Form of Consent - Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.
[MERRILL LYNCH LOGO]
Human Resources
4 World Financial Center
31st Floor
New York, New York 10080
[Date]
[Officer]
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
4 World Financial Center
New York, NY 10080
Dear [Officer],
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc (the "Company") has entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated October 26, 2008 (the "Participation Agreement"), with the United States Department of Treasury ("Treasury") that provides for the Company's participation in the Treasury's TARP Capital Purchase Program (the "CPP").
For the Company to participate in the CPP and as a condition to the closing of the investment contemplated by the Participation Agreement, the Company is required to establish specified standards for incentive compensation to its senior executive officers and to make changes to its compensation arrangements. To comply with these requirements, and in consideration of the benefits that you will receive as a result of the Company's participation in the CPP, you agree as follows:
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(1) |
No Golden Parachute Payments. The Company is prohibiting any golden parachute payment to you during any "CPP Covered Period". A "CPP Covered Period" is any period during which (A) you are a senior executive officer and (B) Treasury holds an equity or debt position acquired from the Company in the CPP. |
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(2) |
Recovery of Bonus and Incentive Compensation. Any bonus and incentive compensation paid to you during a CPP Covered Period is subject to recovery or "clawback" by the Company if the payments were based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria. |
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(3) |
Compensation Program Amendments. Each of the Company's compensation, bonus, incentive and other benefit plans, arrangements and agreements (including golden parachute, severance and employment agreements) (collectively, "Benefit Plans") with respect to you is hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to provisions (1) and (2). |
In addition, the Company is required to review its Benefit Plans to ensure that they do not encourage senior executive officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company. To the extent any such review requires revisions to any Benefit Plan with respect to you, you and the Company agree to execute such additional documents as the Company deems necessary to effect such revisions.
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(4) |
Definitions and Interpretation. This letter shall be interpreted as follows: |
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"Senior executive officer" means the Company's "senior executive officers" as defined in subsection 111(b)(3) of EESA. |
The Board appreciates the concessions you are making and looks forward to your continued leadership during these financially turbulent times.
Very truly yours,
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
By:
Name:
Title:
Intending to be legally bound, I agree
with and accept the foregoing terms.
[Officer]