Exhibit 10.7
FORM OF EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT (TIER II)
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT, made this 24th day of
March, 1997, by and between THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CORPORATION, a New York corporation
having a principal place of business in Greene, New York (hereinafter, together
with its successors and assigns, "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") and ________________, an individual
having a principal place of residence in ___________, __________ (hereinafter
"Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ has a long-standing tradition of employment
at will; and
WHEREAS, Executive has been a trusted and valuable employee of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ for a period of time; and
WHEREAS, the loss of Executive's services during a period in
which there was a change in control of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ would be harmful to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; and
WHEREAS, the possibility of a change in control creates an
unsettling atmosphere and uncertainties for Executive; and
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Executive wish to amend and restate the
Executive Agreement dated _________ __, 19__;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises,
covenants and agreements herein contained, and for other good and valuable
consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
1. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on
the date on which a "Change of Control" (as such term is defined in paragraph 2
hereof) occurs.
2. Change of Control. The term "Change of Control" shall mean
a change of control of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of a nature that would be required to be reported
in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the date of this Agreement or,
if Item 6(e) is no longer in effect, any regulations issued by the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which
serves similar purposes; provided that, without limitation, such a Change of
Control shall be deemed to have occurred if and when:
A. any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is or becomes
a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ representing 25% or more of the combined voting power
of Raymond's then outstanding securities; or
B. individuals who on the date this Agreement is amended and
restated constituted the Board of Directors (together with any
new directors whose election by such Board of Directors, or
whose nomination for election by the shareholders of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ then still in office who were either directors on the
date this Agreement is amended and restated or whose election
or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease
for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors then in office; or
C. the stockholders of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ approve any transaction or
series of transactions under which ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is merged or
consolidated with any other company, other than a merger or
consolidation which would result in the voting securities of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more
than 75% of the combined voting power of the voting securities
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or such surviving entity outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation; or
D. the stockholders of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ approve a plan of complete
liquidation of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of all or substantially all of
Raymond's assets.
3. Employment. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby agrees to continue the Executive
in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, for the period commencing on the effective date of this Agreement and
ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). During
such Employment Period, the Executive shall exercise such authority and perform
such executive duties as are commensurate with the authority being exercised and
the duties being performed by the Executive immediately prior to the effective
date of this Agreement. Such services shall be performed at the location where
the Executive was the employee immediately prior to the effective date of this
Agreement or at such other location as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may reasonably require that is
within 30 miles of such prior location; provided, however, the Executive shall
not be required to accept a location which is unreasonable in light of the
Executive's personal circumstances. The Executive agrees that during the period
of employment he shall devote his full business time exclusively to his
executive duties as described herein and shall perform such duties faithfully
and efficiently.
4. Compensation. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to the following compensation and benefits:
A. An annual salary which is not less than the Executive's
annual salary immediately prior to the effective date of this
Agreement, with the opportunity for increases, from time to
time thereafter, which are in accordance with Raymond's
regular practices. Such salary shall be paid in substantially
equal monthly installments commencing with the first day of
the month following the month in which the Change in Control
occurs. In the event the Executive dies or is terminated for
"Cause" (as such term is hereinafter defined) at any time
during the three year period during which payments are made
pursuant to this paragraph, no further payments shall be paid
or payable pursuant to this paragraph 4A.
B. Executive shall be entitled to participate in accordance
and with the terms of any bonus, stock option, restricted
stock, pension and/or profit sharing or other incentive
compensation plans in which he was a participant immediately
prior to the effective date of this Agreement, or any
successor plans that provide Executive with compensation and
benefits no less than such prior plans.
C. Executive shall be entitled to receive all employee
benefits including, but not limited to, medical, life, and
split-dollar life insurance benefits, to which he was entitled
immediately prior to the effective date of this Agreement.
