Ex_10-1

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS ASSURANCE AGREEMENT

This COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS ASSURANCE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made, entered into, and is effective as of this 25th day of April, 2017, (the “Effective Date”) by and between OLD SECOND BANCORP, INC. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”) and Gary Collins (hereinafter referred to as the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is presently employed by the Company, in a key management capacity;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are parties to that certain Compensation and Benefits Assurance Agreement dated October 29, 2016 (the “Prior Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise in which a Change in Control may occur, thereby causing uncertainty of employment without regard to the competence or past contributions of the Executive, which uncertainty may result in the loss of valuable services of the Executive, and the parties wish to provide reasonable security to the Executive against changes in the employment relationship in the event of a Change in Control.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements of the parties set forth in this Agreement, and of other good and valuable consideration including, but not limited to, the Executive’s continuing employment and the Executive’s receipt of an equity incentive award under the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

Section 1. Term of Agreement

This Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in effect until the first anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”).

The term of this Agreement automatically shall be extended for one additional year at the end of the Initial Term, and then again after each successive one-year period thereafter (each such one-year period following the Initial Term a “Successive Period”). However, either party may terminate this Agreement at the end of the Initial Term, or at the end of any Successive Period thereafter, by giving the other party written notice of intent not to renew delivered at least ninety (90) calendar days prior to the end of such Initial Term or Successive Period. Except as otherwise provided, if such notice is properly delivered by either party, this Agreement, along with all corresponding rights, duties, and covenants, shall automatically expire at the end of the Initial Term or Successive Period then in progress.

In the event that a Change in Control (as defined in Paragraph ‎2.4 below) of the Company occurs during the Initial Term or any Successive Period, upon the effective date of such Change in Control, the term of this Agreement shall automatically and irrevocably be renewed for a period of twenty-four (24) full calendar months from the effective date of such Change in Control (such 24-month period being hereinafter referred to as the “Extended Period”). This Agreement shall thereafter automatically terminate following the Extended Period. Further, this Agreement shall be assigned to, and shall be assumed by, the purchaser in such Change in Control, as further provided in Section 4 herein.

Section 2. Severance Benefits

2.1. Right to Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company Severance Benefits as described in Paragraph ‎2.3, subject to reduction as described in ‎Section 3 herein, if during the term of this Agreement there has been a Change in Control of the Company and if, within the Extended Period, the Executive’s employment shall end as a result of a Qualifying Termination (as defined in Paragraph ‎2.2 below). The Severance Benefits described in Paragraphs ‎2.3(a) and ‎2.3(b) herein shall be paid in cash to the Executive in a single lump sum as soon as practicable following the Qualifying Termination, but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days from such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Severance Benefits which become due pursuant to the circumstances described in Paragraph ‎4.1 shall be paid immediately.

2.2. Qualifying Termination. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events (each, a “Qualifying Termination”) shall trigger the payment of Severance Benefits to the Executive:

(a) The involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined in Paragraph ‎2.6 below) either within the six (6) month period preceding a Change in Control or within the Extended Period; and

(b) The Executive’s voluntary termination of employment for Good Reason (as defined in Paragraph ‎2.5 below) within the Extended Period.

A Qualifying Termination shall not include a termination of the Executive’s employment by reason of death, disability, the Executive’s voluntary termination without Good Reason, or the involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment for Cause. Nothwithstanding the foregoing, either of the events described in Paragraphs ‎2.2‎(a) or ‎2.2‎(b) must constitute a “separation from service” as determined under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h) in order to be a Qualifying Termination.

2.3. Description of Severance Benefits. In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to receive Severance Benefits, as provided in Paragraphs ‎2.1 and ‎2.2 above, the Company shall, within the time limits stated in Paragraph ‎2.1, pay, or cause to be paid, to the Executive and provide, or cause to be provided, the Executive with the following:

(a) A lump-sum cash amount equal to the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the date of the Qualifying Termination. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive.

(b) A lump-sum cash amount equal to two (2) multiplied by the sum of (i) the greater of the Executive’s annual rate of Base Salary in effect upon the date of the Qualifying Termination, or the Executive’s annual rate of Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control; and (ii) Executive’s Bonus Amount.

