SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
THIS
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”) is entered into as of the 11th day of
March, 2019 (the “Effective Date”) by and between
ATRION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”) and XXXXX X. XXXXXX (the
“Executive”).
W I T N
E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Executive is currently employed as the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company; and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Executive are parties to an Amended and
Restated Change in Control Agreement dated as of the 3rd day of
September, 2014 (the “Current Agreement”) providing for
certain benefits to the Executive in the event the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated in
connection with a change in control of the Company;
and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Executive desire to amend and restate the
Current Agreement as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual provisions
contained herein, and for other good and valuable considerations,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
Term of Agreement.
(a)
The term of this
Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall terminate
on the second anniversary of the Effective Date, provided, however,
that commencing on the day after the Effective Date and continuing
on each day thereafter (each such day being hereinafter referred to
as a “Renewal Date”), the term of this Agreement shall
be automatically extended so as to terminate on the second
anniversary of such Renewal Date unless the Company shall give
written notice to the Executive that the term of this Agreement
shall not be so extended as of a specified Renewal Date, in which
event this Agreement shall automatically terminate on the second
anniversary of such specified Renewal Date.
(b)
Notwithstanding
subsection (a) hereof, this Agreement shall continue in effect (i)
until the date two years beyond the initial or any extended date of
termination in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in
Exhibit A hereto) prior to such date of termination, and (ii)
thereafter until the date that all obligations of the Company
hereunder have been paid in full.
2. Termination of
Employment.
(a)
As set forth in
detail in this Section 2, if the Executive’s employment by
the Company is terminated in contemplation of or within two years
following a Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Section 3 of this Agreement unless
such termination is as a result of (i) the Executive’s death,
(ii) the Executive’s Disability (as defined below), (iii)
termination of the Executive for Just Cause (as defined below), or
(iv) termination of employment by the Executive other than for Good
Reason (as defined below).
(b)
The Executive shall
be considered to be subject to a "Disability" if, as a result of
physical or mental sickness or incapacity or accident, the
Executive is unable to perform the normal duties of his employment
with the Company for a period of ninety (90) days in any one
hundred twenty (120) day period. If there is any disagreement
between the Company and the Executive as to whether the Executive
was unable to perform the normal duties of his employment due to
Disability, the same shall be determined after examination of the
Executive by a physician selected by the Executive (or, if the
Executive is unable to make such selection, it shall be made by the
Executive's spouse or, if the Executive is not married or if his
spouse is unable or unwilling to make the selection, by any other
adult member of the Executive's immediate family) and approved by
the Company. The costs and expenses of such examination shall be
borne by the Company. The determination of such physician shall be
conclusive evidence as to whether the Executive was unable to
perform the normal duties of his employment due to Disability. If
the Executive does not permit such examination by such physician,
then, for purposes hereof, the determination as to whether the
Executive was unable to perform the normal duties of his employment
due to Disability shall be made by the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”). Nothing herein shall have any
effect upon the Executive's eligibility to receive any disability
benefits from the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of
any disability plan or other arrangement which the Company may have
in effect from time to time.
(c)
In the event the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the
Company, whether or not in contemplation of or within two years
following a Change in Control, (i) for Just Cause, (ii) by the
Executive for other than Good Reason (as defined below), or (iii)
due to the Executive’s death of Disability, then the
Executive shall not be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 3 below or other compensation or benefits hereunder. The
term “Just Cause” shall mean (A) the Executive's
continuing willful failure to perform his material duties and
obligations as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
(except by reason of his death or incapacity due to his Disability)
after written notice thereof by the Company to the Executive, and
the Executive's failure or refusal to perform such duties and
obligations within thirty (30) days after the receipt of such
notice by the Executive or (B) the conviction of, or the entering
of a plea of nolo contendere by, the Executive with respect to a
felony (other than as a result of a traffic violation or as a
result of vicarious liability), provided that on or after a Change
in Control, Just Cause shall be limited to only clause (B) above.
For purposes of this Section 2(c), no act, or failure to act, on
Executive's part shall be considered "willful" unless done, or
omitted to be done, by him not in good faith and without reasonable
belief that his action or omission was in the best interests of the
Company. The Company must assert a Just Cause termination event no
later than ninety (90) days after discovery of such
event.
