CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.19
This Change In Control Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated effective as of the 30th day of
April, 2010, between RPM International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx (“Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has retained the services of Executive to serve
as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in order to give the Company time to conduct
an orderly search for a Chief Financial Officer; and
WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it will be in the best interests of the Company to
encourage Executive’s continued attention and dedication to Executive’s duties in the potentially
disruptive circumstances of a possible Change in Control (as defined herein) of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and
agreements of the parties herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Termination of Employment During Protected Period.
(a) Events of Termination. Executive shall be entitled to certain benefits, as set
forth in Subsection 1(b) below if within the Protected Period, Executive’s employment is Terminated
(i) by the Company without Cause, for any reason or no reason; or (ii) by the Executive for Good
Reason by delivery of Notice of Termination for Good Reason to the Company indicating that an event
constituting Good Reason has occurred, provided that Executive’s failure to object in writing to an
event alleged to constitute Good Reason within six months of the date of occurrence of such event
shall be deemed a waiver of such event by Executive and Executive thereafter may not Terminate the
Employment Period under this Subsection (a) based on such event.
(b) Payment upon Termination of Employment Without Cause or for Good Reason. If
Executive’s employment is Terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Subsection 1(a)(i) or
by Executive for Good Reason pursuant to Subsection 1(a)(ii), then in lieu of any further salary
payments to Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, the Company shall pay to
Executive a lump sum amount equal to (A) the amount of Executive’s Unpaid Incentive Compensation,
if any, plus (B) 200% of the sum of (I) the greater of Executive’s Base Salary currently in effect
or the highest of Executive’s Base Salary in effect at any time during the period commencing two
years prior to the date the Protected Period begins; and (II) the highest amount of Annual
Incentive Compensation Executive received from the Company during the full two fiscal years of the
Company immediately preceding the Protected Period. In the case of Termination of Employment
without Cause, payment shall be made no later than 30 calendar days following the Termination Date,
and in the case of Termination of Employment for Good Reason, payment shall be made on the first
day of the seventh month following the Termination Date. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Subsection 1(b) or Section 2 of this Agreement, the Company shall have no obligation to make
the lump-sum payment referred to in this Subsection 1(b) or to make any Gross-Up Payment unless (X)
Executive executes and delivers to the
Company a Release and Waiver of Claims and (Y) Executive refrains from revoking, rescinding or
otherwise repudiating such Release and Waiver of Claims for all applicable periods during which
Executive may revoke it.
(c) Additional Benefits. Following a Termination of the Employment Period under
Subsection 1(a), Executive shall be entitled to the lapse of all restrictions on transfer and
forfeiture provisions on any restricted stock awards, so that any restricted shares previously
awarded to Executive shall be nonforfeitable and freely transferable thereafter, all on the terms
of the Omnibus Plan or the agreements thereunder.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any Termination of Employment by the Company pursuant to
Subsection 1(a)(i) or by Executive pursuant to Subsection 1(a)(ii) shall be communicated to the
other party hereto by written notice of Termination, which shall state in reasonable detail the
facts upon which the Termination of Employment has occurred. A Termination of Employment pursuant
to Subsection 1(a)(ii) shall be communicated by Notice of Termination for Good Reason.
(e) Notice of Change in Control. The Company shall give Executive written notice of
the occurrence of any event constituting a Change in Control as promptly as practical, and in no
case later than 10 calendar days, after the occurrence of such event.
(f) Deemed Termination After Change in Control. In the event of a Termination of
Employment of Executive by the Company without Cause following the commencement of any discussion
with or communication from a third party that ultimately results in a Change in Control that is
also a “change in control” within the meaning of Section 409A, but prior to the date of such a
Change in Control, and Executive can reasonably demonstrate that such Termination of Employment was
made in connection with or in anticipation of such Change in Control, then Executive shall be
entitled to the benefits provided under Subsections 1(b) and 1(c) and Section 2, provided that (i)
no such payments or benefits shall be provided prior to such Change in Control; and (ii) any
payments shall be payable within the various timeframes specified in Subsection 1(b) and Section 2,
but with such timeframes beginning as of the date of such Change in Control instead of as of the
date of Termination of Employment.
(g) Set-Off. There shall be no right of set-off or counterclaim against, or delay in,
any payment by the Company to Executive of the Lump-Sum Payment or any Gross-Up Payment in respect
of any claim against or debt or obligation of Executive, whether arising hereunder or otherwise.
(h) Interest on Overdue Payments. Without limiting the rights of Executive at law or
in equity, if the Company fails to make the Lump-Sum Payment or any Gross-Up Payment on a timely
basis, the Company shall pay interest on the amount thereof at an annualized rate equal to the rate
in effect, at the time such payment should have been made, under the 401(k) Plan for loans to
participants in such plan.
(i) Payments upon Termination of Employment for Good Reason. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, in the event Executive’s employment
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Terminates for Good Reason, no payments to which Executive would otherwise be entitled shall be
paid prior to the first day of the seventh month following his Termination Date.
2. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that it shall be
determined (as hereafter provided) that any payment or distribution by the Company or any of its
Affiliates to or for the benefit of Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any
other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock
option, performance share, performance unit, restricted stock, stock appreciation right or similar
right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on, or the vesting or exercisability of, any
of the foregoing (individually and collectively, a “Payment”), would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) by reason of being
considered “contingent on a change in ownership or control” of the Company, within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto), or to any similar tax imposed by
state or local law, or to any interest or penalties with respect to such taxes (such tax or taxes,
together with any such interest and penalties, being hereafter collectively referred to as the
“Excise Tax”), then Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments
(individually and collectively, a “Gross-Up Payment”). The Gross-Up Payment shall be in an amount
such that, after payment by 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, Executive
retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Subsection 2(f), all determinations required to be made under
this Section 2, including whether an Excise Tax is payable by Executive and the amount of such
Excise Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required to be paid by the Company to Executive and
the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, if any, shall be made (i) by PricewaterhouseCoopers (or its
successor) (the “Accounting Firm”), regardless of any services that PricewaterhouseCoopers (or its
successor) has performed or may be performing for the Company, or (ii) if PricewaterhouseCoopers
(or its successor) is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group
effecting a Change in Control, or cannot (because of limitations under applicable law or otherwise)
make the determinations required to be made under this Section 2, then by another nationally
recognized accounting firm selected by Executive and reasonably acceptable to the Company (which
accounting firm shall then be the “Accounting Firm” hereunder). The Company, or Executive if he
selects the Accounting Firm, shall direct the Accounting Firm to submit its determination and
detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive within 30 calendar days after
the Termination Date, if applicable, and any such other time or times as may be requested by the
Company or Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Excise Tax is payable by
Executive, the Company shall pay the required Gross-Up Payment to Executive within five business
days after the Company’s receipt of such determination and calculations with respect to any Payment
to Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, it
shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish the Company and Executive an
opinion that Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his federal, state
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or local income or other tax return. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of
Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar
uncertainty regarding applicable state or local tax law at the time of any 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 (an “Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to
be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant
to Subsection 2(f) and Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax,
Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has
occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company
and Executive as promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company
to, or for the benefit of, Executive as a Gross-Up Payment within five business days after the
Company’s receipt of such determination and calculations. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, if
the Executive’s Termination of Employment was for Good Reason, in no event shall any such payments
be made before the first day of the seventh month following such Termination of Employment.
(c) The Company and Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of
any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or Executive, as the case may be,
reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in
connection with the preparation and issuance of the determinations and calculations contemplated by
Subsection 2(b). Any determination by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of any Gross-Up Payment
or Underpayment shall be binding upon the Company and Executive.
(d) The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by Executive shall be
prepared and filed on a consistent basis with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect
to the Excise Tax payable by Executive. Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any
Excise Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with
any amendments) of his federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and
corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing
authority, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment.
If prior to the filing of Executive’s federal income tax return, or corresponding state or local
tax return, if relevant, the Accounting Firm determines that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment
should be reduced, Executive shall within five business days pay to the Company the amount of such
reduction.
(e) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the
determinations and calculations contemplated by Subsection 2(b) shall be borne by the Company.
(f) Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service
or any other taxing authority that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of a
Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as promptly as practicable but no later than 10
business days after Executive actually receives notice of such claim and Executive shall further
apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be
paid (in each case, to the extent known by Executive).
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Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the earlier of (x) the expiration of the
30-calendar-day period following the date on which he gives such notice to the Company and (y) the
date that any payment of an amount 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) provide the Company with any written records or documents in his possession relating to
such claim reasonably requested by the Company;
(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 competent in respect of the subject matter and reasonably
selected by the Company;
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim; 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
interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold
harmless Executive, on an after-tax basis, for and against 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 limiting the foregoing provisions of this Subsection 2(f), the
Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with the contest of any claim
contemplated by this Subsection 2(f) 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 (provided, however, that Executive may participate therein at his own cost and
expense) and may, at its option, either direct Executive to pay the tax claimed and file 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 directs Executive to pay the tax claimed and file for a refund, the Company shall pay to
Executive a Gross-up Payment as defined in (a) above with respect to the tax claimed and otherwise
shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income
or other tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with respect to such
payment, and provided further, however, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating
to payment of taxes for the taxable year of Executive with respect to which the contested amount is
claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company’s control
of any such contested claim shall be limited to issues with respect to which a 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.
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(g) If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount paid by the Company pursuant to Subsection
2(f), Executive receives any refund with respect to such claim, Executive shall (subject to the
Company’s complying with the requirements of Subsection 2(f)) promptly pay to the Company the
amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after any taxes
applicable thereto).
3. Binding Agreement; Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors,
heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If Executive should die while any amounts would still
be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise
provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Executive’s
devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to Executive’s estate. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the
Company, including, without limitation, any person acquiring directly or indirectly all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale or otherwise
(and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the “Company” for the purposes of this Agreement).
The Company shall require any such successor to assume and agree to perform this Agreement.
Failure by the Company to obtain such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall
entitle Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the
Executive would be entitled to hereunder if the Executive were to Terminate the Executive’s
employment for Good Reason during the Protected Period, except that, for purposes of implementing
the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the
Termination Date.
4. Restrictive Covenants.
(a) Non-Competition. During the Employment Period and for a period of two years
following the Termination Date, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate,
control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected as an
officer, employee, partner or director with, or have any financial interest in, any business which
is in substantial competition with any business conducted by the Company or by any group, division
or Subsidiary of the Company, in any area where such business is being conducted at the time of
such Termination of Employment. Ownership of 5% or less of the voting stock of any corporation
which is required to file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Exchange Act shall not constitute a violation hereof.
(b) Non-Solicitation. Executive shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during
the Employment Period and for two years thereafter, solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or
induce any employee, sales representative or other representative, agent or consultant of the
Company or any group, division or Subsidiary of the Company (collectively, the “RPM Group”) to
terminate his, her or its employment, representation or other relationship with the RPM Group or in
any way directly or indirectly interfere with such a relationship.
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(c) Confidentiality.
(i) Executive shall keep in strict confidence, and shall not, directly or indirectly, at any
time during or after the Employment Period, disclose, furnish, publish, disseminate, make available
or, except in the course of performing his duties of employment hereunder, use any Confidential
Information. Executive specifically acknowledges that all Confidential Information, whether
reduced to writing, maintained on any form of electronic media, or maintained in the mind or memory
of Executive and whether compiled by the RPM Group, and/or Executive, derives independent economic
value from not being readily known to or ascertainable by proper means by others who can obtain
economic value from its disclosure or use, that reasonable efforts have been made by the RPM Group
to maintain the secrecy of such information, that such information is the sole property of the RPM
Group and that any disclosure or use of such information by Executive during the Employment Period
(except in the course of performing his duties and obligations hereunder) or after the Termination
of the Employment Period shall constitute a misappropriation of the RPM Group’s trade secrets.
(ii) Executive agrees that upon Termination of the Employment Period, for any reason,
Executive shall return to the Company, in good condition, all property of the RPM Group, including,
without limitation, the originals and all copies of any materials, whether in paper, electronic or
other media, that contain, reflect, summarize, describe, analyze or refer or relate to any items of
Confidential Information.
5. Notice. All notices, requests and other communications under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when hand delivered, (b) when
dispatched by electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt electronically confirmed), (c) one
business day after being sent by recognized overnight delivery service, or (d) three business days
after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and in
each case addressed as follows (or addressed as otherwise specified by notice under this Section):
If to Executive: | ||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
[Xx. Xxxxxxx’x home address] |
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If to the Company: | ||
RPM International Inc. | ||
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx | ||
X.X. Xxx 000 | ||
Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000 | ||
Facsimile: 000-000-0000 | ||
Attn: Secretary |
6. Withholding. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under or in
connection with this Agreement all federal, state, local and other taxes as may be required to be
withheld by the Company under applicable law or governmental regulation or ruling.
7. Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing, and is signed by
Executive and by another executive officer of the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any
time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of
this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or
dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
8. Jurisdiction. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, without giving effect to the conflict
of law principles of such State. Executive and the Company each agree that the state and federal
courts located in the State of Ohio shall have jurisdiction in any action, suit or proceeding
against Executive or the Company based on or arising out of this Agreement and each of Executive
and the Company hereby (a) submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts, (b) consents to
service of process in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding and (c) waives any other
requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court or otherwise) with respect to personal
jurisdiction, venue or service of process.
