Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is effective as of
March 24, 2006, ("Agreement Date") by and between AMCOL International
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
("Executive"), a resident of Illinois. In consideration of the mutual agreements
contained herein, the Company and Executive agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms set forth below have the following meanings (such
meanings to be applicable to both the singular and plural forms, except where
otherwise expressly indicated):
1.1 "Accrued Annual Bonus" means the amount of any Annual
Bonus earned but not yet paid with respect to any Fiscal Year ended prior to the
Date of Termination.
1.2 "Accrued Base Salary" means the amount of Executive's
Base Salary which is accrued but not yet paid as of the Date of Termination.
1.3 "Affiliate" means any Person that directly or
indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
applicable Person. For the purposes of this definition, the term "control" when
used with respect to any Person means the power to direct or cause the direction
of management or policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
1.4 "Agreement" - see the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
1.5 "Agreement Date" - see the introductory paragraph of
this Agreement.
1.6 "Anniversary Date" means any annual anniversary of
the Agreement Date.
1.7 "Annual Bonus" - see Section 4.2.
1.8 "Annualized Bonus" means, as of any date, the
greatest of the following amounts that is determinable and applicable: (i) the
Target Annual Bonus for the Fiscal Year during which the Date of Termination
occurs; and (ii) the average of the Annual Bonuses paid or payable to Executive
in respect of the three most recent Fiscal Years ended on or before such date;
provided that, in subsection (ii) above, annual bonuses paid in respect of
Executive prior to the Agreement Date shall be included in such computation if,
as of such date, three years have not elapsed since the Agreement Date; and
further provided that if the Executive has not been employed by the Company for
three full Fiscal Years ended on or before the Date of Termination, any bonus
payable in respect of a partial Fiscal Year shall be annualized and the average
of the annual bonuses shall be determined based upon such annualized bonus and
the bonuses paid or payable to the Executive in respect of any other full Fiscal
Years.
1.9 "Base Salary" - see Section 4.1.
1.10 "Beneficial Owner" means such term as defined in Rule
13d-3 (or any successor rule) of the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Exchange Act of 1934.
1.11 "Beneficiary" - see Section 9.6.
1.12 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.13 "Cause" means any of the following:
(a) Executive's commission of a felony or
misdemeanor that involves fraud, dishonesty or moral
turpitude,
(b) Executive's willful or intentional material
breach of this Agreement,
(c) willful or intentional material misconduct
by Executive in the performance of his duties under this
Agreement, or
(d) Executive performs his duties in a manner
that is grossly negligent.
For purposes of clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding sentence, Cause shall
not include bad judgment or negligence which results from the Executive's good
faith efforts to perform his duties.
1.14 "Change of Control" means the occurrence of a change
in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a
substantial portion of the assets of the Company under Code Section 409A, and
any successor thereto (which is not also an Exempt Reorganization Transaction),
and the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(a) any person (as such term is used in Rule
13d-5 under the Exchange Act) or group (as such term is
defined in Section 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act),
other than a Subsidiary, any employee benefit plan (or any
related trust) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
any Excluded Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50.1% or
more of the common stock of the Company or of Voting
Securities representing 50.1% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company (such a person or group, a "50.1%
Owner"), except that (i) no Change of Control shall be deemed
to have occurred solely by reason of such beneficial ownership
by a corporation with respect to which both more than 49.9% of
the common stock of such corporation and Voting Securities
representing more than 49.9% of the aggregate voting power of
such corporation are then owned, directly or indirectly, by
the persons who were the direct or indirect owners of the
common stock and voting Securities of the Company immediately
before such acquisition in substantially the same proportions
as their ownership, immediately before such acquisition, of
the common stock and Voting Securities of the Company, as the
case may be and (ii) such corporation shall not be deemed a
50.1% Owner; or
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(b) the Incumbent Directors (determined using
the Agreement Date as the baseline date) cease for any reason
to constitute at least one-half of the directors of the
Company then serving; or
(c) immediately prior to the consummation by the
Company of a merger, reorganization, consolidation, or similar
transaction, or a plan or agreement for the sale or other
disposition of 50.1% of the consolidated assets of the Company
or a plan of liquidation of the Company (any of the foregoing
transactions, a "Reorganization Transaction") which is not an
Exempt Reorganization Transaction (provided however, there
shall be no Change of Control unless the Reorganization
Transaction is actually consummated); or
(d) the approval by the stockholders of the
Company of a plan of liquidation of the Company which, based
on information included in the proxy and other written
materials distributed to the Company's stockholders in
connection with the solicitation by the Company of such
stockholder approval, is not expected to qualify as an Exempt
Reorganization Transaction.
Notwithstanding the occurrence of any of the foregoing events, a Change of
Control shall not occur with respect to Executive if, in advance of such event,
the Executive agrees in writing that such event shall not constitute a Change of
Control.
1.15 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
1.16 "Company" - see the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
1.17 "Date of Termination" means the date of the receipt
of the Notice of Termination by Executive (if such Notice is given by the
Company) or by the Company (if such Notice is given by Executive), or any later
date, not more than 15 days after the giving of such Notice, specified in such
notice; provided, however, that:
(a) if Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of death, the Date of Termination shall be the date of
Executive's death; and
(b) if Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the
30th day after Executive's receipt of the physician's
certification of Disability, unless, before such date,
Executive shall have resumed the full-time performance of
Executive's duties; and
(c) if Executive terminates his employment
without Good Reason, the Date of Termination shall be the 90th
day after the giving of such Notice; and
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(d) if no Notice of Termination is given, the
Date of Termination shall be the last date on which Executive
is employed by the Company.
