EX-10.D.42 12 doc9.txt 2003 SEC FORM 10-K EXHIBIT 10-D-42 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL February 10, 2004 Robert J. Griffin Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Green Mountain Power Corporation 163 Acorn Lane Colchester, VT 05446 Dear Bob: Green Mountain Power Corporation (the "Company") considers it essential to the best interests of its shareholders to foster the continuous employment of key management personnel. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes that the possibility of a change of control of the Company may exist and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management may result in the distraction or departure of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders. The Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company's management, including yourself, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of the possibility of a change in control of the Company, although no such change is known to be contemplated. In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company and in consideration of your agreements set forth in subsections 4(ii), 6(ix), 6(x) and 6(xi) hereof, the Company agrees that you shall receive the severance benefits set forth in this Agreement in the event your employment with the Company is terminated subsequent to a "change in control of the Company" (as defined in section 4 hereof and hereinafter a "Change of Control") under the circumstances described below. 1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on February 15, 2004 ------------------- (the "Effective Date") and shall continue in effect through December 31, 2004; provided, however, that commencing on January 1, 2005 and each January 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional year unless, not later than September 30 of the preceding year, the Company shall have given notice that it does not wish to extend this Agreement. This Agreement shall replace, in its entirety, the Agreement, dated December 6, 1998, as amended, between you and the Company. 2. Terms of Employment Before a Change of Control. Prior to a Change of -------------------------------------------------- Control, your terms of employment ("Terms of Employment") shall be as follows: (a) General duties. Excluding periods of vacation and sick leave to which you are entitled, you will continue to exercise such authority and perform such executive duties as are commensurate with the authority being exercised and duties being performed by you immediately before the Effective Date. (b) Place of employment. Your services will be performed at the location where you were employed immediately before the Effective Date. If the Company and you agree, however, the location of your employment may be changed without affecting your rights under this Agreement. (c) Expenses generally. You are entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses you incur. Reimbursement must be made in accordance with the Company's policies and procedures in effect on the Effective Date (which may include a requirement that you submit an itemized expense voucher). (d) Meetings, conventions, and seminars. You are encouraged and are expected to attend seminars, professional meetings and conventions, and educational courses. The cost of travel, tuition or registration, food, and lodging for attending those activities must be paid by the Company. Other costs are your expense, unless the Company authorizes those costs. If those other costs are authorized expenses, you must be reimbursed after satisfying the Company's policies and procedures for such reimbursement (which may include a requirement that you submit an itemized expense voucher). (e) Promotional expenses. You are encouraged and are expected, from time to time, to incur reasonable expenses for promoting the Company's business. Such promotional expenses include travel, entertainment (including memberships in social and athletic clubs), professional advancement, and community service expenses. You agree to bear those expenses except to the extent that those expenses are incurred at the Company's specific direction or those expenses are specifically authorized by the Company as expenses that the Company may pay directly or indirectly through reimbursement to you. (f) Outside activities. You may (i) serve on corporate, civic, or charitable boards or committees; (ii) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements, or teach at educational institutions; and (iii) manage personal investments. Such activities must not significantly interfere with the performance of your responsibilities for the Company. To the extent that any such activities have been conducted by you before the Effective Date, such prior conduct of activities and any subsequent conduct of activities similar in nature and scope may not be deemed to interfere with the performance of your responsibilities to the Company. (g) Compensation and fringe benefits. Your compensation (including your annual base salary and any bonuses or incentive compensation) and benefits generally are the same as those in effect on the Effective Date. Your compensation and benefits are, however, subject to periodic review and adjustment by the Company. This section of this Agreement does not change the terms of any fringe benefit program or employee benefit plan maintained by the Company and does not give you any additional vested interest in any compensation or benefit to which you are not already entitled under any such program or plan on the Effective Date. Generally, your benefits include the following items, all of which are subject to periodic review and adjustment: (i) You are entitled to receive all group life, accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, and medical insurance benefits available to you according to Company policies and employee benefit plans maintained by the Company that are in effect on the Effective Date; (ii) You are entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company's policies in effect on the Effective Date; (iii) You are entitled to sick leave in accordance with the Company's policies in effect on the Effective Date; and (iv) You are entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans and programs in which you participate on the Effective Date, whether or not such plans or programs are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), including but not limited to the Company's Retirement Plan, Supplemental Retirement Plan or any successor plans thereto, any incentive compensation plans maintained by the Company or any successor thereto, the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Certain Officers and any stock-based compensation plans maintained by the Company or successor plans thereto and any savings or thrift plan maintained by the Company, 3. Extension of Agreement Upon Change of Control. If a Change of Control ------------------------------------------------ shall have occurred during the original or extended term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of at least thirty-six (36) months beyond the month in which such Change of Control occurred. The Terms of Employment set forth in section 2 continue in effect after a Change of Control and may not be changed to terms and conditions less favorable than those in effect on the day immediately preceding a Change of Control. 