by the Company or its delegate), any payment under this Section which is subject to Section 409A shall not be made or begin until the expiration of the 6-month period following Employee's termination of employment.  Such delay in payment shall not apply, however, if, at the time of the employee's termination, no equity securities of the Company (or any of its affiliates) is publicly traded (with the meaning of Section 409A) on an established securities market or otherwise.  To the extent applicable, this Plan is intended to comply with the distribution and other requirements of Section 409A.  For any Plan payments or reimbursements subject to Section 409A, the Plan shall be interpreted and applied to the maximum extent possible consistent with Section 409A.
     6. No Mitigation Obligation. The Company hereby acknowledges that it will be difficult for a Covered Employee to find reasonably comparable employment following his termination of employment with his Employer. Accordingly, the provision of Severance Compensation by the Company to a Covered Employee in accordance with the terms of the Plan is hereby acknowledged by the Company to be reasonable, and a Covered Employee will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in the Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of a Covered Employee hereunder or otherwise. 
     7. Certain Payments Not Considered for Other Benefits, etc. Payments of Severance Pay will not be included as earnings for the purpose of calculating contributions or benefits under any Employee Benefit plan of the Company or of any other Employer. Such payments and payments of Severance Pay will not be made from any benefit plan funds, and shall constitute an unfunded, unsecured obligation of the Company. 
     8. Employment Rights. Nothing expressed or implied in the Plan shall create any right or duty on the part of an Employer or a Covered Employee to have the Covered Employee remain in the employment of an Employer at any time prior to or following a Change of Control. 
     9. Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall withhold from any amounts payable under the Plan all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling. 
     10. Successors and Binding Effect. 
          (a) The Company shall require any successor (including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise, and such successor shall be deemed the Company for the purposes of the Plan) to assume and agree to perform the obligations under the Plan in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. The Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, but shall not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by the Company. 
          (b) The rights under the Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each Covered Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and/or legatees. 
          (c) The rights under the Plan are personal in nature and neither the Company nor any Covered Employee shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate the Plan or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in this Section 10. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Covered Employee's right to receive payments hereunder shall not be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by his or her will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 10, the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned, transferred or delegated. 
          (d) The obligation of the Company to make payments and/or provide benefits hereunder shall represent an unsecured obligation of the Company. 
     11. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such State. 
     12. Validity. If any provisions of the Plan or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held 

invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of the Plan and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstances shall not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal shall be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it enforceable, valid and legal. 
     13. Captions. The captions in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and do not define, limit or describe the scope or intent of the Plan or any part hereof and shall not be considered in any construction hereof. 
     14. Construction. The masculine gender, where appearing in the Plan, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender and the singular shall be deemed to include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. 
     15. Type of Plan. This Plan is intended to be, and shall be interpreted as, an unfunded employee welfare benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA) for a select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of Section 2520.104-24 of Department of Labor Regulations). The Plan is a “top hat” employee benefit plan subject to ERISA's enforcement provisions, and it shall be interpreted, administered and enforced in accordance with law. 
     16. Administration of the Plan. 
          (a) In General: The Plan shall be administered by the Company, which shall be the named fiduciary under the Plan. The Company has all power and authority necessary or convenient to administer this Plan, including, but not limited to, the exclusive authority and discretion: (i) to construe and interpret this Plan; (ii) to decide all questions of eligibility for and amount of benefits under this Plan; (iii) to prescribe procedures to be followed and the forms to be used by the Covered Employees pursuant to this Plan; and (iv) to request and receive from all Covered Employees such information as the Company determines is necessary for the proper administration of this Plan.  
          (b) Delegation of Duties: The Company may delegate any of its administrative duties, including, without limitation, duties with respect to the processing, review, investigation, approval and payment of any Severance Pay to a named administrator or administrators. 
          (c) Regulations: The Company shall promulgate any rules and regulations it deems necessary in order to carry out the purposes of the Plan or to interpret the terms and conditions of the Plan; provided, however, that no rule, regulation or interpretation shall be contrary to the provisions of the Plan. 
          (d) Claims Procedure: Except as otherwise provided in the Plan (including, without limitation, in the final sentence of the definition of the term “Good Reason”), the Company shall determine the rights of any employee of the Company to any Severance Compensation hereunder. Claims for benefits under the Plan may be filed in writing with the Company. Written notice of the disposition of a claim shall be furnished to the employee within 90 days after the claim is filed. Up to an additional 90 days may be taken to render an initial benefit determination if the Company concludes that such an extension is necessary for reasons beyond the control of the Plan. If an extension is necessary, the Company must notify the employee, within the initial determination period, of the special circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the Plan expects to make a determination. In the event the claim is denied, the reasons for the denial shall be specifically set forth in the notice in language calculated to be understood by the employee, pertinent provisions of the Plan shall be cited, and, where appropriate, an explanation as to how the employee can perfect the claim will be provided. In addition, the employee shall be furnished with an explanation of the Plan's appeal procedure, including a statement of the employee's right to bring a civil action following an adverse benefit determination on review. If the Company fails to follow the claims procedures set forth in the Plan, or otherwise required by Department of Labor regulations, while making the initial benefit determination, the employee will be deemed to have exhausted his administrative remedies under the Plan and may chose either to proceed under the Plan's Appeal Procedure, described in paragraph (e) below, or pursue civil litigation under ERISA § 502(a). 
          (e) Appeals Procedure: Any employee who has been denied a benefit by a decision of the Company pursuant to paragraph (d) above shall be entitled to request the Company to give further consideration to his claim by filing with the Company a written appeal of the claim denial. Such appeal request, together with a written statement of the reasons why the employee believes his claim should be allowed, shall be filed with the Company no later than 60 days after receipt of the written notification provided for in paragraph (d) above. The Company shall then conduct a review of the appeal request within the next 60 days, during which the employee may be represented by an attorney or any other representative of his choosing and during which the employee shall have an opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim which the Company will take into consideration regardless of whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. During such review, as well as in the event of an adverse benefit determination on review, the employee or his representative shall have an opportunity to review all documents, records, and other information that are pertinent to the specific claim at issue. A final decision on the claim shall be made by the Company within 60 days of receipt of the written appeal (unless there has been an extension of 60 days due to special circumstances, provided the delay and the special circumstances occasioning it are communicated to the employee within the initial appeal period). Such decision shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the employee and shall include specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any of the time periods specified in this Section are amended by law or Department of Labor Regulation, then the time frames 

specified herein shall automatically be changed in accordance with such law or Regulation. 
          (f) Requirement of Receipt: Upon receipt of any Severance Compensation hereunder, the Company reserves the right to require any Covered Employee to execute a receipt evidencing the amount and payment of such Severance Compensation. 
     17. Amendment and Termination. The Company reserves the right, except as hereinafter provided, at any time and from time to time, to amend, modify, change or terminate the Plan, including any Exhibit hereto; provided, however, after the Effective Date, any such amendment, modification, change or termination that adversely affects the rights of any Covered Employee under the Plan will not take effect and be applicable to any Covered Employee if either (A) (1) a Trigger Date (as defined in Section 4(a) of this Plan) occurs within six months after the date on which such amendment, modification, change or termination is made and (2) a Change of Control related to or growing out of the specific event causing the occurrence of the Trigger Date occurs thereafter or (B) such amendment, modification, change or termination is made at any time (1) during the period between the occurrence of a relevant Trigger Date and the occurrence of the a Change of Control related to or growing out of the specific event causing the occurrence of the Trigger Date or (2) at or after the occurrence of a Change of Control (and before all payments and benefits hereunder associated with such Change of Control are paid or made available as contemplated herein), without (in each of the circumstances described in the foregoing clauses (A) and (B)) the written consent of such Covered Employee. 
     18. Other Plans, etc. If the terms of this Plan are inconsistent with the provisions of any other plan, program, contract or arrangement of an Employer with respect to any of the Covered Employees, to the extent such plan, program, contract or arrangement may be amended by the Employer, the terms of the Plan (insofar as they may be applicable to any such Covered Employee) will be deemed to so amend such plan, program, contract or arrangement, and the terms of the Plan will govern. 

NII HOLDINGS, INC.
CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN 
EXHIBIT A 
Eligible Employees under Section 4(a): 
	
				
	(1
	)
	 
	The Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer

	 

	(2
	)
	 
	All other Executive Vice Presidents and Country Presidents

	 

	(3
	)
	 
	Headquarters-based Vice Presidents and Senior Directors, and market-based Vice Presidents reporting to Country Presidents.