1.18 "Disability" means a mental or physical condition
which renders Executive unable or incompetent to carry out the material job
responsibilities which such Executive held or the material duties to which
Executive was assigned at the time the disability was incurred, which has
existed for at least six months and which in the certified opinion of a
physician mutually agreed upon by the Company and Executive (which agreement
neither party shall unreasonably withhold) is expected to be permanent or to
last for an indefinite duration or a duration in excess of six months.
1.19 "Employment Period" - see Section 3.1.
1.20 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
1.21 "Excluded Person" means any of the Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Trust, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, The Estate of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx or any Named
Executive, any Affiliates or Family Member of any of the foregoing and any group
(as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of
which any of the foregoing is a member.
1.22 "Executive" - see the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
1.23 "Executive Termination" means a Termination of
Employment by Executive for any reason including Good Reason or no reason during
the 30-day period commencing six months after a Change of Control.
1.24 "Exempt Reorganization Transaction" means a
Reorganization Transaction which results (i) in the Persons who were the direct
or indirect owners of the outstanding common stock and Voting Securities of the
Company immediately before such Reorganization Transaction becoming, immediately
after the consummation of such Reorganization Transaction, the direct or
indirect owners of both more than 49.9% of the then-outstanding common stock of
the Surviving Corporation and Voting Securities representing more than 49.9% of
the aggregate voting power of the Surviving Corporation, in substantially the
same respective proportions as such Persons' ownership of the common stock and
Voting Securities of the Company immediately before such Reorganization
Transaction; (ii) in the Excluded Person owning 50% or more of the common stock
of the Surviving Corporation or Voting Securities representing 50% or more of
the combined voting power of the Surviving Corporation; or (iii) from a
transaction of any kind (including, without limitation, a merger,
reorganization, consolidation or similar transaction or a plan or agreement for
sale or other disposition of assets of the Company or a plan of liquidation of
the Company) pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code of Title 11 of the United States
Code, as amended from time to time, or any similar or successor statute,
domestic or foreign.
1.25 "Family Member" means, with respect to the applicable
Person, a spouse, ancestor, lineal descendant, or spouse of a lineal descendant,
including without limitation descendants by adoption.
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1.26 "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year used in
connection with the preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the
Company.
1.27 "Good Reason" means the occurrence of any one of the
following events unless Executive specifically agrees in writing that such event
shall not be Good Reason:
(a) any material breach of the Agreement by the
Company, provided, however, that no breach of this Agreement
shall constitute Good Reason unless Executive gives the
Company written notice of such breach and the Company fails to
cure such breach within 30 days; or
(b) the failure of either the Company to assign
this Agreement to a successor of the Company or failure of a
successor of the Company to expressly assume and agree to be
bound by the Agreement.
In the event of an occurrence or omission constituting Good Reason as described
in subsections (a) and (b) above, Executive may within 90 days after such event
occurs notify the Company of the events constituting such Good Reason by a
Notice of Termination.
1.28 "including" means including without limitation.
1.29 "Incumbent Directors" means, as of any specified
baseline date, individuals then serving as members of the Board who were members
of the Board as of the date immediately preceding such baseline date; provided
that any subsequently-appointed or elected member of the Board whose election,
or nomination for election by stockholders of the Company or the Surviving
Corporation, as applicable, was approved by a vote or written consent of at
least one-half of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Directors shall
also thereafter be considered an Incumbent Director, unless the initial
assumption of office of such subsequently-elected or appointed director was in
connection with (i) an actual or threatened election contest, including a
consent solicitation, relating to the election or removal of one or more members
of the Board, (ii) a "tender offer" (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of
the Exchange Act), (iii) a proposed Reorganization Transaction, or (iv) a
request, nomination or suggestion of any Beneficial Owner of Voting Securities
representing 35% or more of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Securities
of the Company or the Surviving Corporation, as applicable.
1.30 "Named Executive" means any individual listed on
Exhibit A except to the extent the individual had a termination of employment
not less than 120 days prior to the applicable event potentially constituting a
Change of Control and any other employee or officer of the Company designated by
the Board and who is a party to an agreement substantially in the same form as
this Agreement (with variation in the amount of compensation and benefits
payable under the agreement) and entered into by the employee or officer not
less than 120 days prior to the applicable event potentially constituting a
Change of Control.
1.31 "Notice of Termination" means a written notice given
in accordance with Section 9.11 which sets forth (a) the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon by the party giving such notice, (b) in
reasonable detail the specific facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for such Termination of Employment, and (c) if the Date of Termination is
other than the date of receipt of such Notice of Termination, the Date of
Termination.
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1.32 "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated
organization, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, entity or
government instrumentality, division, agency, body or department.
1.33 "Prorata Annual Bonus" means the product of (i) the
Annual Bonus that Executive would have earned for the Fiscal Year during which
the Executive's Date of Termination occurs based upon the Company's achievement
of the Target Annual Goals during such Fiscal Year, multiplied by (ii) a
fraction of which the numerator is the number of days which have elapsed in such
Fiscal Year through the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is 365.
1.34 "Prorata Annualized Bonus" means the product of (i)
the Executive's Annualized Bonus, multiplied by (ii) a fraction of which the
numerator is the number of days which have elapsed in such Fiscal Year through
the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is 365.
