EXHIBIT 10.43
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and between CTI, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (the
"Company"), and Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. ("Executive"), dated as of the 15th day of May
2002.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined
that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure
that the Company will have the continued dedication of Executive,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control
(as defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to
diminish the inevitable distraction of Executive by virtue of the personal
uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control
and to encourage 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 Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change
of Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of
Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other
corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has
caused the Company to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Certain Definitions.
(a) The "Effective Date" shall mean the first date
during the Change of Control Period (as defined in Section l(b)) on which a
Change of Control (as defined in Section 2) occurs. Anything in this Agreement
to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and if
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated prior to the date on
which the Change of Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by
Executive that such termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third
party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control
or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change of
Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall
mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment.
(b) The "Change of Control Period" shall mean the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of the date
hereof; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date
hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual
anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"),
unless previously terminated, the Change of Control Period shall be
automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date,
unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice
to Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended.
2. Change of Control. For the purposes of this Agreement, a
"Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events
but shall specifically
exclude a public offering of the Company's common stock:
(a) individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement,
constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Incumbent Directors")
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board, provided
that any person becoming a director after the date of this Agreement and whose
election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board shall be an Incumbent
Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated
as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election
contest with respect to the election or removal of directors ("Election
Contest") or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of any "person" (such term for purposes of this definition being
as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Section
13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than the Board ("Proxy
Contest"), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any
Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; or
(b) any person is or becomes a "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
either (A) 35% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company ("Company Common Stock") or (B) securities of the Company representing
35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities eligible to vote for the election of directors (the "Company Voting
Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (b), the
following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) an
acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) an acquisition by the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an acquisition by any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company, or (iv) an acquisition pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction
(as defined in subsection (c) below); or
(c) the consummation of a reorganization, merger,
consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate
transaction involving the Company or a Subsidiary (a "Reorganization"), or the
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
(a "Sale") or the acquisition of assets or stock of another corporation (an
"Acquisition"), unless immediately following such Reorganization, Sale or
Acquisition: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who
were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the outstanding Company Common
Stock and outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the
corporation resulting from such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns
the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets or stock either
directly or
-2-
through one or more subsidiaries, the "Surviving Company") in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Reorganization,
Sale or Acquisition, of the outstanding Company Common Stock and the
outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) no person
(other than (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) the
Surviving Company or its ultimate parent corporation, (iii) any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by any of the
foregoing, or (iv) any person acquiring Company Common Stock or Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be, directly from the Company) is the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the total common stock or 35%
or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible
to elect directors of the Surviving Company, and (C) at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors of the Surviving Company were Incumbent
Directors at the time of the Board's approval of the execution of the initial
agreement providing for such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (any
Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition which satisfies all of the criteria
specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a "Non-Qualifying
Transaction"); or
(d) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue
Executive in its employ, and Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of
the Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the
period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of
such date (the "Employment Period").
4. Terms of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A)
Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting
requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least
commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held,
exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date, and (B) Executive's services shall be performed
at the location where Executive was employed immediately preceding the
Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding
any periods of vacation and sick leave to which Executive is entitled,
Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business
hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary
to discharge the responsibilities assigned to Executive hereunder, to use
Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation
-3-
of this Agreement for Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable
boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or
teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long
as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of
Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with
this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that
any such activities have been conducted by Executive prior to the Effective
Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities
similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not
thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of Executive's
responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period,
Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which
shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to 12 times the highest monthly
base salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been earned
but deferred, to Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in
respect of the 12-month period immediately preceding the month in which the
Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary
shall be reviewed no more than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded
to Executive prior to the Effective Date and thereafter at least annually. Any
increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other
obligation to Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be
reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as used in this
Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this
Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" shall include any company controlled
by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
(ii) Incentive, Bonus, Savings and Retirement
Plans. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate
in all incentive, bonus, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and
programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and
programs provide Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect
to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any,
that such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement
benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than the
most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies
for Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect
at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
or if more favorable to Executive, those provided generally at any time after
the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(iii) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the
Employment Period, Executive and/or Executive's eligible dependents, as the
case may be, shall be eligible for
-4-
participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated
companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental,
disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident
insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall
such plans, practices, policies and programs provide Executive with benefits
which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such
plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for Executive at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to Executive, those provided generally at any time after the
Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(iv) Expenses. During the Employment Period,
Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
expenses incurred by Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies,
practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect
for Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to Executive, as in effect generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies.