	
			
	 
	 
	 

	POSITION
	 
	SEVERANCE PAY

	Top Management (1)
	 
	250% of Base Salary and Target Bonus

	 
	 
	 

	Senior Management (2)
	 
	200% of Base Salary and Target Bonus

	 
	 
	 

	Management (3)
	 
	100% of Base Salary and Target Bonus

	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	The above amounts shall, to the extent permitted under (or such amounts are not subject to) Section 409A of the Code, be reduced by any severance pay or allowance mandated by statute or other law or other arrangement of or with the Company.EXHIBIT 10(q)

 

February 11, 2011

 

 

	
Name
    	
 
    
	
Address
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    

 

Dear                                           :The Empire District Electric Company

2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

 

Notice of Time-Based Restricted Stock Award

 

This is to advise you that effective as of February 2, 2011 (the “Grant Date”), The Empire District Electric Company (“the Company”) has granted to you a Time-Based Restricted Stock Award (the “Award”) under the Plan consisting of the right to receive                    shares (the “Time-Based Restricted Shares”) of Common Stock of the Company (“Stock”), subject to the vesting, forfeiture and other conditions and terms herein stated and the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan (copy attached).  This Award shall relate to the Restricted Period beginning on February 2, 2011 and ending on February 2, 2014 (the “Restricted Period”).

 

1.             Settlement of Awards.  The Company shall deliver to you one share of Stock for each Time-Based Restricted Share in which you vest, as determined in accordance with the provisions of this Award.  The Time-Based Restricted Shares which vest in accordance with the provisions of this Award shall be paid solely in shares of Stock.  The date on which you vest in any Time-Based Restricted Shares pursuant to the terms of this Award shall be the “Vesting Date” with respect to those Time-Based Restricted Shares.

 

2.             Time of Payment.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 15 of this Award, payment of Time-Based Restricted Shares that vest in accordance with the provisions of this Award will be delivered as soon as practicable after the Vesting Date with respect to those Time-Based Restricted Shares but not later than 60 days after the Vesting Date with respect to those Time-Based Restricted Shares.

 

3.             Vesting.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 4, 5 or 6 of this Award, you shall vest in all of your Time-Based Restricted Shares under this Award on the last day of the Restricted Period if you remain in the employment of the Company and its Subsidiaries through the last day of the Restricted Period.

 

4.             Retirement, Disability, or Death During Restricted Period.  If your employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates during the Restricted Period because of your Retirement, Disability, or death, you shall vest in a prorated number of the Time-Based Restricted Shares based on the ratio of the number of months you were employed during the Restricted Period (rounding a fraction of a month to the next higher number of whole months) to the total number of months in the Restricted Period.  Fractional shares shall be disregarded.  Any Time-Based Restricted Shares that do not vest pursuant to this Section 4 upon your Retirement, Disability or death shall be forfeited.

 

 

5.             Termination of Employment During Restricted Period.  If your employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates during the Restricted Period for any reason other than your Retirement, Disability, or death, the Time-Based Restricted Shares granted under this Award will be forfeited on the date of such termination of employment; provided, however, that in such circumstances, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that you will vest in a portion of the Time-Based Restricted Shares under this Award upon termination of your employment, but not in excess of a pro rata portion of such Time-Based Restricted Shares based on the ratio of the number of  months you were employed during the Restricted Period (rounding a fraction of a month to the next higher number of whole months) to the total number of months in the Restricted Period and disregarding fractional shares; any Time-Based Restricted Shares in which you do not so vest shall be forfeited upon termination of your employment.

 

6.             Change in Control.  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs during the Restricted Period, and the date of termination of your employment does not fall before the Change in Control date, you shall vest in a prorated number of the Time-Based Restricted Shares based on the ratio of the number of months you were employed during the Restricted Period through the date of the Change in Control (rounding a fraction of a month to the next higher number of whole months), to the total number of months in the Restricted Period.  Any Time-Based Restricted Shares that do not vest pursuant to this Section 6 upon a Change in Control shall be forfeited.

