EXHIBIT 10.17
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), initially
effective as of the 10th day of February, 2000 (the "Effective Date"), is
amended and restated in its entirety effective as of July 13, 2000, by and
between Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), and the individual identified on the signature
page of this Agreement (the "Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board")
has approved the Company entering into this agreement providing for certain
severance protection for the Executive following a Change in Control (as
hereinafter defined);
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors approved certain changes at
its meeting of July 13, 2000 and the parties hereto intend to hereby amend and
restate the Agreement in its entirety effective as of July 13, 2000 without
changing the Effective Date;
WHEREAS, the Board of the Company believes that, should the
possibility of a Change in Control arise, it is imperative that the Company be
able to receive and rely upon the Executive's advice, if requested, as to the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders without concern that the
Executive might be distracted by the personal uncertainties and risks created by
the possibility of a Change in Control; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the Executive's regular duties, the
Executive may be called upon to assist in the assessment of a possible Change in
Control, advise management and the Board of the Company as to whether such
Change in Control would be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, and to take such other actions as the Board determines to be
appropriate;
NOW, THEREFORE, to assure the Company that it will have the
continued dedication of the Executive and the availability of Executive's advice
and counsel notwithstanding the possibility, threat, or occurrence of a Change
in Control, and to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company,
and for good and valuable consideration and the mutual covenants set forth
herein, the Company and the Executive, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
Article I. Definitions
1.1 Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth below when the initial letter of the word or
abbreviation is capitalized:
(a) "Accrued Obligations" means, as of the Effective Date of Termination, the
sum of (i) the Executive's Base Compensation through and including the Effective
Date of Termination, (ii) the amount of any bonus, incentive compensation,
deferred compensation and other cash compensation accrued by the Executive as of
the Effective Date of Termination under the terms of any such arrangement and
not then paid, including, but not limited to, AIP accrued but not paid for a
year ending prior to the year in which occur, the Effective Date of Termination,
(iii) unused vacation time monetized at the then rate of Base Compensation, (iv)
expense reimbursements or other cash entitlements, (v) amounts accrued,
including but not limited to amounts accrued as a result of the application of
Section 2.2(g), under any qualified, non-qualified or supplemental employee
benefit plan, payroll practice, policy or perquisite.
(b) "AIP" means the Company's Annual Incentive Plan as it exists on the date
hereof and as it may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time or
any successor plan.
(c) "Base Compensation" shall mean (1) the highest annual rate of base salary of
the Executive within the time period consisting of two years prior to the date
of a Change in Control and the Effective Date of Termination and (2) the AIP
bonus target for performance in the calendar year that a Change in Control
occurs or the actual AIP payment for the year immediately preceding the Change
in Control, whichever is higher.
(d) "Beneficiary" shall mean the persons or entities designated or deemed
designated by the Executive pursuant to Section 7.2 herein.
(e) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) For purposes hereof, the term "Cause" shall mean the Executive's conviction
of a felony, breach of a fiduciary duty involving personal profit to the
Executive or intentional failure to perform stated duties reasonably associated
with the Executive's position; provided, however, an intentional failure to
perform stated duties shall not constitute Cause unless and until the Board
provides the Executive with written notice setting forth the specific duties
that, in the Board's view, the Executive has failed to perform and the Executive
is provided a period of thirty (30) days to cure such specific failure(s) to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Board.
