EXHIBIT 10.17
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of August, 1997, by and between
Bowater Incorporated, a Delaware corporation having a mailing address of 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Corporation"), and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx of 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the
"Executive").
WHEREAS, the Corporation considers it essential to the best interests
of its stockholders to xxxxxx the continued employment of key management
personnel; and
WHEREAS, the uncertainty attendant to a change in control of the
Corporation may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel
to the detriment of the Corporation and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") has
determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the
continued attention and dedication of members of the Corporation's management,
including Executive, to their assigned duties in the event of a change in
control of the Corporation.
NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
The following terms when used herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them below. Whenever applicable throughout this Agreement, the
masculine pronoun shall include the feminine pronoun and the singular
shall include the plural.
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is or becomes a
beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") of
securities of the Corporation representing twenty percent
(20%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Corporation's then outstanding voting securities, unless such
Person has filed Schedule 13G and all required amendments
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thereto with respect to its holdings and continues to hold
such securities for investment in a manner qualifying such
Person to utilize Schedule 13G for reporting of ownership.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date
hereof.
(c) "Cause" shall mean and be limited to the Executive's gross
negligence, willful misconduct or conviction of a felony,
which negligence, misconduct or conviction has a demonstrable
and material adverse effect upon the Corporation, provided
that, to the extent that the Corporation contends that Cause
exists by virtue of Executive's gross negligence or willful
misconduct, and such gross negligence or willful misconduct is
capable of being cured, the Corporation shall have given the
Executive written notice of the alleged negligence or
misconduct and the Executive shall have failed to cure such
negligence or misconduct within thirty (30) days after his
receipt of such notice. The Executive shall be deemed to have
been terminated for Cause effective upon the effective date
stated in a written notice of such termination delivered by
the Corporation to the Executive (which notice shall not be
delivered before the end of the thirty (30) day period
described in the preceding sentence, if applicable) and
accompanied by 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 of the Board (after
reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the
Executive, with his counsel present, to be heard before the
Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board,
the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause
hereunder and setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide the basis for the Executive's
termination, provided that the effective date shall not be
less than thirty (30) days from the date such notice is given.
(d) "Change in Control" of the Corporation shall be deemed to have
occurred if:
(i) any Person is or becomes an Acquiring Person;
(ii) less than two-thirds (2/3) of the total membership of
the Board shall be Continuing Directors; or
(iii) the stockholders of the Corporation shall approve a
merger or consolidation of the Corporation or a plan
of complete liquidation of the Corporation or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the
Corporation of all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets.
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(e) "Commencement Date" shall mean the date of this Agreement,
which shall be the beginning date of the term of this
Agreement.
(f) "Continuing Directors" shall mean any member of the Board who
was a member of the Board immediately prior to the date
hereof, and any successor of a Continuing Director while such
successor is a member of the Board who is not an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or
of any such Affiliate or Associate and is recommended or
elected to succeed the Continuing Director by a majority of
the Continuing Directors.
(g) "Disability" shall mean the Executive's total and permanent
disability as defined in the Corporation's long term
disability insurance policy covering the Executive immediately
prior to the Change in Control.
(h) "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) an adverse change in the Executive's status, duties or
responsibilities as an executive of the Corporation as
in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control,
provided that the Executive shall have given the
Corporation written notice of the alleged adverse
change and the Corporation shall have failed to cure
such change within thirty (30) days after its receipt
of such notice;
(ii) failure of the Corporation to pay or provide the
Executive in a timely fashion the salary or benefits
to which he is entitled under any Employment Agreement
between the Corporation and the Executive in effect on
the date of the Change in Control, or under any
benefit plans or policies in which the Executive was
participating at the time of the Change in Control
(including, without limitation, any incentive, bonus,
stock option, restricted stock, health, accident,
disability, life insurance, thrift, vacation pay,
deferred compensation and retirement plans or
policies);
(iii) the reduction of the Executive's salary as in effect
on the date of the Change in Control;
(iv) the taking of any action by the Corporation (including
the elimination of a plan without providing
substitutes therefor, the reduction of the Executive's
awards thereunder or failure to continue the
Executive's participation therein) that would
substantially diminish the aggregate projected value
of the
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Executive's awards or benefits under the
Corporation's benefit plans or policies described in
Section 1(h)(ii) in which the Executive was
participating at the time of the Change in Control;
(v) a failure by the Corporation to obtain from any
successor the assent to this Agreement contemplated
by Section 5 hereof; or
(vi) the relocation of the principal office at which the
Executive is to perform his services on behalf of the
Corporation to a location more than thirty-five (35)
miles from its location immediately prior to the
Change in Control or a substantial increase in the
Executive's business travel obligations subsequent to
the Change in Control.
