EXHIBIT 10.1
SEVERANCE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
SPAN-AMERICA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND XXXXX X. XXXXXX
This Severance Protection Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into effective the 11th day of February, 2004, by and between Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx, an individual (the "Executive"), and Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.,
a South Carolina corporation (the "Company").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") has determined
that it is essential and in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders to retain the services of the Executive in the event of a threat or
occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company;
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of
the Company in the event of a threat or the occurrence of a Change in Control,
the Company desires to provide the Executive with certain benefits in the event
his or her employment is terminated as a result of, or in connection with, a
Change in Control; and
WHEREAS the Executive is willing to continue his or her employment with
the Company under the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the meanings specified below.
"Accrued Compensation" shall mean an amount which shall include all
amounts earned or accrued through the employment termination date but not paid
as of that date, including, without limitation, (i) base salary, (ii)
reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive on
behalf of the Company during the period ending on the termination date, (iii)
vacation pay, (iv) bonuses and incentive compensation, and (v) all other amounts
to which the Executive is entitled under any compensation plan of the Company at
the times such payments are due. For purposes of any termination pursuant to
Section 3.1.2, Accrued Compensation shall include the amount to which the
Executive would have been entitled under any bonus plan of the Company for the
fiscal year in which a Change in Control occurs, pro rated to reflect the
portion of the year during which Executive was employed by the Company and based
on an average of Executive's bonus payments over the three year period
immediately prior to the termination.
"Cause" shall mean as follows: A termination of employment is for
"Cause" if the Executive has been convicted of a felony or a felony prosecution
has been brought against the Executive or if the termination is evidenced by a
resolution adopted in good faith by two-thirds ((2)/3) of the Board that the
Executive (i) intentionally and continually failed substantially to perform his
reasonably assigned duties with the Company (other than a failure resulting from
the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or because of a
Change in Control) which failure continued for a period of at least thirty (30)
days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been
delivered to the Executive specifying the manner in which the Executive has
failed substantially to perform, or (ii) intentionally engaged in illegal
conduct or gross misconduct which results in material economic harm to the
Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) where the Executive has been terminated for
Cause because a felony
prosecution has been brought against him and no conviction or plea of guilty or
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent results therefrom, then said
termination shall no longer be deemed to have been for Cause and the Executive
shall be entitled to all the benefits provided by Section 3.1.2 or 3.1.3 hereof,
as appropriate, from and after the date on which the prosecution of the
Executive has been dismissed or a judgment of acquittal has been entered,
whichever shall first occur; and (B) no termination of the Executive's
employment shall be for Cause as set forth in clause (ii) above until (x) there
shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a written notice setting
forth that the Executive was guilty of the conduct set forth in clause (ii) and
specifying the particulars thereof in detail, and (y) the Executive shall have
been provided an opportunity to be heard in person by the Board (with the
assistance of the Executive's counsel if the Executive so desires). No act, nor
failure to act, on the Executive's part, shall be considered "intentional"
unless the Executive has acted or failed to act with a lack of good faith and
with a lack of reasonable belief that the Executive's action or failure to act
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 any senior officer of the Company 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. Any termination of the Executive's employment by the Company hereunder
shall be deemed to be a termination other than for Cause unless it meets all
requirements of this definition.
"Change in Control" shall mean:
(i) The acquisition by any Person (other than (A) any employee
plan established by the Company; (B) the Company or any of its
affiliates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange
Act); (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an
offering of such securities; or (D) a corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of the Company), directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company (not including in the securities
beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from
the Company) representing an aggregate of 35% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities.
(ii) During any period of up to two consecutive years,
individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof,
provided that any person who becomes a director subsequent to the
beginning of such period and whose nomination for election is approved
by at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either
were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved (other than a
director (A) whose initial assumption of office is in connection with
an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of
the directors of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of
Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, or (B) who was designated by a
Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a
transaction described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) hereof) shall be
deemed a director as of the beginning of such period;
(iii) The stockholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than (A)
a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of
the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in
combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of any Company, at
least 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the
Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company
(or similar transaction) in
which no Person is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in
clause (i) above), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
(not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any
securities acquired directly from the Company) representing 25% or more
of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting
securities; or (C) a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an
agreement for the sale or disposition of the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets; or
(iv) The occurrence of any other event or circumstance which
is not covered by (i) through (iii) above which the Board determines
affects control of the Company and, in order to implement the purposes
of this Agreement as set forth above, adopts a resolution that such
event or circumstance constitutes a Change in Control for the purposes
of this Agreement.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any
successor statute, rule or regulation of similar effect.
