EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.1
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 17th
day of December, 2007, by and between X. XXXXXXXX, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Employer” or
“Company”), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx (the “Employee”).
WHEREAS, the Employer and the Board of Directors of the Company desire to provide for the
employment of the Employee as a member of the Employer’s management, in the best interest of the
Company and its stockholders. The Employee is willing to commit himself to become employed and to
serve the Employer, on the terms and conditions herein provided;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants herein contained,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINED TERMS
The definitions of capitalized terms used in this Agreement (unless stated where first used)
are provided in Section 20 hereof.
2. EMPLOYMENT
During the Term of this Agreement, the Employer hereby agrees to employ Employee commencing
January 1, 2008 as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Employer, and the Employee hereby
accepts such employment on the terms and conditions herein contained. Employer also agrees that,
if the Employee is elected to the Board of Directors of the Company at its 2007 Annual Meeting,
Employee will be appointed as Chairman of the Board immediately following the annual meeting.
3. DUTIES AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
3.1 DUTIES. The Employee shall devote his entire business time, attention and energies to the
Employer and shall not engage in any conduct which shall reflect adversely upon the Employer. The
Employee shall perform such duties for the Employer as may be assigned to one in his executive
status and capacity by the Board. The Employee shall serve diligently and to the best of his
ability.
During his employment by the Employer, the Employee shall not, without the Company’s prior
written consent, be engaged in any other business activity, whether or not such business activity
is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage, except that notwithstanding the
foregoing, he may invest his personal funds for his own account; provided that such investment
shall be passive and not controlling in any such investment and subject to the provisions of
Section 13.2 hereof and provided further that he will not be required to provide any substantial
services on behalf of such enterprise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee may serve on the
Boards of Directors of
other corporations during the Term as long as such service does not interfere with the
performance of his duties hereunder.
3.2 CONDITIONS. The Employee shall be provided with suitable office space, furnishings,
secretarial and administrative assistance. Without the Employee’s consent, the Employee shall not
be required to report principally to an office located more than five hundred (500) miles from his
principal office at the date of this Agreement, except to the extent the Employee may be required
to report to the Company’s principal office. In addition to the foregoing, Employee shall be
entitled to receive the benefits and other compensation described in Exhibit A attached hereto, the
terms of which are incorporated herein.
4. TERM OF AGREEMENT; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; ESCROW DURING DISPUTE
4.1 TERM OF AGREEMENT. The Employer hereby employs the Employee for a Term commencing as of
January 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2010. If, however a Change in Control shall have occurred
during the Term of this Agreement, Sections 7 and 8 and 10 through 21 of this Agreement shall
continue in effect until at least the end of the Change-in-Control Protective Period (whether or
not the Term of the Agreement shall have expired for other purposes).
4.2 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The Company may terminate the employment of the Employee for
Cause pursuant to this Agreement. Prior to any Change in Control, the Employee may terminate his
employment pursuant to this Agreement if the Employer fails to make full and timely payments of all
sums provided for in Exhibit A, Sections 5 and 6 hereof (subject to Section 7.2 hereof), or
otherwise shall breach its covenants hereunder in any material respect (“Resignation for Cause”).
A termination of employment by the Employee due to Resignation for Cause will entitle the Employee
to the same benefits as if the Employee’s employment was terminated without Cause.
4.3 ESCROW DURING A TERMINATION DISPUTE. Prior to any Change in Control, if the Employee shall
be terminated for Cause, and, within thirty (30) days of such termination, shall notify the
Employer of his intention to adjudicate such termination as improper, the Employer agrees that it
will deposit with KeyBank National Association, Cleveland, Ohio, as Escrow Agent the installments
of the Employee’s Base Salary and any bonuses due to be paid (as provided in Section 5 below) as
the same would have become payable but for such termination (“Escrow Amount”). In the event of a
final adjudication by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction that such termination was not for Cause,
then the Escrow Amount, plus any interest earned by the Escrow Agent thereon, shall be delivered
promptly to the Employee. If such adjudication shall be in favor of the Employer, the Escrow Agent
shall return the Escrow Amount, plus such interest, to the Employer.
The Escrow Amount shall not be deemed to be liquidated damages but the Employer shall be
entitled to a credit against any such award to the extent of the sums so delivered to the Employee.
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5. COMPENSATION
The Employer agrees to pay to the Employee as compensation for his services hereunder a Base
Salary initially equal to the fixed annual salary as shown on Exhibit A hereto and as will be shown
on the Employer’s employment records, payable in substantially bimonthly or monthly installments,
as the case may be, in the manner consistent with the Employer’s payroll practices. The Base Salary
may be discretionarily increased by the Board from time to time as the Board deems appropriate in
its reasonable business judgment.
The Base Salary in effect from time to time shall not be decreased during the Term (except as
provided in Section 7.2).
It is understood and agreed that the Employee’s compensation may not be limited to his Base
Salary and that the Employee may receive an annual bonus in the amount, if any, determined annually
by the Employer.