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(d)
In the event the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated in
contemplation of or within two years following a Change in Control
(i) by the Company without Just Cause or (ii) by the Executive for
Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation
and other benefits provided in Section 3 below. The term
“Good Reason” shall mean any one or more of the
following: (A) without the Executive's express written consent, any
diminution in the Executive's titles, authorities, responsibilities
or the assignment of the Executive to any duties inconsistent with
his position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company
as its President and Chief Executive Officer or the removal by the
Board, or the failure or refusal of the Board to re-elect, the
Executive as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company at any time during the term of this Agreement; (B) the
Company's breach of any provision of this Agreement or any other
breach by the Company of any provision of any agreement between the
Company and the Executive and failure, within the ten (10) day
period following its receipt of written notice from the Executive
describing such breach in reasonable detail, to promptly commence
in good faith to cure such breach (if curable); provided that such
cure must be effected no later than thirty (30) days following such
notice and provided further that such cure right shall not be
available on more than one occasion in any twelve (12) month
period; (C) failure of the Company to obtain the assumption in
writing (a copy of which is delivered to the Executive) of the
Company's obligations hereunder to the Executive by any successor
to the Company prior to or at the time of a merger, acquisition,
consolidation, disposition of substantially all of the assets of
the Company or similar transaction. For purposes of clause (A)
above, a "diminution in the Executive's titles, authorities or
responsibilities" shall be deemed to have occurred if the Company
is no longer required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
The
Executive must assert a "Good Reason" termination event no later
than ninety (90) days after the Executive discovers such
event.
(e)
Any termination of
the Executive’s employment by the Company as set forth in
Section 2(c)(i) or 2(d)(i) or by the Executive as set forth in
Section 2(c)(ii) or 2(d)(ii) shall be communicated to the other
party by a Notice of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a
“Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice
which shall state the specific termination provision in this
Agreement pursuant to which such termination allegedly falls and
which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
which form the basis for such termination.
3.
Termination
Payment.
(a) In
the event the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant
to Section 2(d), the Executive shall be entitled to receive the
following payments from the Company, such payments to be made as
soon as practicable following the termination date but in any event
within ten (10) days after the date the Executive's employment
terminates:
the
Executive’s base salary and annual bonus for the calendar
year in which the date of termination falls, in each case prorated
for the number of days of the calendar year that elapsed prior to
the date of termination, accrued vacation pay and unreimbursed
business expenses,; and
two
times the sum of (A) the Executive’s base salary for the
twelve (12) months immediately preceding the month in which the
Executive’s employment is terminated and (B) the sum of the
(i) average of the annual bonuses paid, or that would have been
paid had the Executive’s employment with the Company not been
terminated, to the Executive under the Atrion Corporation
Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for the three calendar years
prior to the calendar year in which such termination occurs and
(ii) average of the annual bonuses received by the Executive under
any other bonus or incentive plan of the Company for the three
calendar years prior to the calendar year in which such termination
occurs.
(b) In
addition to the payments provided for in Section 3(a), in the event
the Executive’s employment is terminated as set forth in
Section 2(d), (i) all stock options and/or equity granted to the
Executive shall fully vest and become exercisable on the
termination date; (ii) the Company shall pay one-hundred percent
(100%) of the premiums for twelve (12) months of continuation
coverage for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 for the Executive and his eligible
dependents; (iii) any amounts or benefits due to the Executive
pursuant to the Company’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Plan (the “NQDC Plan”) shall be paid to the Executive
in accordance with the terms of the NQDC Plan; and (iv) the Company
shall direct that payment be made to the Executive of amounts due
to him pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, the
Company’s Section 401(k) Savings Plan.
4. Withholding. The Company shall
be entitled to withhold from amounts to be paid to the Executive
hereunder any federal, state, or local withholding or other taxes
or charges which it is from time to time required to withhold;
provided, that the amount so withheld shall not exceed the minimum
amount required to be withheld by law in light of the
circumstances. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion
of tax counsel if any question as to the amount or requirement of
any such withholding shall arise.
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5. Notices. All notices provided
for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (a)
personally delivered to the party thereunto entitled or (b)
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
the party to be notified at the address listed below (or at such
other address as may have been designated by written notice),
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. The notice
shall be deemed to be received (a) if by personal delivery, on the
date of its actual receipt by the party entitled thereto or (b) if
by mail, two (2) days following the date of deposit in the United
States mail.
To
the Company:
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Atrion
Corporation
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Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx, Xxxxx
00000
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Attention: Chief
Financial Officer
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To
Executive:
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Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
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To
the most recent address
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on file with the
Company.
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6. Parties Bound. This Agreement
and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive, and their
respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns;
provided, however, that Executive may not assign any rights or
obligations hereunder without the express written consent of
Company. This Agreement shall also bind and inure to the benefit of
any successor of the Company by merger or consolidation, or any
assignee of all or substantially all of the Company's
properties.
7. Invalid Provisions. If any
provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the
term hereof, such provision shall be fully severable; this
Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal,
invalid, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part
hereof; and the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full
force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid,
or unenforceable provision or by its severance
herefrom.
8. No Mitigation; No
Set-Off.
(a) In the event of any
termination of employment hereunder, the Executive shall be under
no obligation to seek other employment and there shall be no offset
against any amounts due the Executive under this Agreement on
account of any remuneration attributable to any subsequent
employment that the Executive may obtain.