"Disability" or "Disabled" shall mean the Executive's inability as a
result of physical or mental incapacity to substantially perform Executive's
duties for the Company on a full-time basis, with or without accommodation, for
a period of six (6) months.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Involuntary Termination" shall mean the termination of Executive's
employment by the Executive which, in the sole judgment of the Executive, is due
to (i) a change (other than a clearly immaterial change) of the Executive's
responsibilities, position (including status as Vice President - Quality of the
Company, its successor or ultimate parent entity, office, title, reporting
relationships or working conditions), authority or duties (including changes
resulting from the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent with
Executive's positions, duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior
to a Change in Control); or (ii) a change (other than a clearly immaterial
change) in the terms or status (including the rolling one year termination date)
of this Agreement; or (iii) a reduction (other than a clearly immaterial
reduction) in the Executive's compensation or benefits; or (iv) a forced
relocation of the Executive outside the Greenville-Spartanburg area; or (v) a
significant increase in the Executive's travel requirements (collectively
"Status Changes"); provided, however, Executive must elect to terminate
Executive's employment within two (2) years of the Status Change on which
Executive bases Executive's employment termination.
"Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, bank, partnership,
joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity.
2. TERM. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, this Agreement
shall have a rolling term of one year (the "Term") commencing on the date
hereof. This Agreement shall be deemed to extend each day for an additional day
automatically and without any action on behalf of either party. Either party
may, by written notice to the other, cause this Agreement to cease to extend
automatically and, upon such notice, the "Term" of this Agreement shall be the
one year following the date of such notice, and this Agreement shall terminate
upon the expiration of such Term.
3. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
3.1. If, during the term of this Agreement, the Executive's
employment with the Company is terminated within one year following a
Change in Control under any of the following circumstances, the
Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation and benefits.
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3.1.1. If the Executive's employment with the Company
shall be terminated (i) by the Company for Cause or
Disability, (ii) by reason of the Executive's death, or (iii)
by the Executive, other than any Involuntary Termination, the
Company shall pay to the Executive all Accrued Compensation.
3.1.2. If the Company terminates Executive without
Cause and otherwise for any reason other than death of
Disability, including, without limitation, any Involuntary
Termination, then Executive shall be entitled to receive
immediately in a lump sum as severance upon such termination,
(a) all Accrued Compensation, (b) aggregate compensation equal
to one (1) times Executive's annual compensation at the rate
in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control and (c)
for certain lost benefits, an amount equal to 10% of the
Executive's base salary at the rate in effect immediately
prior to the Change in Control. For purposes of determining
compensation which is not fixed (such as a bonus), the annual
amount of such unfixed compensation shall be deemed to be
equal to the average of such compensation over the three year
period immediately prior to the termination.
3.1.3. In the event of such termination pursuant to
Section 3.1.2, (A) all rights of Executive pursuant to awards
of share grants or options granted by the Company shall be
deemed to have vested and shall be released from all
conditions and restrictions, except for restrictions on
transfer pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and (B) the Executive shall be deemed to be credited with
service with the Company for such remaining Term for the
purposes of the Company's benefit plans; (C) the Executive
shall be deemed to have retired from the Company and shall be
entitled as of the termination date, or at such later time as
he or she may elect to commence receiving the total combined
qualified and non-qualified retirement benefit to which he or
she is entitled hereunder, or Executive's total non-qualified
retirement benefit hereunder if under the terms of the
Company's qualified retirement plan for salaried employees he
or she is not entitled to a qualified benefit, and (D) if any
provision of this Section 3.1.2 cannot, in whole or in part,
be implemented and carried out under the terms of the
applicable compensation, benefit, or other plan or arrangement
of the Company because the Executive has ceased to be an
actual employee of the Company, because the Executive has
insufficient or reduced credited service based upon
Executive's actual employment by the Company, because the plan
or arrangement has been terminated or amended after the
effective date of this Agreement, or because of any other
reason, the Company itself shall pay or otherwise provide the
equivalent of such rights, benefits and credits for such
benefits to Executive, Executive's dependents, beneficiaries
and estate. Subject to applicable legal limits to the
contrary, including, without limitation, limits applicable to
incentive stock options under the Code, in the event of
termination pursuant to Section 3.1.2, Executive shall have
one (1) year from the date of such termination to exercise any
outstanding stock options.