Any circumstance described in this Section 1(h) shall
constitute Good Reason even if such circumstance would not
constitute a breach by the Corporation of the terms of the
Employment Agreement between the Corporation and the Executive
in effect on the date of the Change in Control. The Executive
shall be deemed to have terminated his employment for Good
Reason effective upon the effective date stated in a written
notice of such termination given by him to the Corporation
(which notice shall not be given, in circumstances described
in Section 1(h)(i), before the end of the thirty (30) day
period described therein) setting forth in reasonable detail
the facts and circumstances claimed to provide the basis for
termination, provided that the effective date may not precede,
nor be more than sixty (60) days from, the date such notice is
given. The Executive's continued employment shall not
constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to,
any circumstances constituting Good Reason hereunder.
(i) "Normal Retirement Date" shall have the meaning given to such
term in the Corporation's basic qualified pension plan in
which the Executive is a participant as in effect on the date
hereof or any successor or substitute plan adopted prior to a
Change in Control.
(j) "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
group, association or other "person" as such term is used in
Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.
2. TERM OF AGREEMENT
(a) The term of this Agreement shall initially be for the period
beginning on the Commencement Date and ending on the day
before the third anniversary of the Commencement Date. The
term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended on the
first anniversary of the Commencement Date until the day
before the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date without
further action
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by the parties, and shall be automatically extended by an
additional year on each succeeding anniversary of the
Commencement Date, unless either the Corporation or the
Executive shall have served notice upon the other party prior
to such anniversary of its or his intention either that the
term of this Agreement shall not be extended, or that the
Executive's Employment Agreement is terminated, provided,
however, that if a Change in Control of the Corporation shall
occur during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
continue in effect until it expires in accordance with the
foregoing, but in any event for a period of not less than
three (3) years from the date of the Change in Control.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 2(a), the term of this Agreement shall
end upon the termination of the Executive's employment if,
prior to a Change in Control of the Corporation, the
Executive's employment with the Corporation shall have
terminated under the provisions of any Employment Agreement
between the Corporation and the Executive then in effect.
3. COMPENSATION UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL FOLLOWED BY A TERMINATION
If a Change in Control of the Corporation shall have occurred and,
thereafter and during the term of this Agreement, the Executive's
employment by the Corporation is terminated for any reason other than
his death, his Disability, his retirement on his Normal Retirement
Date, by the Corporation for Cause, or by the Executive without Good
Reason, the Executive shall be under no further obligation to perform
services for the Corporation and shall be entitled to receive the
following payments:
(a) The Corporation shall pay to the Executive his full base
salary through the effective date of the termination within
five (5) business days thereafter and all benefits and awards
(including both the cash and stock components) to which the
Executive is entitled under any benefit plans or policies in
which the Executive was a participant prior to the Change in
Control (or, if more favorable, at the effective date of
termination), at the time such payments are due pursuant to
the terms of such benefit plans or policies as in effect
immediately prior to the Change in Control (or, if more
favorable, at the effective date of termination).
