CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of May ___, 2015, by and between Gibraltar Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxx Xxxx (the "Company") and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "Executive").
RECITALS:
The Executive is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Company and the Executive desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions upon which the Executive will be entitled to receive certain payments from the Company upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company.
CONSIDERATION:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1.Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a)"Act" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(b)"Affiliate" means, with respect to any person or entity, any other person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such person or entity where "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, contract or otherwise.
(c)"Aggregate Exercise Price" means: (i) in the case of options to acquire common stock of the Company which are owned by the Executive, the total amount of cash or immediately available funds which the Executive would be required to pay to the Company in order to purchase all of the common stock of the Company which, as of the date that the determination of the Aggregate Exercise Price is to be made, the Executive is entitled to purchase under the terms of all issued, outstanding and unexercised options to purchase common stock of the Company which are outstanding and exercisable on the date the determination of the Aggregate Exercise Price is to be made; and (ii) in the case of options to acquire Successor Equity (as hereinafter defined) the total amount of cash or immediately available funds which the Executive would be required to pay the Successor (as hereinafter defined) in order to purchase all the Successor Equity which, as of the date that the determination of the Aggregate Exercise Price is to be made, the Executive is entitled to purchase under the terms of all issued, outstanding and unexercised options to purchase Successor Equity which are outstanding and exercisable on the date the determination of the Aggregate Exercise Price of such options is to be made.
(d)"Annual Compensation" means the sum of: (i) the amount of the annual base salary of the Executive which is in effect during the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) occurs; and (ii) the highest annual bonus paid to the Executive by the Company during the three (3) calendar year period preceding the calendar year in which a Change in Control occurs. The amount of any compensation which the Executive has affirmatively elected to defer his receipt of, including without limitation, compensation deferred pursuant to any applicable 40l(k) plan, any Section 125 plan, any cafeteria plan or any other deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company, including but not limited to, the Company's Management Stock Purchase Plan, shall be
included when calculating Annual Compensation. Annual Compensation shall not include the value of any of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and rights or other equity or equity based grants.
(e)"Built In Gain" means an amount equal to: (i) the Highest Sale Price (as hereinafter defined) determined as of the date the Change in Control occurs, multiplied by the total number of shares of common stock of the Company which the Executive could acquire by exercising all of the options to acquire common stock of the Company which, as of the date the Change in Control occurs, were issued to the Executive, outstanding and unexercised, minus (ii) the Aggregate Exercise Price of such options.
(f)"Board" means the Board of Directors of Gibraltar Industries, Inc.
(g)"Cause" means that the Compensation Committee has determined (and provided the Executive a written statement of its determination) that the Executive has engaged in egregious acts or omissions which have resulted in material injury to the Company and its business.
(h)"Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(i)during any consecutive twelve-month period, (A) any "person" or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Act, other than the Company, an Affiliate of the Company, an employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any of its Affiliates) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Act) of thirty five percent (35%) or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Company through a transaction or series of transactions, including, but not limited to, a sale of shares of the Company’s voting common stock, a merger or a consolidation; and (B) the transaction or series of transactions by which such person or group acquires thirty five percent (35%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting common stock has not been arranged by or consummated with the prior approval of the Board of Directors;
(ii)a majority of the members of the Board are replaced during any consecutive twelve-month period by individuals whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of their appointment or election; or
(iii)the consummation of a Merger Sale.
(i)“Conversion Options" means, an option or options to purchase Successor Equity in the Successor which option or options may be granted by the Successor to the Executive and are exercisable in full, immediately following the Change in Control for an Aggregate Exercise Price which does not exceed the Aggregate Exercise Price of the options to purchase common stock of the Company which were owned by the Executive on the date the Change in Control occurs and which options, if exercised by the Executive in full, immediately following the occurrence of a Change in Control would provide for the ownership by the Executive of Successor Equity which, immediately following the acquisition of such Successor Equity by the Executive, may be sold by the Executive, free of any restrictions imposed on the sale of securities by the Securities Act of 1933, for a price which exceeds the Aggregate Exercise Price of the such options by an amount which is not less than the amount of the Built In Gain. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to require the Executive to accept a grant of Conversion Options from the Successor.
