EXHIBIT 10.17
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made as of this 15th day of May, 2000, by and between
Microwave Power Devices, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, the Company's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (the
"Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, the Company believes that the establishment and maintenance
of a sound and vital management of the Company is essential to the protection
and enhancement of the interests of the Company and its stockholders;
WHEREAS, the Company also recognizes that the possibility of a
Change in Control of the Company (as defined in Section 1 hereof), with the
attendant uncertainties and risks, might result in the departure or distraction
of key employees of the Company to the detriment of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it is appropriate to take
steps to induce key employees to remain with the Company, and to reinforce and
encourage their continued attention and dedication, when faced with the
possibility of a Change in Control of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Change in Control Definition. A Change in Control shall mean the
occurrence of any of the following: (i) any person (as defined in Section
3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof), excluding the Company, any
Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, or any employee benefit plan
sponsored or maintained by the Company or its Affiliates (including any trustee
of any such plan acting in his capacity as trustee), becoming the "beneficial
owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company
representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of
the Company's then outstanding securities; (ii) the merger, consolidation or
other business combination of the Company (a "Transaction"), other than a
Transaction involving only the Company's Affiliates or a Transaction immediately
following which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the
Transaction continue to have a majority of the voting power in the resulting
entity; (iii) during any period of three (3) consecutive years beginning on or
after the date hereof, the persons who were members of the Board of Directors of
the Company (the "Board") immediately before the beginning of such period (the
"Incumbent Directors") ceasing (for any reason other than death) to constitute
at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors of any successor to
the Company, provided that, any director who was not a director as of the date
hereof shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if such director was elected
to the board of directors by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval
of, at least two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent
Directors either actually or by prior operation of the foregoing unless such
election, recommendation or approval occurs as a result of an actual or
threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor provision) or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or contests by or on behalf of a
person other than a member of the Board; or (iv) the approval by the
stockholders of the Company of any plan of complete liquidation of the Company
or an agreement for the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets, other than the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company to any of the Company's Affiliates. Only one Change in Control may occur
under this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Affiliates"
shall have the same meaning as set forth under the definition of "affiliates" in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2. Term. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall
expire on the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date hereof, or (ii) the
date of the death of the Executive, or (iii) the termination of the Executive's
employment with the Company (for any reason) prior to a Change of Control.
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3. Effect of a Change in Control. If a Change in Control occurs
simultaneous with or prior to the expiration of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 2 hereof and within six (6) months after a Change of Control the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated either by the Executive
for Good Reason (as hereinafter defined) or by the Company without cause, the
Executive shall be entitled to the amounts and benefits provided under Section 4
hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence
of any of the following events without the Executive's express prior written
consent: (A) any diminution in the Executive's title or a dimunition in
Executive's duties, functions, responsibilities or authority has occurred; (B) a
reduction in the Executive's annual base salary, annual potential bonus relative
to the prior year's potential bonus or eligibility for or participation in
benefit plans; (C) a relocation of the Executive's principal business location
to an area outside a forty (40) mile radius of the Executive's current principal
business location or requirement to travel away from his home or office
significantly more often than was customary in the past; (D) an elimination of
all or substantially all of the Company's corporate functions at the Company's
current principal business location; or (E) a failure of any successor or assign
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) of
the Company to assume in writing the obligations hereunder.
4. Payments upon a Change in Control. If pursuant to Section 3
above, the Executive is entitled to amounts and benefits under this Section 4,
the Company shall pay or provide, as the case may be, the following items:
(a) immediately following his termination of employment with the
Company, the Company shall pay to the Executive an amount equal to two times the
sum of (i) the Executive's base salary (as of the date of termination of
employment) plus (ii) the Executive's annual targeted bonus for the year in
which the termination of employment occurred pursuant to the terms of that
certain Executive Incentive Bonus Plan of the Company (as such plan may be
modified from time to time). Such amount shall be paid to the Executive by the
Company in 104 equal weekly installments.
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(b) within five (5) business days (or at such earlier time as
required by applicable law) following his termination of employment with the
Company, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum: (i) any earned
but unpaid base salary, (ii) any earned but unpaid bonus for the year preceeding
the year in which termination of employment occurs, (iii) accrued but unused
vacation time as of the date of termination, and (iv) incurred but unreimbursed
business expenses for the period prior to termination.
(c) for a period of twelve (12) months commencing on the date of the
Change of Control, subject to the Executive's continued copayment of premiums
which shall not exceed the level of copayments prior to such Change of Control,
the Company shall continue to pay the premiums to provide health benefits and
coverage for the Executive and his dependents under the Company's health plans
in effect prior to such Change of Control which cover senior executives. The
Company's obligation to pay premiums hereunder shall cease upon the Executive's
employment with any employer (other than due to self-employment) following a
Change of Control. Upon the expiration of such twelve (12) month period, the
Company shall offer COBRA continuation health coverage to the Executive and his
dependents in accordance with applicable law.
5. No Duty to Mitigate/Set-off; Severance. If pursuant to Section 4
hereof the Executive is entitled to payments, the Executive will not be required
to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable
to the Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement. Further, the amounts
and benefits provided for in this Agreement shall not be reduced by any
compensation earned by the Executive or benefits provided to the Executive as
the result of employment by another employer or otherwise. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if pursuant to Section 4 hereof the Executive
is entitled to payment, all of such payments shall be in lieu of any other
severance payments to which Executive may be entitled pursuant to any severance
plan of the Company or otherwise.
6. Successors; Binding Agreement. In addition to any obligations
imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any
successor (whether direct
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or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly
assume and agree in writing to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or
legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive shall die while any amount
would still be payable to the Executive hereunder if the Executive had continued
to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal
representatives or administrators of the Executive's estate. This Agreement is
personal to the Executive and neither this Agreement or any rights hereunder may
be assigned by the Executive.
7. Miscellaneous. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing and signed by the Executive 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 shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement
constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the
subject matter hereof. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. All references
to any law shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such
laws. 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. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be declared
to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof which shall
remain in full force and effect.
8. Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be given in
writing and shall be either delivered personally or sent by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the other party at the
appropriate address first set forth above, or to such other
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address as such party shall designate by written notice as aforesaid. Notices
shall be deemed given when received or two (2) days after mailing, whichever is
earlier.
9. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any
benefit, bonus, incentive, equity or other plan or program provided by the
Company and for which the Executive may qualify and the payments hereunder shall
be in addition to, not in lieu of, any payments under any such plan or program
of the Company. Amounts that are vested benefits or which the Executive is
otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the Company, at or
subsequent to the date of termination shall be payable in accordance with such
plan or program, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
10. Not an Agreement of Employment. This is not an agreement
assuring employment and, subject to any other agreement between the Executive
and the Company, the Company reserves the right to terminate the Executive's
employment at any time with or without cause.
11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without
reference to rules relating to conflicts of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the day
and year first above written.
MICROWAVE POWER DEVICES, INC.
By: /s/ X. Xxxxx
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Name: X. Xxxxx
Title: CEO
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Executive
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