EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (INCORPORATES AMENDMENT DATED NOVEMBER 10, 2008)
Exhibit
10.04
(INCORPORATES AMENDMENT DATED NOVEMBER 10, 2008)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, as of May 1, 2008 by and between The Hartford Financial Services Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (“Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to enter into an Employment Agreement, effective as
of the date first written above;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and Executive’s
participation in certain incentive compensation plans pursuant to which the level, if any, of
participation is determined by the administrators of such plans, the Company and Executive hereby
agree that the Employment Agreement is to read as follows (hereinafter referred to as the
“Agreement”), effective as of the date first written above (the “Commencement Date”):
1. Employment.
(a) Agreement to Employ. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to employ Executive and Executive hereby agrees to enter
employment by the Company.
(b) Term of Employment. Except as otherwise provided below, the Company shall employ
Executive for the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the third
anniversary of the Commencement Date. At the expiration of the original term or any extended
term (each a “Renewal Date”), Executive’s employment hereunder shall be extended automatically,
upon the same terms and conditions, for successive one-year periods, unless either party shall
give written notice to the other of its intention not to renew such employment at least fifteen
months prior to such Renewal Date. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), the term of this Agreement shall be
extended automatically without any action by either party until the second anniversary of such
Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if not previously terminated pursuant to Sections 1(b), 5(a) or
6(a), the term of this Agreement shall terminate on the last day of the month in which
Executive attains age 65, and such a termination upon Executive reaching age 65 shall be deemed
to be a Termination Due to Retirement for purposes of this Agreement. The period during which
Executive is employed pursuant to this Agreement, including any extension thereof in accordance
with this Section 1(b), shall be referred to as the “Employment Period.”
2. Position and Duties.
During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer and as a member of the Office of the Chairman of the Company, and/or in such other position
or positions with the Company or its affiliates commensurate with his/her position and experience
as the
Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) shall from time to time specify. During the
Employment Period, Executive shall have the duties, responsibilities and obligations customarily
assigned to individuals serving in the position or positions in which Executive serves hereunder
and such other duties, responsibilities and obligations as the Board or the Chairman shall from
time to time specify. Executive shall devote his/her full time to the services required of him/her
hereunder, except for vacation time and reasonable periods of absence due to sickness, personal
injury or other disability, and shall use his/her best efforts, judgment, skill and energy to
perform such services in a manner consonant with the duties of his/her position and to improve and
advance the business and interests of the Company and its affiliates. During the Employment Period,
Executive shall comply with the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct of the Company. Unless and to
the extent inconsistent with the terms of any published Company policy or code of conduct as in
effect on the date hereof and as hereafter amended, nothing contained herein shall preclude
Executive from (a) serving on the board of directors of any business corporation with the consent
of the Board, (b) serving on the board of, or working for, any charitable or community
organization, or (c) pursuing his/her personal financial and legal affairs, so long as the
foregoing activities, individually or collectively, do not interfere with the performance of
Executive’s duties hereunder or violate any of the provisions of Section 9 hereof.
3. Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay Executive a base
salary at the annual rate as in effect on the date hereof. The annual base salary payable under
this paragraph shall be reduced, however, to the extent that Executive elects to defer such
salary under the terms of any deferred compensation or savings plan or arrangement maintained
or established by the Company or its affiliates. The Board or the appropriate committee of the
Board may in its discretion periodically review Executive’s base salary in light of competitive
practices, the base salaries paid to other executive officers of the Company and the
performance of Executive and the Company and its applicable affiliates, and may, in its
discretion, increase such base salary by an amount it determines to be appropriate. Any such
increase shall not reduce or limit any other obligation of the Company hereunder. Executive’s
base salary (as set forth above or as may be increased from time to time) shall not be reduced
following any Change of Control, but may be reduced prior to a Change of Control solely
pursuant to a cost-saving plan or structural realignment of total compensation elements that
includes all senior executives and only to the extent that such reduction is proportionate to
the reductions applicable to other senior executives. Executive’s annual base salary payable
hereunder, as it may be increased or reduced from time to time as provided herein and without
reduction for any amounts deferred as described above, shall be referred to herein as “Base
Salary.” The Company shall pay Executive the portion of his/her Base Salary not deferred not
less frequently than in equal monthly installments.
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(b) Annual Bonus. For each calendar year ending during the Employment Period, Executive
shall have the opportunity to earn and receive an annual bonus, based on the achievement of
target levels of performance, equal to the percentage of his/her Base Salary used to calculate
such annual bonus as of the date hereof. Executive’s annual bonus opportunity may be increased
above such percentage from time to time by the Board or the appropriate committee thereof.
Executive’s annual bonus opportunity shall not be reduced following any Change of Control, but
may be reduced prior to a Change of Control solely pursuant to a cost-saving plan or structural
realignment of total
compensation elements that includes all senior executives and only to the extent that such
reduction is proportionate to the reductions applicable to other senior executives. Executive’s
annual bonus opportunity, as it may be increased or reduced from time to time as provided
herein, shall be referred to herein as “Target Bonus.” The actual bonus, if any, payable for
any such year shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Annual
Executive Bonus Program or any successor annual incentive plan (the “Annual Plan”) based upon
the performance of the Company and/or its applicable affiliates and/or Executive against target
objectives established under such Annual Plan. Subject to Executive’s election to defer all or
a portion of any annual bonus payable hereunder pursuant to the terms of any deferred
compensation or savings plan or arrangement maintained or established by the Company or its
affiliates, any annual bonus payable under this Section 3(b) shall be paid to Executive in
accordance with the terms of the Annual Plan.
(c) Long-term Incentive Compensation. During the Employment Period, Executive shall
participate in all of the Company’s existing and future long-term incentive compensation
programs for key executives at a level commensurate with his/her position with the Company and
consistent with the Company’s then current policies and practices, as determined in good faith
by the Board or the appropriate committee of the Board.
4. Benefits, Perquisites and Expenses.
(a) Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive (and, to the extent applicable, his/her
dependents) shall be eligible to participate in or be covered under (i) each welfare benefit
plan or program maintained or as hereafter amended or established by the Company or its
applicable affiliates, including, without limitation, each group life, hospitalization,
medical, dental, health, accident or disability insurance or similar plan or program thereof
that is available to Tier 1 executives, and (ii) each applicable pension, retirement, savings,
deferred compensation, stock purchase or other similar plan or program maintained or as
hereafter amended or established by the Company or its applicable affiliates, in each case to
the extent that Executive is eligible to participate in any such plan or program under the
generally applicable provisions thereof. Nothing in this Section 4(a) shall limit the Company’s
right to amend or terminate any such plan or program in accordance with the procedures set
forth therein or as permitted by applicable law.
