Form of Weyerhaeuser Company Executive Change-in-Control Agreement
Exhibit 10.1
CIC Tier I US
The following executive officers are covered by the Weyerhaeuser Company Executive
Change-in-Control Agreement:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Miles X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. XxXxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Miles X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. XxXxxx
CIC Tier I US
Form of Executive
Change in Control Agreement
(Tier I)
Change in Control Agreement
(Tier I)
Weyerhaeuser Company
January 1, 2010
CIC Tier I US
Contents
Article 1. |
Term of This Agreement | 1 | ||||
Article 2. |
Definitions | 2 | ||||
Article 3. |
Participation and Continuing Eligibility Under This Agreement | 7 | ||||
Article 4. |
Severance Benefits | 7 | ||||
Article 5. |
Form and Timing of Severance Benefits | 10 | ||||
Article 6. |
The Company’s Payment Obligation | 11 | ||||
Article 7. |
Dispute Resolution | 11 | ||||
Article 8. |
Outplacement Assistance | 12 | ||||
Article 9. |
Section 409A | 12 | ||||
Article 10. |
Successors and Assignment | 12 | ||||
Article 11. |
Miscellaneous | 13 |
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THIS EXECUTIVE CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT (Tier I) is made and entered into by and
between Weyerhaeuser Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”) and
(hereinafter referred to as the “Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the Company entering into change
in control agreements with certain key executives of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Executive is a key executive of the Company;
WHEREAS, should the possibility of a Change in Control of the Company arise, the Board
believes it is imperative that the Company and the Board should be able to rely on the Executive to
continue in his position, and that the Company should be able to receive and rely on the
Executive’s advice, if requested, as to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders
without concern that the Executive might be distracted by the personal uncertainties and risks
created by the possibility of a Change in Control; and
WHEREAS, should the possibility of a Change in Control arise, in addition to his regular
duties, the Executive may be called upon to assist in the assessment of such possible Change in
Control, advise management and the Board as to whether such Change in Control would be in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, and to take such other actions as the Board might
determine to be appropriate.
NOW THEREFORE, to assure the Company that it will have the continued dedication of the
Executive and the availability of his advice and counsel notwithstanding the possibility, threat,
or occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, and to induce the Executive to remain in the
employ of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and the Executive
agree as follows:
Article 1. Term of This Agreement
Subject to the provisions of Article 10, this Agreement will commence on the Effective
Date and shall continue in effect for three (3) full calendar years. However, at any time prior to
the end of such three-year (3) period, and at any time prior to the end of any extended term, the
Committee may, in its discretion, extend the term of this Agreement for any period of time up to
three (3) additional years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement is subject to annual
review and may be amended or otherwise modified by the Committee in its sole discretion subsequent
to such annual review, provided that no Change in Control shall have occurred.
However, in the event a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Agreement, this
Agreement will remain in effect for the longer of (i) twenty-four (24) full calendar months beyond
the month in which such Change in Control occurred or (ii) until all obligations of the Company to
the Executive hereunder have been fulfilled, and until all benefits required hereunder have
been paid to the Executive.
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Article 2. Definitions
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is capitalized:
(a) | “Agreement” means this Executive Change in Control Agreement (Tier I). | ||
(b) | “Base Salary” means the salary of record paid to the Executive as annual salary, excluding amounts received under incentive or other bonus plans, whether or not deferred. | ||
(c) | “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. | ||
(d) | “Beneficiary” means the persons or entities designated or deemed designated by an Executive pursuant to Section 12.2. | ||
(e) | “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. | ||
(f) | “Cause” means the Executive’s: |
(i) | Willful and continued failure to perform substantially the Executive’s duties with the Company after the Company delivers to the Executive written demand for substantial performance specifically identifying the manner in which the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s duties; | ||
(ii) | Conviction of a felony; or | ||
(iii) | Willfully engaging in illegal conduct or gross misconduct that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company. |
For purposes of this Section 2(f), no act or omission by the Executive shall be considered
“willful” unless it is done or omitted 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 on: (A) authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or (B) 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. For purposes of subsections (i)
and (iii) above, the Executive shall not be deemed to be terminated 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 (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a
meeting 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
subsection (i) or (iii) above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
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(g) | “Change in Control” or “CIC” of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied: |
(i) | Any Person, but excluding the Company and any subsidiary of the Company and any employee benefits plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company (collectively, “Excluded Persons”), directly or indirectly, becomes the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Company representing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities with respect to the election of directors of the Company and such ownership continues for at least a period of thirty (30) days (with the end of such period being deemed the effective date of the CIC); or | ||
(ii) | During any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period, the individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than death to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that except as set forth in the following sentence, an individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the beginning of the twenty-four (24) month period shall be deemed to have satisfied such twenty-four (24) month requirement (and be an Incumbent Director) if such director was elected by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually (because they were directors at the beginning of such period) or by prior operation of the provisions of this Section 2(g)(ii). Notwithstanding the proviso set forth in the preceding sentence, if any such individual initially assumes office as a result of or in connection with either an actual or threatened solicitation with respect to the election of directors (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-12(c) of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board, then such individual shall not be considered an Incumbent Director. For purposes of this Section 2(g)(ii), if at any time individuals who initially assumed office as a result of or in connection with an arrangement or understanding between the Company and any Person (an “Entity Designee”) constitute at least one-half (1/2) of the Board, none of such Entity Designees shall be considered Incumbent Directors from that time forward; or | ||
(iii) | There is consummated: |
(A) a plan of complete liquidation of the Company; or
(B) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Company’s assets
in one or a series of related transactions; or
(C) a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company or the
acquisition of outstanding Common Stock and as a result of or in connection
with such transaction (1) thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the
outstanding Common Stock or the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto or the outstanding shares of common stock or the
combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving
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entity are owned, directly or indirectly, by any other corporation or Person
other than (x) an Excluded Person or (y) a Person who is, or if such Person
beneficially owned five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock
would be, eligible to report such Person’s beneficial ownership on Schedule
13G pursuant to the rules under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or (z) a
Person that has entered into an agreement with the Company pursuant to which
such Person has agreed not to acquire additional voting securities of the
Company (other than pursuant to the terms of such agreement), solicit
proxies with respect to the Company’s voting securities or otherwise
participate in any contest relating to the election of directors of the
Company, or take other actions that could result in a Change in Control of
the Company; provided that this exclusion shall apply only so long as such
agreement shall remain in effect, or (2) the voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto do not immediately after such
transaction continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than
sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
the Company (or such surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such
merger, consolidation, or reorganization.
(h) | “Change in Control Price” means, with respect to a share of the Company’s common stock, the higher of: |
(i) | the highest reported sales price, regular way, of such share of common stock in any transaction reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape or other national exchange on which such shares are listed during the 60-day period prior to and including the date of the Change in Control; or | ||
(ii) | if the Change in Control is the result of a tender or exchange offer or a merger, reorganization or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the highest price per such share of common stock paid in such transaction; provided, however, that in the case of incentive Options and SARs relating to incentive Options, the Change in Control Price shall be the average of the high and low per share trading prices (or the average of the opening and closing prices, or the closing price, if so determined by the Committee) for the Company’s common stock as reported on the consolidated transaction reporting system for New York Stock Exchange issues during regular session trading or such other source the Committee deems reliable for a single trading day or an average of trading days not to exceed 30 days from the grant date of such Equity Award or other date on which such Equity Award is exercised or deemed exercised pursuant to Section 5.2. |
To the extent the consideration paid in any such transaction described above consists
all or in part of securities or other non-cash consideration, the value of such
securities or other non-cash consideration shall be determined in the sole discretion of
the Board.