3.2. NO MITIGATION. The payments hereunder are not subject to
mitigation in the event Executive receives compensation and is no
longer actively employed.
3.3. The severance pay and benefits provided for in this
Section 3 shall be in lieu of any other severance or termination pay to
which the Executive may be entitled under any Company severance or
termination plan, program, practice or arrangement.
4. EXCESS PARACHUTE PAYMENTS.
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4.1. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the
severance payments and other compensation provided for herein are
reasonable compensation for Executive's services to the Company and
shall not constitute "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code and any regulations thereunder. In the event
that the Company's independent accountants acting as auditors for the
Company on the date of a Change in Control determine that the payments
provided for herein constitute "excess parachute payments," then the
compensation payable hereunder shall be reduced to the point that such
compensation shall not qualify as "excess parachute payments."
4.2. To the extent that payments under Section 3 cause a
"parachute payment," as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code,
the Company shall indemnify Executive and hold Executive harmless
against all claims, losses, damages, penalties, expenses, and excise
taxes relating thereto. To effect this indemnification, the Company
shall pay Executive an additional amount that is sufficient to pay
any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code on the payments
and benefits to which Executive is entitled without the additional
amount plus any penalties or interest imposed by the Internal Revenue
Service in regard to such amounts, plus another additional amount
sufficient to pay all the excise and income taxes on the additional
amounts. The determination of any additional amount that must be paid
under this section at any time shall be made in good faith by the
independent auditors then employed by the Company.
5. ASSIGNMENT. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement has been
entered into due to, among other things, the special skills of Executive, and
agree that this Agreement may not be assigned or transferred by Executive, in
whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Company.
6. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if delivered or seven days after mailing if mailed, first class,
certified mail postage prepaid:
To the Company: Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.
__________________________________
__________________________________
Attn:_____________________________
To Executive: __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Any party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands,
and other communications shall be delivered or mailed by giving notice thereof
to the other party in the same manner provided herein.
7. PROVISIONS SEVERABLE. If any provision or covenant, or any part
thereof, of this Agreement should be held by any court to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, either in whole or in part, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of
the remaining provisions or covenants, or any part thereof, of this Agreement,
all of which shall remain in full force and effect.
8. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with any agreement with
respect to Executive's employment with the Company, forms the entire agreement
between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, if any,
understandings and arrangement, oral or written, between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between this
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Agreement and any other agreement with respect to any termination of Executive's
employment with the Company, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
9. NOT AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. This Agreement is not intended to be
and shall not be construed to be an employment agreement between the Company and
Executive. It is not intended to and shall not be construed to create, modify,
or otherwise affect the current or future terms of Executive's employment by the
Company except as expressly provided in Section 8.
10. NON-COMPETE CANCELLATION. If the Executive is entitled to the
payments and benefits described in 3.1.2, then any agreement by the Executive
not to compete with the Company or its affiliates after the Executive's
termination date shall be null and void and any such agreement shall be deemed
to be amended accordingly.
11. EXECUTIVE'S EXPENSES. The Company shall pay or reimburse the
Executive for all costs, including reasonable attorney's, accountants' and
actuary's fees and expenses, incurred by the Executive (i) to confirm the
Executive's rights to and amounts of payments hereunder, (ii) to contest or
dispute any termination of the Executive's employment following a Change in
Control or seek to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this
Agreement in litigation or arbitration, or (iii) in connection with any audit by
a taxing authority related to any payment or benefit hereunder, or any
subsequent contest or litigation relating to the tax treatment of such payment
or benefit. Upon demand therefor, the Company shall advance to the Executive any
amount as to which the Company shall advance to the Executive any amount as to
which the Executive reasonably believes he or she will b entitled pursuant to
this Section 11 for costs that the Executive has incurred or will incur during
the ninety (90) days following such demand.
12. AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS. This Agreement may be amended or
modified only by a writing signed by the parties hereto.
13. GOVERNING LAW. The validity and effect of this agreement shall be
governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State
of South Carolina.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
SPAN-AMERICA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
