EX-10.17 2 exhibit10172023amendedandr.htm EX-10.17
Exhibit 10.17
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of March 14, 2023, by and among NEAL E. ARNOLD., an individual resident of the State of South Carolina (“Executive”), FIRSTSUN CAPITAL BANCORP, a Delaware corporation (“Bancorp”), and SUNFLOWER BANK, N.A., a national banking association (the “Bank” and, together with Bancorp, “Employer”). Executive and Employer are each sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Executive entered into that certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, made and entered into as of March 24, 2022, by and between Executive and Employer (the “Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which Executive is entitled to accelerated vesting of options and other incentive compensation and equity-based awards (including phantom equity) upon certain qualifying terminations of Executive’s employment; and
WHEREAS, Bancorp has in recent years restructured the awards granted under its FirstSun Capital Bancorp Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”) to permit issuance of Bancorp common shares as a payout, in which case such shares would be issued pursuant to an equity incentive plan of Bancorp; and
WHEREAS, Executive and Employer wish to make clear that any such Bancorp common shares issued to Executive in payout of his LTIP awards shall be entitled to accelerated vesting under his Employment Agreement in the same manner as other equity-based awards.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Employment Agreement and Outstanding LTIP Awards are hereby amended as follows:
Amendment to Section 13(e)(iv)(B) of Employment Agreement
1.Subparagraph B under the Section titled “Termination” is hereby amended by replacing the first sentence in its entirety with the following:
“(B) any unvested portion of the outstanding options or other incentive compensation or equity-based awards (including but not limited to phantom equity, or cash or stock payouts under the FirstSun Capital Bancorp Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP Plan”)) in Employer or its Affiliates shall immediately become fully (100%) vested as of the date of such termination, and the Initial Option Grant shall be treated pursuant to paragraph C of the section titled “Initial Option Grant” of Exhibit A hereto. Awards issued pursuant to the LTIP Plan (or any successor thereto) shall vest at such Award Value or at such number of Performance Share Units (as applicable) as is determined by the Committee (or its delegate), in its sole and good faith discretion, based on the level of achievement of any Bank Performance Measures (as defined in the LTIP Plan) as of the date of such termination and subject to adjustments (e.g., accounting for transaction expenses) to such Bank Performance Measures as the Committee (or its delegate) determines are necessary to carry out their original intent and in a manner that does not

materially adversely affect Executive.; provided that with respect to any LTIP Plan award for which achievement of the applicable Bank Performance Measures for the full performance period cannot be objectively measured as of immediately prior to any such qualifying termination, such LTIP Plan award shall be earned as of such termination at the greater of 100% of target level and the level achieved based on actual performance determined through the last practicable date prior to such termination, as determined by the Committee.”
Amendment to Outstanding LTIP Awards.
2.This Amendment shall also serve as an amendment to all outstanding award agreement(s) (whether cash or equity) granted to Executive pursuant to the LTIP (the “Outstanding LTIP Awards”). For the sake of clarity, all Outstanding LTIP Awards are hereby amended to provide for full (100%) vesting upon a Termination Without Cause or a Termination For Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement) as set forth herein.
Miscellaneous
3.No Other Amendments. Except as expressly modified or amended hereby, the Employment Agreement and Outstanding LTIP Awards are and shall remain in full force and effect. Executive acknowledges that Employer is in full compliance with its obligations under the Employment Agreement and that no amendments to the Employment Agreement or Outstanding LTIP Awards as a result of this Amendment shall be deemed to constitute “Good Reason” under the Employment Agreement.
4.Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflicts of laws principles.
5.Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Amendment may be by actual, electronic, or facsimile signature.
[Signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first set forth above, but on the actual dates specified below.
EXECUTIVE:
/s/ Neal E. Arnold
Neal E. Arnold
Date: March 14, 2023
EMPLOYER:
FirstSun Capital Bancorp
Signature: /s/ Laura J. Frazier
Printed Name: Laura J. Frazier
Title: EVP, Chief Administrative Officer
Date: March 14, 2023
Sunflower Bank, N.A.
Signature: /s/ Laura J. Frazier
Printed Name: Laura J. Frazier
Title: EVP, Chief Administrative Officer
Date: March 14, 2023
Signature Page to First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement