THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
"Agreement") between Graphic Packaging International Corporation, a Colorado
corporation (the "Company"), each of the Affiliated Companies (as defined in
Section 2(b)(iv)) and the Executive listed on the signature page who has signed
the Agreement and agreed to be bound by its terms (the "Executive"), dated as of
March 25, 2003.
The Executive is currently employed by the Company and has executed a
Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated January 10, 2003 (the
"Prior Agreement"). The Company and Champion Holding, Inc. ("Champion") have
entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the
"Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions
of which, the Company will merge with and into Champion (the "Merger").
The Company and the Executive desire to amend the Prior Agreement, to
become effective upon the consummation of the Merger as provided herein.
The parties agree as follows:
1. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the
Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ
of the Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the
period commencing on the consummation of the Merger (the "Effective Date") and
ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period").
2. Terms of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, the Executive's position
(including status, offices, and titles), authority, duties and responsibilities
shall be as set forth in Schedule A hereto.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of
vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees
to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the
business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge
the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period, Executive may (A)
serve on boards or committees of other organizations, (B) teach and (C) manage
personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere
with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the
Company in accordance with this Agreement. To the extent that any such
activities have been conducted by the Executive and by other executives of the
Company prior to the Effective Date and are listed on Schedule A, the continued
conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and
scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed
to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the
Company.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
receive the Base Salary as set forth in Schedule A hereto ("Base Salary"). The
Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed no more than twelve months after the
last salary increase awarded to the Executive prior to the Effective Date and
thereafter at least annually. Any increase in Base Salary shall not serve to
limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Base
Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Base Salary as
utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased.
(ii) Annual Bonus. The Executive shall participate in the Company's
short-term incentive compensation plan or plans for its executive officers
existing from time to time, at a level commensurate with other similarly
situated executives of the Company (any such incentive bonus hereinafter
referred to as the "Annual Bonus").
(iii) Other Incentive Plans. Except as provided in the preceding
Section 2(b)(ii) ("Annual Bonus"), during the Employment Period the Executive's
participation in any incentive plans, programs or arrangements shall be
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Champion Board of Directors from
time to time, provided that Executive shall be entitled to participate in any
such plan, program or arrangement to the extent such plan, program or
arrangement commences after the third anniversary of the Effective Date at a
level commensurate with other similarly situated executives of the Company.
(iv) Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all savings and retirement
plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other similarly
situated executives of the Company and any company controlled by, controlling,
or under common control with the Company ("Affiliated Companies").
(v) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the
Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible
for participation in
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and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies
and programs provided by the Company and its Affiliated Companies (including,
without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life,
group life, accidental death and dismemberment and travel accident insurance
plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other similarly
situated executives of the Company and its Affiliated Companies.
(vi) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by
the Executive in accordance with the generally applicable policies, practices
and procedures of the Company and its Affiliated Companies as in effect
generally from time to time after the Effective Date with respect to other
similarly situated executives of the Company and its Affiliated Companies.
(vii) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to fringe benefits ("Fringe Benefits") including, without
limitation, tax and financial planning services, payment of club dues and, if
applicable, use of an automobile and payment of related expenses, (or, in lieu
thereof, cash payments paid as a perquisite allowance) no less favorable than
those provided to the Executive as of the date hereof, and which are set forth
on Schedule A.
(viii) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with
furnishings and other appointments, and to secretarial and other assistance, in
the same manner as other similarly situated executives of the Company and its
Affiliated Companies.
(ix) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to the same number of weeks of paid annual vacation as currently
provided and as set forth in Schedule A.
3. Termination of Employment.
(a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall
terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period.