4. Change of Control. ------------------- (i) No benefits shall be payable hereunder unless there shall have been a Change of Control, as set forth below. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (A) any "person" (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), 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 shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities (a "20% Holder"); or (B) during any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clauses (A) or (C) of this subsection) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders 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 of the directors of the Company; or (C) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all the Company's assets; provided, however, that a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred under clauses (A) or (C) above if a majority of the Continuing Directors (as defined below) determine within five business days after the occurrence of any event specified in clauses (A) or (C) above that control of the Company has not in fact changed and it is reasonably expected that such control of the Company in fact will not change. Notwithstanding that, in the case of clause (A) above, the Board shall have made a determination of the nature described in the preceding sentence, if there shall thereafter occur any material change in facts involving, or relating to, the 20% Holder or to the 20% Holder's relationship to the Company, including, without limitation, the acquisition by the 20% Holder of l% or more additional outstanding voting stock of the Company, the occurrence of such material change in facts shall result in a new Change of Control for the purpose of this Agreement. In such event, the second immediately preceding sentence hereof shall be effective. As used herein, the term "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Board on the date of this Agreement and any successor of a Continuing Director who is recommended to succeed the Continuing Director by a majority of Continuing Directors. If, following a Change of Control, you are the beneficial owner of two percent or more of the then-outstanding equity securities of the Company, or its successor in interest, a majority of the Continuing Directors may elect, within five business days after such Change of Control, to terminate any benefits payable to you under this Agreement after the date of such an election by the Continuing Directors. (ii) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Potential Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (A) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change of Control; (B) any person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change of Control; (C) 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 shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or (D) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change of Control has occurred. You agree that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of a Potential Change of Control, you will remain in the employ of the Company until the earliest of (i) a date which is six (6) months from the occurrence of such Potential Change of Control, (ii) the termination by you of your employment by reason of Long-Term Disability or Retirement (at your normal retirement age), as defined in subsection 5(i), or (iii) the occurrence of a Change of Control. 5. Termination Following Change of Control. If any of the events described ---------------------------------------- in subsection 4(i) hereof constituting a Change of Control shall have occurred, you shall be entitled to the benefits provided in subsection 6(iii) hereof upon the subsequent termination of your employment during the term of this Agreement unless such termination is (A) because of your death, Long-Term Disability or Retirement, (B) by the Company for Cause, or (C) by you other than for Good Reason. (i) Death, Long-Term Disability, or Retirement. If, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness which is determined to be total and permanent and to prevent you from performing, with or without reasonable accommodation, the essential functions of your employment by a physician and any other consultants selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to you or your legal representative, you shall have been absent from the full-time performance of your duties with the Company for six (6) consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written notice of termination is given you shall not have returned to the full-time performance of your duties, your employment may be terminated for "Long -Term Disability". Termination by the Company or you of your employment based on "Retirement" shall mean termination in accordance with the Company's retirement policy, including early retirement, generally applicable to its salaried employees or in accordance with any retirement arrangement established with your consent with respect to you. Your death ("Death") during the term of this Agreement will terminate the Agreement. (ii) Cause. Termination by the Company of your employment for "Cause" shall mean termination upon (A) the willful and continued failure by you to substantially perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after the issuance of a Notice of Termination, by you for Good Reason, as defined in subsection 5(iii)) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to you by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, (B) the willful engaging by you in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise, or (C) your willful and continued breach of a material term of this Agreement. For purposes of this subsection, no act, or failure to act, on your part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by you not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to you and an opportunity for you, together with your counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board you were guilty of conduct set forth above in clauses (A), (B), or (C) of the first sentence of this subsection and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. (iii) Good Reason. You shall be entitled to terminate your employment for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, without your express written consent, the occurrence after a Change of Control of any of the following circumstances unless, in the case of paragraphs (A), (E), (F), (G), (H) or (I), such circumstances are fully corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination, as defined in Subsections 6(iv) and 6(v), respectively, given in respect thereof: (A) the assignment to you of any duties inconsistent with your status as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Green Mountain Power Corporation or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of your responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control; (B) a reduction by the Company in your annual base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time-to-time