(i) | “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
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(j) | “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any other committee appointed by the Board to perform the functions of the Compensation Committee. | ||
(k) | “Company” means Weyerhaeuser Company, a Washington corporation (including any and all subsidiaries), or any successor thereto as provided in Article 11. | ||
(l) | “Disability” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Company’s Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees, or in any successor to such plan. | ||
(m) | “Effective Date” means January 1, 2008. | ||
(n) | “Effective Date of Termination” means the date on which a Qualifying Termination occurs that triggers the payment of Severance Benefits hereunder. | ||
(o) | “Equity Awards” means any awards made from time to time to the Executive of options to purchase the Company’s common stock (“Options”), restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), stock units denominated in units of the Company’s common stock, performance shares, dividend equivalents, or other incentive awards payable in shares of the Company’s common stock under the terms of the LTIP. | ||
(p) | “Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. | ||
(q) | “Executive” means a key executive of the Company who has been presented with and signed this Agreement. | ||
(r) | “Good Reason” shall mean, without the Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following events: |
(i) | A material reduction in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities existing immediately prior to the CIC; | ||
(ii) | Within two (2) years following a Change in Control, and without the Executive’s consent, the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based at a location that is at least fifty (50) miles farther from the Executive’s primary residence immediately prior to a Change in Control than is such residence from the Company’s headquarters immediately prior to a Change in Control, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive’s business obligations as of the Effective Date; | ||
(iii) | A material reduction by the Company of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect immediately prior to the CIC; | ||
(iv) | A material reduction in the benefits coverage in the aggregate provided to the Executive immediately prior to the CIC; provided, however, that reductions in the level of benefits coverage shall not be deemed to be “Good Reason” if the Executive’s overall benefits coverage is substantially consistent with the average level of benefits coverage of other executives who have positions commensurate with the Executive’s position at the acquiring company; |
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(v) | A material reduction in the Executive’s level of participation, including the Executive’s target-level opportunities, in any of the Company’s short- and/or long-term incentive compensation plans in which the Executive participates as of the Effective Date (for this purpose a material reduction shall be deemed to have occurred if the aggregate “incentive opportunities” are reduced by ten percent (10%) or more); or a material increase in the relative difficulty of the measures used to determine the payouts under such plans (as reasonably determined by the Executive); provided, however, that reductions in the levels of participation or increase in relative difficulty of payout measures shall not be deemed to be “Good Reason” if the Executive’s reduced level of participation or difficulty of measures in each such program remains substantially consistent with the level of participation or difficulty of the measures of some or all other executives who have positions commensurate with the Executive’s position at the acquiring company; or | ||
(vi) | The failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in Article 11. |
Under this Agreement, Good Reason shall not be deemed to exist unless a “Change in
Control” has occurred within the time frame described in Section 4.2. Moreover, in no
event shall the Executive’s resignation be for Good Reason unless (A) an event set forth
above shall have occurred and the Executive provides the Company with written notice
thereof within thirty (30) days after the Executive has knowledge of the occurrence or
existence of such event, which notice specifically identifies the event that the
Executive believes constitutes Good Reason, and (B) the Company fails to correct the
event so identified in all material respects within thirty (30) days after receipt of
such notice.
(s) | “LTIP” is the Weyerhaeuser Company 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan or a successor long-term incentive plan under which Equity Awards may be granted to the Executive from time to time. | ||
(t) | “Non-Competition and Release Agreement” is an agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto in Annex A, executed by and between the Executive and the Company as a condition to the Executive’s receipt of the benefits described in Section 4.3. | ||
(u) | “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d). | ||
(v) | “Qualifying Termination” means any of the events described in Section 4.2, the occurrence of which triggers the payment of Severance Benefits under Section 4.3. | ||
(w) | “Retirement” shall mean early or normal retirement under the Company’s Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees. | ||
(x) | “Severance Benefits” means the Severance Benefits associated with a Qualifying Termination, as described in Section 4.3. |
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Article 3. Participation and Continuing Eligibility Under This Agreement
3.1 Participation. Subject to Section 3.2, as well as the remaining terms of this
Agreement, the Executive shall remain eligible to receive benefits hereunder during the term of
this Agreement.
