EXHIBIT 10.1
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Agreement (this "Agreement") by and between
Xxxxxxxxxxx Enterra, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx (the "Executive"), is effective as of January 5, 1998.
RECITALS:
A. The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has previously
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish
the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal
uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and
to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company
currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and
to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a
Change of Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations
of the Executive, which are competitive with those of executives at other
corporations, will be satisfied.
B. To accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the Company to
enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
(a) The "Effective Date" shall mean the first date during the
Change of Control Period (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of
Control (as defined in Section 1(c)) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and if the Executive's
employment with the Company is terminated prior to the date on which the Change
of Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that
such termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third party who has
taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or (ii)
otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change of Control, then
for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date
immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment.
(b) The "Change of Control Period" shall mean the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of the date
hereof; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date
hereof, and on each annual
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anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), unless previously terminated,
the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate
three year(s) after such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the
Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of
Control Period shall not be so extended.
(c) A "Change of Control" shall mean:
(i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or
group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of 20 percent or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding
Company Voting Securities"); provided, however that for purposes of this
subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of
Control:
(A) any acquisition directly from the Company,
(B) any acquisition by the Company,
(C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company, or
(D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to
a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii)
of this Section 1(c); or
(ii) Individuals, who, as of the date hereof, constitute
the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Board; or
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(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company (a "Corporate Transaction") in each case, unless,
following such Corporate Transaction, (A) all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 60 percent of, respectively, the then outstanding shares
of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case
may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Corporate
Transaction or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or
such corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 20 percent or more of, respectively, the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to the Corporate Transaction and (C) at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for
such Corporate Transaction; or
(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company
of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
2. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees that the Company or an
affiliated company will continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive
hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company or an affiliate subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the
Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment
Period").
3. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) POSITION AND DUTIES.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the
Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting
requirements, authority, duties and responsibilities) shall be at least
commensurate in all material respects with the most
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significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services
shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately
preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from
such location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any
periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the
Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business
hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to
discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the
Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of
this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable
boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or
teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long
as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with
this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that
any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective
Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities
similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not
thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's
responsibilities to the Company.
(b) COMPENSATION.
(i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which
shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to 12 times the highest monthly
base salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been earned but
deferred, to the Executive by the Company and/or its affiliated companies in
respect of the 12-month period immediately preceding the month in which the
Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary
shall be reviewed no more than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded
to the Executive prior to the Effective Date and thereafter at least annually;
provided, however, that a salary increase shall not necessarily be awarded as a
result of such review. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to
limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement.
Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase other than a
reduction that is part of a general salary reduction implemented Company-wide or
by the Executive's employer consistently applied with respect to all or
substantially all employees. The term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this
Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased or decreased. As
used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" shall include any
company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
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(ii) ANNUAL BONUS. The Executive shall be awarded,
for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the
"Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the Executive's highest bonus (whether
in cash or Common Stock of the Company) paid or payable under the Company's
annual incentive program for the last three full fiscal years prior to the
Effective Date (annualized in the event that the Executive was not employed by
the Company for the whole of such fiscal year) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each
such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the
fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is
awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual
Bonus.
(iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. During
the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
applicable generally to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and
programs provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with
respect to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if
any, that such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement
benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than the
most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for
the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at
any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or,
if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after
the Effective Date to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment
Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall
be eligible to participate in and shall receive all benefits under welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its
affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription,
dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental
death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable
generally to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate,
than the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in
effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive's those
provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to the Executive's peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses
incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies,
practices and procedures
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of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if
more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter
with respect to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits (including, without
limitation, financial planning services, payment of club dues, a car allowance
or use of an automobile and payment of related expenses, as appropriate) in
accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of
the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(vii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most
favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its
affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to the
Executive's peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(viii) OPTIONS/SARS. Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control pursuant to which the Company is not the survivor (or survives only as a
subsidiary of another entity), the surviving corporation shall issue to the
Executive options and tandem stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), if applicable,
in substitution or replacement of all outstanding options or SARs previously
issued pursuant to a Company stock option plan or the Company's Stock
Appreciation Rights Plan, respectively, any such options and SARs to have terms
and conditions similar to the terms of any such original options and SARs.
4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall
terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period.