The Employee will also be entitled to receive cash payments (each a “Cash Bonus”) of the
following amounts conditioned upon being employed on the following dates:
• | $750,000 on the date employment is commenced; | ||
• | $250,000 on January 1, 2009; | ||
• | $250,000 on January 1, 2010; and | ||
• | $250,000 on December 31, 2010 |
In the event that Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason other than termination for
Cause by the Employer or voluntary resignation by the Employee, each remaining unpaid Cash Bonus
will become immediately due and will be paid to the Employee by the Employer within 30 days after
the date of Termination. The initial Cash Bonus payment will, however, be subject to reimbursement
by Employee to Employer in the amount of any payment of discretionary incentive compensation paid
to Employee by his previous employer which is expected to occur, if at all, on or about March 31,
2008.
The Employee shall also participate in employee compensation and benefit plans available
generally to executives of the Employer (including, without limitation, any tax-qualified profit
sharing plan, nonqualified profit sharing plan, life insurance plan and health insurance plan) on a
level appropriate to his position and shall receive the employee fringe benefits available
generally to executives of the Employer (including, without limitation, the use of a company car,
cellular telephone/pager, laptop computer and printer) in accordance with Employer policies.
The Employee will also be entitled to the other compensation elements described in Exhibit A
in the manner set forth therein.
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6. EXPENSES
The Employee is authorized to incur reasonable expenses for promoting the business of the
Employer, including expenses for entertainment, travel and similar items. The Employer shall
reimburse the Employee in accordance with the Employer’s policy for all such expenses upon the
presentation by the Employee, from time to time, of an itemized account of such expenditures.
7. PRE-TERMINATION COMPENSATION; DISABILITY
7.1 NORMAL PRE-TERMINATION COMPENSATION. If the Employee’s employment shall be terminated for
any reason during the Term (or, if later, prior to the end of the Change-in-Control Protective
Period), the Employer shall pay the Employee’s Base Salary to the Employee through the Date of
Termination at the rate in effect at the time the Notice of Termination is given (subject to
Section 7.2 hereof) within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination, together with all
compensation and benefits payable to the Employee through the Date of Termination under the terms
of any compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Employer during such
period. Subject to Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof, after completing the expense reimbursements
required by Section 6 hereof and making the payments and providing the benefits required by this
Section 7, the Employer shall have no further obligations to the Employee under this Agreement.
7.2 DISABILITY ADJUSTMENT TO BASE SALARY PAYMENTS. During the Term (or, if later, at any time
prior to the end of the Change-in-Control Protective Period), during any period that the Employee
is Disabled, but in no event for more than twenty-four (24) months (the “Disability Period”), the
Employer shall pay only sixty percent (60%) of the Employee’s Base Salary to the Employee at the
rate in effect at the commencement of any such Disability Period (less amounts, if any, payable to
the Employee at or prior to the time of any such Base Salary payment under disability benefit plans
of the Employer or under the Social Security disability insurance program). After six (6) months of
Disability, the Employer shall have the right to terminate the Employee’s employment pursuant to
this Agreement and all Base Salary payments shall cease; provided, however, that the sixty percent
(60%) payments described in the foregoing sentence shall continue for the Disability Period. All
payments made pursuant to this Section 7.2 shall be made in accordance with the regular [bimonthly]
payroll practices of the Employer. Except to the extent provided in this Section 7.2, all Base
Salary payments to the Employee shall be abated during the Disability Period. Subject to Sections
8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof, after completing the expense reimbursements required by Section 6 hereof
and making the payments and providing the benefits required by this Section 7, the Employer shall
have no further obligations to the Employee under this Agreement.
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8. NORMAL POST-TERMINATION PAYMENTS; CONTINUATION PAY; TERMINATION PAY; PROMPT PAYMENT
Wherever used in this Agreement, the word “terminate” or “termination” in connection with the
Employee’s employment shall mean the Employee’s “separation from service,” within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), from the Employer and any
person with whom the Employer would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(b) and (c)
of the Code.
8.1 NORMAL POST-TERMINATION PAYMENTS. If the Employee’s employment shall be terminated for any
reason during the Term of this Agreement (or, if later, prior to the end of the Change-in-Control
Protective Period), the Employer shall pay the Employee’s normal post-termination compensation and
benefits to the Employee as such payments become due. Such post-termination compensation and
benefits shall be determined under, and paid in accordance with, the Employer’s retirement,
insurance and other compensation or benefit plans, programs and arrangements (other than this
Agreement).
8.2 CONTINUATION PAY; TERMINATION PAY. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections
7.2, 9.1 or 10.1 hereof, if the laws governing this Agreement shall require that the Employer
continue to pay or otherwise compensate the Employee for any period of time following termination
of the Employee’s employment (“Continuation Pay”) or if such laws require certain amounts of
severance pay, termination compensation or the like (collectively, “Termination Pay”), then to the
fullest extent permitted by law any payments to the Employee pursuant to Section 7.2, 9.1 or 10.1
hereof shall be included in the calculation of Continuation Pay and Termination Pay and such
payments shall be deducted from the amount of Continuation Pay or Termination Pay due the Employee.
