EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
XXXXXX MATERIALS COMPANY
AND
XXXXXX X. XXXXX
REVISED JULY 8, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Employment...................................................................1
2. Extent of Employment.........................................................1
3. Compensation.................................................................1
4. Term of Employment...........................................................1
5. Termination..................................................................2
6. Reimbursement of Expenses....................................................5
7. Benefits.....................................................................5
8. Agreements to Protect Company's Proprietary Information and Goodwill.........5
9. Defense of Claims............................................................6
10. Non-Disparagement.............................................................6
11. Certain Other Definitions.....................................................6
12. Change in Control.............................................................9
13. Notice........................................................................9
14. Severability.................................................................10
15. Breach; Waiver of Breach; Specific Performance...............................10
16. Assignment; Third Parties....................................................10
17. Amendment; Entire Agreement..................................................11
18. Choice of Law; Litigation....................................................11
19. Further Action...............................................................11
20. Intention of the Parties.....................................................11
21. Payment Obligations Absolute.................................................12
22. Mutual Releases..............................................................12
23. Reference Date...............................................................13
LIST OF DEFINITIONS
Additional Gross-Up Payment................................................3
Additional Payments........................................................3
Annual Bonus...............................................................1
Appraised Value...........................................................14
Auditor....................................................................4
base amount................................................................4
Base Salary................................................................1
Board of Directors.........................................................1
Buyer......................................................................6
Cause......................................................................6
Change in Control..........................................................7
Company....................................................................1
Confidential Information...................................................7
Constructive Termination...................................................7
Control Change Date........................................................9
Death......................................................................2
Determination..............................................................3
Disability.................................................................2
excess parachute payments..................................................4
Excise Tax.................................................................3
Executive..................................................................1
Gross-Up Payment...........................................................3
Indemnification Agreement..................................................4
knowing....................................................................8
knowledge..................................................................8
No Reason..................................................................2
parachute payments.........................................................4
Parent Incentive Program...................................................1
Relevant Trigger Period....................................................8
Remaining Trigger Period...................................................8
Resignation................................................................2
Scheduled Term End Date....................................................8
Security...................................................................3
Tax Counsel................................................................4
Term of Employment.........................................................1
Termination Date...........................................................1
Termination Payment........................................................8
Total Payments.............................................................3
Trigger Period.............................................................8
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
REVISED JULY 8, 2002
XXXXXX X. XXXXX ("Executive"), and XXXXXX MATERIALS COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), hereby agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. Executive is now, and has for some time served as, an
executive employee of Company. Company hereby agrees to continue the employment
of Executive as Vice President and Manager - Arizona Operations of Company, and
Executive hereby agrees to so continue such employment, during the Term of
Employment, all pursuant to this Agreement. The principal place of such
employment shall be in Phoenix, Arizona, Executive's current home city of
residence. The scope and duties of Executive in such employment shall be those
as have last characterized his employment through the date hereof.
2. EXTENT OF EMPLOYMENT. Executive shall perform his duties and
obligations hereunder faithfully, and to the best of his ability, under the
lawful direction of the Board of Directors of Company (the "Board of Directors")
and the President of Company. Executive shall devote all of his business time,
energy and skill such as may be reasonably necessary for the performance of his
duties and obligations hereunder, consistent with the past practices and norms
of Company and shall abide by the reasonable rules, customs and usages from time
to time established by Company.
3. COMPENSATION. In consideration of services provided hereunder,
Company shall compensate Executive during the Term of Employment as follows:
(a) Company shall pay to Executive, as base compensation during the
Term of Employment, in substantially equal monthly installments, an annual base
salary of $173,000 (the "Base Salary"). The Board of Directors shall annually
review and may increase or reduce the same in its sole discretion, except that
during the Trigger Period, the Board of Directors may not reduce the Base Salary
below $173,000.
