FORM OF CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT (Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2005)
Exhibit 10.1
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Xxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (602) 366-8100 |
DATE
Dear :
FORM OF
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
(Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2005)
Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation (the “Corporation”) considers the maintenance of a sound and vital
senior management organization to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests of
the Corporation and to providing value to its shareholders. The Corporation recognizes that, as is
the case with many publicly held corporations, the continuing possibility of an unsolicited tender
offer or other takeover bid for the Corporation is unsettling to you and other senior executives of
the Corporation and its principal subsidiaries, and may result in the departure or distraction of
key management personnel to the detriment of the Corporation and its shareholders. The Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and the Compensation and Management Development
Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board have previously determined that it is in the best
interests of the Corporation and its shareholders for the Corporation to minimize these concerns by
entering into an agreement (a “Change of Control Agreement”) which would provide you with certain
benefits in the event your employment with the Corporation terminates under certain limited
circumstances related to a Change of Control. The Corporation has had in place for certain
individuals similar agreements that expire on December 31, 2002. Accordingly, the Corporation has
determined that it is appropriate to replace those expiring agreements with the arrangements set
forth in this Change of Control Agreement.
These arrangements are being made and entered into to help assure a continuing dedication by
you to your duties to the Corporation, notwithstanding the occurrence of a tender offer or other
takeover bid. In particular, the Board and the Committee believe it important, should the
Corporation receive proposals from third parties with respect to its future, to enable you, without
being influenced or distracted by the uncertainties of your own situation, to assess and advise the
Board whether such proposals would be in the best interests of the Corporation and its
shareholders, and to take such other action regarding such proposals as the Board might determine
to be appropriate. The Board and the Committee understand that in the event of a tender offer or
other takeover bid that certain senior managers are at risk with respect to continuing employment
opportunities with the Corporation. In recognition of that, the Board and the Committee wish to
demonstrate to the senior executives that it is the intent of the Board and Committee, in the event
of a Change of Control, to assure that senior executives are treated fairly in those circumstances.
In view of the foregoing, in order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Corporation or
one of its principal subsidiaries and in further consideration of your continued employment with
the Corporation, the Corporation and you agree to a Change of Control Agreement as follows:
1. TERMINATION BENEFITS.
In the event your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation
terminates by reason of a “Qualifying Termination” (as the term “Qualifying Termination” is defined
below) within two years after a “Change of Control” of the Corporation (as “Change of Control” is
defined below), you shall receive the benefits set forth in this Change of Control Agreement
(“Change of Control Benefits”). In addition, if you have not experienced a Qualifying Termination
prior to the first anniversary date of the Change of Control (“Anniversary Date”), then for a
period of thirty (30) days beginning immediately after the Anniversary Date (the “Anniversary
Window Period”), you will have a one time opportunity to elect to voluntarily terminate your
employment with the Corporation (or any subsidiary of the Corporation) and be eligible to receive
your Change of Control Benefits. Should you make an election to voluntarily terminate your
employment during the Anniversary Window Period, your date of termination must be within that same
thirty (30) day time period. If you fail to make an election to voluntarily terminate your
employment during the Anniversary Window Period, you will have forfeited any right to such an
election for purposes of this Change of Control Agreement. You will continue to be eligible to
receive your Change of Control Benefits only if a Qualifying Termination otherwise occurs within
two years after a Change of Control.
(a) TERMINATION PAYMENTS. The Corporation will pay you as termination compensation a
lump sum amount equal to the sum of: (i) three times your highest annual base salary (not including
any bonuses under the Corporation’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan) paid or payable by the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to you during the three calendar years ending with
the year your employment with the Corporation terminates; plus (ii) three times your Target Bonus;
less (iii) any severance, termination, or other cash compensation payable to you under your
Severance Agreement with the Corporation or pursuant to any severance policy, plan, or program
sponsored by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation. Any lump sum termination payment
due to you pursuant to this Section 1(a) shall be paid to you on the date of your termination of
employment with the Corporation, except that, if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning
of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and you are
terminated on or after March 1, 2008, then such payment shall be made on the first business day
after the six month anniversary of your termination date. For purposes of the calculation set
forth in this Section 1(a), Target Bonus shall mean your highest annual base salary during the
twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination of employment times the highest target
bonus percentage assigned by the Corporation’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan to any position
you held during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination of employment.
If after the effective date of this Change of Control Agreement, the Corporation’s Annual
Incentive Compensation Plan is replaced by another incentive compensation or bonus program, your
Target Bonus for purposes of this Section 1, will be the greater of (i) the Target Bonus as
determined under Section 1(a) as of the date of the Change of Control; (ii) the Target Bonus as
determined under Section 1(a) as of your termination date; or (iii) the Target Bonus as determined
under Section 1(a) except that your Target Bonus will be calculated using the highest target bonus
percentage assigned by the replacement program to any position you held during the twelve (12)
months immediately preceding your termination of employment.
(b) BENEFITS CONTINUATION. You will continue to receive medical, dental, vision,
long-term disability, and life insurance benefits as described in this Section 1(b).
(i) Group Medical, Dental, and Vision. You will receive group medical, dental, and
vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the special insured group medical,
dental, and vision plans sponsored by the Corporation for certain senior executives (collectively,
the “Insured Plans”). The Insured Plans are designed to be similar to the Corporation’s then in
effect self-insured active group medical, dental, and vision plans. You will be eligible to
participate in the respective Insured Plans until the earlier of (1) December 31 of the second
calendar year commencing after the date of your termination (the “Continuation Period”) or (2) the
day on which you become eligible to receive any group medical, dental, and vision care benefits, as
the case may be, under any plan or program of any other employer for active employees or the
Retiree Insured Plan. You will be responsible to contribute to the cost of the Insured Plans at the
same level, if any, you were required to contribute to receive the similar benefits under the
Corporation’s group medical, dental, and vision plans as of your termination date. In lieu of the
benefits provided above, you may elect to receive eighteen (18) months of Corporation paid
continuation of coverage under the Corporation’s group medical, dental, and vision plans pursuant
to Section 601 et seq. of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as it may be amended
or replaced from time to time. In addition, if on December 1 of the second calendar year
commencing after the date of your termination you are still receiving group medical, dental, or
vision coverage under the Insured Plans in accordance with this Section 1(b)(i), you will receive a
cash payment equal to the product of (i) the monthly cost of such coverage under the Insured Plans
for a similarly situated Corporation employee, multiplied by (ii) the number of months that, taken
together with the number of months in your Continuation Period, would equal a total of thirty-six
(36) months. Such cash payment will be payable in a lump sum amount on December 15 of that date.
(ii) Retiree Medical Insurance. If during the two year period after the date of the
Change of Control, but after the date of your termination of employment (which entitles you to
benefits under this Change of Control Agreement), you would have been eligible for early or normal
retirement under the terms and conditions of any pension or retirement plan sponsored by the
Corporation (or any subsidiary of the Corporation) in which you participate, then you will be
eligible to participate in any insured medical plan (the “Retiree Insured Plan”) that the
Corporation has in place to provide medical benefits similar to those provided by the Corporation’s
retiree medical plan. You will be eligible to participate in the Retiree Insured Plan beginning on
the date you would have been eligible for an early or normal retirement had your employment not
been terminated and continuing until such time (if any) as the Corporation ceases to provide
retiree medical insurance, or the insurance available under the Retiree Insured Plan is no longer
available. Until the end of the thirty-six (36) month period following your termination date, the
Corporation will pay your full cost of the Retiree Insured Plan. If as of your employment
termination date (either because of your Qualifying Termination within the required time period or
your voluntary termination during the Anniversary Window Period), you are eligible to participate
in the Corporation’s retiree medical plan, if any, the cost of your participation in the applicable
retiree medical plan will be paid by the Corporation for the thirty-six (36) month period following
your termination date. After the end of this thirty-six (36) month period, you will be responsible
to pay the applicable retiree contribution percentage to participate in the Corporation’s retiree
medical plan. Similarly, if you are participating in the Retiree Insured Plan, you will be required
to pay the equivalent contribution as if you had been eligible to participate in the Corporation’s
retiree medical plan. The Corporation reserves the right to amend or terminate its retiree medical
plan at any time. Any such amendment or
termination that applies equally to all covered individuals also will apply to you. The
Corporation also reserves the right to amend or terminate any Retiree Insured Plan as long as a
comparable amendment or termination is being made at the same time to the Corporation’s retiree
medical plan. A Retiree Insured Plan also may be amended if such amendment is required by the
insurer and a Retiree Insured Plan may be terminated if the underlying insurance cannot be obtained
from a reputable insurer.
(iii) Long-Term Disability. With respect to your long-term disability insurance
coverage, you will be eligible to purchase an individual long-term disability conversion policy
directly from the insurer providing the group benefits under the Corporation’s Long-Term Disability
Plan as of your termination date. To be eligible for this coverage, you must satisfy the insurer’s
requirements for coverage in effect on your termination date, and any such conversion coverage is
subject to coverage and other limitations imposed by the insurer. The disability benefits and
amount of coverage under the conversion policy may be different than those provided to you under
the Corporation’s Long-Term Disability Plan in effect on your termination date. The Corporation
will pay the cost to continue any long-term disability conversion coverage for a period ending on
December 31 of the second calendar year commencing after the date of your termination (the “LTD
Continuation Period”). You will be responsible for the cost of any long-term disability conversion
coverage after this period. In addition, the Corporation will pay to you a cash amount equal to
the product of (i) the monthly cost of your long-term disability conversion coverage as of your
termination date, multiplied by (ii) the number of months that, taken together with the number of
months in the LTD Continuation Period, would equal a total of thirty-six (36) months. Any such
cash payment shall be paid to you in a lump sum amount on the same date as the termination payment
is paid under Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(iv) Life Insurance. The disposition of your life insurance policy or policies (the
“Policies”) issued under the Corporation’s Executive Life Insurance Plan (“ELIP”) will be in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the ELIP. The Corporation, on the date your employment
with the Corporation (or any subsidiary) terminates, will pay the insurer of the Policies an amount
sufficient to fund the Policies for a period of thirty-six (36) months after your termination date.
The Corporation will fund the Policies for this thirty-six (36) month period in a manner similar to
the funding level before the Change of Control such that the Policies are funded for the Policies’
death benefit and the contribution towards the retiree life insurance portion of the Policies. At
the end of this thirty-six (36) month period any additional funding required by the Policies will
be your obligation. In lieu of the payment method described above, you may elect, prior to any
payment being made, to have the Corporation fund the Policies to the same level with annual
installment payments over a three (3) year period, provided that such election shall be valid only
if: (a) such election must be made prior to the earlier of your termination of employment and
December 31, 2007, and (b) you are not terminated prior to December 31, 2007. To the extent that
any of your life insurance coverage under the ELIP is insured under the Corporation’s group term
life insurance plan, in accordance with the terms and conditions of that insurance coverage you
will be eligible to convert this coverage to individual non-term conversion coverage as of your
termination date. To be eligible to receive this conversion coverage you must submit an application
to the insurer. Any available conversion coverage is subject to such limitations as may be imposed
by the insurer. Should you elect this individual conversion coverage, the Corporation will pay the
cost to continue your conversion coverage for a period of thirty-six (36) months following your
termination date. You will be responsible for the cost of any conversion coverage in excess of
thirty-six (36) months. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any of the Policies or conversion
coverage described in this Section 1(b)(iv) provides a benefit other than a death benefit to you,
and you are terminated on
or after March 1 in the calendar year following the year in which the Change of Control
occurs, then any applicable lump sum payment shall be made (or, in the case of a qualifying
installment election, the first annual installment payment shall be made) by the Corporation on the
first business day after the six month anniversary of your termination date.
2. OTHER BENEFITS; LOANS.
(a) INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN. Generally, your participation in the Corporation’s
Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (“AICP”), and any right that you may have to receive a bonus
thereunder for the year in which your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the
Corporation terminates or any prior year shall be governed by the terms of the AICP. If you were a
participant in the AICP at any time during the calendar year in which a Change of Control occurs,
however, you will receive at least a pro rated incentive compensation payment for the year in which
the Change of Control occurs. Your pro rated incentive compensation payment will be calculated in
two steps. The first step will be to calculate the incentive compensation to which you would be
entitled under the AICP, calculated on the basis of the following assumptions: (i) the annual
performance period ends on the date of the Change of Control; (ii) the financial performance of the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for the relevant performance period will be equal to the
financial performance measured as of the date of the Change of Control, annualized; and (iii) you
satisfy all individual subjective performance goals or measures set for you under the AICP at the
“target” performance level. The second step will be to multiply the amount determined pursuant to
the first step by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that have elapsed in the
calendar year prior to the day of the Change of Control and the denominator of which is 365. Any
bonus due under this Section 2(a) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment
is paid under Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(b) RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PLANS. Any participation by you in, and any terminating
distributions and vested rights under, the Xxxxxx Dodge Retirement Plan, the Xxxxxx Dodge Employee
Savings Plan, the Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan, and the Xxxxxx Dodge
Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan, or any other retirement or savings plan sponsored by the
Corporation, regardless of whether such plan qualifies for favorable tax treatment, shall be
governed by the terms and conditions of those respective plans, as they may be amended from time to
time.