1.35 "Reorganization Transaction" - see the definition of
"Change of Control."
1.36 "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (a)
any corporation of which more than 50% of the Voting Securities are at the time,
directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, and (b) any partnership or limited
liability company in which such Person has a direct or indirect interest
(whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital
contribution) of more than 50%.
1.37 "Surviving Corporation" means the corporation
resulting from a Reorganization Transaction or, if securities representing more
than 50% of the aggregate Voting Power of such resulting corporation are
directly or indirectly owned by another corporation, such other corporation.
1.38 "Target Annual Bonus" - see Section 4.2.
1.39 "Target Annual Goals" - see Section 4.2.
1.40 "Tax Gross-Up Payment" means an amount payable to
Executive such that after payment of Taxes on such amount there remains a
balance sufficient to pay the Taxes being reimbursed.
1.41 "Taxes" means the incremental federal, state, local
and foreign income, employment, excise and other taxes payable by Executive with
respect to any applicable item of income.
1.42 "Termination For Good Reason" means a Termination of
Employment by Executive for a Good Reason.
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1.43 "Termination of Employment" means a termination by
the Company or Executive of Executive's employment.
1.44 "Termination Without Cause" means a Termination of
Employment by the Company for any reason other than Cause or Executive's death
or Disability.
1.45 "Transitional Services Period" - see Section 6.3.
1.46 "Voting Securities" of a corporation means securities
of such corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors of such corporation, but not including any other class of securities
of such corporation that may have voting power by reason of the occurrence of a
contingency.
ARTICLE II
DUTIES
2.1 Duties. During the Employment Period, the Company
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shall employ Executive as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and in
connection therewith, the Executive shall perform such duties and
responsibilities as may be assigned to him from time to time by, or under the
authority of, the Board or any of their designees, and in the absence of such
assignment, such duties customary to such office as is necessary to the
operations of the Company. Executive shall devote all of his business time,
attention and effort during normal business hours, excluding any periods of
disability, vacation, or sick leave to which Executive is entitled, to the
affairs of the Company and shall use his best efforts to promote the interests
of the Company.
2.2 Other Activities. Executive may serve on civic or
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charitable boards or committees, deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements
or teach at educational institutions, and manage personal investments; provided
that such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of
Executive's duties under this Agreement. Executive may serve on corporate boards
or committees with the prior written consent of the Board.
ARTICLE III
EMPLOYMENT PERIOD
3.1 Employment Period. Subject to the termination
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provisions hereinafter provided, the term of Executive's employment under this
Agreement (the "Employment Period") shall begin on the Agreement Date and end on
the Anniversary Date which is three years after such date or, if later, such
later date to which the Employment Period is extended pursuant to the following
sentence. On the date which is two and one-half years after the Agreement Date
and thereafter, the Employment Period (assuming that an Expiration Notice to the
effect that the Agreement shall expire on the Anniversary Date which is three
years after the Agreement Date has not been delivered by the Executive or
Company to the other prior to the date which is two and one-half years after the
Agreement Date) shall be automatically extended each day by one day to create a
new six month term until, at any time after the date which is two and one-half
years after the Agreement Date the Company delivers written notice (an
"Expiration Notice") to
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Executive or Executive delivers an Expiration Notice to the Company, in either
case, to the effect that the Agreement shall expire on a date specified in the
Expiration Notice (the "Expiration Date") that is not less than 6 months after
the date the Expiration Notice is delivered to the Company or the Executive,
respectively. The Employment Period shall end prior to the end of the Employment
Period as described above upon the Executive's Date of Termination, even if the
Executive continues to provide the services described in Section 6.3(e). The
employment of Executive by the Company shall not be terminated other than in
accordance with Article VI.
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION
4.1 Salary. Subject to Section 4.3 hereof, during the
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Employment Period, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to Executive in
accordance with its normal payroll practices (but not less frequently than
monthly) an annual salary at a rate of $525,000 per year ("Base Salary"). During
the Employment Period, the Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and
may be increased from time to time as shall be determined by the Company. After
any such increase, the term "Base Salary" shall thereafter refer to the
increased amount. Any increase in Base Salary shall not limit or reduce any
other obligation of the Company to Executive under this Agreement. Base Salary
shall not be reduced at any time without the express written consent of
Executive.
4.2 Annual Bonus.
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(a) Subject to Section 4.3 hereof, the Company
shall pay or cause to be paid to Executive an annual cash
bonus ("Annual Bonus") in accordance with the terms hereof for
each Fiscal Year which begins or ends during the Employment
Period. Executive shall be eligible for an Annual Bonus based
upon target performance goals (the "Target Annual Goals"), as
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board for a
payment of at least 100% of Executive's Base Salary ("Target
Annual Bonus") upon the Executive's achievement of the Target
Annual Goals. The Target Annual Goals shall be set as
described above no later than February 28 of each Fiscal Year.
(b) Subject to Section 4.3 hereof, the Company
shall pay or cause to be paid the entire Annual Bonus that is
payable with respect to a Fiscal Year in cash as soon as
practicable after the Company can determine whether and the
degree to which Target Annual Goals have been achieved
following the close of such Fiscal Year. Any such Annual Bonus
shall in any event be paid no later than February 28 of each
Fiscal Year.
