MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between General
▇▇▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
______________ (the "Executive"), as of the 11th day of
December, 1995.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and
its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the
continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the
possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it is
essential to diminish the inevitable distraction of the
Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to
encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the
Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending
Change of Control, and to provide the Executive with
compensation and benefit arrangements upon a Change of Control
which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of
the Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with
those of other corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish
these objectives, the Board has caused the Company to enter
into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Certain Definitions. (a) The "Effective Date" shall
mean the first date during the Change of Control Period (as
defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control (as
defined in Section 2) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and
if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
prior to the date on which the Change of Control occurs, and if
it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such
termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third
party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a
Change of Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or
anticipation of a Change of Control, then for all purposes of
this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date
immediately prior to the date of such termination of
employment.
(b) The "Change of Control Period" shall mean the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third
anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, that
commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on
each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual
anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Renewal Date"), unless previously terminated, the Change of
Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to
terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least
60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice
to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be
so extended.
2. Change of Control. For the purpose of this
Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean:
(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group
(within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"))
(a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the
combined voting power of then outstanding voting securities of
the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a),
the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of
Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company; (ii)
any acquisition by the Company; (iii) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the
Company; or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to
a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
of subsection (c) of this Section 2; and provided, further,
that if any Person's beneficial ownership of the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities reaches or exceeds 20% as a result of
a transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above, and such
Person subsequently acquires beneficial ownership of additional
voting securities of the Company, such subsequent acquisition
shall be treated as an acquisition that causes such Person to
own 20% or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities;
or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute
the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however,
that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date
hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the
Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of
the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect
to the election or removal of directors or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business
Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business
Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting
from such Business Combination (including, without limitation,
a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets
either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii)
no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such
Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such
Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the
extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business
Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the
time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the
action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;
or
(d) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to
continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby
agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period
commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second
anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period").
4. Terms of Employment. (a) Position and Duties. (i)
During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements),
authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least
commensurate in all material respects with the most significant
of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the
120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B)
the Executive's services shall be performed at the location
where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the
Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles
from such location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any
periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention
and time during normal business hours to the business and
affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to
discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive
hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to
perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities.
(b) Compensation. (i) Base Salary. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base
salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly
rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base
salary paid or payable, including any base salary or portion
thereof which has been earned but deferred, to the Executive by
the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the
twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which
the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the
Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed no more than 12 months
after the last salary increase awarded to the Executive prior
to the Effective Date and thereafter at least annually. Any
increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or
reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this
Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any
such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in
this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so
increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated
companies" shall include any company controlled by, controlling
or under common control with the Company.
(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base
Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year
ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the
"Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average of the
Executive's bonuses paid under the Company's Executive
Incentive Plan, or any comparable bonus under any predecessor
or successor plan, for the last three full fiscal years prior
to the Effective Date (annualized in the event that the
Executive was not employed by the Company for the whole of such
fiscal year) (the "Average Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual
Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of
the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the
Annual Bonus is awarded, unless and to the extent that the
Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of all or a portion
of such Annual Bonus.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans.
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled
to participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans,
practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies,
but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and
programs provide the Executive with incentive opportunities
(measured with respect to both regular and special incentive
opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such distinction is
applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit
opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate,
than the most favorable of those provided by the Company and
its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans,
practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective
Date or if more favorable to the Executive, those provided
generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment
Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the
case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall
receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices,
policies and programs provided by the Company and its
affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical,
prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life,
accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and
programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in
no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable,
in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such plans,
practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at
any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those
provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to
other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for
all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance
with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of
the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the
Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits, including,
without limitation, tax and financial planning services,
payment of club dues, and, if applicable, use of an automobile
and payment of related expenses, in accordance with the most
favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the
Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the
Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(vii) Office and Support Staff. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office
or offices of a size and with furnishings and other
appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other
assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the
foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its
affiliated companies at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable
to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter
with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(viii) Vacation. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance
with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices
of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect for
the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
5. Termination of Employment. (a) Death or
Disability. The Executive's employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment
Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the
Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment
Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth
below), it may give to the Executive written notice in
accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement of its
intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such
event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate effective on the 30th days after receipt of such
notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"),
provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the
Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of
the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the
Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for
180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to
mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and
permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its
insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's
legal representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive
to perform substantially the Executive's duties with
the Company or one of its affiliates (other than any
such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical
or mental illness), after a written demand for
substantial performance is delivered to the Executive
by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company which specifically identifies the manner in
which the Board or Chief Executive Officer believes
that the Executive has not substantially performed the
Executive's duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal
conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and
demonstrably injurious to the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on
the part of the Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless
it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad
faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive's action
or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act,
or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a
resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the instructions
of the Chief Executive Officer or a senior officer of the
Company or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company
shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests
of the Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive
shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there
shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less
than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a
meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the
Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be
heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith
opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct
described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the
particulars thereof in detail.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be
terminated by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's
position (including status, offices, titles and
reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of
this Agreement, or any other action by the Company
which results in a diminution in such position,
authority or duties or responsibilities, excluding for
this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by
the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof
given by the Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of
the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other
than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure
not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the
Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be
based at any office or location other than as provided
in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof or the Company's requiring
the Executive to travel on Company business to a
substantially greater extent than required immediately
prior to the Effective Date;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly
permitted by this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and
satisfy Section 12(c) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 5(c), any good faith determination
of "Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the
Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall
be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party
hereto given in accordance with Section 13(b) of this
Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of
Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the
specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon,
(ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail
the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of the Executive's employment under the provision
so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined
below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice,
specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more
than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure
by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of
Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a
showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of
the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or
preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from
asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i)
if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for
Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt
of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified
therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or
Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which
the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
death of Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date
of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as
the case may be.