(c) LOANS. Any permitted indebtedness owed by you to the Corporation or any subsidiary
of the Corporation on account of advances or loans shall become due and payable and may be deducted
from the payment referred to in Section 1 above.
(d) OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES. You will be eligible to receive outplacement services for a
period of up to one year after your termination date at an outplacement firm selected by the
Corporation. The cost of these outplacement services will be paid by the Corporation directly to
the outplacement firm selected, up to a maximum amount of fifteen percent (15%) of your highest
annual base salary in effect during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination
date.
(e) EXECUTIVE PHYSICALS. You shall receive a lump sum payment equivalent to the cost
of coverage under the Corporation’s Executive Physical program for the thirty-six (36) month period
after your termination date. The benefits to which you will be eligible, will be the executive
physical benefits that were in effect on the date of the Change of Control and any executive
physical benefits received will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Executive
Physical program as in effect on the date of the Change of Control. Any lump sum payment due
under this Section 2(e) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment is paid
under Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(f) FINANCIAL COUNSELING. To the extent you were eligible for financial counseling
paid by the Corporation on the date of the Change of Control, you shall receive a lump sum payment
equivalent to the cost of such services for an additional thirty-six (36) month period after your
termination date (as determined by the Corporation in good faith). Any lump sum payment due under
this Section 2(f) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment is paid under
Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
3. CONFIDENTIALITY.
In the event your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation
terminates under the circumstances specified in Section 1, you shall retain in confidence any
confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information known to you concerning the Corporation and
its subsidiaries and their businesses so long as such information is not publicly disclosed by the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.
4. CHANGE OF CONTROL DEFINED.
For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to
have taken place at the time:
(a) when any “person” or “group” of persons (as such terms are used in Section 13 and 14 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”)), other than
the Corporation or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Corporation, becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of 25% or more of the total number
of the Corporation’s common shares at the time outstanding; or
(b) of the approval by the vote of the Corporation’s stockholders holding at least 50% (or
such greater percentage as may be required by the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the
Corporation or by law) of the voting stock of the Corporation of any merger or consolidation with
any other corporation (other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either
by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the entity surviving such
merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Entity”) or its direct or indirect parent (the “Survivor
Parent”)), at least 80% of the combined voting power of the securities of the Corporation or the
Surviving Entity or Survivor Parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation);
sale of assets; liquidation; or reorganization in which the Corporation will not survive as a
publicly owned corporation (the transactions described above being collectively referred to as the
“Transaction”); provided that a Change of Control will occur in the circumstances described above
only if the Transaction is ultimately consummated; or
(c) when the individuals who, at the beginning of any period of two years or less, constituted
the Board of Directors of the Corporation cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority
thereof, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved by the
vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the
beginning of such period.
5. QUALIFYING TERMINATION DEFINED.
(a) QUALIFYING TERMINATION. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term
“Qualifying Termination” means a termination of your employment with the Corporation or any
subsidiary of the Corporation (under circumstances where you are no longer employed by the
Corporation or any such subsidiary) (i) by you for Good Reason, or (ii) by the Corporation or a
subsidiary without Cause, and (iii) prior to your death or Disability.
(b) CAUSE. “Cause” means willful misconduct in the performance of your duties as an
employee which results in a material detriment to the Corporation, and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(c) DISABILITY. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term
“Disability” shall have the meaning given to that term in the Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation Long-Term
Disability Plan.
(d) GOOD REASON. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term “Good
Reason” means that you have terminated your employment with the Corporation and all subsidiaries of
the Corporation under any of the following circumstances:
(i) such termination occurs more than 180 days following the time when a
Change of Control takes place and such Change of Control has not been
approved by a resolution adopted by the Board as constituted immediately
prior to such Change of Control; or
(ii) you terminate your employment on account of one or more of the
following events (and you have not agreed to such event in writing):
(A) the assignment to you of any duties inconsistent, in a way
materially adverse to you, with your positions, duties,
responsibilities and status with the Corporation and its subsidiaries
immediately prior to a Change of Control, or a material reduction in
the duties and responsibilities you held immediately prior to such
Change of Control; or a change in your reporting responsibilities,
titles or offices as in effect immediately prior to such Change of
Control; or any removal of you from or any failure to re-elect you to
any position with the Corporation or any subsidiary that you held
immediately prior to such Change of Control except in connection with
your promotion or the termination of your employment; or
(B) a reduction by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the
Corporation in your base salary as in effect immediately prior to
such Change of Control; the failure by the Corporation or any such
subsidiary to continue in effect any employee benefit plan or
compensation plan (including any incentive compensation or bonus
programs) in which you are participating immediately prior to such
Change of Control unless you are permitted to participate in other
plans providing you with substantially comparable benefits; or the
taking of any action by the Corporation or any such subsidiary which
would adversely affect your participation in
or materially reduce your benefits under any such employee benefit or
compensation plan; or
(C) the Corporation’s or any subsidiary’s requiring you to be based
anywhere other than a location within 50 miles of your location
immediately prior to such Change of Control; or the Corporation’s or
any subsidiary’s requiring you to travel on the Corporation’s or any
subsidiary’s business to an extent substantially more burdensome than
your travel obligations immediately prior to such Change of Control.
(e) EMPLOYMENT BY SUCCESSORS. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement,
employment by a successor of the Corporation, or a successor of any subsidiary of the Corporation,
that has assumed this Change of Control Agreement pursuant to Section 9 shall be considered to be
employment by the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries. As a result, if you are employed by such
a successor following a Change of Control, you will not be entitled to receive the benefits
provided by Sections 1 and 2 unless your employment with the successor is subsequently terminated
in a Qualifying Termination within two (2) years after a Change of Control or as a result of your
timely election to voluntarily terminate your employment during the Anniversary Window Period as
described in Section 1. Solely for purposes of applying the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 and the
definitions set forth in Section 5, the successor shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of the
Corporation.
6. TAX GROSS-UP.
(a) GROSS-UP PAYMENT. In the event that the “Total Payments” made under this Change of
Control Agreement or otherwise result in an excise tax being imposed on you pursuant to Section
4999 of the Code, the Corporation will provide you with a “Gross-Up Payment,” calculated in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6. “Total Payments” as used in this Section 6, means
any payments in the nature of compensation (as defined in Code Section 280G and the regulations
adopted thereunder), made pursuant to this Change of Control Agreement or otherwise, to or for your
benefit, the receipt of which is contingent on a “change in the ownership or effective control” of
the Corporation, or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the
Corporation” (as these phrases are defined in Code Section 280G and the regulations adopted
thereunder) and to which Code Section 280G applies. This Gross-Up Payment will be paid to you as
and when payments are made to you which are subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999,
and in relation to the excise taxes payable with respect to each such payment, but in no event
later than two and one-half months following the end of the taxable year in which the corresponding
amount payable as a Gross-Up Payment is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” (as
such term is defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code). This lump sum payment will be in
such an amount that after you have paid (i) the “total presumed federal and state taxes;” and (ii)
the excise taxes imposed by Code Section 4999 with respect to the Gross-Up Payment (and any
interest or penalties actually imposed), you retain an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the
remaining excise taxes imposed by Code Section 4999 on your Total Payments (calculated before the
Gross-Up Payment). For purposes of calculating your Gross-Up Payment, your actual federal and state
income taxes will not be used. Instead, we will use your “total presumed federal and state taxes.”
For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, your “total presumed federal and state taxes”
shall be conclusively calculated using a combined tax rate equal to the sum of the maximum marginal
federal and applicable state income tax rates and the hospital insurance (or “HI”) portion of
F.I.C.A. Based on the rates in effect for 2002 for an
Arizona resident, the “total presumed federal and state tax rate” is 45.09% (38.6% federal
income tax rate plus 5.04% Arizona state income tax rate plus 1.45% HI tax rate). The state tax
rate for your actual principal place of residence will be used and no adjustments will be made for
the deduction of state taxes on the federal return, any deduction of federal taxes on a state
return, the loss of itemized deductions or exemptions, or for any other purpose.
(b) CALCULATIONS. The Corporation, at the Corporation’s sole expense, will retain a
“Consultant” to advise the Corporation with respect to the applicability of any Code Section 4999
excise tax with respect to your Total Payments. The Consultant shall be a law firm, a certified
public accounting firm, and/or a firm nationally recognized as providing executive compensation
consulting services. All determinations concerning whether a Gross-Up Payment is required pursuant
to Section 6 (a) and the amount of any Gross-Up Payment (as well as any assumptions to be used in
making such determinations) shall be made by the Consultant selected pursuant to this Section. The
Consultant shall provide you and the Corporation with a written notice of the amount of the excise
taxes that you are required to pay and the amount of the Gross-Up Payment. The notice from the
Consultant shall include any necessary calculations in support of its conclusions. All fees and
expenses of the Consultant shall be borne by the Corporation. Any Gross-Up Payment shall be made by
the Corporation fifteen (15) business days after the mailing of such notice.
As a general rule, the Consultant’s determination shall be binding on you and the Corporation.
The application of the excise tax rules of Code Section 4999, however, is complex and uncertain
and, as a result, the Internal Revenue Service may disagree with the Consultant concerning the
amount, if any, of the excise taxes that are due. If the Internal Revenue Service determines that
excise taxes are due, or that the amount of the excise taxes that are due is greater than the
amount determined by the Consultant, the Gross-Up Payment will be recalculated by the Consultant to
reflect the actual excise taxes that you are required to pay (and any related interest and
penalties). Any deficiency will then be paid to you by the Corporation fifteen (15) business days
after the receipt of the revised calculations from the Consultant. If the Internal Revenue Service
determines that the amount of excise taxes that you paid exceeds the amount due, you shall return
the excess to the Corporation (along with any interest paid to you on the overpayment) immediately
upon receipt from the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority.
The Corporation has the right to challenge any excise tax determinations made by the Internal
Revenue Service. If the Corporation agrees to indemnify you from any taxes, interest and penalties
that may be imposed upon you (including any taxes, interest and penalties on the amounts paid
pursuant to the Corporation’s indemnification agreement), you must cooperate fully with the
Corporation in connection with any such challenge. The Corporation shall bear all costs associated
with the challenge of any determination made by the Internal Revenue Service and the Corporation
shall control all such challenges. The additional Gross-Up Payments called for by the preceding
paragraph shall not be made until the Corporation has either exhausted its (or your) rights to
challenge the determination or indicated that it intends to concede or settle the excise tax
determination.
You must notify the Corporation in writing of any claim or determination by the Internal
Revenue Service that, if upheld, would result in the payment of excise taxes in amounts different
from the amount initially specified by the Consultant. Such notice shall be given as soon as
possible but in no event later than fifteen (15) calendar days following your receipt of notice of
the Internal Revenue Service’s position.
7. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
This Change of Control Agreement, as amended and restated, is effective as of January 1, 2005
and shall constitute the only Change of Control Agreement between you and the Corporation, and it
will and will continue in effect until the later of (a) December 31, 2007 or (b) two years
following a Change of Control that occurs prior to December 31, 2007.
8. TERMINATION NOTICE AND PROCEDURE.
Any termination of your employment by the Corporation or you within two (2) years after a
Change of Control shall be communicated by written notice of termination, all in accordance with
the following procedures:
(a) The notice of termination shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Change
of Control Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances alleged to provide a basis for termination.
(b) If the Corporation notifies you of your termination for Cause and you in good faith notify
the Corporation that a dispute exists concerning such termination within fifteen (15) calendar days
following your receipt of such notice, you may elect to continue your employment during such
dispute. If it is thereafter determined that Cause did exist, your termination date shall be the
earlier of (i) the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written
agreement of the parties or pursuant to the arbitration provisions set out below, or (ii) the date
of your death. If it is determined that Cause did not exist, your employment shall continue as if
the Corporation had not delivered its notice of termination.
