STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AMENDED AND RESTATED COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG ASSURANCE AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3
| STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA | AMENDED AND RESTATED | |
| COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS | ||
| COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG | ASSURANCE AGREEMENT |
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS ASSURANCE AGREEMENT, entered into as of
April 24, 2008, by and between Xxxxx, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”) and Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx (the “Executive”);
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Executive is being employed pursuant
to an Executive Employment Agreement (the “Executive Employment Agreement”) as a key employee of
the Company. Executive is expected to contribute materially to the successful operation of the
Company’s business and will render valuable services to the Company. Moreover, as a result of his
former service on the Board of Directors of the Company and of his new employment with the Company,
Executive possesses or will possess intimate knowledge of the Company, its history, operating
methods, manufacturing and distribution systems, personnel and products. Therefore, it is
important to the continued success of the Company that the Company continue to have the benefit of
Executive’s advice, counsel and services, and for such reasons the Company desires to provide
Executive with the benefits set forth in this Amended and Restated Compensation and Benefits
Assurance Agreement (as amended and restated, this “Agreement”). The Executive and the Company
previously entered into a Compensation and Benefits Assurance Agreement dated May 11, 2005 (the
“Prior Agreement”). The Executive and the Company now desire to amend and restate the Prior
Agreement for purposes of compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the final
regulations issued thereunder.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Statement of Purpose and of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein set forth and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and Executive do hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, unless the context expressly indicates
otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) “Affiliates” of an entity means any and all corporations and other business
entities which, directly or indirectly, control, are controlled by, or are under common control
with such entity.
(b) “Base Salary” means, at any time, the then regular annual rate of pay which
Executive is receiving as annual salary, excluding amounts (i) designated by the Company as payment
toward reimbursement of expenses or (ii) received under incentive or other bonus plans, regardless
of whether or not the amounts are deferred.
(c) “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee of the Board
to which the Board has delegated, either specifically or generally, the duties and authority of the
Board for the particular action or determination required or permitted to be made by the Board.
(e) “Cause” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
| (i) | A demonstrably willful and deliberate act or failure to
act by Executive (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical
or mental illness) which is committed in bad faith, without reasonable
belief that such action or inaction is in the best interests of the
Company, which causes actual material financial injury to the Company
and which act or inaction is not remedied within fifteen (15) business
days of written notice from the Company; or |
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| (ii) | Executive’s conviction for committing an act of fraud,
embezzlement, theft, or any other act constituting a felony or
involving moral turpitude or causing material harm, financial or
otherwise, to the Company. |
“Cause” must be determined by the Board in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment and
be evidenced by a written resolution adopted prior to any termination of Executive specifying the
conduct of Executive giving rise to a determination of Cause.
(f) “Change in Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon, the first to
occur of any of the following events:
| (i) | Any Outside Person becomes the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities; or |
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| (ii) | During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not
including any period prior to the date hereof), individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the
Company (and any new Director, whose nomination for election by the
Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the Directors then in office who either were Directors at the
beginning of the period or whose nomination for election was so
approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members
of the Board of Directors of the Company; or |
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| (iii) | The stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company; or |
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| (iv) | The consummation of the sale or disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets other than a sale or
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an
entity at least sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of which are owned by the stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company
immediately prior to such sale or disposition; or |
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| (v) | The consummation of a merger, consolidation, or
reorganization of the Company with or involving any other corporation,
other than a merger, consolidation, or reorganization that would result
in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) or any
parent thereof at least 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. |
However, in no event shall a “Change in Control” be deemed to have occurred if Executive is part of
a purchasing group which consummates the Change in Control transaction. Executive shall be deemed
“part of a purchasing group” for purposes of the preceding sentence if Executive is an equity
participant in the acquiring company or group or surviving entity (the “Purchaser”) except for
ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the equity of the Purchaser.
(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(h) “Company” means Xxxxx, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, and such term includes
any or all of its Affiliates.
(i) “Effective Date” means the date of the Prior Agreement.
(j) “Excess Parachute Payment” means “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code.
(k) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time, or any successor act thereto.
(l) “Excise Tax” means the tax imposed on Excess Parachute Payments pursuant to
Section 280G and Section 4999 of the Code or any successor provision.