 

7.             Heirs and Successors.  This Award shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Company and its successors and assigns, and upon any person acquiring, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and business.  If any of the benefits distributable to you under this Award have not been distributed at the time of your death, such benefits shall be distributed to your Designated Beneficiary, in accordance with the provisions of this Award and the Plan.  The “Designated Beneficiary” shall be the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by you in a writing filed with the Committee in such form and at such time as the Committee shall require.  If you are deceased and failed to designate a beneficiary, or if the Designated Beneficiary does not survive you, any benefits distributable to you shall be distributed to the legal representative of your estate.  If you are deceased and have designated a beneficiary and the Designated Beneficiary survives you but dies before the complete distribution of benefits to the Designated Beneficiary under this Award, then any benefits distributable to the Designated Beneficiary shall be distributed to the legal representative of the estate of the Designated Beneficiary.

 

8.             Administration.  The authority to manage and control the operation and administration of this Award shall be vested in the Committee identified in the Plan, and the Committee shall have all of the powers with respect to this Award that it has with respect to the Plan.  Any interpretation of the Award by the Committee and any decision made by it with respect to the Award are final and binding on all persons.

 

9.             Amendment.  This Award may be amended by written agreement between you and the Company, without the consent of any other person.

 

10.           Nontransferability.  This Award shall not be transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or by beneficiary designation in accordance with Section 7 above.

 

11.           Taxes.  The Company shall be entitled to withhold the amount of any withholding tax payable with respect to the Award and to sell such number of shares of Stock as may be necessary to produce the amount requested by the employee to be withheld, unless the recipient supplies to the Company cash in the amount requested by the Company for the purpose.  The employee may request amounts withheld in excess of the minimum statutory requirement.

 

12.           Employee and Shareholder Status.  This Award does not constitute a contract of continued service and does not give you the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any of its

 

 

Subsidiaries.  This Award does not confer upon you or any other holder thereof any right as a shareholder of the Company prior to the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to this Award.

 

13.           Plan Governs.  Notwithstanding anything in this Award to the contrary, the terms of this Award shall be subject to the terms of the Plan.

 

14.           Unsecured Creditor.  Your rights with respect to the Award and the shares of Stock subject thereto during the Restricted Period prior to issuance of shares of Stock to you, your beneficiary or your estate pursuant to the Award are those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.  No shares of Stock or other specific property is or will be set apart in trust or otherwise with respect to the Award but all of your rights in the Award will be evidenced only by entries on the books of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are actually issued to you, your beneficiary or your estate pursuant to the Award.

 

15.           Compliance with Code Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything in this Award to the contrary, the following rules shall apply if, under the definition of “Retirement” set forth in Section 16 below, you may become eligible for Retirement before January 1, 2014: (i) if you are a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder and as determined by the Company in accordance with said Section 409A) at the time of your separation from service (as defined below), the payment of any vested Time-Based Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 2 of this Award shall be made no earlier than the date which is 6 months after the date of your separation from service (or, if earlier than the end of the 6-month period, the date of your death), and (ii) you shall be deemed to have terminated from employment for purposes of this Award if and only if you have experienced a “separation from service” within the meaning of said Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.  To the extent any payment under this Award is subject to the 6-month delay, such payment shall be paid immediately after the end of such 6-month period (or the date of your death, if earlier).  The provisions of this Award shall be interpreted and operated consistently with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (to the extent applicable).

 

16.           Definitions.  For purposes of this Award, the terms used in this Award shall have the following meanings:

 

(i)            Change in Control.  A “Change in Control” of the Company shall mean “a change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company, or “in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Treasury regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance thereunder.

 

(ii)           Disability.  Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, “Disability” means the determination by the Committee, in its sole discretion, that a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Committee from time to time.

 

 

(iii)          Retirement.  “Retirement” means your retirement on an “Early Retirement Date” or on or after your “Normal Retirement Date,” as those terms are defined in The Empire District Electric Company Employees’ Retirement Plan.

 

(iv)          Plan Definitions.  Except where the context clearly implies or indicates the contrary, a word, term, or phrase used in the Plan is similarly used in this Award.

 

Please acknowledge receipt of this Notice of Award by signing and returning to the Secretary of the Company the enclosed copy thereof, together with a completed and signed beneficiary designation form.

 

 

	
 
    	
Very truly yours,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Chairman of the Plan Committee
    

 

 

Receipt of the foregoing Notice of

Time-Based Restricted Stock Award is

hereby acknowledged.  My signed beneficiary

designation form is attached.

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date

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