(c) If the Corporation notifies you of your termination by reason of Disability and you in
good faith notify the Corporation that a dispute exists concerning such termination within fifteen
(15) calendar days following your receipt of such notice, you also may elect to continue your
employment during such dispute. The dispute relating to the existence of a Disability shall be
resolved by the opinion of the licensed physician selected by the Corporation; provided, however,
that if you do not accept the opinion of the licensed physician selected by the Corporation, the
dispute shall be resolved by the opinion of a licensed physician who shall be selected by you;
provided further, however, that if the Corporation does not accept the opinion of the licensed
physician selected by you, the dispute shall be finally resolved by the opinion of a licensed
physician selected by the licensed physicians selected by the Corporation and you, respectively. If
it is thereafter determined that a Disability did exist, your termination date shall be the earlier
of (i) the date on which the dispute is resolved or (ii) the date of your death. If it is
determined that a Disability did not exist, your employment shall continue as if the Corporation
had not delivered its notice of termination.
(d) If you in good faith notify the Corporation of your termination for Good Reason and the
Corporation notifies you that a dispute exists concerning the termination within fifteen (15)
calendar days following the Corporation’s receipt of such notice, you may elect to continue your
employment during such dispute. If it is thereafter determined that Good Reason did exist, your
termination date shall be the earlier of (i) the date on which the dispute is finally determined,
either by mutual written agreement of the parties or pursuant to the arbitration provisions set out
below, (ii) the date of your death, or (iii) one day prior to the second anniversary of a Change of
Control, and your payments hereunder shall reflect events occurring after you delivered notice of
termination. If it is determined that Good Reason did not exist, your
employment shall continue after such determination as if you had not delivered the notice of
termination asserting Good Reason.
(e) If you do not elect to continue employment pending resolution of a dispute regarding a
notice of termination, and it is finally determined that the reason for termination set forth in
such notice of termination did not exist, if such notice was delivered by you, you shall be deemed
to have voluntarily terminated your employment other than for Good Reason and if delivered by the
Corporation, the Corporation will be deemed to have terminated you without Cause.
(f) For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a transfer from the Corporation to one
of its subsidiaries or a transfer from a subsidiary to the Corporation or another subsidiary shall
not be treated as a termination of employment.
(g) If you elect to continue your employment pending the resolution of a dispute pursuant to
Sections 8(b), (c), or (d), the Corporation, in its discretion, may place you on a paid
administrative leave until the dispute is resolved.
9. ASSUMPTION BY SUCCESSORS.
The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation, acquisition, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets
of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to expressly assume and agree to perform this Change
of Control Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation or any
subsidiary would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the
Corporation to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession shall be a breach of this Change of Control Agreement and shall entitle you to
compensation from the Corporation in the same amount and on the same terms to which you would be
entitled hereunder if you terminate your employment for either Good Reason following a Change of
Control, or voluntarily during the Anniversary Window Period, except that for purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed
your termination date.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) ARBITRATION; RELATED EXPENSES. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Change of Control Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration held
in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may
be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction. The Corporation shall pay
on a current basis all legal expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by you in connection
with such arbitration and the entering of such award if you prevail, or substantially prevail, in
such proceeding. Any reimbursement to you of such legal expenses shall be paid by the Corporation
no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which such legal
expenses were incurred.
(b) REPLACEMENT OF OTHER AGREEMENTS. This Change of Control Agreement replaces and
supersedes any agreement previously entered into between you and the Corporation regarding the
payment of compensation or benefits following a Change of Control. This Change of Control Agreement
does not replace or supersede your Severance Agreement with the Corporation or any provision in any
stock option or restricted stock plan or agreement or any plan or program to provide retirement or
savings benefits.
(c) EMPLOYMENT AT WILL. This Change of Control Agreement shall neither obligate the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to continue you in its employ (or to employ you in
any particular office or to perform any specified responsibility) nor obligate you to continue in
the employ of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.
(d) SUCCESSORS. This Change of Control Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of you, your estate and the Corporation and any successor of the Corporation, but
neither this Change of Control Agreement nor any rights arising hereunder may be assigned or
pledged by you.
(e) GOVERNING LAW. This Change of Control Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of New York.
(f) SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Change of Control Agreement as applied to
either party or to any circumstances shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
void or unenforceable, the same shall in no way affect any other provision of this Change of
Control Agreement or the validity or enforceability of this Change of Control Agreement.
(g) AMENDMENT OR WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10(j) of this Change
of Control Agreement, no provision of this Change of Control Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in a writing signed by you
and such officer as may be designated by the Board or a duly authorized Committee thereof. No
waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of any condition
or provision of this Change of Control Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be
deemed a waiver of any other condition or provision at any time.
(h) NO DUTY TO MITIGATE. For purposes of receiving payments under this Change of
Control Agreement, you are not under any duty to mitigate the damages resulting from your
termination of employment. As a result, you will receive the payments and other benefits provided
by this Change of Control Agreement regardless of whether you search for or obtain other work. As
provided in Section 1(b), however, your right to receive continued group medical, dental, and
vision insurance benefits will terminate if you become eligible to receive any such medical,
dental, or vision benefits under any other plan or program of any subsequent employer.
(i) FUNDING. The Corporation shall establish a trust to provide for the funding of the
Corporation’s obligations under this and similar agreements with other executives. The trustee of
the trust shall be chosen by the Corporation or any individual or committee to whom the Corporation
delegates that responsibility, but the trustee must be a national or state bank or trust company.
Prior to the day on which a Change of Control occurs, the Corporation shall transfer to the trustee
of the trust an amount equal to the Corporation’s total potential liability to you pursuant to
Sections 1(a), 2(a), 2(d), 2(e), 2(f), 6 and 10(a). Such amount shall be determined by the
Corporation acting in good faith. If it is discovered at any time that the amount initially
transferred is less than the total amount called for by the preceding sentence, the shortfall shall
be transferred to the trustee immediately upon the discovery of such error. Under the terms of the
trust, the trustee shall be obligated to pay to you the amount to which you are entitled pursuant
to Sections 1(a), 2(a), 2(d), 2(e), 2(f), 6, and 10(a) unless such amounts are paid in a timely
manner by the Corporation or its successors. The other terms and provisions of the trust agreement
shall be determined by the Corporation and the trustee.
(j) EFFECT OF CHANGE OF LAW. If at any time during the term of this Change of Control
Agreement any federal or state law or regulation is adopted or modified in any way that will
increase the cost of this Change of Control Agreement to the Corporation, the Corporation reserves
the right to unilaterally modify any provision of the Agreement in any manner which it deems
appropriate to eliminate the cost increase to the Corporation, including but not limited to
eliminating the offending provision or provisions in their entirety.
(k) AMERICAN JOBS CREATION ACT OF 2004. The Corporation and you acknowledge and agree
that all payments under this Change of Control Agreement will be made in compliance with and
subject to the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations and guidance of the Department of the Treasury interpreting and implementing Section
409A. All payments made under this Change of Control Agreement (including but not limited to
termination payments, Gross-Up Payments and legal expenses) will, to the extent subject to such
Section, be made in compliance with Section 409A.
(l) PRIOR AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS. For the avoidance of doubt, this Change of Control
Agreement, as amended and restated, is not intended to override any amendments or waivers
previously entered into between you and the Corporation with respect to this Change of Control
Agreement, or any benefits provided herein.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please so indicate by signing and returning to the
Corporation the enclosed copy of this letter, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding
agreement between you and the Corporation.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| XXXXXX DODGE CORPORATION | ||
| Senior Vice President-Human Resources | ||
Agreed: |
||
| Date |
|
|
Xxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (602) 366-8100 |
DATE
Dear :
FORM OF
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
(Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2005)
Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation (the “Corporation”) considers the maintenance of a sound and vital
senior management organization to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests of
the Corporation and to providing value to its shareholders. The Corporation recognizes that, as is
the case with many publicly held corporations, the continuing possibility of an unsolicited tender
offer or other takeover bid for the Corporation is unsettling to you and other senior executives of
the Corporation and its principal subsidiaries, and may result in the departure or distraction of
key management personnel to the detriment of the Corporation and its shareholders. The Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and the Compensation and Management Development
Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board have previously determined that it is in the best
interests of the Corporation and its shareholders for the Corporation to minimize these concerns by
entering into an agreement (a “Change of Control Agreement”) which would provide you with certain
benefits in the event your employment with the Corporation terminates under certain limited
circumstances related to a Change of Control. The Corporation has had in place for certain
individuals similar agreements that expire on December 31, 2002. Accordingly, the Corporation has
determined that it is appropriate to replace those expiring agreements with the arrangements set
forth in this Change of Control Agreement.
These arrangements are being made and entered into to help assure a continuing dedication by
you to your duties to the Corporation, notwithstanding the occurrence of a tender offer or other
takeover bid. In particular, the Board and the Committee believe it important, should the
Corporation receive proposals from third parties with respect to its future, to enable you, without
being influenced or distracted by the uncertainties of your own situation, to assess and advise the
Board whether such proposals would be in the best interests of the Corporation and its
shareholders, and to take such other action regarding such proposals as the Board might determine
to be appropriate. The Board and the Committee understand that in the event of a tender offer or
other takeover bid that certain senior managers are at risk with respect to continuing employment
opportunities with the Corporation. In recognition of that, the Board and the Committee wish to
demonstrate to the senior executives that it is the intent of the Board and Committee, in the event
of a Change of Control, to assure that senior executives are treated fairly in those circumstances.
In view of the foregoing, in order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Corporation or
one of its principal subsidiaries and in further consideration of your continued employment with
the Corporation, the Corporation and you agree to a Change of Control Agreement as follows:
1. Termination Benefits.
In the event your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation
terminates by reason of a “Qualifying Termination” (as the term “Qualifying Termination” is defined
below) within two years after a “Change of Control” of the Corporation (as “Change of Control” is
defined below), you shall receive the benefits set forth in this Change of Control Agreement
(“Change of Control Benefits”). In addition, if you have not experienced a Qualifying Termination
prior to the first anniversary date of the Change of Control (“Anniversary Date”), then for a
period of thirty (30) days beginning immediately after the Anniversary Date (the “Anniversary
Window Period”), you will have a one time opportunity to elect to voluntarily terminate your
employment with the Corporation (or any subsidiary of the Corporation) and be eligible to receive
your Change of Control Benefits. Should you make an election to voluntarily terminate your
employment during the Anniversary Window Period, your date of termination must be within that same
thirty (30) day time period. If you fail to make an election to voluntarily terminate your
employment during the Anniversary Window Period, you will have forfeited any right to such an
election for purposes of this Change of Control Agreement. You will continue to be eligible to
receive your Change of Control Benefits only if a Qualifying Termination otherwise occurs within
two years after a Change of Control.
(a) Termination Payments. The Corporation will pay you as termination compensation a
lump sum amount equal to the sum of: (i) three times your highest annual base salary (not including
any bonuses under the Corporation’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan) paid or payable by the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to you during the three calendar years ending with
the year your employment with the Corporation terminates; plus (ii) three times your Target Bonus;
less (iii) any severance, termination, or other cash compensation payable to you under your
Severance Agreement with the Corporation or pursuant to any severance policy, plan, or program
sponsored by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation. Any lump sum termination payment
due to you pursuant to this Section 1(a) shall be paid to you ten (10) business days after your
termination of employment with the Corporation, except that, if you are a “specified employee”
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”),
and you are terminated on or after March 1, 2008, then such payment shall be made on the first
business day after the six month anniversary of your termination date. For purposes of the
calculation set forth in this Section 1(a), Target Bonus shall mean your highest annual base salary
during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination of employment times the
highest target bonus percentage assigned by the Corporation’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan to
any position you held during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination of
employment.
If after the effective date of this Change of Control Agreement, the Corporation’s Annual
Incentive Compensation Plan is replaced by another incentive compensation or bonus program, your
Target Bonus for purposes of this Section 1, will be the greater of (i) the Target Bonus as
determined under Section 1(a) as of the date of the Change of Control; (ii) the Target Bonus as
determined under Section 1(a) as of your termination date; or (iii) the Target Bonus as determined
under Section 1(a) except that your Target Bonus will be calculated using the
highest target bonus percentage assigned by the replacement program to any position you held
during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination of employment.
(b) Benefits Continuation. You will continue to receive medical, dental, vision,
long-term disability, and life insurance benefits as described in this Section 1(b).