(c) Immediate 100% vesting of all stock options and any other awards which had been provided to the Executive by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any incentive compensation plan.

(d) At the exact same cost to the Executive, and at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Executive’s date of Qualifying Termination (subject to changes in coverage levels applicable to all employees generally), a continuation of the Executive’s (and the Executive’s eligible

dependents’) health insurance coverage for a period of time following the Qualifying Termination equal to the shorter of (i) twenty-four (24) months or (ii) the maximum period allowed pursuant to any one or more of the provisions of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) which would be exempt from the definition of “deferred compensation” thereunder (the “benefit continuation period”); provided, however, that such continuation of health insurance coverage shall be provided only to the extent that it does not result in any additional tax or other penalty being imposed on the Company by reason of the provision of such continuation coverage causing a violation of Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act during a period of time Section 2716 is enforced by the Internal Revenue Service through Code Section 4980D. The applicable COBRA health insurance benefit continuation period shall begin at the end of this benefit continuation period. The providing of health insurance benefits by the Company shall be discontinued prior to the end of the benefit continuation period in the event that the Executive subsequently becomes covered under the health insurance coverage of a subsequent employer which does not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to any preexisting condition of the Executive or the Executive’s eligible dependents. For purposes of enforcing this offset provision, the Executive shall have the duty to inform the Company as to the terms and conditions of any subsequent employment and the corresponding benefits earned from such employment. The Executive shall provide, or cause to provide, to the Company in writing correct, complete, and timely information concerning the same.

(e) The Executive shall be entitled to receive standard outplacement services from a nationally recognized outplacement firm of the Executive’s selection, for a period of up to one (1) year from the Executive’s date of Qualifying Termination. However, such service shall be at the Company’s expense to a maximum amount not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

2.4. Definition of “Change in Control.” “Change in Control” of the Company means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon, the first to occur of any of the following events:

(a) Any Person other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty‑three percent (33%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

(b) During any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new Director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

(c) Consummation of: (i) a merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party if the stockholders before such merger or consolidation do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than sixty‑seven percent (67%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation; or (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

However, in no event shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred, with respect to the Executive if the Executive is part of a purchasing group which consummates the Change-in-Control transaction. The Executive shall be deemed “part of a purchasing group” for purposes of the preceding sentence if the Executive is an equity participant in the purchase company or group (except for (i) passive ownership of less than two percent (2%) of the stock of the purchasing company; or (ii) ownership of equity participation in the purchasing company or group which is otherwise not significant, as determined prior to the Change in Control by a majority of the non-employee continuing Directors).

2.5. Definition of “Good Reason.” “Good Reason” shall mean, without the Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following within the Extended Period:

(a) A material reduction or alteration in the nature or status of the Executive’s authorities, duties or responsibilities from those in effect as of ninety (90) calendar days prior to the Change in Control.

(b) The requirement that the Executive be based at a location in excess of twenty-five (25) miles from the location of the Executive’s principal job location or office immediately prior to the Change in Control; except for required travel for business to an extent consistent with the Executive’s then present business travel obligations.

(c) A material reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary and/or other benefits or perquisites in effect on the Effective Date, or as the same shall be increased from time to time; provided, however, that a change to, or replacement of, an existing benefit or perquisite will not give rise to a “Good Reason” if such change or replacement is implemented with respect to all employees generally.

(d) The Company, or any successor company, commits a material breach of any provision of this Agreement including, but not limited to the Company failing to obtain the assumption of, or the successor company refusing to assume the obligations of this Agreement pursuant to Paragraph ‎4.1 herein within the Extended Period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the conditions described in Paragraphs (a) through (d) of this Paragraph ‎2.5 shall constitute Good Reason unless the Executive first provides notice of the occurrence of one of the foregoing conditions to the Company within ninety (90) days of the initial occurrence of the condition, and the Company then fails to remedy the condition within thirty (30) days of receiving such notice. The Executive’s right to terminate employment for Good Reason shall not be affected by the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Executive’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason herein.

