Exhibit 10.2
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
THIS CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT (the "AGREEMENT") dated as of July 1,
2002, between Computer Network Technology Corporation, a Minnesota corporation,
having a place of business at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00000 (the
"COMPANY"), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "EXECUTIVE").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Executive has assumed duties of a responsible nature to
the benefit of the Company and to the satisfaction of the Board of Directors
(the "BOARD");
WHEREAS, the Board believes it to be in the best interests of the
Company to enter into this Agreement to assure the Executive's continuing
services to the Company including, but not limited to, under circumstances in
which there is a possible, threatened or actual Change of Control (as defined
below);
WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the
Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the
event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the
Executive with an acceleration of options upon certain events on or after a
Change of Control which ensure that the benefits expectations of the Executive
will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other corporations;
and
WHEREAS, in order to accomplish all the above objectives, the Board has
authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein
contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
"APPLICABLE DATE" means the date of receipt of the Notice of
Termination or Change of Circumstance (as defined below).
"CAUSE" means (a) termination of the Executive's employment
for (i) any conviction of the Executive, or plea of guilty or no contest by the
Executive, to a felony, or (ii) any act or acts of dishonesty by the Executive
intended to result in personal enrichment to the Executive at the expense of the
Company; or (b) repeated failure to follow the lawful instructions of the Board
which are not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written
notice from the Company.
"CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCE" means any event which would
constitute (a) a demotion of the Executive or any assignment to material duties
that are substantially inconsistent with the Executive's position and title
immediately prior to such assignment, (b) a reduction in the Executive's base
salary, other than reductions in salaries applied to executives generally, (c) a
requirement that the Executive relocate unless acceptable to the Executive, (d)
a substantial reduction in benefits and perquisites provided to the Executive
not applicable to executives generally, or (e) a material change in the terms
and conditions of the Executive's employment other than as permitted by (b) or
(d) above; provided, however, none of the foregoing shall constitute a Change of
Circumstance unless the Executive objects thereto by giving written notice to
the Board within 30 days after the Executive becomes aware of such demotion,
assignment, reduction, requirements or other change and the Company fails to
correct the same within 30 days following receipt of such notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control does not, standing alone,
constitute a Change of Circumstance.
"CHANGE OF CONTROL" or "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall have the same
meaning as an "EVENT" as set forth in the Company's 1992 Stock Award Plan as in
existence on the date hereof.
"CHANGE OF CONTROL DATE" shall mean the first date on which a
Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, (a) if a Change of Control occurs; (b) if prior to the date on
which such Change of Control occurs, the Executive's employment with the Company
is terminated or the Executive ceases to be the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO")
of the Company; and (c) if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that
such termination of employment or cessation of status as CFO (i) was at the
request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the
Change of Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of
the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "CHANGE OF
CONTROL DATE" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such
termination of employment or cessation of status as CFO.
"DISABILITY" means the inability of the Executive to perform
the Executive's duties as CFO, or the Executive's position and title at such
time, by reason of illness or other physical or mental impairment or condition,
if such inability continues for an uninterrupted period of 90 days or more. A
period of Disability shall be "uninterrupted" unless and until the Executive
returns to full-time work for a continuous period of at least 30 days. A
Disability period shall be suspended during any period the Executive returns to
full-time work for a continuous period of at least five days.
"EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean the date hereof.
"EXISTING OPTION AGREEMENTS" means the option grant agreements
with respect to options which have not yet been exercised and are set forth on
Schedule A hereto.
2. NOTICE OF TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCE. Any termination of
the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause or a notice by the Executive
of a Change in Circumstance shall be communicated by Notice of Termination or
Change of Circumstance to such other party hereto given in accordance with
Section 6 of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "NOTICE OF
TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCE" means a written notice which sets forth
in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of the Executive's employment or of a Change of Circumstances. The
failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination or Change of
Circumstance any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Change
of Circumstance shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude
the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing his rights
hereunder.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. If, (a) while
the Executive is employed by the Company, there is a Change of Control and (b)
on or within 18 months after the Change of Control Date either (x) the Company
terminates the Executive's employment other than for Cause, Disability, or death
or (y) there is a Change in Circumstance, then all options to acquire capital
stock of the Company granted to the Executive outstanding on the Applicable Date
shall immediately vest on the Applicable Date.
4. AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING AGREEMENTS. The terms of this Agreement
hereby amend the Existing Option Agreements to the extent inconsistent therewith
and shall be incorporated by reference into any further grant of an employee
stock option to the Executive, unless the terms of such grant specifically
preclude the application of this Agreement.
5. SUCCESSORS.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive, and without
the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by the
Executive other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's
legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and the Executive and their respective successors and
assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of its business and/or assets to assume expressly 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.
As used in this Agreement, the "COMPANY" shall mean 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.
6. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not
be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
If to the Executive: If to the Company:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Computer Network Technology
Corporation
(Home address 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx North
separately given) Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Board of Directors
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressees.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under
this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be
withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance
with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision
or any other provision thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set his hand and,
pursuant to the authorization from the Board, the Company has authorized and
directed the undersigned director to execute and deliver this Agreement in the
Company's name, all as of the day and year first above written.
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION
By /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Director
SCHEDULE A
LIST OF EXISTING OPTION AGREEMENTS
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
UNVESTED OPTIONS AS OF JUNE 18, 2002
OPTIONS UNVESTED EXERCISE
GRANT DATE EXP. DATE GRANTED OPTIONS PRICE
---------- --------- ------- --------- ---------
July 7, 1997 July 6, 2007 75,000 0 $4.1250
December 17, 1997 December 16, 2007 10,000 0 $3.6250
December 10, 1998 December 9, 2008 30,000 7,500 $9.6875
May 13, 1999 May 12, 2009 90,000 22,500 $21.8750
April 5, 2001 April 4, 2011 90,000 67,500 $8.7812
April 26, 2001 April 25, 2011 2,503 1,252 $10.0100
February 25, 2002 February 24, 2012 25,000 25,000 $11.3500