(b) At the election of the Executive, in addition to the
entitlements set forth in Section 3(a) but in lieu of any
payment to the Executive of any salary or severance payments
or benefits to which the Executive would be entitled under the
provisions of any Employment Agreement between the Corporation
and the Executive then in effect (if any), the Corporation
shall pay to the Executive, in a lump sum not later than ten
(10) business days following the effective date of the
termination:
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(i) an amount equal to three (3) times the Executive's
annual base salary on the effective date of the
termination or, if higher, immediately prior to the
Change in Control;
(ii) an amount equal to three (3) times the greater of (x)
the highest amount of the actual bonus awarded to the
Executive in the five (5) fiscal years immediately
preceding the year in which the Change in Control
occurred and (y) an amount equal to the amount the
Executive would have been awarded under the
Corporation's bonus plan in effect immediately prior
to the Change in Control for the fiscal year in which
the Change in Control occurred had the Executive
continued to render services to the Corporation at
the same level of performance, at the same level of
salary, and in the same position as immediately prior
to the Change in Control;
(iii) an amount equal to three (3) times the greater of (x)
the largest annual contribution made by the
Corporation to the Corporation's Savings Plan on the
Executive's behalf during the five (5) fiscal years
immediately preceding the year in which the Change in
Control occurred and (y) an amount equal to the
contribution the Corporation would have made to said
Plan on the Executive's behalf for the fiscal year in
which the Change in Control occurred had he
participated in said Plan for the entire fiscal year,
received a base salary equal to the salary he was
receiving immediately prior to the Change in Control
and had he elected to contribute to the Plan the same
percentage of his base salary as he was contributing
on said date;
(iv) an amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of the
Executive's annual base salary on the effective date
of the termination or, if higher, immediately prior
to the Change in Control (as compensation for
medical, life insurance and other benefits lost as a
result of termination of the Executive's employment);
and
(v) For each full or partial month in the period
beginning on January 1st of the year in which the
date of the termination occurs and ending on the date
of the termination, one-twelfth of the greater of (x)
the highest amount of the actual bonus awarded to the
Executive in the five (5) fiscal years immediately
preceding the year in which the Change in Control
occurred and (y) an amount equal to the amount the
Executive would have been awarded under the
Corporation's bonus plan in effect immediately prior
to the Change in Control for the fiscal year in which
the Change in Control occurred had the Executive
continued to render services to the Corporation at
the same level of performance, at the same level of
salary, and in the same position as immediately prior
to the Change in Control.
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(vi) If a payment may be increased by reference to an
alternate calculation which cannot be made by the
time the payment is due, payment of the lesser, known
amount shall be made when due, and if any additional
amount becomes due, such additional amount shall be
paid within ten (10) days after the information upon
which calculation of such payment is dependent first
becomes available.
The amount of all payments due to the Executive pursuant to
this Section 3(b) shall be reduced by 1/36 for each full
calendar month by which the date which is three (3) years from
the effective date of the Executive's termination extends
beyond the Executive's Normal Retirement Date.
Upon entering into this Agreement and for a period of fourteen
(14) days following each anniversary of the date hereof (the
"Election Period"), the Executive may, in writing, direct the
Corporation to pay any amounts to which he is entitled under
this Section 3(b) in equal annual installments (not to exceed
ten (10) annual installments), with the first such installment
payable within ten (10) business days of the effective date of
the termination and each successive installment payable on the
anniversary of the effective date of the termination or the
next following business day if such date is not a business day
(the "Deferred Payment Election"). A Deferred Payment
Election, once made, cannot be revoked except during an
Election Period; provided, however, no Deferred Payment
Election can be made or revoked by the Executive during an
Election Period that occurs after a Change in Control or at a
time when, in the judgment of the Corporation, a Change in
Control may occur within sixty (60) days of such Election
Period.
(c) The Corporation shall pay or provide to the Executive or his
surviving spouse or children, as the case may be, such amounts
and benefits as may be required so that the pension and other
post-retirement benefits paid or made available to the
Executive, his surviving spouse, and his children are equal to
those, if any, which would have been paid under the
Corporation's Basic and Supplemental Pension (Benefit) Plans
in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, assuming
the Executive continued in the employ of the Corporation at
the same compensation until the third anniversary of the
effective date of the termination of the Executive's
employment or until his Normal Retirement Date, whichever is
earlier. Notwithstanding any conflicting restrictions in the
Plans or the fact of the termination of the Executive's
employment, until the Executive's Normal Retirement Date, the
Executive or his surviving spouse and his children shall
maintain a continuing right to receive the pension and other
benefits under the above Plans with payments to begin upon
retirement and to elect an imputed retirement on the
Executive's 50th birthdate or any of his birthdates thereafter
until his Normal Retirement Date, such election to be made by
so notifying the Corporation within one (1) year after
termination of his employment.
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(d) The Corporation shall pay for or provide the Executive
individual out-placement assistance as offered by a member
firm of the Association of Out-Placement Consulting Firms.