3.2 Removal From Coverage. In the event the Executive’s job classification is reduced below
the minimum level required for eligibility to continue to be covered by severance protection as
determined at the sole discretion of the Committee, the Committee may remove the Executive from
coverage under this Agreement. Such removal shall be effective three (3) months after the date the
Company notifies the Executive of such removal. Removals occurring within two (2) years after a
CIC, shall be null and void for purposes of this Agreement.
Article 4. Severance Benefits
4.1 Right to Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the
Company Severance Benefits if
(a) | the Executive’s employment with the Company shall end for any reason specified in Section 4.2; and | ||
(b) | the Executive is not (i) reemployed by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company whether in a salaried, hourly, temporary, or full-time capacity, or (ii) retained as a consultant or contractor by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, or (iii) retained as a consultant or contractor by an entity acquiring the Company, unless the reemployment or retention of such Executive has the prior written approval of the Company’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, of the Company. |
Receipt of Severance Benefits shall disqualify the Executive from eligibility to receive any
other severance benefits from the Company, including, without limitation, those under any
Executive Severance Agreement between the Company and the Executive, as such agreement may
be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, or, if such agreement
is no longer in effect, any successor agreement thereto.
4.2 Qualifying Termination. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events within
twenty-four (24) full calendar months following the effective date of a CIC of the Company shall
trigger the payment of Severance Benefits to the Executive under this Agreement:
(a) | An involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, authorized by the Company’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, for reasons other than for Cause, mandatory Retirement under the Company’s applicable policies, or the Executive’s death, Disability, or voluntary termination of employment (including voluntary Retirement) without Good Reason; or | ||
(b) | a voluntary termination by the Executive for Good Reason. |
4.3 Description of Severance Benefits. In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to
receive Severance Benefits (and further contingent on the proper execution of the Non-Competition
and Release Agreement as set forth in Section 4.8), as provided in Sections 4.1 and 4.2, and
subject
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to the cap described in Section 6.1, the Company shall pay to the Executive and provide him
with the following:
(a) | An amount equal to three times the highest rate of the Executive’s annualized Base Salary rate in effect at any time up to and including the Effective Date of Termination. | ||
(b) | An amount equal to three times the Executive’s target annual bonus established for the bonus plan year in which the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination occurs (or, if higher, the target annual bonus established for the bonus plan year in which the CIC occurs). | ||
(c) | An amount equal to the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary and accrued vacation pay through the Executive’s last day of work. | ||
(d) | An amount equal to the Executive’s unpaid actual annual bonus, paid for the plan year in which the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination occurs, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days completed in the then-existing fiscal year through the Effective Date of Termination and the denominator of which is three hundred sixty-five (365). Any payments hereunder are in lieu of any bonuses otherwise payable under the Company’s applicable annual incentive plans. | ||
(e) | A lump sum payment of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) (net of required payroll and income tax withholding) in order to assist the Executive in paying for replacement health and welfare coverage for a reasonable period following the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination. | ||
(f) | Full vesting of the Executive’s benefits under any and all supplemental retirement plans in which the Executive participates. For purposes of determining the amount of an Executive’s benefits in such plans, such benefits shall be calculated under the assumption that the Executive’s employment continued following the Effective Date of Termination for three (3) full years (i.e., three (3) additional years of age and service credits shall be added); provided, however, that for purposes of determining “final average pay” under such programs, the Executive’s actual pay history as of the effective date of termination shall be used. Payout of such amounts shall occur at the time established under such plans. | ||
To the extent that the Executive is subject to a reduction of such benefits due to application of any early retirement provisions, the three (3) additional years of age shall be incorporated in the early retirement reduction calculation so as to offset such reduction. Also, three (3) additional years of age, but not any additional service, shall be used to determine the Executive’s eligibility for early retirement benefits. | |||
(g) | An amount equal to the value of the stock equivalents representing premiums (including any appreciation and dividend equivalents) that are forfeited under the Weyerhaeuser Company Deferred Compensation Plan, in connection with the Executive’s Qualifying Termination. If no such premiums are forfeited under the |
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Weyerhaeuser Company Deferred Compensation Plan, then no amount shall be payable under this Section 4.3(g). |
(h) | Unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Equity Award or in a written employment or other agreement between the Executive and the Company: |
(i) Full vesting of any Equity Awards, which shall become immediately exercisable
and remain exercisable throughout their entire term;
(ii) Termination or lapsing of any restriction periods and restrictions imposed
on such Equity Awards that are not performance based;
(iii) Termination or lapsing of any restriction or other conditions applicable to
any such Equity Awards and such Equity Awards shall become free of all
restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable
to the full extent of the original grant; and
(iv) Recognition of the target payout opportunities attainable under all
outstanding Equity Awards that are performance-based, which Equity Awards shall
be deemed to have been fully earned for the entire performance periods and
restrictions on such Equity Awards shall lapse and such Equity Awards shall be
immediately settled or distributed.