except for across-the-board salary reductions similarly affecting all executives of the Company and all executives of any person in control of the Company; (C) the relocation of the Company's principal executive offices (presently located at 163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, Vermont) to a location more than fifty miles distant from the present location prior to the Change of Control, or the closing thereof, or the Company's requiring you to be based anywhere other than within fifty miles of the present location, except for required travel on the Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with your present business travel obligations; (D) the failure by the Company, without your consent, to pay to you any portion of your current compensation except pursuant to an across-the-board compensation deferral similarly affecting all executives of the Company and all executives of any person in control of the Company; (E) the failure by the Company to offer you any compensation plan introduced to other executives of similar responsibility or any substitute plans adopted prior to the Change of Control, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan; or the failure by the Company to continue your participation in any such compensation plan (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of your participation relative to other participants, as existed at the time of the Change of Control; (F) the failure by the Company to continue to provide you with the benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by you under any of the following plans or programs maintained by the Company at the time of a Change of Control or the taking of any action which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits, including but not limited to: (i) fringe benefits, in accordance with the Company's policies in effect at the time of a Change of Control; (ii) group life, accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, and medical and dental insurance benefits available to you according to Company policies and employee benefit plans maintained by the Company that are in effect at the time of a Change of Control; (iii) paid vacation in accordance with your agreements with the Company's and/or the Company's policies in effect at the time of a Change of Control; (iv) sick leave in accordance with the Company's policies in effect at the time of a Change of Control; and (v) the Company's Retirement and Supplemental Retirement Plans or any successors thereto, any incentive compensation plans maintained by the Company or any successor thereto, the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Certain Officers, any stock-based compensation plans maintained by the Company or successor plans thereto, any savings or thrift plan maintained by the Company, whether or not such plans or programs are subject to ERISA; (G) any action by the Company that eliminates, materially reduces or jeopardizes the ability of the Company to fulfill its obligations under the Company's Deferred Compensation or Supplemental Retirement Plan, or both such plans, including by way of example and not of limitation, the sale or other disposition of assets of the Company, and all, or substantially all, of the proceeds from such sale or other disposition do not remain with the Company; (H) the failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in section 7 hereof; (I) any purported termination of your employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of subsection (iv) below (and if applicable, the requirements of subsection (ii) above); for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective; or (J) your resignation, if tendered during the thirty days immediately following the first twelve months after a Change of Control; provided, however, that, if the Change of Control occurs pursuant to subsection 4(i)(C), your resignation must be tendered during the thirty days immediately following the first twelve months after the date the Company merges or consolidates with the corporation approved by the shareholders pursuant to subsection 4(i)(C) of this Agreement. Your right to terminate your employment pursuant to this subsection shall not be affected by your incapacity due to physical or mental illness. Your continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason hereunder. For purposes of this subsection, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by you shall be conclusive. (iv) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of your employment by the Company or by you shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with section 9 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of your employment under the provision so indicated. (v) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" shall mean (A) if your employment is terminated for Long-Term Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that you shall not have returned to the full-time performance of your duties during such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if your employment is terminated pursuant to subsection (ii) or (iii) above or for any other reason (other than Long-Term Disability), the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination pursuant to subsection (ii) above shall not be less than thirty (30) days, and in the case of a termination pursuant to subsection (iii) above shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given); provided that if within fifteen (15) days after any Notice of Termination (as determined without regard to this provision), the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected); provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the Company will continue to pay you your full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, base salary) and continue you as a participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which you were participating when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this subsection. Amounts paid under this subsection are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement. 6. Compensation Upon Termination or During Short-Term Disability. Following ------------------------------------------------------------- a Change of Control, as defined by subsection 4(i), upon termination of your employment or during a period of Short-Term Disability you shall be entitled to the following benefits: (i) During any period that you fail to perform your full-time duties with the Company as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness (hereinafter "Short-Term Disability") you shall continue to receive your base salary at the rate in effect at the commencement of the Short-Term Disability, together with all compensation and benefits payable or available to you and your family under any other plan in effect during such period, until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to subsection 5(i) hereof. Thereafter, or in the event your employment shall be terminated by the Company or by you for Long-Term Disability, Retirement, or by reason of your Death, your benefits and your family's or heirs' benefits, if applicable, shall be determined under the Company's