9. Equitable Relief. Executive and the Company acknowledge and agree that the
covenants contained in Section 4 are of a special nature and that any breach, violation or evasion
by Executive of the terms of Section 4 will result in immediate and irreparable injury and harm to
the Company, for which there is no adequate remedy at law, and will cause damage to the Company in
amounts difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, the Company shall be entitled to the remedy of
injunction, as well as to all other legal or equitable remedies to which the Company may be
entitled (including, without limitation, the right to seek monetary damages), for any breach,
violation or evasion by Executive of the terms of Section 4.
10. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions 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. In the event that any provision of Section
4 is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable as against public
policy, such court shall exercise its discretion in reforming such provision to the end that
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Executive shall be subject to such restrictions and obligations as are reasonable under the
circumstances and enforceable by the Company.
11. Code Section 409A. The benefits under this Agreement generally are intended to
meet the requirements for exemption from Code Section 409A (including without limitation the
exemptions for restricted property, short-term deferrals and separation payments) and shall be so
construed and administered; however, to the extent any benefit hereunder is not exempt from the
application of Code Section 409A, it shall be administered in compliance with Code Section 409A.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended
as the Company may determine, with the consent of the Executive (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld), to better secure exemption of each benefit hereunder from, or if exemption is not
reasonably available for such a benefit, to better comply with, the requirements of Code Section
409A.
12. 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 shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
13. Headings; Definitions. The headings contained herein are for reference purposes
only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Certain
capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined on Schedule A attached hereto.
14. No Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the
prior written consent of the other party, except as provided in Section 3.
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the employment of Executive and supersedes any and all other agreements,
either oral or in writing, with respect to the employment of Executive.
16. Enforcement Costs. The Company is aware that upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control the Board of Directors or a stockholder of the Company may then cause or attempt to cause
the Company to refuse to comply with its obligations under this Agreement, or may cause or attempt
to cause the Company to institute, or may institute, litigation seeking to have this Agreement
declared unenforceable, or may take, or attempt to take, other action to deny Executive the
benefits intended under this Agreement. In these circumstances, the purpose of this Agreement
could be frustrated. It is the intent of the Company that Executive not be required to incur the
expenses associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Agreement by litigation or other
legal action because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits
intended to be extended to Executive hereunder, nor be bound to negotiate any settlement of his
rights hereunder under threat of incurring such expenses. Accordingly, if at any time in the two
calendar years following a Termination of Employment during the Protected Period, it should appear
to Executive that the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement
or the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or
unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other legal action designed to deny, diminish or
recover from Executive the benefits intended to be provided to Executive hereunder, and Executive
has complied with all of his obligations under Section 4, then the Company irrevocably authorizes
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Executive from time to time to retain counsel of his choice at the expense of the Company as
provided in this Section 16 to represent Executive in connection with the initiation or defense of
any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any Director, officer,
stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction. The Company’s
obligations under this Section 16 shall not be conditioned on Executive’s success in the
prosecution or defense of any such litigation or other legal action. Notwithstanding any existing
or prior attorney-client relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably
consents to Executive entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that
connection the Company and Executive agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between
Executive and such counsel. The reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected from time to time
by Executive as hereinabove provided shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive by the Company on a
regular, periodic basis no later than 30 days after presentation by Executive of a statement or
statements prepared by such counsel in accordance with its customary practices, up to a maximum
annual amount of $250,000 in each of the two calendar years following the year in which occurs such
Termination of Employment within the Protected Period; provided, that Executive presents such
statement(s) no later than 30 days prior to the end of each such year, and provided further, that
if Executive’s Termination of Employment was for Good Reason, no such payment shall be made before
the first day of the seventh month following such Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Section 16 shall not apply at any time unless a Change in Control has occurred.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date and year
first above written.
RPM INTERNATIONAL INC. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Chairman and | ||||
Chief Executive Officer | ||||
The “Company” |
||||
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX | ||||
“Executive” |
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Schedule A
Certain Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” of a specified entity means any entity during any period during which it would
be treated, together with the Company, as a single employer for purposes of Section 414(b)
and (c) of the Code.