(m) “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following, without
Executive’s prior express written consent, within the thirty-six (36) calendar months immediately
following a Change in Control:
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| (i) | As determined in the reasonable, good faith judgment of
Executive, the assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent with
Executive’s authorities, duties, responsibilities, and status as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, or a reduction or alteration in the
nature or status of any of Executive’s authorities, duties or
responsibilities (including those as a director of the Company) from
those in effect or practice as of one hundred eighty (180) calendar
days prior to the Change in Control, other than an insubstantial and
inadvertent act that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt
of notice thereof given by Executive; |
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| (ii) | The Company’s requiring Executive to be based at a
location in excess of fifty (50) miles from the location of Executive’s
principal job location or office immediately prior to the Change in
Control, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an
extent consistent with Executive’s then present business travel
obligations; |
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| (iii) | A reduction by the Company of Executive’s Base Salary
in effect on the date hereof, or as the same shall be increased from
time to time; |
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| (iv) | The failure of the Company to keep in effect any of the
Company’s compensation, incentive, health and welfare benefits, or
perquisite programs under which Executive receives value, as such
programs exist immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided,
however, the replacement of an existing program with a new program will
be permissible (and not grounds for a Good Reason termination) if done
for all employees generally and the value to be delivered to Executive
under the new program is at least as great as the value delivered to
Executive under the existing program; or |
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| (v) | Any breach by the Company of its obligations under
Paragraph 6 herein or any failure of a successor company to assume and
agree to perform the Company’s entire obligations under this Agreement
as required by Paragraph 6 herein, or under the Executive Employment
Agreement or the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. |
“Good Reason” shall be determined by Executive in the exercise of good faith and reasonable
judgment. Executive’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of
rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason herein, and any such
consent or waiver must be in writing and signed by Executive.
(n) “Member of the Van Every Family” means (i) a lineal descendant of Salem A. Van
Every, Sr., including adopted persons as well as persons related by blood, (ii) a spouse of an
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individual described in clause (i) of this Paragraph 1(n) or (iii) a trust, estate, custodian and
other fiduciary or similar account for an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) of this
Paragraph 1(n).
(o) “Outside Person” means any Person other than (i) a Member of the Van Every Family,
(ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or (iii) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
(p) “Person” has the meaning ascribed to said term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange
Act as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, including a “group” as
defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
(q) “Qualifying Termination” has the meaning ascribed to said term in Paragraph 4(b)
hereof.
(r) “Severance Benefits” has the meaning ascribed to said term in Paragraph 4(c)
hereof.
(s) “Termination of Employment” means any termination of employment (as defined in
Section 409A of the Code and the Company’s administrative policies, if any) with either the Company
or any successor to the Company that acquires all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise); provided, however, no termination of employment shall be deemed to have occurred by
reason of such an acquisition unless there is either (i) a termination of employment with both the
Company and such successor or (ii) a termination of employment with the Company and no successive
employment by such successor.
2. Term of Agreement.
(a) The term of this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and shall continue for so
long as Executive is employed with the Company under the terms of the Executive Employment
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Change in Control occurs during the
Employment Term (as defined in the Executive Employment Agreement), upon the effective date of such
Change in Control the term of this Agreement shall automatically and irrevocably be renewed and
extended for a period of thirty-six (36) full calendar months from the closing date of the
transaction giving rise to such Change in Control (the “Change in Control Renewal Period”), and
this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the Change in Control Renewal
Period. Further, this Agreement shall be assigned to, and shall be assumed by, the successor to
the Company in such Change in Control as further provided in Paragraph 6 herein.
3. Employment. The Company shall employ Executive under an Executive Employment
Agreement (which is to be executed contemporaneously with this Agreement) to perform such tasks as
the Company shall specify from time to time. Nothing in this Agreement
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shall give Executive any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or, upon dismissal, any
rights except as expressly otherwise provided herein.
4. Change in Control Severance Benefits.
(a) The Company shall pay Executive the Severance Benefits described in Paragraph 4(c) herein
if during Executive’s employment a Change in Control occurs and if within the thirty-six (36)
calendar months immediately following such Change in Control, Executive experiences a Qualifying
Termination. The Severance Benefits described in Subparagraphs (4)(c)(i) through (iv) herein shall
be paid to Executive in cash in a single lump sum as soon as practicable following Executive’s
Qualifying Termination, but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days after such date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Severance Benefits which become due pursuant to Paragraphs
4(b)(iii) and 6(a) herein shall be paid immediately.
