EXHIBIT 10.26
FORM OF
CHANGE-OF-CONTROL
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and between General Signal Corporation, a New York
corporation (the "Company"), and _____________ _____________ (the "Executive"),
dated as of the 2nd day of February, 1998.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders
to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the 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 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 compensation and benefits arrangements upon a
Change of Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations
of the 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
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first date during the Change of Control Period (as defined in Section 1(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
the 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 the
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 the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended.
(c) The "Multiple" means the lesser of (i) three and (ii) the
number of years and fractions thereof from the Date of Termination (as defined
in Section 5(e) below) through the date the Executive would have become entitled
to full retirement benefits under the Company's Corporate Retirement Plan or any
successor thereto, as in effect immediately before the Change of Control or, if
sooner, as in effect immediately before the Date of Termination, in each case if
the Executive had remained in the employ of the Company.
2. Change of Control. For the purpose of this Agreement, a
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"Change of Control" shall mean:
(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or
more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company
(the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of
the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally
in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition
directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 2; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board
(the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof
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whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the
Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of
the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose
initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a
Person other than the Board; or
(c) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following such
Business Combination, (i) 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 Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
60% 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 Business Combination (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 either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no
Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the
Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were
members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business
Combination; or
(d) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
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3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the
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Executive in its employ, and the 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 third anniversary of
such date (the "Employment Period").
4. Terms of Employment. (a) Position and Duties. (i) During the
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Employment Period, (A) the 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) the Executive's services shall
be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately
preceding the Effective Date or any office or location not more than 50 miles
from such location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of
vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the 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 the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of
this Agreement for the 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 the
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 the 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 the Executive's
responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation. (i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period,
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the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which
shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest
monthly base salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been
earned but deferred, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated
companies in respect of the twelve-month period immedi-
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ately 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 the 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 the Executive
under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such
increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized 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) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the
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Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment
Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the
Executive's target bonus under the Company's Annual Incentive Plan, or any
comparable bonus under any predecessor or successor plan, for the fiscal year
during which occurs the Effective Date or, if no target bonus had been
established for such fiscal year as of the Effective Date, for the most recently
completed fiscal year before the Effective Date (annualized in the event that
the Executive was not employed by the Company for the whole of such fiscal year)
(the "Recent Target Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than
the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for
which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the
receipt of such Annual Bonus.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During the
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Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
incentive, 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 the 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 the
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 the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the
Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
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(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the
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Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible
for 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 the Executive with benefits
which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such
plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the
Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
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be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred
by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and
procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the
Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive
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shall be entitled to fringe benefits, including, without limitation, tax and
financial planning services, payment of club dues, and, if applicable, use of an
automobile and payment of related expenses, in accordance with the most
favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its
affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vii) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, the
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Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with
furnishings and other appointments, and to administrative assistance, at least
equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the
Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 120-day pe- riod
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favor-able to the
Executive, as provided generally at any time after the
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Effective Date with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(viii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive
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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 the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the 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. The
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Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death
during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the
Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant
to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive
written notice in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement of its
intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the
Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th
day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective
Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive
shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive
from the 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 the Executive or the Executive's
legal representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
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during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause"
shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform
substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its
affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial
performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company which specifically identifies the
manner in which the Board or Chief Executive Officer believes that the
Executive has not substantially performed the Executive's duties, or
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(ii) the willful engaging by the 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 the Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief
that the 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 the Chief
Executive Officer or a senior 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 the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be
for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the 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 the
Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to
be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the
Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i) or
(ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by
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the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason"
shall mean:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in
any respect with the 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 the 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 the Executive;
