DATE]
Exhibit
10.3
[DATE]
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx. 000
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Dear
Xxxxxxx:
UST
Inc. (“UST” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide you with this letter
agreement (the “Agreement”). The Board of Directors of UST (the “Board of
Directors” or the “Board”) considers it essential to the best interests of the
Company and the interests of UST’s stockholders to xxxxxx the continuous
employment of key management personnel. In addition, the Board recognizes that,
as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a change
in control may exist, and that the uncertainty and questions which may arise
among Company management as a result of the foregoing may cause the departure or
distraction of management to the detriment of the Company and its
stockholders.
In
order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company, UST agrees that you
shall receive the severance benefits set forth in this Agreement in the event
your employment with the Company is terminated under the circumstances described
below either prior to or subsequent to a “Change in Control” (as defined in
Section 2).
You
have an existing agreement with the Company and UST (“Existing Agreement”),
dated July 20, 2007, regarding the payment of severance benefits to you. This
Agreement amends and restates your Existing Agreement, effective 12/15, 2008, in order to evidence
formal compliance with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the guidance thereunder (the “Code”).
1.
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Term
of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on August 6, 2007 and
end on the third anniversary of such date; provided,
however,
that if a Change in Control, as defined in Section 2, shall have occurred
during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall continue in effect
for a period of not less than twenty-four (24) months beyond the month in
which such Change in Control occurred. Prior to a Change in Control, in no
event shall the term of this Agreement extend beyond the date on which you
cease to be an officer of the Company or a subsidiary thereof, whether or
not you continue to be an employee of the Company or a subsidiary thereof;
provided, however, if you cease to be an officer of the Company or any
subsidiary thereof for Good Reason as defined herein, this Agreement shall
continue in effect for a period of not less than thirty (30)
days. You acknowledge and agree that the non-renewal of the
term of this Agreement shall not be considered a termination of employment
hereunder for any purpose, including entitlement to severance payments or
any other benefits provided for
herein.
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2.
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Change
in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control”
shall be a change in control of UST and shall be deemed to have occurred
if:
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(A)
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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 (1) UST or
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any of its subsidiaries, (2) any “person” who on the date hereof is a director or officer of UST, (3) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of UST, (4) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (5) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of UST in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of UST (a “Person”), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (a “Beneficial Owner”)), directly or indirectly, of securities of UST (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from UST or its affiliates) representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of UST’s then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (C)(1) below; or | ||
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(B)
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the
following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
number of directors of UST then serving: individuals who, on the date
hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director
whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent
solicitation, relating to the election of directors of UST) whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by UST’s
stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on
the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election
was previously so approved or recommended;
or
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(C)
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there
is consummated a merger or consolidation of UST or any direct or indirect
subsidiary of UST with any other corporation, other than (1) a merger or
consolidation which would result in the voting securities of UST
outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing
to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in
combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of UST or any subsidiary of UST,
more than 50% of the combined voting power of the securities of UST or
such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or (2) a merger or consolidation effected to
implement a recapitalization of UST (or similar transaction) in which no
Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of UST (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by
such Person any securities acquired directly from UST or its subsidiaries)
representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of UST’s then
outstanding securities; or
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(D)
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the
stockholders of UST approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution
of UST or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by
UST of all or substantially all of UST’s assets, other than a sale or
disposition by UST of all or substantially all of UST’s assets to an
entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of which are owned by
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stockholders
of UST in substantially the same proportions as their ownership
of UST immediately
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3.
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Termination
of Employment.
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(a)
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General. You
shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Section 4 upon the
termination of your employment during the term of this Agreement prior to
a Change in Control. If any of the events described in Section
2 constituting a Change in Control shall have occurred, you shall be
entitled to the benefits provided in Section 5 upon the coincident or
subsequent termination of your employment during the term of this
Agreement or, as provided in Section 5, upon the Change in Control. In the
event your employment with the Company is terminated for any reason prior
to a Change in Control and subsequently a Change in Control shall have
occurred, you shall not be entitled to the benefits provided in Section 5,
unless such termination occurs within thirty (30) days prior to a Change
in Control and such termination is by you for Good Reason or the Company
without Cause in anticipation or contemplation of such Change in
Control.
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(b)
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Disability. The
Company will terminate your employment at the conclusion of a twelve (12)
month period during which you continuously have a General Disability (as
defined below), a 409A Disability (as defined below) or both. In
determining whether a disability is continuous for this purpose, a
temporary return to work shall be disregarded (I) in the case of a General
Disability, if it would be disregarded under the Company’s long-term
disability plan for salaried employees, and (II) in the case of a 409A
Disability, if it would be disregarded under the Company’s long-term
disability plan for salaried employees and it may be disregarded under
Treasury Regulation §
1.409A-3(i)(4).
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(i)
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You
will be deemed to have a “General Disability” if, as a result of your
incapacity due to physical or mental illness, 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.
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(ii)
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You
will be deemed to have a “409A Disability if (A) you are unable to engage
in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result
in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less
than 12 months, (B) you are, by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or
can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12
months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less
than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering Company
employees; or (C) you are determined to be totally disabled by the Social
Security Administration.
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(c)
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Cause.
The Company may terminate your employment hereunder for Cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) the willful and
continuous failure by you to substantially perform your duties hereunder
(other than any such failure resulting from your incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), which failure is not cured within thirty (30)
business days after demand for substantial performance is delivered by the
Company that specifically identifies the manner in which the Company
believes you have willfully and continuously not substantially performed
your duties; (ii) the willful engaging by you in misconduct which is
materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise (including,
but not limited to, your violation of the Company’s Code of Corporate
Responsibility); or (iii) the commission of an act or omission that
constitutes a material breach of this Agreement (including, but not
limited to, the violation of your obligations under Sections 6, 7 or 8
hereof), which act or omission is not cured within thirty (30) business
days after a notice is delivered by the Company that specifically
identifies the manner in which the Company believes you have materially
breached this Agreement. For purposes of this subsection, no act, or
failure to act, on your part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or
omitted to be done, by you not in good faith and without reasonable belief
that your action or omission was legal, compliant with the Company’s Code
of Corporate Responsibility and in the best interest of the
Company.