(j)“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment which has been suffered by the Executive, which impairment can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.
(k)“Deferred Compensation” means any amount of compensation that is non-qualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the authority and guidance thereunder.
(l)"Double Trigger Event" means: (i) the termination of the Executive's employment by the Company and all of its Affiliates, either by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for a Good Reason, if any such termination of the Executive's employment with the Company and its Affiliates occurs at any time after the entry by the Company into a Merger Sale Agreement and prior to the consummation of a Merger Sale or, if earlier, the termination of the Merger Sale Agreement; or (ii) the
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company and all of its Affiliates, either by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for a Good Reason, if any such termination of the Executive's employment with the Company and its Affiliates occurs at any time during the one (1) year period beginning on the date on which a Change in Control occurs;
(m)"Good Reason" the Executive will have Good Reason to terminate his employment with the Company if, after notice to the Company and a reasonable period to cure:
(i)the Executive's annual base salary and/or annual or long term cash or equity based bonus opportunity as a percentage of his base salary is reduced or any other material compensation or benefit arrangement for the Executive is reduced (and such reduction is unrelated to the Company's performance);
(ii)the Executive's duties or responsibilities are changed in a manner with the result that the Executive's new duties and responsibilities have: (A) been materially increased without the Executive's consent and without a mutually agreeable compensating increase in compensation, including base salary and annual and long term cash and equity incentive compensation opportunities; or (B) been decreased or otherwise limited so as to be inconsistent with the Executive's position (including status, offices, title and reporting requirements) following the Change in Control;
(iii)the Executive's authority is: (A) materially increased, without the Executive's consent and without a mutually agreeable compensating increase in compensation, including base salary and annual and long-term cash and equity incentive compensation opportunities, of the Executive; or (B) reduced or otherwise limited, in each case so as to be inconsistent with the authority which accompanied the Executive's position immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control (including status, offices, titles, and reporting requirements);
(iv)the Company or its successor changes the location of the principal office at which the Executive is required to perform his duties to a location which is more than fifty (50) miles from the Company's offices at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx; or
(v)during the period beginning on the date the Company executes a Merger Sale Agreement and ending on the date the Merger Sale transaction is consummated, the Company or its successor fails to offer the Executive a position after the Change in Control which, in the determination of the Executive is substantially the same as the position held by the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control.
(n)"Highest Sale Price" means: (i) with respect to the common stock of the Company, the highest closing sale price at which common stock of the Company has been sold, in an established securities market, during the twelve (12) consecutive month period ending on the date as of which the determination of the Highest Sale Price of the common stock of the Company is to be made; and (ii) in the case of any Successor Equity, the highest closing sale price at which such Successor Equity has been sold, in an established securities market, during the twelve (12) consecutive month period ending on the date as of which the determination of the Highest Sale Price of the Successor Equity is to be determined.
(o)"Merger Sale" means either: (i) any consolidation, sale of shares, merger, or other reorganization of the Company, through one transaction or a series of related transactions which has or have been approved by the Board, as a result of which, the person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Act other than the Company, an Affiliate of the Company, an employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any of its Affiliates) with whom such transaction or series of related transactions has or have been consummated, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting common stock of the Company or (ii)(A) any consolidation, sale of shares, merger, or other reorganization of the Company, through one transaction or a series of related transactions which has or have been approved by the Board , as a result of which, the person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Act (other than the Company, an Affiliate of the Company, an employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any of its Affiliates)) with whom such transaction or series of related transactions has or have been
consummated, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Act) of less than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting common stock of the Company; but only if (B) the Board, in its approval of such transaction or series of related transactions, has expressly provided that the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions constitutes a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement.