(b) Company shall pay to Executive an annual bonus compensation
("Annual Bonus"), which is to be based on Executive's performance during and
respecting each calendar year during the Term of Employment. The payment and
amount of each year's Annual Bonus shall be at the sole discretion of the Board
of Directors, except that during and respecting the Trigger Period, the Board of
Directors must pay an Annual Bonus of no less than $150,000. Such Annual Bonus
shall be paid concurrently with other annual bonuses paid by Company to other
executives, unless earlier required by other provisions of this Agreement.
(c) Within 60 days after the occurrence of a Change in Control, Company
shall provide Executive with a description of the incentive compensation program
in which comparable executives of Company's United States parent participates
(herein called the "Parent Incentive Program"). During the 14 days after
Executive's receipt of such
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description, Executive shall the right to elect to participate in the Parent
Incentive Program by delivering written notice to Company in the manner set
forth in such description. If Executive so elects to so participate in the
Parent Incentive Program, then such participation shall be in lieu of
Executive's right to receive an Annual Bonus, and this Executive Employment
Agreement shall be amended so as to eliminate Executive's right to receive an
Annual Bonus (including as a component of a Termination Payment), and so as to
incorporate Executive's participation in the Parent Incentive Program.
4. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. The "Term of Employment" shall commence on the
date hereof and shall end on the Scheduled Term End Date or as otherwise
provided in Section 5. The last day of the Term of Employment is herein called
the "Termination Date."
5. TERMINATION.
(a) Subject to Company's obligations to make the payments contemplated
by the following provisions of this Section 5, the Term of Employment may be
terminated at any time prior to the Scheduled Term End Date:
(i) upon the death of Executive ("Death"); or
(ii) upon the Board of Directors reasonable determination,
after consultation with a competent medical physician, because of
physical or mental disability, Executive is unable to perform, and does
not perform, his material duties hereunder for 120 days in any
continuous 240-day period ("Disability"); or
(iii) by Company for Cause; or
(iv) by Company for any other reason ("No Reason"), or by
Company for no reason (also "No Reason"), or by Company by Constructive
Termination (also "No Reason"); or
(v) by Executive voluntarily and for no reason after 30 days'
prior written notice to Company and the Board of Directors
("Resignation").
Executive acknowledges that nothing contained herein, or otherwise stated by or
on behalf of Company, modifies or amends the right of Company to terminate
Executive at any time, with or without Cause.
(b) Upon termination of the Term of Employment on account of Death,
Disability, No Reason, Cause or Resignation, then:
(i) within ten days following the Termination Date, Company
shall pay to Executive (1) all accrued and unpaid Base Salary and
benefits (including vacation pay and benefits under Section 7 with
respect to the period of the Term of Employment prior to termination,
(2) reimbursement for all expenses under Section 6 with respect to such
period, (3) any other benefits (including COBRA) required by law to be
provided after termination of employment under the
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circumstances and (4) customary severance pay, if any, as established
by Company pursuant to then current practice; and
(ii) all unvested equity interests (such as stock options) in
or respecting Company, if there are any, shall vest as of such
Termination Date; and
(iii) all 401(k) benefits and accounts shall vest as of such
Termination Date.
(c) In addition to the salary, benefits and reimbursements set forth in
subsection 5(b), and in lieu of severance pay provided for in clause (4)
thereof, in the event that Executive's employment is terminated during the
Trigger Period on account of Death, Disability or No Reason, then:
(i) during the Remaining Trigger Period, Company shall also
(1) maintain and provide at its sole expense, or reimburse Executive
for 100% of the premiums necessary to procure and maintain, COBRA
continuation coverage under, or equivalent coverage to that provided
under, the Company's then current group health insurance plan, all
benefiting Executive and any of his dependents who are eligible
therefor, and all as referenced in Section 4980B of the Internal
Revenue Code, and (2) provide to Executive reasonable (in relation to
Executive's circumstances and position) professional outplacement
services, excepting that the same shall only be so provided during the
first nine months of such period, but all of the foregoing shall be so
maintained and provided only to the extent not otherwise to be
maintained or provided under the provisions of subsection 5(b) above;
and
(ii) within ten days after the commencement of the Remaining
Trigger Period, Company shall also pay to Executive the Termination
Payment in a lump sum.
