EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.22
This Employment Security Agreement (“Agreement”), is entered into as of this
st day of
, 200 , by and between Xxxxxx Rubbermaid Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Employer”), and
(“Executive”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed by Employer as the
;
WHEREAS, Employer desires to provide certain security to Executive in connection with
Executive’s employment with Employer;
WHEREAS, Executive and Employer desire to enter into this Agreement pertaining to the terms of
the security Employer is providing to Executive with respect to his employment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties
agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement.
(a) “Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
(b) “Base Salary” shall mean Executive’s annual base salary at the rate in effect on the date
of a Change in Control, or if greater, the rate in effect immediately prior to Executive’s
termination of employment with Employer.
(c) “Bonus” shall mean an amount determined by multiplying Executive’s Base Salary by the
payout percentage that would apply to Executive based on (i) the job position held by Executive on
the date of a Change in Control or the date of Executive’s termination of employment with Employer
(whichever position is higher at the time) and (ii) attainment of the targeted performance goals at
a 100% level, as determined under the Management Cash Bonus Plan of Employer, or any prior or
successor plan or arrangement covering Executive (such amount to be determined regardless of
whether Executive would otherwise be eligible for a Bonus under the terms of any such plan or
arrangement or the extent to which the performance goals are actually met).
(d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity (other than Employer or a trustee or other fiduciary
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holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Employer), or any syndicate or group
deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Employer
representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of Employer’s then outstanding securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;
(ii) Employer is party to a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other similar transaction
with another corporation or other legal person unless, following such transaction, more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the surviving, resulting or acquiring
corporation or person or its parent entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(or persons performing similar functions) is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of
Employer’s outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
immediately prior to such transaction, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such transaction, of Employer’s outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors;
(iii) Employer sells all or substantially all of its business and/or assets to another
corporation or other legal person unless, following such sale, more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the outstanding securities of the acquiring corporation or person or its parent entity
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions)
is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners of Employer’s outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such sale, in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such sale, of Employer’s outstanding
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or
(iv) during any period of two consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of
such period constituted the Board of Directors of Employer (and any new Directors, whose
appointment or election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by Employer’s
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office
who either were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose appointment, election or
nomination for election was so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board
of Directors.
(f) “Good Cause” shall exist if, and only if:
(i) Executive willfully engages in misconduct in the performance of his duties that causes
material harm to Employer; or
(ii) Executive is convicted of a criminal violation involving fraud or dishonesty.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following shall not constitute Good Cause:
the failure by Executive and/or Employer to attain financial or other business objectives; any
personal or policy disagreement between Executive and Employer or any member of the Board
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of Directors of Employer; or any action taken by Executive in connection with his duties if
Executive acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, and not opposed to,
the best interest of Employer and had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was improper.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event Employer terminates the employment of
Executive for Good Cause hereunder, Employer shall give Executive at least 30 days prior written
notice specifying in detail the reason or reasons for Executive’s termination.
(g) “Good Reason” shall exist if, without the Executive’s written consent:
(i) there is a material change in the nature or the scope of Executive’s authority or duties;
(ii) Executive is required to report (A) to an officer with a materially lesser position or
title than the officer to whom Executive reported on the date of the Change in Control, if
Executive is not the Chief Executive Officer of Employer, or (B) to other than the entire Board, if
Executive is the Chief Executive Officer of Employer;
(iii) there is a material reduction in Executive’s rate of base salary;
(iv) Employer changes by 50 miles or more the principal location in which Executive is
required to perform services;
(v) Employer terminates or materially amends, or terminates or materially restricts
Executive’s participation in, any Incentive Plan or Retirement Plan so that, when considered in the
aggregate with any substitute Plan or Plans, the Incentive Plans and Retirement Plans in which he
is participating materially fail to provide him with a level of benefits provided in the aggregate
by such Incentive Plans or Retirement Plans prior to such termination or amendment; or
(vi) Employer materially breaches the provisions of this Agreement;
A termination of Executive’s employment by Executive shall not be deemed to be for Good Reason
unless (1) Executive gives notice to Employer of the existence of the event or condition
constituting Good Reason within thirty (30) days after such event or condition initially occurs or
exists, (2) the Employer fails to cure such event or condition within thirty (30) days after
receiving such notice, and (3) Executive’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section
409A of the Code occurs not later than ninety (90) days after such event or condition initially
occurs or exists (or, if earlier, the last day of the Term).