(p)"Merger Sale Agreement" means an agreement between the Company and any other person, corporation, limited liability company or other entity which, if the transactions contemplated by such agreement are consummated, would constitute a Merger Sale.
(q)“Retirement” means a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company which occurs after the Executive has attained at least age sixty (60) and been employed by the Company for a period of at least five (5) years (including, for this purpose, the period of time the Executive has been employed by any Affiliate of the Company); provided that the Executive provides the Company at least thirty (30) days advance written notice of the date that he will retire from his employment with the Company.
(r)"Successor" means, the person, firm, corporation or other entity which, as a result of the occurrence of a Change in Control, has succeeded, directly or indirectly, to all or substantially all the assets, rights, properties, liabilities and obligations of the Company.
(s)"Successor Equity" means capital stock or any other equity interest in the Successor.
2.Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall begin on the date first set forth above and, subject to the provisions of Section 9 below, shall remain in effect until the earlier of: (a) the end of the sixty (60) day period beginning on the first day following the end of the one (1) year period beginning on the date on which a Change in Control occurs; (b) the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company due to his death, his Retirement or his suffering of a Disability; or (c) except for a termination of the Executive's employment in connection with a Double Trigger Event, the termination of the Executive’s employment prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control.
3.Treatment of Equity Upon a Change in Control.
Upon the occurrence, prior to the termination of this Agreement as provided for by Section 2 above, of a Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:
(a)the restrictions imposed upon the sale, transfer or other conveyance of any restricted stock held by the Executive pursuant to the terms of any restricted stock agreement or any other plan or agreement shall terminate and cease to exist, and such stock shall thereafter be free from all such restrictions;
(b)if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company's legal existence continues and the proportionate number of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (on a fully diluted basis) which may be purchased by the Executive after the occurrence of the Change in Control pursuant to the exercise of his options and for a price equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price of the Executive's options (determined immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control), is at least equal to the proportionate number of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company which could have been purchased by the Executive pursuant to the exercise by the Executive of all of his options, immediately prior to the Change in Control (including any shares of the Company's common stock which may be acquired by the Executive as a result of adjustments made after the occurrence of a Change in Control to the terms of the options which the Executive held prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control, which adjustments provide the Executive the right to acquire more shares of the Company's common stock for the same Aggregate Exercise Price and shares of the Company's common stock which may be acquired by the Executive pursuant to the exercise of additional options granted to the Executive immediately following the Change in Control which are immediately
exercisable in full), then, all options to purchase the Company's common stock which were granted to the Executive prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control shall immediately become fully exercisable by the Executive;
(c)if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control: (i) the Company's legal existence continues but the number of shares of common stock of the Company which the Executive is entitled to purchase pursuant to the exercise of all options to purchase the Company's common stock which are owned by the Executive immediately following the Change in Control for a price which is not more than the Aggregate Exercise Price of his unexercised options immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control, is not, on a fully diluted basis, at least equal to the same proportion, on a fully diluted basis, of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company which could have been purchased by the Executive pursuant to the exercise of all of his options immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control; or (ii) the common stock of the Company is no longer listed for trading on an established securities market and the Successor has not, effective as of the date the Change in Control occurs, offered to grant Conversion Options to the Executive in lieu of the options of the Executive to purchase common stock of the Company; or (iii) the common stock of the Company is no longer listed for trading on an established securities market and the Successor has offered to grant Conversion Options to the Executive effective as of the date the Change in Control occurs (in lieu of the Executive's options to purchase common stock of the Company) but the Executive has elected not to accept such grant of Conversion Options; then (iv) the the options shall be deemed to be exercised upon the date of Change in Control and the following “put” right shall be automatically exercised, without any further action required by the Executive. In consideration of the sale of the shares resulting from such exercise, or in a “net exercise” procedure, the Executive shall be paid, in one lump sum payment not later than 30 days following the occurrence of the Change in Control, the amount of the Built In Gain on the options to purchase common stock of the Company which were issued to the Executive and outstanding and unexercised (whether or not then vested and exercisable) on the date the Change in Control occurs and, thereafter, all such options shall be deemed to have been exercised and shall for all purposes be deemed and construed to be null and void; and
(d)to the extent not otherwise provided above, any equity based incentive compensation award, including but not limited to options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and performance stock units, shall vest and: (i) in the case of options and stock appreciation rights, become fully exercisable; and (ii) in the case of restricted stock units and performance stock units, subject to Section 17 below, shall be issued as shares of common stock of the Company or paid in cash or immediately available funds, whichever form of payment is contemplated by such award, in each case with the amount of the shares of common stock of the Company to be issued or the amount of cash or immediately available funds to be paid being determined, if applicable, at the targeted level of performance.