(d) (i) Whether or not Executive becomes entitled to the
Termination Payment, if any of the payments or benefits received or to be
received by Executive in connection with a Change in Control or Executive's
termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
any other plan, arrangement or agreement with Company, with any person whose
actions result in a Change in Control or with any person affiliated with Company
or such person, (but not including any payments or benefits received by
Executive in connection with any Security (as defined in Section 5(d)(ii)) (all
such payments and benefits, excluding the Gross-Up Payment (as defined herein),
being hereinafter referred to as the "Total Payments") become subject to any
excise tax imposed under section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Excise
Tax"), Company shall pay to Executive an additional amount (the "Gross-Up
Payment") such that the net amount retained by Executive, after deduction of any
Excise Tax on the Total Payments and any federal, state and local income and
employment taxes and Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, and after taking into
account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions
attributable to the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Total Payments.
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(ii) This Agreement shall not apply to any payments or
benefits received by Executive in connection with any Security (as defined
herein) owned by Executive, which payments or benefits are subject to that
certain Indemnification Agreement executed by and between Executive and Company
of even date herewith (the "Indemnification Agreement"). For purposes of this
Section 5(d), the term "Security" shall mean any one or more of the convertible
debentures of Company issued as Series 2000A, 2000B, 2000C, 2000D and 2001.
(iii) For purposes of determining whether any of the Total
Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax,
(A) all of the Total Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments" (within
the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code) unless, in the
opinion of tax counsel ("Tax Counsel") selected by Company and reasonably
acceptable to Executive, such Total Payments (in whole or in part) do not
constitute parachute payments, including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of
the Internal Revenue Code, (B) all "excess parachute payments" within the
meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as
subject to the Excise Tax unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, such excess
parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for
services actually rendered (within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the
Internal Revenue Code) in excess of the "base amount" allocable to such
reasonable compensation (within the meaning of section 280G(b)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code), or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (C)
the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be
determined by the accounting firm which was, immediately prior to the Change in
Control, Company's independent auditor (the "Auditor") in accordance with the
principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. For
purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be
deemed to pay federal income tax at the highest marginal rate of federal income
taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and
state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the
state and locality of Executive's residence on the Termination Date (or if there
is no Termination Date, then the date on which the Gross-Up Payment is
calculated for purposes of this Section 5(d)), net of the maximum reduction in
federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and
local taxes.
(iv) In the event that the Excise Tax is finally determined to
be less than the amount taken into account hereunder in calculating the Gross-Up
Payment, Executive shall repay to Company, within 5 business days following the
time that the amount of such reduction in the Excise Tax is finally determined,
the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (including
that portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal,
state and local income and employment taxes imposed on the Gross-Up Payment
being repaid by Executive), plus in the event that such amount is not repaid
within 5 business days after Executive is notified of such determination
interest on the amount of such repayment at 120% of the rate provided in section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to
exceed the amount taken into account hereunder in calculating the Gross-Up
Payment
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(including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be
determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), Company shall make a further
Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest, penalties or
additions payable by Executive with respect to such excess) within 5 business
days following the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.
Executive and Company shall each reasonably cooperate with the other in
connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the
existence or amount of liability for Excise Tax with respect to the Total
Payments
(v) The Gross-Up Payment shall be made not later than the 30th
day following the Termination Date (or if there is no Termination Date, then the
30th day after the date on which the Gross-Up Payment is calculated for purposes
of this Section 5(d)). At the time the Gross-Up Payment is made, Company shall
provide Executive with a written statement setting forth the manner in which
such payment was calculated and the basis for such calculations including,
without limitation, any opinions or other advice Company has received from Tax
Counsel, the Auditor or other advisors or consultants (and any such opinions or
advice which are in writing shall be attached to the statement).
6. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. During the Term of Employment, Company
shall reimburse Executive for reasonably documented travel, entertainment and
other expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with the
performance of his duties hereunder and, in each case, in accordance with the
rules, customs and usages promulgated by Company from time to time in effect.
7. BENEFITS. Executive shall be entitled to participate in and be
covered by any insurance plan (including but not limited to life, medical,
dental, health, accident, hospitalization and disability), 401(k) plan or
pension plan, all as then in effect for and benefiting any executive employees
of Company, excepting only that Executive shall not be eligible to participate
in the Parent Incentive Program unless Executive has duly elected to so
participate as hereinabove provided. Executive shall also be entitled to paid
vacation in each twelve-month period in accordance with the current vacation
policy of Company, subject to the reasonable requirements of Company as to the
timing of the taking of such vacation.
8. AGREEMENTS TO PROTECT COMPANY'S PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND
GOODWILL. In consideration of Executive's employment and the compensation
payable in this Agreement, and in order to protect the confidential business
information and goodwill of Company's business that Executive has or will gain
from being unfairly used against Company, Executive agrees that, during
Executive's employment with Company and with respect to items (a), (b) and (c)
for the remainder of the Trigger Period and with respect to items (d) and (e)
for a period of 24 months following the termination of Executive's employment
with Company for any reason, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, engage
in any of the following:
(a) possess an ownership interest in, be employed in a management
position or hold a management consulting position with, or otherwise have any
material involvement with a concrete ready-mix, asphalt, aggregate or related
product business to the extent
8
that it conducts operations within a 100-mile radius of any facility owned by
Company or its affiliates in the state of Arizona on August 1, 2002, or within a
100-mile radius of any other location at which Executive's employment by Company
is based at any time during the 12 months prior to Executive's termination and
as to which Company advises Executive that it considers subject to this
provision;
(b) solicit or sell, either on behalf of Executive or on behalf of any
other person, firm, company or corporation, products or services which compete
with any of Company's or any of its affiliates' products or services to those
persons, companies, firms or corporations who were or are customers of Company
or any of its affiliates during Executive's employment;
(c) interfere with Company's or any of its affiliates' contractual
business relationships with its suppliers;
(d) solicit or in any manner encourage, directly or indirectly, any
employee of Company or any of its affiliates to leave its employ; or
(e) disclose to any person, or use or otherwise exploit for Executive's
own benefit or for the benefit of anyone other than Company, any Confidential
Information, whether prepared by Executive or not; however, any Confidential
Information may be disclosed (i) to officers, representatives, employees and
agents of Company who need to know such Confidential Information in order to
perform the services or conduct the operations required or expected of them in
Company's business, (ii) in good faith by Executive in connection with the
performance of his duties hereunder or (iii) after prompt notice to Company, as
may be required by law; any trade secrets will also be entitled to all of the
protections and benefits under any applicable law (if any information which
Company deems to be a trade secret is found by a court of competent jurisdiction
not to be a trade secret for purposes of this Section 8, then the Confidential
Information will be considered confidential information for purposes of this
Section 8; in the case of trade secrets, Executive hereby waives any requirement
that Company submit proof of the economic value of any trade secret or post any
bond or other security with respect to them).
Immediately after termination of employment with Company, Executive will deliver
to Company all materials in his possession involving Confidential Information.
Executive acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing restrictions are
reasonable, necessary and appropriate to protect Company's proprietary
information and its business goodwill.
9. DEFENSE OF CLAIMS. Executive agrees that, from the date hereof, and
continuing for a reasonable period after termination of the Term of Employment,
Executive will reasonably cooperate with Company in defense of any claims that
may be made against Company provided such defense does not interfere with
Executive's then current employment. Company agrees to reimburse Executive for
all of Executive's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with such
cooperation, including travel expenses and the fees and expenses of Executive's
legal counsel.