(b) Perquisites. For each calendar year during the Employment Period, Executive shall
be entitled to at least the number of paid vacation days per year that a Tier 1 Executive is
entitled to as of the date hereof, and shall also be entitled to receive such other perquisites
as are generally provided to similarly situated Tier 1 executives as of the date hereof or are
hereafter provided to other similarly situated Tier 1 senior executives of the Company in
accordance with the then current policies and practices of the Company.
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(c) Business Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay or reimburse
Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred or paid by Executive in the performance
of Executive’s duties hereunder, upon presentation of expense statements or vouchers and such
other information as the Company may require and in accordance with the generally applicable
policies and procedures of the Company.
(d) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled
to an office with furnishings and other material appointments, and to secretarial and other
assistance, at a Tier 1 level and that is at least commensurate to similarly situated
executives as of the date hereof or is hereafter provided to other similarly situated senior
executives of the Company.
(e) Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify Executive and hold Executive harmless
from and against any third party claim, loss or cause of action, regardless whether asserted
during or after the Employment Period, arising from or out of Executive’s performance as an
officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates or in any other capacity,
including any fiduciary capacity in which Executive serves at the request of the Company, to
the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and under the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws of the Company, as they may be amended from time to time (the “Governing Documents”),
provided that in no event shall the protection afforded to Executive be less than that afforded
under the Governing Documents as in effect on the Commencement Date.
5. Termination of Employment.
The provisions of this Section 5 shall apply prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control and, if
Executive is still in the Company’s employ, shall again become applicable upon the second
anniversary of such Change of Control.
(a) Early Termination of the Employment Period. Notwithstanding Section 1(b)
hereof, the Employment Period shall end upon the earliest to occur of (i) a Termination
For Cause, (ii) a Termination Without Cause, (iii) a Voluntary Termination, (iv) a
Termination Due to Retirement, (v) a Termination Due to Disability, or (vi) a
Termination Due to Death.
(b) Notice of Termination. Communication of termination under this Section 5
shall be made to the other party by Notice of Termination in the case of (i) a
Termination For Cause, (ii) a Termination Without Cause, or (iii) a Voluntary
Termination.
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(c) Benefits Payable Upon Termination; Rules for Determining Reason for
Termination.
(i) Benefits Payable Upon Termination. Following the end of the Employment Period
pursuant to Section 5(a), Executive (or, in the event of his/her death, his/her surviving
spouse, if any, or if none, his/her estate) shall be paid the type or types of
compensation determined to be payable in accordance with the following table, such payment
to be made in the form specified in such table and at the time established pursuant to
Section 7 hereof. Capitalized terms used in such table shall have the meanings set forth
in Section 5(d) hereof.
(ii) Rules for Determining Reason for Termination.
(A) If a Voluntary Termination occurs on a date that Executive is eligible
for Retirement as defined in The Hartford Investment and Savings Plan, as
may be amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereof (the
“Savings Plan”), such Voluntary Termination shall instead be treated as a
Termination Due to Retirement solely for purposes of this Section 5.
(B) No Termination Without Cause shall be treated as a Termination Due to
Retirement or a Termination Due to Disability for purposes of any Pro Rata
Target Bonus, Severance Payment, Equity Awards or Vested Benefits
Enhancement under this Section 5, notwithstanding the fact that, either on,
before or after the date of termination of the Employment Period with
respect thereto, (I) Executive was eligible for Retirement as defined in
the Savings Plan, (II) Executive requested to be treated as a retiree for
purposes of the Savings Plan or any other plan or program of the Company or
its affiliates, or (III) Executive or the Company could have terminated
Executive’s employment in a Termination Due to Disability hereunder.
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BENEFITS PAYABLE: NON-CHANGE OF CONTROL
Vested Benefits | ||||||||||||||
Enhancement (only | ||||||||||||||
applicable in the event | ||||||||||||||
that Executive’s | ||||||||||||||
employment by the | ||||||||||||||
Accrued | Pro Rata Target | Severance | Company terminates | Welfare | ||||||||||
BENEFIT | Salary | Bonus | Payment | Equity Awards | Vested Benefits | prior to July 1, 2009) | Benefits Continuation | |||||||
FORM OF PAYMENT:
|
Lump Sum | Lump Sum | Lump Sum | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Lump Sum | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
|||||||
Termination For Cause
|
Payable | Not Payable | Not Payable | Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Not Available | |||||||
Termination Without Cause
|
Payable | Payable | Payable | Options / Restricted Stock: Payable Other Equity Awards: Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Payable | Available | |||||||
Voluntary Termination
|
Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Not Available | |||||||
Termination Due to Retirement
|
Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Available | |||||||
Termination Due to Disability
|
Payable | Payable | Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Available | |||||||
Termination Due to Death
|
Payable | Payable | Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Not Available |
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(d) Definitions.
“Accrued Salary” means any Base Salary earned, but unpaid, for services rendered to
the Company on or prior to the date on which the Employment Period ends pursuant to
Section 5(a) (other than Base Salary deferred pursuant to Executive’s election, as
contemplated by Section 3(a) hereof), plus any vacation pay accrued by Executive as
of such date.
“Available” means that the particular benefit shall be made available to Executive
to the extent specifically provided herein or required by applicable law.
“Determined Under the Applicable Plan” means that the determination of whether a
particular benefit shall or shall not be paid to Executive, and, where specifically
required by this Agreement, the timing or form of any benefit payment, shall be
made solely by application of the terms of the plan or program providing such
benefit, except to the extent that the terms of such plan or program are expressly
superseded or modified by this Agreement.
“Equity Awards” means the outstanding stock option, restricted stock,
restricted stock unit, performance share and other equity or long-term
incentive compensation awards, if any, held by Executive as of the date of
his/her termination.
“ERPs” means any excess retirement plans maintained or as hereafter amended
or established by the Company or its applicable affiliates.
“ESPs” means any excess investment and savings plans maintained or as hereafter
amended or established by the Company or its applicable affiliates.
“Lump Sum” means a single lump sum cash payment.
“Not Available” means that the particular benefit shall be not be made
available to Executive, except to the extent required by applicable law.