4.Obligations of the Company Upon a Double Trigger Event. If a Double Trigger Event occurs, then, in addition to the payments and benefits which the Executive is entitled to pursuant to Section 3(a) above, except as otherwise provided by Section 17 hereof:
(a)the Company shall pay to the Executive in one lump sum payment, within ten (10) days following the date the Double Trigger Event occurs, any bonuses accrued for but not yet paid to the Executive for the fiscal year of the Company ending immediately prior to the date a Double Trigger Event occurs and, the Executive shall be paid the amount, if any, of the regularly scheduled installments of his annual base salary which were due to be paid for the period ending with the date the termination of the Executive's employment is effective, to the extent that such payments are unpaid as of the end of such ten (10) day period;
(b)the Company shall pay to the Executive, in one lump sum payment no later than ten (10) days following the occurrence of the Double Trigger Event, an amount equal to the sum of: (i) the Executive's accrued and unpaid vacation pay determined as of the date the termination of the Executive's
employment is effective; and (ii) an amount equal to: (A) the Executive's Annual Compensation determined as of the date of the Executive's employment is terminated; multiplied by (B) two (2) (together, the “Severance Payment”).
(c)If the Executive's options to purchase common stock of the Company have not been cancelled as provided for in Section 3(a)(iii) above, to the extent that the Executive has any unexercised options to purchase common stock of the Company, which options are exercisable at the time the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated, the options shall be deemed to be exercised upon the date of termination and the following “put” right shall be automatically exercised, without any further action required by the Executive. In consideration of the sale of the shares resulting from such exercise, or in a “net exercise” procedure, the Company shall pay to the Executive in one lump sum payment within thirty (30) days following the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated, an amount equal to: (i) the Highest Sale Price of the common stock of the Company determined as of the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated; multiplied by (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which the Executive is entitled to purchase (or was deemed to purchase) pursuant to the terms of all options to purchase any common stock of the Company which are owned by the Executive and exercisable on the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated; minus (iii) the Aggregate Exercise Price of the issued and outstanding unexercised options to purchase common stock of the Company which are owned by the Executive as of the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated to the extent that such options are exercisable as of such date.
(d)If the Executive has elected to accept a grant of Conversion Options from the Successor and, at the time that the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated, the Executive owns Conversion Options or any other options to acquire any Successor Equity which are exercisable at the time the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated, but any such Conversion Options and other options to purchase Successor Equity have not been exercised by the Executive, the options shall be deemed to be exercised upon the date of termination and the following “put” right shall be automatically exercised, without any further action required by the Executive. In consideration of the sale of the shares resulting from such exercise, or in a “net exercise” procedure, the Successor shall pay to the Executive in one lump sum payment within thirty (30) days following the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated, an amount equal to: (i) the Highest Sale Price, determined as of the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated, of each unit of Successor Equity which could be acquired by the Executive upon the exercise of all outstanding Conversion Options and other options to purchase Successor Equity on the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated; multiplied by (ii) the aggregate number of units of Successor Equity which the Executive is entitled to purchase pursuant to the terms of all options to purchase Successor Equity which are owned by the Executive and exercisable on the date the Double Trigger Event occurs; minus (iii) the Aggregate Exercise Price of all issued and outstanding unexercised Conversion Options and other options to purchase Successor Equity which were owned by the Executive and exercisable as of the date the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated.