(g) For the purposes of this Agreement, "Change in Control" shall mean, and
shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of, any of the following
events:
(1) The Company acquires actual knowledge that (x) any Person,
other than the Company, a subsidiary, any employee benefit
plan(s) sponsored by the Company or a subsidiary, has acquired
the Beneficial Ownership, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company entitling such Person to 20% or more
of the Voting Power of the Company, or (y) any Person or
Persons agree to act together for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of securities of the Company or
to act in concert or otherwise with the purpose or effect of
changing or influencing control of the Company, or in
connection with or as Beneficial Ownership, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company entitling such
Person(s) to 20% or more of the Voting Power of the Company;
or
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(2) The completion of a Tender Offer is made to acquire
securities of the Company entitling the holders thereof to 20%
or more of the Voting Power of the Company; or
(3) The occurrence of a successful solicitation subject to
Rule 14a-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as
amended (or any successor Rule) (the "1934 Act") relating to
the election or removal of 50% or more of the members of the
Board or any class of the Board shall be made by any person
other than the Company or less than 51% of the members of the
Board (excluding vacant seats) shall be Continuing Directors;
or
(4) The occurrence of a merger, consolidation, share exchange,
division or sale or other disposition of assets of the Company
as a result of which the stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction shall not hold, directly
or indirectly, immediately following such transaction a
majority of the Voting Power of (i) in the case of a merger or
consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation, (ii) in
the case of a share exchange, the acquiring corporation or
(iii) in the case of a division or a sale or other disposition
of assets, each surviving, resulting or acquiring corporation
which, immediately following the transaction, holds more than
20% of the consolidated assets of the Company immediately
prior to the transaction;
provided, however that (A) if securities beneficially owned by Executive are
included in determining the Beneficial Ownership of a Person referred to in
Section (i), (B) if Executive is named pursuant to Item 2 of the Schedule 14D-1
(or any similar successor filing requirement) required to be filed by the bidder
making a Tender Offer referred to in Section (ii) or (C) if Executive is a
"participant" as defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the
1934 Act in a solicitation referred to in Section (iii) then no Change of
Control with respect to Executive shall be deemed to have occurred by reason of
any such event.
For the purposes of Section 1(g), the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
(i) The term "Person" shall be used as that term is used in
Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act as in effect on the
Effective Date hereof.
(ii) "Beneficial Ownership" shall be determined as provided in
Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act as in effect on the Effective
Date hereof.
(iii) A specified percentage of "Voting Power" of a company
shall mean such number of the Voting Shares as shall enable
the holders thereof to cast such percentage of all the votes
which could be cast in an annual election of directors
(without consideration of the rights of any class of stock,
other than the common stock of the company, to elect directors
by a separate class vote); and "Voting Shares" shall mean all
securities of a company entitling the holders thereof to vote
in an annual election of directors (without consideration of
the rights of any class of stock,
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other than the common stock of the company, to elect directors
by a separate class vote).
(iv) "Tender Offer" shall mean a tender offer or exchange
offer to acquire securities of the Company (other than such an
offer made by the Company or any subsidiary), whether or not
such offer is approved or opposed by the Board.
(v) "Continuing Directors" shall mean a director of the
Company who either (x) was a director of the Company on the
date hereof or (y) is an individual whose election, or
nomination for election, as a director of the Company was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors
then still in office who were Continuing Directors (other than
an individual whose initial assumption of office is in
connection with an actual or threatened election contest
relating to the election of directors of the Company which
would be subject to Rule 14a-11 under the 1934 Act, or any
successor Rule).
(h) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(i) "Effective Date of Termination" shall mean the date on which the Executive's
employment terminates in a circumstance in which Section 2.1 provides for
Severance Benefits (as defined in Section 2.1).
(j) "Good Reason" shall mean, without the Executive's express written consent,
the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(1) A material diminution of the Executive's authorities, duties,
responsibilities, or status (including offices, titles, or reporting
relationships) as an employee of the Company from those in effect as of one
hundred eighty (180) days prior to the Change in Control or as of the date of
execution of this Agreement if a Change in Control occurs within one hundred
eighty (180) days of the execution of this Agreement (the "Reference Date") or
the assignment to the Executive of duties or responsibilities inconsistent with
his position as of the Reference Date, other than an insubstantial and
inadvertent act that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
thereof given by the Executive, and other than any such alteration which is
consented to by the Executive in writing;
(2) The Company's requiring the Executive to be based at a location in
excess of thirty-five (35) miles from the location of the 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 substantially consistent
with the Executive's present business obligations;
(3) A reduction in the Executive's annual salary or any material
reduction by the Company of the Executive's other compensation or benefits from
that in effect on the Reference Date or on the date of the Change in Control,
whichever is greater;
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(4) The failure of the Company to obtain an agreement satisfactory to
the Executive from any successor to the Company to assume and agree to perform
the Company's obligations under this Agreement, as contemplated in Article 5
herein; and
(5) Any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment that is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying
the requirements of Section 2.6 below, and for purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination shall be effective.
