AMENDED AND RESTATED CONTINUITY AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10v
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CONTINUITY AGREEMENT
CONTINUITY AGREEMENT
This Agreement (the “Agreement”) is dated as of November 1, 2007 by and between XXXXXXX
INCORPORATED, a Connecticut corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (the “Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive entered into a Continuity Agreement dated as of
December 27, 1999 and an Amendment to such Continuity Agreement dated as of March 14, 2005 (such
Continuity Agreement, as amended, referred to herein as the “Prior Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to
conform to the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”); and
WHEREAS, the Company’s Board of Directors considers the continued services of key executives
of the Company to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Company’s Board of Directors desires to assure, and has determined that it is
appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to reinforce and
encourage the continued attention and dedication of key executives of the Company to their duties
of employment without personal distraction or conflict of interest in circumstances which could
arise from the occurrence of a change in control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the Company to enter into amended and
restated continuity agreements with those key executives of the Company and any of its respective
subsidiaries (all of such entities, with the Company hereinafter referred to as an “Employer”),
such agreements to set forth the severance compensation which the Company agrees under certain
circumstances to pay such executives; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is a key executive of an Employer and has been designated by the Board
as an executive to be offered such a continuity compensation agreement with the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and remain in
effect until the second anniversary thereof; provided, however, that, thereafter,
this Agreement shall automatically renew on each successive anniversary, unless an Employer
provides the Executive, in writing, at least 180 days prior to the renewal date, notice that this
Agreement shall not be renewed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Change in
Control occurs at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the
preceding sentence, this Agreement shall not terminate until the second anniversary of the
Change in Control (or, if later, until the second anniversary of the consummation of the
transaction(s) contemplated in the Change in Control).
2. Change in Control.
(a) No compensation or other benefit pursuant to Section 4 hereof shall be payable under this
Agreement unless and until either (i) a Change in Control of the Company (as hereinafter defined)
shall have occurred while the Executive is an employee of an Employer and the Executive’s
employment by an Employer thereafter shall have terminated in accordance with Section 3 hereof or
(ii) the Executive’s employment by the Company shall have terminated in accordance with Section
3(a)(ii) hereof prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Change in Control” shall mean any one of the following:
(A) Continuing Directors during any 12 month period no longer constitute a
majority of the Directors;
(B) any person, or persons acting as a group (within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
§1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)(D)), acquires (or has acquired within the 12 month period ending
on the date of the last acquisition by such person or persons), directly or
indirectly, thirty percent (30%) or more of the voting power of the then
outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote for the election of
Directors; provided that this Section 2(b)(i)(B) shall not apply with respect to any
acquisition of securities by (I) the trust under a Trust Indenture dated September
2, 1957 made by Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, (II) the trust under a Trust Indenture dated August
23, 1957 made by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, and (III) any employee benefit plan (within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended) maintained by the Company or any affiliate of the Company;
(C) any person, or persons acting as a group (within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
§1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B)), acquires ownership (including any previously owned
securities) of more than fifty percent (50%) of either (I) the voting power value of
the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote for the election of
Directors or (II) the fair market value of the Company; provided that this Section
2(b)(i)(C) shall not apply with respect to any acquisition of securities by (I) the
trust under a Trust Indenture dated September 2, 1957 made by Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, (II)
the trust under a Trust Indenture dated August 23, 1957 made by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, and
(III) any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) maintained by the Company or any
affiliate of the Company; or
(D) a sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets;
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provided, that the transaction or event described in Section 2(b)(i)(A), (B), (C) or
(D) constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treas. Reg.
§1.409A-3(i)(5).
(ii) “Continuing Director” shall mean any individual who is a member of the Company’s
Board of Directors on December 9, 1986 or was designated (before such person’s initial
election as a Director) as a Continuing Director by 2/3 of the then Continuing Directors,
(iii) “Director” shall mean any individual who is a member of the Company’s Board of
Directors on the date the action in question was taken.
(iv) “Change in Control Transaction” shall mean a Change in Control or, if later, the
consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Change in Control.
3. Separation from Service; Definitions.
(a) Termination without Cause by the Company or for Good Reason by the Executive.
(i) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in Section 4
hereof, if within two years after a Change in Control Transaction, the Executive has a
Separation from Service (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)
(“Separation from Service”) (A) by an Employer for any reason other than (I) the Executive’s
Disability or Retirement, (II) the Executive’s death or (III) for Cause, or (B) by the
Executive with Good Reason (as such terms are defined herein).