(e)With respect to any equity based incentive compensation awards received by the Executive from the Company or a Successor after the occurrence of a Change in Control and prior to the occurrence of a Double Trigger Event which the Executive may become entitled to receive from the Company or a Successor for the period of time after the occurrence of a Change in Control and prior to the occurrence of a Double Trigger Event:
(i)if and to the extent that the Executive receives any equity based incentive compensation awards which are settled in common stock of the Company or a Successor after the occurrence of a Change in Control, upon the occurrence of the Double Trigger Event, the Executive's rights to receive any such common stock pursuant to any such equity based incentive compensation shall be fully vested and, in the case of equity based incentive compensation awards other than options, the
shares of common stock which the Executive would be entitled to receive if the performance required for payment of any such equity based incentive compensation was at the targeted level shall be issued to the Executive; and
(ii)if and to the extent that the Executive receives any equity based incentive compensation awards which are settled by the payment of cash or cash equivalents to the Executive after the occurrence of a Change in Control, upon the occurrence of the Double Trigger Event, such equity based incentive compensation shall be deemed to be fully vested and the Company shall pay to the Executive, in one lump sum payment within ten (10) days of the occurrence of the Double Trigger Event, the full amount of the cash or cash equivalents which the Executive would be entitled to receive in connection with such equity based incentive compensation awards if the performance required for payment of any such equity based incentive compensation was at the targeted level.
5.Effect on Terms and Conditions of Employment. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to modify, alter or otherwise amend the terms and conditions of the employment relationship between the Executive and the Company as it now exists or as it may exist in the future. Accordingly, the Executive hereby agrees that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to entitle the Executive to remain in the employment of the Company and that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to limit or otherwise restrict any rights which the Company now has or in the future may have to terminate the employment of the Executive. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to modify, alter, amend, limit or restrict, in any way, any rights which the Executive may now or in the future have to payment of any compensation or benefits from the Company or any employee plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Company and which the Executive is a participant in.
6.Confidentiality. During the period of the Executive's employment by the Company or any Successor, the Executive shall not, except as may be required in connection with the performance by the Executive of the duties of his employment with the Company or the Successor, disclose to any person, firm, corporation or other entity, any information concerning matters affecting or relating to the services, marketing, long range plans, financial strategies or other business of the Company or, if applicable, the Successor, or any of their respective customers so long as such information is not generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Executive or any other third party which is prohibited from disclosing such information by a contractual or fiduciary obligation.
7.Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration. If there has been a Change in Control and any dispute arises between the Executive and the Company as to the validity, enforceability, and/or interpretation of any right or benefit afforded by this Agreement such dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration proceedings in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrators shall presume that the rights and/or benefits afforded by this Agreement that are in dispute are valid and enforceable and that the Executive is entitled to such rights and/or benefits. The Company shall be precluded from asserting that such rights and/or benefits are not valid, binding, and enforceable and shall stipulate before such arbitrators that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The burden of overcoming by clear and convincing evidence the presumption that the Executive is entitled to such rights and/or benefits shall be on the Company. Punitive damages shall not be awarded. The results of any arbitration shall be conclusive on both parties and shall not be subject to judicial interference or review on any ground whatsoever, including without limitation any claim that the Company was wrongfully induced to enter into this Agreement to arbitrate such a dispute. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for legal fees and expenses incurred as a result of any dispute resolution process entered into by the Executive to enforce this Agreement.