retirement, insurance and other compensation programs with respect to other peer executives and their families as in effect on the Date of Termination, or if more favorable to you, your family or your heirs, as in effect during the 120-day period immediately preceding a Change of Control, in accordance with the terms of such programs. You, or, if applicable, your heirs or estate, shall also receive your full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given. (ii) If your employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by you other than for Good Reason, Long-Term Disability, Death or Retirement, the Company shall pay you your 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 you are entitled under any compensation or benefit plan of the Company at the time such payments are due, and the Company shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement. (iii) If your employment by the Company shall be terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement, Death or Long-Term Disability or (b) by you for Good Reason, then you shall be entitled to the benefits provided below: (A) The Company shall pay you the following: the sum of (1) your full base salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (2) the product of (x) the higher of (I) your most recent annual bonus or variable compensation award and (II) the annual bonus or variable compensation award paid or payable, including any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned but deferred (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or during which you were employed for less than twelve full months), for the most recently completed fiscal year since the Change of Control, if any, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (3) any accrued vacation or sick pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid; (B) In lieu of any further salary payments to you for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay as severance pay to you a lump sum severance payment (the "Severance Payment") equal to 2.99 times the sum of your base salary for the year in which your Date of Termination occurs plus the target short-term incentive bonus (or if there is no target short-term incentive bonus payable for such year, the actual amount of your most recent short-term incentive bonus) that would be payable for such year. (C) The Company shall pay to you all legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of such termination (including all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder), such payment to be made at the later of the times provided in paragraph (D), below or within five (5) days after your request for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require. (D) In addition, if the excise tax imposed under Code section 4999 on "excess parachute payments," as defined in Code section 280G, is provoked by (i) any amount paid or payable to or for the benefit of you under this section as legal fees and expenses, or (ii) any payments or benefits which you receive or have the right to receive from the Company (including the Severance Payment) or any affiliated entity or any payments or benefits under any plan or program maintained by the Company or any affiliated entity, the Company must indemnify you and hold you harmless against all claims, losses, damages, penalties, expenses, and excise taxes, subject to the limit set forth in the immediately following sentence. To effect this indemnification, the Company must pay you an additional amount that is sufficient to pay any excise tax imposed by Code section 4999 on the payments and benefits to which you are entitled without the additional amount, plus the excise and income taxes on the additional amount up to a maximum of $251,000. The determination of any additional amount that must be paid under this section must be made by the Company in good faith. (E) The payments provided for in paragraphs (B), (C) and (D) above, shall (except as otherwise provided therein) be made not later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination, provided, however, that if the amounts of such payments cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to you on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the Company, of the minimum amount of such payments and shall pay the remainder of such payments (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined but in no event later than the thirtieth day after the Date of Termination. In the event that the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due, such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to you, payable on the fifth day after demand by the Company (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code). (iv) If your employment shall be terminated (A) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Disability or (B) by you for Good Reason, then for a thirty-six (36) month period after such termination, the Company shall provide you and your family at Company expense with group life, disability, medical and dental insurance benefits substantially similar to those which you and your family are receiving immediately prior to the Notice of Termination. The Company shall pay any applicable premiums on behalf of you and your family for continuation of medical coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended ("COBRA"). Benefits otherwise receivable by you and your family pursuant to this subsection 6(iv) shall be reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by you and your family during the thirty-six (36) month period following your termination, and any such benefits actually received by you and your family shall be reported to the Company. (v) If your employment shall be terminated (A) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Long-Term Disability or (B) by you for Good Reason, then in addition to the retirement benefits to which you are entitled under the Company's Retirement Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plan or any successor plans thereto, the Company shall pay you in cash at the time and in the manner provided in paragraph (E) of subsection 6(iii), a lump sum equal to the actuarial equivalent of the excess of (x) the retirement pension (determined as a straight life annuity commencing at age sixty-five) which you would have accrued under the terms of the Company's Retirement Plan without regard to any amendment to the Company's Retirement Plan made subsequent to a Change of Control and on or prior to the Date of Termination, which amendment adversely affects in any manner the computation of retirement benefits thereunder, determined as if you were fully vested thereunder and had accumulated (after the Date of Termination) thirty-six (36) additional months of service credit thereunder at your highest annual rate of compensation during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the Date of Termination over (y) the retirement pension (determined as a straight life annuity commencing at age sixty-five) which you had then accrued pursuant to the provisions of the Company's Retirement Plan. For the purposes of this subsection, "actuarial equivalent" shall be determined using the same