“Notice of Termination” means (i) in the case of a Termination For Cause, a written
notice given by the Company to Executive within 30 calendar days of the Company’s
having actual knowledge of the events giving rise to such Termination For Cause,
(ii) in the case of a Termination Without Cause, a written notice given by the
Company to Executive at least 30 calendar days before the effective date of such
Termination Without Cause, and (iii) in the case of a Voluntary Termination, a
written notice given by Executive to the Company indicating the effective date of
Executive’s termination of the Employment Period in such Voluntary Termination,
such effective date to be no earlier than 90 days following the date such notice is
received by the Company from Executive.
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“Not Payable” means (i) with respect to benefits other than Equity Awards, such
benefits shall not be paid or otherwise provided to Executive, and (ii) with
respect to Equity Awards, such Equity Awards, to the extent unvested,
unexercisable, or subject to restrictions that have not yet lapsed, shall be
forfeited and/or canceled as of the date of termination of the Employment Period,
unless otherwise determined by the Board or the appropriate committee of the
Board in its discretion.
“Payable” means (i) with respect to benefits other than those described in clause
(ii) of this paragraph, such benefits shall be paid to Executive in the amount, at
the time, and in the form specified herein, and (ii) with respect to benefits
described in this clause (ii), the following shall apply solely in the event of a
Termination Without Cause, notwithstanding anything in the applicable plan or
program to the contrary: (A) with respect to any outstanding stock options not yet
expired as of the date of termination of the Employment Period, Executive shall be
treated as though he/she remained in the employ of the Company for the two year
period following such date, and except to the extent that any such options first
expire during such period under the applicable plan or program, (I) any such
options that would have become vested over such two year period solely by reason of
Executive remaining in the employ of the Company during such period shall become
immediately vested and nonforfeitable, (II) with respect to any options that by
their terms would vest if the stock of the Company or an affiliate were to reach a
specified market price, such options shall become vested and nonforfeitable if and
when such stock reaches such price during such two year period, and (III) Executive
shall have an additional two years beyond the time to exercise such options
permitted under the applicable plan or program, but not beyond the originally
stated expiration date of any such option (e.g., if a termination occurs in the
ninth year following the grant of a ten year term option, Executive shall have only
until the tenth anniversary of the date of grant to exercise such option), (B) with
respect to any restricted stock subject to restrictions that have not yet lapsed as
of the date of termination of the Employment Period, such restrictions shall be
deemed to have lapsed and such restricted stock shall become immediately vested and
nonforfeitable as of such date, and (C) with respect to a Pro-Rata Target Bonus
that relates to a calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2010, such
Pro-Rata Target Bonus shall be paid to Executive in the amount, at the time and in
the form specified herein, provided that, if Executive would have been a “covered
employee” as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”)
for such calendar year but for the termination of the Employment Period, such
Pro-Rata Target Bonus shall only be payable to Executive if, when and to the extent
that the Compensation and Personnel Committee of the Board certifies that the
performance goals applicable to the Target Bonus, as preestablished by such
Committee in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, have been attained.
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“Pro-Rata Target Bonus” means an amount equal to the product of: (i) an amount
equal to the Target Bonus Executive would have been entitled to receive under
Section 3(b) for the calendar year in which the Employment Period terminates, and
(ii) a fraction (the “Service Fraction”), the numerator of which is equal to the
number of rounded months in such calendar year which have elapsed as of the date of
such termination, and the denominator of which is 12; provided that, if the
Employment Period terminates in the last quarter of any calendar year, the Pro-Rata
Target Bonus shall be the amount determined under the above formula or, if greater,
the product of: (A) the bonus that would have been paid to Executive based on
actual performance for such calendar year, and (B) the Service Fraction.
“Severance Payment” means an amount equal to two times the sum of: (i)
Executive’s Base Salary, and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus amount under Section
3(b) hereof for the calendar year in which the Employment Period terminates.
“Termination Due to Death” means a termination of Executive’s
employment due to the death of Executive.
“Termination Due to Disability” means (i) a termination of Executive’s employment
by the Company as a result of a determination by the Board or the appropriate
committee thereof that Executive has been incapable of substantially fulfilling the
positions, duties, responsibilities and obligations set forth in this Agreement on
account of physical, mental or emotional incapacity resulting from injury, sickness
or disease for a period of (A) at least four consecutive months, or (B) more than
six months in any twelve month period, or (ii) Executive’s termination of
employment on account of Disability as defined in The Hartford Investment and
Savings Plan, as may be amended from time to time.
“Termination Due to Retirement” means Executive’s termination of employment on
account of Executive’s Retirement as defined in The Hartford Investment and
Savings Plan, as may be amended from time to time.
“Termination For Cause” means a termination of Executive’s employment by the
Company for any of the following reasons: (i) Executive is convicted of or enters
a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony, a crime of moral
turpitude, dishonesty, breach of trust or unethical business conduct, or any
crime involving the business of the Company or its affiliates; (ii) in the
performance of his/her duties hereunder or otherwise to the detriment of the
Company or its affiliates, Executive engages in (A) willful misconduct, (B)
willful or gross neglect, (C) fraud, (D) misappropriation, (E) embezzlement, or
(F) theft; (iii) Executive willfully fails to adhere to the policies and
practices of the Company or devote substantially all of his/her business time and
effort to the affairs thereof, or disobeys the directions of the Board to do
either of the foregoing; (iv) Executive breaches this Agreement
in
9
any material respect; (v) Executive is adjudicated in any civil suit to have committed,
or acknowledges in writing or in any agreement or stipulation his/her commission,
of any theft, embezzlement, fraud or other intentional act of dishonesty involving
any other person; or (vi) Executive willfully violates the Code of Ethics and
Business Conduct of the Company. Executive shall be permitted to respond and defend
himself/herself before the Board within 30 days after delivery to Executive of
written notification of any proposed Termination For Cause that specifies in detail
the reasons for such termination. If the majority of the members of the Board
(excluding Executive) do not confirm that the Company had grounds for a Termination
For Cause within 30 days after Executive has had his/her hearing before the Board,
Executive shall have the option of treating his/her employment as not having
terminated or as having been terminated in a Termination Without Cause.
“Termination Without Cause” means any involuntary termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company other than a Termination For Cause, a Termination
Due to Disability or a Termination Due to Death.