If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has
occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability
set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with
Section 13(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's
employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the
Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the thirty
days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time
performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement
"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties
with the
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Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive days as a result of incapacity
due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent
by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the
Executive or the Executive's legal representative. Nothing in this Section 3(a)
shall affect the Company's ability to reduce Executive's salary to the extent
such reductions are offset by disability insurance payments to Executive.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause"
shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to
perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of
its Affiliated Companies (other than, any such failure resulting from
incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand
for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or the Chairman of the Board
or Chief Executive Officer of the Company which specifically identifies
the manner in which the Board or Chief Executive Officer believes that
the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive's duties,
or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal
conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably
injurious to the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part
of the Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to
be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any
act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly
adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or
the senior officer of the Company directly or indirectly to whom the Executive
reports or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be
conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in
good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment
of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there
shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted
by the affirmative vote of not less than three quarters of the entire membership
of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an
opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that,
in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct
described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars
thereof in detail.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by
the Executive during the Employment Period for Good Reason. For purposes of this
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Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean a termination of employment by Executive
within 90 days following the occurrence of any of the following events without
Executive's consent:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of title,
responsibilities or duties that result in a material diminution of the
title, responsibilities and duties provided for in Section 2(a);
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated,
insubstantial and, inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and
which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
thereof given by the Executive;
(iii) any purported termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
Agreement;
(iv) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
Sections 7(e) and 8 of this Agreement; or
(v) a mandatory relocation, other than in connection with
a promotion, of the Executive's principal business office to a location
more than thirty-five miles from the location of such office as of the
Effective Date.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for
Cause, not for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated
by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with
Section 13(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of
Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets
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 and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than
the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date
shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure
by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any
fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause
shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively,
hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting
such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights
hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or
any later date specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by the
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Company for any reason other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of
such termination and (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason
of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of
the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
(a) Good Reason; Other Than for Cause. If, during the Employment
Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for
Cause or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum
in cash within thirty days after the Date of Termination the aggregate
of the following amounts:
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Base Salary
through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore
paid, (2) the greater of (A) an amount equal to the
Executive's highest bonus (including any bonus deferred by the
Executive) under the Company's bonus plan, or any comparable
bonus under any predecessor or successor plan, for the last
three full fiscal years prior to the Effective Date
(annualized in the event that Executive was not employed by
the Company for the whole of such fiscal year) and (B) the
Annual Bonus paid or payable (including any bonus or portion
thereof which has been earned but deferred), in each case pro
rated through the Date of Termination to the extent not
theretofore paid, (3) any accrued and unpaid Fringe Benefits,
and (4) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive
(together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and
any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not
theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses
(1), (2), (3) and (4) shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Accrued Obligations");
B. the amount equal to the product of (1) three
and (2) the Executive's highest Base Salary during any of the
three years preceding the Date of Termination; plus an amount
equal to the Executive's highest Base Salary during any of the
three years preceding the Date of Termination multiplied by
the highest percentage payout of the Executive's bonus under
the Short Term Incentive Program (or any successor short term
bonus plan or program) in comparison to salary (annualized in
the event that Executive was not employed by the Company for
the whole of such applicable period) paid and/or accrued in
any of the three years preceding the Date of Termination; plus
the highest one-year
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cash equivalent amount of Fringe Benefits paid to the
Executive in any of the three calendar years preceding the
Date of Termination. This amount will be reduced by the
amounts paid, if any, to the Executive under the Company's
Severance Pay Plan (or any successor severance pay plan) as a
result of such termination; provided, however, that if the
Executive's benefits under the Company's Severance Pay Plan
(or any successor severance pay plan) exceed the amounts
payable under this Section, the Executive shall be entitled to
such benefits and shall not be entitled to the payments
provided for under this Section 4(a)(i)(B); and
C. payment of benefits under any Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") in which the Executive
participates in effect as of the Date of Termination in
accordance with the provisions of the SERP. The SERP benefit
shall be a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the benefit
payable under the SERP adjusted by crediting the Executive
with additional years of credited service for benefit accrual
and vesting, and additional years of age, in each case equal
to five years less the period from the Effective Date through
the Date of Termination in which the Executive participates in
any SERP. The amount of any such benefit shall be calculated
as of the Date of Termination in accordance with the terms of
the SERP, and the payment of such benefit shall be in lieu of
any other payment under the SERP;
(ii) for three years after the Executive's Date of
Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of
the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall
continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at
least equal to those which would have been provided to them in
accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described
in Section 2(b)(v) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had
not been terminated; provided, however, that if the Executive becomes
reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or
other welfare benefits under another employer-provided plan, the
medical benefits provided by the Company shall no longer be available
to the Executive and the other welfare benefits described herein shall
become secondary to those provided under such other plan during such
applicable period of eligibility;
(iii) for twelve months following the Date of Termination,
if the Company has terminated this Agreement for other than Cause, the
Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred to an aggregate of
$15,000, provide the Executive with outplacement services the scope and
provider of which shall be selected by the Executive in his sole
discretion;
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(iv) to the extent not therefore paid or provided, the
Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts
or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is
eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or
contract or agreement of the Company and its Affiliated Companies (such
other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as "Other
Benefits"); provided, however, Other Benefits shall exclude any
benefits under the Company's Severance Pay Plan.