8.3 TIME OF PAYMENTS. Any payments due under Sections 5, 6, 7 or 9 hereof or this Section 8
shall be made as specified in such sections and shall be made to the Employee or in accordance with
Section 14.2 hereof, as the case may be. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if the Employee is a “specified employee,” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code
and as determined under the Company’s policy for determining specified employees, on the Date of
Termination, all payments under this Agreement that are subject to Section 409A of the Code shall
not be paid (or commence to be paid) until the first business day of the seventh month following
the Date of Termination (or, if earlier, the Employee’s death). The first payment that can be made
shall include the cumulative amount of any amounts that could not be paid during such postponement
period.
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9. POST-TERMINATION PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION (PRIOR TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL) BY DEATH OR BY
THE EMPLOYER WITHOUT CAUSE
9.1 DEATH BENEFIT. If the Employee’s employment shall be terminated by death during the Term
(or, if later, prior to the end of the Change-in-Control Protective Period), then, in addition to
the compensation and benefits provided by Sections 7.1 and 8 hereof, within ninety (90) days
following the Employee’s death, the Employer shall pay a lump sum amount equal to sixty percent
(60%) of the Base Salary for twenty-four (24) months in accordance with Section 14.2.
9.2 TERMINATION BY THE EMPLOYER WITHOUT CAUSE. If the Employer shall terminate the Employee’s
employment during the Term and prior to a Change in Control, without Cause (and not for Disability
or in connection with the Employee’s death), the Employer shall pay the Employee:
(A) His Base Salary throughout the remaining Term in accordance with the regular
[bimonthly] payroll practices of the Employer;
(B) Annual Bonuses during the remaining Term, each of which bonus shall be equal to either
the greater of (i) $490,000 or (ii) the average annual bonus paid to the Employee during the
most recent three (3) calendar years of the Employee’s employment by the Company or such
shorter period during which Employee has been employed, if less than three (3) years (prorated
for any partial calendar years in the remaining Term). The amount payable under this Section
9.2(B) shall be paid in a lump sum within ninety (90) days following the Employee’s termination
of employment; and
(C) Any unpaid Cash Bonus described in Section 5.
(D) Any unpaid compensation and/or compensation attributable to RSU Award(s) that has not
been issued and or/or LTIP RS Awards as provided in Exhibit A.
10. SEVERANCE PAYMENTS; EXCISE TAX GROSS-UP
10.1 SEVERANCE PAYMENTS. The Employer shall pay the Employee the payments described in this
Section 10.1 (the “Severance Payments”) upon the termination of the Employee’s employment following
a Change in Control and prior to the end of the Change-in-Control Protective Period, in addition to
any payments and benefits to which the Employee is entitled under Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8.1 hereof,
unless such termination is (i) by the Employer for Cause, (ii) by reason of death or Disability, or
(iii) by the Employee without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee’s
employment shall be deemed to have been terminated by the Employer without Cause following a Change
in Control or by the Employee with Good Reason following a Change in Control, as the case may be,
if (I) the Employee’s employment is terminated without Cause prior to a Change in Control and such
termination was at the request or direction of a Person who has entered into an agreement with the
Employer the
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consummation of which would constitute a Change in Control, (II) the Employee terminates his
employment with Good Reason prior to a Change in Control and the circumstance or event which
constitutes Good Reason occurs at the request or direction of such Person, or (III) the Employee’s
employment is terminated by the Employer without Cause prior to a Change in Control (but following
a Potential Change in Control) and such termination is otherwise in connection with or in
anticipation of a Change in Control which actually occurs. For purposes of any determination
regarding the applicability of the immediately preceding sentence, any position taken by the
Employee shall be presumed to be correct unless the Employer establishes to the Committee by clear
and convincing evidence that such position is not correct.
(A) In lieu of any further salary payments to the Employee for periods subsequent to the
Date of Termination and in lieu of any severance benefit otherwise payable to the Employee, the
Employer shall pay to the Employee a lump sum severance payment, in cash, equal to (i) the
Employee’s Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the event or
circumstance upon which the Notice of Termination is based divided by twelve (12) and
multiplied by the number of full months remaining in the Term, and (ii) the average annual
bonus, including but not limited to the Annual Bonus described in Exhibit A, earned by the
Employee under the Employers’ annual incentive plan in the Employer’s fiscal years immediately
preceding the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs multiplied by the number of
fiscal years that a bonus, including but not limited to the Annual Bonus described in Exhibit
A, has not been paid to the Employee provided, however, that in the event that the Date of
Termination occurs prior to the date on which Employee is first entitled to receive a bonus
under the Employers’ annual incentive plan, the average annual bonus shall be deemed to be
$490,000. In addition, Employee will be entitled to receive any unpaid Cash Bonus described in
Section 5 and any unpaid compensation and/or compensation attributable to RSU Award(s) that has
not been issued and or/or LTIP RS Awards as provided in Exhibit A.