(h) “Incentive Plan” shall mean any incentive, bonus, equity-based or similar plan or
arrangement currently or hereafter made available by Employer or an Affiliate in which Executive is
eligible to participate.
(i) “Retirement Plan” shall mean any qualified or supplemental defined benefit retirement plan
or defined contribution retirement plan, currently or hereinafter made available by Employer or an
Affiliate in which Executive is eligible to participate.
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(j) “Severance Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date the Executive’s employment
with Employer terminates under circumstances described in Section 3 and ending on the date 24
months thereafter.
(k) “Welfare Plan” shall mean any plan or arrangement providing health, prescription drug,
vision, dental, disability, survivor income or life insurance benefits that is currently or
hereafter made available by Employer or an Affiliate in which Executive is eligible to participate.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be the period beginning on the date hereof and
terminating on the date 24 months after the date of Executive’s termination of employment (the
“Term”).
3. Termination of Employment. If a Change in Control occurs, Executive shall be entitled to
the benefits described in Section 4 if at any time during the 24-month period following the Change
in Control (i) the employment of Executive with Employer is terminated by Employer for any reason
other than Good Cause, or (ii) Executive terminates his employment with Employer for Good Reason.
4. Benefits Upon Termination of Employment. Upon termination of Executive’s employment with
Employer under circumstances described in Section 3 above:
(a) Employer shall pay Executive a lump sum payment equal to two times the aggregate of (i)
and (ii):
(i) Executive’s Base Salary; and
(ii) Executive’s Bonus.
Such lump sum payment shall be made as soon as practicable following Executive’s termination of
employment, but in no event later than 30 days following such termination.
(b) Executive shall be entitled to receive any and all benefits accrued under any other
Incentive Plans to the date of termination of employment, the amount, entitlement to, form and time
of payment of such benefits to be determined by the terms of such Incentive Plans. For purposes of
calculating Executive’s benefits under the Incentive Plans, Executive’s employment shall be deemed
to have terminated by reason of retirement under circumstances that have the most favorable result
for Executive thereunder.
(c) Executive’s benefits accrued or credited through the date of termination of employment
under the Xxxxxx Rubbermaid Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, or its successor (“SERP”) and
the Xxxxxx Rubbermaid Inc. 2008 Deferred Compensation Plan, or its successor (the “2008 Deferred
Compensation Plan”) that are not vested as of the date of termination of employment shall be fully
vested and paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan (subject to any forfeiture
provisions applicable to the plans). Employer shall also pay to the Executive, in a lump sum as
soon as practicable following Executive’s termination of employment, but in no event later than 30
days following such termination, the sum of:
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(i) the excess, if any, of (A) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the SERP
(utilizing actuarial assumptions no less favorable to the Executive than the most favorable of
those in effect under the SERP at any time from the day immediately prior to the Change in Control)
that the Executive would receive if the Executive’s employment continued for the entire Severance
Period, assuming for this purpose that: (1) all accrued benefits are fully vested, (2) the
Executive’s age and years of service is increased by the number of years that the Executive is
deemed to be so employed, (3) for purposes of determining the Executive’s compensation during each
year of the Severance Period, the base salary and bonus for each year shall be at the rate set
forth in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) (and shall exclude any of the severance benefits provided under
this Agreement), subject to any special adjustment provisions in the applicable plan and (4) solely
for purposes of calculating the benefit under this Section 4(c)(i)(A), the benefit under the Xxxxxx
Rubbermaid Pension Plan and the 2008 Deferred Compensation Plan shall be calculated without regard
to the additional age and service credit provided under this Section 4(c)(i) or Section 4(c)(ii),
over (B) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive’s actual benefit, if any, under the SERP as of
the Executive’s date of termination, plus
(ii) an amount equal to the sum of Employer matching or other Company contributions (but not
the Executive’s voluntary deferrals) under Employer’s qualified defined contribution plans in which
the Executive participates and the 2008 Deferred Compensation Plan that the Executive would receive
if the Executive’s employment continued during the Severance Period, assuming for this purpose that
