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EXHIBIT 10.37
AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT (the "Agreement")
between Fresh Foods, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive") is dated as of July 6, 1999 (the "Effective
Date").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive entered into a certain
Employment Contract dated as of June 30, 1996, as amended by a certain Amendment
to Employment Contract dated as of February 23, 1998 (as so amended, the
"Employment Contract"); and
WHEREAS, the Executive is a key employee of the Company, having served
in an executive capacity at the Company, thereby acquiring an intimate knowledge
of the business and affairs of the Company and having clearly demonstrated the
ability to perform valuable services for the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company considers it to be in the best interests of its
shareholders to encourage the continued employment of key employees of the
Company in that the continuity of management is essential to protecting and
enhancing the best interests of the Company and its shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Company believes that the possibility of the occurrence of
a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below) may result in the
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company or in the distraction
of the Executive from the performance of his duties to the Company, in either
case to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that the Executive could suffer adverse
financial and professional consequences if a Change in Control of the Company
were to occur; and
WHEREAS, in view of the premises, the Company and the Executive entered
into a certain Change in Control Agreement dated as of August 29, 1997 (the
"Original Agreement") to protect the Executive in the event that a Change in
Control of the Company were to occur, thereby encouraging the Executive to
remain with the Company and not be distracted from the performance of his duties
to the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to amend the Original
Agreement to facilitate the possible sale of a business segment of the Company
and to decrease the benefits payable to the Executive upon a Change in Control
of the Company and, in connection therewith, to terminate the Employment
Contract;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
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Section 1. Construction; Definitions. (a) In the event of the enactment
of any successor provision to any statute or rule cited in this Agreement,
references in this Agreement to such statute or rule shall be to such successor
provision. The headings of Sections of this Agreement shall not control the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. References in this Agreement to any
Section are to the corresponding Section of this Agreement unless the context
otherwise indicates.
(b) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
(i) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.
(ii) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be
the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Company constituting a
Substantial Block, but shall not include (A) the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or
of any Subsidiary of the Company or any Person organized, appointed or
established by the Company or such Subsidiary as a fiduciary pursuant
to the terms of any such employee benefit plan, (B) any Person
consisting of or including any or all of Messrs. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, but only if and so long as
such Person consists of or includes at least one full-time employee of
the Company, and (C) any Person who or which, together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner
of a Substantial Block solely as a result of a change in the aggregate
number of shares of Voting Stock or other voting securities of the
Company outstanding since the last date on which such Person acquired
Beneficial Ownership of any securities of the Company included in such
Substantial Block.
(iii) "After-Tax Payments" means payments to or for the
benefit of the Executive under this Agreement after reduction for any
and all federal, state and local income tax and excise tax liabilities
of the Executive resulting therefrom.
(iv) "Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Change in
Control Agreement as it may be amended from time to time in accordance
with Section 10.
(v) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(A) that such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has (1) the
right or obligation to acquire (whether such right or
obligation is exercisable or effective immediately or
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otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or
options, or otherwise or (2) the right to vote or dispose of
or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to
Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing);
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of or to "beneficially own" any security
under this clause (2) if the agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security (x) arises solely from a
revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations of
the Exchange Act and (y) is not also then reportable by such
Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(B) that are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof) with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in clause (2) of subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph (v)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company.
No part of this definition shall cause a Person ordinarily engaged in
business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner"
of or to "beneficially own" any securities acquired in a bona fide firm
commitment underwriting pursuant to an underwriting agreement with the
Company until the expiration of forty days after the date of such
acquisition.
(vi) "Board of Directors" means the entire Board of Directors
of the Company.