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(d)
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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, (1) the occurrence prior
to a Change in Control of any of the circumstances set forth in paragraphs
(i) through (iv) below and (2) the occurrence on a Change in Control, in
contemplation or anticipation of a Change in Control provided such
termination occurs within thirty (30) days prior to the Change in Control,
or following a Change in Control of any of the circumstances set forth in
paragraphs (A) through (H) below, unless, in any case, such circumstances
are fully corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in Notice
of Termination, as defined in Sections 3(f) and 3(g), respectively, given
in respect thereof.
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Good Reason
Prior to a Change in Control
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(i)
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A
diminution in title or status as an officer or a material reduction in
your accounting responsibilities such that as a result of such reduction
in accounting responsibilities, you are unable to provide the
certifications or opinions required of a Chief Financial Officer pursuant
to applicable regulations then in
effect;
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(ii)
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Other
than a Company-wide reduction, a reduction in your total target
compensation as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time; provided, however, in no event shall a
reduction in your actual bonus under UST’s Incentive Compensation Plan
that is based on performance against pre-established criteria be
considered
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a reduction in your target bonus; | ||
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(iii)
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The
relocation (except for required travel on the Company’s business to an
extent reasonably consistent with either your present business travel
obligations or changes in the Company’s business) of your principal place
of employment to a location more than fifty (50) miles from the Company’s
principal executive offices in Greenwich, Connecticut or any other
metropolitan area to which the Company’s principal executive offices are
relocated, it
being
understood
that a relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices that
applies to all or substantially all personnel and not to you alone shall
not constitute Good Reason hereunder;
or
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(iv)
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Any
purported termination of your employment which is not effected pursuant to
a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Subsection (f)
hereof (and, if applicable, the requirements of Subsection (c) hereof);
for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be
effective. Your right to terminate your employment pursuant to
this Subsection (d) 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; provided that the
Company’s reassignment of your duties and responsibilities during a period
of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness shall not under any
circumstances constitute Good Reason
hereunder.
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Good Reason on
or Following a Change in Control.
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(A)
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The
assignment to you of any duties inconsistent with the position in the
Company that you held immediately prior to the Change in Control, or a
significant adverse alteration in the nature or status of your
responsibilities, including your reporting responsibilities, from those in
effect immediately prior to such change; provided,
however,
that no such alteration in your reporting responsibilities alone shall be
considered Good Reason hereunder prior to the date which is six (6) months
following the date of the Change in
Control;
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(B)
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A
reduction by the Company in your annual base salary or target bonus as in
effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to
time (other than reductions similarly affecting all officers of the
Company); provided, however, in no event shall a reduction in your actual
bonus under UST’s Incentive Compensation Plan that is based on performance
against pre-established criteria be considered a reduction in your target
bonus;
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(C)
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The
relocation of your principal place of employment to a location more than
fifty (50) miles from the Greenwich, Connecticut metropolitan area
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(or, if different, the metropolitan area in which the Company’s principal executive offices are located immediately prior to the Change in Control) except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with your present business travel obligations; | ||
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(D)
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The
failure by the Company to pay to you any portion of your current
compensation except pursuant to a voluntary deferral by you or an
across-the-board compensation deferral similarly affecting all officers of
the Company and all officers of any person whose actions resulted in a
Change in Control or any person affiliated with the Company or such
person, or to pay to you any portion of an installment of deferred
compensation under any deferred compensation program of the Company,
within seven (7) days of the date such compensation is
due;
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(E)
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The
failure by the Company to continue in effect any compensation plan in
which you participate immediately prior to the Change in Control which is
material to your total compensation, including but not limited to the UST
Inc. Retirement Income Plan for Salaried Employees, UST Inc. Employees’
Savings Plan, UST Inc. Officers’ Supplemental Retirement Plan, UST Inc.
Incentive Compensation Plan and the 2005 UST Inc. Long-Term Incentive
Plan, or any substitute plans adopted prior to the Change in 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 therein (or in a 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 in Control;
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(F)
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The
failure by the Company to continue to provide you with benefits
substantially similar to those enjoyed by you under any of the life
insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which you
are participating at the time of the Change in Control, the taking of any
action by the Company which would directly or indirectly materially reduce
any of such benefits or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed
by you at the time of the Change in Control, or the failure by the Company
to provide you with the number of paid vacation days to which you are
entitled on the basis of years of service with the Company in accordance
with the Company’s normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the
Change in Control;
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(G)
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The
failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any
successor to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated
in Section 9 hereof; or
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(H)
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Any
purported termination of your employment which is not effected pursuant to
a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of
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Subsection
(f) hereof (and, if applicable, the requirements of Subsection (c)
hereof); for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination
shall be effective. Your right to terminate your employment
pursuant to this Subsection (d) sha1l 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.
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(e)
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Employment
by Affiliates. For purposes of this Agreement, in no event shall a
termination of your employment with the Company be deemed to occur as a
result of your transfer to, or employment by, UST or any of its affiliates
during the term of this
Agreement.
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(f)
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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 this
Section 3(f). “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.
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(g)
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Date
of Termination; Severance Start
Date.
