EXHIBIT 99.(e)(7)
[LETTERHEAD OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN]
December 21, 2000
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Dear Xxx:
This letter (the "Northrop Grumman Agreement") will confirm our discussions
regarding your employment with Northrop Grumman Corporation following its
acquisition of Xxxxxx Industries, Inc. ("Xxxxxx").
Xxxxxxxx Grumman is entering into a Merger Agreement with Xxxxxx, pursuant to
which Xxxxxx shall become a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman (the
"Xxxxxx Transaction"). This transaction will constitute a "Change of Control"
as that term is used in your existing Change of Control Employment Agreement
("COCEA") and your existing June 21, 2000 agreement (the "Letter Agreement")
with Xxxxxx. (The COCEA and the Letter Agreement are collectively referred to
as the "Xxxxxx Agreements").
Following the closing of the transaction, you shall be employed as an elected
Corporate Vice President of Northrop Grumman and as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Xxxxxx subsidiary of Northrop Grumman. You will report
to the Chief Executive Officer of Northrop Grumman. In addition, prior to the
closing date of the Xxxxxx Transaction you will be elected to the Northrop
Grumman Board of Directors effective as of the closing date.
Upon the closing of the Xxxxxx Transaction, Northrop Grumman will assume the
obligations of your Xxxxxx Agreements. However, in consideration for your
employment by Northrop Grumman on the terms set forth above, you agree to modify
these Agreements as set forth below. Specifically, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in the Xxxxxx Agreements, you agree that:
1. The period of time commencing as of the closing date of the Xxxxxx
transaction and ending on the later of (i) six months after the
closing, or (ii) December 31, 2001 shall be the "Employment Period."
Except as expressly set forth in Sections 2 and 3 below, you hereby
agree to waive any claims you may have to terminate
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
December 21, 2000
Page 2
your employment during the Employment Period for "Good Reason" (as
that term is defined in Section 5(c) of the COCEA), or to terminate
your employment and claim a "Constructive Termination Without Cause,"
as that term is defined in Section 9(ii) of your Letter Agreement.
Therefore, if you terminate your employment during the Employment
Period (except for the reasons set forth in Sections 2 and 3 below)
you shall not be entitled to any severance benefits under either the
COCEA or the Letter Agreement.
2. If during the Employment Period Northrop Grumman fails to pay you your
Annual Base Salary or Annual Bonus as those terms are defined in
Sections 4(b)(i) and (ii) of the COCEA, or if you no longer report to
the Chief Executive Officer of Northrop Grumman, you shall have the
right to terminate your employment at that time for Good Reason and
receive the benefits set forth in Section 6(a) of the COCEA, provided
you have given Northrop Grumman prior written notice of such failure
to pay or of such change in reporting relationship and a reasonable
opportunity to cure.
3. Similarly, if during the Employment Period Northrop Grumman reduces
your current base salary or target bonus opportunity as a percentage
of base salary as set forth in Section (9)(ii)(A) of the Letter
Agreement, or fails to make any other payments due you under that
Agreement, or if you no longer report to the Chief Executive Officer
of Northrop Grumman, you shall have the right to terminate employment
based on a Constructive Termination Without Cause and receive
severance benefits pursuant to the terms of the Letter Agreement,
provided you have given Northrop Grumman prior written notice of such
reduction or failure to pay, or change in reporting relationship, and
a reasonable opportunity to cure.
4. Nothing in this Northrop Grumman Agreement shall affect your right to
terminate from employment after the Employment Period and claim Good
Reason or a Constructive Termination Without Cause based on events
which occurred during the Employment Period. Nothing in this Northrop
Grumman Agreement shall affect whatever rights you may have to
accelerated vesting of unvested stock options, restricted stock, or
Performance-Based Restricted Stock upon the occurrence of a change of
control.
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
December 21, 2000
Page 3
5. You agree that your employment in the position of Chief Executive
Officer of the Xxxxxx subsidiary of Northrop Grumman fully satisfies
the contingency set forth in the first paragraph of Section 7 of the
Letter Agreement relating to your election as Chief Executive Officer
of Xxxxxx.
6. You shall have the right to voluntarily terminate your employment
during the thirty day period following the Employment Period, and
such termination shall be a termination for Good Reason and therefore
entitle you to severance benefits under the COCEA. Such termination
shall also be a Constructive Termination Without Cause and shall
entitle you to severance benefits under Section 7 (but not Section 8)
of the Letter Agreement. In accordance with Section 7(vi) of the
Letter Agreement, your combined total severance benefit under both
Section 7(i) of the Letter Agreement and Section 6(a)(i)(B) of the
COCEA shall be the greater of (i) $5,000,000 or (ii) three times the
sum of your Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus, or if higher, any
bonus paid with respect to any fiscal year during the Employment
Period (as those terms are defined in the COCEA).
This Northrop Grumman Agreement shall be effective only in the event
that the Xxxxxx Transaction closes on or before December 31, 2001, and
shall have no force or effect in the event that the Xxxxxx Transaction
falls to close by that date. If the Xxxxxx Transaction closes, then
this Northrop Grumman Agreement along with your Xxxxxx Agreements as
modified hereby shall constitute the entire agreement between you and
Northrop Grumman pertaining to the subject matters covered by those
Agreements. In the event the Xxxxxx Transaction fails to close by
December 31, 2001, then your Xxxxxx Agreements shall remain in full
force and effect and unmodified. This Northrop Grumman Agreement shall
not be assignable by either party.
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
December 21, 2000
Page 4
This is a tremendous opportunity for Northrop Grumman and Xxxxxx. I look
forward to working with you in bringing about a smooth integration.
Sincerely,
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
AGREED TO:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Dated: 12/21/00
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