8.Litigation Expenses. In the event that any dispute shall arise under this Agreement between the Executive and the Company, the Company shall be responsible for the payment of all reasonable
expenses of all parties to such dispute, including reasonable attorney fees, regardless of the outcome thereof.
9.Survival of Certain Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2 above, if a Change in Control occurs and, prior to the first anniversary of the Change in Control, the Executive becomes entitled to payment of any amount or provision of any benefits provided for by Sections 3, 4, 7 or 8 above, the Company's obligation to pay the Executive any such amounts or provide the Executive any such benefits shall survive until all such amounts and benefits have been paid or provided to the Executive.
10.Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified orally, and no provision hereof may be waived, except in writing signed by both the parties hereto.
11.Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto except with the written consent of the other.
12. Successors, Binding Effect.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the personal representatives and successors in interest of the Executive. In addition, this Agreement shall be binding upon any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, amalgamation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company. The Company expressly agrees that it shall have no right, power or authority to consummate any sale of all or substantially all the business and or assets of the Company or to consummate any merger, consolidation or other transaction as a result of which all or substantially all the business and/or assets of the Company are not owned by the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries unless the party that will own all or substantially all the business and/or assets of the Company following the consummation of such transaction executes and delivers an agreement with the Company expressly providing for the assumption by such party of all of the Company's obligations under this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such agreement shall be necessary to make the obligations of the Company under the terms of this Agreement binding on such successor to the business and/or assets of the Company.
(b)This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors and administrators. If Executive dies while any amount is still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts shall paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's personal representative or the executor or administrator of the Executive's estate within ten (10) days from the date such personal representative, executor or administrator is appointed. In addition, the obligation of the Company or, if applicable, the Successor to pay to the Executive the amounts required to be paid under the terms of this Agreement shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by any disability which may be suffered by the Executive after he becomes entitled to payment of any amounts which he is entitled to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
13.Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly within such State except with respect to the internal affairs of the Company and its stockholders, which shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
14. Notices. All notices and other communications given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been properly given or delivered if hand-delivered, or if mailed, by certified mail or registered mail postage prepaid, addressed to the Executive at his residence address as maintained by the Company’s Human Resources Department or if to the Company, at its address set forth above, with a copy to the attention of Lippes Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000. From time to time, any party hereto may designate by written notice any other address or party to which such notice or communication or copies thereof shall be sent.
15.Severability of Provisions. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision was not contained herein.
16.Headings. The headings of the Sections and Articles of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not constitute a part hereof or affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
17.409A Savings Clause.
(a)(a) If and to the extent that any provision of this Agreement would result in the payment or deferral of compensation in a manner which does not comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, such provisions shall, to the maximum extent possible, be construed and interpreted in a manner which will cause such provisions to be implemented in a manner which complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder so as to avoid subjecting the Executive to taxation under Section 409A(a)(i)(A) of the Code. In connection with the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, a termination of the Executive’s employment shall not be deemed to occur unless such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of the Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 409A of the Code. If any payment provided for by this Agreement could, as a result of the period of time within which such payment is required to be made, be paid to the Executive in one of two consecutive taxable years of the Executive, the Executive shall have no right to determine the taxable year in which such payment is made.
(b)No amount of “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be payable solely pursuant to a Change in Control event defined in this Agreement which event does not also qualify as a “change in ownership” or “change in control” within the meaning of Section 409A, provided however, it being understood that such amounts shall vest without immediate payment.
(c)In addition, if at the time a Double Trigger Event occurs, the common stock of the Company or, if applicable, the Successor is publicly traded on an established securities market, the amounts required to be paid to the Executive that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be paid to the Executive (or in the case of the Executive's death, to the personal representative of the Executive's estate) on the first business day following the earlier of: (a) the date of the Executive's death; and (b) the end of the six (6) month period which begins on the first day following: the date the Double Trigger Event occurs.
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Signature Page To Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Change In Control Agreement
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Change in Control Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
_________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
By: ____________________________