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(i)
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"Date
of Termination" shall mean (A) if your employment is terminated for
General Disability or 409A Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of
Termination is given (but not before the end of the twelve (12) month
period specified in Subsection (b) above, and not if you have returned to
the full-time performance of your duties for a period that breaks the
period of continuous disability in accordance with Subsection (b) above),
and (B) if your employment is terminated pursuant to Subsection (c) or (d)
hereof or for any other reason (other than General Disability or 409A
Disability), the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in
the case of a termination pursuant to Subsection (c) hereof shall not be
less than thirty (30) days, unless a shorter time is provided by the
Company prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, and in the case of
a termination pursuant to Subsection (d) hereof shall not be less than
fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date
such Notice of Termination is given). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, if you
reasonably believe in good faith the Company is not providing you with a
benefit or payment to which you are entitled under the terms of this
Agreement, you may notify the Company, within forty-five (45) days after
the Date of Termination or, if any such payment or benefit is due after
such 45-day period, within 45 days following such payment date, that a
dispute exists concerning the termination and/or the amount of such
payment or benefit. In this event, the Company shall act within
fifteen (15) days to restore fully the disputed benefits and payments (so
that all benefits and payments are provided as
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of such date as would have been provided had there been no delay in providing such benefits and payments) and to continue to provide such benefits and payments as contemplated by this Agreement thereafter (provided, however, that in all events any payment or benefit shall not be paid or provided to you before the payment date set forth in this Agreement or any applicable document), but subject to termination and recapture from you of these disputed benefits and payments in accordance with the terms of a mutual written agreement of the parties, a binding arbitration award, or 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). | ||
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(ii)
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“Severance
Start Date” shall mean the date on which you incur a “separation from
service” under Code section
409A(a)(2)(A)(i).
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(h)
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Release/Resignations.
As a condition and in consideration of the benefits provided under Section
4(c) and Section 5 of this Agreement, you agree and covenant (i) to
execute a general release, in the form attached hereto as Annex I (the
“Release”), of any and all claims you may have or may believe you have
against UST and/or its affiliates and their officers, directors,
employees, agents or representatives and any of their successors and/or
assigns; (ii) as more particularly described in the Release, not to seek
any recovery against UST and/or its affiliates and their officers,
directors, employees, agents or representatives and any of their
successors and/or assigns for any cause or reason related to or arising
from your employment with the Company or any of its affiliates or the
termination thereof, other than a failure or refusal of the Company to pay
you (x) the benefits described in Section 4(c) or Section 5 hereof, and
(y) the benefits to which you are entitled subsequent to your termination
of employment pursuant to the terms of one or more of the employee benefit
plans maintained by the Company; and (iii) to cooperate fully with UST and
its affiliates concerning reasonable requests for information about the
business of UST or any of its affiliates or your involvement and
participation therein, including, but not limited to, with respect to the
defense or prosecution of any claims or actions in existence now or in the
future as more particularly described in the Release. The covenant set
forth in clause (ii) of this Section 3(h) includes, without limitation,
seeking any recovery against UST, any of its affiliates or their officers,
directors, employees, agents or representatives and any of their
successors and/or assigns in any forum, including without limitation any
court, administrative agency or otherwise. In the event of your
termination of employment under any of the circumstances described in
Section 3, you further agree to resign all offices or directorships that
you may hold with UST and any of its affiliates, as the case may be, in a
form acceptable to the
Company.
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4.
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Severance
Compensation Prior to a Change in Control. Prior to a Change in
Control, you shall be entitled to the following benefits, provided that
such termination occurs during the term of this
Agreement:
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(a)
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If
your employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by you for any
reason other than Good Reason, or if your employment terminates because of
your death, the Company shall pay you your full base salary in accordance
with the Company’s standard payroll practices through the Date of
Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of
Termination is given, and provide you with all other normal
post-termination amounts (if any) to which you are entitled under the
terms and conditions of any compensation or benefit plan maintained by the
Company in which you participated as of the Date of Termination at the
time such payments are due, and the Company shall have no further
obligations to you under this
Agreement.
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(b)
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During
any period that you fail to perform your full-time duties with the Company
as a result of:
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(i)
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a
period of 409A Disability, you shall continue to receive your base salary
in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices at the rate in
effect at the commencement of any such period, together with any
compensation payable to you under the Company’s short-term and long-term
disability plans for salaried employees during such period and any benefit
coverages customarily provided to disabled salaried employees, until your
employment is terminated pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof;
or
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(ii)
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a
period of General Disability, you shall receive any compensation payable
to you under the Company’s short-term and long-term disability plans for
salaried employees during such period, as well as any benefit coverages
customarily provided to disabled salaried employees, until your employment
is terminated pursuant to Section 3(b)
hereof.
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Thereafter
your benefits shall be determined under the Company’s retirement, insurance and
other compensation programs then in effect in accordance with the terms of such
programs.