methods and assumptions utilized under the Company's Retirement Plan immediately prior to the Change of Control. (vi) The Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide you with outplacement services the scope and provider of which shall be selected by you in your sole discretion. The Company shall be required to provide you with outplacement services for a reasonable period of time and at a reasonable cost. (vii) Offsets Against Severance Payment. (A) The Severance Payment to which you are entitled under this Agreement may be reduced under this subsection, but not below zero. Reductions in the Severance Payment must be made under this subsection in the manner herein described. The Company must make any required determination or calculation in good faith. (B) You are not required to seek or accept any employment that is not Comparable Employment. If you obtain any employment during the months remaining in your employment period after the Date of Termination, the Severance Payment must be reduced by all amounts actually earned by you from such employment during those months; except that no such reduction may be made because of earnings from employment in which you could have engaged while you were employed by the Company. For example, the Severance Payment may not be reduced because of your fees for service as a director of a corporation other than the Company or your earnings from part-time employment or from any other employment that would not have impaired your ability to perform the duties described in section 2 of this Agreement. (C) During the months remaining in your employment period after the Date of Termination and unless you are then eligible to retire under the Company's Retirement Plan, you must seek and accept any Comparable Employment that is offered to you. If the Company establishes that Comparable Employment was offered to you and that you did not accept it, the full amount of wages that you could have earned from Comparable Employment reduces the Severance Payment to which you are entitled under this Agreement. (D) For purposes of this Agreement, Comparable Employment means employment that entitles you to the same (or higher) total compensation (including employment related benefits) to which you were entitled immediately prior to a Change of Control and to similar status, title(s), office(s), and management responsibilities; employment with a general character and grade similar to the general character and grade of your former employment with the Company; and employment suited to your education, training, and experience. For purposes of the Agreement, employment is not Comparable Employment if such employment is located more than forty miles from the location at which you are based on the Date of Termination; is short-term or temporary employment; entitles you to total compensation that is less than the total compensation (including employment related benefits) to which you were entitled immediately prior to a Change of Control; requires you to take serious bodily or financial risks; entitles you to a lower status, title(s), office(s), and management responsibilities; or would not have impaired your ability to perform the duties described in section 2 of this Agreement. (E) To prevent hardship, repayment of the Severance Payment under this section may be made by you in installments, determined in the Company's sole discretion, but a repayment arrangement may not be used as a disguised loan. (viii) In addition to all other amounts payable to you under this section 6, you shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable to you under the Company's Retirement Plan, Savings and Thrift Plan, Supplemental Retirement Plan and any other plan or agreement relating to retirement benefits. (ix) Subject to the Company satisfying its obligations described in this Section 6, you agree that for twelve (12) months following receipt of your Severance Payment, you will not, without prior written consent of the Company: (A) personally engage in Competitive Activities (as defined below); or (B) work for, own, manage, operate, control, or participate in the ownership, management, operation, or control of, or provide consulting or advisory services to or permit your name to be used in connection with, any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or institution engaged in Competitive Activities, or any company or person affiliated with such person or entity engaged in Competitive Activities; provided that your purchase or holding, for investment purposes, of securities of a publicly-traded company shall not constitute "ownership" or "participation in ownership" for purposes of this paragraph so long as your equity interest in any such company is less than five percent (5%). (x) For purposes of this Agreement, "Competitive Activities" means business activities in New England which are the same or similar or competitive with those engaged in by the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (and, for any period while you are an employee of the Company those subsidiaries, affiliates and businesses of the Company that cease to be affiliates, subsidiaries or businesses of the Company while you are an employee of the Company) or which relate to products or services of the same or similar type as the products or services (i) which are sold (or, pursuant to an existing business plan, will be sold) to customers of the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates, (and, for any period while you are an employee of the Company, those subsidiaries, affiliates and businesses of the Company that cease to be affiliates, subsidiaries or businesses of the Company while you are an employee of the Company) and (ii) for which you then have responsibility to plan, develop, manage, market, or oversee, or had any such responsibility within your most recent twelve (12) months of employment with the Company. (xi) Subject to the Company satisfying its obligations described in this Section 6, you agree that for twelve (12) months following receipt of your Severance Payment, you will not, without the written consent of the Company: (A) recruit or solicit any employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates for employment or for retention as a consultant or service provider; (B) hire or participate (with another company or third party) in the process of hiring any person who is then an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or provide names or other information about Company employees or employees of the Company's subsidiaries or affiliates to any person or business under circumstances which could lead to the use of that information for purposes of recruiting or hiring; (C) interfere with the relationship of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates with any of its employees, agents, or representatives; (D) solicit or induce, or in any manner attempt to solicit or induce, any client, customer, or prospect of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates (1) to cease being, or not to become, a customer of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or (2) to divert any business of such customer or prospect from the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates; (E) otherwise interfere with, disrupt, or attempt to interfere with or disrupt, the relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates and any of their customers clients, prospects, suppliers, consultants, or employees or (F) make or publish any statement which is, or may reasonably be considered to be, disparaging to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or directors, officers, employees or the operations or products of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. 