The Executive's right to terminate employment for Good Reason shall not be
affected by the Executive's (A) incapacity due to physical or mental illness or
(B) continued employment following the occurrence of any event constituting Good
Reason herein.
(k) "PSP" means the Company's Performance Share Program as it exists on the date
hereof and as it may be, amended, supplemented, or modified from time to time or
any successor plan.
(l) "SARP" means the Company's Stock Acquisition and Retention Program as it
exists on the date hereof and as it may be, amended, supplemented or modified
from time to time or any successor plan.
(m) "Severance Compensation" means (Times) times Base Compensation.
Article II. Severance Benefits
2.1 Right to Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to
receive from the Company severance benefits described in Section 2.2 below
(collectively, the "Severance Benefits") if a Change in Control shall occur and
within twenty-four (24) months after the Change in Control either of the
following shall occur:
(a) an involuntary termination of the Executive's
employment with the Company without Cause; or
(b) a voluntary termination of the Executive's employment
with the Company for Good Reason.
2.2 Severance Benefits. In the event that the Executive becomes
entitled to receive Severance Benefits, as provided in Section 2.1, the Company
shall provide the Executive with total Severance Benefits as follows (but
subject to Sections 2.5 and 2.6):
(a) The Executive shall receive a single lump sum cash
Severance Compensation payment within thirty (30)
days of the Effective Date of Termination.
(b) The Executive shall receive the Accrued Obligations.
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(c) The Executive shall receive as AIP for the year in
which the termination occurs a lump sum cash payment
paid within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of
Termination equal to that which would have been paid
if corporate and personal performance had achieved
120% of target objectives established for the annual
period in which the Change in Control occurred,
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days elapsed in the current fiscal
period to the Effective Date of Termination, and the
denominator of which is 365.
(d) The Executive shall receive a lump sum payment paid
within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of
Termination (in accordance with the then current PSP;
provided that any portion of the PSP award which
would have been paid in stock under the PSP is to be
paid in cash based on the current market value of the
stock) which payment will be determined based upon
actual performance for the number of full years of
completed then current PSP measurement period(s) at
the time of the Effective Date of Termination and for
years not yet completed in the then current PSP
measurement period(s) Executive will be assumed to
have met all applicable goals at 120% of performance.
(e) All welfare benefits, including medical, dental,
vision, life and disability benefits pursuant to
plans under which the Executive and/or the
Executive's family is eligible to receive benefits
and/or coverage shall be continued for a period of
thirty-six (36) months after the Effective Date of
Termination. Such benefits shall be provided to the
Executive at no less than the same coverage level as
in effect as of the date of the Change in Control.
The Company shall pay the full cost of such continued
benefits, except that the Executive shall bear any
portion of such cost as was required to be borne by
key executives of the Company generally at the date
of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the benefits described in this Section
2.2(e) may be discontinued prior to the end of the
periods provided in this Section to the extent, but
only to the extent, that the Executive receives
substantially similar benefits from a subsequent
employer. In the event any insurance carrier shall
refuse to provide coverage to a former employee, the
Company shall secure comparable coverage or may
self-insure the benefits if it pays such benefits
together with a payment to the Executive equal to the
federal income tax consequences of payments to a
former highly compensated employee from a
discriminatory self-insured plan.
(f) The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for
actual payments made for professional outplacement
services or job search not to exceed $(Amount) in
the aggregate.
(g) In determining the Executive's pension benefit
following entitlement to a Severance Benefit, (i) the
Executive shall be deemed to have satisfied
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the age and service requirements for full vesting
under the Company's qualified (within applicable
legal parameters), non-qualified and supplemental
pension plans as of the Effective Date of Termination
in which the Executive then participates such that
the Executive shall be entitled to receive the full
accrued benefit (based on actual service rendered
through the Effective Date of Termination plus the
service under subsection 2.2(g)(ii)) under all such
plans in effect as of the date of the Change in
Control, without any actuarial reduction for early
payment and (ii) the Executive shall be credited with
years of service for all purposes under each such
plan equal to the number used to multiply Base
Compensation in Section 1.1(m) (not to exceed a
maximum total of ten credited years of service under
the Company's Supplemental Pension Plan, if
applicable). To the extent the amounts determined
after giving effect to this Section 2.2(g) cannot be
paid from or under a qualified plan, as determined by
the administrator of the qualified plan(s), such
amounts shall be paid in a single cash payment with
the Accrued Obligations as provided in Section
2.2(b), it being understood that the Executive will
receive all amounts that can be paid from or under a
qualified plan from such plan when such amounts
otherwise become due.