(b) The occurrence of any one or more of the following events (a “Qualifying Termination”)
within the thirty-six (36) calendar months immediately following a Change in Control of the Company
that occurs during the term of this Agreement shall entitle Executive to receive the Severance
Benefits:
| (i) | Executive’s involuntary Termination of Employment
without Cause; |
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| (ii) | Executive’s voluntary Termination of Employment for
Good Reason; or |
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| (iii) | The Company, or any successor company, commits a
material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement. |
A Qualifying Termination shall not include Executive’s Termination of Employment within thirty-six
(36) calendar months following a Change in Control by reason of death, disability [as such term is
defined under the Executive Employment Agreement (or any successor agreement thereto)], Executive’s
voluntary Termination of Employment without Good Reason except as otherwise expressly provided in
Paragraph 4(b)(iii) above, or Executive’s involuntary Termination of Employment for Cause. Except
as provided in the last sentence of this subparagraph (b), a Termination of Employment which occurs
before a Change in Control or later than thirty-six (36) months following a Change in Control shall
not constitute a Qualifying Termination. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a
Qualifying Termination shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of a Change in Control
if (x) Executive’s Termination of Employment occurs prior to the date of a Change in Control but
after the date an agreement is entered into by the Company, the consummation of which would result
in a Change in Control, (y) such Change in Control is in fact consummated within 12 months after
the date such agreement is entered into and (z) the Termination of Employment would otherwise be
under the circumstances described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above; provided, however, that in
the event Executive receives any severance or similar benefits pursuant to any other agreement or
arrangement between Executive and the Company prior to the consummation of the Change in
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Control, such severance or similar benefits actually received by Executive shall be offset from any
amount otherwise payable to Executive hereunder following the Change in Control.
(c) The “Severance Benefits” provided for in Paragraphs 4(a) and (b) herein are as follows:
| (i) | A lump-sum cash amount equal to the Executive’s unpaid
Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and
all other items earned by and owed to Executive through and including
the date of Executive’s Qualifying Termination. Such payment shall
constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to Executive. |
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| (ii) | A lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (A) three
(3) multiplied by Executive’s Base Salary in effect upon the date of
the Qualifying Termination or, if greater, by Executive’s Base Salary
in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control
plus (B) three (3) multiplied by the greater of (I) Executive’s annual
bonus actually earned by Executive (whether or not deferred) during the
bonus plan year which ended immediately prior to the Qualifying
Termination or (II) Executive’s then-current target bonus opportunity
(stated in terms of a percentage of Base Salary) established under the
Company’s Annual Corporate Performance Incentive Plan for Officers (or
any successor plan thereto), if any, for the incentive plan year in
which the date of Executive’s Qualifying Termination occurs. |
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| (iii) | A lump-sum cash amount equal to the greater of (A)
Executive’s then-current target bonus opportunity (stated in terms of a
percentage of Base Salary) established under the Company’s Annual
Corporate Performance Incentive Plan for Officers (or any successor
plan thereto), if any, for the incentive plan year in which the date of
Executive’s Qualifying Termination occurs, adjusted on a pro rata basis
based on the number of days Executive was actually employed during such
incentive plan year (but in no event shall such target bonus be less
than that in effect for the period immediately prior to the occurrence
of the Change in Control); or (B) the actual bonus earned through the
date of the Qualifying Termination under the Company’s Annual Corporate
Performance Incentive Plan for Officers (or any successor plan
thereto), if any, based on the then-current level of goal achievement.
Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed
to Executive. |
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| (iv) | A lump-sum cash amount equal to the product determined
by multiplying (A) the sum of the amounts payable under |
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Subparagraphs 4(c) (i), (ii) and (iii) herein by (B) the highest
percentage of Executive’s compensation (eligible for such
contributions) contributed to Executive’s account under the Xxxxx,
Inc. Profit-Sharing Retirement Plan and Trust (the “Retirement
Plan”) during the three (3) consecutive plan years ended immediately
prior to the Qualifying Termination. The source of payment of this
sum shall be the general assets of the Company unless the payment of
such amounts is otherwise permissible from the Retirement Plan
without violating any governmental regulations or statutes
including, but not limited to, ERISA discrimination testing
requirements. |
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| (v) | At the exact same cost to Executive, and at the same
coverage level as in effect as of the date of Executive’s Qualifying
Termination (subject to changes in coverage levels applicable to all
employees generally), a continuation of Executive’s (and Executive’s
eligible dependents’) health and dental plan benefits for thirty-six
(36) months from the date of the Qualifying Termination. The
applicable COBRA health and dental benefit continuation period shall
begin coincident with the beginning of this thirty-six (36) month
benefit continuation period. Commencing with the end of the
Executive’s COBRA period and until the end of the thirty-six (36) month
benefit continuation period, the Executive will recognize taxable
income equal to the difference between the premium actually paid by the
Executive and the premium that would have been paid by a similarly
situated COBRA participant. |
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Provided, however, the provision of these health and medical
benefits shall be discontinued prior to the end of the thirty-six
(36) month continuation period to the extent that Executive becomes
covered under the health insurance coverage of a subsequent employer
which does not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to
any preexisting condition of Executive or Executive’s eligible
dependents and provides substantially the same coverage as the plan
sponsored by the Company. For purposes of enforcing this offset
provision, Executive shall have a duty to inform the Company if
Executive becomes covered under any such health plan of a subsequent
employer. Executive shall provide, or cause to provide, to the
Company in writing correct, complete, and timely information
concerning the same. |
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| (vi) | At no expense to Executive, standard outplacement
services for Executive from a nationally recognized outplacement firm
of Executive’s selection, for a period of up to one (1) year from the
date of Executive’s Qualifying Termination. However, such |
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services shall be at the Company’s expense to a maximum amount not
to exceed ten percent (10%) of Executive’s Base Salary as of the
date of Executive’s Qualifying Termination. In no event shall
reimbursement for eligible outplacement expenses be made to the
Executive later than the end of the third calendar year following
the year of the Executive’s Termination of Employment. |
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| (vii) | Notwithstanding the provisions of any stock plan or
award agreement to the contrary, all stock options held by Executive
shall vest upon a Qualifying Termination and, with respect to all such
vested stock options then held by Executive, Executive shall have a
post-termination exercise period of one year following the Qualifying
Termination, or such greater period as provided by the applicable stock
plan or award agreement, but in no event exceeding the original
expiration date of the stock options. |
5. Excise Tax Payment
(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 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 5) (a “Payment” or “Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision) or any interest or penalties are incurred by
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 Executive shall be
entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after
payment by 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, 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 5(a), if it shall be determined that Executive is entitled to
a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Payments do not exceed by more than $100,000 the greatest amount
(the “Reduced Amount”) that could be paid to Executive such that the receipt of Payments would not
give rise to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to Executive and the Payments,
in the aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), all determinations required to be made under
this Section 5, 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 KPMG, LLP or such other certified public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the
Company as may be designated by Executive (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the
receipt of notice from Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is
requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the
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Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant
to this Section 5, shall be paid by the Company to Executive within five days of the later of (i)
the due date for the payment of any Excise Tax or (ii) the receipt of the Accounting Firm’s
determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and
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 5(c) and 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 Executive. However, in no event shall any Gross-Up Payments to Executive be made later than the
end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive remits the Excise Taxes.
(c) 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
Executive receives written notification 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. Executive shall not pay
such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which it gives such
notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with
respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, 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; provided, however, that the Company’s
selection of one or more attorneys to provide legal representation with respect to such
claim shall be subject to Executive’s prior written approval;
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to contest such claim
effectively; and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including
additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and
hold 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 5(c), the
Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest, and, at its sole
option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings,
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hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole
option, either pay the tax claimed to the appropriate taxing authority on behalf of Executive and
direct Executive to xxx for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and Executive
agrees to prosecute such contest to a 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 pays such claim and directs Executive to xxx for a refund,
the Company shall indemnify and hold 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
payment or with respect to any imputed income in connection with such payment; and provided,
further, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the
taxable year of 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 the Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder, and
Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the
Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after payment by the Company of an amount on Executive’s behalf pursuant to Section
5(c), Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, Executive shall
(subject to the Company’s complying with the requirements of Section 5(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 payment by the Company of an amount on Executive’s behalf pursuant
to Section 5(c), a determination is made that Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with
respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Executive in writing of its intent to contest
such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then the amount
of such payment shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be
paid.
6. Assignment of This Agreement or Benefits Hereunder.
(a) Successors. The Company will require any successor (whether via a Change in
Control, direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) of the Company to
expressly assume and agree to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and
to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken
place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness
of any such succession shall, as of the date immediately preceding the date of a Change in Control,
automatically provide Executive with Good Reason to collect, immediately, full benefits hereunder
as a Qualifying Termination.