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(iii) the Company's requiring the 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 the 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 the Executive's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section
11(c) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 5(c), any good faith determination
of "Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for
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Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 12(b) of
this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means
a written notice which (i) indicates the 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
the 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 (which date shall be not more than thirty
days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the 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
the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive
or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in
enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
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Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or
any later date specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the
Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the
Executive of such termination and (iii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of death or Disabil-
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ity, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the
Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a) Good Reason;
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Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the
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Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or
Disability or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to the 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) the Executive's Annual Base Salary
through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore
paid, (2) the excess of (A) the product of (x) the higher of (I)
the Recent Target Bonus and (II) the Executive's target annual
bonus for the most recently completed fiscal year during the
Employment Period, if any (such higher amount being referred to
as the "Highest Target Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator
of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year
through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is
365, over (B) any Annual Bonus amount for such fiscal year that
has previously been paid to the Executive and (3) any accrued
vacation pay, in each case 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) the Multiple
and (2) the sum of (x) the Executive's Annual Base Salary and
(y) the Highest Target Bonus; and
C. an amount, calculated in accordance with Appendix A
hereto, equal to the excess of (i) the present value of the
pension benefits the Executive would have been entitled to
receive, if the Executive had remained in the employ of the
Company for a number of years following the Date of Termination
equal to the Multiple, under the terms of the Company's
Corporate Retirement Plan and any successor qualified defined
benefit pension plan (the "Corporate Retirement Plan"), the
Company's Benefit Equalization Plan and any successor
nonqualified defined benefit pension plan (the "BEP") and any
individual contract, agreement, letter or other arrangement to
which the Executive is a party (collectively, the "Individual
Pen-
10
sion") (taking into account, without limitation, any additional
age and/or service credit that would have been earned
thereunder), all whether or not vested thereunder, over (ii) the
present value of the pension benefits the Executive is actually
entitled to receive under or pursuant to the Corporate
Retirement Plan, the BEP and any Individual Pension as of the
Date of Termination; and
D. an amount equal to the present value (determined by
using the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation interest rate for
immediate annuities as in effect on the Date of Termination) of
the aggregate matching and other employer contributions that
would have been made by the Company under the terms of the
Company's Savings and Stock Ownership Plan and the Company's
Deferred Compensation Plan or any successor thereto
(collectively, the "Savings Plans") as in effect on the day
before the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect immediately before the Date of
Termination, if the Employee had continued, for a number of
years after the Date of Termination equal to the Multiple, to be
employed and to participate in the Savings Plans, to the same
extent as the Executive participated therein for the plan year
during which the Date of Termination occurs.
(ii) for a number of years after the Executive's Date of
Termination equal to the Multiple, 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 the Executive and/or the
Executive's family 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)(iv) of this Agreement if the
Executive's employment had not been terminated or, if more favorable to
the 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 the Executive
becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive
medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan,
the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be
secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable
period of eligibility. For purposes of determining eligibility (but not
the time of commencement of benefits) of the Executive for retiree
benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the
Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until
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three years after the Date of Termination and to have retired on the
last day of such period;
(iii) the Company shall, at its sole expense, provide the
Executive with outplacement services through the provider of the
Company's choice, the scope of which shall be chosen by the Executive in
his sole discretion, but at a cost not to exceed 15 percent of the sum
of the Annual Base Salary and the Highest Target Bonus;
(iv) upon the Date of Termination, the Executive shall have the
right and option to purchase at "fair market value", in accordance with
the Company's automobile purchase policy as in effect immediately prior
to the Change of Control, the automobile which the Company was providing
to the Executive immediately prior to the Date of Termination; and
(v) for one year after the Date of Termination, the Company shall
continue to provide the Executive with financial counselling on terms
and conditions no less favorable than those in effect immediately before
the Change of Control or, if more favorable to the Executive, those in
effect immediately before the Date of Termination;
(vi) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company
shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or
benefits required to be paid or provided or which the 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) Death. if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
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Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive's 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 the
Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within
30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(b) shall
include, without limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries
shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable
benefits provided by the Company and affiliated companies to the estates and
beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies
under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death bene-
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fits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives and their
beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive's estate and/or the
Executive's beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death
with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies and their beneficiaries.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
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reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other
than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of
Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum
in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision
of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(c)
shall include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability
Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the
most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated
companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such
plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in
effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if
more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at
any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies and their families.
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive's
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employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other
than the obligation to pay to the Executive (x) his Annual Base Salary through
the Date of Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred
by the Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore
unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during the Employment
Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations
and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. In such case, all Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
of the Date of Termination.
7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall
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prevent or limit the 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
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the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 12(g), shall anything herein
limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any
contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies.
Amounts which are vested benefits or which the 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. The Company's obligation to make the payments
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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 the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts
shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The
Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and
expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest
(regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the 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 the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this
Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment at the applicable
Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); provided, however, that the Company shall not
be required to pay any such legal fees or expenses if there is a determination
by a court or other fact-finder having jurisdiction of the claim that the
Executive's claim was frivolous.
9. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
------------------------------------------
(a) (i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be
determined that any payment or distribution by the Company or its affiliates to
or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section
9) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of
the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect
to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and
penalties, are
14
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive
shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an
amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without
limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with
respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive
retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon
the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it shall be determined that the
Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Payments do not exceed
110% of the greatest amount (the "Reduced Amount") that could be paid to the
Executive such that the receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise
Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the Payments,
in the aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.
(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(a)(i), if the
payment of the Gross-Up Payment as provided in Section 9(a)(i) would make a
transaction entered into in connection with a Change of Control that would
otherwise be eligible for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment under XXX
Xx. 00 ineligible for such treatment, then the following conditions shall apply:
(A) no Gross-Up Payment shall be made unless it shall be determined that a
Gross-Up Payment would have been payable pursuant to the preceding sentence
(without regard to this sentence) if the Executive had not received any Payments
that are considered to be "parachute payments" as defined in Section 280G of the
Code that consist of, or relate to, common stock or other equity interest in the
Company or any of its affiliated companies ("Equity Payments"); and (B) if a
Gross-Up Payment is permitted to be made after application of clause (A) of this
sentence, the amount of such Gross-Up Payment shall be only that amount
necessary so that after payment of all taxes (including any interest or
penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), by the Executive with respect to
Payments other than the Equity Payments, including without limitation, any
income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and
Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment (as computed in accordance with
this clause (B)), the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal
to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments other than the Equity Payments. In
determining the Gross-Up Amount pursuant to clause (B) of the preceding
sentence, the rules for allocation of the "base amount" set forth in Question
and Answer 38 of Proposed Treasury Regulation 1.280G-1, or any successor
provision in any proposed, temporary or final regulations that may hereinafter
be promulgated, shall be applied.
15
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all determinations
required to be made under this Section 9, including whether and when a Gross-Up
Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions
to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by Ernst & Young
LLP or such other nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may
be designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide
detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15
business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. All fees and
expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any
Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 9, shall be paid by the
Company to the Executive within five days of the receipt of the Accounting
Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding
upon the Company and the 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 Gross-Up Payments which
will not have been made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"),
consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event
that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 9(c) and the
Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, 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 the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any
claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the
payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given
as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive
is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature
of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The
Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period
following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter
period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim
is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive
shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by
the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim
as the Company shall reasonably request in writ-
16
ing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal
representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably
selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
effectively to contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
relating to such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and
payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of
this Section 9(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection
with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all
administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing
authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct
the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund or contest the claim
in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to
a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial
jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall
determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay
such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such
payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold
the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to
such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance;
and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating
to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which
such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be limited to
issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and
the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any
other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced
by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the Executive receives any refund with
respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's complying
with the re-
17
quirements of Section 9(c)) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such
refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes
applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and
the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest
such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to
be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof,
the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
10. Confidential Information. The 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
the Executive during the 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 the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation
of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the
Company, the 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 10 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding
any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
11. 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 otherwise 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 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, "Company" shall mean the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business
18
and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.
12. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and
-------------
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, 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.
(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:
-----------------
General Signal Corporation
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
X.X. Xxx 00000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
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) The 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 the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason
pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be
19
a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this
Agreement.
(f) This Agreement may not be amended, modified or terminated
otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their
respective successors and legal representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
subject to Section 1(a) hereof, the Company shall have the right, at any time
prior to the Effective Date, to amend, modify or terminate this Agreement upon a
change in the Executive's employment position.
(g) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may
otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive
and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will"
and, subject to Section 1(a) hereof, prior to the Effective Date, the
Executive's employment may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company
at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case the 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, the Executive has hereunto set the 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.
-------------------------------
EXECUTIVE
GENERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
By
-------------------------------
20
APPENDIX A
The amount payable under Section 6(a)(i)(C) of the Agreement
shall be calculated so as to be not less than the excess, if any, of the "Gross
Amount" (calculated as set forth in (a) below), over the "Offset" (calculated as
set forth in (b) below). For an Executive who has an Individual Pension, the
amount payable under Section 6(a)(i)(C) of the Agreement shall be subject to the
provisions of (c) below. Definitions and rules of general application are set
forth in (d) below.
