EXHIBIT 10.5
CHANGE IN CONTROL
AND
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Agreement, dated as of the _____ day of ______ 2008 (the "Agreement")
by and between TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY, a Michigan corporation (the
"Company"), and ____________________ ("Executive").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the Executive on
behalf of the Company as outlined in the employment letter, term sheet or job
description and duties attached hereto as Exhibit A (collectively, the "Assigned
Duties and Responsibilities"); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are entering into this Agreement to
set forth their respective duties and obligations in the event of the
termination of Executive's employment with the Company under certain
circumstances.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment and Duties. Executive shall have the duties and
responsibilities outlined in the Assigned Duties and Responsibilities as such
duties and responsibilities may be revised or supplemented in written directives
from the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board"). So long as Executive is employed by the Company, Executive shall
devote his business time, attention and energy on a full-time basis exclusively
to the affairs of the Company and its affiliates and shall use his best efforts
to promote the interests of the Company, and the Executive shall not engage in
any other business activity without the approval of the Board.
2. Term of Agreement; Termination of Agreement.
(a) Term. This Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth
above and shall remain in effect for three (3) years (the "Initial Term").
At the end of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall thereafter be
automatically renewed for successive one (1) year periods (each a "Renewal
Term"), unless the Company shall have given the Executive written notice of
cancellation and termination at least sixty (60) days prior to the end of
the Initial term or the Renewal Term then in effect that the Agreement
shall terminate at the end of such Initial Term or Renewal Term.
(b) Termination.
(1) In addition to termination under Subsection (a) of this
Section 2, this Agreement may be terminated, at any time, by mutual
agreement of the parties.
(2) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except as
provided in Subsections 3(c) and (f) hereof, this Agreement shall
terminate and be of no further force or effect on Executive's death.
3. Termination of Employment; Termination Payments.
(a) Termination of Executive's Employment. The Executive may terminate
his employment with the Company in accordance with this Section 3: (i)
voluntarily; or (ii) with Good Reason on Change of Control (as hereinafter
defined). The Company may terminate the Executive's employment with the
Company, in accordance with this Section 3: (x) for Cause (as hereinafter
defined); (y) without Cause; or (z) for Executive's Disability. Any
termination of the Executive under this Agreement that would trigger an
obligation to make any payments to the Executive must constitute a
"separation from service" within the meaning of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
(b) Payments - Termination by Executive. If Executive voluntarily
terminates his employment without Good Reason on Change of Control, then
Executive shall be entitled to receive: (A) a cash payment equal to the
aggregate amount of (x) accrued but unpaid base salary and (y) unused
vacation days; and (B) for a period of 180 days beginning on the effective
date of Executive's termination (the "Termination Date"), the ability to
exercise any then vested awards ("Incentive Awards") under the Company's
Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") in accordance with the terms of the LTIP
and any such Incentive Awards. All of Executive's unvested Incentive Awards
will be cancelled as of the Termination Date. All of Executive's vested
Initial Incentive Award and Annual Awards not exercised on or before the
180th day referred to above (the "Last Exercise Date"), will be cancelled
as of the Last Exercise Date. After the Termination Date, other than the
foregoing, Executive will not be entitled to receive any other
post-termination payments or severance. Any cash payments due under this
Section 3(b) shall be payable in a lump sum within sixty (60) days of the
Termination Date, provided that, in the event that the Termination Date is
a date during the period beginning on December 16 and ending on December
31, payment will occur no later than March 15 of the year following the
year in which the Termination Date falls.
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(c) Payments - Termination - by the Company without Cause. In the
event that the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without
Cause, then Executive shall be entitled to: (A) cash payment in an amount
equal to the aggregate of (i) accrued but unpaid base salary; (ii) unused
vacation days; (iii) one year's base salary then in effect; (iv) one times
the Executive's then applicable annual target bonus under the Company's
performance-based annual incentive plan ("Target Bonus"); (B) for a period
of 180 days beginning on the Termination Date, the ability to exercise any
vested Incentive Awards in accordance with their respective terms for
exercise; and (C) for a period of twelve (12) months after the Termination
Date, subject to any applicable co-payments and deductibles, health
insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision) for Executive and
Executive's eligible family members to the extent Executive is a
participant in a Company health insurance plan as of the Termination Date
and, at least equal to the coverage provided to such persons under the
Company's health insurance plans in effect on the Termination Date. In the
event that Executive dies or incurs a Disability during such twelve (12)
month period, the Company will continue to provide health insurance
coverage for the Executive's eligible family members for the balance of
such twelve (12) months. All of Executive's vested Incentive Awards not
exercised on or before the Last Exercise Date, will be cancelled as of the
Last Exercise Date.