(A) the Executive’s benefits under such plans are fully vested, (B) the Executive’s age and years
of service is increased by the number of years that the Executive is deemed to be so employed, (C)
Employer’s rate of matching or other contribution is equal to the greater of the rate in effect on
the date of the Change in Control, or if greater, the rate in effect immediately prior to the
Executive’s termination of employment, (D) for purposes of determining the Executive’s compensation
during each year of the Severance Period, the base salary and bonus for each year shall be at the
rate set forth in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) (and shall exclude any of the severance benefits provided
under this Agreement), subject to any special adjustment provisions in the applicable plan, and (E)
to the extent that Employer matching or other contributions are determined based on the
contributions or deferrals of the Executive, that the Executive’s contribution or deferral
elections, as appropriate, are those in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s termination of
employment, plus
(iii) an amount equal to the Executive’s benefits accrued or credited through the date of
termination of employment under the Employer’s qualified defined contribution plans that are not
vested as of the date of termination of employment.
(d) If upon the date of termination of Executive’s employment, Executive holds any awards with
respect to securities of Employer, (i) all such awards that are options shall immediately become
exercisable upon such date and shall be exercisable thereafter until the earlier of the third
anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment or the expiration of the term of the options;
(ii) all restrictions on any awards of restricted securities shall terminate or lapse; and (iii)
all performance goals applicable to any performance-based awards shall be deemed satisfied at the
highest level and paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement.
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(e) During the Severance Period, Executive and his spouse and eligible dependents shall
continue to be covered by all Welfare Plans in which he or his spouse or eligible dependents were
participating immediately prior to the date of his termination of employment, as if he continued to
be an active employee of Employer, and Employer shall continue to pay the costs of such coverage
under such Welfare Plans on the same basis as is applicable to active employees covered thereunder;
provided that, if participation in any one or more of such Welfare Plans is not possible under the
terms thereof, Employer shall provide substantially identical benefits. Such coverage shall cease
if and when Executive obtains employment with another employer during the Severance Period and
becomes eligible for coverage under any substantially similar plans provided by his new employer.
If Executive or his spouse or eligible dependents are covered under any Welfare Plan that is a
group health plan as defined in Title I, Part 6 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 (“COBRA”) pursuant to this subsection (e), Executive and his spouse and eligible dependents
shall be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage. Executive shall be responsible for paying the
full cost of such coverage. The 18-month (or 29-month, if the COBRA disability extension is
applicable) COBRA period shall be measured beginning on the day after the end of the Severance
Period (or on such earlier date that the continuation coverage provided under this subsection (e)
otherwise ceases to apply).
(f) During the Severance Period, Employer shall reimburse Executive for the expenses of an
automobile in accordance with the arrangement, if any, in effect at the time of the termination of
Executive’s employment. Such reimbursement shall cease if and when Executive obtains employment
with another employer during the Severance Period and receives such reimbursement from his new
employer.
(g) Executive shall be entitled to payment for any accrued but unused vacation in accordance
with Employer’s policy in effect at Executive’s termination of employment in a lump sum as soon as
practicable following Executive’s termination of employment, but in no event later than 30 days
following such termination. Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments or other
compensation attributable to vacation he would have earned had his employment continued during the
Severance Period, and Executive waives any right to receive such compensation.
(h) Employer shall, at Employer’s expense, provide Executive with six months of executive
outplacement services with a professional outplacement firm selected by Employer; provided that the
outplacement services must be used by the Executive by no later than the second calendar year
following the calendar year in which the termination of employment occurred.
(i) Executive shall not be entitled to reimbursement for fringe benefits during the Severance
Period, such as dues and expenses related to club memberships, automobile telephones, expenses for
professional services and other similar perquisites.