(v) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment
Period, Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the
most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its
affiliated companies as in effect for Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vi) Vacation. During the Employment Period,
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most
favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its
affiliated companies as in effect for Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
5. Termination of Employment.
(a) Death or Disability. Executive's employment shall
terminate automatically upon Executive's death during the Employment Period. If
the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of Executive has
occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability
set forth below), it may give to Executive written notice in accordance with
Section 13(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate Executive's
employment. In such event, Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by Executive
(the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such
-5-
receipt, Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of
Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" has the same
meaning as provided in the long-term disability plan or policy maintained by
the Company or if applicable, most recently maintained, by the Company or if
applicable, an affiliated company, for Executive, whether or not Executive
actually receives disability benefits under such plan or policy. If no
long-term disability plan or policy was ever maintained on behalf of Executive,
"Disability" shall mean the absence of Executive from Executive's duties with
the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result
of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total
and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and
acceptable to Executive or Executive's legal representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate Executive's
employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of
Executive to perform substantially Executive's reasonably assigned duties with
the Company or one of its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting
from incapacity due to physical or mental illness or from the assignment to
Executive of duties that would constitute Good Reason under Section 5(c)(i),
and specifically excluding any failure by Executive, after reasonable efforts,
to meet performance expectations), which failure continues for a period of at
least 30 days after a written demand for substantial performance, signed by a
duly authorized officer of the Company, has been delivered to Executive which
specifically identifies the manner in which Executive has failed to
substantially performed his duties; provided, however, that no failure to
perform by Executive after a Notice of Termination is given to the Company by
Executive shall constitute Cause for purposes of this Agreement, or
(ii) the willful engaging by Executive in
illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably
injurious to the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of
Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that Executive's
action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or
failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly
adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of a superior officer of the
Company or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be
conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good
faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of
Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have
been delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of
the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice is provided to Executive and Executive is given an
-6-
opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding
that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive is guilty of the
conduct described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the
particulars thereof in detail.
(c) Good Reason. Executive's employment may be
terminated by Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good
Reason" shall mean:
(i) the assignment to Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any respect with Executive's position (including status,
offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any
other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position,
authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by
Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with
any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an
isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and
which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring Executive to be
based at any office or location other than as provided in Section 4(a)(i)(B)
hereof or the Company's requiring Executive to travel on Company business to a
substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the Effective
Date;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement;
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with
and satisfy Section 12(c) of this Agreement;
(vi) any other material breach by the Company of
any provision of this Agreement.
Good Reason shall not include Executive's death or Disability.
Executive's continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver
of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason hereunder.
For purposes of this Section 5(c), any good faith determination of "Good
Reason" made by Executive shall be conclusive.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the
Company or Executive shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the
other party hereto given in accordance with Section 13(b) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written
notice which (i) indicates the
-7-
specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the
extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the
provision so indicated, and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below)
is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination
date. If a dispute exists concerning the provisions of this Agreement that
apply to Executive's termination of employment, the parties shall pursue the
resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Within five (5) days of
such a resolution, any party owing any payments pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement shall make all such payments together with interest accrued
thereon at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The failure by Executive or the Company
to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which
contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of
Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude Executive or the
Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing
Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i)
if Executive's employment is terminated other than by reason of death or
Disability, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date
specified therein, as the case may be, or (ii) if Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be
the date of death of Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case
may be.
6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
(a) Termination by Executive for Good Reason;
Termination by the Company Other Than for Cause or Disability. If, during the
Employment Period, the Company shall terminate Executive's employment other
than for Cause or Disability, or Executive shall terminate employment for Good
Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to Executive in a
lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of
the following amounts:
A. the sum of (1) Executive's Annual
Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid,
(2) any accrued vacation pay to the extent not theretofore paid, and (3) unless
Executive has elected a different payout date in a prior deferral election, any
compensation previously deferred by Executive (together with any accrued
interest or earnings thereon) to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of
the amounts described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall be hereinafter referred
to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and
B. the amount equal to the product of
(1) one and (2) the sum of (x) Executive's Annual Base Salary and (y)
Executive's target annual bonus for the year in which the Date of Termination
occurs; and
-8-
(ii) for one year after the Date of Termination,
or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan,
program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to Executive
and/or Executive's eligible dependents at least equal to those which would have
been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and
policies described in Section 4(b)(iii) of this Agreement if Executive's
employment had not been terminated or, if more favorable to Executive, as in
effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives
of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families, provided,
however, that if Executive becomes re-employed with another employer and is
eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer
provided plan, the Company's obligations under this Section 6(a)(ii) shall
cease; and
(iii) as of the Date of Termination, all of
Executive's outstanding options to acquire common stock of the Company and
other compensatory awards from the Company in the nature of rights that may be
exercised shall become fully vested and exercisable, and all restrictions on
Executive's outstanding shares of restricted stock of the Company shall lapse;
and
(iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or
provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to Executive any other
amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which Executive is
eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or
agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts and
benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits").