(vii) A "Business Combination" shall occur when
(A) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company) combines or consolidates with, or merges with and
into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such combination, consolidation or
merger and, in connection with such combination, consolidation
or merger, all or part of the shares of Voting Stock shall be
changed into or exchanged for other securities of any Person
or cash or any other property;
(B) the Company combines or consolidates with, or
merges with and into, any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company),
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and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such combination, consolidation or merger; or
(C) the Company sells or otherwise transfers (or one
or more of its Subsidiaries sells or otherwise transfers), in
one or more transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power
aggregating more than 90 percent of the assets, cash flow or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole and calculated on the basis of the Company's most recent
regularly prepared financial statements) to any other Person
or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company).
(viii) A "Change in Control of the Company" shall have
occurred if, after the Effective Date,
(A) individuals who, as of the date hereof,
constitute the Board of Directors (the "Incumbent Board")
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board of Directors; provided, however, that any individual
becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose
election or nomination for election by the Company's
shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of
the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered a member of the Incumbent Board;
(B) any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates
and Associates, at any time after the Effective Date, shall
become an Acquiring Person;
(C) a Business Combination shall be consummated; or
(D) the Company is liquidated or dissolved.
(ix) "Change in Control Date" means the date of occurrence of
a Change in Control of the Company.
(x) "Company" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals to this Agreement and shall include any Person with or into
which such Person shall have been merged or consolidated or to which
such Person shall have transferred all or substantially all of its
assets.
(xi) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(xii) "Expiration Date" means the end of the ten-year period
beginning on the Effective Date.
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(xiii) "Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited
partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated
organization, government or agency or political subdivision of any
government. When the context of this Agreement so indicates, such term
also has the meaning assigned to it in Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act.
(xiv) "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other legal entity
of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or voting interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or
which is otherwise controlled by such Person.
(xv) "Shares" means shares of capital stock of the Company.
(xvi) "Substantial Block" shall mean a number of shares of the
Voting Stock equal to or in excess of 15% of the number of shares of
the Voting Stock then outstanding.
(xii) "Voting Stock" means Shares the holders of which are
entitled to vote for the election of directors of the Company, but
excluding Shares entitled to vote only upon the occurrence of a
contingency unless that contingency shall have occurred.
Section 2. Term. If a Change in Control of the Company shall occur
before the expiration of the term of this Agreement, then, whether or not the
Executive's employment by the Company shall at any time thereafter be
terminated, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the benefits provided for
in this Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date
and, unless extended pursuant to the third sentence of this Section or
terminated pursuant to the fourth sentence of this Section, shall expire at the
Expiration Date. If the Company shall not have given written notice to the
Executive at least 45 days before the Expiration Date that the term of this
Agreement will expire on the Expiration Date, then the term of this Agreement
shall be extended automatically for successive one-year periods (the first such
period to begin on the day immediately following the Expiration Date) unless and
until the Company shall give written notice to the Executive at least 45 days
before the end of any one-year period for which the term of this Agreement shall
have been extended that such term will expire at the end of such one-year
period, whereupon the term of this Agreement shall expire at the end of such
one-year period.
Section 3. Benefits Payable Upon Change in Control. If a Change in
Control of the Company shall occur before the expiration of the term of this
Agreement, then the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits:
(i) The Company shall pay to the Executive, as a lump sum, an
amount equal to the sum of:
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(A) three times the amount of the base salary paid or
payable by any and all of the Company and HERTH Management,
Inc. ("HERTH") to the Executive for services rendered to the
Company during the most recent complete fiscal year of the
Company, regardless of when such salary may have been paid or
payable, plus
(B) three times the amount of the aggregate cash
bonus paid or payable by any and all of the Company and HERTH
to the Executive for services rendered during to the Company
during the most recent complete fiscal year of the Company,
regardless of when such bonus may have been paid or payable,
plus
(C) an amount determined by the Company to be equal
to the aggregate of any and all federal, state and local
income tax and excise tax liabilities of the Executive
resulting from the payments due pursuant to clauses (A) and
(C) hereof; provided, however, that, if the Company determines
that the total of all After-Tax Payments would be increased by
the limitation or elimination of any payment under this
Section 3, then amounts payable under this Section 3 shall be
reduced to the extent, and only to the extent, determined
necessary by the Company to maximize the After-Tax Payments;
and provided further that the Company shall withhold from all
payments to be made to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement all taxes that, by applicable federal, state or
local law, the Company determines that it is required to
withhold.