(B) For the a period beginning on the Date of Termination and ending on December 31, 2010,
the Employer shall arrange to provide the Employee with life, disability, accident and health
insurance benefits substantially similar to those which the Employee is receiving immediately
prior to the Notice of Termination (without giving effect to any amendment to such benefits
made subsequent to a Change in Control, which amendment adversely affects in any manner the
Employee’s entitlement to or the amount of such benefits); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless the
Employee consents to a different method, such health insurance benefits shall be provided
through a third-party insurer. Benefits otherwise receivable by the Employee pursuant to this
Section 10.1(B) shall be reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by or
made available to the Employee without cost during the benefit period following the Employee’s
termination of employment (and any such benefits actually received by or made available to the
Employee shall be reported to the Employer by the Employee). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any benefits or payments provided under this Section 10.1(B) shall be subject to the following:
(i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or benefits provided under this Section
10.1(B) during any taxable year of the Employee may not affect the expenses eligible
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for reimbursement or the benefits to be provided to the Employee in any other taxable
year; (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made on or before the last day of
the Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred; and
(iii ) the right to reimbursement or such benefits may not be subject to liquidation or
exchange for another benefit.
10.2 EXCISE TAX GROSS-UP.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the event that any payment,
benefit or right paid or distributed, or treated as paid or distributed, to or for the benefit
of the Employee in connection with a Change in Control or termination of the Employee’s
employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or
agreement with the Employer, any Person whose actions result in a Change in Control or any
Person affiliated with the Employer or such Person) (each such payment, benefit and right,
including any Severance Payment, being hereinafter referred to as a “Payment” and,
collectively, “Payments”) is subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the
“Excise Tax”), then the Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a
“Gross-Up Payment”) equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
(B) Subject to the provisions of Section 10.2(C), all determinations under this Section
10.2, including whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of the Gross-Up Payment,
shall be made by a certified public accounting firm which was, immediately before the Change in
Control, the Employer’s certified public accounting firm (the “Accounting Firm”). The
Accounting Firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations to both the Employer and the
Employee within ten (10) business days after receipt of notice from the Employer or the
Employee that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Employer.
All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Employer. The initial
Gross-Up Payment determined pursuant to this Section 10.2(B) shall be paid by the Employer to
the Employee within five (5) days after it receives the Accounting Firm’s determination. Any
determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding on the Employer and the Employee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a result of uncertainty in applying Section 4999 of the Code,
it is possible that the Employer will not have made Gross-Up Payments that it should have made
hereunder (an “Underpayment”). If the Employer exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section
10.2(C) and the Employee thereafter is required to pay any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm
shall determine the amount of the Underpayment, inform the Employer and the Employee of the
Underpayment in writing, and, within five (5) days of receiving such written report, the
Employer shall pay the amount of such Underpayment to the Employee.
(C) The Employee shall notify the Employer in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue
Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Employer of the Gross-Up Payment.
Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but not later than five (5) business
days after the Employee is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Employer of
the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is required to be paid. The Employee
shall not pay such
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claim before the expiration of thirty (30) days following the date on which he gives such
notice to the Employer (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes
with respect to such is due). If the Employer notifies the Employee in writing before the
expiration of such thirty (30) day period that it desires to contest such claim, the Employee
shall (i) give the Employer any information reasonably requested by the Employer relating to
such claim, and (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Employer
shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting
legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney selected by the Employer,
provided that the Employer shall pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional
interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold
the Employee harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any tax, including interest and penalties,
imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. The Employer
shall control all proceedings in connection with such contest and may, at its sole option,
either direct the Employee to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund or to contest the claim
in any permissible manner, and the Employee agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination
before any appropriate administrative tribunal or court, as the Employer shall determine;
provided, that if the Employer directs the Employee to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the
Employer shall advance the amount of such payment to the Employee, on an interest-free basis,
and shall indemnify and hold the Employee harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any tax,
including interest or penalties, imposed with respect to such advance. The Employer’s control
of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be
payable hereunder, and the Employee shall be entitled to settle or contest any other issue.
(D) If, after the Employee receives an advance by the Employer pursuant to
Section 10.2(C), the Employee becomes entitled to receive a refund claimed pursuant to such
Section 10.2(C), the Employee shall (subject to the Employer’s complying with the requirements
of such Section 10.2(C)) promptly pay to the Employer the amount of such refund (together with
any interest thereon, after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the Employee receives an
amount advanced by the Employer pursuant to Section 10.2(C), a determination is made that the
Employee shall not be entitled to any refund claimed pursuant to such Section 10.2(C), and the
Employer does not notify the Employee in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund
before the expiration of thirty (30) days after such determination, the Employee shall not be
required to repay such advance, and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent
thereof, the amount of the required Gross-Up Payment.
(E) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.2 to the contrary, any Gross-Up Payment
under this Section 10.2 shall be made by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following
the calendar year in which the Employee remits the related Excise Tax.