5. Setoff. Employer’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 Employer or any of its affiliated
companies may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the
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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, except as
expressly provided in subsections 4(e) and 4(f).
6. Death. If Executive dies during the Severance Period, all amounts payable hereunder to
Executive shall, to the extent not paid, be paid to his surviving spouse or his designated
beneficiary, or if none, then to his estate. Executive’s surviving spouse and eligible dependents
shall continue to be covered under all applicable Welfare Plans during the remainder of the
Severance Period. On the death of the surviving spouse and eligible dependants, no further Welfare
Plan coverage shall be provided (other than any coverage required pursuant to Title I, Part 6 of
COBRA), and no further benefits shall be paid, except for benefits accrued under any Incentive
Plans and Retirement Plans to the date of Executive’s termination of employment, to the extent such
benefits continue following Executive’s death pursuant to the term of such Plans.
7. Excise Tax Gross-Up Payment.
(a) In the event that it is determined that any payment to or for the benefit of Executive
under the terms of this Agreement, or under any other agreement, plan or arrangement with Employer
(a “Payment”), would be subject to any excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any comparable provision of state or local law (an “Excise
Tax”), Employer agrees that it shall pay to Executive, in addition to any other payments required
to be made pursuant to this Agreement, an additional cash amount (a “Gross-Up Payment”) equal to
the sum of (i) the amount of such Excise Tax plus (ii) all Attributable Taxes and Penalties. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Attributable Taxes and Penalties” means all taxes, interest and
penalties, including, without limitation, any federal, state and local income taxes and any Excise
Taxes, which become payable by Executive as a result of the receipt of the Gross-Up Payment or the
assessment of any Excise Tax against Executive. It is intended that under this provision Employer
shall indemnify Executive in such a manner that Executive shall not suffer any loss or expense by
reason of the assessment of any Excise Tax or the reimbursement of Executive for payment of any
such Excise Tax. Employer’s obligation to make Gross-Up Payments under this Section 7 shall not be
conditioned upon Executive’s termination of employment.
(b) In determining the amount of any Gross-Up Payment payable pursuant to subsection (a)
above, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of
federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, and state
and local taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation for such year in the state and locality
of Executive’s residence. For such purposes, federal income taxes shall be determined net of the
maximum reduction in such federal income taxes that could be obtained from the deduction of such
state and local taxes.
(c) Within 30 days after Executive provides written notice to Employer that there has been a
Payment, a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by Employer (“Accounting Firm”) shall
make a determination as to whether any Excise Tax should be reported and paid by Executive, and if
applicable, the amount of such Excise Tax and the related Gross-Up Payment. Employer shall pay the
amount of such Gross-Up Payment to Executive, and
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Executive shall report and pay such Excise Tax as provided in Section 7(f). Employer shall
be responsible for all fees and expenses connected with the determinations by the Accounting Firm.
All determinations required to be made under this Section 7, 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 the Accounting Firm.
(d) In the event that Executive is at any time required to pay any Excise Tax (or any related
interest or penalties) in addition to any amount determined pursuant to subsection (c), Employer
shall pay Executive a Gross-Up Payment determined with respect to such additional Excise Tax (and
any such additional interest and penalties) pursuant to the same notice and calculation procedures
outlined in subsection (c). In the event that Executive receives any refund of any Excise Tax
with respect to which Executive has previously received a Gross-Up Payment hereunder, Executive
shall promptly pay to Employer the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or
credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto).
(e) Executive agrees to notify Employer in the event of any audit or other proceeding by the
IRS or any taxing authority in which the IRS or other taxing authority asserts that any Excise Tax
should be assessed against Executive and to cooperate with Employer in contesting any such proposed
assessment with respect to such Excise Tax (a “Proposed Assessment”). Executive agrees not to
settle any Proposed Assessment without the consent of Employer. If Employer does not settle the
Proposed Assessment, or does not consent to allow Executive to settle the Proposed Assessment,
within 30 days following such demand therefor, Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive
(i) with respect to any additional interest and/or penalties that Executive is required to pay by
reason of the delay in finally resolving Executive’s tax liability, (ii) with respect to any taxes,
interest and penalties that Executive is required to pay by reason of any indemnification payment
under this subsection (e), and (iii) all costs and expenses incurred by Executive in connection
with such audit or proceeding.