(b) Assignment by Executive. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. If an Executive should die while any
amount is still payable to Executive hereunder had Executive continued to live, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Compensation
and Assurance Benefits Agreement to Executive’s estate. Executive’s rights hereunder shall not
otherwise be assignable.
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7. Notices. Any notice required to be delivered to the Company by Executive hereunder
shall be properly delivered to the Company when personally delivered to (including by a reputable
overnight courier), or actually received through the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, by:
Xxxxx, Inc.
P. O. Box 32368
14120 Ballantyne Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Senior Vice President—Human Resources
P. O. Box 32368
14120 Ballantyne Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Senior Vice President—Human Resources
Any notice required to be delivered to Executive by the Company hereunder shall be properly
delivered to Executive when personally delivered to (including by a reputable overnight courier),
or actually received through the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, by, Executive at his last known
address as reflected on the books and records of the Company.
8. Contractual Rights to Benefits. This Agreement establishes in Executive a right to
the benefits to which Executive is entitled hereunder. However, except as expressly stated herein,
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. This Agreement
is intended to be an unfunded general asset promise for a select, highly compensated member of the
Company’s management and, therefore, is intended to be exempt from the substantive provisions of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
9. Legal Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all legal fees, costs of
litigation, prejudgment interest, and other expenses which are incurred in good faith by Executive
as a result of the Company’s refusal to provide the benefits to which Executive becomes entitled
under this Compensation and Assurance Benefits Agreement or under any other agreement with or plan
of the Company which would provide Executive with benefits or payments following a Qualifying
Termination (collectively “Termination Benefit Arrangements”), or as a result of the Company’s (or
any third party’s) contesting the validity, enforceability, or interpretation of this Agreement or
any Termination Benefits Arrangement, or as a result of any conflict between the parties pertaining
to this Agreement or any Termination Benefits Arrangement. In no event will any payments to
Executive under this Section 9 be paid later than the end of the calendar year following the year
in which the expense was incurred.
10. Exclusivity of Benefits. Unless specifically provided herein, neither the
provisions of this Agreement nor the benefits provided hereunder shall reduce any amounts otherwise
payable, or in any way diminish Executive’s rights as an employee of the Company, whether existing
now or hereafter, under any compensation and/or benefit plans, programs, policies, or practices
provided by the Company, for which Executive may qualify. Vested benefits or other amounts which
Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice, or program of the
Company (i.e., including, but not limited to, vested benefits under the Company’s qualified
employee benefit plans), at or subsequent to the date of
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Executive’s Qualifying Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice,
or program except as expressly modified by this Agreement.
11. Includable Compensation. Severance Benefits provided hereunder shall not be
considered “includable compensation” for purposes of determining Executive’s benefits under any
other plan or program of the Company unless otherwise provided by such other plan or program.
12. Mitigation. In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other employment or
take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the
provisions of this Agreement, nor shall the amount of any payment hereunder be reduced by any
compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer, other than as
provided in Subparagraph 4(c)(v) herein.
13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior discussions,
negotiations, and agreements concerning the subject matter hereof, including, but not limited to,
any prior severance agreement made between Executive and the Company, other than (i) the Executive
Employment Agreement and (ii) the Executive Severance Agreement between Executive and the Company
entered into on the date hereof.
14. Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement all federal, state, city, or other taxes as legally required to be withheld.
15. Waiver of Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, Executive’s acceptance of
Severance Benefits, the Gross-Up Payment (if applicable) and any other payments required hereunder
shall be deemed to be a waiver of all rights and claims of Executive against the Company pertaining
to any matters arising under this Agreement.
16. 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.
17. Applicable Law. To the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States, the
laws of the State of North Carolina shall be the controlling law in all matters relating to this
Agreement.
18. Execution. This Agreement is hereby executed in duplicate originals, one of which
is being retained by each of the parties hereto.
19. Compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. This Agreement is
intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be interpreted,
operated, and administered consistent with this intent. In that regard, any payments required by
this Agreement in connection with the Executive’s Termination of Employment shall not be
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made earlier than six (6) months after the date of termination to the extent required by Code
Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Xxxxx, Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Compensation and Benefits
Assurance Agreement to be signed by its duly authorized officer, and Executive has hereunto set his
hand, all as of the day and year first above written.
| “Company” Xxxxx, Inc. |
||||
| By | s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
| Senior Vice President | ||||
| “Executive” |
||||
| s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||
| Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||
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