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(c)
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If
your employment is terminated by the Company (other than for Cause,
General Disability, 409A Disability or death) or by you for Good Reason as
defined in Section 3(d)(i) through (iv), then you shall be entitled to the
benefits provided below, subject to your execution of a release described
in Section 3(h) and provided that such release becomes effective and has
not been revoked in accordance with the terms
thereof:
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(i)
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the
Company shall pay to you your full base salary through the Date of
Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is
given, no later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination; and
shall provide you with all other normal post-termination amounts (if any)
to which you are entitled under the terms and conditions of any
compensation or benefit plan of the Company, at the time such payments are
due;
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(ii)
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to
the extent that an annual bonus has not been paid to you in respect of any
fiscal year, the Company shall pay to you, in the immediately following
fiscal year at the time that annual bonuses in respect of such initial
fiscal year are regularly paid by the Company (but not later than 2-1/2
months after the end of such initial fiscal year), the product of (x) the
actual annual bonus that you would have been entitled to under the UST
Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan had you remained employed through the
regular payment date and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days that have elapsed in each such fiscal year through the Date
of Termination, and the denominator of which is
365;
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(iii)
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in
lieu of any further salary and bonus payments to you for periods
subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay to you, in
twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments, a severance payment equal to
the product of (1) the sum of (A) your annual salary rate in effect
immediately prior to the Date of Termination, and (B) an amount equal to
seventy-five percent (75%) of the target annual bonus in effect as of the
Date of Termination, and (2) the number two (2); these installments shall
begin to be paid upon your Severance Start Date (in accordance with the
Company’s standard payroll practices for severance pay), except in the
event you are a “specified employee” on your Severance Start Date, as
determined by the Company in accordance with rules established by the
Company in writing in advance of the “specified employee identification
date” that relates to your Severance Start Date or, if later, by December
31, 2008, such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six (6)
months after your Severance Start Date, with the lump sum value of all
payments that are so delayed paid on the date that is six (6) months after
your Severance Start Date (if you die after your Severance Start Date but
before payment of all twenty-four (24) installments, any remaining
installments will be paid to your estate as a lump sum and without regard
to any six-month delay that otherwise applies to specified
employees). For purposes of this Agreement, “specified
employee” shall be defined as provided in Code section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i)
and “specified employee identification date” shall be defined as provided
in Treasury Regulation
§1.409A-1(i);
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(iv)
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for
a twenty-four (24) month period following the Date of Termination, the
Company shall arrange to provide you with life insurance benefits
substantially similar to those which you were receiving immediately prior
to the Notice of Termination at a cost and level of benefits which are
substantially similar to those you were receiving prior to the Date of
Termination. Benefits otherwise receivable by you pursuant to this
paragraph (iv) shall be reduced to the extent comparable coverage is
actually provided to you by another employer during the twenty-four (24)
month period following your termination, and any such coverage actually
provided to you by such employer shall be reported to the
Company;
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(v)
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the
Company shall provide you with group health insurance coverage in
accordance with Section 5(d) below. However, benefits otherwise receivable
pursuant to this paragraph (v) shall be reduced to the extent comparable
benefits are actually received by you from another employer during the
twenty-four (24) month period following your termination, and any such
benefits actually received by you from such employer shall be reported to
the Company; and
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(vi)
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UST
shall extend to you the same indemnification arrangements as are generally
provided to other similarly situated officers to the extent authorized by
applicable law and in accordance with Article VIII of UST’s
By-Laws.
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(d)
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Except
as provided in Section 4(c)(iv) or (v) or Section 5(d) hereof, you shall
not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this
Section 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount
of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 4 be reduced by any
compensation earned by you as the result of employment by another
employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to
be owed by you to the Company, or
otherwise.
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5.
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Severance
Compensation on, in Anticipation or Contemplation of or Following a Change
in Control. On or following a Change in Control, and in
the event of a termination by you for Good Reason or by the Company
without Cause that is made in anticipation or contemplation of and occurs
within thirty (30) days prior to a Change in Control, you shall be
entitled to the following benefits during a period of Disability, or upon
termination of your employment, as the case may be, provided that such
period or termination occurs during the term of this Agreement, or as
otherwise provided below in subsection (e)(A) or (B) of this Section
5:
|
|
(a)
|
During
any period that you fail to perform your full-time duties with the Company
as a result of:
|
|
(i)
|
a
period of 409A Disability, you shall continue to receive your base salary
in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices at the rate in
effect at the commencement of any such period, together with any
compensation payable to you under the Company’s short-term and long-term
disability plans for salaried employees during such period and any benefit
coverages customarily provided to disabled salaried employees, until your
employment is terminated pursuant to Section 3(b)
hereof.
|
|
(ii)
|
a
period of General Disability, you shall receive any compensation payable
to you under the Company’s short-term and long-term disability plans for
salaried employees during such period, as well as any benefit coverages
customarily provided to disabled salaried employees, until your employment
is terminated pursuant to Section 3(b)
hereof.
|
11
Thereafter
your benefits shall be determined under the Company’s retirement, insurance and
other compensation programs then in effect in accordance with the terms of such
programs.
|
(b)
|
If
your employment is terminated by reason of your death or by the Company
for Cause or by you other than for Good Reason as defined in Section
3(d)(A) through (H), the Company shall pay you your full base salary in
accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices through the Date
of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is
given, and provide you with all other normal post-termination amounts (if
any) to which you are entitled under the terms and conditions of 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
|
|
(c)
|
If
your employment is terminated by you for Good Reason as defined in Section
3(d)(A) through (H) or by the Company other than for Cause, General
Disability, 409A Disability or death, then you shall be entitled to the