(f) Any Gross-Up Payment shall be paid by Employer within 30 calendar days of receipt of the
Accounting Firm’s determination as described in this Section 7, or such later date as provided in
Section 14, provided that Executive submits written notice of a Payment no later than 75 calendar
days prior to the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Excise Tax
on a Payment is remitted to the Internal Revenue Service or any other applicable taxing authority,
so that Employer can make the payment within the time period required by Section 409A of the Code.
The Gross-Up Payment, if any, shall be paid to the Executive; provided that Employer, in its sole
discretion, may withhold and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service or any other applicable
taxing authority, for the benefit of the Executive, all or any portion of any Gross-Up Payment, and
the Executive hereby consents to such withholding. Any reimbursement or payment by Employer of
expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with a tax audit or litigation relating to the
Excise Tax, as provided for in this Section 7, shall be paid within 30 calendar days of written
request by the Executive, or such later date as provided in Section 14, provided that Executive
submits the written request no later than 75 calendar days prior to the end of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the Excise Taxes that are subject to the audit or litigation
are remitted to the Internal Revenue Service or any other applicable taxing authority, or where as
a result of the audit or litigation, no Excise Taxes are remitted, the end of the calendar year
next following the calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and
nonappealable settlement or other
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resolution of the litigation, so that Employer can make the payment within the time period
required by Section 409A of the Code.
8. Restrictive Covenants. During the Term of this Agreement, Executive shall not be
associated, directly or indirectly, as an employee, proprietor, stockholder, partner, agent,
representative, officer, or otherwise, with the operation of any business that is competitive with
any line of business of Employer or any Affiliate for which Executive has provided substantial
services without the prior written consent of Employer, which shall not unreasonably be withheld,
except that Executive’s ownership (or that of his wife and children) of publicly-traded securities
of any such business having a cost of not more than $250,000 shall not be considered a violation of
this Section. For purposes of the preceding sentence, Executive shall be considered as the
“stockholder” of any equity securities owned by his spouse and all relatives and children residing
in Executive’s principal residence.
9. No Solicitation of Representatives and Employees. Executive agrees that he shall not,
during the Term of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, in his individual capacity or otherwise,
induce, cause, persuade, or attempt to do any of the foregoing in order to cause, any
representative, agent or employee of Employer or any Affiliate to terminate such person’s
employment relationship with Employer or any Affiliate, or to violate the terms of any agreement
between said representative, agent or employee and Employer or any Affiliate.
10. Confidentiality. Executive acknowledges that preservation of a continuing business
relationship between Employer or its Affiliates and their respective customers, representatives,
and employees is of critical importance to the continued business success of Employer and that it
is the active policy of Employer and its Affiliates to guard as confidential the identity of its
customers, trade secrets, pricing policies, business affairs, representatives and employees. In
view of the foregoing, Executive agrees that he shall not, during the Term of this Agreement and
thereafter, without the prior written consent of Employer (which consent shall not be withheld
unreasonably), disclose to any person or entity any information concerning the business of, or any
customer, representative, agent or employee of, Employer or its Affiliates which was obtained by
Executive in the course of his employment by Employer. This section shall not be applicable if and
to the extent Executive is required to testify in a legislative, judicial or regulatory proceeding
pursuant to an order of Congress, any state or local legislature, a judge, or an administrative law
judge.
11. Executive Assignment. No interest of Executive or his spouse or any other beneficiary
under this Agreement, or any right to receive any payment or distribution hereunder, shall be
subject in any manner to sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, attachment, garnishment, or other
alienation or encumbrance of any kind, nor may such interest or right to receive a payment or
distribution be taken, voluntarily or involuntarily, for the satisfaction of the obligations or
debts of, or other claims against, Executive or his spouse or other beneficiary, by operation of
law or otherwise, other than pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic relations order to which
Executive is a party.