(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in
Section 4 hereof if, (A) in the event that an agreement is signed which, if consummated,
would result in a Change of Control and the Executive’s Separation from Service is without
Cause by the Company or with Good Reason prior to the Change in Control, (B) such Separation
from Service is at the direction of the acquiror or merger partner or otherwise in
connection with the anticipated Change in Control, and (C) such Change in Control actually
occurs.
(b) Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the
Executive’s absence from the full-time performance of the Executive’s duties (as such duties
existed immediately prior to such absence) for 180 consecutive business days, when the Executive is
disabled as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness.
(c) Retirement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Retirement” shall mean the
Executive’s voluntary Separation from Service pursuant to late, normal or early retirement under a
pension plan sponsored by an Employer, as defined in such plan, but only if such retirement occurs
prior to a termination by an Employer without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason.
(d) Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean:
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(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially all of
his or her duties with an Employer (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity
due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is
delivered to such Executive by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company which
specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not
substantially performed his duties;
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in gross misconduct which is materially and
demonstrably injurious to the Company or any Employer; or
(iii) the conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a
felony.
Termination of the Executive for Cause shall be made by delivery to the Executive of a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a three-fourths majority of the
non-employee Directors of the Company or of the ultimate parent of the entity which caused, the
Change in Control (if the Company has become a subsidiary) at a meeting of such Directors called
and held for such purpose, after 30 days prior written notice to the Executive specifying the basis
for such termination and the particulars thereof and a reasonable opportunity for the Executive to
cure or otherwise resolve the behavior in question prior to such meeting, finding that in the
reasonable judgment of such Directors, the conduct or event set forth in any of clauses (i) through
(iii) above has occurred and that such occurrence warrants the Executive’s termination.
(e) Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the
occurrence, within the Term of this Agreement, of any of the following without the Executive’s
express written consent:
(i) after a Change of Control, any reduction in the Executive’s base salary from that
which was in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control, any reduction in the
Executive’s annual cash bonus below such bonus paid or payable in respect of the calendar
year immediately prior to the year in which the Change of Control occurs, or any reduction
in the Executive’s aggregate annual cash compensation (including base salary and bonus) from
that which was in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control ; or
(ii) after a Change of Control, the failure to increase (within 12 months of the last
increase in base salary) the Executive’s salary in an amount which at least equals, on a
percentage basis, the average percentage of increase in base salary effected in the
preceding 12 months (which period may include some period of time prior to the Change of
Control) for all senior executives of the Company (unless such reduction is offset by an
increase in the amount of annual cash bonus that is paid to the Executive); or
(iii) any material and adverse diminution in the Executives’ duties, responsibilities,
status, position or authority with the Company or any of its affiliates following a Change
in Control; or
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(iv) any relocation of the Executive’s primary workplace to a location that is more
than 35 miles from the Executive’s primary workplace as of the date immediately prior to the
Change in Control; or
(v) any failure by the Company to obtain from any successor to the Company an agreement
reasonably satisfactory to the Executive to assume and perform this Agreement, as
contemplated by Section 11(a) hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Executive provides the Company with a Notice of
Termination (as defined below) referencing this Section 3(e), the Company shall have 30 days
thereafter in which to cure or resolve the behavior otherwise constituting Good Reason. Any good
faith determination by Executive that Good Reason exists shall be presumed correct and shall be
binding upon the Company.
(f) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment
(other than on account of Executive’s death) with an Employer shall be communicated by a Notice of
Termination to the Executive, if such termination is by an Employer, or to an Employer, if such
termination is by the Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, “Notice of Termination” shall
mean a written 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 the Executive’s employment under the provisions so indicated. For
purposes of this Agreement, no purported termination of Executive’s employment with an Employer
shall be effective without such a Notice of Termination having been given.
4. Compensation Upon Termination.
Subject to Section 10 hereof, if within two years of a Change in Control Transaction, the
Executive has a Separation from Service in accordance with Section 3(a) (the “Termination”), the
Executive shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(a) Severance. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive a cash
severance amount equal to three times the sum of (i) the Executive’s annual base salary on the date
of the Change in Control (or, if higher, the annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the
giving of the Notice of Termination) and (ii) the highest of the actual bonuses paid or payable to
the Executive under the Company’s annual incentive Compensation plan in any of the three
consecutive fiscal years prior to the year in which the Change in Control occurs. This cash
severance amount shall be payable in a lump sum calculated without any discount.