If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has
occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability
set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with
Section 11(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's
employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate effective 30 days after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the
"Disability Effective Date"), provided that within the 30-day
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period after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time
performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties
with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 calendar days as a result of
incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and
permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable
to the Executive or the Executive's legal representative.
(b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause"
shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the
Executive to perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or
one of its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due
to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial
performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the
Board or Chief Executive Officer believes that the Executive has not
substantially performed the Executive's duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal
conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to
the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act, or failure to
act, on the part of the Executive shall be considered "willful" unless it is
done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable
belief that the 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 or upon the instructions of the Chief
Executive Officer or of a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice
of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted
to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be
for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board
called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to the
Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to
be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the
Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i) or
(ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
(c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated by
the Executive during the Employment Period for Good Reason. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
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(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status,
offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3(a) of this Agreement, or any other
action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority,
duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at
any office or location other than as provided in Section 3(a)(i)(B) hereof or
the Company's requiring the Executive to travel on Company business to a
substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the Effective
Date;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of
the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
Section 9(c) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 4(c), any good faith
determination of "Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.
(d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination during the Employment
Period by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in
accordance with Section 11(b) of the Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement,
a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the
specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent
applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed
to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the
provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below)
is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date
(which date shall be not more than 30 days after the giving of such notice). The
failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of
Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good
Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company,
respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
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(e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" shall mean:
(i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by
the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt
of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case
may be;
(ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall
be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination; and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of
death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
5. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.
(a) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE, DEATH OR DISABILITY. If,
during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's
employment other than for Cause, death or Disability, or the Executive shall
terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) The Company shall pay to the Executive in a
lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of
the following amounts:
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual
Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid,
(2) the product of (x) the higher of (I) the Recent Annual Bonus and (II) the
Annual Bonus paid or payable, including any bonus or portion thereof which has
been earned but deferred (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less
than 12 full months or during which the Executive was employed for less than 12
full months), for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment
Period, if any (such higher amount being referred to as the "Highest Annual
Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the
current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of
which is 365, and (3) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive
(together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued
vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the
amounts described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall be hereinafter referred to
as the "Accrued Obligations"), and
B. the amount equal to the product of (1)
three times (2) the sum of (x) the Executive's Annual Base Salary and (y) the
Highest Annual Bonus, and
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C. an amount equal to the excess of (a)
the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Company's qualified defined
benefit retirement plan, if any, in which the Executive participates (the
"Retirement Plan") (utilizing actuarial assumptions no less favorable to the
Executive than those in effect under the Retirement Plan immediately prior to
the Effective Date, if applicable), and any excess or supplemental retirement
plan related to the Retirement Plan in which the Executive participates
(together, the "SERP"), which the Executive would receive if the Executive's
employment continued for three year(s) after the Date of Termination assuming
for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and assuming that
the Executive's compensation in each of the three year(s) is that required by
Sections 3(b)(i) and 3(b)(ii), over (b) the actuarial equivalent of the
Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan
and the SERP as of the Date of Termination, and
D. an amount equal to three times the total of
the Employer Matching Contribution credited to the Executive under the Company's
401(k) Savings Plan (the "401(k) Plan") and the Supplemental Matching Accrual
credited under the Company's Supplemental Savings Plan (the "Excess Plan")
during the 12-month period immediately preceding the month of the Executive"s
Date of Termination, such amount to be grossed up so that the amount the
Executive actually receives after payment of any federal or state taxes payable
thereon equals the amount first described above;
(ii) For three year(s) after the Executive's Date of
Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the
appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue
benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family equal to those which