(b) Termination by Executive without Good Reason after
One Year. If Executive resigns without Good Reason after the first anniversary
of the Effective Date and before the expiration of the Employment Period:
(i) the Company shall pay to Executive in a
lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination:
A. the Accrued Obligations; and
B. the amount equal to the product of
(1) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months remaining
in the Employment Period from and after the Date of Termination and the
denominator of which is 24, and (2) the sum of Executive's Annual Base Salary
and Executive's target annual bonus for the year in which the Date of
Termination occurs; and
(ii) for the remaining term of the Employment
Period, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the
appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue
benefits to Executive and/or Executive's eligible dependents at least equal to
those which would have been provided to them in accordance
-9-
with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iii)
of this Agreement if Executive's employment had not been terminated or, if more
favorable to Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies
and their families, provided, however, that if Executive becomes re-employed
with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare
benefits under another employer provided plan, the Company's obligations under
this Section 6(b)(ii) shall cease; and
(iii) to the extent not theretofore paid or
provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to Executive any Other
Benefits.
(c) Death or Disability. If Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of Executive's death or Disability during the Employment
Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Executive
or Executive's estate, beneficiaries or legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment
or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to Executive
or Executive's estate, beneficiaries or legal representatives, as applicable,
in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. The term Other
Benefits as used in this Section 6(c) shall include without limitation, and
Executive or Executive's estate, beneficiaries and/or legal representatives
shall be entitled to receive, benefits under the plans, programs, practices and
policies of the Company or any affiliated company as in effect with respect to
Executive on the Date of Termination.
(d) Resignation without Good Reason within One Year;
Termination for Cause. If Executive resigns without Good Reason prior to the
first anniversary of the Effective Date, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligations to Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations and the
timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. If Executive's employment is
terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to Executive other than the obligation to
pay to Executive (x) his Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination,
(y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by Executive, and (z)
Other Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. In either such
case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
(e) Expiration of Employment Period. If Executive's
employment shall be terminated due to the normal expiration of the Employment
Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to
Executive, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment
or provision of Other Benefits.
7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent or limit Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan,
program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies and for which
-10-
Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 13(f), shall anything herein
limit or otherwise affect such rights as Executive may have under any contract
or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which
are vested benefits or which Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under
any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the
Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of
Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or
program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this
Agreement.
8. Full Settlement; No Mitigation. The Company's obligation to
make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its
obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have
against Executive or others. In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek
other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts
payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, except
as provided in Section 6(a)(ii) and 6(b)(ii), such amounts shall not be reduced
whether or not Executive obtains other employment.
9. Costs of Enforcement. Each party hereto shall pay its own
legal fees and expenses incurred as a result of any contest (regardless of the
outcome thereof) by the Company, Executive or others of the validity or
enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any
guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by
Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement).
10. Mandatory Reduction of Payments in Certain Events.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or
distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of Executive (whether paid or
payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
or otherwise) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), then, prior to the making of any
Payment to Executive, a calculation shall be made comparing (i) the net
after-tax benefit to Executive of the Payment after payment of the Excise Tax,
to (ii) the net after-tax benefit to Executive if the Payment had been limited
to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax. If the amount
calculated under (i) above is less than the amount calculated under (ii) above,
then the Payment shall be limited to the extent necessary to avoid being
subject to the Excise Tax (the "Reduced Amount"). In that event, Executive
shall direct which Payments are to be modified or reduced.
(b) The determination of whether an Excise Tax would be
imposed, the amount of such Excise Tax, and the calculation of the amounts
referred to Section 10(a)(i) and (ii) above shall be made by the Company's
regular independent accounting firm at the expense of the Company or, at the
election and expense of
-11-
Executive, another nationally recognized independent accounting firm (the
"Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations. Any
determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and
Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of
the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that Payments which Executive was entitled to, but
did not receive pursuant to Section 10(a), could have been made without the
imposition of the Excise Tax ("Underpayment"). In such event, the Accounting
Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any
such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit
of Executive.
(c) In the event that the provisions of Code Section
280G and 4999 or any successor provisions are repealed without succession, this
Section 10 shall be of no further force or effect.
11. Confidential Information. Executive shall hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies,
and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by Executive
during Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies
and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by
Executive or representatives of Executive in violation of this Agreement).
After termination of Executive's employment with the Company, Executive shall
not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be
required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information,
knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it.
In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 11
constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable
to Executive under this Agreement.
12. Successors.
(a) This Agreement is personal to Executive and without
the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive's legal
representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and its 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 the business and/or assets of the Company 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,
-12-
"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.
13. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, 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 Executive: Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
------------------------
------------------------
If to the Company: CTI, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
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 addressee.
(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, local or foreign taxes as shall be
required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon
strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert
any right Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason,
shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other
provision or right of this Agreement.
-13-
(f) Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except
as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between
Executive and the Company, the employment of Executive by the Company is "at
will" and, subject to Section 1(a) hereof, Executive's employment and/or this
Agreement may be terminated by either Executive or the Company at any time
prior to the Effective Date, in which case Executive shall have no further
rights under this Agreement. From and after the Effective Date this Agreement
shall supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has hereunto set Executive's hand and,
pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
----------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
CTI, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President and
Chairman of the Compensation
Committee
-14-