7. Agreement Binding on Successors. ---------------------------------- (i) 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 expressly assume and agree to perform 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 be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle you to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as you would be entitled to hereunder if you terminate your employment for Good Reason following a Change of Control, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. (ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If you should die while any amount would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate. 8. Subsidiary Corporations. Upon approval of the Board of Directors of the ------------------------ appropriate wholly-owned subsidiary, this Agreement shall apply to an executive of any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company with the same force and effect as if said executive were employed directly by the Company. Upon approval by said subsidiary's Board of Directors, the executive of the wholly-owned subsidiary shall be entitled to the same benefits from the Company as those granted to executives of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement the transfer of an employee from the Company to any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, or from any wholly-owned subsidiary to the Company, or from one wholly-owned subsidiary to another shall not constitute a termination of such employee's employment. As applied to an executive of a wholly-owned subsidiary, the duties and obligations of the Company shall, wherever appropriate, refer to the duties and obligations of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary which employs the executive; provided, however, that the Company rather than the wholly-owned subsidiary shall remain liable to the executive for payment of benefits due hereunder. 9. Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other ------ communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, provided that all notice to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the Board with a copy to the Secretary of the Company, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. 10. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived ------------- or discharged unless such waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement supersedes any previous agreements between the Company and you on the matters herein addressed. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Vermont. All reference to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law. The obligations of the Company under section 6 shall survive the expiration of the term of this Agreement. 11. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or --------------------------- limit your continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which you may qualify. Amounts which are vested benefits or which you are otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to a Change of Control shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. 12. Confidentiality. --------------- (i) Confidential information. You must hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge, or data relating to the Company and its business, which is obtained by you during your employment by the Company and which is not public knowledge (other than by acts by you or your representatives in violation of this Agreement). After the termination of your employment with the Company, you must not, without the Company's prior written consent, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge, or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it to receive such information, knowledge, or data. In no event may an asserted violation of this section constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to you under this Agreement. (ii) Records and files. All records and files concerning the Company or the Company's clients and customers belong to and remain the property of the Company. 13. Termination of Employment Prior to a Change of Control of the Company. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- You and the Company acknowledge that prior to a Change of Control or a Potential Change of Control, your employment may be terminated by the Company in accordance with the notice provisions set forth in section 1 of this Agreement, and by you at any time, in which case you shall have no further rights under this Agreement. 14. Anti-assignment. You may not assign, alienate, anticipate, or otherwise --------------- encumber any rights, duties, or amounts that you might be entitled to receive under this Agreement. 15. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this -------- Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. 16. Funding. The Company is not required to establish a trust or other ------- funding vehicle to pay benefits under this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise required by the Code or ERISA with respect to any employee benefit plan. 17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, ------------ each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. 18. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection ----------- with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Burlington, Vermont in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that you shall be entitled to seek specific performance of your right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement. 19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of State ------------- of Vermont. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ARBITRATION The parties hereto understand that this Agreement contains an agreement to arbitrate. After signing this document, the parties understand that they will not be able to bring a lawsuit concerning any dispute that may arise which is covered by the arbitration agreement, unless it involves a question of constitutional or civil rights. Instead the parties agree to submit any such dispute to an impartial arbitrator. This letter is submitted in duplicate. If it sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign both copies and return one copy to me within thirty (30) days (after which this offer of severance benefits will lapse). These letters will then constitute our agreement on this subject. By: /s/Nordahl L. Brue -------------------- Nordahl L. Brue, Chairman Board of Directors Green Mountain Power Corporation Agreed to this 10th day of February, 2004 /s/Robert J. Griffin ---------------------- Robert J. Griffin Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Green Mountain Power Corporation