would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs,
practices and policies described in Section 3(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the
Executive's employment had not been terminated; provided, however, that with
respect to any of such plans, programs, practices or policies requiring an
employee contribution, the Executive shall continue to pay the monthly employee
contribution for same, and provided further, that if the Executive becomes
reemployed by another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other
welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical and other
welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under
such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility;
(iii) The Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred,
provide the Executive with outplacement services, the scope and provider of
which shall be selected by the Executive in his sole discretion;
(iv) With respect to all options to purchase Common Stock
held by the Executive pursuant to a Company stock option plan on or prior to the
Date of Termination, irrespective of whether such options are then exercisable,
the Executive
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shall have the right, during the 60-day period after the Date of Termination, to
elect to surrender all or part of such options in exchange for a cash payment by
the Company to the Executive in an amount equal the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to the Executive's option multiplied by the difference between (x)
and (y) where (y) equals the purchase price per share covered by the option and
(x) equals the highest reported sale price of a share of Common Stock in any
transaction reported on the New York Stock Exchange during the 60-day period
prior to and including the Executive's Date of Termination; and with respect to
all SARs held by the Executive granted under the Company's Stock Appreciation
Rights Plan on or prior to the Date of Termination, irrespective of whether such
SARs are then exercisable, the Executive shall have the right, during the 60-day
period after the Date of Termination, to elect to surrender all or part of such
SARs in exchange for a cash payment by the Company to the Executive in an amount
equal to the number of SARs held by the Executive multiplied by the difference
between (a) and (b) where (b) equals the fair market value of such SARs on the
date on which such SARs were awarded and (a) equals the price of a share of
Common Stock set forth in clause (x) above. Such cash payments shall be made
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's election; provided, however,
that if the Executive's Date of Termination is within six months after the date
of grant of a particular option or SAR held by the Executive and the Executive
is subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
any cash payments related thereto shall be made on the date which is six months
and one day after the date of grant of such option or SAR. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any right granted pursuant to the foregoing would make a Change of
Control transaction ineligible for pooling of interests accounting treatment
under XXX Xx. 00 that but for this Section 5(a)(iv) would otherwise be eligible
for such accounting treatment, the Executive shall receive shares of Common
Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to the cash that would otherwise be payable
hereunder in substitution for the cash, provided that any such shares of Common
Stock so granted to the Executive shall be registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended; any options or SARs outstanding as of the Date of
Termination and not then exercisable shall become fully exercisable as of the
Executive's Date of Termination, and to the extent the Executive does not elect
to surrender same for a cash payment (or the equivalent number of shares of
Common Stock) as provided above, such options and SARs shall remain exercisable
for seven months after the Executive's Date of Termination or until the stated
expiration of the stated term thereof, whichever is shorter; restrictions
applicable to any shares of Common Stock granted to the Executive under the
Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Plan shall lapse, as of the date of the
Executive's Date of Termination;
(v) All country club memberships, luncheon clubs and other
memberships which the Company was providing for the Executive's use at the time
Notice of Termination is given shall, to the extent possible, be transferred and
assigned to the Executive at no cost to the Executive (other than income taxes
owed), the cost of transfer, if any, to be borne by the Company;
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(vi) The Company shall either transfer to the Executive
ownership and title to the Executive's Company car at no cost to the Executive
(other than income taxes owed) or, if the Executive receives a monthly car
allowance in lieu of a Company car, pay the Executive a lump sum in cash within
30 days, after the Executive's Date of Termination equal to three times the
Executive's annual car allowance;
(vii) All benefits under the Retirement Plan, the SERP,
the 401(k) Plan and the Excess Plan, and any other similar plans, not already
vested shall be 100% vested, to the extent such vesting is permitted under the
Code (as defined below); and
(viii) To the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the
Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or
benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to
receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of
the Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts and benefits shall
be hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits").
(b) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason
of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives
under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the
timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid
to the Executive's estate or beneficiaries, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days after the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of
Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 5(b) shall
include, without limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries
shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable
benefits provided by the Company and affiliated companies to the estates and
beneficiaries of the Executive's peer executives of the Company and such
affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating
to death benefits, if any, in effect at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable, those in effect
on the date of the Executive's death.
(c) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other
than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of
Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum
in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination. With respect to the
provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section
5(c) shall include, without limitation, and the Executive shall be entitled
after the Disability Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits at
least equal to the most favorable benefits generally provided by the Company and
its affiliated companies to the Executive's disabled peer executives and/or
their families in accordance
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with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if
any, in effect generally at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable, those in effect at the time
of the Disability.
(d) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's
employment is terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than the
obligation to pay to the Executive (x) his or her Annual Base Salary through the
Date of Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by
the Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore
unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during the Employment
Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations
and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. In such case, all Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
after the Date of Termination.