10.3 Except as provided in Section 8.3 hereof, the payments provided in Sections 10.1(A) and
(B) hereof shall be made within thirty (30) days following the later of (A) the Date of Termination
or (B) the Change in Control.
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10.4 The Employer also shall pay to the Employee all legal fees and expenses incurred by the
Employee (i) in disputing in good faith any issue relating to the termination of the Employee’s
employment following a Change in Control and prior to the end of the Change-in-Control Protective
Period, (ii) in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit or right provided by this
Agreement, or (iii) in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to
the application of Section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder. Such
payments shall be made within five (5) business days after delivery of the Employee’s written
requests for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Employer
reasonably may require.
11. TERMINATION PROCEDURES
11.1 NOTICE OF TERMINATION. During the Term (and, if longer, until the end of the
Change-in-Control Protective Period), any purported termination of the Employee’s employment (other
than by reason of death) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination from one party
hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 15 hereof. For purposes of this
Agreement, a “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 the Employee’s employment
under the provision so indicated. Further, with respect to any purported termination of the
Employee’s employment after a Change in Control and prior to the end of the Change-in-Control
Protective Period, a Notice of Termination for Cause is required to include a copy of a resolution
duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership
of the Board at a meeting of the Board which was called and held for the purpose of considering
such termination (after reasonable notice to the Employee and an opportunity for the Employee,
together with the Employee’s counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith
opinion of the Board, the Employee was guilty of conduct set forth in clause (I) or (II) of the
definition of Cause herein, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
11.2 DATE OF TERMINATION. “Date of Termination,” with respect to any purported termination of
the Employee’s employment during the Term (and, if longer, prior to the end of the
Change-in-Control Protective Period), shall mean the date of the Employee’s “separation from
service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(h). Any Notice of Termination relating to a termination for Disability shall be provided
thirty (30) days prior to the Date of Termination (provided that the Employee shall not have
returned to the full-time performance of the Employee’s duties during such thirty (30) period). Any
Notice of Termination relating to the termination of the Employee’s employment by the Employer for
any other reason shall be provided not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Date of Termination
(except in the case of a termination for Cause). Any Notice of Termination relating to the
termination of the Employee’s employment by the Employee for any other reason shall be provided not
less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Date of Termination.
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12. NO MITIGATION
The Employer agrees that, if the Employee’s employment with the Employer terminates following
a Change in Control and prior to the end of the Change-in-Control Protective Period, the Employee
is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to
the Employee by the Employer pursuant to Section 10 hereof. Further, the amount of any payment or
benefit provided for in this Agreement (other than Section 10.1 hereof) shall not be reduced by any
compensation earned by the Employee as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement
benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Employee to the Employer, or
otherwise.
13. CONFIDENTIALITY; NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION
13.1 CONFIDENTIALITY. The Companies’ methods, plans for doing business, processes, pricing,
compounds, customers and supplies are vital to the Companies and, to the extent not made public by
the Companies, constitute confidential information subject to the Companies’ proprietary rights
therein. The Employee covenants and agrees that during the Term and at all times thereafter, the
Employee will not, directly or indirectly, make known, divulge, furnish, make available or use,
otherwise than in the regular course of the Employee’s employment by the Employer, any invention,
product, process, apparatus or design of any of the Companies, or any knowledge or information in
respect thereof (including, but not limited to, business methods and techniques), or any other
confidential or so-called “insider” information of any of the Companies. This covenant shall apply
without regard to the time or circumstances of any termination of the Employee’s employment.
13.2 NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION. The Employee covenants and agrees that during the
period of one (1) year following any termination of the Employee’s employment which occurs prior to
a Change in Control, the Employee will not, directly or indirectly, either as an individual for the
Employee’s own account or as an investor, or other participant in, or as an employee, agent, or
representative of, any other business enterprise:
(i) solicit, employ, entice, take away or interfere with, or attempt to solicit, employ,
entice, take away or interfere with, any employee of the Employer or the Companies; or
(ii) engage or participate in or finance, aid or be connected with any enterprise which
competes with the business of the Companies, or any of them.
The geographical limitations of the foregoing shall include any country in which the Companies
or any of them shall be doing business as of such date of such termination. This covenant shall
apply without regard to the circumstances of any termination of the Employee’s employment which
occurs prior to a Change in Control.
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13.3 The Employee acknowledges that the covenants contained in this Section 13 are of the
essence of this Agreement and said covenants shall be construed as independent of any other
provisions of this Agreement. Recognizing the irreparable nature of the injury that could result
from the Employee’s violation of any of the covenants and agreement to be performed and/or observed
by the Employee pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13, and that damages would be inadequate
compensation, it is agreed that any violations by the Employee of the provisions of this Section
13, shall be the proper subject for immediate injunctive and other equitable relief to the
Employer.
14. SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT
14.1 In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Employer, the
Employer will 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 Employer to
expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that
the Employer would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the
Employer to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession
shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Employee to terminate the Employee’s
employment for Good Reason. Except as provided in this Section 14.1, this Agreement shall not be
assignable by either party without the written consent of the other party hereto.