“Vested Benefits” means amounts that are vested or that Executive is otherwise
entitled to receive, without the performance by Executive of further services or
the resolution of a contingency, under the terms of or in accordance with any
investment and savings plan or retirement plan (including any plan providing
retiree medical benefits) of the Company or its affiliates, and any ERPs or ESPs
related thereto, and any deferred compensation or employee stock purchase plan or
similar plan or program of the Company or its affiliates.
“Vested Benefits Enhancement” means (i) a cash amount equal to the present value,
calculated using a discount rate equal to the then prevailing applicable Federal
rate as determined under Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”), of the additional retirement benefits that would have been
payable or available to Executive under any ERPs, based on (A) the age and service
Executive would have attained or completed had Executive continued in the Company’s
employ until the second anniversary of the date of termination of the Employment
Period, and (B) where compensation is a relevant factor, his/her pensionable
compensation as of such date, such compensation to include, on the same terms as
apply to other executives, any Severance Payment made to Executive, and (ii) solely
for purposes vesting in any benefits under any ESPs, Executive shall be treated as
having continued in the Company’s employ until the second anniversary of the date
of termination of the Employment Period. A Vested Benefits Enhancement shall only
be applicable in the event that Executive’s employment by the Company terminates
prior to July 1, 2009.
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“Voluntary Termination” means any voluntary termination of Executive’s Employment
by Executive pursuant to this Section 5, other than a
Termination Due to Retirement or a Termination Due to Disability by
Executive.
“Welfare Benefits Continuation” means that until the second anniversary of the date
of termination of the Employment Period, Executive and, if applicable, his/her
dependents shall be entitled to continue participation in the life and health
insurance benefit plans of the Company or its affiliates in which Executive and/or
such dependents were participating as of the date of termination of the Employment
Period, and such other welfare benefit plans thereof in which the Company is
required by law to permit the participation of Executive and/or his/her dependents,
(collectively, the “Welfare Benefit Plans”). Such participation shall be on the same
terms and conditions (including the requirement that Executive pay any premiums
generally paid by an employee) as would apply if Executive were still in the employ
of the Company; provided that the continued participation of Executive
and/or his/her dependents in such Welfare Benefit Plans shall cease on such earlier
date as Executive may become eligible for comparable welfare benefits provided by a
subsequent employer. To the extent that Welfare Benefits Continuation cannot be
provided under the terms of the applicable plan, policy or program, the Company
shall provide a comparable benefit under another plan or from the Company’s general
assets.
6. Termination Following a Change of Control.
This Section 6 shall apply (instead of Section 5) during the period commencing upon a Change
of Control and continuing until the second anniversary thereof.
(a) Early Termination of the Employment Period. Notwithstanding Section 1(b)
hereof, the Employment Period shall end upon the earliest to occur of (i) a Termination
For Cause, (ii) a Termination Without Cause, (iii) a Voluntary Termination, (iv) a
Termination For Good Reason, (v) a Termination Due to Retirement, (vi) a Termination Due
to Disability, or (vii) a Termination Due to Death.
(b) Notice of Termination. Communication of termination under this Section 6
shall be made to the other party by Notice of Termination in the case of (i) a
Termination For Cause, (ii) a Termination Without Cause, (iii) a Voluntary Termination,
or (iv) a Termination For Good Reason.
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(c) Benefits Payable Upon Termination; Rules for Determining Reason for
Termination.
(i) Benefits Payable Upon Termination.
(A) Following the end of the Employment Period, Executive (or, in the
event of his/her death, his/her surviving spouse, if any, or if none,
his/her estate) shall be paid the type or types of compensation
determined to be payable in accordance with the following table, such
payment to be made in the form specified in such table and at the time
established pursuant to Section 7 hereof. Capitalized terms used in such
table (and otherwise in this Section 6) that are defined in Section 5, and
not specifically defined in Section 6(d) hereof, shall have the meanings
ascribed thereto under Section 5. Where such a capitalized term is defined
solely in Section 6(d), or in both Section 5 and Section 6(d), such term
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6(d).
(B) The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this
Section 6 and otherwise to perform its obligations under this Section 6
shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other claim, right or action which the Company may have against Executive
or others. In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts
payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Section 6 and
such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other
employment.
(ii) Rules for Determining Reason for Termination.
(A) No Termination Without Cause or Termination For Good Reason shall be
treated as a Termination Due to Retirement or a Termination Due to
Disability for purposes of any Pro Rata Target Bonus, Severance Payment,
Equity Awards or Vested Benefits Enhancement under this Section 6,
notwithstanding the fact that, either on, before or after the Date of
Termination with respect thereto, (I) Executive was eligible for Retirement
as defined in the Savings Plan, (II) Executive requested to be treated as a
retiree for purposes of the Savings Plan or any other plan or program of
the Company or its affiliates, or (III) Executive or the Company could have
terminated Executive’s employment in a Termination Due to Disability
hereunder.
(B) No Termination Due to Retirement shall be treated as a Voluntary
Termination for purposes of this Section 6.
(C) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event of a Change of Control as described in clause (iii) or clause (iv) of
the definition of the term Change of Control in Section 6(d) of this
Agreement, if the employment of Executive involuntarily terminates on or
after the date of a shareholder approval described in either of such
clauses but before the date of a consummation described in either of such
clauses, the date of termination of Executive’s employment shall be deemed
for purposes of this Agreement to be the day following the date of the
applicable consummation.
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BENEFITS PAYABLE: CHANGE OF CONTROL
Vested Benefits | ||||||||||||||
Enhancement (only | ||||||||||||||
applicable in the event | ||||||||||||||
that Executive’s | ||||||||||||||
employment by the | ||||||||||||||
Accrued | Pro Rata Target | Severance | Company terminates | Welfare | ||||||||||
BENEFIT | Salary | Bonus | Payment | Equity Awards | Vested Benefits | prior to July 1, 2009) | Benefits Continuation | |||||||
FORM OF PAYMENT
|
Lump Sum | Lump Sum | Lump Sum | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Lump Sum | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
|||||||
Termination For Cause
|
Payable | Not Payable | Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Not Available | |||||||
Termination Without Cause
|
Payable | Payable | Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Payable | Available | |||||||
Voluntary Termination
|
Payable | Not Payable | Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Not Available | |||||||
Termination For Good Reason
|
Payable | Payable | Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Payable | Available | |||||||
Termination Due to Retirement
|
Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Available | |||||||
Termination Due to Disability
|
Payable | Payable | Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Available | |||||||
Termination Due to Death
|
Payable | Payable | Not Payable | Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Determined Under the Applicable Plan |
Not Payable | Not Available |
13
(d) Definitions.