(h) If the Executive was investing in Company common
stock through automatic payroll deductions under the
Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP")
on the first business day of the year in which the
Change in Control occurs (the "ESPP Date"), the
Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum cash
payment within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date
of Termination equal to the amount the Company would
have paid as matching contributions under the ESPP if
the Executive had continued to invest in the ESPP at
the same level of participation in effect on the ESPP
Date for the number of years used to multiply Base
Compensation in Section 1.1(m).
2.3. Stock Options. All Company stock options previously granted to the
Executive shall be fully vested and exercisable immediately upon a Change in
Control. Such options shall be exercisable for the remainder of the term
established by the Company's stock option plan as if the options had vested in
accordance with the normal vesting schedule and the Executive had remained an
employee of the Company. Company stock acquired pursuant to any such exercise
may be sold by the Executive free of any Company restrictions, whatsoever (other
than those imposed by federal and state securities laws).
2.4. SARP. In the event of entitlement to a Severance Benefit, all
forfeiture restrictions on all Company stock purchased by or granted to the
Executive under the Company's SARP shall lapse and all shares of restricted
stock shall vest. All of the foregoing shares may be sold by the Executive free
of any Company restrictions whatsoever (other than those imposed by federal and
state securities laws). Any promissory notes of Executive under the SARP shall
be paid off by the Executive within ninety (90) days after Executive's receipt
of the Severance Benefits.
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2.5. Termination for any Other Reason. If the Executive's employment
with the Company is terminated under any circumstances other than those set
forth in Section 2.1, including without limitation by reason of retirement,
death, disability, discharge for Cause or resignation without Good Reason, or
any termination, for any reason, that occurs prior to a Change in Control (other
than as provided below) or after twenty-four (24) months following a Change in
Control, the Executive shall have no right to receive the Severance Benefits
under this Agreement or to receive any payments in respect of this Agreement. In
such event Executive's benefits, if any, in respect of such termination shall be
determined in accordance with the Company's retirement, survivor's benefits,
insurance, and other applicable plans, programs, policies and practices then in
effect. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated at any time from three (3)
to eight (8) months prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs either
(i) by the Company other than for Cause or (ii) by the Executive for Good
Reason, and it is reasonably demonstrated that termination of employment (a) was
at the request of an unrelated third party who has taken steps reasonably
calculated to effect a Change in Control, or (b) otherwise arose in connection
with or in anticipation of the Change in Control, then for all purposes of this
Agreement the termination shall be deemed to have occurred as if immediately
following a Change in Control for Good Reason and the Executive shall be
entitled to Severance Benefits as provided in Section 2.2 hereof.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive's
employment with the Company is terminated at any time within three (3) months
prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs either (i) by the Company
other than for Cause or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, such termination
shall conclusively be deemed to have occurred as if immediately following a
Change in Control for Good Reason and the Executive shall be entitled to
Severance Benefits as provided in Section 2.2. hereof.
2.6. Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause or
by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination
to the other party. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination"
shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated.
2.7. Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall withhold from any amounts
payable under this Agreement all Federal, state, local, or other taxes that are
legally required to be withheld.