After the Termination Date, other than the foregoing, Executive will
not be entitled to receive any other post-termination payments or
severance. Any cash payments due under Section 3(c)(A)(i) and (ii) above
shall be paid within thirty (30) days of the Termination Date. Any cash
payments due under Section 3(c)(A)(iii) above shall be paid in installments
over the twelve (12) months after the Termination Date in accordance with
the Company's normal payroll practices. Any cash payment due under Section
3(c)(A)(iv) above shall be paid at the time bonuses are payable to other
participants in the plan or program under which the applicable Target Bonus
was established.
(d) Payments - Termination - Good Reason - Change of Control. In the
event that (A) following the effective date of a Change of Control,
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause; or (B)
within 180 days following the effective date of a Change in Control,
Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason on Change of Control,
then in either event as of the Termination Date, Executive shall be
entitled to: (i) immediate vesting of one hundred percent (100%) of the
Executive's Incentive Awards, if any; and (ii) receive the compensation and
benefits specified under Section 3(c) of this Agreement (subject to the
same time periods and conditions provided in Section 3(c)), but any cash
payment due under Section 3(c)(A)(iii) and (iv) above shall be paid in a
lump sum within thirty (30) days of the Termination Date. All of
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Executive's vested Incentive Awards not exercised on or before the Last
Exercise Date, will be cancelled as of the Last Exercise Date.
After the Termination Date, other than the foregoing, Executive will
not be entitled to receive any other post-termination payments or
severance.
(e) Payments - Termination - Cause. If the Company terminates
Executive's employment for Cause, then Executive shall be entitled to
receive a cash payment equal to the aggregate amount of (i) accrued but
unpaid base salary and (ii) unused vacation days. All Incentive Awards, if
any, whether or not vested, which have not been exercised or paid, as the
case may be, will be forfeited and immediately cancelled effective on the
date notice of the for Cause termination is delivered to Executive. After
the Termination Date, other than the foregoing, Executive will not be
entitled to receive any other post-termination payments or severance. Any
cash payments due under this Section 3(e) shall be payable in a lump sum
within ninety (90) days of the Termination Date, provided that, in the
event that the Termination Date is a date during the period beginning on
December 16 and ending on December 31, payment will occur no later than
March 15 of the year following the year in which the Termination Date
falls.
(f) Termination Payments - Disability. If Executive is terminated by
the Company for a Disability (as hereinafter defined), then Executive shall
be entitled to receive: (i) a cash payment equal to the aggregate amount of
(A) accrued but unpaid Base Salary, (B) unused vacation days, and (C) the
Target Bonus on a pro rata basis through the Termination Date; (D)
settlement of any then vested Incentive Awards; (ii) the immediate vesting
of the next tranche of any Incentive Award that would have vested after the
Termination Date; (iii) for a period of twelve (12) months after the
Termination Date, subject to any applicable co-payments and deductibles,
health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision) for Executive and
Executive's eligible family members to the extent Executive is a
participant in a Company health insurance plan as of the Termination Date
and, at least equal to the coverage provided to such persons under the
Company's health insurance plans in effect on the Termination Date; (iv) in
the event that Executive dies during such twelve (12) month period, the
Company will continue to provide health insurance coverage for the
Executive's eligible family members for the balance of such twelve (12)
months; and (v) the ability to exercise any then vested Incentive Awards in
accordance with their terms. All of Executive's unvested Incentive Awards
or other grants will be cancelled as of the Termination Date. After the
Termination Date, other than the foregoing, Executive will not be entitled
to receive any other post-termination payments or severance. Any cash
payments due under this Section 3(f) shall be payable in a lump sum within
ninety (90) days of the Termination Date, provided that, in the event that
the Termination Date is a date during the period beginning
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on December 16 and ending on December 31, payment will occur no later than
March 15 of the year following the year in which the Termination Date
falls.
(g) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this
Agreement:
(i) "Cause" shall mean any of the following: (A) the Executive's
continuing substantial failure to perform his duties for the Company
for thirty (30) days (other than as a result of incapacity due to
mental or physical illness) after a written demand is delivered to the
Executive by the Company's Chief Executive Officer or Board of
Directors; (B) the Executive's willful engagement in illegal conduct
or gross misconduct that is materially and demonstrably injurious to
the Company; (C) the Executive's conviction of a felony or his plea of
guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; or (D) the Executive's willful
and material breach of his confidentiality obligations under local law
or the Company's code of conduct.