(i) The Gross Amount is determined as follows:
(i) Determine the retirement benefit, payable as a life annuity
from normal retirement date, that the Executive would become entitled to
receive, assuming that all accrued benefits were vested, under the terms
of the Corporate Retirement Plan, the Benefit Equalization Plan and any
pension benefit specified by an Individual Pension, all as in effect on
the day immediately preceding the Effective Date, if the Executive were
to continue his or her employment with the Company for the number of
years following the Date of Termination equal to the Multiple plus any
additional service credit provided under an Individual Pension. For this
purpose, it shall be assumed that the Social Security Taxable Wage Base
and any other factor used to calculate retirement benefits remains
constant after the Date of Termination.
(ii) Determine the retirement benefit, payable as a life annuity
commencing at Adjusted Early Retirement Date (as defined in (d)(i)
below), based on the life annuity calculated in (i) above and using the
Corporate Retirement Plan's early retirement factors as in effect on the
day immediately preceding the Effective Date.
(iii) Determine, as of the Adjusted Severance Date (as defined in
(d)(i) below), the present value of (ii) above, using the interest rate
and mortality table assumptions applicable under the Corporate
Retirement Plan to employees receiving lump sums on immediate retirement
on the first day of the month coincident with or next following the Date
of Termination, based on the provisions of the Corporate Retirement Plan
as it existed on the day immediately preceding the Effective Date.
(iv) Determine the present value of the gross benefit by
discounting the value determined in (iii) above to the
21
Date of Termination at the interest rate determined in (iii) above and
without reduction for mortality.
(ii) The Offset is determined as follows:
(i) Determine the vested retirement benefit, payable as a life
annuity from normal retirement date, to which the Executive is entitled
at the Date of Termination, under the terms of the Corporate Retirement
Plan, the Benefit Equalization Plan and any Individual Pension, all as
in effect on the day preceding the Date of Termination.
(ii) Determine the retirement benefit, payable as a life annuity
commencing at the earliest retirement date on or after the Date of
Termination, based on the life annuity calculated in (i) above and using
the Corporate Retirement Plan's early retirement factors as of the Date
of Termination.
(iii) Determine, as of the Date of Termination, the present value
of the Offset by calculating the lump sum equivalent to (ii) above under
the provisions of the Corporate Retirement Plan, but using the interest
rate and mortality table assumptions applicable to employees receiving
lump sums on immediate retirement (regardless of whether a lump sum is
actually permissible under said Plan).
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Executive who has a
pension benefit specified by an Individual Pension, the following provisions
shall apply:
(i) To determine the value of any benefit payable from a prior
employer's plan, the early retirement factors of the prior employer's
plan shall be used to determine the early retirement benefit payable at
the earliest retirement date, subsequent to the Date of Termination,
under the prior employer's plan, and the methods and factors of (b)(ii)
and (b)(iii) above shall be used, as applicable, to determine the
present value of such annuity at the Date of Termination.
(ii) In no event shall the benefit payable pursuant to Section
6(a)(i)(C) of the Agreement be less than the benefit that would have
been payable from such section of the Agreement in the absence of the
Individual Pension.
(iv) The calculations of this Appendix A are subject to the
following definitions and rules of general application:
22
(i) The "Adjusted Severance Date" shall be the first day of the
month coincident with or next following the end of the period of years
equal to the Multiple plus any additional service credit provided under
an Individual Pension. The "Adjusted Early Retirement Date" shall be the
first date on or after the Adjusted Severance Date on which the
Executive could choose to retire under the terms of the Corporate
Retirement Plan as it existed on the day immediately preceding the
Effective Date.
(ii) Final average compensation, where applicable, shall be
determined using the procedures followed by the Administrator of the
Corporate Retirement Plan immediately prior to the Effective Date.
Actual compensation shall be used through the Date of Termination. The
Executive's Annual Base Salary shall be deemed to be earned ratably
throughout the period equal to the Multiple. The Highest Target Bonus
shall be deemed paid on the historical anniversary of the date on which
bonus compensation was last actually paid.
(iii) In the absence of specific guidance to the contrary as
contained herein, the procedures of the Plan Administrator used to
calculate benefits under the Corporate Retirement Plan and the Benefit
Equalization Plan, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date,
will be followed for purposes of calculating the benefits payable under
Section 6(a)(i)(C) of the Agreement.
23