(i) Group Medical, Dental, and Vision. You will receive group medical, dental, and
vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the special insured group medical,
dental, and vision plans sponsored by the Corporation for certain senior executives (collectively,
the “Insured Plans”). The Insured Plans are designed to be similar to the Corporation’s then in
effect self-insured active group medical, dental, and vision plans. You will be eligible to
participate in the respective Insured Plans until the earlier of (1) December 31 of the second
calendar year commencing after the date of your termination (the “Continuation Period”) or (2) the
day on which you become eligible to receive any group medical, dental, and vision care benefits, as
the case may be, under any plan or program of any other employer for active employees or the
Retiree Insured Plan. You will be responsible to contribute to the cost of the Insured Plans at the
same level, if any, you were required to contribute to receive the similar benefits under the
Corporation’s group medical, dental, and vision plans as of your termination date. In lieu of the
benefits provided above, you may elect to receive eighteen (18) months of Corporation paid
continuation of coverage under the Corporation’s group medical, dental, and vision plans pursuant
to Section 601 et seq. of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as it may be amended
or replaced from time to time. In addition, if on December 1 of the second calendar year
commencing after the date of your termination you are still receiving group medical, dental, or
vision coverage under the Insured Plans in accordance with this Section 1(b)(i), you will receive a
cash payment equal to the product of (i) the monthly cost of such coverage under the Insured Plans
for a similarly situated Corporation employee, multiplied by (ii) the number of months that, taken
together with the number of months in your Continuation Period, would equal a total of thirty-six
(36) months. Such cash payment will be payable in a lump sum amount on December 15 of that date.
(ii) Retiree Medical Insurance. If during the two year period after the date of the
Change of Control, but after the date of your termination of employment (which entitles you to
benefits under this Change of Control Agreement), you would have been eligible for early or normal
retirement under the terms and conditions of any pension or retirement plan sponsored by the
Corporation (or any subsidiary of the Corporation) in which you participate, then you will be
eligible to participate in any insured medical plan (the “Retiree Insured Plan”) that the
Corporation has in place to provide medical benefits similar to those provided by the Corporation’s
retiree medical plan. You will be eligible to participate in the Retiree Insured Plan beginning on
the date you would have been eligible for an early or normal retirement had your employment not
been terminated and continuing until such time (if any) as the Corporation ceases to provide
retiree medical insurance, or the insurance available under the Retiree Insured Plan is no longer
available. Until the end of the thirty-six (36) month period following your termination date, the
Corporation will pay your full cost of the Retiree Insured Plan. If as of your employment
termination date (either because of your Qualifying Termination within the required time period or
your voluntary termination during the Anniversary Window Period), you are eligible to participate
in the Corporation’s retiree medical plan, if any, the cost of your participation in the applicable
retiree medical plan will be paid by the Corporation for the thirty-six (36) month period following
your termination date. After the end of this thirty-six (36) month period, you will be responsible
to pay the applicable retiree contribution percentage to participate in the Corporation’s retiree
medical plan. Similarly, if you are participating in the Retiree Insured Plan, you will be required
to pay the equivalent contribution as if you had been
eligible to participate in the Corporation’s retiree medical plan. The Corporation reserves
the right to amend or terminate its retiree medical plan at any time. Any such amendment or
termination that applies equally to all covered individuals also will apply to you. The Corporation
also reserves the right to amend or terminate any Retiree Insured Plan as long as a comparable
amendment or termination is being made at the same time to the Corporation’s retiree medical plan.
A Retiree Insured Plan also may be amended if such amendment is required by the insurer and a
Retiree Insured Plan may be terminated if the underlying insurance cannot be obtained from a
reputable insurer.
(iii) Long-Term Disability. With respect to your long-term disability insurance
coverage, you will be eligible to purchase an individual long-term disability conversion policy
directly from the insurer providing the group benefits under the Corporation’s Long-Term Disability
Plan as of your termination date. To be eligible for this coverage, you must satisfy the insurer’s
requirements for coverage in effect on your termination date, and any such conversion coverage is
subject to coverage and other limitations imposed by the insurer. The disability benefits and
amount of coverage under the conversion policy may be different than those provided to you under
the Corporation’s Long-Term Disability Plan in effect on your termination date. The Corporation
will pay the cost to continue any long-term disability conversion coverage for a period ending on
December 31 of the second calendar year commencing after the date of your termination (the “LTD
Continuation Period”). You will be responsible for the cost of any long-term disability conversion
coverage after this period. In addition, the Corporation will pay to you a cash amount equal to
the product of (i) the monthly cost of your long-term disability conversion coverage as of your
termination date, multiplied by (ii) the number of months that, taken together with the number of
months in the LTD Continuation Period, would equal a total of thirty-six (36) months. Any such
cash payment shall be paid to you in a lump sum amount on the same date as the termination payment
is paid under Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(iv) Life Insurance. The disposition of your life insurance policy or policies (the
“Policies”) issued under the Corporation’s Executive Life Insurance Plan (“ELIP”) will be in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the ELIP. The Corporation, ten (10) business days after
the date your employment with the Corporation (or any subsidiary) terminates, will pay the insurer
of the Policies an amount sufficient to fund the Policies for a period of thirty-six (36) months
after your termination date. The Corporation will fund the Policies for this thirty-six (36) month
period in a manner similar to the funding level before the Change of Control such that the Policies
are funded for the Policies’ death benefit and the contribution towards the retiree life insurance
portion of the Policies. At the end of this thirty-six (36) month period any additional funding
required by the Policies will be your obligation. In lieu of the payment method described above,
you may elect, prior to any payment being made, to have the Corporation fund the Policies to the
same level with annual installment payments over a three (3) year period, provided that such
election shall be valid only if: (a) such election must be made prior to the earlier of your
termination of employment and December 31, 2007, and (b) you are not terminated prior to December
31, 2007. To the extent that any of your life insurance coverage under the ELIP is insured under
the Corporation’s group term life insurance plan, in accordance with the terms and conditions of
that insurance coverage you will be eligible to convert this coverage to individual non-term
conversion coverage as of your termination date. To be eligible to receive this conversion coverage
you must submit an application to the insurer. Any available conversion coverage is subject to such
limitations as may be imposed by the insurer. Should you elect this individual conversion coverage,
the Corporation will pay the cost to continue your conversion coverage for a period of thirty-six
(36) months following your termination date. You will be responsible for the cost of any conversion
coverage in excess of thirty-six (36) months.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any of the Policies or conversion coverage described in this
Section 1(b)(iv) provides a benefit other than a death benefit to you, and you are terminated on or
after March 1 in the calendar year following the year in which the Change of Control occurs, then
any applicable lump sum payment shall be made (or, in the case of a qualifying installment
election, the first annual installment payment shall be made) by the Corporation on the first
business day after the six month anniversary of your termination date.
2. Other Benefits; Loans.
(a) Incentive Compensation Plan. Generally, your participation in the Corporation’s
Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (“AICP”), and any right that you may have to receive a bonus
thereunder for the year in which your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the
Corporation terminates or any prior year shall be governed by the terms of the AICP. If you were a
participant in the AICP at any time during the calendar year in which a Change of Control occurs,
however, you will receive at least a pro rated incentive compensation payment for the year in which
the Change of Control occurs. Your pro rated incentive compensation payment will be calculated in
two steps. The first step will be to calculate the incentive compensation to which you would be
entitled under the AICP, calculated on the basis of the following assumptions: (i) the annual
performance period ends on the date of the Change of Control; (ii) the financial performance of the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for the relevant performance period will be equal to the
financial performance measured as of the date of the Change of Control, annualized; and (iii) you
satisfy all individual subjective performance goals or measures set for you under the AICP at the
“target” performance level. The second step will be to multiply the amount determined pursuant to
the first step by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that have elapsed in the
calendar year prior to the day of the Change of Control and the denominator of which is 365. Any
bonus due under this Section 2(a) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment
is paid under Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(b) Retirement and Savings Plans. Any participation by you in, and any terminating
distributions and vested rights under, the Xxxxxx Dodge Retirement Plan, the Xxxxxx Dodge Employee
Savings Plan, the Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan, and the Xxxxxx Dodge
Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan, or any other retirement or savings plan sponsored by the
Corporation, regardless of whether such plan qualifies for favorable tax treatment, shall be
governed by the terms and conditions of those respective plans, as they may be amended from time to
time.
(c) Loans. Any permitted indebtedness owed by you to the Corporation or any subsidiary
of the Corporation on account of advances or loans shall become due and payable and may be deducted
from the payment referred to in Section 1 above.
(d) Outplacement Services. You will be eligible to receive outplacement services for a
period of up to one year after your termination date at an outplacement firm selected by the
Corporation. The cost of these outplacement services will be paid by the Corporation directly to
the outplacement firm selected, up to a maximum amount of fifteen percent (15%) of your highest
annual base salary in effect during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination
date.
(e) Executive Physicals. You shall receive a lump sum payment equivalent to the cost
of coverage under the Corporation’s Executive Physical program for the thirty-six (36) month period
after your termination date. The benefits to which you will be eligible, will be the
executive physical benefits that were in effect on the date of the Change of Control and any
executive physical benefits received will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Executive
Physical program as in effect on the date of the Change of Control. Any lump sum payment due under
this Section 2(e) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment is paid under
Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(f) Financial Counseling. To the extent you were eligible for financial counseling
paid by the Corporation on the date of the Change of Control, you shall receive a lump sum payment
equivalent to the cost of such services for an additional thirty-six (36) month period after your
termination date (as determined by the Corporation in good faith). Any lump sum payment due under
this Section 2(f) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment is paid under
Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
3. Confidentiality.
In the event your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation
terminates under the circumstances specified in Section 1, you shall retain in confidence any
confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information known to you concerning the Corporation and
its subsidiaries and their businesses so long as such information is not publicly disclosed by the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.
4. Change of Control Defined.
For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to
have taken place at the time:
(a) when any “person” or “group” of persons (as such terms are used in Section 13 and 14 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”)), other than
the Corporation or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Corporation, becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of 25% or more of the total number
of the Corporation’s common shares at the time outstanding; or
(b) of the approval by the vote of the Corporation’s stockholders holding at least 50% (or
such greater percentage as may be required by the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the
Corporation or by law) of the voting stock of the Corporation of any merger or consolidation with
any other corporation (other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either
by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the entity surviving such
merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Entity”) or its direct or indirect parent (the “Survivor
Parent”)), at least 80% of the combined voting power of the securities of the Corporation or the
Surviving Entity or Survivor Parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation);
sale of assets; liquidation; or reorganization in which the Corporation will not survive as a
publicly owned corporation (the transactions described above being collectively referred to as the
“Transaction”); provided that a Change of Control will occur in the circumstances described above
only if the Transaction is ultimately consummated; or
(c) when the individuals who, at the beginning of any period of two years or less, constituted
the Board of Directors of the Corporation cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority
thereof, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was
approved by the vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of such period.
5. Qualifying Termination Defined.
(a) Qualifying Termination. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term
“Qualifying Termination” means a termination of your employment with the Corporation or any
subsidiary of the Corporation (under circumstances where you are no longer employed by the
Corporation or any such subsidiary) (i) by you for Good Reason, or (ii) by the Corporation or a
subsidiary without Cause, and (iii) prior to your death or Disability.
(b) Cause. “Cause” means willful misconduct in the performance of your duties as an
employee which results in a material detriment to the Corporation, and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(c) Disability. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term
“Disability” shall have the meaning given to that term in the Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation Long-Term
Disability Plan.
(d) Good Reason. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term “Good
Reason” means that you have terminated your employment with the Corporation and all subsidiaries of
the Corporation under any of the following circumstances:
(i) such termination occurs more than 180 days following the time when a
Change of Control takes place and such Change of Control has not been
approved by a resolution adopted by the Board as constituted immediately
prior to such Change of Control; or
(ii) you terminate your employment on account of one or more of the
following events (and you have not agreed to such event in writing):
(A) the assignment to you of any duties inconsistent, in a way
materially adverse to you, with your positions, duties,
responsibilities and status with the Corporation and its subsidiaries
immediately prior to a Change of Control, or a material reduction in
the duties and responsibilities you held immediately prior to such
Change of Control; or a change in your reporting responsibilities,
titles or offices as in effect immediately prior to such Change of
Control; or any removal of you from or any failure to re-elect you to
any position with the Corporation or any subsidiary that you held
immediately prior to such Change of Control except in connection with
your promotion or the termination of your employment; or
(B) a reduction by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the
Corporation in your base salary as in effect immediately prior to
such Change of Control; the failure by the Corporation or any such
subsidiary to continue in effect any employee benefit plan or
compensation plan (including any incentive compensation or bonus
programs) in which you are participating immediately prior to such
Change of Control unless you are permitted to participate in other
plans providing you with substantially comparable
benefits; or the taking of any action by the Corporation or any such
subsidiary which would adversely affect your participation in or
materially reduce your benefits under any such employee benefit or
compensation plan; or
(C) the Corporation’s or any subsidiary’s requiring you to be based
anywhere other than a location within 50 miles of your location
immediately prior to such Change of Control; or the Corporation’s or
any subsidiary’s requiring you to travel on the Corporation’s or any
subsidiary’s business to an extent substantially more burdensome than
your travel obligations immediately prior to such Change of Control.