“Annual Incentive Compensation” means an amount equal to the amount of Incentive
Compensation paid to Executive (without regard to any reduction thereof elected by Executive
pursuant to any qualified or non-qualified compensation reduction arrangement maintained by
the Company), for a completed fiscal year (or for such shorter period during which Executive
has been employed by the Company) preceding the Termination Date in which the Company paid
Incentive Compensation to executive officers of the Company or in which the Company
considered and declined to pay Incentive Compensation to executive officers of the Company.
“Base Salary” shall mean Executive’s annual base salary as determined by the Board of
Directors from time to time upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board
and payable in substantially equal monthly installments at the end of each month.
“Cause” means a determination of the Board of Directors (without the participation of
Executive) of the Company pursuant to the exercise of its business judgment, that either of
the following events has occurred: (a) Executive has engaged in willful and intentional
acts of dishonesty or gross neglect of duty or (b) Executive has breached Section 4.
“Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence at any time of any of the following events:
(a) The Company is merged or consolidated or reorganized into or with another
corporation or other legal person or entity, and as a result of such merger, consolidation
or reorganization less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
securities of such corporation, person or entity immediately after such transaction are held
in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction;
(b) The Company sells or otherwise transfers all or substantially all of its assets to
any other corporation or other legal person or entity, and less than a majority of the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation, person or
entity immediately after such sale or transfer is held in the aggregate by the holders of
Voting Stock immediately prior to such sale or transfer;
A-1
(c) There is a report filed on Schedule 13D or Schedule TO (or any successor schedule,
form or report), each as promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act, disclosing that any
person (as the term “person” is used in Section 13(d) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) has become the beneficial owner (as the term “beneficial owner” is defined under Rule
l3d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities
representing 15% or more of the Voting Power;
(d) The Company files a report or proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act disclosing in response to Form 8-K or Schedule 14A
(or any successor schedule, form or report or item therein) that a change in control of the
Company has or may have occurred or will or may occur in the future pursuant to any
then-existing contract or transaction;
(e) If during any period of two consecutive years, individuals, who at the beginning of
any such period, constitute the Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, unless the nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders of each
new Director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then in office
who were Directors at the beginning of any such period; or
(f) The stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this definition,
a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Agreement
(i) solely because (A) the Company, (B) a Subsidiary, or (C) any Company-sponsored employee
stock ownership plan or other employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any
entity holding shares of Voting Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, either
files or becomes obligated to file a report or proxy statement under or in response to
Schedule 13D, Schedule TO, Form 8-K or Schedule 14A (or any successor schedule, form or
report or item therein) under the Exchange Act, disclosing beneficial ownership by it of
shares of Voting Stock or because the Company reports that a change in control of the
Company has or may have occurred or will or may occur in the future by reason of such
beneficial ownership, (ii) solely because any other person or entity either files or becomes
obligated to file a report on Schedule 13D or Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form
or report) under the Exchange Act, disclosing beneficial ownership by it of shares of Voting
Stock, but only if both (A) the transaction giving rise to such filing or obligation is
approved in advance of consummation thereof by the Company’s Board of Directors and (B) at
least a majority of the Voting Power immediately after such transaction is held in the
aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction, or
(iii) solely because of a change in control of any Subsidiary.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Confidential Information” means trade secrets and confidential business and technical
information of the RPM Group and its customers and vendors, without limitation as to
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when or how Executive may have acquired such information. Such Confidential Information
shall include, without limitation, the RPM Group’s manufacturing, selling and servicing
methods and business techniques, training, service and business manuals, promotional
materials, vendor and product information, product development plans, internal financial
statements, sales and distribution information, business plans, marketing strategies,
pricing policies, corporate alliances, business opportunities, the lists of actual and
potential customers as well as other customer information, technology, know-how, processes,
data, ideas, techniques, inventions (whether patentable or not), formulas, terms of
compensation and performance levels of RPM Group employees, and other information concerning
the RPM Group’s actual or anticipated business, research or development, or which is
received in confidence by or for the RPM Group from any other person and all other
confidential information to the extent that such information is not intended by the RPM
Group for public dissemination.
“Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Earned Incentive Compensation” means the sum of:
(a) The Unpaid Incentive Compensation; and
(b) An amount equal to the Annual Incentive Compensation for the most recent completed
fiscal year (or for such shorter period during which Executive has been employed by the
Company) preceding the Termination Date multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days in the current fiscal year of the Company that have expired before the
Termination Date and the denominator of which is 365.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.