benefits provided below, subject to your execution of a release described
in Section 3(h) and provided that such release becomes effective and has
not been revoked in accordance with the terms
thereof:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Company shall pay to you your full base salary through the Date of
Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is
given, no later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination; and
provide you with all other normal post-termination amounts (if any) to
which you are entitled under the terms and conditions of any compensation
or benefit plan of the Company at the time such payments are
due;
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|
(ii)
|
to
the extent that an annual bonus has not been paid to you in respect of any
fiscal year, the Company shall pay to you, in the immediately following
fiscal year at the time that annual bonuses in respect of such initial
fiscal year are regularly paid by the Company (but not later than 2-1/2
months after the end of such initial fiscal year), the product of (x) an
amount equal to the target annual bonus in effect immediately preceding
the Date of Termination or, if greater, such target in effect immediately
prior to the Change in Control, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of days that have elapsed in the fiscal year in which the
Date of Termination occurs through the Date of Termination, and the
denominator of which is 365;
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|
(iii)
|
in
lieu of any further salary and bonus payments to you for periods
subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay as severance
pay to you an amount equal to the product of (1) the sum of (A) your
annual salary rate in effect as of the Date of Termination or, if greater,
such rate in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, and (B) an
amount equal to 100% of the target annual bonus in effect as of the Date
of Termination or, if greater, such target in effect immediately prior
|
12
to the Change in Control, and (2) the number two (2); in the event your Severance Start Date occurs on or within two (2) years following an event that constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Code section 409A(a)(2)(a)(vi), except as set forth below with respect to status as a specified employee such amount will be paid in a lump sum no later than the fifth day following your Severance Start Date; otherwise, except as set forth below with respect to status as a specified employee such amount shall be paid in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments that shall begin to be paid upon your Severance Start Date (in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices for severance pay); in either case, in the event you are a “specified employee” on your Severance Start Date, as determined by the Company in accordance with rules established by the Company in writing in advance of the “specified employee identification date” that relates to your Severance Start Date or, if later, by December 31, 2008, such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six (6) months after your Severance Start Date, with the lump sum value of all payments that are so delayed paid on the date that is six (6) months after your Severance Start Date (if you die after your Severance Start Date but before payment of the lump sum or all twenty-four (24) installments, any remaining amounts will be paid to your estate as a lump sum and without regard to any six-month delay that otherwise applies to specified employees); | ||
|
(iv)
|
the
Company also shall promptly reimburse you for 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. To the extent that any such
reimbursement does not qualify for exclusion from Federal income taxation,
the Company will make the reimbursement only if (A) the corresponding
expense is incurred by you during your lifetime (or by your estate on your
behalf after your death and within ten years of such termination), and (B)
the request for reimbursement is submitted no later than two months prior
to the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which
the expense was incurred so that the Company can make the reimbursement on
or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in
which the expense was incurred. The amount of expenses eligible for such
reimbursement during a calendar year will not affect the amount of
expenses eligible for such reimbursement in another calendar year, and the
right to such reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for
another benefit from the Company. The Company shall also promptly
reimburse you for all legal fees and expenses incurred by you in
connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to
the application of Code section 4999 to any payment or benefits provided
hereunder); each
such reimbursement shall be paid no later than the end of the
calendar year next following the calendar year in which you or the
|
13
Company remit to the Internal Revenue Service the taxes that are the subject of the audit or proceeding or, where as a result of the audit or proceeding no taxes are due or are remitted but other reimbursable expenses have been incurred, the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the proceeding. For purposes of the foregoing, in the event you are a “specified employee” on your Severance Start Date (as determined by the Company in accordance with rules established by the Company in writing in advance of the “specified employee identification date” that relates to your Severance Start Date or, if later, by December 31, 2008), and to the extent that any portion of the reimbursements described above in this paragraph (iv) relate to expenses that were triggered by your “separation from service” within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and such reimbursements constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of section 409A of the Code, such reimbursements shall be paid no earlier than the date that is six (6) months after your Severance Start Date (if you die after your Severance Start Date but before such reimbursements have been made, such reimbursements will be paid to your estate in a lump sum without regard to any six-month delay that otherwise applies to specified employees); | ||
|
(v)
|
for
a twenty-four (24) month period after such termination, the Company shall
arrange to provide you with life insurance benefits substantially similar
to those which you were receiving immediately prior to the Notice of
Termination (as well as the group health coverage described in Subsection
(d) below), at a cost and level of benefits which are substantially
similar to those you were receiving prior to the Date of Termination.
Benefits otherwise receivable by you pursuant to this paragraph (v) shall
be reduced to the extent comparable coverage is actually provided to you
by another employer during the twenty-four (24) month period following
your termination, and any such coverage actually provided to you by such
employer shall be reported to the
Company;
|
|
(d)
|
For
a twenty-four (24) month period after the termination referenced in
Section 4(c) or Section 5(c), the Company shall arrange to provide you
with group health coverage substantially similar to that which you were
receiving immediately prior to the Notice of
Termination.
|
|
(i)
|
If
such coverage is provided under a self-insured medical reimbursement plan
maintained by the Company (within the meaning of Code section
105(h)):
|
|
(A)
|
there
will be no charge to you for such coverage for any month that falls within
the first six months following your Severance Start
Date;
|
14
|
(B)
|
the
charge to you for each remaining month of coverage will equal the
Company’s monthly COBRA charge for such coverage, and you will be required
to pay such monthly charge in accordance with the Company’s standard COBRA
premium payment requirements; and
|
|
(C)
|
on
the date that is six months following your Severance Start Date the
Company will pay you a lump sum in cash equal to the product of (I) the
Company’s monthly COBRA charge on the payment date for family coverage
under the Company’s group health plan, and (II) the difference between (a)
the number twenty-four (24), and (b) the number of months of coverage
provided under clause (A) above.
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|
(ii)
|
If
such coverage is provided under a fully-insured medical reimbursement plan
(within the meaning of Code section 105(h)), there will be no charge to
you for such coverage.