(ii) "Change of Control" shall occur if at any time:
(A) Any person or group (as such terms are used in
connection with Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act)
hereafter becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13(d)(3) and 13(d)(5) under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty-five
percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities;
(B) A merger, consolidation, sale of assets, reorganization,
or proxy contest is consummated and, as a consequence of which,
members of the Board in office immediately prior to such
transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board
thereafter;
(C) A merger, consolidation, or reorganization is
consummated with any other corporation pursuant to which the
shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the merger,
consolidation, or reorganization do not immediately thereafter
directly or indirectly own more than fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power of the voting securities entitled to vote
in the election of directors of the merged, consolidated, or
reorganized entity; or
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(D) members of the Incumbent Board (as hereinafter defined)
cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company.
(iii) "Disability" means any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months:
(A) which renders Executive unable to engage in any substantial
gainful activity; or (B) which enables Executive to receive income
replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months
under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company,
provided that this definition shall be interpreted in accordance with
Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) and regulations and other guidance
thereunder. Notwithstanding (A) and (B) of this Section 3(g)(iii),
Executive shall be deemed to have a total and permanent disability
when determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security
Administration.
(iv) "Good Reason on Change of Control" shall mean any of the
following occurrences following a Change of Control: (A) without the
Executive's prior written consent, the assignment of the Executive to
duties that are a material diminution of the Executive's then Assigned
Duties and Responsibilities, or the taking of any action that results
in the material diminution of such Assigned Duties or
Responsibilities; (B) the failure to maintain the Executive in an
equivalent position in the entity surviving a merger or consolidation
involving the Company; (C) the failure of the Company to pay Executive
the base salary then in effect and provide the Target Bonus
opportunity or Incentive Awards as and when required; (D) Executive's
base salary or Target Bonus is reduced other than as a result of the
operation of a plan or changes in a plan applicable to all
participants (and such reduction is unrelated to Company or individual
performance); or (E) Executive is assigned to a location more than one
hundred (100) miles from the then current headquarters of the Company.
(v) "Incumbent Board" shall mean the individuals who, as of the
date of this Agreement, constitute the entire Board of Directors of
the Company and any new director whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still
in office who either were directors on the date of this Agreement or
whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved.
(h) Termination Notice. The Executive must provide the Company with
thirty (30) days advance written notice of his intention to terminate his
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employment for any reason other than Good Reason on Change of Control for
which reason the Executive shall give the Company ten (10) days advance
written notice.
(i) Post Termination Cooperation. In the event of termination of the
Executive's employment, for whatever reason (other than death or
Disability), the Executive agrees to cooperate with the Company and to be
reasonably available to the Company for a reasonable period of time
thereafter with respect to matters arising out of the Executive's
employment hereunder or any other relationship with the Company, whether
such matters are business-related, legal or otherwise.
(j) Resignation. Upon termination of the Executive's employment for
any reason, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all
positions with the Company and its affiliates.
(k) Release; Full Satisfaction. (i) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, no post-termination payments to which
Executive becomes entitled under this Agreement or any agreement or plan
referenced herein shall become payable under this Agreement unless and
until the Executive executes a general release of claims in form and manner
reasonably satisfactory to the Company including, where relevant, a release
of any statutory claims, and such release has become irrevocable; provided,
that the Executive shall not be required to release any indemnification
rights. (ii) The payments to be provided to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement upon termination of the Executive's employment shall constitute
the exclusive payments in the nature of severance or termination pay or
salary continuation which shall be due to the Executive upon a termination
of employment and shall be in lieu of any other such payments under any
plan, program, policy or other arrangement which has heretofore been or
shall hereafter be established by any member of the Company.
(l) Termination Payments - Delay. To the extent (i) any
post-termination payments to which Executive becomes entitled under this
Agreement or any agreement or plan referenced herein constitute "deferred
compensation" subject to Section 409A of the Code; and (ii) Executive is
deemed at the time of such termination of employment to be a "specified
employee" under Section 409A of the Code, then such payment will not be
made or commence until the earliest of (x): the expiration of the six (6)
month period measured from the date of Executive's "separation from
service" (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulations under Section
409A of the Code and any other guidance issued under Section 409A of the
Code) with the Company; (y) the date Executive has a Disability; and (z)
the date of Executive's death following such separation from service. Upon
the expiration of the applicable deferral period as described in this
Section 3(l), any payments which would have otherwise been made during that
period (whether in a single sum or in installments) in the absence of this
provision
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(together with reasonable accrued interest) will be paid to Executive or
Executive's beneficiary in one lump sum.