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason
of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives
under this Agreement other than for payment of Accrued Obligations, and the
timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid
to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of
Other Benefits, the term "Other Benefits" as utilized in this Section 4(b) shall
include, without limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries
shall be entitled to receive, benefits on the same basis as those provided by
the Company and Affiliated Companies to the estates and beneficiaries of
similarly situated executives.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive or the
Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement other than for payment of
Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits.
Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within
30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term "Other Benefits" as utilized in this Section 4(c) shall
include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date
to receive, disability benefits on the same basis as those provided by the
Company and Affiliated Companies to similarly situated executives.
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive's
employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period or the
Executive shall terminate employment other than for Good Reason, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the
obligation to pay to the Executive (x) his Annual Base Salary through the Date
of Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, but only to the extent earned,
nonforfeitable, currently payable and unpaid, as of the Date of Termination. If
the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during the Employment Period,
excluding a termination for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without
obligations to the Executive other than the timely payment or provision of Other
Benefits.
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5. Nonexclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan,
program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its Affiliated
Companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section
13(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the
Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of
its Affiliated Companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the
Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or
program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its
Affiliated Companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be
payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or
agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.
6. Full Settlement. Subject to Section 12, the Company's
obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the
Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the
Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way
of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the
provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or
not the Executive obtains other employment.
7. Long Term Incentive Plans and Restricted Stock Grants.
(a) Upon the Effective Date, to the extent that they have not been
previously paid to the Executive or have not expired, the Company shall pay all
Cash Target amounts under its Long-term Incentive Plan 2000-2004 and Long-term
Incentive Plan 2003-2005 regardless of whether applicable debt ratios have been
achieved.
(b) Upon the Effective Date, any outstanding options previously
granted to the Executive pursuant to the Company's Equity Incentive Plan or
Long-term Incentive Plan 2000-2004 shall vest immediately, and options shall
become immediately exercisable in full, and the period of exercise of any
options shall be ten (10) years from the original date of grant. Within 30 days
after the Merger, the Executive shall have the right to either (i) convert
vested options to vested options to acquire the substituted, converted or new
shares of the Surviving Corporation (as such term is defined in the Merger
Agreement), exercisable for a period of ten years following the Effective Date;
or (ii) receive payment in cash (net of applicable withholding taxes) of the
amount of the spread between the then fair market value of the relevant shares
subject to option and the exercise price under the option measured as of the
Effective Date.
(c) Upon the Effective Date, the shares of restricted stock of the
Company granted to the Executive in December 2002 and as set forth on Schedule A
shall be converted into restricted stock units representing the right to receive
shares of the
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"Surviving Corporation" on the same basis as the "Exchange Ratio" (as those
terms are defined in the Merger Agreement) (the "Restricted Units"). The
Restricted Units shall be issued pursuant to a plan consistent with the terms of
this Agreement and shall vest 33 1/3% on each of the first three anniversaries
of the Effective Date, provided, however, that the Restricted Units shall become
fully vested upon the first to occur of (i) the Company's termination of the
Executive without Cause, due to death or Disability, due to retirement, or if
the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, or (ii) the occurrence of a
Change of Control (as defined below). Shares underlying vested Restricted Units
shall be delivered on the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the Effective
Date and (ii) the occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (i) or
(ii) in the preceding sentence.