4.3 Deferral. In the event that all or any portion of a
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payment to be made to Executive pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2 hereof or any
equity compensation award shall be ineligible for treatment as "qualified
performance - based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company,
in its sole discretion, shall have the right to defer payment to Executive of
all or any portion of any such payment until such time as Executive is no longer
a "covered employee" under Section 162(m) of the Code; provided that such
deferral shall be limited to the portion of the payment that is not deductible
by the Company pursuant to the Code.
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ARTICLE V
OTHER BENEFITS
5.1 Stock Option, Restricted Stock and Other Equity
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Incentive Plans. In addition to Base Salary and an Annual Bonus, Executive shall
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be eligible to participate during the Employment Period in all stock option,
restricted stock and other equity incentive plans, practices, policies and
programs of the Company, in accordance with their terms as in effect from time
to time. If a Change of Control occurs during the Employment Period (or, if
applicable, the Transitional Services Period), all outstanding stock options,
restricted stock and other equity compensation granted to Executive (whether
before, on or after the Agreement Date) shall become fully vested and
exercisable, except, as otherwise provided for in any such plan or award
agreement.
5.2 Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. In addition
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to Base Salary and Annual Bonus, Executive shall be entitled to participate
during the Employment Period in all incentives (other than those provided for in
Section 5.1), savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
that are from time to time applicable to any other comparable senior executive
of the Company, including any supplemental executive retirement plan, in
accordance with their terms as in effect from time to time.
5.3 Welfare Benefits. During the Employment Period,
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Executive and his family shall be eligible to participate in, and shall receive
all benefits under, welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs
provided by the Company (including medical, prescription, dental, disability,
salary continuance, employee life, group life, dependent life, accidental death
and travel accident insurance plans and programs) applicable to any other
comparable senior executive of the Company, in accordance with their terms as in
effect from time to time.
5.4 Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period,
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Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits applicable to any other
comparable senior executive of the Company, in accordance with their terms as in
effect from time to time.
5.5 Vacation. During the Employment Period, Executive
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shall be entitled to paid vacation time in accordance with the plans, practices,
policies, and programs applicable to any other comparable senior executive of
the Company, in accordance with their terms as in effect from time to time, but
in no event shall such vacation time be less than four weeks per calendar year.
5.6 Expenses. During the Employment Period, Executive
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shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
employment-related expenses incurred by Executive upon the receipt by the
Company of an accounting in accordance with practices, policies, and procedures
applicable to any comparable senior executive of the Company, in accordance with
their terms as in effect from time to time.
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ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION BENEFITS
6.1 Termination for Cause or Other than for Good Reason,
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etc. If the Company terminates Executive's employment for Cause (whether before
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or after a Change of Control) or Executive terminates his employment other than
for Good Reason, death or Disability, or Executive Termination, the Company
shall pay to Executive immediately after the Date of Termination an amount equal
to the sum of Executive's Accrued Base Salary and Accrued Annual Bonus and
Executive shall not be entitled to receive any severance payment.
6.2 Termination for Death or Disability Prior to Change
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of Control or More than Seven Months after a Change of Control. If Executive's
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employment terminates due to his death or Disability prior to a Change of
Control or more than seven months after a Change of Control, the Company shall
pay to Executive or his Beneficiaries, as the case may be, (i) immediately after
the Date of Termination an amount which is equal to the sum of Executive's
Accrued Base Salary and Accrued Annual Bonus, and (ii) at the time described in
Section 4.2(b), an amount which is equal to the Executive's Prorata Annual
Bonus.
6.3 Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason Prior to
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Change of Control. In the event of a Termination Without Cause or a Termination
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for Good Reason prior to a Change of Control, Executive shall receive the
following:
(a) immediately after the Date of Termination, a
lump sum amount in immediately available funds equal to the
sum of Executive's Accrued Base Salary and Accrued Annual
Bonus;
(b) at the time described in Section 4.2(b), an
amount which is equal to the Executive's Prorata Annual Bonus;
(c) Base Salary payable on the same basis as in
effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination for
twenty-four months following the Executive's Date of
Termination;
(d) immediately after the Date of Termination, a
lump-sum amount in immediately available funds of any amount
then payable to Executive pursuant to Article IX;
(e) during the period (the "Transitional
Services Period") beginning on the Executive's Date of
Termination and ending on the earliest of (i) twenty-four
months after the Executive's Date of Termination, (ii) the
date on which the Executive accepts a position with another
employer, (iii) the date on which Executive breaches any of
the provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2, and (iv) the date on
which the Executive terminates his employment with the
Company, the Executive shall remain an employee of the Company
and shall only perform such transitional assignments for the
Company as may be assigned to him from time to time by the
Chief Executive Officer;
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(f) the benefits specified in sections 5.2
(other than those provided by tax-qualified plans), 5.3 and
5.4 to which Executive is entitled as of the Date of
Termination during the Transitional Services Period; provided
that any coverage required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, ("COBRA") shall begin
after the end of the Transitional Services Period; and
(g) for purposes of the Company's stock option
plans, restricted stock plans and other equity compensation
plans, the Executive shall be considered an employee of the
Company for all purposes under such plans through the end of
the Transitional Services Period except Executive shall not be
eligible for new grants under such plans.
Notwithstanding the payment time specified in Section 6.3(a),
(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g), no payment shall be made to Executive prior to
the six-month anniversary of his Date of Termination if such delay is required
by Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i).