(b) Any amounts or
benefits payable to the Executive under this Agreement are in
addition to, and are not in lieu of, amounts payable to the
Executive under any other salary continuation or cash severance
arrangement of the Company or any other type of agreement entered
into between the parties, and to the extent paid or provided under
any other such arrangement or agreement shall not be offset from
the amounts or benefits due hereunder, except to the extent
expressly provided in such other arrangement or
agreement.
9. Attorneys' Fees And Costs. In
the event that it becomes necessary for the Executive to seek legal
counsel with regard to a dispute, claim or issue under this
Agreement or the Executive deems it necessary to initiate
arbitration in order to enforce his rights hereunder, then the
Company shall bear and, upon notification to the Company by the
Executive, immediately advance to the Executive all expenses of
such dispute, claim, issue or arbitration, including the reasonable
fees and expenses of the counsel of the Executive incurred in
connection with such dispute, claim, issue or arbitration, unless
an arbitrator determines that the Executive's position was
frivolous or otherwise taken in bad faith, in which case an
arbitrator may determine that the Executive shall bear his own
legal fees. Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client
relationship between the Company and the counsel selected by the
Executive, the Company irrevocably consents to the Executive's
entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel,
and in that connection the Company and the Executive agree that a
confidential relationship shall exist between the Executive and
such counsel.
10. Arbitration. All disputes and
controversies arising under or in connection with this Agreement,
shall be settled by arbitration conducted before one (1) arbitrator
sitting in New York, New York, or such other location agreed to by
the parties hereto, in accordance with the National Rules for the
Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect. The determination of the arbitrator
shall be final and binding on the parties. Judgment may be entered
on the award of the arbitrator in any court having proper
jurisdiction. All expenses of such arbitration, including the fees
and expenses of the counsel for the Executive, shall be borne by
the Company unless the arbitrator determines that the Executive's
position was frivolous or otherwise taken in bad faith, in which
case the arbitrator may determine that the Executive shall bear his
own legal fees.
11. Section Headings. The headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
12. Multiple Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which for all
purposes is to be deemed an original, and both of which constitute,
collectively, one agreement; but in making proof of this Agreement,
it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one
such counterpart.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict-of-law
rules.
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14. Section 409A. The intent of the
parties is that this Agreement will be in full compliance with
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), and in the event that any provision of this
Agreement, or any payment of compensation or benefits paid pursuant
to this Agreement, is determined to be inconsistent with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall reform
this Agreement to the extent necessary to comply therewith and to
avoid the imposition of any penalties or taxes pursuant to Section
409A of the Code, provided that any such reformation shall to the
maximum extent possible retain the originally intended economic and
tax benefits to the Executive and the original purpose of this
Agreement without violating Section 409A of the Code or creating
any unintended or adverse consequences to the Executive.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, if the Executive is a “specified employee”
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations
thereunder at the relevant time, then, solely to the extent
required to comply with applicable provisions Section 409A of the
Code with respect to any amounts or benefits not exempt under
Section 409A of the Code, payments provided for herein on account
of the termination of the Executive’s employment shall not
commence until the date that is first day of the seventh month
following the Executive’s “separation from
service” as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the
Code.
15. Entire Agreement. This
Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto, and
supersedes all prior agreements , including the Current Agreement,
and understandings, oral or written, if any, between the parties
hereto, with respect to the subject matter hereof. No modification
or amendment of any of the terms, conditions, or provisions herein
may be made otherwise than by written agreement signed by the
parties hereto.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above
written.
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ATRION CORPORATION |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X
Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx X
Xxxxxx
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Title:
Chairman
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/s/
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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XXXXX X.
XXXXXX
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Exhibit
A
(a) For
purposes of the Agreement, the term “Change in Control”
shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following
events:
(i) any
person (as the term “person” is used in Section 13(d)
(3) or Section 14(d) (2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (other than the Company,
any of its subsidiaries, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities of the Company under an employee benefit plan of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries) becomes the beneficial owner
(as the term “beneficial owner” is defined under Rule
13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of securities of the Company representing 25% or more
of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting
securities of the Company
(ii) the
Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another
corporation or other person and as a result of such merger,
consolidation or reorganization less than 50% of the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation
or person immediately after such transaction are held in the
aggregate by the holders of voting securities of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction;
(iii) the
stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation
of the Company or the Company sells all or substantially all of its
assets to any other corporation or other person and as a result of
such sale less than 50% of the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation or person
immediately after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the
holders of voting securities of the Company immediately prior to
such sale; or
(iv) during
any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the
beginning of any such period, constitute the directors of the
Company cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
thereof unless the election or the nomination for election by the
Company's stockholders of each director of the Company first
elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors of the Company then still in office who
were directors of the Company at the beginning of any such
period.
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