4.4 Termination for Disability. Following a CIC of the Company, if the Executive’s employment
is terminated due to Disability, no compensation or benefits shall be payable under this Agreement
and the Executive shall instead receive his Base Salary through the Effective Date of Termination,
at which point in time the Executive’s benefits shall be determined in accordance with the
Company’s disability and other applicable compensation and benefits plans and programs then in
effect.
4.5 Termination for Retirement or Death. Following a CIC of the Company, if the Executive’s
employment is terminated by reason of his death or voluntary Retirement other than for Good Reason,
no compensation or benefits shall be payable under this Agreement and the Executive’s benefits
shall instead be determined in accordance with the Company’s retirement and other applicable
compensation and benefits plans and programs then in effect.
4.6 Termination for Cause or by the Executive Other Than for Good Reason or Retirement.
Following a CIC of the Company, if the Executive’s employment is terminated either (i) by the
Company for Cause or (ii) by the Executive (other than for Disability or death) and other than for
Good Reason, no compensation or benefits shall be payable under this Agreement and the Executive’s
benefits shall instead be determined in accordance with the Company’s applicable compensation and
benefits plans and programs then in effect.
4.7 Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company or by the Executive for Good Reason
under this Article 4 shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination, unless the Executive is
terminated for Cause, in which case no Notice of Termination is required. For purposes of this
Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice that shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the
facts
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and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment
under the provision so indicated.
4.8 Delivery of Non-Competition and Release Agreement. The payment of Severance Benefits is
conditioned on the Executive’s timely execution of the Non-Competition and Release Agreement. The
Company will deliver the Non-Competition and Release Agreement when it provides a Notice of
Termination to the Executive or promptly following the Company’s receipt of a Notice of Termination
from the Executive. The Non-Competition and Release Agreement shall be deemed effective upon the
expiration of the required waiting periods under applicable state and/or federal laws as more
specifically described therein.
To support the enforcement of the Non-Competition and Release Agreement, the parties agree
that the minimum value of the Non-Competition and Release Agreement at the time this Agreement was
entered into was at least 1.5 times the Executive’s Base Salary that has been built into the
severance formula in Section 4.3.
4.9 Removal From Representative Boards. In the event the terminating Executive occupies any
board of directors seats solely as a Company representative, as a condition to receiving the
severance set forth in Section 4.3 the Executive shall immediately resign such position upon his
termination of employment with the Company, unless specifically requested in writing by the Company
otherwise.
Article 5. Form and Timing of Severance Benefits
5.1 Form and Timing of Severance Benefits. The Severance Benefits described in Sections
4.3(a), 4.3(b), 4.3(c), 4.3(d), 4.3(e) and 4.3(g) shall be paid in cash to the Executive in a
single lump sum, subject to the Non-Competition and Release Agreement referred to in Section 4.8,
as soon as practicable following the Effective Date of Termination, but in no event beyond thirty
(30) days from the later of the Effective Date of Termination and the successful expiration of the
waiting periods described in Section 4.8.