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Section 6.3 to the
contrary, if Executive breaches any or all of the provisions of Sections 7.1 and
7.2, the payment of the Prorata Annual Bonus pursuant to Section 6.3(b) and the
continuation of Base Salary and benefits pursuant to Sections 6.3(c), 6.3(f)
(other than COBRA), and 6.3(g) shall cease upon such breach. In addition to the
foregoing, and to protect and compensate the Company in the event of such breach
by the Executive, the Company shall be entitled to any and all remedies at law
and equitable relief as described in Section 7.3.
6.4 Termination After Change of Control. In the event of
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a Termination Without Cause, a Termination for Good Reason or an Executive
Termination after a Change In Control, or Termination of Employment due to death
or Disability within seven (7) months following a Change of Control, the
Executive shall receive the following:
(a) immediately after the Date of Termination, a
lump sum amount in immediately available funds equal to the
sum of Executive's Accrued Base Salary, Accrued Annual Bonus
and Prorata Annualized Bonus;
(b) immediately after the Date of Termination, a
lump sum amount in immediately available funds equal to three
times the sum of (i) the Executive's Base Salary and (ii) the
Executive's Annualized Bonus;
(c) except as provided below, the benefits
specified in Sections 5.2 (other than those provided by
tax-qualified plans), 5.3 and 5.4 to which Executive is
entitled as of the Date of Termination for the period
beginning on the Date of Termination and ending on the
earliest of (i) the third annual anniversary of the Date of
Termination on the same basis or (ii) the date on which
Executive commences a position with another employer on the
same basis as if Executive was employed by the Company during
such period, it being the obligation of the Surviving
Corporation, the Company or any successor in interest
(including the acquiring entity) to maintain the welfare
benefits plans described in Section 5.3 during such period,
and further provided that any coverage required by COBRA shall
begin three years after the Date of Termination (or, if
earlier, as of the date on which the Executive's benefit
giving rise to COBRA ceases); and
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(d) immediately after the Date of Termination, a
lump-sum amount in immediately available funds of any amount
then payable to Executive pursuant to Article IX.
If the termination of employment is due to death or Disability
within seven (7) months following a Change of Control, the continued benefits
described in (c) above shall be limited to the welfare benefits described in
Section 5.3.
Notwithstanding the payment time specified in Section 6.4(a),
(b), (c) or (d), no payment shall be made to Executive prior to the six-month
anniversary of his Date of Termination if such delay is required by Code Section
409A(a)(2)(B)(i).
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Section 6.4 to the
contrary, if Executive breaches any or all of the provisions of Sections 7.1 and
7.2, the continuation of benefits pursuant to Section 6.4(c) shall cease upon
such breach and, to prevent the Executive's unjust enrichment, the Executive
shall immediately pay the Company an amount equal to (i) the amount that the
Executive received from the Company pursuant to this Section 6.4, multiplied by
(ii) a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days remaining from the
date of the breach through the first anniversary of the Executive's Termination
of Employment and the denominator of which is 365. In addition to the foregoing,
and to protect and compensate the Company in the event of such breach by the
Executive, the Company shall be entitled to any and all remedies at law and
equitable relief as described in Section 7.3.
6.5 Imminent Control Change. If an Imminent Control
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Change Date (as defined below) occurs on or within 30 days after the date on
which the Company delivers a Notice of Termination to Executive terminating
Executive's employment not for Cause and if a Change of Control occurs within
180 days after delivery of the Notice, the Executive's Termination of Employment
pursuant to the Notice shall be deemed a Termination of Employment Without Cause
on or after a Change of Control and the Executive's rights and obligations shall
be determined under Section 6.4 rather than Section 6.3. Any payments or
benefits to be received by the Executive pursuant to Section 6.4 shall be
reduced by any payments or benefits made or provided pursuant to Section 6.3. If
an Imminent Control Change Date occurs on or within 30 days after the date on
which the Executive has a Termination of Employment due to death or Disability
and if a Change of Control occurs within 180 days after death or Disability, the
Executives Termination of Employment due to death or Disability shall be deemed
a Termination of Employment due to death or Disability on or after a Change of
Control and the Executive's Beneficiaries' rights and obligations shall be under
Section 6.4 rather than Section 6.2. Any payments or benefits to be received by
the Executive's Beneficiaries pursuant to Section 6.4 shall be reduced by any
payments or benefits made or provided pursuant to Section 6.2. "Imminent Control
Change Date" means any date on which occurs (a) a presentation to the Company's
stockholders generally or any of the Company's directors or executive officers
of a proposal or offer for a Change of Control, (b) the public announcement
(whether by advertisement, press release, press interview, public statement, SEC
filing or otherwise) of a proposal or offer for a Change of Control, and (c)
such proposal or offer remains effective and unrevoked.
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6.6 Other Rights. This Agreement shall not prevent or
------------
limit Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus,
incentive or other plan, program or policy provided by the Company and for which
Executive may qualify, nor shall this Agreement limit or otherwise affect such
rights Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company. Amounts
which are vested benefits or which Executive is otherwise entitled to receive
under any plan, program or policy and any other payment or benefit required by
law at or after the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such
plan, program or policy or applicable law except as expressly modified by this
Agreement.