6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a)
Good Reason; Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If,
during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the
Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability or
the Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of
Termination the aggregate of the following amounts:
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base
Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent
not theretofore paid; and (2) the product of (x) the
higher of (A) the Average Annual Bonus (or, in the
case of a new Executive who has not yet received one
full year's bonus, an amount equal to the
Executive's maximum annual bonus that could be
payable under the Executive Incentive Plan for the
fiscal year that includes the Effective Date) or (B)
the Executive's annual bonus for the last fiscal
year (such higher amount being referred to as the
"Higher Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days in the
current fiscal year through the Date of Termination,
and the denominator of which is 365; (the sum of the
amounts described in clauses (1) and (2) shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued
Obligations"); and
B. the amount equal to the product of (1) three
and (2) the sum of (x) the Executive's Annual Base
Salary and (y) the Higher Annual Bonus; and
C. an amount equal to the excess of (a) the
actuarial equivalent (utilizing actuarial
assumptions no less favorable to the Executive than
the most favorable in effect under the Company's
qualified defined benefit retirement plan (the
"Retirement Plan") and any excess or supplemental
retirement plan in which the Executive participates
(together, the "SERP"), at any time since the day
immediately prior to the Effective Date) of the
benefit under the Retirement Plan and the SERP which
the Executive would receive if the Executive's
employment continued for three years after the Date
of Termination assuming for this purpose that all
accrued benefits are fully vested, and, assuming
that the Executive's compensation in each of the
three years is that required by Section 4(b)(i) and
Section 4(b)(ii), over (b) the actuarial equivalent
of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable),
if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP as of
the Date of Termination;
(ii) until the earlier to occur of (A) the date three
years after the Executive's Date of Termination, or (B)
the first day of the first month next following the
Executive's 65th birthday, the Company shall continue
benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family
at least equal to those which would have been provided
to them in accordance with the plans, programs,
practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of
this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not
been terminated or, if more favorable to the Executive,
as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies and their families, provided,
however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with
another employer and is eligible to receive medical or
other welfare benefits under another employer provided
plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described
herein shall be secondary to those provided under such
other plan during such applicable period of
eligibility; and further subject that if at the Date of
Termination the Executive would not qualify for post-
retirement benefits under the plans and programs then
in effect for the reason that the Executive had not
reached age 55, the Executive shall nevertheless be
entitled to such benefits equal to the benefits the
Executive would have received if the Executive was age
55 at the Date of Termination. For purposes of
determining eligibility (but not the time of
commencement of benefits) of the Executive for retiree
benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs
and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have
remained employed until three years after the Date of
Termination and to have retired on the last day of such
period;
(iii) the Company shall, at its sole expense as
incurred, provide the Executive with outplacement
services the scope and provider of which shall be
selected by the Executive in his or her sole
discretion; and
(iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided,
the Company shall timely pay or provide to the
Executive any other amounts or benefits required to be
paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to
receive under any plan, program, policy or practice of
contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated
companies (such other amounts and benefits shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits").
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated
by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment
Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and
the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or
beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30
days of the Date of Termination.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the
Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment of
Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of
Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the
Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of
Termination.
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the
Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the
Employment Period, or if the Executive voluntarily terminates
employment during the Employment Period, excluding a
termination for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive, other than for
Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of
Other Benefits. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be
paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of
the Date of Termination.
(e) By the Company more than two years after the
Effective Date. If the Company shall terminate the Executive's
employment for any reason other than for Cause or Disability at
any date that is more than two years after the Effective Date,
the Executive shall be entitled to receive the benefits
specified under clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of paragraph
(a) of Section 6, except that the word "three" in subclause B.
of clause (i) and the words "three years" in subclause C. of
clause (i) and clause (ii) shall be replaced with "one" and
"one year," respectively.
(f) By the Executive during the Window Period. Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, a
termination by the Executive for any reason during the 30-day
period immediately following the first anniversary of the
Effective Date shall be deemed to be a termination for Good
Reason for all purposes of this Agreement, and the Executive
shall be entitled to receive the benefits specified in
paragraph (a) of Section 6, except that the word "three" shall
be replaced with the word "two" in each place where it appears
in said paragraph (a) of Section 6.
7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement
shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided
by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which
the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 13(f), shall
anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the
Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the
Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are
vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to
receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any
contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated
companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be
payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or
program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified
by this Agreement.
8. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make
the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any
set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim,
right or action which the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be
obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by
way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under
any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall
not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other
employment. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full
extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the
Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest
(regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the
Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or
liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any
guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any
contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment
pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any
delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in
Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code").
9. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it
shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or
payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard
to any additional payments required under this Section 9) (a
"Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code
Section 4999 or any interest or penalties are incurred by the
Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax,
together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the
Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a
"Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the
Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without
limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties
imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the
Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-
Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all
determinations required to be made under this Section 9,
including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and
the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be
utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP or such other certified public accounting
firm as may be designated by the Executive (the "Accounting
Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations
both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days
of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been
a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.
In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant
or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the
Change of Control, the Executive shall appoint another
nationally recognized accounting firm to make the
determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall
then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All
fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely
by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant
to this Section 9, shall be paid by the Company to the
Executive within five days of the receipt of the Accounting
Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm
shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a
result of the uncertainty in the application of Code Section
4999 at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting
Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which
will not have been made by the Company should have been made
("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to
be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its
remedies pursuant to Section 9(c) and the Executive thereafter
is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting
Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has
occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by
the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of
any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful,
would require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up
Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as
practicable but no later than ten business days after the
Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall
apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on
which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall
not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period
following the date on which he or she gives such notice to the
Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any
payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the
Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such period that it desires to contest such
claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably
requested by the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting
such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in
writing from time to time, including, without
limitation, accepting legal representation with respect
to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the
Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in
order to effectively contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any
proceedings relating to such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly
all costs and expenses (including additional interest and
penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax
basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such
representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without
limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(c),
the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection
with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo
any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim
and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay
the tax claimed and ▇▇▇ for a refund or contest the claim in
any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute
such contest to a determination before any administrative
tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more
appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided,
however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such
claim and ▇▇▇ for a refund, the Company shall advance the
amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free
basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on
an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed
with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed
income with respect to such advance; and further provided that
any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment
of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to
which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited
solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's
control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect
to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the
Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case
may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service
or any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the Executive
becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such
claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's complying
with the requirements of Section 9(c)) promptly pay to the
Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest
paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If,
after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect
to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in
writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to
the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such
advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be
repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the
extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be
paid.
10. Confidential Information. The Executive shall hold
in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all
secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating
to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their
respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the
Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or
any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or
become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or
representatives of the Executive in violation of this
Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment
with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required
by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such
information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company
and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted
violation of the provisions of this Section 10 constitute a
basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise
payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
11. Supplemental Trust. The Company has established a
Supplemental Benefits Trust with Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
as Trustee to hold assets of the Company under certain
circumstances as a reserve for the discharge of the Company's
obligations under this Agreement and certain plans of deferred
compensation of the Company. In the event of a Change of
Control as defined in Section 1 hereof, the Company shall be
obligated to immediately contribute such amounts to the Trust
as may be necessary to fully fund all benefits that may become
payable under Sections 6(a), 6(e) or 9 of the Agreement.
Executives shall have the right to demand and secure specific
performance of this provision. All assets held in the Trust
remain subject only to the claims of the Company's general
creditors whose claims against the Company are not satisfied
because of the Company's bankruptcy or insolvency (as those
terms are defined in the Trust Agreement). The Executive does
not have any preferred claim on, or beneficial ownership
interest in, any assets of the Trust before the assets are paid
to the Executive and all rights created under the Trust, as
under this Agreement, are unsecured contractual claims of the
Executive against the Company.
In the event the funding of the Trust described in the
preceding paragraph does not occur, upon written demand by the
Executive given at any time after a Change of Control occurs,
the Company shall deposit in trust with an institutional
trustee (the "Trustee") designated by the Executive in such
demand amounts which may become payable to the Executive
pursuant to Sections 6(a), 6(b) or 9 with irrevocable
instructions to pay amounts to the Executive when due in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. All fees,
expenses and other charges of the Trustee shall be paid by the
Company. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively on
the Executive's written statement as to the fact that payments
are due under this Agreement and the amount of such payments.
If the Trustee is not notified that payments are due under this
Agreement within two years and 60 days after receipt of a
deposit hereunder, all amounts deposited with the Trustees and
earnings with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Company
on demand.
12. Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to the
Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company
shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's
legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that
the Company would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and
any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which
assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of
law, or otherwise.
13. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Minnesota, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.
The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions
hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may
not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written
agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective
successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other
party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive:
If to the Company: General ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
Number ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished
to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and
communications shall be effective when actually received by the
addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign
taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any
applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist
upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or
the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company
may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of
the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant
to Section 5(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed
to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other
provision or right of this Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that,
except as may otherwise be provided under any other written
agreement between the Executive and the Company, the employment
of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, subject to
Section 1(a) hereof, prior to the Effective Date, the
Executive's employment and/or this Agreement may be terminated
by either the Executive or the Company at any time prior to the
Effective Date, in which case the Executive shall have no
further rights under this Agreement. From and after the
Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set his or
her hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of
Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed
in its name on its behalf, all as of the date first above
written.
[Executive]
GENERAL ▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
By: