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EXHIBIT 10.5
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of the ______ day of
October, 1999 by and between DAISYTEK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and _______________ ("Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company considers the establishment and
maintenance of a sound and vital management to be essential to protecting and
enhancing the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that, as is the case with many
publicly held corporations, the possibility of a change in control may arise and
that such possibility may result in the departure or distraction of management
personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board (as defined in Section 1) has determined
that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to secure
Executive's continued services and to ensure Executive's continued and undivided
dedication to his duties in the event of any threat or occurrence of a Change in
Control (as defined in Section 1) of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into
this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and
the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and Executive
hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
respective meanings set forth below:
a) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
a) "Bonus Amount" means the greater of (I) the highest annual incentive bonus
earned by Executive from the Company (or its affiliates) during the last three
(3) completed fiscal years of the Company immediately preceding Executive's Date
of Termination (annualized in the event Executive was not employed by the
Company (or its affiliates) for the whole of any such fiscal year) or (ii) the
Executive's target bonus for the fiscal year of the Company which includes the
Executive's Date of Termination.
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a) "Cause" means (I) the willful and continued failure of Executive to perform
substantially his duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting
from Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such
failure subsequent to Executive being delivered a Notice of Termination without
Cause by the Company or delivering a Notice of Termination for Good Reason to
the Company) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to
Executive by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the
Board believes that Executive has not substantially performed Executive's
duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by Executive in illegal conduct or gross
misconduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its
affiliates. For purpose of the preceding sentence, no act or failure to act by
Executive shall be considered "willful" unless done or omitted to be done by
Executive in bad faith and without reasonable belief that Executive's action or
omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act,
based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board,
based upon the advice of counsel for the Company (or upon the instructions of
the Company's chief executive officer or another senior officer of the Company)
shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Executive
in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. Cause shall not exist
unless and until the Company has delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution
duly adopted by a majority of the entire Board (excluding Executive if Executive
is a Board member) at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose
(after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for Executive, together
with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith
opinion of the Board an event set forth in clauses (1) or (2) has occurred and
specifying the particulars thereof in detail. The Company must notify Executive
of any event constituting Cause within ninety (90) days following the Company's
knowledge of its existence or such event shall not constitute Cause under this
Agreement.
a) "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(1) individuals who, on the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board (the
"Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of
the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date
of this Agreement, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a
vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either
by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which
such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to
such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no
individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or
as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies (or
consents) by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to
be an Incumbent Director;
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(2) any "Person" (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the
"Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the event described in
this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control by virtue of
any of the following acquisitions: (A) by the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) by
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Company or any Subsidiary, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities, (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying
Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii)), or (E) pursuant to any acquisition
by Executive or any group of persons including Executive (or any entity
controlled by Executive or any group of persons including Executive);
(1) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or
similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company's stockholders, whether
for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a
"Business Combination"), unless immediately following such Business Combination:
(A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting
from such Business Combination (the "Surviving Corporation"), or (y) if
applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has
beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect
directors of the Surviving Corporation (the "Parent Corporation"), is
represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior
to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into
which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business
Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in
substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting
Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business
Combination, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent
Corporation), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 30%
or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible
to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent
Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no
Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation of the
Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board's
approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business
Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria
specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a "Non-Qualifying
Transaction); or
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(1) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the
Company shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires
beneficial ownership of more than 30% of the Company Voting Securities as a
result of the acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company which
reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided, that if
after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner
of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of
outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a
Change in Control of the Company shall then occur.
a) "Date of Termination" means (1) the effective date on which Executive's
employment by the Company terminates as specified in a prior written notice by
the Company or Executive, as the case may be, to the other, delivered pursuant
to Section 10 or (2) if Executive's employment by the Company terminates by
reason of death, the date of death of Executive.
a) "Disability" means termination of Executive's employment by the Company due
to Executive's absence from Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for at least one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days as a result of
Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness.
a) "Good Reason" means, without Executive's express written consent, the
occurrence of any of the following events after a Change in Control:
(1) (A) any change in the duties or responsibilities (including reporting
responsibilities) of Executive that is inconsistent in any material and adverse
respect with Executive's position(s), duties, responsibilities or status with
the Company immediately prior to such Change in Control (including any material
and adverse diminution of such duties or responsibilities); provided, however,
that Good Reason shall not be deemed to occur upon a change in duties or
responsibilities (other than reporting responsibilities) that is solely and
directly a result of the Company no longer being a publicly traded entity and
does not involve any other event set forth in this paragraph (g) or (B) a
material and adverse change in Executive's titles or offices (including, if
applicable, membership on the Board) with the Company as in effect immediately
prior to such Change in Control;
(1) a reduction by the Company in Executive's rate of annual base salary or
annual target bonus opportunity (including any material and adverse change in
the formula for such annual bonus target) as in effect immediately prior to such
Change in Control or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;
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(1) any requirement of the Company that Executive (A) be based anywhere more
than thirty-five (35) miles from the office where Executive is located at the
time of the Change in Control, if such relocation increases Executive's commute
by more than twenty (20) miles, or (B) travel on Company business to an extent
substantially greater than the travel obligations of Executive immediately prior
to such Change in Control;
(1) the failure of the Company to (A) continue in effect any employee benefit
plan, compensation plan, welfare benefit plan or material fringe benefit plan in
which Executive is participating immediately prior to such Change in Control or
the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect Executive's
participation in or reduce Executive's benefits under any such plan, unless
Executive is permitted to participate in other plans providing Executive with
substantially equivalent benefits in the aggregate (at substantially equivalent
cost with respect to welfare benefit plans), or (B) provide Executive with paid
vacation in accordance with the most favorable vacation policies of the Company
as in effect for Executive immediately prior to such Change in Control,
including the crediting of all service for which Executive had been credited
under such vacation policies prior to the Change in Control;
(1) any refusal by the Company to continue to permit Executive to engage in
activities not directly related to the business of the Company which Executive
was permitted to engage in prior to the Change in Control;
(1) any purported termination of Executive's employment which is not effectuated
pursuant to Section 10(b) (and which will not constitute a termination
hereunder); or
(1) the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption (and, if applicable,
guarantee) agreement from any successor (and, if applicable, Parent Corporation)
as contemplated in Section 9(b).
An isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in
good faith and which is remedied by the Company within ten (10) days after
receipt of notice thereof given by Executive shall not constitute Good Reason.
Executive's right to terminate employment for Good Reason shall not be affected
by Executive's incapacity due to mental or physical illness and Executive's
continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with
respect to, any event or condition constituting Good Reason; provided, however,
that Executive must provide notice of termination of employment within ninety
(90) days following Executive's knowledge of an event constituting Good Reason
or such event shall not constitute Good Reason under this Agreement).
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a) "Qualifying Termination" means a termination of Executive's employment (I) by
the Company other than for Cause or (ii) by Executive for Good Reason.
Termination of Executive's employment on account of death, Disability or
Retirement shall not be treated as a Qualifying Termination.
a) "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a
direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined
voting power of the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation
or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or in
which the Company has the right to receive 50% or more of the distribution of
profits or 50% of the assets upon liquidation or dissolution.
a) "Termination Period" means the period of time beginning with a Change in
Control and ending two (2) years following such Change in Control.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if (I) Executive's
employment is terminated prior to a Change in Control for reasons that would
have constituted a Qualifying Termination if they had occurred following a
Change in Control; (ii) Executive reasonably demonstrates that such termination
(or Good Reason event) was at the request of a third party who had indicated an
intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control;
and (iii) a Change in Control involving such third party (or a party competing
with such third party to effectuate a Change in Control) does occur, then for
purposes of this Agreement, the date immediately prior to the date of such
termination of employment or event constituting Good Reason shall be treated as
a Change in Control. For purposes of determining the timing of payments and
benefits to Executive under Section 4, the date of the actual Change in Control
shall of treated as Executive's Date of Termination under Section l(e).
1. Obligation of Executive. In the event of a tender or exchange offer, proxy
contest, or the execution of any agreement which, if consummated, would
constitute a Change in Control, Executive agrees not to voluntarily leave the
employ of the Company, other than as a result of Disability or an event which
would constitute Good Reason if a Change in Control had occurred, until the
Change in Control occurs or, if earlier, such tender or exchange offer, proxy
contest, or agreement is terminated or abandoned.
1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall be effective on the date hereof and
shall continue in effect until the Company shall have given three (3) years'
written notice of cancellation; provided, that, notwithstanding the delivery of
any such notice, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of two (2)
years after a Change in Control, if such Change in Control shall have occurred
during the term of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Section to
the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate if Executive or the Company
terminates Executive's employment prior to a Change in Control except as
provided in Section l(j).
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1. Payments and Benefits
a) Qualifying Termination - Severance. If during the Termination Period the
employment of Executive shall terminate pursuant to a Qualifying Termination,
then the Company shall pay to Executive:
(1) within ten (10) days following the Date of Termination a lump-sum cash
amount equal to the sum of (A) Executive's base salary through the Date of
Termination and any bonus amounts which have become payable, to the extent not
theretofore paid or deferred, (B) a pro rata portion of Executive's annual bonus
for the fiscal year in which Executive's Date of Termination occurs in an amount
at least equal to (1) Executive's Bonus Amount, multiplied by (2) a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of days in the fiscal year in which the
Date of Termination occurs through the Date of Termination and the denominator
of which is three hundred sixty-five (365), and reduced by (3) any amounts paid
from the Company's annual incentive plan for the fiscal year in which
Executive's Date of Termination occurs, and (C), any compensation previously
deferred by Executive other than pursuant to a tax-qualified plan (together with
any interest and earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to
the extent not theretofore paid; plus
(1) within ten (10) days following the Date of Termination, a lump-sum cash
amount equal to (I) two (2) times Executive's highest annual rate of base salary
during the 12-month period immediately prior to Executive's Date of Termination,
plus (ii) two (2) times Executive's Bonus Amount, plus (iii) the value of any
Company-provided benefits under the Company's 401(k) Plan which Executive would
have accrued in the two (2) years following the Date of Termination had he
remained employed by the Company during such period, calculated assuming that
both the Executive and the Company contributed the highest permissible amounts
to the plans during such period.
a) Qualifying Termination - Benefits. If during the Termination Period the
employment of Executive shall terminate pursuant to a Qualifying Termination,
the Company shall continue to provide, for a period of two (2) years following
Executive's Date of Termination, Executive (and Executive's dependents, if
applicable) with the same level of medical, dental, accident, disability and
life insurance benefits upon substantially the same terms and conditions
(including contributions required by Executive for such benefits) as existed
immediately prior to Executive's Date of Termination (or, if more favorable to
Executive, as such benefits and terms and conditions existed immediately prior
to the Change in Control); provided, that, if Executive cannot continue to
participate in the Company plans providing such benefits, the Company shall
otherwise provide such benefits on the same after-tax basis as if continued
participation had been permitted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event
Executive becomes
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reemployed with another employer and becomes eligible to receive welfare
benefits from such employer, the welfare benefits described herein shall be
secondary to such benefits during the period of Executive's eligibility, but
only to the extent that the Company reimburses Executive for any increased cost
and provides any additional benefits necessary to give Executive the benefits
provided hereunder.
a) Nonqualifying Termination. If during the Termination Period the employment of
Executive shall terminate other than by reason of a Qualifying Termination, then
the Company shall pay to Executive within thirty (30) days following the Date of
Termination, a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (1) Executive's base
salary through the Date of Termination and any bonus amounts which have become
payable, to the extent not theretofore paid or deferred, and (2) any
compensation previously deferred by Executive other than pursuant to a
tax-qualified plan (together with any interest and earnings thereon) and any
accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid. The
Company may make such additional payments, and provide such additional benefits,
to Executive as the Company and Executive may agree in writing.
a) Stock Options. In the event of a Change in Control, all options to purchase
Company stock held by Executive ("Options") which are not fully vested and
exercisable shall become fully vested and exercisable as of a time established
by the Board, which shall be no later than a time preceding the Change in
Control which allows Executive to exercise the Options and cause the stock
acquired thereby to participate in the Change in Control transaction. If the
Change in Control transaction is structured such that stock participating
therein at one time is or may be treated differently than stock participating
therein at a different time (e.g., a tender offer followed by a squeeze-out
merger, with differing forms or amounts of consideration), the Board shall
interpret this paragraph (d) to provide for the required vesting acceleration in
a manner designed to allow Executive to exercise the Options and cause the stock
acquired thereby to participate in the earliest portion of the Change in Control
transaction. If the consummation of a pending or threatened Change in Control
transaction is uncertain (e.g., a tender offer in which the tender of a minimum
number of shares is a condition to closing, or a voted merger or proxy contest
in which a minimum number of votes is a condition to closing), the Board shall
apply this paragraph (d) by using its best efforts to determine if and when the
Change in Control transaction is likely to occur, and proceeding accordingly. To
the extent necessary to implement this Section 4(d), each stock option agreement
reflecting the Options, and each stock option plan relating to each such stock
option agreement, if any, shall be deemed amended.
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1. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it
shall be determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution (or any
acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) by the Company (or
any of its affiliated entities) or any entity which effectuates a Change in
Control (or any of its affiliated entities) to or for the benefit of Executive
(whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined
without regard to any additional payments required under this Section 5) (the
"Payments") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any interest or
penalties are incurred by Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise
tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Company shall pay to Executive an
additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment
by Executive of all taxes (including any Excise Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up
Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the sum of
(x) the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments and (y) the product of any
deductions disallowed because of the inclusion of the Gross-Up Payment in
Executive's adjusted gross income and the highest applicable marginal rate of
federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is
to be made. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the
Executive shall be deemed to (I) pay federal income taxes at the highest
marginal rates of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the
Gross-Up Payment is to be made, (ii) pay applicable state and local income taxes
at the highest marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in which the
Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income
taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes and
(iii) have otherwise allowable deductions for federal income tax purposes at
least equal to those which could be disallowed because of the inclusion of the
Gross-Up Payment in the Executive's adjusted gross income.
a) Subject to the provisions of Section 5(a), all determinations required to be
made under this Section 5, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is
required, the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized
in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by the public accounting firm
that is retained by the Company as of the date immediately prior to the Change
in Control (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting
calculations both to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) business days
of the receipt of notice from the Company or the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company (collectively, the
"Determination"). In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant
or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control,
Executive may appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to
make the determinations required hereunder (which
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accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All
fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company
and the Company shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm
in connection with the performance of the services hereunder. The Gross-Up
Payment under this Section 5 with respect to any Payments shall be made no later
than thirty (30) days following such Payment. If the Accounting Firm determines
that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, it shall furnish Executive with a
written opinion to such effect, and to the effect that failure to report the
Excise Tax, if any, on Executive's applicable federal income tax return will not
result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. The Determination
by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive. As a
result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the
time of the Determination, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not
have been made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment") or Gross-Up
Payments are made by the Company which should not have been made
("Overpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.
In the event that the Executive thereafter is required to make payment of any
Excise Tax or additional Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the
amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment (together
with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) shall
be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of Executive. In the event
the amount of the Gross-Up Payment exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse the
Executive for his Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of
the Overpayment that has been made and any such Overpayment (together with
interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2) of the Code) shall be
promptly paid by Executive (to the extent he has received a refund if the
applicable Excise Tax has been paid to the Internal Revenue Service) to or for
the benefit of the Company. Executive shall cooperate, to the extent his
expenses are reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the
Company in connection with any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue
Service in connection with the Excise Tax.
1. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from all payments due to
Executive (or his beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by
applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to
withhold therefrom.
1. Reimbursement of Expenses. If any contest or dispute shall arise under this
Agreement involving termination of Executive's employment with the Company or
involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully in accordance
with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse Executive, on a current
basis, for all reasonable legal fees and expenses, if any, incurred by Executive
in connection with such contest or dispute (regardless of the result thereof),
together with interest in an amount equal to the Chase Manhattan Bank prime rate
from time to time in effect, but in no event higher than the maximum legal rate
permissible under applicable law, such interest to accrue from the date the
Company receives Executive's statement for such fees and
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expenses through the date of payment thereof, regardless of whether or not
Executive's claim is upheld by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided,
however, Executive shall be required to repay any such amounts to the Company to
the extent that a court issues a final order from which no appeal can be taken,
or with respect to which the time period to appeal has expired, setting forth
the determination that the position taken by Executive was frivolous or advanced
by Executive in bad faith.