6.7 Termination Rights. Executive recognizes and agrees
------------------
that the Company has the right to terminate his employment for any reason or no
reason and that upon such termination the Executive's sole right is to receive
compensation and benefits in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS
7.1 Non-Disclosure and Non-Solicitation. Executive
-----------------------------------
acknowledges that the successful marketing and development of the Company's
products requires substantial time and expense. Such efforts utilize and
generate valuable confidential and proprietary information, of which Executive
will obtain knowledge during the course of his employment with the Company. As
used herein, "Confidential Information" means any information of the Company
that the Company considers to be proprietary and treats as confidential or
information of any third party that the Company is under an obligation to keep
confidential, including but not limited to the following: (i) trade secrets,
confidential knowledge, data or other proprietary information relating to
products, processes, know-how, designs, formulas, developmental or experimental
work, (ii) employment status, salaries and other personnel information,
decisions to offer employment, pre-employment testing and screening results,
citizenship status, disability status, performance issues, executive
evaluations, medical problems of executives and executives' families,
garnishments and levies against wages, contents of employment agreements,
statements regarding the financial condition of the Company or any subsidiary or
affiliated entity, payments made to or expenses incurred by the Company or any
of its executives, shareholders or directors, discounts given by the Company,
vendors and other parties, minutes of Board meetings of the Company or any
subsidiary or affiliated entities, contents of contracts, legal matters by or
against the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated entities, business
strategies, plans, proposals, names of customers and potential customers; and
(iii) other information or materials of the Company marked or noticed by the
Company as being confidential, whether constituting a trade secret or not, and
whether proprietary or not, which are of value to the Company. For purposes of
this Agreement, Confidential Information includes the foregoing and other
information protected under the Illinois Trade Secrets Act. Confidential
Information does not include: (i) information that at the time of disclosure is
in the public domain through no fault of Executive; (ii) information received
from a third party outside of the Company that was disclosed without a breach of
any confidentiality obligation; (iii) information approved for public release by
written authorization of the Company; or (iv) information that is required by
law or an order of any court, agency or proceeding to be disclosed.
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Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall retain exclusive
ownership of all right, title, and interest in the Confidential Information,
including any and all worldwide copyrights, trade secrets, patent, and
confidential and proprietary information rights. Executive agrees to undertake
the following obligations, which Executive acknowledges to be reasonably
designed to protect the Company's legitimate business interests without
unnecessarily or unreasonably restricting Executive's post-employment
opportunities:
(a) Executive agrees that he will not at any
time, whether during or after the cessation of his employment,
reveal or permit any other person or entity to reveal, any of
the Confidential Information to any person or any entity,
except, and only to the extent, as may be required in the
ordinary course of performing Executive's assigned duties as
an Executive of the Company, and Executive agrees to keep
secret, and take all necessary precautions against disclosure
of, all Confidential Information and all matters entrusted to
him and not to use or attempt to use any Confidential
Information in any manner that may cause injury or loss, or
may be calculated to cause injury or loss, whether directly or
indirectly, to the Company or its customers;
(b) Executive agrees that during and after his
employment he shall not remove, copy, duplicate or otherwise
reproduce, use or permit to be used any notes, memoranda,
reports, lists, records, drawings, sketches, specifications,
software programs, data, documentation or other materials of
any nature relating to any matter within the scope of the
business of the Company or concerning any of its dealings or
affairs except as required to perform Executive's duties for
the Company;
(c) Upon cessation of his employment
relationship with the Company, Executive shall immediately
deliver to the Company all Confidential Information and other
materials relating to the Company in his possession or
delivered to him by the Company, including computer programs,
files, notes, records, memoranda, reports, lists, drawings,
sketches, specifications, data, charts, and other documents,
materials and things ("Materials"), whether or not containing
Confidential Information, whether or not prepared by
Executive, it being agreed that all Materials shall be and
remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company;
(d) Without limiting the obligations of Section
7.1(c), Executive agrees that while Executive is employed by
the Company prior to his Date of Termination and for a period
of one year following his Date of Termination he will not,
whether alone or as employee, owner, partner, officer,
director, consultant, agent, executive, independent
contractor, or stockholder of any firm, corporation or other
commercial enterprise, directly or indirectly solicit business
from: (i) any customer of the Company with which Executive had
contact, participated in the contact, or about which Executive
had knowledge of Confidential Information by reason of
Executive's employment with the
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Company within the one year period preceding the Date of
Termination, or (ii) any current customer prospect of the
Company for whom Executive directly or indirectly assisted in
the preparation or submission of a proposal made by the
Company to such customer prospect during the one year period
preceding the Date of Termination, unless the Company
acknowledges in writing its intent not to further pursue such
customer prospect; provided, further, that Executive shall,
however, be permitted to own securities of any public company
not in excess of 5% of any class of such securities and to own
stock, partnership interests or other securities of any
non-public entity not in excess of 5% of any class of such
securities, and such ownership shall not be considered to be
in competition with the Company; and
(e) Except as may be required in the ordinary
course of performing his duties as an employee of the Company,
while employed prior to his Date of Termination and during the
one year period immediately following the Date of Termination,
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or
attempt to solicit any employee of the Company to work for any
person, partnership or entity other than the Company, or
engage in any activity that would cause any such employee to
violate any agreement with the Company, or dissuade, or
attempt to dissuade, any such employee from faithfully
discharging such employee's contractual and fiduciary
obligations to serve the Company's interests with undivided
loyalty.