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12. Funding.
(a) Prior to a Change in Control, all rights of Executive and his spouse or other beneficiary
under this Agreement shall at all times be entirely unfunded and no provision shall at any time be
made with respect to segregating any assets of Employer for payment of any amounts due hereunder.
Neither Executive nor his spouse or other beneficiary shall have any interest in or rights against
any specific assets of Employer, and Executive and his spouse or other beneficiary shall have only
the rights of a general unsecured creditor of Employer.
(b) No later than five days following a Change in Control, Employer shall establish an
irrevocable grantor trust, substantially in the form of the model trust agreement set forth in
Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 96-24, or any subsequent Revenue Procedure, and shall
make a contribution to the trust in an amount equal to the cash payments that would be made to
Executive pursuant to Sections 4 and 7 upon a termination of his employment under circumstances
described in Section 3, such amount to be determined as if Executive’s termination of employment
occurred on the date of the Change in Control. At six-month intervals commencing from the date of
the Change in Control, Employer shall recalculate the amount necessary to fully fund the
above-described benefits and, if the amount exceeds the fair market value of the assets then held
in the trust, Employer shall promptly deposit an amount equal to such excess. Employer shall not
terminate the trust until the Term of the Agreement has ended and all cash payments described in
Section 4 to which Executive is entitled have been made to Executive. Employer shall provide
Executive with written confirmation of the establishment of the trust and the deposit of the
required amount on his behalf, including a written accounting of the calculation of such amounts.
Employer’s failure to establish a trust and provide such written notice shall constitute a material
breach of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 12(b) shall be construed and
applied in a manner so as to avoid the application of Section 409A(b)(3) of the Code.
13. Legal Expenses. Employer shall pay as incurred (within 10 calendar days following
Employer’s receipt of an invoice from the Executive) Executive’s out-of-pocket expenses, including
attorney’s fees, incurred by Executive at any time from the date of this Agreement through the
Executive’s remaining lifetime or, if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the date of the
Change of Control, in connection with any action taken to enforce this Agreement or construe or
determine the validity of this Agreement or otherwise in connection herewith, including any claim
or legal action or proceeding, whether brought by Executive or Employer or another party, and
whether or not Executive is successful with respect to such action taken; provided, that the
Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least 15 calendar days
before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and
expenses were incurred. The amount of such legal fees and expenses that Employer is obligated to
pay in any given calendar year shall not affect the legal fees and expenses that Employer is
obligated to pay in any other calendar year, and the Executive’s right to have Employer pay such
legal fees and expenses may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit. Employer’s
obligation to pay Executive’s eligible legal fees and expenses under this Section 13 shall not be
conditioned upon Executive’s termination of employment.
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14. Section 409A.
(a) The amounts payable pursuant to Section 4 above are intended to be separate payments that
are exempt from Section 409A of the Code by reason of the “short-term deferral” exception or the
separation pay exceptions set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) or Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of
the Treasury Regulations. To the extent that an amount payable under Section 4 does not comply
with any of these exceptions, then they shall be subject to the following rules:
(i) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is
a “specified employee,” as determined under Employer’s policy for determining specified employees
on the date of his termination of employment, then to the extent required in order to comply with
Section 409A of the Code, all payments, benefits or reimbursements paid or provided under this
Agreement that constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the
Code, that are provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section
409A and that would otherwise be paid or provided during the first six months following the date of
such termination of employment shall be accumulated through and paid or provided (together with
interest at the applicable federal rate under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code in effect on the
date of termination of employment) within 30 days after the first business day following the six
month anniversary of such termination of employment (or, if the Executive dies during such
six-month period, within 30 days after the Executive’s death).