|
|
(e)
|
If
any of the Total Payments (as defined below) will be subject to the tax
(the "Excise Tax") imposed by Code section 4999, the Company shall pay to
you an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount
retained by you, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Total Payments
and any federal, state and local income and employment taxes and Excise
Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Total
Payments. The Gross-Up Payment will be paid to you or remitted
by the Company to the appropriate tax authorities in a lump sum no later
than the fifth day following the applicable date. For this purpose, the
applicable date shall be – (A) in the case of that portion of the Total
Payments that is payable upon a Change in Control, that is payable without
the occurrence of your termination of employment and that is exempt from
section 409A of the Code, the date of a Change in Control but not before
January 1, 2009; (B) in the case of that portion of the Total Payments
that is payable upon or as result of a Change in Control, that is payable
without the occurrence of your termination of employment and that is
subject to section 409A of the Code, the date you remit the specified
taxes to the appropriate tax authorities (or, if the specified taxes are
remitted by the Company, the date the taxes are due) but not before
January 1, 2009; (C) in the case of that portion of the Total Payment that
is payable upon your termination of employment and that is exempt from
section 409A of the Code, your Date of Termination; and (D) in the case of
that portion of the Total Payments that is payable upon your Severance
Start Date and that is subject to section 409A of the Code, your Severance
Start Date. However, notwithstanding provision (D) immediately above, in
the event you are a “specified employee” on your Severance Start Date (as
determined by the Company in accordance with rules established by the
Company in writing in advance of the “specified employee identification
date” that relates to your Severance Start Date or, if later, by December
31, 2008), and to the extent that any portion of the Gross-Up Payment
relates to Total Payments that were triggered by your “separation from
service” within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of
|
15
|
|
the Code, payment of such portion of the Gross-Up
Payment which constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning
of section 409A of the Code and is not deemed to be payable upon another
permissible payment date under section 409A of the Code shall be delayed
until the date that is six (6) months after your Severance Start Date (if
you die after your Severance Start Date but before the Gross-Up Payment is
made, it will be paid to your estate as a lump sum and without regard to
any six-month delay that otherwise applies to specified
employees). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 5(e), if it shall be determined that you are entitled to the
Gross-Up Payment, but that the Parachute Value (as defined below) of the
Total Payments does not equal or exceed 110% of the Safe Harbor Amount (as
defined below), then except as provided by the full paragraph that
immediately follows paragraph (iii) of this subsection (e), no Gross-Up
Payment shall be made to you and the amounts payable to you under Section
5(c) and (d) of this Agreement shall be reduced to the extent necessary to
cause the Parachute Value of the Total Payments, in the aggregate, to be
equal to the Safe Harbor Amount. Any such
reduction shall be applied under Section 5(c) and (d) as
follows:
|
|
(i)
|
first, for
purposes of Section 5(d)(i)(A), there will be a charge to you for each
month of coverage, applied on a month-to-month basis as necessary
to cause the aggregate Parachute Value of the Total
Payments to equal the Safe Harbor Amount, in an amount equal to the
Company's monthly COBRA charge for such coverage, and you will be required
to pay such monthly charge in accordance with the Company's standard COBRA
premium payment
requirements;
|
|
(ii)
|
second,
for
purposes of Section 5(c)(v), there will be a charge to you for each month
of coverage, applied on a dollar-for-dollar basis as necessary to
cause the aggregate Parachute Value of the Total
Payments to equal the Safe Harbor Amount, in an amount equal to the
premium paid by the Company for such coverage, and you will be required to
pay such monthly charge to the Company at the same time as the Company is
required to make payment of such premium to the insurance carrier;
and
|
|
(iii)
|
third, the amount payable under Section 5(c)(ii),
the amount payable under Section 5(c)(iii), and the amount payable under
Section 5(d)(1)(C) shall each be reduced, on a pro rata basis (based on
the dollar amounts payable under Section 5(c)(ii), Section 5(c)(iii), and
Section 5(d)(i)(C)), as necessary to cause the aggregate Parachute Value
of the
Total Payments to equal the Safe Harbor
Amount;
|
However,
solely to the
extent that the prior two sentences become applicable (determined before the
application of this paragraph) and in the event that the right to the
Gross-Up Payment is not considered subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture
under section 409A of the Code, then you shall continue to be entitled to the
Gross-Up Payment, but the amounts payable to you under Section 5(c) and (d) plus
the Gross-Up Payment shall be reduced to the extent necessary to cause
16
the
Parachute Value of the Total Payments, in the aggregate, to be equal to the Safe
Harbor Amount. These reductions generally shall be made in the order
specified above, provided however, that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall
be added to the payments specified in subsection (iii) above and shall also be
subject to pro rata reduction as specified in subsection (iii) based on the
dollar amount of the Gross-Up Payment.
[In
the event that application of the above ordering rules results in the imposition
upon you of an excise tax or penalty interest under section 409A of the Code,
the Company will pay you an additional payment (the “409A Gross-Up Payment”) in
an amount equal to such excise tax and penalty interest plus all income and
employment taxes on such excise tax and penalty interest, including, if the 409A
Gross-Up Payment is a Total Payment, payment of any Gross-Up Payment on this
payment. For this purpose, all income taxes will be assumed to apply
to you at the highest marginal rate in effect on the date the 409A Gross-Up
Payment is made. The 409A Gross-Up Payment shall be paid no later
than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which you
remit the corresponding excise tax and penalty interest to the Internal Revenue
Service.]
|
(f)
|
For
purposes of determining whether any of the Total Payments will be subject
to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax; (i) all payments or
benefits received or to be received by you in connection with a Change in
Control or the termination of your employment (whether payable pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement or of any other plan, arrangement or agreement
with the Company or any of its affiliates or successors, any person whose
actions result in a Change in Control or any person affiliated (or which,
as a result of the completion of the transactions causing a Change in
Control, will become affiliated) with the Company or such person within
the meaning of Code section 1504 (such payments or benefits, excluding the
Gross-Up Payments, being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”))
shall be treated as “parachute payments” (within the meaning of Code
section 280G(b)(2)) unless, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the
independent auditors of the Company (as of the date immediately prior to
the Change in Control) and reasonably acceptable to you, such payments or
benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments,
including by reason of Code section 280G(b)(4)(A); (ii) all “excess
parachute payments” (within the meaning of Code section 280G(b)(1)) shall
be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of such tax
counsel such excess parachute payments represent reasonable compensation
for services actually rendered (within the meaning of Code section
280G(b)(4)(B)) in excess of the “base amount” (within the meaning of Code
section 280G(b)(3)), or are not otherwise subject to the Excise Tax; and
(iii) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit
shall be determined by the Company’s independent auditors in accordance
with the principles of Code sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) and the
regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of determining
the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, you shall be deemed to pay federal
income taxes at your applicable rate of federal income taxation in the
calendar year in which the taxes upon which the Gross-Up
|
17
Payment
is made are due and state and local income and employment taxes at your
applicable rate of taxation in your state and locality of residence on the
date the taxes upon which the Gross-Up Payment is made are due, net of the
maximum reduction in federal income taxes that could be obtained from
deduction of such state and local taxes. For purposes of this
Agreement, (x) the term “Parachute Value” when applied to any payment
shall mean the present value as of the date of the Change in Control of
the portion of such payment that is treated as a “parachute payment” under
Code section 280G(b)(2), as determined by tax counsel for purposes of
determining whether and to what extent the Excise Tax will apply to you
and (y) the term “Safe Harbor Amount” shall mean 2.99 times your “base
amount”, within the meaning of Code section 280G(b)(3).