7.2 Non Competition. Without limiting the obligation
---------------
imposed by Section 7.1, and to more fully protect the Confidential Information,
Executive hereby agrees that while he is employed by the Company prior to the
Date of Termination and for a period of one year following the Date of
Termination, he will not, directly or indirectly, anywhere in the world where
the Company conducts business, render services to any Conflicting Organization
in any capacity in which the Confidential Information of the Company would
reasonably be considered to be useful to the Conflicting Organization; provided,
however, that Executive may render services to a Conflicting organization (and
which has separate and distinct divisions), as long as such services are being
rendered to a part of the business that is separate and distinct from the part
of the business that renders such person or entity a Conflicting Organization.
(a) If, at the time of enforcement of Sections
7.1 and 7.2, a court shall hold that the duration, scope, area
or activity restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under
circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the
maximum duration, scope, area or activity restrictions
reasonable and enforceable under such circumstances shall be
substituted for the stated duration, scope, area or activity
restrictions.
(b) "Conflicting Organization" means for the
purposes of this Section, any person or entity which is
engaged in or about to become engaged in, research,
development, production, manufacturing, importation,
marketing, licensing, selling, or servicing of a Conflicting
Product.
15
(c) "Conflicting Product" means any product,
process, system or service of any person or organization other
than the Company or an Affiliate, in existence or under
development, which is the same as or similar to or competes
with a product, process, system or service upon which
Executive works or has worked during the three year period
ending on his Date of Termination, or about which Executive
acquired or acquires Confidential Information.
7.3 Remedies. Executive recognizes and agrees that a
--------
breach of any or all of the provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2 will constitute
immediate and irreparable harm to the Company for which damages cannot be
readily calculated and for which damages are an inadequate remedy. Accordingly,
Executive acknowledges that in addition to any and all remedies at law, the
Company shall be entitled to specific performance or injunctive or other
equitable relief to prevent the breach or threatened breach of Executive's
obligations under this Agreement.
7.4 Intellectual Property. During the employment period,
---------------------
Executive shall disclose immediately to the Company all ideas, inventions and
business plans that he makes, conceives, discovers or develops during the course
of his employment with the Company, including any inventions, modifications,
discoveries, developments, improvements, computer programs, processes, products
or procedures (whether or not protectable upon application by copyright, patent,
trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights) ("Work Product") that: (i)
relate to the business of the Company or any customer or supplier to the Company
or any of the products or services being developed, manufactured, sold or
otherwise provided by the Company or that may be used in relation therewith;
(ii) result from tasks assigned to Executive by the Company; or (iii) result
from the use of the premises or personal property (whether tangible or
intangible) owned, leased or contracted for by the Company. Executive agrees
that any Work Product shall be the property of the Company and, if subject to
copyright, shall be considered a "work made for hire" within the meaning of the
Copyright Act of 1976, as amended (the "Act"). If and to the extent that any
such Work Product is found as a matter of law not to be a "work made for hire"
within the meaning of the Act, Executive expressly assigns to the Company all
right, title and or interest in and to the Work Product, and all copies thereof,
and the copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret and all their proprietary
rights in the Work Product, without further consideration, free from any claim,
lien for balance due or rights of retention thereto on the part of Executive.
(a) To the extent applicable, pursuant to
Illinois Employee Patent Act, the Company hereby notifies
Executive that the preceding paragraph does not apply to any
inventions for which no equipment, supplies, facility, or
trade secret information of the Company was used and which was
developed entirely on the Executive's own time, unless: (i)
the invention relates (a) to the Company's business, or (b) to
the Company's actual or demonstrably anticipated research or
development, or (ii) the invention results from any work
performed by the Executive for the Company.
(b) Executive agrees that upon disclosure of
Work Product to the Company, Executive will, during his
employment and at any time thereafter, at the request and cost
of the Company execute and deliver all such documents and
perform all such acts as the Company or its duly authorized
agents may reasonably require: (i) to apply for, obtain and
vest in the name of the Company
16
alone (unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent,
copyrights or other analogous protection in any country
throughout the world, and when so obtained or vested to renew
and restore the same; and (ii) to defend any opposition
proceedings in respect of such applications and any opposition
proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of
such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection.
(c) In the event that the Company is unable,
after reasonable effort, to secure Executive's signature on
any letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection
relating to Work Product, whether because of Executive's
physical or mental incapacity or for any other reason
whatsoever, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and
appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and
agents as his agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and on
his behalf to execute and file any such application or
applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to
further the prosecution and issuance of letters patent,
copyright and other analogous protection with the same legal
force and effect as if personally executed by Executive.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS AND BENEFITS
8.1 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, if any amount or benefit to be paid or provided under this
Agreement would be an "Excess Parachute Payment" within the meaning of Section
280G of the Code or any successor provision thereto in an amount that is less
than or equal to $200,000, but for the application of this sentence, then the
payments and benefits to be paid or provided under this Agreement shall be
reduced to the minimum extent necessary so that no portion of any such payment
or benefit as so reduced constitutes an Excess Parachute Payment; provided,
however, that if any such amount or benefit would be an Excess Parachute Payment
that is greater than $200,000 then no reduction in such amount or benefit shall
take place pursuant to this Article VIII.
ARTICLE IX
CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY
9.1 Tax Gross-Up Payment. If at any time or from time to
--------------------
time it shall be determined that any payment to Executive pursuant to this
Agreement or any other payment or benefit from the Company, any Affiliate, any
shareholder of the Company or any other person would be subject to the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any similar tax payable under any
United States federal, state, local, foreign or other law, then Executive shall
receive and the Company shall pay or cause to be paid a Tax Gross-Up Payment
with respect to all such excise taxes and other Taxes. The Tax Gross-Up Payment
is intended to compensate Executive for all such excise taxes and any federal,
state, local, foreign or other income, employment, or excise taxes or other
taxes payable by Executive with respect to the Tax Gross-Up Payment.