(d) For the purposes of Section 7(c) a "Change of Control" shall
be deemed to have occurred if:
(i) any person (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")),
including any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b) under the
Exchange Act)), acquires "beneficial ownership" (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of Newco representing 50% or more of the combined Voting
Power (as defined below) of Newco's securities;
(ii) within any 24-month period, the persons who were
directors of Newco at the beginning of such period (the "Incumbent
Directors") shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board
of Directors of Newco or the board of directors of any successor to
Newco provided, however, that any director elected to the Board of
Directors of Newco, or nominated for election, by a majority of the
Incumbent Directors then still in office shall be deemed to be an
Incumbent Director;
(iii) consummation of a merger, consolidation, share
exchange, division, sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of Newco (a "Corporate Event"), and immediately
following the consummation of which the stockholders of Newco
immediately prior to such Corporate Event do not hold, directly or
indirectly, a majority of the Voting Power of (x) in the case of a
merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation or (y)
in the case of a share exchange, the acquiring corporation; or
(iv) any other event occurs which the Board of Directors
of Newco declares to be a Change of Control.
For the avoidance of doubt, entering into the Merger Agreement or the
Voting Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or the consummation of the
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transactions contemplated by either of those agreements shall not constitute a
Change of Control for the purposes of this Section 7(d). For the purposes of
this Section 7(d), a specified percentage of "Voting Power" shall mean such
number of all the securities of a company entitling the holders thereof to vote
in an annual election of directors as shall enable the holders thereof to cast
such percentage of all the votes which could be cast in an annual election of
directors.
(e) All amounts provided for under this Section 7 included in the
calculation subject to the excise tax described in Paragraph 8 shall be subject
to the provisions of Paragraph 8.
8. Certain Additional Payments by the Company
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in
the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company
to or for the benefit of Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement but determined without
regard to any additional payments required under Section 7(e) and/or 8 (a
"Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or any comparable
federal, state or local excise tax (such excise tax, together with any interest
and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"),
then Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up
Payment") in such an amount that after the payment of all taxes (including,
without limitation, any interest and penalties on such taxes and the Excise Tax)
on the Payment and on the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall retain an amount
equal to the Payment minus all applicable taxes on the Payment, provided,
however, that Executive will be entitled to receive a Gross-Up Payment only if
the amount of the parachute payments as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the
Code exceeds $50,000 plus 2.99 times the Executive's Base Amount as defined in
Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code, and provided further, that if Executive is not
entitled to receive a Gross-Up Payment, the Executive will receive only an
amount of the parachute payments that would not include any excess parachute
payments as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code. The intent of the parties
is that the Company shall be solely responsible for, and shall pay, any Excise
Tax on any Payment and Gross-Up Payment and any income and employment taxes
(including, without limitation, penalties and interest) imposed on any Gross-Up
Payment, as well as any loss of tax deduction caused by the Gross-Up Payment.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section,
including, without limitation, whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required
and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in
arriving at such determinations, shall be made by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or
any other nationally recognized accounting firm which is the Company's outside
auditor at the time of such determinations, which firm must be reasonably
acceptable to Executive (the "Accounting
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Firm"). The Company shall cause the Accounting Firm to provide detailed
supporting calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15)
business days after notice is given by Executive to the Company that there has
been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. Within two
(2) business days after said notice is given to the Company, the Company shall
instruct the Accounting Firm to timely provide the data required by this Section
8 to Executive. All fees and expenses of the Accounting firm shall be borne
solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment as determined pursuant to this
Section 8, shall be paid by the Company to the Internal Revenue Service and/or
other appropriate taxing authority on Executive's behalf within five (5) days
after receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. If the Accounting Firm
determines that there is substantial authority (within the meaning of Section
6662 of the Code) that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, the Accounting
Firm shall furnish Executive with a written opinion that failure to disclose or
report the Excise Tax on Executive's federal income tax return will not
constitute a substantial understatement of tax or be reasonably likely to result
in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. Any determination by the
Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive in the absence
of material mathematical or legal error. 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 Payment will not
have been made by the Company that should have been made ("Underpayment") or
that Gross-Up Payment have been made that should not have been made
("Overpayment"), in each case, consistent with the calculations required to be
made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to
Section 8 below and Executive hereafter is required to make a payment of any
Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of Underpayment that
has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to
the Internal Revenue Service or other appropriate taxing authority on
Executive's behalf or, if such Underpayment has been previously paid by
Executive, to Executive. In the event that the Accounting Firm determines that
an Overpayment has been made, any such Overpayment shall be treated for all
purposes as a loan to Executive with interest at applicable federal rate
provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code, due and payable within ninety
(90) days after written demand to Executive by the Company; provided, however
that Executive shall have no duty or obligation whatsoever to repay said loan
unless Executive's receipt of the Overpayment, or any portion thereof, is
includible in Executive's income and Executive's repayment of same is not
deductible by Executive for federal and state income tax purposes.