“Beneficial Owner” means any Person who, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or
dispose of or has “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”)) of any securities of a
company, including any such right pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing), provided that: (i) a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of any security as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding
to vote such security (A) arising solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in
response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance
with, the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, or (B) made in
connection with, or to otherwise participate in, a proxy or consent solicitation made, or
to be made, pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the Exchange
Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, in either case described in clause
(A) or (B) above, whether or not such agreement, arrangement or understanding is also then
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report); and (ii) a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities
shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any security acquired through such
Person’s participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration
of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
“Change of Control” means:
(i) a report on Schedule 13D shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Act disclosing that any Person, other
than the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan
sponsored by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company is the Beneficial Owner of
forty percent or more of the outstanding stock of the Company entitled to vote in
the election of directors of the Company;
(ii) any Person, other than the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or any
employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company shall
purchase shares pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer to acquire any stock of
the Company (or securities convertible into stock) entitled to vote in the election
of directors of the Company for cash, securities or any other consideration,
provided that after consummation of the offer, the Person in question is the
Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent or more of the outstanding stock of the Company
entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Company (calculated as provided
in paragraph (d) of Rule 13d-3 under the Act in the case of rights to acquire
stock);
14
(iii) any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the Company
approved by the stockholders of the Company shall be consummated, other than any such
transaction immediately following which the persons who were the Beneficial Owners of
the outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors
of the Company immediately prior to such transaction are the Beneficial Owners of at least 55% of
the total voting power represented by the securities of the entity surviving such
transaction entitled to vote in the election of directors of such entity (or the
ultimate parent of such entity) in substantially the same relative proportions as
their ownership of the securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election
of directors of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; provided that,
such continuity of ownership (and preservation of relative voting power) shall be
deemed to be satisfied if the failure to meet such threshold (or to preserve such
relative voting power) is due solely to the acquisition of voting securities by an
employee benefit plan of the Company, such surviving entity or any subsidiary of
such surviving entity:
(iv) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series
of related transactions) of all or substantially all the assets of the Company
approved by the stockholders of the Company shall be consummated; or
(v) within any 24 month period, the persons who were directors of the Company
immediately before the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) shall
cease (for any reason other than death) to constitute at least a majority of the
Board or the board of directors of any successor to the Company, provided that any
director who was not a director at the beginning of such period shall be deemed to
be an Incumbent Director if such director (A) was elected to the Board by, or on
the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the directors
who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually or by prior operation of
this clause (v), and (B) was not designated by a person who has entered into an
agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (iii) or
(iv) of this definition of the term Change of Control in Section 6(d) of this
Agreement.
“Date of Termination” means (i) in the case of a termination of the Employment Period
for which a Notice of Termination is required, the date of receipt of such Notice of
Termination or, if later, the date specified therein, as the case may be, or (ii) in all
other cases, the actual date on which Executive’s employment terminates during the
Employment Period.
“Not Payable” means that a particular benefit shall not be paid or otherwise
provided to Executive.
15
“Notice of Termination” means (i) in the case of a Termination For Cause, a written notice
given by the Company to Executive, within 30 calendar days of the Company’s having actual
knowledge of the events giving rise to such termination, (ii) in the case of a Termination
Without Cause, a written notice given by the Company to Executive at least 30 calendar days
before the effective date of such Termination Without Cause, (iii) in the case of a
Voluntary Termination, a written notice given by Executive to the Company at least 90
calendar days before the effective date of such termination, and (iv) in the case of a
Termination For Good Reason, a written notice
given by Executive to the Company within 180 days of Executive’s having actual knowledge of
the events giving rise to such Termination For Good Reason, and which (A) indicates the
specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (B) 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 (C) if the termination date is
other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date of this
Agreement (which date shall be not more than 15 days after the giving of such notice). The
failure by Executive to set forth in such Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance
that contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of Executive
hereunder or preclude Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing
his/her rights hereunder.
“Payable” means that a particular benefit shall be paid to Executive in the amount, at
the time, and in the form specified herein.
“Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Act, as
supplemented by Section 13(d)(3) of the Act; provided, however, that Person shall not
include (i) the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any other Person controlled by
the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company, or (iii) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of securities of the Company.
“Severance Payment” means a cash amount equal to three times the sum of (i) Executive’s
Base Salary at the rate in effect as of the date on which the Employment Period
terminates, and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus for such year.
“Termination For Cause” means the Company’s termination of Executive’s employment due to
(i) Executive’s conviction of a felony; (ii) an act or acts of extreme dishonesty or gross
misconduct on Executive’s part which result or are intended to result in material damage to
the Company’s business or reputation; or (iii) repeated material violations by Executive of
his/her obligations under Section 2 of this Agreement, which violations are demonstrably
willful and deliberate on Executive’s part and which result in material damage to the
Company’s business or reputation. Executive shall be permitted to respond and defend
himself/herself before the Board within 30 days after delivery to Executive of written
notification of any proposed Termination for Cause which specifies in detail the reasons
for such termination. If the majority of the members of the Board (excluding Executive) do
not confirm that the Company had grounds for a Termination For Cause within 30 days after
Executive has had his/her hearing before the Board, Executive shall have the option of
treating his/her employment as not having terminated or as having been terminated pursuant
to a Termination Without Cause.
16
“Termination For Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following after the
occurrence of a Change of Control:
(i) (A) the assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material
adverse respect with Executive’s position, duties, authority or responsibilities
as contemplated by Section 2 of this Agreement, or (B) any other material adverse
change in such position, including titles, authority or responsibilities;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Sections 3
and 4 of this Agreement at a level of least equal to that in effect immediately
preceding the Change of Control, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent
failure remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by
Executive;
(iii) the Company’s requiring Executive to be based at any office or location more
than 25 miles from the location at which he/she performed his/her services
specified under Section 2 hereof immediately prior to the Change of Control,
except for travel reasonably required in the performance of Executive’s
responsibilities;
(iv) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption and agreement to
perform this Agreement by a successor as contemplated by Section 10(d) hereof;
or
(v) any attempt by the Company to terminate the Executive’s employment in a
Termination For Cause that is determined by the Board pursuant to Section 5(c)
hereof, or in a proceeding pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10 hereof, not to
constitute a Termination For Cause.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination of Executive’s employment shall not be treated
as a Termination For Good Reason (I) if Executive shall have consented in writing to the
occurrence of the event giving rise to the claim of Termination For Good Reason, or (II) if
Executive shall have delivered a Notice of Termination to the Company, and the facts and
circumstances specified therein as providing a basis for such Termination For Good Reason
are cured by the Company within 10 days of its receipt of such Notice of Termination.