(b) Additional Payments and Benefits. The Executive shall also be entitled to:
(i) a lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s accrued but unpaid
annual base salary through the date of Termination, (B) the unpaid portion, if any, of
bonuses previously earned by the Executive pursuant to the Company’s annual incentive
compensation plan, plus the pro rata portion of (I) the Bonus or (II) if payable, the target
bonus to be paid for the year in which the date of Termination occurs, in either case
(calculated through the date of Termination), and (C) an amount, if any, equal to
compensation previously deferred (excluding any qualified plan deferral) and
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any accrued vacation pay, in each case, in full satisfaction of Executive’s rights
thereto; and
(ii) an annual benefit under the Company’s Supplemental Retirement Plan (the “SERP”),
calculated based on 10 years of service, unreduced for early retirement thereunder; and
(iii) unless otherwise provided under the Key Employee Supplemental Medical Plan,
continued medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage (excluding accident, death,
and disability insurance) for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents or, to
the extent such coverage is not commercially available, such other arrangements reasonably
acceptable to the Executive, on the same basis as in effect prior to the Change in Control
or the Executive’s Termination, whichever is deemed to provide for more substantial
benefits, for a period ending on the earlier of (A) the end of the third anniversary of the
date of the Executive’s Termination (B) the commencement of comparable coverage by the
Executive with a subsequent employer. The amount of benefits the Executive receives
hereunder in any one year shall not affect the amount of benefits he may receive in any
subsequent year; and
(iv) all other accrued or vested benefits in accordance with the terms of the
applicable plan (with an offset for any amounts paid under Section 4(b)(i)(C), above).
(c) Timing of Payment. Except as required under Section 8, all lump sum payments
under this Section 4 shall be paid on the later of ten business days following the Executive’s date
of Termination or the second business day following the effective date of the release required by
Section 10(c); and, with respect to the SERP benefit set forth in Section 4(b)(ii), to the extent
the Executive is entitled to receive such SERP benefit in a lump sum payment under the terms of the
SERP, such lump sum payment shall equal the present value of his SERP benefit (as calculated in
Section 4(b)(ii) and otherwise in accordance with Exhibit A, as attached hereto).
(d) Outplacement. If so requested by the Executive, outplacement services shall be
provided by a professional outplacement provider selected by Executive for a period of two years;
provided, however, that such outplacement services shall be provided to the
Executive at a cost to the Company each year of not more than fifteen (15) percent of such
Executive’s annual base salary at the time of Termination.
(e) Withholding. Payments and benefits provided pursuant to this Section 4 shall be
subject to any applicable payroll and other taxes required to be withheld.
5. Compensation Upon Death, Disability or Retirement.
If Executive’s Separation from Service is by reason of Death, Disability or Retirement prior
to any other termination, Executive will receive:
(a) the sum of (i) Executive’s accrued but unpaid salary through the date of Termination, (ii)
the pro rata portion of the Executive’s target bonus for the year of Executive’s
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Death or Disability (calculated through the date of Termination), and (iii) an amount equal to
any compensation previously deferred and any accrued vacation pay; and
(b) other accrued or vested benefits in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan (with
an offset for any amounts paid under item (a)(iii), above.
6. Excess Parachute Excise Tax Payments.
(a) (i) If it is determined (as hereafter provided) that any payment or distribution by the
Company or any Employer to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by
reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation
any stock option, stock appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any
restriction on or the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing (a “Payment”), would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto)
by reason of being “contingent on a change in ownership or control” of the Company, within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or to any similar tax
imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such
tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereafter collectively referred to
as the “Excise Tax”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or
payments (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes
(including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax,
imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to
the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments; provided, however, if the Executive’s
Payment is, when calculated on a net-after-tax basis, less than $50,000 in excess of the amount of
the Payment which could be paid to the Executive under Section 280G of the Code without causing the
imposition of the Excise Tax, then the Payment shall be limited to the largest amount payable (as
described above) without resulting in the imposition of any Excise Tax (such amount, the “Capped
Amount”).