10. NON-DISPARAGEMENT. During and after the Term of Employment,
Executive agrees that he shall not make any false, defamatory or disparaging
statements about Company, its business, or the officers or directors of Company,
and Company agrees that
9
neither the officers nor the directors of Company shall make any false,
defamatory or disparaging statements about Executive.
11. CERTAIN OTHER DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Buyer" means the acquirer of control in a Change in Control
transaction,
(b) "Cause" means any of the following:
(i) Executive's conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo
contendere to, a serious felony or a crime involving embezzlement,
conversion of property or moral turpitude;
(ii) Executive's commission of fraud, embezzlement or
conversion of property, as reasonably determined by the Board of
Directors based upon credible evidence;
(iii) a reasonable and good faith finding by the Board of
Directors of Executive's knowing breach of any of his fiduciary duties
to Company or making of a misrepresentation or omission which breach,
misrepresentation or omission would reasonably be expected to
materially adversely affect the business, properties, assets, condition
(financial or other) or prospects of Company, provided that Executive
has been given written notice thereof and within 30 days after such
notice fails to cure the breach, misrepresentation or omission;
(iv) Executive's willful and continual neglect or failure
(other than by reason of Death or Disability) to discharge his material
duties, responsibilities or obligations prescribed by this Agreement or
any other agreement between Executive and Company, provided that
Executive has been given written notice thereof and within 30 days
after such notice fails to cure the neglect or failure;
(v) Executive's alcohol or substance abuse, which materially
interferes with Executive's ability to discharge his duties,
responsibilities and obligations prescribed by this Agreement, provided
that Executive has been given notice and 30 days from such notice fails
to cure such abuse;
(vi) Executive's material violation, with the actual knowledge
of Executive, of any obligations under this Agreement to Company,
including without limitation, those set forth in Sections 8 through 10
of this Agreement, provided that Executive has been given written
notice thereof and within 30 days after such notice fails to cure such
material violation; or
(vii) Executive's personal (as opposed to Company's) material
and knowing failure to observe or comply with all material and relevant
laws and regulations, whether as an officer, stockholder or otherwise,
such that the same would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on Company's ongoing business, operations, conditions,
other business relationships or
10
properties, provided, that Executive has been given written notice
thereof and within 30 days after such notice fails to cure such
failure.
(c) "Change in Control" means the consummation of a transaction or
series of transactions whereby there is a change "in the ownership or effective
control" of Company, or a change "in the ownership of a substantial portion of
the assets" of Company, as those terms are used in Section 280G(b)(2)(A) of the
Internal Revenue Code, which consummation occurs (no matter when) substantially
in accordance with and pursuant to a definitive agreement executed prior to
April 19, 2003.
(d) "Confidential Information" means any confidential information
including, without limitation, any study, data, calculations, software storage
media or other compilation of information, patent, patent application,
copyright, "know-how", trade secrets, customer lists, details of client or
consultant contracts, pricing policies, operational methods, marketing plans or
strategies, product development techniques or plans, business acquisition plans
or any portion or phase of any scientific or technical information, ideas,
discoveries, designs, inventions, creative works, computer programs (including
source or object codes), processes, procedures, formulae, improvements or other
proprietary or intellectual property of Company, whether or not in written or
tangible form, and whether or not registered, and including all files, records,
manuals, books, catalogues, memoranda, notes, summaries, plans, reports,
records, documents and other evidence thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the term "Confidential Information" does not include, and there shall be no
obligation hereunder with respect to, information that is or becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by Executive not
permissible hereunder.