17
“Vested Benefits Enhancement” means (i) a cash amount equal to the present value,
calculated using a discount rate equal to the then prevailing applicable Federal rate as
determined under Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), of the additional retirement benefits that would have been payable or available
to Executive under any ERPs, based on (A) the age and service Executive would have
attained or completed had Executive continued in the Company’s employ until the third
anniversary of the occurrence of the Change of Control, and (B) where compensation is a
relevant factor, his/her pensionable compensation as of the Date of Termination, such
compensation to include, on the same terms as apply to other executives, any Severance
Payment made to Executive, (ii) solely for purposes of vesting in any benefits under any
ESPs, Executive shall be treated as having continued in the Company’s employ until the
third anniversary of the occurrence of such Change of Control, and (iii) solely for
purposes of
determining eligibility for retiree medical benefits under any retirement plan or any
retiree welfare benefit plan, policy or program of the Company or its affiliates, and any
ERPs related thereto, Executive shall be treated as having continued in the Company’s
employ until the third anniversary of the occurrence of such Change of Control and to
have retired on the last day of such period. A Vested Benefits Enhancement shall only be
applicable in the event that Executive’s employment by the Company terminates prior to
July 1, 2009.
“Voluntary Termination” means a termination of employment by Executive other than a
Termination For Good Reason, a Termination Due to Disability by Executive, or a Termination
Due to Death.
“Welfare Benefits Continuation” shall have the same meaning as that described in Section 5
hereof, except that the entitlement of Executive and/or his/her dependents to participation
in the Welfare Benefit Plans shall continue until the third anniversary of the Date of
Termination.
(e) Out-Placement Services. If the Employment Period terminates because of a
Termination Without Cause or a Termination For Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to
out-placement services, provided by the Company or its designee at the Company’s expense,
for 12 months following the Date of Termination, or such lesser period as the Executive
may require such services.
(f) Certain Further Payments by Company.
(i) Tax Reimbursement Payment. In the event that any amount or benefit paid or
distributed to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, taken together with any amounts or
benefits otherwise paid or distributed to Executive by the Company or any affiliate
(collectively, the “Covered Payments”), are or become subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”)
imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any similar
tax that may hereafter be imposed, the Company shall pay to the Executive at the time
specified in this Section an additional amount (the “Tax Reimbursement Payment”) such that
the net amount retained by the Executive with respect to such Covered Payments, after
deduction of any Excise Tax on the Covered Payments and any Federal, state and local income
tax and other tax on the Tax Reimbursement Payment provided for by this Section, but before
deduction for any Federal, state or local income or employment tax withholding on such
Covered Payments, shall be equal to the amount of the Covered Payments.
18
(ii) Applicable Rules. For purposes of determining whether any of the Covered
Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax,
(A) such Covered Payments will be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning
of Section 280G of the Code, and all “parachute payments” in excess of the “base
amount” (as defined under Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) shall be treated as
subject to the Excise Tax, unless, and except to the extent that, in the good faith
judgment of the Company’s independent certified
public accountants appointed prior to the Effective Date or tax counsel selected by
such accountants (the “Accountants”), the Company has a reasonable basis to
conclude that such Covered Payments (in whole or in part) either do not constitute
“parachute payments” or represent reasonable compensation for personal services
actually rendered (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code) in
excess of the “base amount,” or such “parachute payments” are otherwise not subject
to such Excise Tax, and
(B) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall
be determined by the Accountants in accordance with the principles of Section
280G of the Code.
(iii) Additional Rules. For purposes of determining the amount of the Tax
Reimbursement Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to pay: (A) Federal income taxes at
the highest applicable marginal rate of Federal income taxation for the calendar year in
which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is to be made, and (B) any applicable state and local
income and other taxes at the highest applicable marginal rate of taxation for the calendar
year in which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in
Federal incomes taxes which could be obtained from the deduction of such state or local
taxes if paid in such year.
(iv) Repayment or Additional Payment in Certain Circumstances.
(A) Repayment. In the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined
by the Accountants or pursuant to any proceeding or negotiations with the Internal
Revenue Service to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder in
calculating the Tax Reimbursement Payment made, Executive shall repay to the
Company, at the time that the amount of such reduction in the Excise Tax is finally
determined, the portion of such prior Tax Reimbursement Payment that would not have
been paid if such lesser Excise Tax had been applied in initially calculating such
Tax Reimbursement Payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any portion
of the Tax Reimbursement Payment to be repaid to the Company has been paid to any
Federal, state or local tax authority, repayment thereof shall not be required
until actual refund or credit of such portion has been made to Executive by the
applicable tax authority. Executive and the Company shall mutually agree upon the
course of action to be pursued (and the method of allocating the expenses thereof)
if Executive’s good faith claim for refund or credit is denied.
19
(B) Additional Tax Reimbursement Payment. In the event that the Excise Tax
is later determined by the Accountants or pursuant to any proceeding or
negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service to exceed the amount taken into
account hereunder at the time the Tax Reimbursement Payment is made (including,
but not limited to, by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which
cannot be determined at the time of the Tax Reimbursement Payment), the Company
shall make an additional Tax Reimbursement
Payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest or penalty payable with
respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally
determined.
(v) Timing for Tax Reimbursement Payment. The Tax Reimbursement Payment (or portion
thereof) provided for in this Section 6 shall be paid to Executive not later than 10
business days following the payment of the Covered Payments; provided, however, that if the
amount of such Tax Reimbursement Payment (or portion thereof) cannot be finally determined
on or before the date on which payment is due, the Company shall pay to Executive by such
date an amount estimated in good faith by the Accountants to be the minimum amount of such
Tax Reimbursement Payment and shall pay the remainder of such Tax Reimbursement Payment
(together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as soon
as the amount thereof can be determined, but in no event later than 45 calendar days after
payment of the related Covered Payment. To the extent that the amount of the estimated Tax
Reimbursement Payment exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due, Executive
shall repay such excess to the Company on the fifth business day after written demand by the
Company for payment.