5.2 Treatment of Certain Equity Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, during the 60-day period from and after a Change in Control (the “Exercise Period”), if
the Committee shall determine at, or at any time after, the time of grant, an Executive holding a
Option or SAR exercisable pursuant to Section 4.3(h) shall have the right, in lieu of the payment
of the purchase price for the shares of the Company’s common stock being purchased under the Option
or SAR and by giving notices to the Company, to elect (within the Exercise Period) to surrender all
or part of the Option or SAR to the Company and to receive cash, within 30 days of such notice, in
an amount equal to the amount by which the Change in Control Price per share on the date of such
election shall exceed the purchase price per share of Company’s common stock under the Option or
SAR (the “spread”) multiplied by the number of shares of the Company’s common stock granted under
the Option or SAR as to which the right granted under this Section 5.2 shall have been exercised.
5.3 Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts
payable under this Agreement all taxes as legally shall be required (including, without limitation,
any United States federal taxes and any other state, city, or local taxes).
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Article 6. The Company’s Payment Obligation
6.1 Payment Obligations Absolute. Except as provided in this Article 6 and Article 7 ,
the Company’s obligation to make the payments and the arrangements provided for hereof shall be
absolute and unconditional, and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without
limitation, any offset, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right that the Company may have
against the Executive or anyone else. All amounts payable by the Company hereunder shall be paid
without notice or demand. Except as provided in this Article 6 and in Article 7, each and every
payment made hereunder by the Company shall be final, and the Company shall not seek to recover all
or any part of such payment from the Executive or from whosoever may be entitled thereto, for any
reasons whatsoever.
The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts
payable or arrangements made under any provision of this Agreement, and the obtaining of any such
other employment shall in no event effect any reduction of the Company’s obligations to make the
payments and arrangements required to be made under this Agreement.
6.2 Contractual Rights to Benefits. Subject to Article 1 and Sections 3.2 and 6.3, this
Agreement establishes and vests in the Executive a contractual right to the benefits to which he
may become entitled hereunder. However, nothing herein contained shall require or be deemed to
require, or prohibit or be deemed to prohibit, the Company to segregate, earmark, or otherwise set
aside any funds or other assets, in trust or otherwise, to provide for any payments to be made or
required hereunder.
6.3 Forfeiture of Severance Benefits and Other Payments. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, if it is determined by the Company that the Executive has
violated any of the restrictive covenants contained in the Executive’s Non-Competition and Release
Agreement, the Executive shall be required to repay to the Company an amount equal to the economic
value of all Severance Benefits and other payments already provided to the Executive under this
Agreement and the Executive shall forever forfeit the Executive’s rights to any unpaid Severance
Benefits and other payments hereunder. Additional forfeiture provisions may apply pursuant to
other agreements and policies between the Executive and the Company, and any such forfeiture
provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Article 7. Dispute Resolution
7.1 Claims Procedure. The Executive may file a written claim with the Company’s Senior
Vice President of Human Resources, who shall consider such claim and notify the Executive in
writing of his or her decision with respect thereto within ninety (90) days (or within such longer
period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources
determines is necessary to review the claim, provided that the Senior Vice President of Human
Resources notifies the Executive in writing of the extension within the original ninety (90) day
period). If the claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Executive may appeal such denial to the
Committee, provided the Executive does so in writing within sixty (60) days of receiving the
determination by the Senior Vice President of Human Resources. The Committee shall consider the
appeal and notify the Executive in writing of its decision with respect thereto within sixty (60)
days (or within such longer period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days as the Committee
determines is necessary to review the appeal, provided that the Committee notifies the Executive in
writing of the extension within the original sixty (60) day period).
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7.2 Finality of Determination. The determination of the Committee with respect to any
question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation, and application
of this Agreement shall be final, binding, and conclusive on all persons and shall be given the
greatest deference permitted by law.
Article 8. Outplacement Assistance
Following a Qualifying Termination (as described in Section 4.2) the Executive shall be
reimbursed by the Company for the costs of all outplacement services incurred by the Executive
within the two (2) year period after the Effective Date of Termination; provided, however, that the
total reimbursement shall be limited to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) and shall be completed by
the end of the calendar year in which such two (2) year period expires.