(e) "Constructive Termination" means such ongoing intentional or
negligent actions or inactions by, or permitted by, Company (including (1)
coercion, (2) physical or mental abuse, (3) material adverse change from now
current circumstances in the scope, nature, authority or duties of Executive's
employment, unless such change involves a transfer (without relocating from
Phoenix, Arizona) to a comparable position in a division or a subsidiary of the
United States parent of Company or any of its affiliates and such division's or
subsidiary's operations are comparable in size to Company's operations as of the
date of Change in Control, (4) relocation from Phoenix, Arizona, (5) excessive
(in relation to now current practice) required business travel, unless such
additional travel is required due to a change in the location of Company's, or
its United States parent's, corporate headquarters, and travel to and from such
headquarters is required of comparable executive employees of Company or its
United States parent, (6) failure to provide to Executive compensation,
authority, duties or benefits (including medical benefits, but not including the
Parent Incentive Program unless Executive has duly elected to participate
therein) which are comparable to those provided to comparable executive
employees of Company, (7) other acts which could be deemed under common law to
be "constructive termination" of Executive's employment, or (8) default by
Company in performance of its obligations under this Agreement), such that
Executive reasonably and in good faith determines that he has reasonable cause
to, and he consequently does in fact, submit his resignation hereunder, provided
that Company has been given, prior to such resignation, written notice thereof
and within 30 days after such
11
notice fails to cease and cure such actions or inactions; however, no such
notice shall be so required in the event that one notice (relating to the same
or different actions or inactions) has been theretofore so given. Executive and
Company acknowledge and agree that, in the event of the occurrence of a Change
in Control, the provisions of the preceding sentence shall be liberally
construed in favor of, and so as to benefit to the maximum extent, Executive. A
resignation by Executive pursuant to the provisions of this subsection 11(e)
shall not be deemed to be a Resignation as defined in subsection 5(a)(v) above,
but instead the same shall be deemed to be a termination by Company by
Constructive Termination and thus to be a termination by Company for No Reason
under subsection 5(a)(iv) above.
(f) "knowing" and "knowledge" means actual knowledge without any duty
of investigation.
(g) "Remaining Trigger Period" means that period during the Trigger
Period which (1) commences on the last to occur as between the Termination Date
and the Control Change Date, and (2) ends on the last day of the Trigger Period.
(h) "Relevant Trigger Period" is that period during the Trigger Period
which (1) commences on the Termination Date and (2) ends on the last day of the
Trigger Period.
(i) "Scheduled Term End Date" means the date when Executive ceases to
be an employee of Company on account of Death, Disability, Cause, No Reason or
Resignation; however, if a Change in Control occurs, then the "Scheduled Term
End Date" means the second anniversary of the Control Change Date.
(j) "Termination Payment" means that dollar amount which is equal to
the sum of
(i) the product obtained when 1/365th of Executive's Base
Salary in effect on the Termination Date is multiplied by the number of
days in the Relevant Trigger Period, plus
(ii) the sum of the minimum Annual Bonuses which would have
been due to Executive during or respecting the Relevant Trigger Period.
Such Termination Payment shall not be reduced by any present value or similar
factor; Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of such
Termination Payment by securing other employment or otherwise; and such
Termination Payment shall not be reduced by reason of Executive's having secured
other employment or for any other reason.
(k) "Trigger Period" means that period which (1) commences on April 19,
2002, and (2) ends on the second anniversary of the Control Change Date. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, if no Change in Control occurs then no
Trigger Period occurs.
12. CHANGE IN CONTROL. In the event of the occurrence of a Change in
Control:
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(a) Company shall cause Buyer to thereafter continue the employment of
Executive under this Agreement and to otherwise assume and perform all of
Company's obligations under this Agreement in the place and stead of Company; in
other words, subsequent to a Change in Control, and as a result thereof,
Executive shall continue to be employed by Buyer under the terms of this
Agreement.
(b) Company shall cause Buyer to provide adequate security or assurance
to Executive that Buyer will in fact perform, and that Buyer has and will have
sufficient resources to perform, Company's and Buyer's obligations hereunder,
all as determined by Executive reasonably and in good faith.
(c) For all purposes under this Agreement, a Change in Control shall be
deemed to have "occurred" or been "consummated" when the transaction (or series
of transactions) effecting the same are consummated (that is, closed), and the
date of such occurrence or consummation shall be herein called the "Control
Change Date."