1. Scope of Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to entitle
Executive to continued employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries, and if
Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate prior to a Change in
Control, Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement (except as
otherwise provided hereunder); provided, however, that any termination of
Executive's employment during the Termination Period shall be subject to all of
the provisions of this Agreement.
1. Successors; Binding Agreement.
a) This Agreement shall not be terminated by any Business Combination. In the
event of any Business Combination, the provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon the Surviving Corporation, and such Surviving Corporation shall be
treated as the Company hereunder.
a) The Company agrees that in connection with any Business Combination, it will
cause any successor entity to the Company unconditionally to assume (and for any
Parent Corporation in such Business Combination to guarantee), by written
instrument delivered to Executive (or his beneficiary or estate), all of the
obligations of the Company hereunder. Failure of the Company to obtain such
assumption and guarantee prior to the effectiveness of any such Business
Combination that constitutes a Change in Control, shall be a breach of this
Agreement and shall constitute Good Reason hereunder and shall entitle Executive
to compensation and other benefits from the Company in the same amount and on
the same terms as Executive would be entitled hereunder if Executive's
employment were terminated following a Change in Control by reason of a
Qualifying Termination. For purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on
which any such Business Combination becomes effective shall be deemed the date
Good Reason occurs, and shall be the Date of Termination if requested by
Executive.
a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If Executive shall die
while any amounts would be payable to Executive hereunder had Executive
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons
appointed in writing by Executive to receive such amounts or, if no person is so
appointed, to Executive's estate.
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a) Notice. For purposes of this Agreement, all notices and other communications
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or five (5) days after deposit in the United
States mail, certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed
as follows:
If to the Executive to the most recent address of such
Executive on the books and records of the Company; and
If to the Company:
Daisytek International Corporation
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
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.
a) A written notice of Executive's Date of Termination by the Company or
Executive, as the case may be, to the other, shall (I) indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent
applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed
to provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision
so indicated and (iii) specify the termination date (which date shall be not
less than fifteen (15) (thirty (30), if termination is by the Company for
Disability) nor more than sixty (60) days after the giving of such notice). The
failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in such notice any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not
waive any right of Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude Executive or
the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executive's or
the Company's rights hereunder.
1. Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes. The Company's obligation to make any
payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall be in lieu and in full settlement of all other severance
payments to Executive under any other severance or employment agreement between
Executive and the Company, and any severance plan of the Company. The Company's
obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have
against Executive or others. In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek
other employment or take other action by way of mitigation of the amounts
payable to Executive under any of the
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provisions of this Agreement and, except as provided in Section 4(b), such
amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.
1. Employment with Subsidiaries. Employment with the Company for purposes of
this Agreement shall include employment with any Subsidiary.
1. Survival. The respective obligations and benefits afforded to the Company and
Executive as provided in Sections 4 (to the extent that payments or benefits are
owed as a result of a termination of employment that occurs during the term of
this Agreement), 5 (to the extent that Payments are made to Executive as a
result of a Change in Control that occurs during the term of this Agreement), 6,
7, 9(c) and 11 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
1. GOVERNING LAW; VALIDITY. THE INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF, OF SUCH PRINCIPLES OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHICH
COULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE
OF DELAWARE. 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 OTHER PROVISIONS SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
1. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one
and the same instrument.
1. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived
unless such modification or waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by
Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company. No waiver by either
party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or
compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by
such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. Failure by Executive
or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this
Agreement or to assert any right Executive or the Company may have hereunder,
including, without limitation, the right of Executive to terminate employment
for Good Reason, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right
or any other provision or right of this Agreement. Except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, the rights of, and benefits payable to, Executive,
his estate or his beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to
any rights of, or benefits
14
14
payable to, Executive, his estate or his beneficiaries under any other employee
benefit plan or compensation program of the Company.
15
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a
duly authorized officer of the Company and Executive has executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
DAISYTEK INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DAISYTEK
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------
Secretary
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DAISYTEK
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
By:
Secretary
---------------------------------
[EXECUTIVE]