Article 9. Section 409A
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent the Executive
must be treated as a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (“Section
409A”), any Severance Benefits due to the Executive on or within the six (6) month period following
the Executive’s actual termination date will accrue during such six (6) month period to the extent
required by Section 409A and will become payable in a lump sum payment on the date six (6) months
and one (1) day following the date of the Executive’s actual termination; provided, however, that
such payments will be paid earlier, at the times and on the terms set forth in the applicable
provisions of this Agreement, if the Company reasonably determines that the imposition of
additional tax under Section 409A will not apply to an earlier payment of such payments. In
addition, this Agreement will be interpreted, operated, and administered by the Company to the
extent deemed reasonably necessary to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition
prior to actual payment to the Executive under Section 409A, including any temporary or final
Treasury regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
Article 10. Successors and Assignment
10.1 Successors to the Company. The Company will require any successor (whether direct
or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company or of any division or subsidiary thereof to expressly assume
and agree to perform the Company’s obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Company would be required to perform them if no such succession had taken
place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effective date
of any such succession shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive
to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as he would be entitled
to hereunder if he had terminated his employment with the Company voluntarily for Good Reason.
Except for the purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession
becomes effective shall be deemed the Effective Date of Termination.
10.2 Assignment by the Executive. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by each Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. If the Executive dies while any amount
would still be payable to him hereunder had he continued to live, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the
Executive’s Beneficiary. If the Executive has not named a Beneficiary, then such amounts shall be
paid to the
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Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee, or if there is no such designee, to the
Executive’s estate.
Article 11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Employment Status. Except as may be provided under any other agreement between the
Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is “at will” and, prior
to the effective date of a CIC, may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company at any
time, subject to applicable law.
11.2 Beneficiaries. The Executive may designate one or more persons or entities as the primary
and contingent Beneficiaries of any Severance Benefits owing to the Executive under this Agreement.
Such designation must be in the form of a signed writing acceptable to the Committee and pursuant
to such other procedures as the Committee may decide. If no such designation is on file with the
Company at the time of the Executive’s death, or if no designated Beneficiaries survive the
Executive for more than fourteen (14) days, any Severance Benefits owing to the Executive under
this Agreement shall be paid to the Executive’s estate.
11.3 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term
used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the
singular shall include the plural.
11.4 Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held illegal or
invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this
Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid
provision had not been included. Further, the captions of this Agreement are not part of the
provisions hereof and shall have no force and effect.
11.5 Modification. Except as provided in Article 1 and Section 3.2, no provision of this
Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged following a CIC unless such modification, waiver,
or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and by an authorized member of the
Committee, or by the respective parties’ legal representatives and successors.
11.6 Effect of Agreement. This Agreement shall completely supersede and replace any and all
portions of any contracts, plans, provisions, or practices pertaining to severance entitlements
owing to the Executive from the Company other than the Executive Severance Agreement between the
Company and the Executive dated January 1, 2010, and is in lieu of any notice requirement, policy,
or practice. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Executive’s potential
rights to severance pay, benefits, and notice under the Executive Change in Control Agreement (Tier
I) dated January 1, 2008 (the “2008 Agreement”) shall be completely replaced and superseded by this
Agreement and such 2008 Agreement shall be of no further force and effect. As such, the Severance
Benefits described herein shall serve as the Executive’s sole recourse with respect to termination
of employment by the Company following a CIC. In addition, Severance Benefits shall not be counted
as “compensation,” or any equivalent term, for purposes of determining benefits under other
agreements, plans, provisions, or practices owing to the Executive from the Company, except to the
extent expressly provided therein. Except as otherwise specifically provided for in this
Agreement, the Executive’s rights under all such agreements, plans, provisions, and practices
continue to be subject to the respective terms and conditions thereof.
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11.7 Applicable Law. To the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States, the laws of
the state of Washington shall be the controlling law in all matters relating to this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the dates appearing below.
Weyerhaeuser Company | Executive | |||||
By:
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By: | |||||
Its:
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Name: | |||||
Date:
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Date: | |||||
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