(d) Wherever relevant in this Agreement, references to Company after a
Change in Control shall be deemed to be references to Buyer, as the context
suggests and requires.
(e) If Executive was not an employee of Company on the Control Change
Date on account of a prior termination of the Term of Employment on account of
Death, Disability or No Reason, then as of such Control Change Date, Company
shall cause Employee to have the same rights, and to be in the same financial
position (respecting stock, options, debentures or other securities issued, or
to be issued, by Company), as he would have had or been in had such termination
not occurred, the same to be effected by Company's cash payment to Executive,
within ten days after the Control Change Date, of the appropriate dollar amount
required by this subsection.
(f) If Buyer is an acquisition subsidiary or other entity, the net
assets of which consist principally of Company's assets or stock in Company,
then
(i) the obligations of Buyer hereunder shall be
unconditionally guaranteed by the parent entity thereof, and
(ii) where the context is relevant (such as in determining
benefits of comparable executives after a Change in Control),
references to Buyer shall be deemed to be and include references to
such parent or to relevant affiliates thereof.
13. NOTICE. Any notice, request, demand or other communication required
or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be given in writing and if
delivered personally, sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, sent by overnight courier or sent by facsimile transmission (with
confirmation and a copy sent by mail within one day) as follows (or to such
other addressee or address as shall be set forth in a notice given in the same
manner):
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If to Executive: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
If to Company: Kiewit Materials Company
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
Telefax: 000.000.0000
Any such notices shall be deemed to be given on the date personally delivered or
sent by facsimile transmission or such return receipt is issued or the day after
if sent by overnight courier.
14. SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law, in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. If any court
determines that any provision of this Agreement is unenforceable and therefore
acts to reduce the scope or duration of such provision, the provision in its
reduced form, shall then be enforceable.
15. BREACH; WAIVER OF BREACH; SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. If either party
hereto breaches its obligations under this Agreement, the non-breaching party
shall be entitled to pursue all remedies available at law or in equity for such
breach. The waiver by one party hereto of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of
any other breach of such other party. Each party (and intended third-party
beneficiaries) hereto shall be entitled to enforce its rights in relation to any
breach by the other party of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all
other rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge
that Company would be irreparably injured by a violation of Sections 8 through
10 of this Agreement, that the provisions of such sections are reasonable, that
Company could not adequately be compensated in monetary damages, in light of the
sensitivity of the non-public information of Company to which Executive will be
exposed, and that Company may apply to any court of law or equity of competent
jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive relief, including
temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions
in order to enforce or prevent any violations of such provisions of this
Agreement.
16. ASSIGNMENT; THIRD PARTIES. Subject to the provisions of Section 12,
neither Executive nor Company may assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate,
encumber or otherwise dispose of this Agreement or any of his or its respective
rights or obligations
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hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld. The personal representative of Executive (after his
Death) is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement, and may enforce
the obligations of Company, and exercise the rights of Executive, hereunder
after the Death of Executive, all of which obligations and rights (as relevant)
shall survive. All payments which are required to be paid to Executive under
this Agreement and which accrue after the date of his death shall be paid when
due to the personal representative of his estate.
17. AMENDMENT; ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be changed,
modified or amended only by a written document signed by both parties hereto
which refers specifically to this Section 17. Except with respect to the
Indemnification Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes
in its entirety all prior and contemporaneous agreements, if any, between the
parties thereto. The enforceability of this Agreement shall not cease or
otherwise be adversely affected by the termination of Executive's employment
with Company.