14.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee’s
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees. If the Employee shall die while any amount would still be payable to the
Employee hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death of the
Employee) if the Employee had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal
representatives or administrators of the Employee’s estate.
15. NOTICES
For purposes 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 registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the
Employee, to the address shown for the Employee in the personnel records of the Employer and, if to
the Employer, to the address set forth below, 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 actual receipt:
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To the Employer:
Xxxx X. XxXxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
X. Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
With a copy to:
J. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Vorys, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Vorys, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxx 00000
16. 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 the Employee 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. This Agreement supersedes
any other agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the
subject matter hereof which have been made by either party, except as 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 Ohio. 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 and any additional withholding to which the Employee has agreed. The obligations
of the Employer and the Employee under this Agreement which by their nature may require (partial or
total) performance after the expiration of the Term or the Change-in-Control Protective Period
(including, without limitation, those under Sections 5 through 11 and Section 13 hereof) shall
survive such expiration.
17. 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.
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18. 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.
19. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES AFTER CHANGE IN CONTROL; ARBITRATION
After a Change in Control and prior to the end of the Change-in-Control Protective Period, all
claims by the Employee for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the
Committee and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Committee of a claim for benefits under this
Agreement shall be delivered to the Employee in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons
for the denial and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Committee shall
afford a reasonable opportunity to the Employee for a review of the decision denying a claim and
shall further allow the Employee to appeal to the Committee a decision of the Committee within
sixty (60) days after notification by the Committee that the Employee’s claim has been denied. Any
further dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled
exclusively by arbitration in Akron, Ohio, 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. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Employee shall
be entitled to seek specific performance of the Employee’s right to be paid until the Date of
Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
this Agreement.
20. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
(A) “Auditor” shall have the meaning stated in Section 10.2(B) hereof.
(B) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act.
(C) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Employer.
(D) “Cause” for termination by the Employer of the Employee’s employment shall mean the
following:
(I) Any act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion by the
Executive of the assets or business opportunities of the Employer;
(II) Conviction of the Employee of (or plea by the Executive of guilty to) a felony
(or a misdemeanor that originally was charged as a felony but was reduced to a
misdemeanor as part of a plea bargain);
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(III) Intentional and repeated material violations by the Employee of the
Employer’s written policies or procedures or intentional and material breach of any
contract with or violation of any legal obligation owed to the Employer provided
that a breach or violation shall be considered intentional and material only if the
Employee fails to cure to the best of the Employee’s ability such breach within
thirty (30) days after delivery to the Employee of a notice from the Board
specifying such breach; or
(IV) Willful engagement in gross misconduct or intentional misrepresentation that
is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Employer, provided that such breach
is not cured within thirty (30) days after delivery to the Employee of a notice
from the Board requesting cure.
For purposes of the above definition, no act or failure to act, on Employee’s part shall
be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee not in good faith and
without reasonable belief that the Employee’s act or failure to act, was in the best interest
of the Employer. In the event of a dispute concerning the application of the definition of
Cause, no claim by the Employer that Cause exists shall be given effect unless the Employer
establishes by clear and convincing evidence that Cause exists.
(E) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any
one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:
(I) the acquisition by any person (as defined under Section 409A of the Code), or more
than one person acting as a group (as defined under Section 409A of the Code), of stock of
the Company that, together with the stock of the Company held by such person or group,
constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting
power of the stock of the Company;
(II) the acquisition by any person, or more than one person acting as a group, within
any twelve (12) month period, of stock of the Company possessing thirty percent (30%) or
more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company;
(III) a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month
period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the
members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election; or
(IV) the acquisition by any person, or more than one person acting as a group, within
any twelve (12) month period, of assets from the Company that have a total gross fair
market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value
of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions.
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This definition of Change in Control shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent
with the definition of “change in control event” under Section 409A of the Code and the
Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if
there is consummated any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following
which the record holders of the common stock of the Employer immediately prior to such
transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate
ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Employer
immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.
Further, notwithstanding the foregoing, any event or transaction which would otherwise
constitute a Change in Control (a “Transaction”) shall not constitute a Change in Control for
purposes of this Agreement if, in connection with the Transaction, the Employee participates as
an equity investor in the acquiring entity or any of its affiliates (the “Acquiror”). For
purposes of the preceding sentence, the Employee shall not be deemed to have participated as an
equity investor in the Acquiror by virtue of (i) obtaining beneficial ownership of any equity
interest in the Acquiror as a result of the grant to the Employee of an incentive compensation
award under one or more incentive plans of the Acquiror (including, but not limited to, the
conversion in connection with the Transaction of incentive compensation awards of the Employer
into incentive compensation awards of the Acquiror), on terms and conditions substantially
equivalent to those applicable to other executives of the Employer immediately prior to the
Transaction, after taking into account normal differences attributable to job responsibilities,
title and similar matters, (ii) obtaining beneficial ownership of any equity interest in the
Acquiror on terms and conditions substantially equivalent to those obtained in the Transaction
by all other stockholders of the Employer, or (iii) passive ownership of less than three
percent (3%) of the stock of the Acquiror.