2.8. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, in the event it shall be determined that
any economic benefit or payment or distribution by
the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive,
whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
or otherwise (a "Payment"), would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any
interest or penalties 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"),
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then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an
additional payment (a "Gross-Up-Payment") in an
amount such that after payment by the Executive of
all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), including any
Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the
Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.8(c), all
determinations required to be made under this Section
2.8, including whether a Gross-Up Payment is required
and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall be
made by the Company's regular outside independent
public accounting firm (the "Accounting Firm") which
shall provide detailed supporting calculations both
to the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15)
business days of the Effective Date of Termination,
if applicable, or such earlier time as is requested
by the Company . The initial Gross-Up Payment, if
any, as determined pursuant to this Section 2.8(b),
shall be paid to the Executive within five (5) days
of the receipt of the Accounting Firm's
determination. If the Accounting Firm determines that
no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall
furnish the Executive with an opinion that the
Executive has substantial authority not to report any
Excise Tax or excess parachute payments on
Executive's federal income tax return. Any
determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding
upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of
the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of
the Code at the time of the initial determination by
the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that
Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by
the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"),
consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its
remedies pursuant to Section 2.8(c) and the Executive
thereafter is required to make a payment of any
Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the
amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any
such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of
any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if
successful, would require the payment by the Company
of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be
given as soon as practicable but no later than ten
(10) business days after the later of either (i) the
date the Executive has actual knowledge of such
claim, or (ii) ten (10) days after the Internal
Revenue Service issues to the Executive either a
written report proposing imposition of the Excise Tax
or a statutory notice of deficiency with respect
thereto, and shall apprise the Company of the nature
of such claim and the date on which such claim is
requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay
such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty-day
period following the date on which he gives such
notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending
on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to
such claim is due). If the Company
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notifies the Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such period that the Company desires to
contest such claim, the Executive shall: (i) give the
Company any information reasonably requested by the
Company relating to such claim, (ii) take such action
in connection with contesting such claim as the
Company shall reasonably request in writing from time
to time, including, without limitation, accepting
legal representation with respect to such claim by an
attorney reasonably selected by the Company, (iii)
cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
effectively to contest such claim, (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 the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax,
including interest and penalties with respect
thereto, imposed as a result of such representation
and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation
of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.8(c),
the Company shall control all proceedings taken in
connection with such contest and, at its sole option,
may pursue or forego any and all administrative
appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with
the taxing authority in respect of such claim and
may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive
to request or accede to a request for an extension of
the statute of limitations with respect only to the
tax claimed, or pay the tax claimed and xxx for a
refund or contest the claim in any permissible
manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such
contest to 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
directs the Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a
refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such
payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis
and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless,
on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income
tax, including interest or penalties with respect
thereto, imposed with respect to such advance or with
respect to any imputed income with respect to such
advance; and provided further that any extension of
the statute of limitations requested or acceded to by
the Executive at the Company's request and relating
to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the
Executive with respect to which such contested amount
is claimed to be due is limited solely to such
contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control
of the contest shall be limited to issues with
respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable
hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to
settle or contest, as the case may be, any other
issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any
other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 2.8(c),
the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund
with respect to such claim, the Executive shall
(subject
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to the Company's complying with the requirements of
Section 2.8(c)) promptly pay to the Company the
amount of such refund (together with any interest
paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable
thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of
an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section
2.8(c), a determination is made that the Executive
shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to
such claim and the Company does not notify the
Executive in writing of its intent to contest such
denial of refund prior to the expiration of thirty
(30) days after such determination, then such advance
shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be
repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset,
to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment
required to be paid.
(e) In the event that any state or municipality or
subdivision thereof shall subject any Payment to any
special tax which shall be in addition to the
generally applicable income tax imposed by such
state, municipality, or subdivision with respect to
receipt of such Payment, the foregoing provisions of
this Section 2.8 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, with
respect to such special tax.
Article III. The Company's Payment Obligation
3.1 Payment Obligations Absolute. Except as otherwise provided in the
last sentence of Section 2.2(e), the Company's obligation to make the payments
and the arrangements provided for in this Agreement shall be absolute and
unconditional, and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including,
without limitation, any offset, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other
right that the Company may have against the Executive or any other party. All
amounts payable by the Company under this Agreement shall be paid without notice
or demand. Each and every payment made hereunder by the Company shall be final,
and the Company shall not seek to recover all or any part of such payment from
the Executive or from whomsoever may be entitled thereto, for any reasons
whatsoever. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to make any payment to the
Executive hereunder to the extent, but only to the extent, that such payment is
prohibited by the terms of any final order of a Federal or state court or
regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that such an
order shall not affect, impair, or invalidate any provision of this Agreement
not expressly subject to such order.
3.2 Contractual Rights to Payments and Benefits. This Agreement
establishes and vests in the Executive a contractual right to the payments and
benefits to which the Executive is entitled hereunder. 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. The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in
mitigation of the amounts payable or arrangements made under any provision of
this Agreement, and the obtaining of any such other employment shall in no event
effect any reduction of the Company's obligations to make the payments and
arrangements required to be made under this Agreement, except to the extent
provided in the last sentence of Section 2.2(e).
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Article IV . Enforcement and Legal Remedies
4.1. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably
consents to personal jurisdiction in any action brought in connection with this
Agreement in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania or any Pennsylvania court of competent jurisdiction. The parties
also consent to venue in the above forums and to the convenience of the above
forums. Any suit brought to enforce the provisions of this Agreement must be
brought in the aforementioned forums.
4.2 Cost of Enforcement. In the event that it shall be necessary or
desirable for the Executive to retain legal counsel in connection with the
enforcement of any or all of Executive's rights to Severance Benefits under
Section 2.2 of this Agreement, and provided that the Executive substantially
prevails in the enforcement of such rights, the Company, as applicable, shall
pay (or the Executive shall be entitled to recover from the Company, as the case
may be) the Executive's reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expenses in
connection with the enforcement of Executive's rights.
Article V. Binding Effect; Successors
The rights of the parties hereunder shall inure to the benefit of their
respective successors, assigns, nominees, or other legal representatives. The
Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase,
merger, reorganization, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock,
liquidation, or otherwise) to all or a significant portion of the assets of the
Company, as the case may be, by agreement in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company, as the
case may be, would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
Regardless of whether such agreement is executed, this Agreement shall be
binding upon any successor in accordance with the operation of law and such
successor shall be deemed the "Company", as the case may be, for purposes of
this Agreement.
Article VI. Term of Agreement
The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and
shall continue in effect for three (3) full years (the "Term") unless further
extended as provided in this Article. The Term of this Agreement shall be
automatically and without action by either party extended for one additional
calendar month on the last business day of each calendar month so that at any
given time there are no fewer than 35 nor more than 36 months remaining unless
one party gives written notice to the other that it no longer wishes to extend
the Term of this Agreement, after which written notice, the Term shall not be
further extended except as may be provided in the following sentence. However,
in the event a Change in Control occurs during the Term, this Agreement will
remain in effect for the longer of: (i) thirty-six (36) months beyond the month
in which such Change in Control occurred; or (ii) until all obligations of the
Company hereunder have been fulfilled and all benefits required hereunder have
been paid to the Executive or other party entitled thereto.
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Article VII. Miscellaneous
7.1 Employment Status. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof
shall be deemed to create or confer upon the Executive any right to be retained
in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate thereof.
7.2 Beneficiaries. The Executive may designate one or more persons or
entities as the primary and/or contingent Beneficiaries of any Severance
Benefits owing to the Executive under this Agreement. Such designation must be
in the form of a signed writing acceptable to the Board of Directors of the
Company. The Executive may make or change such designation at any time.
7.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding
of the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any
payments actually made under this Agreement in the event of the Executive's
termination of employment shall be in lieu of any severance benefits payable
under any severance plan, program, or policy of the Company to which the
Executive might otherwise be entitled.
7.4 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context,
any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall
include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.
7.5 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications
hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered by hand or mailed within the continental United States by first-class
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the other party,
addressed as follows:
(a) If to the Company:
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
0000 Xxx XXX Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
(b) If to Executive, to the Executive's address set forth at the end of
this Agreement. Addresses may be changed by written notice sent to the other
party at the last recorded address of that party.
7.6 Execution in Counterparts. The parties hereto in counterparts may
execute this Agreement, each of which shall be deemed to be original, but all
such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument, and all
signatures need not appear on any one counterpart.
7.7. 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 the Agreement, and the Agreement shall be
construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid
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provision had not been included. Further, the captions of this Agreement are for
convenience of reference and not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no
force and effect.
7.8. Modification. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived, or discharged unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed
to in writing and signed by the Executive and on behalf of the Company.
7.9. Applicable Law. To the extent not preempted by the laws of the
United States, the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, other than the
conflict of law provisions thereof, shall be the controlling laws in all matters
relating to this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
ALLEGHENY TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
EXECUTIVE:
----------------------------------------
Name: (FirstName) (M) (LastName)
Address:
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