6. OTHER RIGHTS. Except as provided hereinafter, nothing in this
Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company
or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor,
subject to Section 11(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such
rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the
Company or any of its affiliated companies. Except as provided hereinafter,
amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled
to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or
agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent
to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan,
policy, practice or program or contract or agreement. It is expressly agreed by
the Executive that he or she shall have no right to receive, and hereby waives
any entitlement to, any severance pay or similar benefit under any other plan,
policy, practice or program of the Company. In addition, if the Executive has an
employment or similar agreement with the Company at the Date of Termination, he
or she agrees that he or she shall have the right to receive all of the benefits
provided under this Agreement or such other agreement, whichever one, in its
entirety, the Executive chooses, but not both agreements, and when the Executive
has made such election, the other agreement shall be superseded in its entirety
and shall be of no further force and effect. The Executive also agrees that to
the extent he or she may be eligible for any severance pay or similar benefit
under any laws providing for severance or termination benefits, such other
severance pay or similar benefit shall be coordinated with the benefits owed
hereunder, such that the Executive shall not receive duplicate benefits.
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7. FULL SETTLEMENT.
(a) NO RIGHTS OF OFFSET. The Company's obligation to make the
payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its 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 the
Executive or others.
(b) NO MITIGATION REQUIRED. In no event shall the Executive be
obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation
of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this
Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive
obtains other employment.
(c) LEGAL FEES. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the
full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expense which the Executive may
reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof)
by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or
liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance
thereto (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount
of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any
delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section
7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
8. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding
and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any
payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive
(whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional
payments required under this Section 8) (a "Payment") would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are
incurred by the 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 Executive shall be entitled to
receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that
after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), including without limitation, any income
taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise
Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the
Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(a), if it shall be
determined that the Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the
Executive, after taking into account the Payments and the Gross-Up Payment,
would not receive a net after-tax benefit of at least $50,000 (taking into
account
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both income taxes and any Excise Tax) as compared to the net after-tax
proceeds to the Executive resulting from an elimination of the Gross-Up Payment
and a reduction of the Payments, in the aggregate, to an amount (the "Reduced
Amount") such that the receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise
Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the Payments,
in the aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 8(c), all determinations
required to be made under this Section 8, including whether and when a Gross-Up
Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions
to be utilized in arriving at such determination shall be made by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx LLP or, as provided below, such other certified public accounting firm
as may be designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm") which shall
provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive
within 15 business days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that
there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.
In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for
the individual, entity or group effecting the Change of Control, the Executive
shall appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the
determinations required hereunder (which 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. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined
pursuant to this Section 8, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. Any
determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the
Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of
the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made
by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company
exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 8(c) and the Executive thereafter is
required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall
determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such
Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the
Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any
claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the
payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given
as soon as practicable, but no later than ten business days after the Executive
is informed in writing of such claim, and shall apprise the Company of the
nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid.
The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day
period following the date on which he gives such notice to the Company (or such
shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with
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respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing
prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim the
Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably
requested by the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such
claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to
such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
effectively to contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
relating to such claims; provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay
directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties)
incurred in connection with such costs and shall indemnify and hold the
Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of
such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the
foregoing provisions of this Section 8(c), the Company shall control all
proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may
pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its
sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a
refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees
to prosecute such contest to determination before any administrative tribunal,
in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the
Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the
Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the
amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any
Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto)
imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with
respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of the statute
of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the
Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is
limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of
the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment
would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or
contest, as the case may be, any other issues raised by the Internal Revenue
Service or any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced
by the Company pursuant to Section 8(c), the Executive becomes entitled to
receive any refund
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with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's
complying with the requirements of Section 8(c)) promptly pay to the Company the
amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after
taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 8(c), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and
the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest
such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to
be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof,
the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
9. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies,
and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive
during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies, provided that it shall not apply to information which is or shall
become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives
of the Executive in violation of this Agreement), information that is developed
by the Executive independently of such information, or knowledge or data or
information that is disclosed to the Executive by a third party under no
obligation of confidentiality to the Company. After termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or
legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to
anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an
asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 9 constitute a basis for
deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under
this Agreement.
10. SUCCESSORS.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the
prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be required to perform
-17-
it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company"
shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business
and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the
provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be
amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
If to the Executive: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxx. 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company: Xxxxxxxxxxx Enterra, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notices and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be
withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon
strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert
any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including without
limitation, the right of
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the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section
4(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such
provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may
otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive
and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will"
and, subject to Section 1(a) hereof, prior to the Effective Date, the
Executive's employment and/or this Agreement may be terminated by either the
Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case
the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement. From and after
the Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
/s/
-----------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
XXXXXXXXXXX ENTERRA, INC.
By:/s/_______________________
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