2.6. Definition of “Cause.” “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following:

(a) A demonstrably willful and deliberate act or failure to act by the Executive (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is committed in bad faith, without reasonable belief that such action or inaction is in the best interests of the Company, which causes actual material financial injury to the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, and which act or inaction is not remedied within fifteen (15) business days of written notice from the Company or the subsidiary for which the Executive works; or

(b) The Executive’s conviction for committing an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or any other act constituting a felony involving moral turpitude which causes material harm, financial or otherwise, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

2.7. Other Defined Terms. The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “Base Salary” means, at any time, the then-regular annual rate of pay which the Executive is receiving as salary, excluding amounts: (i) designated by the Company as payment toward reimbursement of expenses; of (ii) received under incentive or other bonus plans, regardless of whether or not the amounts are deferred.

(b) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

(c) “Bonus Amount” means the average of the annual cash bonuses paid to the Executive for the three (3) calendar years immediately preceding the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, including cash bonuses that are deferred pursuant to any deferral election by Executive under a tax-qualified or non-qualified retirement or deferral plan maintained by the Company, or any of its subsidiaries.

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

(e) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

(f) “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

Section 3. Excise Tax Limitation

In the event that any amounts payable to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise would (a) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and (b) but for this ‎Section 3, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999, then such payments shall be reduced in a manner determined by the Company (by the minimum possible amounts) that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A until no amount payable to the Executive will be subject to the excise tax under Code Section 4999.

Section 4. Successors and Assignments

4.1. Successors. The Company will require any successor (whether via a Change in Control, direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall, as of the date immediately preceding the date of a Change in Control, automatically give the Executive Good Reason to collect, immediately, full benefits hereunder as a Qualifying Termination.

4.2. Assignment by Executive. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. If an Executive should die while any amount is still payable to the Executive hereunder, had the Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee, or if there is no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.

An Executive’s rights hereunder shall not otherwise be assignable.

Section 5. Restrictive Covenants

5.1. Confidentiality. The Executive acknowledges that the nature of the Executive’s employment shall require that the Company produce and allow the Executive access to records, data, trade secrets and information that are not available to the public regarding the Company and its subsidiaries (“Confidential Information”). The Executive shall hold in confidence and, except as provided below, not directly or indirectly disclose any Confidential Information to third parties unless: (i) disclosure becomes reasonably necessary in connection with the Executive’s performance of the Executive’s duties of employment with the Company or its subsidiaries; (ii) the Confidential Information lawfully becomes available to the public from other sources; (iii) the Executive is authorized in writing by the Company to disclose the Confidential Information; or (iv) the Executive is required to make disclosure of the Confidential Information by law or pursuant to the authority of any administrative agency or judicial body.

The Executive acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement or any Company policy applicable to the unauthorized use or disclosure of trade secrets, the Executive is hereby notified that, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (Pub. Law 114-153), the Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, municipal or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. The Executive also may not be held so liable for such disclosures made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. In addition, individuals who file a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b). Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to authorize, or limit liability for, an act that is otherwise prohibited by law, such as the unlawful access of material by unauthorized means.

All Confidential Information and other records, files, documents, and other materials or copies thereof relating to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that the Executive prepares or uses shall be the sole property of the Company. The Executive’s access to and use of the Company’s computer systems, networks and equipment, and all of the Company information contained therein, shall be restricted to legitimate business purposes on behalf of the Company; any other access to or use of such systems, network and equipment is without authorization and is prohibited. The restrictions contained in this Paragraph ‎5.1 shall extend to any personal computers or other electronic devices of the Executive that are used for business purposes relating to the Company. The Executive shall not transfer any Company information to any personal computer or other electronic device that is not otherwise used for any business purpose relating to the Company. The Executive shall promptly return all originals and copies

of Confidential Information and other records, files, documents and other materials to the Company if the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason.

The Executive acknowledges and agrees that nothing contained in this Agreement limits the Executive’s ability to file, pursuant to any applicable whistleblower statute or program (each, a “Whistleblower Program”), a charge or complaint with any federal, state, municipal or local governmental agency or commission (“Government Agencies”). The Executive further understands that this Agreement does not limit the Executive’s ability to communicate or cooperate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing information, without notice to the Company. This Agreement also does not limit the Executive’s right to receive financial incentive pursuant to a Whistleblower Program for information provided to any Government Agencies.