(F) “Change-in-Control Protective Period” shall mean the period from the occurrence of a
Change in Control until the second anniversary of such Change in Control.
(G) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
(H) “Committee” shall mean (i) the individuals (not fewer than three (3) in number) who,
immediately prior to a Potential Change in Control, constitute the Compensation Committee of
the Board, plus (ii) in the event that fewer than three (3) individuals are available from the
group specified in clause (i) above for any reason, such individuals as may be appointed by the
individual or individuals so available (including for this purpose any individual or
individuals previously so appointed under this clause (ii)); provided, however, that the
maximum number of individuals constituting the Committee shall not exceed five (5).
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(I) “Companies” shall mean, collectively, the Employer and each entity which is now and
hereafter shall become a subsidiary of, or a parent of, the Employer, together with their
respective successors and assigns.
(J) “Continuation Pay” shall mean those payments so described in Section 8.2 hereof.
(K) “Date of Termination” shall have the meaning stated in Section 11.2 hereof.
(L) “Disability” or “Disabled” shall mean: (i) the Employee is 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 twelve (12) months; or (ii) the Employee is, 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 twelve (12) months, receiving income
replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and
health plan covering employees of the Employer; or (iii) the Employee is determined to be
totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board.
(M) “Disability Period” shall have the meaning stated in Section 7.2 hereof.
(N) “Employee” shall mean the individual named in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
(O) “Employer” shall mean X. Xxxxxxxx, Inc. and, except in determining under Section 20(E)
hereof whether or not any Change in Control of the Employer has occurred, any successor to its
business and/or assets which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law,
or otherwise.
(P) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time.
(Q) “Good Reason” for termination by the Employee of the Employee’s employment shall mean
the occurrence (without the Employee’s express prior written consent) after any Change in
Control, or after any Potential Change in Control under the circumstances described in the
second sentence of Section 10.1 hereof (treating all references in paragraphs (I) through (VII)
below to a “Change in Control” as references to a “Potential Change in Control”), of any one of
the following acts by the Employer, or failures by the Employer to act, unless, in the case of
any act or failure to act described in paragraph (I), (V), (VI) or (VII) below, such act or
failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of
Termination given in respect thereof:
(I) the assignment to the Employee of any duties inconsistent with the Employee’s
status as an executive officer of the Employer or a substantial adverse alteration in the
nature or status of the Employee’s responsibilities from those in
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effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (other than any such alteration
primarily attributable to the fact that the Employer may no longer be a public company);
(II) a reduction by the Employer in the Employee’s annual base salary as in effect on
the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time except for
across-the-board salary reductions similarly affecting all executives of the Employer and
all executives of any Person in control of the Employer;
(III) the relocation of the Employer’s principal executive offices to a location more
than fifty (50) miles from the location of such offices immediately prior to the Change in
Control or the Employer’s requiring the Employee to be based anywhere other than the
Employer’s principal executive offices except for required travel on the Employer’s
business to an extent substantially consistent with the Employee’s present business travel
obligations;
(IV) the failure by the Employer, without the Employee’s consent, to pay to the
Employee any portion of the Employee’s current compensation, or to pay to the Employee any
portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred compensation program
of the Employer, within seven (7) days of the date such compensation is due;
(V) the failure by the Employer to continue in effect any compensation plan in which
the Employee participates immediately prior to the Change in Control which is material to
the Employee’s total compensation, including but not limited to the Employer’s 2006
Incentive Plan and Nonqualified Profit Sharing 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 Employer to continue the Employee’s participation therein (or in such substitute or
alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of
benefits provided and the level of the Employee’s participation relative to other
participants, as existed at the time of the Change in Control;
(VI) the failure by the Employer to continue to provide the Employee with benefits
substantially similar to those enjoyed by the Employee under any of the Employer’s pension,
life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which the Employee was
participating at the time of the Change in Control, the taking of any action by the
Employer which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or
deprive the Employee of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Employee at the time of
the Change in Control, or the failure by the Employer to provide the Employee with the
number of paid vacation days to which the Employee is entitled on the basis of years of
service with the Employer in accordance with the Employer’s normal vacation policy in
effect at the time of the Change in Control; or
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(VII) any purported termination of the Employee’s employment which is not effected
pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Section 11.1 hereof; for
purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.
The Employee’s right to terminate the Employee’s employment for Good Reason shall not be
affected by the Employee’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Employee’s
continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to,
any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder.
For purposes of any determination regarding the existence of Good Reason, any claim by the
Employee that Good Reason exists shall be presumed to be correct unless the Employer
establishes to the Committee by clear and convincing evidence that Good Reason does not exist.
(R) “Notice of Termination” shall have the meaning stated in Section 11.1 hereof.
(S) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a) (9) of the Exchange Act, as
modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include
(i) the Employer or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Employer or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) an
underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv)
a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Employer in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Employer.