17
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Approvals. The Company represents and warrants to
---------
Executive it has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize this
Agreement.
10.2 Full Settlement. The exclusive method for the Company
---------------
to terminate its obligations to provide compensation or benefits to Executive
pursuant to Articles IV and V of this Agreement is to terminate Executive's
employment in compliance with all applicable requirements of Sections 6.1, 6.2,
6.3, 6.4 or 6.5 of this Agreement, as applicable, and to make the payments and
provide the benefits specified in such applicable Section.
10.3 No Mitigation. In no event shall Executive be
-------------
obligated to seek other employment or take any other action to mitigate the
amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor
shall the amount of any payment hereunder be reduced by any compensation earned
as a result of Executive's employment by another employer, except that any
continued welfare benefits provided for by Section 6.3(f) or Section 6.4(c)
shall not duplicate any benefits that are provided to Executive and his family
by such other employer and shall be secondary to any coverage provided by such
other employer.
10.4 Enforcement.
-----------
(a) If Executive incurs legal, accounting,
expert witness or other fees, costs or expenses in an effort
to establish entitlement to, or obtain compensation or
benefits or Tax Gross-Up Payment under this Agreement, the
Company shall reimburse Executive for such fees and expenses
if the Executive prevails (after exhaustion of all available
judicial remedies) and provide the Executive with a Tax
Gross-Up Payment for any Taxes payable by Executive on such
reimbursements.
(b) If the Company fails to pay any amount
provided under this Agreement when due, the Company shall pay
interest on such amount at an annual rate equal to the lesser
of (i) (A) the highest rate of interest charged by the
Company's principal lender on its revolving credit agreements
plus 200 basis points, or (B) in the absence of such a lender,
200 basis points over the prime commercial lending rate
announced by The Wall Street Journal in effect from time to
time during the period of such nonpayment, or (ii) the highest
legally-permissible interest rate allowed to be charged under
applicable law.
10.5 Release. Notwithstanding any provisions of this
-------
Agreement to the contrary, the Company's obligations to make payments and to
provide benefits under Sections 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5, other than the obligation to
pay Accrued Base Salary and Accrued Annual Bonus, are expressly conditioned upon
the Executive's execution of a mutual release and waiver substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B and the expiration of the Revocation Period as
defined in the release.
18
10.6 Beneficiary. If Executive dies prior to receiving all
-----------
of the amounts payable to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, such amounts shall be paid to the beneficiary ("Beneficiary")
designated by Executive in writing to the Company during his lifetime, or if no
such Beneficiary is designated, to Executive's estate. Such payments shall be
made in a lump sum to the extent so payable and, to the extent not payable in a
lump sum, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Such payments shall
not be less than the amount payable to Executive as if Executive had lived to
the date of payment and were the payee. Executive, without the consent of any
prior Beneficiary, may change his designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries at
any time or from time to time by submitting to the Company a new designation in
writing.
10.7 Assignment; Successors. The Company may not assign
----------------------
its respective rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of Executive except to a successor of the Company's business.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Executive, his
estate and Beneficiaries, the Company and the successors and permitted assigns
of the Company.
10.8 Non-alienation. Except as is otherwise expressly
--------------
provided herein, benefits payable under this Agreement shall not be subject in
any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge,
encumbrance, charge, garnishment, execution or levy of any kind, either
voluntary or involuntary, prior to actually being received by Executive, and any
such attempt to dispose of any right to benefits payable hereunder shall be
void.
10.9 Severability. If all or any part of this Agreement is
------------
declared to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not
serve to invalidate any portion of this Agreement not declared to be unlawful or
invalid. Any provision so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible,
be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such provision
to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.
10.10 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement shall not be
-----------------
amended or modified except by written instrument executed by the Company and
Executive. A waiver of any term, covenant or condition contained in this
Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any other term, covenant or condition,
and any waiver of any default in any such term, covenant or condition shall not
be deemed a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other term, covenant
or condition.
19
10.11 Notices. All notices hereunder shall be in writing
-------
and delivered by hand, by nationally-recognized delivery service that guarantees
overnight delivery, or by first-class, registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Company, to: Corporate Secretary
AMCOL International Corporation
One North Arlington
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
If to Executive, to: (at his most recent home address or
facsimile number on file with
the Company)
Either party may from time to time designate a new address by notice given in
accordance with this Section. Notice shall be effective when actually received
by the addressee.
10.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
------------
multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all
of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
10.13 Captions. The captions of this Agreement are not a
--------
part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.
10.14 Entire Agreement. This Agreement forms the entire
----------------
agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
contained in the Agreement and shall supersede all prior agreements, promises
and representations regarding employment, compensation, severance or other
payments contingent upon termination of employment, whether in writing or
otherwise, including but not limited to that certain Employment Agreement dated
March 15, 2002 by and between the Company and the Executive.
10.15 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted
--------------
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without
regard to its choice of law principles.
10.16 Survival of Executive's Rights. All of Executive's
------------------------------
rights hereunder, including his rights to compensation and benefits, and his
obligations under Article VI and Article VII hereof, shall survive the
termination of Executive's employment or the termination of this Agreement.
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
on the date set forth above.
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------
Its: Secretary
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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