7. Timing of Payments.
Accrued Salary shall be paid no later than 10 days following the termination of the Employment
Period. Any Severance Payment and Vested Benefits Enhancement, together with interest thereon
based on prevailing short term rates for the period between the date of payment and the
termination of the Employment Period, shall be paid during the 10 day period following the six
month anniversary of the termination of the Employment Period. Except as provided in the
definition of “Payable” in Section 5(d), a Pro-Rata Target Bonus, which payment is attributable
to services performed by Executive during the calendar year in which the Performance Period
terminates, shall be paid as follows: (a) if the Employment Period terminates in the first,
second or third calendar quarter of any particular calendar year, then the Pro-Rata Target Bonus
shall be paid no later than 10 days following the termination of the Employment Period; or (b)
if the Employment Period terminates in the fourth calendar quarter of any particular calendar
year, then the Pro-Rata Target Bonus shall be paid no later than the same time as similar awards
are paid to other executives participating in the plans or programs under which the awards are
paid, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the end of such fourth
calendar quarter. Vested Benefits and Equity Awards shall be paid no later than the time for
payment Determined Under the Applicable Plan except as otherwise expressly superseded or
modified by this Agreement. Tax Reimbursement Payments shall be paid at the time specified in
Section 6 hereof.
20
In applying the provisions of Sections 5 and 6, continued participation in the health insurance
benefit plans shall be in two parts: (i) the first part shall continue from the date of
termination to the end of the 18-month period during which Executive would have been eligible
for continuation coverage under Section 601 et. seq. of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, and (ii) the second part shall commence on the first day after the end
of the period described in subclause (i) and shall
end on the last day of the applicable Welfare Benefits Continuation period. Continued
participation in Welfare Benefits Continuation provided under Section 6 other than with respect
to health benefits shall also be provided in two parts: (i) the first part shall continue from
the Date of Termination until the second anniversary of Executive’s Date of Termination, and
(ii) the second part shall commence on the day immediately following such second anniversary
and continuing until the end of the applicable Continuation period. To the extent Welfare
Benefits Continuation consists of reimbursement of expenses, such reimbursement shall be paid
within 60 days of the submission of reasonably satisfactory evidence of such expenses, in
accordance with the generally applicable requirements under the applicable arrangement, but in
no event later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such
expenses are incurred. Any amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement of welfare benefits or
in-kind benefits provided during any calendar year shall not affect the expenses eligible for
reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other calendar year.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, for purposes of Sections 5 and
6, Executive shall not be deemed to have had a termination of employment unless Executive shall
have also had a separation from service, as determined in accordance with any policies or
practices that the Company shall adopt in accordance with, or as otherwise determined pursuant
to, Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
8. Full Discharge of Company Obligations.
Except as expressly provided in the last sentence of this Section 8, the amounts payable to
Executive pursuant to Section 5 following termination of his/her employment (including amounts
payable with respect to Vested Benefits) shall be in full and complete satisfaction of
Executive’s rights under Section 5 of this Agreement and any other claims he/she may have in
respect of his/her employment by the Company or any of its affiliates. Such amounts shall
constitute liquidated damages with respect to any and all such rights and claims and, upon
Executive’s receipt of such amounts, the Company shall be released and discharged from any and
all liability to Executive in connection with Section 5 of this Agreement or otherwise in
connection with Executive’s employment with the Company and its affiliates. Nothing in this
Section 8 shall be construed to release the Company from its obligation to indemnify Executive
as provided in Section 4(e) hereof.
21
9. Noncompetition,
Confidentiality and Other Covenants.
By and in consideration of the compensation and benefits to be provided by the Company
hereunder, including the severance arrangements set forth herein, Executive agrees to the
following:
(a) Noncompetition. During the Employment Period and until the last day of the one
year period following any Voluntary Termination of the Employment Period by Executive
pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 hereof, (the “Restriction Period”), Executive shall not
become associated with any entity, whether as a principal,
partner, employee, agent, consultant, shareholder (other than as a holder, or a member of a
group which is a holder, of not in excess of 1% of the outstanding voting shares of any
publicly traded company) or in any other relationship or capacity, paid or unpaid, that is
actively engaged in any geographic area in any business which is in competition with the
business of the Company. The Company shall, in its sole discretion, have the right to
enforce or waive the terms of this provision in connection with the Restriction Period. If
the Company exercises its right to enforce this provision for the Restriction Period, the
Company, no later than 60 days following the Company’s receipt of the Executive’s written
notice of Voluntary Termination, will provide Executive with written notice of its intent
to enforce, and will pay Executive one year of Executive’s then current Base Salary and one
year of Executive’s then current Target Bonus as compensation for the Restriction Period.
Such amount shall be paid to Executive in equal monthly installments during the Restriction
Period. Executive agrees that the terms of the Restriction Period are reasonable and that
this compensation is above and beyond any amounts necessary to support the terms of the
Restriction Period as set forth herein.
(b) Confidentiality. Without the prior written consent of the Company, except to
the extent required by an order of a court having competent jurisdiction or under subpoena
from an appropriate government agency, Executive shall not disclose to any third person, or
permit the use of for the benefit of any person or any entity other than The Company or its
affiliates, any trade secrets, customer lists, information regarding product development,
marketing plans, sales plans, management organization information (including data and other
information relating to members of the Board and management), operating policies or
manuals, business plans, financial records, or other financial, organizational, commercial,
business, sales, marketing, technical, product or employee information relating to the
Company or its affiliates or information designated as confidential, proprietary, and/or a
trade secret, or any other information relating to the Company or its affiliates that
Executive knows from the circumstances, in good faith and good conscience, should be
treated as confidential, or any information that the Company or its affiliates may receive
belonging to customers, agents or others who do business with the Company or its
affiliates, except to the extent that any such information previously has been disclosed to
the public by the Company or is in the public domain (other than by reason of Executive’s
violation of this Section 9(b)).
(c) Non-Solicitation of Employees. During the Employment Period and until the last
day of the one year period following any Voluntary Termination of the Employment Period by
Executive pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 hereof, Executive shall not directly or
indirectly solicit, encourage or induce any employee of the Company or its affiliates to
terminate employment with such entity, and shall not directly or indirectly, either
individually or as owner, agent, employee, consultant or otherwise, employ or offer
employment to any person who is or was employed by the Company or an affiliate thereof
unless such person shall have ceased to be employed by such entity for a period of at least
six months.
22
(d) Company Property. Except as expressly provided herein, promptly following any
termination of the Employment Period, Executive shall return to the Company all property of
the Company, and all copies thereof in Executive’s possession or under his/her control.