(T) “Potential Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth
in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:
(1) the Employer enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in
the occurrence of a Change in Control;
(2) the Employer or any Person publicly announces an intention to take or to consider
taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control;
(3) any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Employer representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of either the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the Employer or the combined voting power of the Employer’s then
outstanding securities; or
(4) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement,
a Potential Change in Control has occurred.
(U) “Severance Payments” shall mean those payments described in Section 10.1 hereof.
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(V) “Tax Counsel” shall have the meaning stated in Section 10.2(B) hereof.
(W) “Term” shall mean the period of time described in Section 4.1 hereof (including any
extension or continuation described therein).
(X) “Termination Pay” shall mean those payments so described in Section 8.2 hereof.
(Y) “Payment” and “Payments” shall have the meanings stated in Section 10.2(A) hereof.
(Z) “Gross-Up Payment” shall have the meaning stated in Section 10.2(A) hereof.
(AA) “Underpayment” shall have the meaning stated in Section 10.2(B) hereof.
21. SECTION 409A OF THE CODE
It is intended that this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder (and any subsequent notices or guidance issued by the Internal
Revenue Service), and this Agreement will be interpreted, administered and operated accordingly.
Nothing herein shall be construed as an entitlement to or guarantee of any particular tax treatment
to the Employee.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed (the
corporate signatory by the respective officer duly authorized) as of the day and year first above
written.
EMPLOYEE: | EMPLOYER: | |||||||
X. Xxxxxxxx, Inc. | ||||||||
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. XxXxxxxx | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
Name: | Xxxx X. XxXxxxxx | ||||||
Its: | Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer |
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EXHIBIT A
• | Employee’s starting annual Base Salary will be $700,000.00. | |
• | Employee will be entitled to participate in our Company’s management bonus program (“Bonus Program”) each fiscal year or partial fiscal year of the Company occurring during the Term of the Agreement. Initially and unless otherwise mutually agreed, the Employee will participate in the Bonus Program at the 70% target level, or $490,000.00, with leverage ranging from 0% to 150% based upon performance metrics to be agreed upon by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and the Employee, and approved by the Board of Directors (“Annual Bonus”). In the event that the Employee and the Board of Directors are unable to agree upon a performance metrics by March 31st of each year, the performance metrics will be referred to binding arbitration. | |
• | Employee is entitled to the Cash Bonuses described in Section 5. | |
• | Employee is entitled to receive Performance Based Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) totaling $1.5 million in initial grant value and scheduled Cash Bonuses as described in the Agreement, to help compensate Employee for incentive compensation and retirement benefit amounts foregone in his departure from his former employer. The RSUs will be issued in three grants on or about the following dates: |
§ | January 10, 2008 — $333,000 in value of RSUs; | ||
§ | January 10, 2009 — $500,000 of RSUs; (“RSU Award 2”); and | ||
§ | January 10, 2010 — $667,000 of RSUs. (“RSU Award 3”). |
In the event of termination of Employee’s employment: (i) without Cause or for Good Reason following a Change in Control; (ii) due to resignation with Cause as described in Section 4.2 of the Agreement, or (iii) without Cause prior to a Change in Control, and either or both RSU Award 2 or RSU Award 3 has not been issued, the parties agree that Employee will be paid an amount equal to the aggregate initial share grant value of the RSU award(s) not yet granted within ninety (90) days of the Date of Termination. For the purposes of illustration only, if Employee is terminated without Cause prior to a Change of Control and RSU Award 3 has not been issued, Employer will pay the Employee $667,000. |
Each year during the Term of the Agreement, Employee is entitled to receive an award of performance-based restricted shares of common stock as long-term incentive compensation under the 2006 Incentive Plan based on a target grant value of 200% of the Employee’s Base Salary (“LTIP RS Award”), with vesting based upon performance metrics to be agreed upon by the |
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Compensation Committee of the Board and the Employee, and approved by the Board of Directors. In the event that the Employee and the Board of Directors are unable to agree upon a performance metrics by March 31st of each year, the performance metrics will be referred to binding arbitration. | ||
In the event of termination of Employee’s employment: (i) without Cause or for Good Reason following a Change in Control; (ii) due to resignation with Cause as described in Section 4.2 of the Agreement, or (iii) without Cause prior to a Change in Control, Employee will be entitled to vesting of shares represented by the LTIP RS Award as follows: (a) if such termination occurs during the first year of the Term of this Agreement, one third of the Award shares will vest, and (b) if such termination occurs after the first anniversary of this Agreement, Award shares will vest on a pro rata basis for the period of time then lapsed, but only if the performance criteria described in the awards have been satisfied. | ||
Employee will also be eligible for future stock options/grants and discretionary awards and/or cash equivalents as approved by the Company’s Board of Directors consistent with the Company’s practice and custom for the chief executive officer under the Company’s incentive compensation plans. | ||
• | You will initially be eligible for four weeks of paid vacation during each calendar year as an executive officer of the Company. |
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