(e) Employment by Successors. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement,
employment by a successor of the Corporation, or a successor of any subsidiary of the Corporation,
that has assumed this Change of Control Agreement pursuant to Section 9 shall be considered to be
employment by the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries. As a result, if you are employed by such
a successor following a Change of Control, you will not be entitled to receive the benefits
provided by Sections 1 and 2 unless your employment with the successor is subsequently terminated
in a Qualifying Termination within two (2) years after a Change of Control or as a result of your
timely election to voluntarily terminate your employment during the Anniversary Window Period as
described in Section 1. Solely for purposes of applying the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 and the
definitions set forth in Section 5, the successor shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of the
Corporation.
6. Tax Gross-Up.
(a) Gross-Up Payment. In the event that the “Total Payments” made under this Change of
Control Agreement or otherwise result in an excise tax being imposed on you pursuant to Section
4999 of the Code, the Corporation will provide you with a “Gross-Up Payment,” calculated in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6. “Total Payments” as used in this Section 6, means
any payments in the nature of compensation (as defined in Code Section 280G and the regulations
adopted thereunder), made pursuant to this Change of Control Agreement or otherwise, to or for your
benefit, the receipt of which is contingent on a “change in the ownership or effective control” of
the Corporation, or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the
Corporation” (as these phrases are defined in Code Section 280G and the regulations adopted
thereunder) and to which Code Section 280G applies. This Gross-Up Payment will be paid to you as
and when payments are made to you which are subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999,
and in relation to the excise taxes payable with respect to each such payment, but in no event
later than two and one-half months following the end of the taxable year in which the corresponding
amount payable as a Gross-Up Payment is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” (as
such term is defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code). This lump sum payment will be in
such an amount that after you have paid (i) the “total presumed federal and state taxes;” and (ii)
the excise taxes imposed by Code Section 4999 with respect to the Gross-Up Payment (and any
interest or penalties actually imposed), you retain an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the
remaining excise taxes imposed by Code Section 4999 on your Total Payments (calculated before the
Gross-Up Payment). For purposes of calculating your Gross-Up Payment, your actual federal and state
income taxes will not be used. Instead, we will use your “total presumed federal and state taxes.”
For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, your “total presumed federal and state taxes”
shall be conclusively calculated using a combined tax rate
equal to the sum of the maximum marginal federal and applicable state income tax rates and the
hospital insurance (or “HI”) portion of F.I.C.A. Based on the rates in effect for 2002 for an
Arizona resident, the “total presumed federal and state tax rate” is 45.09% (38.6% federal income
tax rate plus 5.04% Arizona state income tax rate plus 1.45% HI tax rate). The state tax rate for
your actual principal place of residence will be used and no adjustments will be made for the
deduction of state taxes on the federal return, any deduction of federal taxes on a state return,
the loss of itemized deductions or exemptions, or for any other purpose.
(b) Calculations. The Corporation, at the Corporation’s sole expense, will retain a
“Consultant” to advise the Corporation with respect to the applicability of any Code Section 4999
excise tax with respect to your Total Payments. The Consultant shall be a law firm, a certified
public accounting firm, and/or a firm nationally recognized as providing executive compensation
consulting services. All determinations concerning whether a Gross-Up Payment is required pursuant
to Section 6 (a) and the amount of any Gross-Up Payment (as well as any assumptions to be used in
making such determinations) shall be made by the Consultant selected pursuant to this Section. The
Consultant shall provide you and the Corporation with a written notice of the amount of the excise
taxes that you are required to pay and the amount of the Gross-Up Payment. The notice from the
Consultant shall include any necessary calculations in support of its conclusions. All fees and
expenses of the Consultant shall be borne by the Corporation. Any Gross-Up Payment shall be made by
the Corporation fifteen (15) business days after the mailing of such notice.
As a general rule, the Consultant’s determination shall be binding on you and the Corporation.
The application of the excise tax rules of Code Section 4999, however, is complex and uncertain
and, as a result, the Internal Revenue Service may disagree with the Consultant concerning the
amount, if any, of the excise taxes that are due. If the Internal Revenue Service determines that
excise taxes are due, or that the amount of the excise taxes that are due is greater than the
amount determined by the Consultant, the Gross-Up Payment will be recalculated by the Consultant to
reflect the actual excise taxes that you are required to pay (and any related interest and
penalties). Any deficiency will then be paid to you by the Corporation fifteen (15) business days
after the receipt of the revised calculations from the Consultant. If the Internal Revenue Service
determines that the amount of excise taxes that you paid exceeds the amount due, you shall return
the excess to the Corporation (along with any interest paid to you on the overpayment) immediately
upon receipt from the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority.
The Corporation has the right to challenge any excise tax determinations made by the Internal
Revenue Service. If the Corporation agrees to indemnify you from any taxes, interest and penalties
that may be imposed upon you (including any taxes, interest and penalties on the amounts paid
pursuant to the Corporation’s indemnification agreement), you must cooperate fully with the
Corporation in connection with any such challenge. The Corporation shall bear all costs associated
with the challenge of any determination made by the Internal Revenue Service and the Corporation
shall control all such challenges. The additional Gross-Up Payments called for by the preceding
paragraph shall not be made until the Corporation has either exhausted its (or your) rights to
challenge the determination or indicated that it intends to concede or settle the excise tax
determination.
You must notify the Corporation in writing of any claim or determination by the Internal
Revenue Service that, if upheld, would result in the payment of excise taxes in amounts different
from the amount initially specified by the Consultant. Such notice shall be given as
soon as possible but in no event later than fifteen (15) calendar days following your receipt
of notice of the Internal Revenue Service’s position.
7. Term of Agreement.
This Change of Control Agreement, as amended and restated, is effective as of January 1, 2005
and shall constitute the only Change of Control Agreement between you and the Corporation, and it
will and will continue in effect until the later of (a) December 31, 2007 or (b) two years
following a Change of Control that occurs prior to December 31, 2007.
8. Termination Notice and Procedure.
Any termination of your employment by the Corporation or you within two (2) years after a
Change of Control shall be communicated by written notice of termination, all in accordance with
the following procedures:
(a) The notice of termination shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Change
of Control Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances alleged to provide a basis for termination.
(b) If the Corporation notifies you of your termination for Cause and you in good faith notify
the Corporation that a dispute exists concerning such termination within fifteen (15) calendar days
following your receipt of such notice, you may elect to continue your employment during such
dispute. If it is thereafter determined that Cause did exist, your termination date shall be the
earlier of (i) the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written
agreement of the parties or pursuant to the arbitration provisions set out below, or (ii) the date
of your death. If it is determined that Cause did not exist, your employment shall continue as if
the Corporation had not delivered its notice of termination.
(c) If the Corporation notifies you of your termination by reason of Disability and you in
good faith notify the Corporation that a dispute exists concerning such termination within fifteen
(15) calendar days following your receipt of such notice, you also may elect to continue your
employment during such dispute. The dispute relating to the existence of a Disability shall be
resolved by the opinion of the licensed physician selected by the Corporation; provided, however,
that if you do not accept the opinion of the licensed physician selected by the Corporation, the
dispute shall be resolved by the opinion of a licensed physician who shall be selected by you;
provided further, however, that if the Corporation does not accept the opinion of the licensed
physician selected by you, the dispute shall be finally resolved by the opinion of a licensed
physician selected by the licensed physicians selected by the Corporation and you, respectively. If
it is thereafter determined that a Disability did exist, your termination date shall be the earlier
of (i) the date on which the dispute is resolved or (ii) the date of your death. If it is
determined that a Disability did not exist, your employment shall continue as if the Corporation
had not delivered its notice of termination.
(d) If you in good faith notify the Corporation of your termination for Good Reason and the
Corporation notifies you that a dispute exists concerning the termination within fifteen (15)
calendar days following the Corporation’s receipt of such notice, you may elect to continue your
employment during such dispute. If it is thereafter determined that Good Reason did exist, your
termination date shall be the earlier of (i) the date on which the dispute is finally determined,
either by mutual written agreement of the parties or pursuant to the arbitration
provisions set out below, (ii) the date of your death, or (iii) one day prior to the second
anniversary of a Change of Control, and your payments hereunder shall reflect events occurring
after you delivered notice of termination. If it is determined that Good Reason did not exist, your
employment shall continue after such determination as if you had not delivered the notice of
termination asserting Good Reason.
(e) If you do not elect to continue employment pending resolution of a dispute regarding a
notice of termination, and it is finally determined that the reason for termination set forth in
such notice of termination did not exist, if such notice was delivered by you, you shall be deemed
to have voluntarily terminated your employment other than for Good Reason and if delivered by the
Corporation, the Corporation will be deemed to have terminated you without Cause.
(f) For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a transfer from the Corporation to one
of its subsidiaries or a transfer from a subsidiary to the Corporation or another subsidiary shall
not be treated as a termination of employment.
(g) If you elect to continue your employment pending the resolution of a dispute pursuant to
Sections 8(b), (c), or (d), the Corporation, in its discretion, may place you on a paid
administrative leave until the dispute is resolved.
9. Assumption by Successors.
The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation, acquisition, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets
of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to expressly assume and agree to perform this Change
of Control Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation or any
subsidiary would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the
Corporation to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession shall be a breach of this Change of Control Agreement and shall entitle you to
compensation from the Corporation in the same amount and on the same terms to which you would be
entitled hereunder if you terminate your employment for either Good Reason following a Change of
Control, or voluntarily during the Anniversary Window Period, except that for purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed
your termination date.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Arbitration; Related Expenses. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Change of Control Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration held
in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may
be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction. The Corporation shall pay
on a current basis all legal expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by you in connection
with such arbitration and the entering of such award if you prevail, or substantially prevail, in
such proceeding. Any reimbursement to you of such legal expenses shall be paid by the Corporation
no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which such legal
expenses were incurred.
(b) Replacement of Other Agreements. This Change of Control Agreement replaces and
supersedes any agreement previously entered into between you and the Corporation regarding the
payment of compensation or benefits following a Change of Control.
This Change of Control Agreement does not replace or supersede your Severance Agreement with
the Corporation or any provision in any stock option or restricted stock plan or agreement or any
plan or program to provide retirement or savings benefits.
(c) Employment at Will. This Change of Control Agreement shall neither obligate the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to continue you in its employ (or to employ you in
any particular office or to perform any specified responsibility) nor obligate you to continue in
the employ of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.
(d) Successors. This Change of Control Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of you, your estate and the Corporation and any successor of the Corporation, but
neither this Change of Control Agreement nor any rights arising hereunder may be assigned or
pledged by you.
(e) Governing Law. This Change of Control Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of New York.
(f) Severability. If any provision of this Change of Control Agreement as applied to
either party or to any circumstances shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
void or unenforceable, the same shall in no way affect any other provision of this Change of
Control Agreement or the validity or enforceability of this Change of Control Agreement.
(g) Amendment or Waiver. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10(j) of this Change
of Control Agreement, no provision of this Change of Control Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in a writing signed by you
and such officer as may be designated by the Board or a duly authorized Committee thereof. No
waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of any condition
or provision of this Change of Control Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be
deemed a waiver of any other condition or provision at any time.
(h) No Duty to Mitigate. For purposes of receiving payments under this Change of
Control Agreement, you are not under any duty to mitigate the damages resulting from your
termination of employment. As a result, you will receive the payments and other benefits provided
by this Change of Control Agreement regardless of whether you search for or obtain other work. As
provided in Section 1(b), however, your right to receive continued group medical, dental, and
vision insurance benefits will terminate if you become eligible to receive any such medical,
dental, or vision benefits under any other plan or program of any subsequent employer.
(i) Funding. The Corporation shall establish a trust to provide for the funding of the
Corporation’s obligations under this and similar agreements with other executives. The trustee of
the trust shall be chosen by the Corporation or any individual or committee to whom the Corporation
delegates that responsibility, but the trustee must be a national or state bank or trust company.