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 6(a)(i) hereof, all determinations required to be
made under this Section 6, including whether an Excise Tax is payable by the Executive and the
amount of such Excise Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such
Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by the nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants
(the “Accounting Firm”) used by the Company prior to the Change in Control (or, if such Accounting
Firm declines to serve, the Accounting Firm shall be a nationally recognized firm of certified
public accountants selected by the Executive). The Accounting Firm shall be directed by the
Company or the Executive to submit its preliminary determination and detailed supporting
calculations to both the Company and the Executive within 15 calendar days after the Termination
Date, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by the Company or the
Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Excise Tax is payable by the Executive and
that the criteria for reducing the Payment to the Capped Amount (as described in Section 6(a)(i)
above) is met, then the Company shall reduce the Payment by the amount which, based on the
Accounting Firm’s determination and calculations, would provide the Executive with the Capped
Amount, and pay to the Executive such reduced Payment. If the Accounting Firm determines that an
Excise Tax is payable, without reduction pursuant to Section 6(a)(i), above, the Company shall pay
the
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required Gross-Up Payment to, or for the benefit of, the Executive within five business days
after receipt of such determination and calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that no
Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination,
furnish the Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Excise
Tax on his/her federal, state, local income or other tax return. Any determination by the
Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company and the
Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Services or a court of competent
jurisdiction; provided, however, that no such determination shall eliminate or
reduce the Company’s obligation to provide any Gross-Up Payment that shall be due as a result of
such contrary determination. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of
the Code (or any successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar uncertainty regarding
state or local tax law at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is
possible that Gross-Up Payments that will not have been made by the Company should have been made
(an “Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event
that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof and the
Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Executive shall direct
the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its
determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and the Executive as
promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the
benefit of, the Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and
calculations.
(iii) The Company and the Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and
copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or the Executive, as
the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the
Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated
by Section 6(a) hereof.
(iv) The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by the Executive (or any
filing made by a consolidated tax group which includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on
a consistent basis with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Excise Tax
payable by the Executive. The Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Excise Tax,
and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any
amendments) of his/her federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and
corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing
authority, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment.
If prior to the filing of the Executive’s federal income tax return, or corresponding state or
local tax return, if relevant, the Accounting Firm determines that the amount of the Gross-Up
Payment should be reduced, the Executive shall within five business days pay to the Company the
amount of such reduction.
(v) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the
determinations and calculations contemplated by Sections 6(a)(ii) and (iv) hereof shall be borne by
the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially advanced by the Executive, the Company shall
reimburse the Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within five business days after
receipt from the Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his/her payment
thereof.
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(b) In the event that the Internal Revenue Service claims that any payment or benefit received
under this Agreement constitutes an “excess parachute payment,” within the meaning of Section
280G(b)(1) of the Code, the Executive shall notify the Company in writing of such claim. Such
notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than 10 business days after the
Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such
claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such
claim prior to the expiration of the 30 day period following the date on which the Executive gives
such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes
with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall (i) give the
Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim; (ii) take such
action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing
from time to time, including without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to
such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company and reasonably satisfactory to the
Executive; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such
claim; and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including, but not limited to, additional interest and penalties and related legal,
consulting or other similar fees) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and
hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for and against any Excise Tax or other tax
(including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation
and payment of costs and expenses.
(c) The Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at
its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim; provided, however,
that if the Executive is required to extend the statute of limitations to enable the Company to
contest such claim, the Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The
Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a corporate
deduction would be disallowed pursuant to Section 280G of the Code and the Executive shall be
entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue
Service or any other taxing authority. In addition, no position may be taken nor any final
resolution be agreed to by the Company without the Executive’s consent if such position or
resolution could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Executive (including any other tax
position of the Executive unrelated to matters covered hereby).
(d) If; after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection
with the contest of the Excise Tax claim, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with
respect to such claim, the Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund
(together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto);
provided, however, if the amount of that refund exceeds the amount advanced by the
Company or it is otherwise determined for any reason that additional amounts could be paid to the
Named Executive without incurring any Excise Tax, any such amount will be promptly paid by the
Company to the named Executive. If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by
the Company in connection with an Excise Tax claim, a determination is made that the Executive
shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the
Executive in writing of its intent to contest the denial of such
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refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination, such advance shall be
forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and shall be deemed to be in consideration for
services rendered after the date of the Termination.
(e) All amounts payable to Executive under this Section 6 shall be paid as soon as practicable
after the Change in Control or other event giving rise to any payment of the Excise Tax by the
Executive, but no later than the December 31 of the year next following the year in which the
Executive, or the Company on behalf of the Executive, remits the Excise Tax.