5.2. Non-Solicitation. As an essential ingredient and in consideration of the Executive’s employment by the Company and the Executive’s opportunity to participate in the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan or another equity incentive plan maintained by the Company, the Executive shall not, during the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and for a period of one (1) year after termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (and its subsidiaries) for any reason (the “Restrictive Period”) and regardless of when such termination of employment occurs, do any of the following (the “Restrictive Covenant”): directly or indirectly, for the Executive or any bank, savings and loan association, credit union or similar financial institution (a “Financial Institution”): (i) induce or attempt to induce any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee who previously reported to the Executive, to leave the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any such officer or employee; (iii) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any such officer or employee; or (iv) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any of their respective customers, suppliers, licensees or business relations where the Executive had personal contact with, or has accessed Confidential Information in the preceding twelve (12) months with respect to, such customers, suppliers, licensees or business relations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party identified on Schedule A hereto shall be excluded from the scope of the Restrictive Covenant.

5.3. Acknowledgment of Covenants. The parties hereto acknowledge that the Executive’s services are of a special, extraordinary, and intellectual character which gives him unique value, and that the business of the Company and its subsidiaries is highly competitive, and that violation of any of the covenants provided in this ‎Section 5 would cause immediate, immeasurable, and irreparable harm, loss and damage to the Company not adequately compensable by a monetary award. The Executive acknowledges that the time and scope of activity restrained by the provisions of this ‎Section 5 are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill of the Company’s business. The Executive further acknowledges that he and the Company have negotiated and bargained for the terms of this Agreement and that the Executive has received adequate consideration for entering into the Agreement, including without limitation, the Executive’s employment by the Company and the Executive’s opportunity to participate in 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and any other equity incentive plan or other similar plan maintained by the Company. In the event of any such breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any one or more of such covenants, the Company shall be entitled to such equitable and injunctive relief as may be available to restrain the Executive from violating the provisions hereof. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any

other remedies available at law or in equity for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages and the immediate termination of the employment of the Executive hereunder.

Section 6. Miscellaneous

6.1. Administration.

(a) Administration. This Agreement shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company, or by a Committee of the Board consisting of Board members designated by the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). The Compensation Committee (with the approval of the Board, if the Board is not the Compensation Committee) is authorized to interpret this Agreement, to prescribe and rescind rules and regulations, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement. In fulfilling its administrative duties hereunder, the Compensation Committee may rely on outside counsel, independent accountants, or other consultants to render advice or assistance.

(b) Claims Procedure. If the Executive believes that he is being denied a benefit to which he is entitled under the Agreement, he may file a written request for such benefit with the Company, setting forth his claim. Upon receipt of the claim, the Company shall advise the Executive that a reply will be forthcoming within 15 days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply with such period. The Company may, however, extend the reply period for an additional fifteen (15) days for reasonable cause. If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Company shall adopt a written opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Executive, setting forth:

(i)

The specific reason or reasons for such denied;

(ii)

The specific reference to pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which such denial is based;

(iii)

A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Executive to perfect his claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary;

(iv)

Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Executive wishes to submit the claim for review; and

(v)

The time limits for requesting the review under (c) below.

(c) Request for Claim Decision Review. Within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Executive of the written opinion described above, the Executive may request in writing that the President of the Company review the description of the Company. Such request must be addressed to the President of the Company, at its then principal place of business. The Executive of his duly authorized representative may, but need not, review the pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing for consideration by the Company. If the Executive does not request a review of the Company’s determination by the President of the Company within such 30-day period, he shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Company’s determination. Within thirty (30) days after the President’s receipt of a request for review, he will review the Company’s determination. After considering all materials presented by the Executive, the President will render a written opinion, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Executive, setting forth specific reasons for the decision and containing specific references to the pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which the decision is based.

6.2. Notices. Any notice required to be delivered to the Company, the Compensation Committee or the President of the Company by the Executive hereunder shall be properly delivered to the Company when personally delivered to (including by a reputable overnight courier), or actually received through the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, by:

Old Second Bancorp, Inc.

37 South River Street

Aurora, IL 60506

Any notice required to be delivered to the Executive by the Company, the Compensation Committee or the President of the Company hereunder shall be properly delivered to the Executive when personally delivered to (including by a reputable overnight courier), or actually received through he U.S. mail, postage prepaid, by the Executive at his last known address as reflected on the books and records of the Company.