|
||
|
(g)
|
In
the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than
the amount taken into account hereunder, you shall repay to the Company at
the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally
determined (subject to the last sentence of this subsection) the portion
of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus the portion
of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal, state
and local income and employment taxes imposed on the Gross-Up Payment
being repaid by you if such repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax
or a federal, state and local income and employment taxes deduction) plus
interest on the amount of such repayment at 120% of the applicable federal
rate (as defined in Code section 1274(d)). In the event that
the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account
hereunder (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of
which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment) or
additional Total Payments are made to you after the application of any
cutback as provided in Section 5(e) hereof, which additional Total
Payments result in the cutback to the Safe Harbor Amount no longer being
applicable, the Company shall pay you an additional amount equal to the
gross-up payment in respect of such excess and the value of the Total
Payments which were originally cutback and are subject to restoration
hereunder (plus any interest payable with respect to such excess) within
five (5) business days following the time that the amount of such excess
or restoration is finally determined; provided, however, that in the event
you are a “specified employee” on your Severance Start Date (as determined
by the Company in accordance with rules established by the Company in
writing in advance of the “specified employee identification date” that
relates to your Severance Start Date or, if later, by December 31, 2008)
and any such additional gross-up payment would be made prior to the date
that is six (6) months after your Severance Start Date, and to the extent
that payment of any portion of such additional gross-up payment that
relates to Total Payments that were triggered by your “separation from
service” within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code,
payment of such portion of the additional gross-up payment if such payment
itself constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of
section 409A of the Code and is not deemed to be payable upon another
permissible payment date under section 409A of the Code shall be delayed
until the date that is six (6) months after your Severance Start Date (if
|
18
you die after your Severance Start Date but before the additional gross-up payment is made, it will be paid to your estate as a lump sum and without regard to any six-month delay that otherwise applies to specified employees); and provided, further, that each additional gross-up payment required to be made by the Company to you and/or each repayment of a gross-up payment required to be made by you to the Company shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which you or the Company remit the corresponding taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. | ||
|
(h)
|
Except
as provided in Section 5(c)(v) or Section 5(d) hereof, you shall not be
required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this
Section 5 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount
of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 5 be reduced by any
compensation earned by you as the result of employment by another
employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to
be owed by you to the Company, or
otherwise.
|
6.
|
Noncompetition. You
agree that you will not engage in any Competitive Activity during the
one-year period following your termination of employment with the Company
for any reason (or, where you receive payments pursuant to Section 4(c) or
Section 5(c) hereof, then during the two-year period following your
termination of employment with the Company). For purposes of
this Section, “Competitive Activity” shall mean activity, without the
written consent of an authorized officer of UST, consisting of your
participation in the management of, or acting as a consultant for or
employee of, any business operation of any enterprise if such operation (a
“Competitive Operation”) is then in substantial and direct competition
with any business operation of UST and/or any of its affiliates, any place
in the world, as now or hereafter designated by the Board; provided,
however,
that no business operation may be designated as a business operation that
is in substantial competition with UST and/or any of its affiliates unless
the profits, sales or assets attributable to such business operation
amount to at least ten percent (10%) of said business’ total profits,
sales or assets. Competive Activity shall not include (1) the mere
ownership of up to five percent (5%) of the outstanding securities in any
enterprise, or (2) the participation in the management of, or acting as a
consultant for or employee of, any enterprise or any business operation
thereof, other than in connection with a Competitive Operation of such
enterprise, provided
that you do not furnish advice with respect to inventions, processes,
customers, methods of distribution, methods of manufacture, marketing or
business strategy relating to any Competitive Operation of such
enterprise, or the formation of a Competitive
Operation.
|
7.
|
Confidentiality. You
agree not to disclose, either while employed by the Company or at any time
thereafter, to any person not employed by the Company, or not engaged to
render services to the Company, except with the prior written consent of
an officer authorized to act in the matter by the Board, any confidential
information of the Company or its affiliates obtained by you while in the
employ of the Company, including, without limitation, information relating
to any of the Company’s or its affiliates’ inventions, processes,
formulae, plans, devices, compilations of information, methods of
distribution, customers, client relationships, marketing strategies or
trade
|
19
secrets; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude you from the use or disclosure of information known generally to the public or of information not considered confidential by persons engaged in the business conducted by the Company or from disclosure required by law or court order (and to your legal counsel in connection therewith). The agreement herein made in this Section 7 shall be in addition to, and not in limitation or derogation of, any obligations otherwise imposed by law upon you in respect of confidential information and trade secrets of the Company or its affiliates. | |
8.
|
Non-Solicitation. You
agree that you shall not solicit any person who is a customer of the
businesses conducted by the Company or its affiliates, or any business in
which you have been engaged on behalf of the Company or its affiliates at
any time during the Term of this Agreement and for a two (2) year period
thereafter on behalf of an employer affiliated with you or any business
described in Section 6; or induce or attempt to persuade any employee of
the Company or any of its affiliates to terminate his employment
relationship in order to enter into employment with an employer affiliated
with you or any business described in Section
6.
|
9.
|
Successors:
Binding
Agreement.
|
|
(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 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 to which you would be
entitled hereunder if you terminate your employment for Good Reason
following a Change in 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 hereinbefore 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.
|
|
(b)
|
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your
personal or legal representative, 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 payments, 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.
|
10.
|
Notice. For
the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States certified
or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed
to the respective addresses set forth on the
|
20
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. | |
11.
|
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. 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 Delaware without regard to its conflicts of law
principles. All references 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 Sections 4 and 5 and
your obligations under Sections 6, 7 and 8 shall survive the expiration of
the term of this
Agreement.
|
12.
|
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.
|
13.
|
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.
|
14.
|
Arbitration.