(c) Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by
the Internal Revenue Service or state or local taxing authority, that, if
successful, would result in any Excise Tax or an Underpayment ("Claim"). Such
notice shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than fifteen (15)
business days after Executive is informed in writing of the Claim and shall
reprise the Company of the nature of the Claim, the administrative or judicial
appeal period, and the date on which any payment of the claim must be paid.
Executive shall not pay any portion of the claim prior to the expiration of
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the thirty (30) day period following the date on which he gives such notice to
the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any amount under the
Claim is due). If the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such thirty (30) day period that it desires to contest the Claim,
Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested
by the Company relating to the Claim;
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting the
Claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to
time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation
concerning the Claim by an attorney selected by the Company who is
reasonably acceptable to Executive; and
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to
effectively contest the Claim; provided, however, that the Company
shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including, without
limitation, additional interest, and penalties and attorneys' fees)
incurred in such contests and shall indemnify and hold Executive
harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax
(including, without limitation interest and penalties thereon) imposed
as a result of such representation. Without limitation upon the
foregoing provisions of the Section 8(b), except as provided below, the
Company shall control all proceedings concerning such contest and, at
its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative
appeal, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority
pertaining to the Claim. At the written request of the Company and upon
payment to Executive of an amount at least equal to the Claim plus any
additional amount necessary to obtain the jurisdiction of the
appropriate tribunal and/or court ("Additional Sum") Executive shall
pay same and xxx for a refund. Executive agrees to prosecute any
contest of a Claim 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 requests Executive to pay the Claim and xxx for
interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless on
an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including,
without limitation, interest and penalties thereon) imposed on such
advance or for any imputed income on such advance. Any extension of the
statute of limitations relating to assessment of any Excise Tax for the
taxable year of Executive which is the subject of the Claim is to be
limited solely to the Claim. Furthermore, the Company's control of the
contest shall be limited to issues for which a Gross-Up Payment would
be payable hereunder. 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 Executive of an amount advanced by
the Company pursuant to Section 8(c) above, Executive receives any refund of a
Claim and/or any
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Additional Sum, Executive shall 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 Executive of an amount advanced by
the Company pursuant to Section 8(c) above, a determination is made that
Executive shall not be entitled to any refund of the Claim and the Company does
not notify Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund
of a Claim prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such determination,
then the portion of such advance attributable to a Claim shall be forgiven and
shall not be required to be repaid. The amount of such advance attributable to a
Claim shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of the Underpayment
required to be paid by the Company to Executive.
(e) If, after the advance of an Additional Sum by the Company,
there is a "Final Determination" (as defined below) made by the taxing authority
that Executive is not entitled to any refund of such Additional Sum, or any
portion thereof, then such nonrefundable amount shall be repaid to the Company
by Executive within thirty (30) days after Executive receives notice of such
Final Determination. A "Final Determination" shall occur when the period to
contest or otherwise appeal any decision by an administrative tribunal or court
of initial jurisdiction has been waived or the tie for contesting or appealing
same has expired.
9. Confidential Information, Non-competition.
(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the
benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data
relating to the Company or any of its Affiliated Companies, and their respective
businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the
Executive's employment by the Company or any of its Affiliated Companies and
which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the
Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement).