18. CHOICE OF LAW; LITIGATION. This Agreement shall be governed by,
construed, applied and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Arizona. In the event that any party to this Agreement commences any litigation,
proceeding or other legal action in connection with or relating to this
Agreement, any related agreement or any matters described or contemplated herein
or therein, the parties hereto hereby agree (1) under all circumstances
absolutely and irrevocably to institute any litigation, proceeding or other
legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction located within the State of
Arizona, whether a state or federal court; (2) that in the event of any such
litigation, proceeding or action, such parties will consent and submit to the
personal jurisdiction of any such court described in clause (1) of this Section
18 and to service of process upon them in accordance with the rules and statutes
governing service of process (it being understood that nothing in this section
shall be deemed to prevent any party from seeking to remove any action to a
federal court in the State of Arizona); (3) to waive to the full extent
permitted by law any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the venue
of any such litigation, proceeding or action in any such court or that any such
litigation, proceeding or action was brought in any inconvenient forum; (4) to
designate, appoint and direct an authorized agent to receive on its behalf
service of any and all process and documents in any legal proceeding in the
State of Arizona, or as an alternative method of service, to service of process
in any legal proceeding by mailing of copies thereof to such party at its
address set forth herein for communications to such party; (5) that any service
made as provided herein shall be effective and binding service in every respect;
(6) if Executive prevails in such litigation, and if and to the extent that the
same is permitted by law, then Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement of
his reasonable legal fees and expenses of litigation incurred in connection
therewith; and (7) that nothing herein shall affect the rights of any party to
effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law.
19. FURTHER ACTION. Executive and Company hereby agree to perform any
further acts, and to execute and deliver any additional documents, which may be
15
reasonably required so as to effect, memorialize or carry out the provisions of
this Agreement.
20. INTENTION OF THE PARTIES. This Agreement is being executed in
connection with a concurrent determination by the Board of Directors that
Company should pursue a Change in Control transaction. The Board of Directors
has also determined that Executive's continued employment with, and efforts on
behalf of, Company respecting continuing operations and pursuit of a Change in
Control transaction are essential and of significant value to the Company. To
assure the same, Company is executing this Agreement with Executive and similar
agreements with other executives whose retention and efforts are similarly
important. Accordingly, the parties hereto hereby acknowledge and agree that the
provisions of this Agreement shall be liberally construed in favor of Executive
and so as to benefit him, to the maximum extent and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, so as to provide to him assured and significant
compensation, severance and other benefits in the event of the termination of
the Term of Employment hereunder prior to the end of the Trigger Period. All
provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
foregoing.
21. PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE. Company acknowledges that its
obligations during and after the Term of Employment to pay and provide to
Executive the compensation, severance and other benefits provided for herein
shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation, any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which Company may claim against
Executive or anyone else. All amounts payable by Company to Executive hereunder
shall be paid without notice or demand. Each and every payment made hereunder by
Company shall be final, and Company shall not seek to recover all or any part of
such payment from Executive, or from whomsoever may be entitled thereto, for any
reason whatsoever. If Company shall fail to pay when due any payment (including
the Termination Payment) required by the provisions of this Agreement, then from
and after the due date thereof, the unpaid amount of such payment shall
thereafter, and until paid, bear interest at an annual rate of interest equal to
400 basis points in excess of the Prime Rate published each day in the Money
Rates section of The Wall Street Journal, adjusted daily (or in the absence of
such publication, then such rate shall be determined as last provided for
therein).
22. MUTUAL RELEASES. Except as set forth in the last sentence of this
Section, Executive hereby releases Company from any and all claims or causes of
action which Executive may now have or claim against Company arising out of
Executive's employment with Company. Except as set forth in the last sentence of
this Section, Company hereby releases Executive from any and all claims or
causes of action which Company may now have or claim against Executive arising
out of Executive's employment with Company. The preceding two sentences shall
not relate to, cover or release any claims or causes of action which either
Executive or Company may have or claim against the other which arise under the
provisions of this Agreement or the Indemnification Agreement.
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23. REVISION. This Executive Employment Agreement Revised July 8, 2002,
is a revision of, and replaces and supercedes in its entirety, the certain
Executive Employment Agreement executed by and between Executive and Company
dated for reference purposes April 19, 2002.
24. REFERENCE DATE. This Agreement shall be dated for reference
purposes July 8, 2002.
EXECUTIVE:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
KIEWIT MATERIALS COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chairman
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