Each payment required to be made to the Executive pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this Section 3 shall be made by bank check or
other good funds on the Change in Control Date.
(ii) The Company shall transfer and convey to the Executive
all of its right, title and interest in and to the motor vehicle
currently used by the Executive for business purposes. Upon request by
the Executive, the Company will execute and deliver all such documents
and take all such other actions as the Executive may reasonably request
to better evidence such transfer and conveyance.
Section 4. Notices. Notices required or permitted to be given by either
party pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been given when delivered personally to the other party or when deposited with
the United States Postal Service as registered mail with postage prepaid and
addressed: (i) if to the Executive, at the Executive's address last shown on the
Company's records, and (ii) if to the Company, at ▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, directed to the attention of the Corporate Secretary; or, in
either case, to such other address as the party to whom or to which such notice
is to be given shall have specified by notice given to the other party.
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Section 5. Expenses of Enforcement. Upon demand by the Executive made
to the Company, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable
expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by the Executive in
enforcing or seeking to enforce the payment of any amount or other benefit to
which the Executive shall become entitled pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 6. Employment by Subsidiary. If, at the Effective Date, the
Executive is an employee of a subsidiary of the Company, then references in this
Agreement to the Executive's employment by the Company shall be understood as
references to the Executive's employment by the subsidiary.
Section 7. No Obligation to Mitigate. The Executive shall not be
required to mitigate the amount of any payment or other benefit required to be
paid to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, whether by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any such payment or other
benefit be reduced on account of any compensation earned by the Executive as a
result of employment by another Person. No amount paid or payable to the
Executive by HERTH at any time or for any reason shall be considered in
mitigation of any amount due to him under this Agreement.
Section 8. Confidential Information. From the Effective Date until the
expiration of the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall hold in a
fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential
information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated
companies, and their respective businesses, that shall have been obtained by the
Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its
affiliated companies and that shall not have become public knowledge (other than
as a result of acts by the Executive in violation of this Section). The Company,
however, shall not withhold or reduce any amount or other benefit payable to the
Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise, on the ground
that the Executive has breached or threatened to breach the foregoing provisions
of this Section; the sole remedy of the Company for a breach or anticipated
breach of such provisions shall be injunctive relief.
Section 9. Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may be amended or
waived only by a written instrument signed by both parties. No waiver by either
party of any breach of this Agreement shall be considered a waiver of any other
or subsequent breach.
Section 10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of North Carolina.
Section 11. 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, all of which shall remain in full force
and effect.
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Section 12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute the same instrument.
Section 13. Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representative. The Company shall
not assign any of its obligations under this Agreement, by operation of law or
otherwise, without the express prior written consent of the Executive; any
assignment supposedly effected absent such consent shall be void.
Section 14. Original Agreement. The Original Agreement, as amended and
restated hereby, is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.
Section 15. Employment Contract Terminated. The parties agree that the
Employment Contract shall terminate in its entirety, immediately prior to any
Change in Control of the Company, without liability on the part of any party as
a consequence thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company shall have no liability to the Executive, upon a Change in Control of
the Company, pursuant to the Employment Contract.
Section 16. Entire Agreement; No Effect on Options. This Agreement sets
forth the entire understanding between the parties relating to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all previous and contemporaneous understandings or
agreements, written and oral. This Agreement may be modified only by an
agreement in writing, signed by all parties, purporting to modify it. This
Agreement shall not be construed as having any effect on the rights of the
Executive under the stock option agreements and related stock option plans that
govern stock options granted by the Company to the Executive and held by the
Executive at the Effective Date or Change in Control Date.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this
Agreement as of the Effective Date.
FRESH FOODS, INC. Attest:
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chief Financial Officer Assistant Secretary
THE EMPLOYEE:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ (L.S.)
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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