After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise
be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such
information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those
designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of
this Section 9 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts
otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
(b) Executive agrees that during the period that he is an employee
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, pursuant to this Agreement and for
two years after any Date of Termination occurring on or prior to the final day
of the Employment Period, he will not without the consent of the Company (i)
Participate In (as defined below) any business or organization in the printing
and packaging business (a "Competitor") in a capacity that directly assists such
Competitor in competing with the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any
company in which the Company owns at least 10% of the equity
14
interests (an "Affiliate"), in a material respect in the printing and packaging
business in the respective specific geographic areas where the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or Affiliates conducted such businesses at the time Executive
ceased to be an employee hereunder, (ii) own a controlling interest in a
business or organization that competes in a material respect in the printing and
packaging business in the respective specific geographic areas where the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates conducted such businesses at the time
Executive ceased to be an employee hereunder, or (iii) solicit or interfere
with, or endeavor to entice away from the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
Affiliates any of their respective suppliers, customers or employees. The
employment by Executive or a business that Executive Participates In of a person
employed or formerly employed by the Company shall not be prohibited by the
foregoing provision if such person sought out employment on his own initiative
without initial encouragement by Executive. For purposes of this Section 9(b),
the term "Participate In" shall mean: "directly or indirectly, for his own
benefit or for, with or through any other person, firm or corporation, own,
manage, operate, lend money to or participate in the ownership, management,
operation or control of, or be connected as a director, officer, employee,
partner, consultant, agent, independent contractor or otherwise with, or
acquiesce in the use of his name in." Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive
shall not be deemed to Participate In a business merely because he owns not more
than 5% of the outstanding common stock of a corporation, if, at the time of its
acquisition by Executive, such stock is listed on a national securities
exchange, is reported on Nasdaq or is regularly traded in the over-the-counter
market by a member of a national securities exchange.
(c) Executive agrees that the provisions of Section 9 are
necessary and reasonable to protect the Company in the conduct of its business.
If any restriction contained in this Section 9 shall be deemed to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable by reason of the extent, duration or geographical scope
hereof, or otherwise, then the court making such determination shall have the
right to reduce such extent, duration, geographical scope or other provisions
hereof, and in its reduced form such restriction shall then be enforceable in
the manner contemplated hereby.
10. Successors.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the
prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding on
the Company and its successors and assigns. The Company will 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
Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the
15
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore
defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which
assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
11. Arbitration. Any claim or controversy arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be resolved by
arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association and shall be conducted in Denver, Colorado. Judgment
upon the award rendered by the arbitrator shall be final, binding and
non-appealable, and may be entered as a judgment by any court having
jurisdiction of the parties. The expenses of any such arbitration proceeding
shall be borne by the Company, and the Company agrees to pay, to the full extent
permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably
incur as a result of any contest by the Company, the Executive or others of the
validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this
Agreement.
12. Waiver and Release of Claims. As a condition to the receipt of
payments and other benefits provided under Sections 4 and 7, Executive shall
sign the Waiver and Release attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference
as Exhibit A after termination from employment during the Employment Period and
prior to receipt of any of the payments and benefits provided in Sections 4 and
7 (other than the Accrued Obligations described in Section 4(a)(i)(A)). Failure
or refusal by the Executive to sign the Waiver and Release shall release the
Company from any obligation to make payment or provide benefits described in
Sections 4 and 7 (other than the Accrued Obligations described in Section
4(a)(i)(A)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive does not, and will
not, by signing the Waiver and Release, release or waive his/her right, if any,
to indemnification pursuant to the Company's articles of incorporation,
certificate of incorporation, bylaws, or director's and officer's liability
insurance coverage.
13. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not
be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
16
If to the Executive, then to the address set forth opposite
the Executive's signature on the signature page.
If to the Company:
Graphic Packaging International Corporation
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chairman of the Board
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the
other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications
shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be
withheld pursuant to an applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any
right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason
pursuant to Section 3(c)(i)-(iv) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a
waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this
Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may
otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive
and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and
the Executive's employment and/or this Agreement may be terminated by either the
Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case
the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement. From and after
the Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement,
statement or understanding between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof, except to the extent provided herein.
14. Amended and Restated Agreement. This Agreement restates and
amends the Prior Agreement between the Company and the Executive. As of the
Effective Date of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement, including all
modifications and amendments thereto, whether in writing or otherwise, is
amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement.
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[FOLLOWING PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE]
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors and the
Compensation Committee, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in
its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION
By: ___________________________
Name:
Title:
Address of Executive: EXECUTIVE:
________________________________ ___________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
________________________________
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