(ii) The benefits described in paragraphs (e), (f) and (h) of this Section 4 that are taxable
benefits (and that are not disability pay or death benefit plans within the meaning of Section 409A
of the Code) are intended to comply, to the maximum extent possible, with the exception to Section
409A of the Code set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations. To the extent
that any of those benefits either do not qualify for that exception, or are provided beyond the
applicable time periods set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations, then
they shall be subject to the following additional rules: (1) any reimbursement of eligible expenses
shall be paid within 60 calendar days following Executive’s written request for reimbursement, or
such later date set forth in Section 14(a)(i); provided that the Executive provides written notice
no later than 75 calendar days prior to the last day of the calendar year following the calendar
year in which the expense was incurred so that Employer can make the reimbursement within the time
periods required by Section 409A of the Code; (2) the amount of expenses eligible for
reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during any calendar year shall not affect the amount
of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, during any other
calendar year; and (3) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to
liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “termination of employment” or words or phrases
of similar import shall mean a “separation from service” with the Employer within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code. In this regard, Employer and the Executive shall take all steps
necessary (including with regard to any post-termination services by the Executive) to ensure that
(i) any termination of employment under this Agreement constitutes a “separation from service”
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and (ii) the date on
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which such separation from service takes place shall be the date of the termination of
employment for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) It is intended that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement shall either
be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
This Agreement shall be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that effects such intent,
and the Employer shall not take any action that would be inconsistent with such intent. Without
limiting the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not be
deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified in a manner that would result in the
imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon Executive. Although the
Employer shall use its best efforts to avoid the imposition of taxation, interest and penalties
under Section 409A of the Code, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under this Agreement is
not warranted or guaranteed. Neither the Employer, its Affiliates nor their respective directors,
officers, employees or advisers shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other
monetary amounts owed by the Executive or other taxpayer as a result of the Agreement.
15. Waiver. No waiver by any party at any time of any breach by any other party of, or
compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by any other party
shall be deemed a waiver of any other provisions or conditions at the same time or at any prior or
subsequent time.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted pursuant to the laws of
Delaware.
17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire Agreement between Employer and
Executive and supersedes any and all previous agreements, written or oral, between the parties
relating to severance benefits in the event of a Change in Control, including any previous
Employment Security Agreement between Executive and Employer. No amendment or modification of the
terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto unless reduced to writing and
signed by Employer and Executive.
18. No Employment Contract. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to be an
employment contract between Executive and Employer. Executive is employed at will and Employer may
terminate his employment at any time, with or without cause.
19. Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement is held illegal or invalid, the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
20. Employment with an Affiliate. If Executive is employed by Employer and an Affiliate, or
solely by an Affiliate, on the date of termination of employment of Executive under circumstances
described in Section 3, then (a) employment or termination of employment as used in this Agreement
shall mean employment or termination of employment of Executive with Employer and such Affiliate,
or with such Affiliate, as applicable, and related references to Employer shall also include
Affiliate, as applicable, and (b) the obligations of Employer hereunder shall be satisfied by
Employer and/or such Affiliate as Employer, in its discretion,
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shall determine; provided that Employer shall remain liable for such obligations to the extent
not satisfied by such Affiliate.
21. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective heirs, representatives and successors. Any reference in this Agreement
to Employer shall be deemed a reference to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase
of stock or assets, merger or consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of Employer; provided that Executive’s employment by a successor Employer
shall not be deemed a termination of Executive’s employment with Employer (unless otherwise
required in order to comply with the definition of “separation from service” under Section 409A of
the Code).
22. Non-exclusivity. Except with respect to agreements regarding severance payments described
in Section 16, the provisions of this Agreement shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or
in any way diminish Executive’s existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as a result of
the passage of time, under any other employment agreement or other contract, plan or arrangement
with Employer or an Affiliate.
23. Notice. Notices required under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by registered
mail, return receipt requested, to the following addresses or to such other address as the party
being notified may have previously furnished to the others by written notice.
| If to Employer: | Xxxxxx Rubbermaid Inc. 00X Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 Attention: General Counsel |
|||||
| If to Executive: | ||||||
24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Security Agreement as of the day
and year written above.
| XXXXXX RUBBERMAID INC. |
||||
| By: | ||||
| Title: | ||||
| EXECUTIVE | ||||
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