4. Integration; Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes
and replaces in their entirety any prior agreements or understandings concerning
such subject matter. This Agreement may not be waived, changed, modified,
extended, or discharged orally, but only by agreement in writing.
5. Noncompetition. Executive agrees not to engage in competitive activities
while employed by the Company and, in the event Executive's employment is
terminated voluntarily by Executive or without Cause by the Company, during the
Restricted Period (as hereinafter defined). Executive shall be deemed to engage
in competitive activities if he shall, without the prior written consent of the
Company, render services directly or indirectly, as an employee, officer,
director, consultant, advisor, partner, or otherwise, for any organization or
enterprise which competes directly or indirectly with the business of Company or
any of its affiliates. For purposes of this Agreement the term, "Restricted
Period" shall equal the longer of (y) twelve (12) months, or (z) the period
during which Executive receives salary and benefits under this Agreement, in
each case commencing as of the Termination Date.
6. Non-disparagement. During the Restricted Period, (a) the Executive shall
not make or publish any disparaging statements (whether written or oral)
regarding the Company or its affiliates, directors, officers or employees, and
(b) the Company shall not make or publish any disparaging statements (whether
written or oral) regarding the Executive. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, during the Restricted Period, the Company may respond to inquiries
from Executive's prospective employers who contact the Company, and may make any
public announcements or filings that may be necessary for a public company.
7. Taxes. The Executive shall be solely responsible for taxes imposed on
the Executive by reason of any compensation, benefits or termination payments
provided under this Agreement and all such compensation, benefits, and
termination payments shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes or excise
tax. In the event that the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded
to Executive under this Agreement would be deemed to include an "excess
parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereof, and
subject to any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 (or any successor thereto)
of the Code, under no circumstances will the Company pay whether in form of
additional compensation or otherwise any portion of such excise tax.
8. Certain Continuing Obligations of Executive. So long as he is employed
by the Company or an affiliate and thereafter, Executive agrees to keep
confidential all trade
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secrets, technical information, intellectual property, business and marketing
plans, strategies, customer information, other information concerning the
products, promotions, development, financing, expansion plans, business policies
and practices of the Company, and other data concerning the private affairs of
the Company and its affiliates, made known to or developed by Executive during
the course of his employment hereunder ("Confidential Information"), not to use
any Confidential Information or supply Confidential Information to others other
than in furtherance of the Company's business, and to return to the Company upon
termination of his employment all copies, in whatever form or media, of all
Confidential Information and all other documents relating to the business of the
Company or any of its affiliates which may then be in the possession or under
the control of Executive.
At the request of the Company, Executive agrees to execute such
confidentiality agreements, assignments of intellectual property rights, and
other documents as hereafter may be reasonably determined by the Company to be
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Section.
9. At-Will Employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge that
Executive's employment is and will continue to be at-will within the meaning of
applicable law.
10. Notices. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
given when delivered or mailed by United States registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or national overnight courier with
proof of delivery addressed as follows:
If to the Executive: __________________________
__________________________
__________________________
If to the Company: Tecumseh Products Company
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing. Notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
11. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan applicable to contracts made
and to be performed within such State without regards to the principles of
conflicts of law.
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12. Venue and Jurisdiction; Enforcement.
(A). The parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts located in the Eastern District of Michigan, which shall be the
exclusive venue for any legal action or proceeding filed by either party with
respect to this Agreement. The parties hereby further agree and irrevocably
waive any objection, including any objection to the laying of venue or based on
the grounds of forum non conveniens that either of them may now or hereafter
have to the bringing of any such action or proceedings in such jurisdictions.
(B). In connection with any proceeding brought by the Executive to enforce
any provision of this Agreement, whether brought by the Executive as plaintiff
or as a counter- or cross-claim by the Executive, the Company shall pay all of
the Executive's costs, expenses and fees (including actual attorneys' fees)
incurred by the Executive in connection with such proceeding.
13. Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and any other agreement between the Company and Executive, this
Agreement shall control.
14. Headings. The headings contained herein are solely for the purposes of
reference, are not part of this Agreement and shall not in any way affect the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY
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By:
Its:
EXECUTIVE
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EXHIBIT A
[Assigned Duties & Responsibilities]
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