(e) Injunctive Relief and Other Remedies with Respect to Covenants. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that the covenants and obligations of Executive with respect to
noncompetition, confidentiality, nonsolicitation, and Company property relate to special,
unique and extraordinary matters and that a violation of any of the terms of such covenants
and obligations will cause the Company irreparable injury for which adequate remedies are
not available at law. Therefore, Executive agrees that the Company (i) shall be entitled to
an injunction, restraining order or such other equitable relief (without the requirement to
post bond) restraining Executive from committing any violation of the covenants and
obligations contained in this Section 9, and (ii) shall have no further obligation to pay
unearned compensation, incentive awards, unvested awards, or bonus payments to Executive
hereunder following any material violation of the covenants and obligations contained in
this Section 9. These remedies are cumulative and are in addition to any other rights and
remedies the Company may have at law or in equity. In connection with the foregoing
provisions of this Section 9, Executive represents that his/her economic means and
circumstances are such that such provisions will not prevent him/her from providing for
himself/herself and his/her family on a basis satisfactory to him/her.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of
this Section constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable
to the Executive under this Agreement following a Change of Control.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Survival. All of the provisions of Sections 5 (relating to termination of the
Employment Period prior to a Change of Control), 6 (relating to termination of the
Employment Period following a Change of Control, 9 (relating to noncompetition,
confidentiality, nonsolicitation and Company property), 10(b) (relating to arbitration),
10(c) (relating to legal fees) and 10(n) (relating to governing law) of this Agreement
shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
(b) Arbitration. Except as provided in Section 9, any dispute or controversy arising
under or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration. Such
arbitration shall be held in the city of Hartford, Connecticut and except to the extent
inconsistent with this Agreement, shall be conducted in accordance with the Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in effect at the time of the
arbitration, and otherwise in accordance with the principles that would be applied by a
court of law or equity. The arbitrator shall be acceptable to both the Company and
Executive. If the parties cannot agree on an acceptable arbitrator, the dispute or
controversy shall be heard by a panel of three arbitrators; one appointed by each of the
parties and the third appointed by the other two arbitrators. The
Company and Executive further agree that they will abide by and perform any award or awards
rendered by the arbitrators and that a judgment may be entered on any award or awards
rendered by any state or federal court having jurisdiction over the Company or Executive
or any of their respective property.
23
(c) Legal Fees and Expenses. In any contest (whether initiated by Executive or by
the Company) as to the validity, enforceability or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive’s legal expenses (or cause such expenses to be
paid) including, without limitation, his/her reasonable attorney’s fees, on a quarterly
basis, upon presentation of proof of such expenses in a form acceptable to the Company,
provided that Executive shall reimburse the Company for such amounts, plus simple interest
thereon at the 90-day United States Treasury Xxxx rate as in effect from time to time,
compounded annually, if Executive shall not prevail, in whole or in part, as to any
material issue as to the validity, enforceability or interpretation of any provision of
this Agreement.
(d) Successors; Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and its successors. The Company shall require any successor to all
or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock, or otherwise, by an
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Executive, expressly to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be
required to perform the Agreement if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement is
personal to the Executive and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not
be assignable by Executive otherwise than by will or the law of descent and distribution.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal
representatives.
(e) Assignment. Except as provided in Section 10(d), neither this Agreement nor
any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any party
hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.
(f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the matters referred to herein. This Agreement supersedes
and replaces any prior employment or severance agreement or arrangement between the Company
and Executive. No other agreement relating to the terms of Executive’s employment by the
Company, oral or otherwise, shall be binding between the parties unless it is in writing
and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. There are no promises,
representations, inducements or statements between the parties other than those that are
expressly contained herein. Executive acknowledges that he/she is entering into this
Agreement of his/her own free will and accord, and with no duress, and that he/she has read
this Agreement and that he/she understands it and its legal consequences.
(g) Severability; Reformation. In the event that one or more of the provisions
of this Agreement shall become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall
not be affected thereby. In the event of a determination that any of the provisions of
Section 9(a), Section 9(b) or Section 9(c) are not enforceable in accordance with their
terms, Executive and the Company agree that such Section shall be reformed to make such
Section enforceable in a manner that provides the Company the maximum rights permitted at
law.
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(h) Waiver. Waiver by any party hereto of any breach or default by the other party
of any of the terms of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any other breach or
default, whether similar to or different from the breach or default waived. No waiver of
any provision of this Agreement shall be implied from any course of dealing between the
parties hereto or from any failure by either party hereto to assert its or his/her rights
hereunder on any occasion or series of occasions.
(i) Notices. Any notice required or desired to be delivered under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, by courier service, by registered
mail, return receipt requested, or by telecopy and shall be effective upon actual receipt
by the party to which such notice shall be directed, and shall be addressed as follows (or
to such other address as the party entitled to notice shall hereafter designate in
accordance with the terms hereof):
If to the Company:
|
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | |
Law Department, XX-0-00 | ||
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
Attention: Corporate Secretary | ||
with a copy to:
|
Debevoise & Xxxxxxxx | |
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||
Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. | ||
If to Executive:
|
The home address of Executive shown on the records of the Company |
(j) Amendments. This Agreement may not be altered, modified or amended except by a
written instrument signed by each of the parties hereto, provided, however, that the
Company may unilaterally amend this Agreement at any time as may be necessary, in its
reasonable judgment, to comply with law, to avoid payments to the Executive under the
Agreement being subject to an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code or to avoid
compensation paid prior to a Change of Control being nondeductible to the Company under
Revenue Ruling 2008-13. This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the
Code, and no action taken by the Company shall be construed in a manner that would result
in the imposition of an additional tax on Executive under Section 409A of the Code.
25
(k) Headings. Headings to provisions of this Agreement are for the convenience of
the parties only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or
interpretation hereof.
(l) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
(m) Withholding. Any payments provided for herein shall be reduced by any amounts
required to be withheld by the Company from time to time under applicable Federal, State or
local income or employment tax laws or similar statutes or other provisions of law then in
effect.
(n) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Connecticut, without reference to principles of conflicts or choice of law under which the
law of any other jurisdiction would apply.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly
authorized officer, and Executive has hereunto set his/her hand, as of the day and year first
above written.
THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC. | ||||||||
WITNESSED: |
||||||||
By: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Human Resources | |||||||
EXECUTIVE: | ||||||||
WITNESSED: |
||||||||
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||||||
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