Prior to the day on which a Change of Control occurs, the Corporation shall transfer to the trustee
of the trust an amount equal to the Corporation’s total potential liability to you pursuant to
Sections 1(a), 2(a), 2(d), 2(e), 2(f), 6 and 10(a). Such amount shall be determined by the
Corporation acting in good faith. If it is discovered at any time that the amount initially
transferred is less than the total amount called for by the preceding sentence, the shortfall shall
be transferred to the trustee immediately upon the discovery of such error. Under the terms of the
trust, the trustee shall be obligated to pay to you the amount to which you are entitled pursuant
to Sections 1(a), 2(a), 2(d), 2(e), 2(f), 6, and 10(a) unless such
amounts are paid in a timely manner by the Corporation or its successors. The other terms and
provisions of the trust agreement shall be determined by the Corporation and the trustee.
(j) Effect of Change of Law. If at any time during the term of this Change of Control
Agreement any federal or state law or regulation is adopted or modified in any way that will
increase the cost of this Change of Control Agreement to the Corporation, the Corporation reserves
the right to unilaterally modify any provision of the Agreement in any manner which it deems
appropriate to eliminate the cost increase to the Corporation, including but not limited to
eliminating the offending provision or provisions in their entirety.
(k) American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The Corporation and you acknowledge and agree
that all payments under this Change of Control Agreement will be made in compliance with and
subject to the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations and guidance of the Department of the Treasury interpreting and implementing Section
409A. All payments made under this Change of Control Agreement (including but not limited to
termination payments, Gross-Up Payments and legal expenses) will, to the extent subject to such
Section, be made in compliance with Section 409A.
(l) Prior Amendments, Waivers. For the avoidance of doubt, this Change of Control
Agreement, as amended and restated, is not intended to override any amendments or waivers
previously entered into between you and the Corporation with respect to this Change of Control
Agreement, or any benefits provided herein.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please so indicate by signing and returning to the
Corporation the enclosed copy of this letter, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding
agreement between you and the Corporation.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| XXXXXX DODGE CORPORATION | ||
| Senior Vice President-Human Resources | ||
Agreed: |
||
| Date |
|
|
Xxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (602) 366-8100 |
DATE
Dear :
FORM OF
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
(Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2005)
Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation (the “Corporation”) considers the maintenance of a sound and
vital senior management organization to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests
of the Corporation and to providing value to its shareholders. The Corporation recognizes that, as
is the case with many publicly held corporations, the continuing possibility of an unsolicited
tender offer or other takeover bid for the Corporation is unsettling to you and other senior
executives of the Corporation and its principal subsidiaries, and may result in the departure or
distraction of key management personnel to the detriment of the Corporation and its shareholders.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and the Compensation and Management
Development Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board have previously determined that it is
in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders for the Corporation to minimize these
concerns by entering into an agreement (a “Change of Control Agreement”) which would
provide you with certain benefits in the event your employment with the Corporation terminates
under certain limited circumstances related to a Change of Control. The Corporation has had in
place for certain individuals similar agreements that expire on December 31, 2002. Accordingly,
the Corporation has determined that it is appropriate to replace those expiring agreements with the
arrangements set forth in this Change of Control Agreement.
These arrangements are being made and entered into to help assure a continuing dedication by
you to your duties to the Corporation, notwithstanding the occurrence of a tender offer or other
takeover bid. In particular, the Board and the Committee believe it important, should the
Corporation receive proposals from third parties with respect to its future, to enable you, without
being influenced or distracted by the uncertainties of your own situation, to assess and advise the
Board whether such proposals would be in the best interests of the Corporation and its
shareholders, and to take such other action regarding such proposals as the Board might determine
to be appropriate. The Board and the Committee understand that in the event of a tender offer or
other takeover bid that certain senior managers are at risk with respect to continuing employment
opportunities with the Corporation. In recognition of that, the Board and the Committee wish to
demonstrate to the senior executives that it is the intent of the Board and
Committee, in the event of a Change of Control, to assure that senior executives are treated
fairly in those circumstances.
In view of the foregoing, in order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Corporation or
one of its principal subsidiaries and in further consideration of your continued employment with
the Corporation, the Corporation and you agree to a Change of Control Agreement as follows:
1. Termination Benefits.
In the event your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation
terminates by reason of a “Qualifying Termination” (as the term “Qualifying Termination” is defined
below) within two years after a “Change of Control” of the Corporation (as “Change of Control” is
defined below), you shall receive the benefits set forth in this Change of Control Agreement,
subject to the “Cap” described in Section 6 below.
(a) Termination Payments. The Corporation will pay you as termination
compensation a lump sum amount equal to the sum of: (i) two times your highest annual base
salary (not including any bonuses under the Corporation’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan) paid
or payable by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to you during the three calendar
years ending with the year your employment with the Corporation terminates; plus
(ii) two times your Target Bonus; less (iii) any severance, termination, or
other cash compensation payable to you under your Severance Agreement with the Corporation or
pursuant to any severance policy, plan, or program sponsored by the Corporation or any subsidiary
of the Corporation. Any lump sum termination payment due to you pursuant to this Section 1(a)
shall be paid to you ten (10) business days after your termination of employment with the
Corporation, except that, if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and you are terminated on or after
March 1, 2008, then such payment shall be made on the first business day after the six month
anniversary of your termination date. For purposes of the calculation set forth in this Section
1(a), Target Bonus shall mean your highest annual base salary during the twelve (12) months
immediately preceding your termination of employment times the highest target bonus percentage
assigned by the Corporation’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan to any position you held during
the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination of employment.
If after the effective date of this Change of Control Agreement, the Corporation’s Annual
Incentive Compensation Plan is replaced by another incentive compensation or bonus program, your
Target Bonus for purposes of this Section 1, will be the greater of (i) the Target Bonus as
determined under Section 1(a) as of the date of the Change of Control; (ii) the Target
Bonus as determined under Section 1(a) as of your termination date; or (iii) the Target
Bonus as determined under Section 1(a) except that your Target Bonus will be calculated using the
highest target bonus percentage assigned by the replacement program to any position you held during
the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your termination of employment.
(b) Benefits Continuation. You will continue to receive medical, dental,
vision, long-term disability, and life insurance benefits as described in this Section 1(b).
(i) Group Medical, Dental, and Vision. You will receive group medical,
dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the special insured
group medical, dental, and vision plans sponsored by the Corporation for certain senior
executives (collectively, the “Insured Plans”). The Insured Plans are designed to be
similar to the Corporation’s then in effect self-insured active group medical, dental, and vision
plans. You will be eligible to participate in the Insured Plans until the earlier of (i)
the end of the period of twenty-four (24) months following your termination of employment or
(ii) the day on which you become eligible to receive any group medical, dental, and vision
care benefits, as the case may be, under any plan or program of any other employer for active
employees. The twenty-four (24) month period referred to above shall run concurrently with the
number of months, if any, for which you are entitled to receive continued benefits under your
Severance Agreement with the Corporation or pursuant to any severance policy, plan, or program
sponsored by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation. You will be responsible to
contribute to the cost of the Insured Plans at the same level, if any, you were required to
contribute to receive the similar benefits under the Corporation’s group medical, dental, and
vision plans as of your termination date. In lieu of the benefits provided above, you may elect to
receive eighteen (18) months of Corporation paid continuation of coverage under the Corporation’s
group medical, dental, and vision plans pursuant to Section 601 et seq. of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as it may be amended or replaced from time to
time.
(ii) Retiree Medical Insurance. If during the two year period after the
date of the Change of Control, but after the date of your termination of employment (which entitles
you to benefits under this Change of Control Agreement), you would have been eligible for early or
normal retirement under the terms and conditions of any pension or retirement plan sponsored by the
Corporation (or any subsidiary of the Corporation) in which you participate, then you will be
eligible to participate in any insured medical plan that the Corporation has in place to provide
medical benefits similar to those provided by the Corporation’s retiree medical plan. You will be
eligible to participate in the Retiree Insured Plan beginning on the date you would have been
eligible for an early or normal retirement had your employment not been terminated and continuing
until such time (if any) as the Corporation ceases to provide retiree medical insurance, or the
insurance available under the Retiree Insured Plan is no longer available. Until the end of the
twenty-four (24) month period following your termination date, the Corporation will pay your full
cost of the Retiree Insured Plan. If as of your employment termination date (because of your
Qualifying Termination within the required time period), you are eligible to participate in the
Corporation’s retiree medical plan, if any, the cost of your participation in the applicable
retiree medical plan will be paid by the Corporation for the twenty-four (24) month period
following your termination date. After the end of this twenty-four (24) month period, you will be
responsible to pay the applicable retiree contribution percentage to participate in the
Corporation’s retiree medical plan. Similarly, if you are participating in the Retiree Insured
Plan, you will be required to pay the equivalent contribution as if you had been eligible to
participate in the Corporation’s retiree medical plan. The Corporation reserves the right to amend
or terminate its retiree medical plan at any time. Any such amendment or termination that applies
equally to all covered individuals also will apply to you. The Corporation also reserves the right
to amend or terminate any Retiree Insured Plan as long as a comparable amendment or termination is
being made at the same time to the Corporation’s retiree medical plan. A Retiree Insured Plan also
may be amended if such amendment is required by the insurer and a Retiree Insured Plan may be
terminated if the underlying insurance cannot be obtained from a reputable insurer.
(iii) Long-Term Disability. With respect to your long-term disability
insurance coverage, you will be eligible to purchase an individual long-term disability conversion
policy directly from the insurer providing the group benefits under the Corporation’s Long-Term
Disability Plan as of your termination date. To be eligible for this coverage, you must satisfy
the insurer’s requirements for coverage, in effect on your termination date, and any such
conversion
coverage is subject to coverage and other limitations imposed by the insurer. The disability
benefits and amount of coverage under the conversion policy may be different than those provided to
you under the Corporation’s Long-Term Disability Plan in effect on your termination date. The
Corporation will pay the cost to continue any long-term disability conversion coverage for a period
of twenty-four (24) months following your termination date. You will be responsible for the cost
of any long-term disability conversion coverage in excess of twenty-four (24) months.
(iv) Life Insurance. The disposition of your life insurance policy or
policies (the “Policies”) issued under the Corporation’s Executive Life Insurance Plan
(“ELIP”) will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ELIP. The Corporation,
ten business days after the date your employment with the Corporation (or any subsidiary)
terminates, will pay the insurer of the Policies an amount sufficient to fund the Policies for a
period of twenty-four (24) months after your termination date. The Corporation will fund the
Policies for this twenty-four (24) month period in a manner similar to the funding level before the
Change of Control such that the Policies are funded for the Policies’ death benefit and the
contribution towards the retiree life insurance portion of the Policies. At the end of this
twenty-four (24) month period any additional funding required by the Policies will be your
obligation. In lieu of the payment method described above, you may elect, prior to any payment
being made, to have the Corporation fund the Policies to the same level with annual installment
payments over a two (2) year period, provided that such election shall be valid only if: (a) such
election must be made prior to the earlier of your termination of employment and December 31, 2007,
and (b) you are not terminated prior to December 31, 2007. To the extent that any of your life
insurance coverage under the ELIP is insured under the Corporation’s group term life insurance
plan, in accordance with the terms and conditions of that insurance coverage you will be eligible
to convert this coverage to individual non-term conversion coverage as of your termination date.
To be eligible to receive this conversion coverage you must submit an application to the insurer.
Any available conversion coverage is subject to such limitations as may be imposed by the insurer.
Should you elect this individual conversion coverage, the Corporation will pay the cost to continue
your conversion coverage for a period of twenty-four (24) months following your termination date.
You will be responsible for the cost of any conversion coverage in excess of twenty-four (24)
months. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any of the Policies or conversion coverage described in
this Section 1(b)(iv) provides a benefit other than a death benefit to you, and you are terminated
on or after March 1 in the calendar year following the year in which the Change of Control occurs,
then any applicable lump sum payment shall be made (or, in the case of a qualifying installment
election, the first annual installment payment shall be made) by the Corporation on the first
business day after the six month anniversary of your termination date.