(e) If any payment or benefit to or for the benefit of the
Executive in connection with a Change in Control of the
Corporation or termination of the Executive's employment
following a Change in Control of the Corporation (whether
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or any other plan or
arrangement or agreement with the Corporation, any Person
whose actions result in a Change in Control of the Corporation
or any Affiliate or Associate of the Corporation or any such
Person) is subject to the Excise Tax (as hereinafter defined),
the Corporation shall pay to the Executive an additional
amount such that the total amount of all such payments and
benefits (including payments made pursuant to this Section
3(e) net of the Excise Tax and all other applicable federal,
state and local taxes) shall equal the total amount of all
such payments and benefits to which the Executive would have
been entitled, but for this Section 3(e), net of all
applicable federal, state and local taxes except the Excise
Tax. For purposes of this Section 3(e), the term "Excise Tax"
shall mean the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") and any similar tax that may
hereafter be imposed.
The amount of the payment to the Executive under this Section
3(e) shall be estimated by a nationally recognized firm of
certified public accountants, which firm may not have provided
services to the Corporation or any Affiliate of the
Corporation within the previous three years and shall not
provide services thereto in the following three years, based
upon the following assumptions:
(i) all payments and benefits to or for the benefit of
the Executive in connection with a Change in Control
of the Corporation or termination of the Executive's
employment following a Change in Control of the
Corporation shall be deemed to be "parachute
payments" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of
the Code, and all "excess parachute payments" shall
be deemed to be subject to the Excise Tax except to
the extent that, in the opinion of tax counsel
selected by the firm of certified public accountants
charged with estimating the payment to the Executive
under this Section 3(e), such payments or benefits
are not subject to the Excise Tax; and
(ii) the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal, state
and local taxes at the highest marginal rate of
taxation for the applicable calendar year.
The estimated amount of the payment due the Executive pursuant
to this Section 3(e) shall be paid to the Executive in a lump
sum not later than thirty (30) business days following the
effective date of the termination. In the event that
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the amount of the estimated payment is less than the amount
actually due to the Executive under this Section 3(e), the
amount of any such shortfall shall be paid to the Executive
within ten (10) days after the existence of the shortfall is
discovered.
(f) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment provided in this Section 3, nor shall any payment
or benefit provided for in this Section 3 be offset by any
compensation earned by the Executive as the result of
employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, or by
offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive
to the Corporation, or otherwise.
(g) If any payment to the Executive required by this Section 3 is
not made within the time for such payment specified herein,
the Corporation shall pay to the Executive interest on such
payment at the legal rate payable from time to time upon
judgments in the State of Delaware from the date such payment
is payable under terms hereof until paid.
4. EXECUTIVE'S EXPENSES
The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all costs,
including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses of either litigation
or arbitration, incurred by the Executive in contesting or disputing
any termination of his employment following a Change in Control or in
seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this
Agreement.
5. BINDING AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive, his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Corporation, its
successors and assigns. The Corporation shall require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of
the Corporation expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement
in accordance with its terms. The Corporation shall obtain such
assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession.
6. NOTICE
Any notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered
or mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid addressed to the respective
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addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement or to such
other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of
address shall be effective only upon receipt. All notices to the
Corporation shall be addressed to the attention of the Board with a
copy to each of the General Counsel, the Vice President-Human Resources
and the Secretary of the Corporation.
7. AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS
No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
except in a writing specifically referring to such provision and signed
by the party against which enforcement of such modification, waiver or
discharge is sought. No waiver by either party hereto of the breach of
any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver
of any other condition or provision at the same or any other time.
8. GOVERNING LAW
The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the State of
Delaware.
9 VALIDITY
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
10. ARBITRATION
If the Executive so elects, any dispute or controversy arising under or
in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by
arbitration in the city nearest to the Executive's principal residence
(or, at the Executive's election, in the city within the state in which
the Executive's principal residence is located nearest to such
principal residence) which has an office of the American Arbitration
Association by one arbitrator in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be
entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction. The
Corporation hereby waives its right to contest the personal
jurisdiction or venue of any court, federal or state, in an action
brought to enforce this Agreement or any award of an arbitrator
hereunder which action is brought in the jurisdiction in which such
arbitration was conducted, or, if no arbitration was elected, in which
arbitration could have been conducted pursuant to this provision.
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11. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
12. SUPERSEDURE
This Agreement shall cancel and supersede any and all prior agreements
between the Executive and the Corporation entitled "Severance
Agreement" or "Change in Control Agreement".
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
BOWATER INCORPORATED
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Its: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