7. Expenses. In addition to all other amounts payable to the Executive under this
Agreement, during the term of this Agreement and for a period of twenty (20) years following the
Executive’s Termination, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for legal fees (including
without limitation, any and all court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the
Executive in connection with or as a result of any claim, action or proceeding brought by the
Company or the Executive with respect to or arising out of this Agreement or any provision hereof;
provided, however, that in the case of an action brought by the Executive, the
Company shall have no obligation for any such legal fees, if the Company is successful in
establishing with the court that the Executive’s action was frivolous or otherwise without any
reasonable legal or factual basis. All such expenses shall be reimbursed by December 31 of the
year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of expenses reimbursed in
one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year.
8. Section 409A Delay. Notwithstanding Sections 4, 5, 6 or 7, if the Company
determines that the Executive is deemed at the time of his Termination to be a “specified employee”
for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any
portion of the amounts to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to
avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then such portion shall
not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six-month period
measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (b) the date of Executive’s
death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) deferral period, all
payments deferred pursuant to this Section 8 shall be paid in a lump sum to the Executive, plus
interest thereon from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service through the payment date
at a rate equal to the prime rate of interest as reported in the Wall Street Journal from time to
time. Any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.
9. Obligations Absolute; Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Joint Several Liability.
(a) The obligations of the Company to make the payment to the Executive, and to make the
arrangements, provided for herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be reduced by
any circumstances, including without limitation any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which the Company may have against the Executive or any third party at any time.
(b) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future
participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided by the Company or
any other Employer and for which the Executive may qualify, nor
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shall anything herein limit or reduce such rights as the Executive may have under any
agreements with the Company or any other Employer,
(c) Each entity included in the definition of “Employer” and any successors or assigns shall
be joint and severally liable with the Company under this Agreement.
10. Not an Employment Agreement; Effect On Other Rights; Release and Offsets.
(a) This Agreement is not, and nothing herein shall be deemed to create, a contract of
employment between the Executive and the Company. Any Employer may terminate the employment of the
Executive at any time, subject to the terms of this Agreement and/or any employment agreement or
arrangement between the Employer and the Executive that may then be in effect.
(b) With respect to any employment agreement with the Executive in effect immediately prior to
the Change in Control, nothing herein shall have any effect on the Executive’s rights thereunder;
provided, however, that in the event of the Executive’s termination of employment
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, this Agreement shall govern solely for the purpose of
providing the terms of all payments and additional benefits to which the Executive is entitled upon
such termination and any payments or benefit provided thereunder shall reduce the corresponding
type of payments or benefits hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the
Executive’s employment is terminated prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control under the
circumstances provided for in Section 3(a)(ii) and such circumstances also entitle Executive to
payments and benefits under any other employment or other agreement as in effect prior to the
Change in Control (“Other Agreement”), then, until the Change in Control occurs, the Executive will
receive the payments and benefits to which he/she is entitled under such Other Agreement. Upon the
occurrence of the Change in Control, the Company will pay to the Executive in cash the amount to
which he/she is entitled to under this Agreement (reduced by the amounts already paid under the
Other Agreement) in respect of cash payments and shall provide or increase any other noncash
benefits to those provided for hereunder (after taking into Account noncash benefits, if any,
provided under such Other Agreement). Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is
otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the Company or any other Employer shall
be payable in accordance with such plan or program, except as explicitly modified by this
Agreement.
(c) With respect to any limited stock appreciation rights (“LSARs”) granted to the Executive
pursuant to the Company’s 1973 Stock Option Plan for Key Executives held, as of the date of this
Agreement, by the Executive, the Executive hereby agrees to the cancellation of such LSARs in the
event that the Change in Control contemplated hereunder is intended to be, and is otherwise,
eligible for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment under XXX Xx. 00.
(d) All payments and benefits provided under Section 4 are conditioned on and subject to the
Executive’s continuing compliance with this Agreement, any other agreements regarding
non-competition, and non-solicitation of employees and customers. No payments or benefits will be
provided under Section 4 unless and until the Executive delivers an effective release of claims and
covenant not to xxx in a form prescribed by the Company within sixty (60)
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days of his termination of employment. Such release shall be in a reasonable and customary
form. In addition, to the extent Executive receives severance or similar payments and/or benefits
under any other Company plan, program, agreement, policy, practice, or the like, or under the WARN
Act or similar state law, the payments and benefits due to Executive under this Agreement will be
correspondingly reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis (or vice-versa).
