EXECUTIVE CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Agreement (this "Agreement") is dated
as of December 2, 1999, by and between First Aviation Services Inc. ("FAvS" or
"the Company"), a Delaware Corporation and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, an individual
(the "Executive").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS the Company considers it to be in the best interests
of its stockholders to xxxxxx the continuous employment of key management
personnel, and believes that the possibility of a "Change of Control" event
involving the Company and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among
management may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to
the detriment of the Company and its stockholders;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that
appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued
attention and dedication of members of the Company's management, including the
Executive, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of
potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a
"Change of Control" event involving the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises set
forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, in order to induce
the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company, the Company agrees that
the Executive shall receive the severance benefits set forth in this Agreement
in the event his employment with the Company terminates subsequent to a "Change
of Control" of the Company under the circumstances described below:
I. DEFINITIONS
Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following definitions shall be applicable to the terms set forth below:
(a) Annual Salary. "Annual Salary" shall mean the Executive's
Annual Salary then in effect, pursuant to the Executive's
Employment Agreement before any deductions, exclusions,
deferrals or contributions under any Company plan or program,
but excluding, bonuses, incentive compensation, employee
benefits or any other non-salary forms of compensation.
(b) Cause. "Cause" shall mean only the following: (i)
continued failure by the Executive after receipt of written
notice thereof to perform his duties hereunder or those duties
which may, from time to time, be reasonably requested by the
Chief Operating Officer or the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company (other than such failure resulting from the
Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness), as
determined by the independent members of the Board of
Directors in their reasonable discretion; (ii) misconduct by
the Executive which is materially injurious to the Company;
(iii) conviction of or
pleading no contest to a felony or crime of moral
turpitude; (iv) habitual drunkenness or drug use by the
Executive; (v) failure to uphold the policies of the Company
and/or action by the Executive beyond the scope of his
employment, as such scope is set by the Chief Operating
Officer or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company from
time to time; (vi) a material breach of this Agreement by the
Executive.
(c) Change of Control. A "Change of Control" shall occur if
during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at
the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors
cease for any reason to constitute less than one half of the
membership of the board, unless the election, or the
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders of each
Director first elected during such period was approved by a
vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in
office who were Directors at the beginning of any such period.
II SEVERANCE PRIOR TO CHANGE OF CONTROL
If during the term of this agreement, no Change of Control has
occurred and the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for any
reason, this agreement shall not apply and Executive shall be entitled to
receive severance if such payments are appropriate under the provisions of said
Executive's Employment Agreement with the Company, if any. In the absence of an
Employment Agreement, then said Executive shall be entitled to severance in
accordance with the Company's applicable severance policy. The Company shall not
discharge the Executive in anticipation of a Change of Control in order to avoid
the Company or its successor's obligations under this agreement.
III SEVERANCE AFTER CHANGE OF CONTROL
If during the term of this Agreement and following a Change of
Control, Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for any reason,
including his/her voluntary resignation, but other than by (i) death, (ii)
Cause, or (iii) Disability, Executive shall be entitled to receive, subject to
applicable federal, state and or local taxes and other amounts required by
governmental authorities to be withheld or deducted, the payment by the Company
of an amount equal to two times the Executive's Annual Salary as of the date of
the Change of Control. The Company shall make payment to the Executive in twelve
equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of the calendar month
following the date of such termination and on the first day of each of the next
eleven calendar months thereafter.
IV EQUALIZATION
(a) In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, to or for the benefit of
the Executive in accordance with Section III above or otherwise pursuant to or
by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement,
including without limitation any stock option agreement (a "Payment"), would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code") (such tax, together with any interest and
penalties, being hereafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then
the Executive shall be entitled to
receive an additional payment (an "Equalization Payment") in an amount such
that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or
penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed
on the Equalization Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Equalization
Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment.
(b) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the
Company of the Equalization Payment. Such notification shall be given no later
than fifteen (15) business days after the receipt by the Executive of such a
claim by the Internal Revenue Service.
V PAYMENT
All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject
to the withholding of applicable federal, state and local income taxes as well
as any governmental or court order of a competent jurisdiction.
VI VESTING OF STOCK OPTIONS
Vesting of any long-term incentive grants and awards resulting
from employment terminations, regardless of the reason for or date of such
termination, shall be governed by the long-term incentive plan document and any
grant or award agreements and shall not be affected by the terms of this
Agreement.
VII AT WILL EMPLOYMENT
The Company and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive's
employment with the Company is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined
under applicable law. If the Executive's employment terminates for any reason,
whether prior to or after a Change of Control, the Executive shall not be
entitled to any payments or benefits, other than as provided by this Agreement,
the Executive's Employment Agreement and/or as may otherwise be available in
accordance with the terms of the Company's then existing employee plans and
written policies in effect at the time of termination.
VIII TERMINATION
This Agreement shall terminate, except for any unpaid
obligations of the Company, at the earlier of December 2, 2002 or two years
following a Change of Control of the Company.
IX NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE
The Executive is under no obligation to mitigate damages in
the amount of any payment provided herein by seeking other employment or
otherwise.
X ASSIGNMENT, SUCCESSORS
(a) Without limiting the rights of the Executive as provided
in Section III hereof, the Company shall require any successor to or assign
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) of
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by
agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Executive, to
expressly and unconditionally assume and agree to perform this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devises and legatees. If the
Executive dies while any amounts are payable hereunder, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there is
no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
(c) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without
the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the
Executive except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
XI NOTICE
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
First Aviation Services Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to the Executive:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
00000 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
XII MISCELLANEOUS
(a) No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged except in a writing signed and dated by both parties. No waiver by
either party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance
with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior or
subsequent time.
(b) This Agreement reflects the entire agreement of the
parties with respect to its subject matter, and supersedes all previous
agreements. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or
implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either
party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.
(c) This Agreement shall be governed and construed in all
respects in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Connecticut.
(d) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(e) This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
(f) Any action at law or in equity under this Agreement shall
be brought in the courts of the State of Connecticut and in no other court
(whether or not jurisdiction can be established in another court). Each party to
this agreement waives the right to argue that venue is not appropriate to the
Courts of the State of Connecticut. The parties hereby knowingly, voluntarily
and intentionally waive any right that they may have to a trial by jury, this
waiver being a material inducement for the parties entering into this agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set his hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee of the Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be
executed in its name on its behalf, all on the day and year first written above.
FIRST AVIATION SERVICES INC.
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
an individual
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
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