2. Other Benefits; Loans.
(a) Incentive Compensation Plan. Generally, your participation in the
Corporation’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (“AICP”), and any right that you may have
to receive a bonus thereunder for the year in which your employment with the Corporation or any
subsidiary of the Corporation terminates or any prior year shall be governed by the terms of the
AICP. If you were a participant in the AICP at any time during the calendar year in which a Change
of Control occurs, however, you will receive at least a pro rated incentive compensation payment
for the year in which the Change of Control occurs. Your pro rated incentive compensation payment
will be calculated in two steps. The first step will be to calculate the incentive compensation to
which you would be entitled under the AICP, calculated on the basis of the following assumptions:
(i) the annual performance period ends on the date of the Change
of Control; (ii) the financial performance of the Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries for the relevant performance period will be equal to the financial performance
measured as of the date of the Change of Control, annualized; and (iii) you satisfy all
individual subjective performance goals or measures set for you under the AICP at the “target”
performance level. The second step will be to multiply the amount determined pursuant to the first
step by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that have elapsed in the calendar
year prior to the day of the Change of Control and the denominator of which is 365. Any bonus due
under this Section 2(a) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment is paid
under Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(b) Retirement and Savings Plans. Any participation by you in, and any
terminating distributions and vested rights under, the Xxxxxx Dodge Retirement Plan, the Xxxxxx
Dodge Employee Savings Plan, the Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan, and the
Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan, or any other retirement or savings plan
sponsored by the Corporation, regardless of whether such plan qualifies for favorable tax
treatment, shall be governed by the terms and conditions of those respective plans, as they may be
amended from time to time.
(c) Loans. Any permitted indebtedness owed by you to the Corporation or any
subsidiary of the Corporation on account of advances or loans shall become due and payable and may
be deducted from the payment referred to in Section 1 above.
(d) Outplacement Services. You will be eligible to receive outplacement
services for a period of up to one year after your termination date at an outplacement firm
selected by the Corporation. The cost of these outplacement services will be paid by the
Corporation directly to the outplacement firm selected, up to a maximum amount of fifteen percent
(15%) of your highest annual base salary in effect during the twelve (12) months immediately
preceding your termination date.
(e) Executive Physicals. You shall receive a lump sum payment equivalent to
the cost of coverage under the Corporation’s Executive Physical program for the twenty-four (24)
month period after your termination date. The benefits to which you will be eligible, will be the
executive physical benefits that were in effect on the date of the Change of Control and any
executive physical benefits received will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Executive
Physical program as in effect on the date of the Change of Control. Any lump sum payment due under
this Section 2(e) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination payment is paid under
Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
(f) Financial Counseling. To the extent you were eligible for financial
counseling paid by the Corporation on the date of the Change of Control, you shall receive a lump
sum payment equivalent to the cost of such services for an additional twenty-four (24) month period
after your termination date (as determined by the Corporation in good faith). Any lump sum
payment due under this Section 2(f) shall be paid to you on the same date as the termination
payment is paid under Section 1(a) of this Change of Control Agreement.
3. Confidentiality.
In the event your employment with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation
terminates under the circumstances specified in Section 1, you shall retain in confidence any
confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information known to you concerning the Corporation
and its subsidiaries and their businesses so long as such information is not publicly
disclosed by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.
4. Change of Control Defined.
For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to
have taken place at the time:
(a) when any “person” or “group” of persons (as such terms are used in Section 13
and 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange
Act”)), other than the Corporation or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Corporation,
becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of 25% or
more of the total number of the Corporation common shares at the time outstanding; or
(b) of the approval by the vote of the Corporation’s stockholders holding at least
50% (or such greater percentage as may be required by the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws
of the Corporation or by law) of the voting stock of the Corporation of any merger or consolidation
with any other corporation (other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either
by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the entity surviving such
merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Entity”) or its direct or indirect parent (the
“Survivor Parent”) at least 80% of the combined voting power of the securities of the
Corporation or the Surviving Entity or Survivor Parent outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation); sale of assets; liquidation; or reorganization in which the Corporation will not
survive as a publicly owned corporation (the transactions described above being collectively
referred to as the “Transaction”); provided that a Change of Control will occur in the
circumstances described above only if the Transaction is ultimately consummated; or
(c) when the individuals who, at the beginning of any period of two years or less,
constituted the Board of Directors of the Corporation cease, for any reason, to constitute at least
a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was
approved by the vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of such period.
5. Qualifying Termination Defined.
(a) Qualifying Termination. For purposes of this Change of Control
Agreement, the term “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of your employment with the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation (under circumstances where you are no longer
employed by the Corporation or any such subsidiary) (i) by you for Good Reason, or
(ii) by the Corporation or a subsidiary without Cause, and (iii) prior to your
death or Disability.
(b) Cause. “Cause” means willful misconduct in the performance of your
duties as an employee which results in a material detriment to the Corporation, and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c) Disability. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term
“Disability” shall have the meaning given to that term in the Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation Long-Term
Disability Plan.
(d) Good Reason. For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, the term
“Good Reason” means that you have terminated your employment with the Corporation and all
subsidiaries of the Corporation under any of the following circumstances:
(i) such termination occurs more than 180 days following the time
when a Change of Control takes place and such Change of Control has not been
approved by a resolution adopted by the Board as constituted immediately
prior to such Change of Control; or
(ii) you terminate your employment on account of one or more of
the following events (and you have not agreed to such event in writing):
(A) the assignment to you of any duties inconsistent, in a
way materially adverse to you, with your positions, duties,
responsibilities and status with the Corporation and its subsidiaries
immediately prior to a Change of Control, or a material reduction in
the duties and responsibilities you held immediately prior to such
Change of Control; or a change in your reporting responsibilities,
titles or offices as in effect immediately prior to such Change of
Control; or any removal of you from or any failure to re-elect you to
any position with the Corporation or any subsidiary that you held
immediately prior to such Change of Control except in connection with
your promotion or the termination of your employment; or
(B) a reduction by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the
Corporation in your base salary as in effect immediately prior to
such Change of Control; the failure by the Corporation or any such
subsidiary to continue in effect any employee benefit plan or
compensation plan (including any incentive compensation or bonus
programs) in which you are participating immediately prior to such
Change of Control unless you are permitted to participate in other
plans providing you with substantially comparable benefits; or the
taking of any action by the Corporation or any such subsidiary which
would adversely affect your participation in or materially reduce
your benefits under any such employee benefit or compensation plan;
or
(C) the Corporation’s or any subsidiary’s requiring you to
be based anywhere other than a location within 50 miles of your
location immediately prior to such Change of Control; or the
Corporation’s or any subsidiary’s requiring you to travel on the
Corporation’s or any subsidiary’s business to an extent substantially
more burdensome than your travel obligations immediately prior to
such Change of Control.
(e) Employment by Successors. For purposes of this Change of Control
Agreement, employment by a successor of the Corporation, or a successor of any subsidiary of the
Corporation, that has assumed this Change of Control Agreement pursuant to Section 10 shall be
considered to be employment by the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries. As a result, if you are
employed by such a successor following a Change of Control, you will not be entitled
to receive the benefits provided by Sections 1 and 2 unless your employment with the successor
is subsequently terminated in a Qualifying Termination within two (2) years after a Change of
Control. Solely for purposes of applying the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 and the definitions
set forth in Section 5, the successor shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of the Corporation.
6. Cap on Payments.
(a) General Rules. The Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) places
significant tax burdens on you and the Corporation if the total payments made to you due to a
Change of Control exceed prescribed limits. For example, if your “Base Period Income” (as defined
below) is $100,000, your limit or “Cap” is $299,999. If your “Total Payments” exceed the Cap by
even $1.00, you are subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code of 20% of all amounts
paid to you in excess of $100,000. In other words, if your Cap is $299,999, you will not be
subject to an excise tax if you receive exactly $299,999. If you receive $300,000, you will be
subject to an excise tax of $40,000 (20% of $200,000). In order to avoid this excise tax and the
related adverse tax consequences for the Corporation, by signing this Agreement, you will be
agreeing that, subject to the exception noted below, the present value (determined in accordance
with the applicable regulations) of your Total Payments will not exceed an amount equal to your
Cap.
(b) Special Definitions. For purposes of this Section, the following
specialized terms will have the following meanings:
(i) “Base Period Income”. “Base Period Income” is an amount equal to your
“annualized includable compensation” for the “base period” as defined in Sections 280G(d)(1) and
(2) of the Code and the regulations adopted thereunder. Generally, your “annualized includable
compensation” is the average of your annual taxable income from the Corporation for the “base
period”, which generally is the five calendar years prior to the year in which the Change of
Control occurs. These concepts are complicated and technical and all of the rules set forth in
Section 280G of the Code and the applicable regulations apply for purposes of this Agreement.
(ii) “Cap” or “280G Cap”. “Cap” or “280G Cap” shall mean an amount equal to
$1.00 less than three times your “Base Period Income.” This is the maximum amount which you may
receive without becoming subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or which the
Corporation may pay without loss of deduction under Section 280G of the Code.
(iii) “Total Payments”. The “Total Payments” include any “payments in the
nature of compensation” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code and the regulations adopted
thereunder), made pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, to or for your benefit, the receipt of
which is contingent on a “change in ownership or effective control” of the Corporation or a “change
in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Corporation” (as those phrases are
defined in Code Section 280G and the regulations adopted thereunder) and to which Section 280G of
the Code applies.
(c) Calculating the Cap. If the Corporation believes that these rules will
result in a reduction of the payments to which you are entitled under this Agreement, it will so
notify you as soon as possible. The Corporation will then, at its expense, retain a “Consultant”
(which shall be a law firm, a certified public accounting firm, and/or a firm nationally recognized
as providing executive compensation consulting services) to provide an opinion or opinions
concerning whether your Total Payments exceed the limit discussed above. The Corporation will
select the Consultant.
At a minimum, the opinions required by this Section must set forth the amount of your Base
Period Income, the items included in the calculation of the Total Payments, the present value of
the Total Payments, and the amount and present value of any excess parachute payments.
If the opinions state that there would be an excess parachute payment, your payments under
this Agreement will be reduced to the extent necessary to eliminate the excess. You will be
allowed to choose the payment that should be reduced or eliminated, but the payment you choose to
reduce or eliminate must be a payment determined by such Consultant to be includable in Total
Payments. You will make your decision in writing and deliver it to the Corporation within 30 days
of your receipt of such opinions. If you fail to so notify the Corporation, it will decide which
payments to reduce or eliminate.
If the Consultant selected to provide the opinions referred to above so requests in connection
with the opinion required by this Section, a firm of recognized executive compensation consultants
selected by the Corporation shall provide an opinion, upon which such Consultant may rely, as to
the reasonableness of any item of compensation as reasonable compensation for services rendered
before or after the Change of Control.
If the Corporation believes that your Total Payments will exceed the limitations of this
Section, it will nonetheless make payments to you, at the times stated above, in the maximum amount
that it believes may be paid without exceeding such limitations. The balance, if any, will then be
paid after the opinions called for above have been received.
If the amount paid to you by the Corporation is ultimately determined, pursuant to the opinion
referred to above or by the Internal Revenue Service, to have exceeded the limitation of this
Section, the excess will be treated as a loan to you by the Corporation and shall be repayable on
the 90th day following demand by the Corporation, together with interest at the lowest “applicable
federal rate” provided in Section 1274(d) of the Code. If it is ultimately determined, pursuant to
the opinion referred to above or by the Internal Revenue Service, that a greater payment should
have been made to you, the Corporation shall pay you the amount of the deficiency, together with
interest thereon from the date such amount should have been paid to the date of such payment, at
the interest rate set forth above, so that you will have received or be entitled to receive the
maximum amount to which you are entitled under this Agreement.
(d) Effect of Repeal. In the event that the provisions of Sections 280G and
4999 of the Code are repealed without succession, this Section shall be of no further force or
effect.
(e) Exception. The Consultant selected pursuant to Section 6(c) will
calculate your “Uncapped Benefit” and your “Capped Benefit”. The limitations of Section 6(a) will
not apply to you if your Uncapped Benefit is at least 120% of your Capped Benefit. For this
purpose, your “Uncapped Benefit” is the amount to which you will be entitled pursuant to Sections 1
and 2, as applicable, without regard to the limitations of Section 6(a). Your “Capped Benefit” is
the amount to which you will be entitled pursuant to Sections 1 and 2, as applicable, after the
application of the limitations of Section 6(a).
7. Tax Gross-Up.
(a) Gross-Up Payment. If the Cap imposed by Section 6(a) does not apply to
you because of the exception provided by Section 6(e), the Corporation will provide you with a
“Gross-Up Payment” if an excise tax is imposed on you pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code. This
Gross-Up Payment will be calculated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7. This
Gross-Up Payment will be paid to you as and when payments are made to you which are subject to the
excise tax imposed under Section 4999, and in relation to the excise taxes payable with respect to
each such payment, but in no event later than two and one-half months following the end of the
taxable year in which the corresponding amount payable as a Gross-Up Payment no longer subject to a
“substantial risk of forfeiture” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 409A of the
Code). This lump sum payment will be in such an amount that after you have paid (i) the
“total presumed federal and state taxes;” and (ii) the excise taxes imposed by Code Section
4999 with respect to the Gross-Up Payment (and any interest or penalties actually imposed), you
retain an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the remaining excise taxes imposed by Code
Section 4999 on your Total Payments (calculated before the Gross-Up Payment). For purposes of
calculating your Gross-Up Payment, your actual federal and state income taxes will not be used.