11. Successors; Binding Agreement Assignment.
(a) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business of the Company, by
agreement to expressly, absolutely and unconditionally 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 agreement prior to the
effectiveness of any such succession shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle
the Executive to terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company or such successor for Good
Reason immediately prior to or at any time after such succession. As used in this Agreement,
“Company” shall mean (i) the Company as hereinbefore defined, and (ii) any successor to all the
stock of the Company or to all or substantially all of the Company’s business or assets which
executes and delivers an agreement provided for in this Section 11(a) or which otherwise becomes
bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law, including any parent
or subsidiary of such a successor.
(b) 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 the Executive should die while any amount would be payable to the
Executive hereunder if the Executive had 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
estate or designated beneficiary. Neither this Agreement nor any right arising hereunder may be
assigned or pledged by the Executive.
12. Notice. For purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement or contemplated hereby shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered, delivered by a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service or when mailed United States certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, and addressed, in the case of the Company, to the Company at:
Xxxxxxx Incorporated
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
and in the case of the Executive, to the Executive at the address set forth on the execution page
at the end hereof.
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Either party may designate a different address by giving notice of change of address in the
manner provided above, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt.
13. Confidentiality. Executive shall retain in confidence any and all confidential
information concerning the Company and its respective business which is now known or hereafter
becomes known to the Executive, except as otherwise required by law and except information (i)
ascertainable or obtained from public information, (ii) received by the Executive at any time after
the Executive’s employment by the Company shall have terminated, from a third party not employed by
or otherwise affiliated with the Company or (iii) which is or becomes known to the public by any
means other than a breach of this Section 13. Upon the Termination of employment, the Executive
will not take or keep any proprietary or confidential information or documentation belonging to the
Company.
14. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, altered, modified,
waived or discharged unless such amendment, alteration, modification, waiver or discharge is agreed
to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as shall be specifically
designated by the Committee or by the Board of Directors of the Company. No waiver by either
party, at any time, of any breach by the other party of, or of compliance by the other party with,
any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed or complied with by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition of this Agreement or
any other breach of or failure to comply with the same condition or provision at the same time or
at any prior or subsequent time. 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. This Agreement supersedes the Prior Agreement, which shall
no longer be in force or have any effect.
15. Severability. If any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, each party hereto waives any provision of law which renders any provision of this
Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
16. Governing Law; Venue. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance
of this Agreement shall be governed on a non-exclusive basis by the laws of the State of
Connecticut without giving effect to its conflict of laws rules. For purposes of jurisdiction and
venue, the Company and each Employer hereby consents to jurisdiction and venue in any suit, action
or proceeding with respect to this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction in the state in
which Executive resides at the commencement of such suit, action or proceeding and waives any
objection, challenge or dispute as to such jurisdiction or venue being proper.
17. Code Section 409A Exempt. Certain compensation and benefits payable under this
Agreement, including without limitation the severance benefits described in Section 4(a), are not
intended to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code. To
the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A and
Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance
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issued thereunder. If the Company and Employee determine that any compensation or benefits
payable under this Agreement do not comply with Code Section 409A and related Department of
Treasury guidance, the Company and Employee agree to amend this Agreement, or take such other
actions as the Company and Employee deem necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements
of Code Section 409A and related Department of Treasury guidance, while preserving the economic
agreement of the parties.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be an original and all of which shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amended and Restated Continuity
Agreement as of the date first above written.
| XXXXXXX INCORPORATED | ||||
| By: | /s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Title: | V.P., General Counsel & Secretary | |||
| /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||
| Executive: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
| Address | ||||
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EXHIBIT A
ASSUMPTIONS
The assumptions to be used are those specified under Section 417(e) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, which assumptions are the minimum lump sum factors permitted to be used
for calculating pension benefits under the Company’s qualified defined benefit plans.
Benefit:
|
Lump sum payment of unreduced benefit deferred to age 55, increased to reflect the 50% joint and survivor form. | |
Mortality Rates:
|
The Applicable mortality table under Section 417(e) that is currently used by the Xxxxxxx Incorporated Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees. | |
Interest Rate:
|
10-year treasury rate on the first day of the fourth quarter of the calendar year immediately prior to the Executive’s separation from service. | |
Qualified Plan Offset:
|
Amount actually payable at age 55 (or, if higher, the Executive’s actual age as of separation from service). |
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