Section 7. Contractual Rights and Legal Remedies

7.1. Contractual Rights to Benefits. This Agreement establishes in the Executive a right to the benefits to which the Executive is entitled hereunder. However, except as expressly stated herein, nothing herein contained shall require or be deemed to require, or prohibit or be deemed to prohibit, the Company to segregate, earmark, or otherwise set aside any funds or other assets, in trust or otherwise, to provide for any payments to be made or required hereunder.

7.2. Legal Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all legal fees, costs of litigation, prejudgment interest, and other expenses which are incurred in good faith by the Executive as a result of the Company’s refusal to provide the Severance Benefits to which the Executive becomes entitled under this Agreement; provided that any such reimbursement to Executive must be made in compliance with any applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code and Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv).

7.3. Arbitration. The Executive shall have the sole right and option to elect (in lieu of litigation) to have any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement settled by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three (3) arbitrators sitting in a location selected by the Executive within fifty (50) miles from the location of his or her job with the Company, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. The Executive’s election to arbitrate, as herein provided, and the decision of the arbitrators in that proceeding, shall be binding on the Company and Executive.

Judgment may be entered on the award of the arbitrator in any court having jurisdiction. All expenses of such arbitration, including the fees and expenses of the counsel for the Executive, shall be borne by the Company.

7.4. Unfunded Agreement. This Agreement is intended to be an unfunded general asset promise for a select, highly compensated member of the Company’s management and, therefore, is intended to be exempt from the substantive provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended.

7.5. Exclusivity of Benefits. Unless specifically provided herein, neither the provisions of this Agreement nor the benefits provided hereunder shall reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish the Executive’s rights as an employee of the Company, whether existing now or

hereafter, under any compensation and/or benefit plans (qualified or nonqualified), programs, policies, or practices provided by the Company, for which the Executive may qualify.

Vested benefits or other amounts which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice, or program of the Company, at or subsequent to the Executive’s date of Qualifying Termination, shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice, or program except as expressly modified by this Agreement.

7.6. Includable Compensation. Severance Benefits provided hereunder shall not be considered “includable compensation” for purposes of determining the Executive’s benefits under any other plan or program of the Company.

7.7. Deferred Compensation. If any amount or benefit provided hereunder would be considered “deferred compensation” as defined under Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“Deferred Compensation”), the Company reserves the absolute right (including the right to delegate such right) to unilaterally amend this Agreement, without the consent of the Executive, to avoid the application of, or to maintain compliance with, Code Section 409A. Any amendment by the Company to this Agreement pursuant to this Paragraph ‎7.7 shall maintain, to the extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without violating Code Section 409A. Any discretionary authority retained by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall not be applicable to any amount or benefit which is determined to constitute Deferred Compensation, if such discretionary authority would contravene Code Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if at the time of a termination of employment Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Code Section 409A, and the regulations and guidance thereunder in effect at the time of such termination, and then only as and to the extent required by such provisions, the date of payment of any payments otherwise provided hereunder shall be delayed for a period of up to six (6) months following the date of termination.

7.8. Employment Status. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to create an employment agreement between the Company and the Executive providing for the employment of the Executive by either the Company or any of its subsidiaries for any fixed period of time. The Executive’s employment is terminable at will by the Company, or one of its subsidiaries, or the Executive and each shall have the right to terminate the Executive’s employment at any time, with or without Cause, subject to the Company’s obligation to provide Severance Benefits as required hereunder.

In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor shall the amount of any payment hereunder be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as a result of employment by another employer, other than as provided in Paragraph ‎2.3(d) herein.

7.9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior discussion, negotiations, and agreements concerning the subject matter hereof, including, but not limited to, the Prior Agreement and any prior severance agreement made between the Executive and the Company.

7.10. Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city, or other taxes as legally required to be withheld.

7.11. Waiver of Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Executive’s acceptance of Severance Benefits, the Gross-Up Payment (if applicable), and any other payments required hereunder

shall be deemed to be a waiver of all rights and claims of the Executive against the company pertaining to any matters arising under this Agreement.

7.12. Severability. In the event any provision of the Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Agreement, and the Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

7.13. Applicable Law. To the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Illinois shall be the controlling law in all matters relating to the Agreement.

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