Instead, we will use your “total presumed federal and state taxes.” For purposes of this Change of
Control Agreement, your “total presumed federal and state taxes” shall be conclusively calculated
using a combined tax rate equal to the sum of the maximum marginal federal and applicable state
income tax rates and the hospital insurance (or “HI”) portion of F.I.C.A. Based on the
rates in effect for 2002 for an Arizona resident, the “total presumed federal and state tax rate”
is 45.09% (38.6% federal income tax rate plus 5.04% Arizona state income tax rate plus 1.45% HI tax
rate). The state tax rate for your actual principal place of residence will be used and no
adjustments will be made for the deduction of state taxes on the federal return, any deduction of
federal taxes on a state return, the loss of itemized deductions or exemptions, or for any other
purpose.
(b) Calculations. All determinations concerning whether a Gross-Up Payment
is required pursuant to this Change of Control Agreement and the amount of any Gross-Up Payment (as
well as any assumptions to be used in making such determinations) shall be made by the Consultant
selected pursuant to Section 6(c). The Consultant shall provide you and the Corporation with a
written notice of the amount of the excise taxes that you are required to pay and the amount of the
Gross-Up Payment. The notice from the Consultant shall include any necessary calculations in
support of its conclusions. All fees and expenses of the Consultant shall be borne by the
Corporation. Any Gross-Up Payment shall be made by the Corporation fifteen (15) business days
after the mailing of such notice.
As a general rule, the Consultant’s determination shall be binding on you and the Corporation.
The application of the excise tax rules of Code Section 4999, however, is complex and uncertain
and, as a result, the Internal Revenue Service may disagree with the Consultant concerning the
amount, if any, of the excise taxes that are due. If the Internal Revenue Service determines that
excise taxes are due, or that the amount of the excise taxes that are due is greater than the
amount determined by the Consultant, the Gross-Up Payment will be recalculated by the Consultant to
reflect the actual excise taxes that you are required to pay (and any related interest and
penalties). Any deficiency will then be paid to you by the Corporation fifteen (15) business days
of the receipt of the revised calculations from the Consultant. If the Internal Revenue Service
determines that the amount of excise taxes that you paid exceeds the amount due, you shall return
the excess to the Corporation (along with any interest paid to you on the overpayment) immediately
upon receipt from the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority.
The Corporation has the right to challenge any excise tax determinations made by the Internal
Revenue Service. If the Corporation agrees to indemnify you from any taxes, interest and penalties
that may be imposed upon you (including any taxes, interest and penalties on the amounts paid
pursuant to the Corporation’s indemnification agreement), you must cooperate fully with the
Corporation in connection with any such challenge. The Corporation shall bear all costs associated
with the challenge of any determination made by the Internal Revenue Service and the Corporation
shall control all such challenges. The additional Gross-Up Payments called for by the preceding
paragraph shall not be made until the Corporation has either exhausted its (or your) rights to
challenge the determination or indicated that it intends to concede or settle the excise tax
determination.
You must notify the Corporation in writing of any claim or determination by the Internal
Revenue Service that, if upheld, would result in the payment of excise taxes in amounts different
from the amount initially specified by the Consultant. Such notice shall be given as soon as
possible but in no event later than fifteen (15) calendar days following your receipt of notice of
the Internal Revenue Service’s position.
(c) Discretionary Gross-Ups. The Corporation also may provide you with a
tax gross-up, at the Corporation’s sole discretion, covering income and/or excise taxes in other
situations (“Discretionary Gross-Up”). The Corporation, however, is not obligated to do so and may
only do so pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Committee. The payment of a
Discretionary Gross-Up to any other individual having a Change of Control Agreement with the
Corporation shall not entitle you to receive a Discretionary Gross-Up.
8. Term of Agreement.
This Change of Control Agreement, as amended and restated, is effective as of January 1, 2005
and shall constitute the only Change of Control Agreement between you and the Corporation, and it
will and will continue in effect until the later of (a) December 31, 2007 or (b) two years
following a Change of Control that occurs prior to December 31, 2007.
9. Termination Notice and Procedure.
Any termination of your employment by the Corporation or you within two (2) years after a
Change of Control shall be communicated by written notice of termination, all in accordance with
the following procedures:
(a) The notice of termination shall indicate the specific termination provision in
this Change of Control Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances alleged to provide a basis for termination.
(b) If the Corporation notifies you of your termination for Cause and you in good
faith notify the Corporation that a dispute exists concerning such termination within fifteen (15)
calendar days following your receipt of such notice, you may elect to continue your employment
during such dispute. If it is thereafter determined that Cause did exist, your termination date
shall be the earlier of (i) the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by
mutual written agreement of the parties or pursuant to the arbitration provisions set out below, or
(ii) the date of your death. If it is determined that Cause did not exist, your employment
shall continue as if the Corporation had not delivered its notice of termination.
(c) If the Corporation notifies you of your termination by reason of Disability and
you in good faith notify the Corporation that a dispute exists concerning such termination within
fifteen (15) calendar days following your receipt of such notice, you also may elect to continue
your employment during such dispute. The dispute relating to the existence of a Disability shall
be resolved by the opinion of the licensed physician selected by the Corporation; provided,
however, that if you do not accept the opinion of the licensed physician selected by the
Corporation, the dispute shall be resolved by the opinion of a licensed physician who shall be
selected by you; provided further, however, that if the Corporation does not accept the opinion of
the licensed physician selected by you, the dispute shall be finally resolved by the opinion of a
licensed physician selected by the licensed physicians selected by the Corporation and you,
respectively. If it is thereafter determined that a Disability did exist, your termination date
shall be the earlier of (i) the date on which the dispute is resolved or (ii) the
date of your death. If it is determined that a Disability did not exist, your employment shall
continue as if the Corporation had not delivered its notice of termination.
(d) If you in good faith notify the Corporation of your termination for Good Reason
and the Corporation notifies you that a dispute exists concerning the termination within fifteen
(15) calendar days following the Corporation’s receipt of such notice, you may elect to continue
your employment during such dispute. If it is thereafter determined that Good Reason did exist,
your termination date shall be the earlier of (i) the date on which the dispute is finally
determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties or pursuant to the arbitration
provisions set out below, (ii) the date of your death, or (iii) one day prior to
the second anniversary of a Change of Control, and your payments hereunder shall reflect events
occurring after you delivered notice of termination. If it is determined that Good Reason did not
exist, your employment shall continue after such determination as if you had not delivered the
notice of termination asserting Good Reason.
(e) If you do not elect to continue employment pending resolution of a dispute
regarding a notice of termination, and it is finally determined that the reason for termination set
forth in such notice of termination did not exist, if such notice was delivered by you, you shall
be deemed to have voluntarily terminated your employment other than for Good Reason and if
delivered by the Corporation, the Corporation will be deemed to have terminated you without Cause.
(f) For purposes of this Change of Control Agreement, a transfer from the
Corporation to one of its subsidiaries or a transfer from a subsidiary to the Corporation or
another subsidiary shall not be treated as a termination of employment.
(g) If you elect to continue your employment pending the resolution of a dispute
pursuant to Sections 9 (b), (c), or (d), the Corporation, in its discretion, may place you on a
paid administrative leave until the dispute is resolved.
10. Assumption by Successors.
The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation, acquisition, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets
of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to expressly assume and agree to perform this Change
of Control Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation or any
subsidiary would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the
Corporation to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession shall be a breach of this Change of Control Agreement
and shall entitle you to compensation from the Corporation in the same amount and on the same
terms to which you would be entitled hereunder if you terminate your employment for Good Reason
following a Change of Control, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on
which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed your termination date.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Arbitration; Related Expenses. Any dispute or controversy arising under
or in connection with this Change of Control Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration
held in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment
may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction. The Corporation shall
pay on a current basis all legal expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by you in connection
with such arbitration and the entering of such award if you prevail, or substantially prevail, in
such proceeding. Any reimbursement to you of such legal expenses shall be paid by the Corporation
no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which such legal
expenses were incurred.
(b) Replacement of Other Agreements. This Change of Control Agreement
replaces and supersedes any agreement previously entered into between you and the Corporation
regarding the payment of compensation or benefits following a Change of Control. This Change of
Control Agreement does not replace or supersede your Severance Agreement with the Corporation or
any provision in any stock option or restricted stock plan or agreement or any plan or program to
provide retirement or savings benefits.
(c) Employment at Will. This Change of Control Agreement shall neither
obligate the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to continue you in its employ (or to
employ you in any particular office or to perform any specified responsibility) nor obligate you to
continue in the employ of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.
(d) Successors. This Change of Control Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of you, your estate and the Corporation and any successor of the Corporation,
but neither this Change of Control Agreement nor any rights arising hereunder may be assigned or
pledged by you.
(e) Governing Law. This Change of Control Agreement shall be governed by
the laws of the State of New York.
(f) Severability. If any provision of this Change of Control Agreement as
applied to either party or to any circumstances shall be adjudged by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be void or unenforceable, the same shall in no way affect any other provision of
this Change of Control Agreement or the validity or enforceability of this Change of Control
Agreement.
(g) Amendment or Waiver. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11(j) of
this Change of Control Agreement, no provision of this Change of Control Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in a writing signed
by you and such officer as may be designated by the Board or a duly authorized Committee thereof.
No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of any
condition or provision of this Change of Control Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of any other condition or provision at any time.
(h) No Duty to Mitigate. For purposes of receiving payments under this
Change of Control Agreement, you are not under any duty to mitigate the damages resulting from your
termination of employment. As a result, you will receive the payments and other benefits provided
by this Change of Control Agreement regardless of whether you search for or obtain other work. As
provided in Section 1(b), however, your right to receive continued group medical, dental, and
vision insurance benefits will terminate if you become eligible to receive any such medical,
dental, or vision benefits under any other plan or program of any subsequent employer.
(i) Funding. The Corporation shall establish a trust to provide for the
funding of the Corporation’s obligations under this and similar agreements with other executives.
The trustee of the trust shall be chosen by the Corporation or any individual or committee to whom
the Corporation delegates that responsibility, but the trustee must be a national or state bank or
trust company. Prior to the day on which a Change of Control occurs, the Corporation shall
transfer to the trustee of the trust an amount equal to the Corporation’s total potential liability
to you pursuant to Sections 1(a), 2(a), 2(d), 2(e), 2(f), 7, and 11(a). Such amount shall be
determined by the Corporation acting in good faith. If it is discovered at any time that the
amount initially transferred is less than the total amount called for by the preceding sentence,
the shortfall shall be transferred to the trustee immediately upon the discovery of such error.
Under the terms of the trust, the trustee shall be obligated to pay to you the amount to which you
are entitled pursuant to Sections 1(a), 2(a), 2(d), 2(e), 2(f), 7, and 11(a) unless such amounts
are paid in a timely manner by the Corporation or its successors. The other terms and provisions
of the trust agreement shall be determined by the Corporation and the trustee.
(j) Effect of Change of Law. If at any time during the term of this Change
of Control Agreement any federal or state law or regulation is adopted or modified in any way that
will increase the cost of this Change of Control Agreement to the Corporation, the Corporation
reserves the right to unilaterally modify any provision of the Agreement in any manner which it
deems appropriate to eliminate the cost increase to the Corporation, including but not limited to
eliminating the offending provision or provisions in their entirety.
(k) American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The Corporation and you acknowledge
and agree that all payments under this Change of Control Agreement will be made in compliance with
and subject to the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations and guidance of the Department of the Treasury interpreting and implementing Section
409A. All payments made under this Change of Control Agreement (including but not limited to
termination payments, Gross-Up Payments and legal expenses) will, to the extent subject to such
Section, be made in compliance with Section 409A.
(l) Prior Amendments, Waivers. For the avoidance of doubt, this Change of
Control Agreement, as amended and restated, is not intended to override any amendments or waivers
previously entered into between you and the Corporation with respect to this Change of Control
Agreement, or any benefits provided herein.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please so indicate by signing and returning to the
Corporation the enclosed copy of this letter, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding
agreement between you and the Corporation.
| XXXXXX DODGE CORPORATION | ||||
| By | ||||
| Senior Vice President, Human Resources | ||||
Agreed: |
||||
| Date | ||||