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a
panel of three arbitrators in New York, New York, 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 the
Agreement.
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15.
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Code
Section 409A. It is intended, and this Agreement will be so
construed, that any amounts payable under this Agreement and the Company’s
and your exercise of authority or discretion hereunder shall comply with
the provisions of Code section 409A and the treasury regulations relating
thereto so as not to subject you to the payment of interest and tax
penalty which may be imposed under Code section 409A. In
furtherance of this intent, to the extent that any regulations or other
guidance issued under section 409A of the Code would result in you being
subject to the payment of such interest or tax penalty, the Company and
you agree to amend this Agreement prior to January 1, 2009 in order
to
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21
bring this Agreement into compliance with section 409A of the Code in a manner which has the least adverse effect on you. | |
16.
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Entire
Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire
agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants,
arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral
or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party
hereto, and any prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the
subject matter contained herein is hereby terminated and
cancelled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to be a termination or cancellation of your right
to indemnification by UST as an officer pursuant to: (a) applicable state
law, with all exclusions and exceptions provided by such law to remain in
full force and effect; (b) any indemnification agreement entered into
between you and UST which shall remain in full force and effect; (c) any
applicable director and officer insurance arrangements; and (d) in
accordance with Article VIII of UST’s
By-Laws.
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If
this letter sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign
and return to the Company the enclosed copy of this letter, which will then
constitute our agreement on this subject.
By
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/s/ Xxxx X.
Xxxxx
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Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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Title: Vice
President
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Agreed
to this 16th day
of
Dec.
2008
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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22
THIS
RELEASE, entered into this [_____] of [_______________] by [Name], residing at
[__________________________] (hereinafter referred to as the
“Employee”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Employee, and UST Inc., a Delaware corporation (“UST”), having its principal
office in Greenwich, Connecticut, entered into a letter agreement (the
“Agreement”) dated as of _________________, 2007, pursuant to Section 3(h) of
which the Employee agreed and covenanted, to execute a general release of any
and all claims he may have or may believe he has against UST, its affiliates
and/or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives; and
WHEREAS,
the employment of the Employee was terminated as of[];
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the benefits to be provided to the Employee
pursuant to the Agreement, it is agreed as follows:
1. The
Employee voluntarily, knowingly and willingly releases and forever discharges
UST, its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, together with their respective
past and present officers, directors, partners, shareholders, employees and
agents, and each of their predecessors, successors and assigns, from any and all
charges, complaints, claims, promises, agreements, controversies, causes of
action and demands of any nature whatsoever which against them the Employee or
his executors, administrators, successors or assigns ever had, now have or
hereafter can, shall or may have by reason of any matter, cause or thing
whatsoever arising prior to the time the Employee signs this
agreement.
2. The
release being provided by Employee in this agreement includes, but is not
limited to, any rights or claims relating in any way to the Employee’s
employment relationship with UST, its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, or
the termination thereof, or under any statute, including the federal Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the
Americans with Disabilities Act, or any other federal, state or local law or
judicial decision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee does not
hereby release any rights in and to employee benefit plans maintained by UST
pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) in which
Employee has a vested interest as of the date of Employee’s signature on this
Agreement. Furthermore, nothing contained herein shall be deemed a waiver of
Employee’s right to indemnification by UST as a corporate officer/director
pursuant to: (a) applicable state law, with all exclusions and exceptions
provided by such law to remain in full force and effect; (b) any indemnification
agreement entered into between the Employee and UST; (c) any applicable director
and officer insurance arrangements; and (d) in accordance with Article VIII of
UST’s By- Laws.
3. By
signing this release agreement, the Employee represents that he has not and will
not in the future commence any action or proceeding arising out of the matters
released hereby, and that he will not seek or be entitled to any award of legal
or equitable
23
relief
in any action or proceeding that may be commenced on his behalf. This paragraph
will not preclude Employee from filing an administrative charge of
discrimination, provided Employee does not seek any relief for himself/herself
in connection with such proceeding.
4. By
signing this release agreement, the Employee agrees to cooperate fully with UST
and its affiliates concerning reasonable requests for information about the
business or UST or any of its affiliates or your involvement and participation
therein; the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or
which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of UST or any of its
affiliates which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while the
Employee was employed by UST and its affiliates; and in connection with any
investigation or review by any federal, state or local regulatory,
quasi-regulatory or self-governing authority (including, without limitation, the
Securities and Exchange Commission) as any such investigation or review relates
to events or occurrences that transpired while the Employee was so employed. The
Employee’s full cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, being
available to meet and speak with officers or employees of UST or any of its
affiliates and/or their counsel at reasonable times and locations, executing
accurate and truthful documents and taking such other actions as may reasonably
be requested by UST or any of its affiliates and/or their counsel to effectuate
the foregoing. UST agrees to reimburse you for any reasonable, out-of-pocket
travel, hotel and meal expenses incurred in connection with the Employee’s
performance of obligations pursuant to this paragraph 4 for which the Employee
has obtained prior approval from UST.
5. The
Employee acknowledges that UST has hereby advised him to consult with an
attorney prior to signing this release agreement. The Employee represents that
he has had the opportunity to review this agreement and, specifically, the
release in paragraph 1, with an attorney of his choice. The Employee also agrees
that he has entered into this agreement freely and voluntarily.
6. The
Employee acknowledges that he has been given at least twenty-one days to
consider the terms of this release agreement. Furthermore, once he has signed
this release agreement, the Employee shall have seven additional days from the
date of signing this release agreement to revoke his consent hereto. The release
agreement will not become effective until seven days after the date the Employee
has signed it, which will be the effective date of this release
agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employee has executed this release agreement as of the date
first set forth above.
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[Name]
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WITNESS
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24