“Good Reason” means a determination by Executive made in good faith that, upon or after the
occurrence of a Change in Control, any of the following events has occurred without
Executive’s express written consent: (a) a significant reduction in the nature or scope of
the title, authority or responsibilities of Executive from those held by Executive
immediately prior to the Change in Control; (b) a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary from
the amount in effect on the date of the Change in Control; (c) a reduction in Executive’s
Annual Incentive Compensation from the amount of Executive’s Annual Incentive Compensation
for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs, unless
such reduction results solely from the Company’s results of operations; (d) the failure by
the Company to offer to Executive an economic value of benefits reasonably comparable to the
economic value of benefits under the Benefit Plans in which Executive participates at the
time of the Change in Control; (e) the purported Termination of the Executive’s Employment
which is not effected pursuant to Sections 1(d) and 5 of this Agreement, which purported
Termination of Employment shall not be effective for purposes of this Agreement; or (f) the
failure by the Company to comply
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with and satisfy Section 3 of this Agreement, relating to the assumption of the Agreement by
any successor entity.
“Gross-Up Payment” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2(a).
“Incentive Compensation” shall mean any cash incentive compensation for a fiscal year
as the Board of Directors determines to pay to Executive based on the Compensation
Committee’s recommendation
“Lump-Sum Payment” means the lump-sum payment that may be payable to Executive pursuant to
the first sentence of Subsection 1(b).
“Notice of Termination for Good Reason” means a written notice delivered by Executive in
good faith to the Company under Subsection 1(a)(ii) setting forth in reasonable detail the
facts and circumstances that have occurred and that Executive claims in good faith to be an
event constituting Good Reason.
“Omnibus Plan” means the RPM International Inc. 2004 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan.
“Protected Period” means that period of time commencing on the date of a Change in Control
and ending two years after such date.
“Release and Waiver of Claims” means a written release and waiver by Executive, to the
fullest extent allowable under applicable law and in form reasonably acceptable to the
Company, of all claims, demands, suits, actions, causes of action, damages and rights
against the Company and its Affiliates whatsoever which he may have had on account of his
Termination of Employment, including, without limitation, claims of discrimination,
including on the basis of sex, race, age, national origin, religion, or handicapped status,
and any and all claims, demands and causes of action for severance or other termination pay.
Such Release and Waiver of Claims shall not, however, apply to the obligations of the
Company arising under this Agreement, any indemnification agreement between Executive and
the Company, any retirement plans, any stock option agreements, COBRA Continuation Coverage
or rights of indemnification Executive may have under the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws (or comparable charter document) or by statute.
“Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (a) more than 50 percent of
whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of
directors or other managing authority) are, or (b) which does not have outstanding shares or
securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture or unincorporated
association), but more than 50 percent of whose ownership interest representing the right
generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by the Company.
“Termination of Employment” means the separation from service within the meaning of Section
409A of the Code, of Executive with the Company and all of its Affiliates, for any reason,
including without limitation, quit, discharge, or retirement, or a leave of
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absence (including military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence such as
temporary employment by the government if the period of such leave exceeds the greater of
six months, or the period for which Executive’s right to reemployment is provided either by
statute or by contract) or permanent decrease in service to a level that is no more than
Twenty Percent (20%) of its prior level. For this purpose, whether a Termination of
Employment has occurred is determined based on whether it is reasonably anticipated that no
further services will be performed by Executive after a certain date or that the level of
bona fide services Executive will perform after such date (whether as an employee or as an
independent contractor) would permanently decrease to no more than Twenty Percent (20%) of
the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent
contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services
if Executive has been providing services less than 36 months). The terms “Terminate” or
“Terminated,” when used in reference to Executive’s employment or the Employment Period,
shall refer to a Termination of Employment as set forth in this paragraph.
“Termination Date” means the effective date of Executive’s Termination of Employment.
“Unpaid Incentive Compensation” means an amount equal to the amount of any Incentive
Compensation payable but not yet paid for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which
the Termination Date occurs. If the Compensation Committee has determined such amount prior
to the Termination Date, then such amount shall be the amount so determined by the
Compensation Committee. If the Compensation Committee has not determined such amount prior
to the Termination Date, then such amount shall equal the amount of the Annual Incentive
Compensation for the most recent fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which the
Termination Date occurs for which Incentive Compensation has been paid. For purposes of
this definition, any Incentive Compensation deferred by Executive pursuant to any qualified
or non-qualified compensation reduction arrangement maintained by the Company, including,
without limitation, the Deferred Compensation Plan, shall be deemed to have been paid on the
date of deferral.
“Voting Power” means, at any time, the total votes relating to the then-outstanding
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors.
“Voting Stock” means, at any time, the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of Directors.
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