5. Termination. The term "Termination" shall mean termination
by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of the employment of the Executive during the Employment Period, (for
any reason other than death, "Disability" or "Cause" as such terms are defined
below), or the resignation of the Executive upon the occurrence of any of the
following events:
A. a significant change in the nature or scope of the
Executive's authorities or duties from those described in
paragraph 3, a reduction in total compensation and/or benefits
from those provided in paragraph 4, or the breach by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
of any other provision of this Agreement; or
B. a reasonable determination by the Executive that, as the
result of a Change of Control of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and a change in
circumstances thereafter significantly affecting his position,
he is unable to exercise the authorities, powers, functions or
duties attached to his position and contemplated by paragraph
3 of this Agreement; or
C. a failure by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to assign this Agreement to its
successors and assigns.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Disability" shall
mean permanent disability (as determined under Raymond's disability insurance
plan). For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Cause" shall mean:
A. any material misappropriation of funds or property of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ by Employee; or
B. unreasonable and persistent neglect or refusal by Employee
to perform his duties as provided in paragraph 3 hereof, which
results in material harm to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; or
C. conviction of Employee of a felony.
6. Termination Payments. In the event the Executive's
employment is terminated and subject to the provisions of paragraph 5 of this
Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall pay to and provide the Executive with the following:
A. The greater of the following amounts:
(i) a lump sum amount, payable within 60 days following the
Executive's Termination, equal to the sum of (1) all salary
payments that would have been payable to Executive during
the remainder of the Employment Period had no Termination
occurred (at same rate as payable immediately prior to the
date of Termination), plus (2) the estimated amount of any
bonuses to which the Executive would have been entitled had
he remained in the employ of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (provided that in no
event will the amount of any bonus for any particular year
be less than the amount of the bonus paid to the Executive
for the year immediately preceding the year of
Termination); or
(ii) a lump sum amount, payable within 60 days following
the Executive's Termination, equal to two times the sum of
(1) Executive's base salary in effect immediately prior to
the Termination and (2) Executive's target annual bonus
(or, if higher, the average of Executive's actual annual
bonuses (paid or accrued) for the three fiscal years
immediately preceding the year in which the Termination
occurred); and
B. an amount equal to the Employee's target annual bonus for
the fiscal year in which the Termination occurs, multiplied by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in
such fiscal year that the Employee was employed by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and
the denominator of which is 365, payable in a lump sum within
60 days following the Termination; and
C. During the remainder of the Employment Period, the
Executive shall continue to be treated as an employee under
the provisions of any stock option, restricted stock, pension
and/or profit sharing plans or other incentive compensation
arrangements described in paragraph 4B. In addition the
Executive shall continue to be entitled to all benefits and
service credit for benefits under medical, life insurance,
split dollar life insurance and other employee benefit plans,
programs and arrangements of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ described in paragraph 4C
as if he were still employed during such period under this
Agreement; and
D. If, despite the provisions of paragraph 6C above, benefits
or service credits under any employee benefit plan shall not
be payable or provided under any such plan to the Executive,
or his dependents, beneficiaries and estate, because he is no
longer an employee of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ itself shall, to the
extent necessary, pay or provide for payment of such benefits
or service credit for such benefits to the Executive, his
dependents, beneficiaries and estate.
E. If, despite the provisions of paragraph 6C above, benefits
or the right to accrue further benefits under any stock
option, restricted stock, pension and/or profit sharing plan
or other incentive compensation arrangement described in
paragraph 4B shall not be provided under any such arrangement
to the Executive, or his dependents, beneficiaries and estate,
because he is no longer an employee of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall,
to the extent necessary, pay or provide for payment of such
benefits to the Executive, his dependents, beneficiaries and
estate.
7. Benefits Triggered Solely Upon a Change in Control. Upon a
Change in Control, all equity-based awards held by Executive shall be fully
vested, and such awards shall be fully exercisable pursuant to the terms of the
plans under which such awards were granted. Furthermore, following a Change in
Control, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall pay Executive a stay bonus in the amount of an additional
month's salary (based on Executive's annual salary immediately prior to such
Change in Control) for each month (up to a maximum of six months) that Executive
remains employed with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ following a Change in Control.
8. Code Section 280G Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Agreement, any amounts payable under this Agreement shall
be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid Executive being deemed to have
received an "Excess Parachute Payment" as defined in Section 280G of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); provided, however, that
such a reduction shall occur only to the extent that the amounts received by the
Executive on an after-tax basis with such a reduction would exceed the amounts
received by the Executive on an after-tax basis without such a reduction.
9. Non-Competition and Confidentiality. The Executive agrees
that:
A. There shall be no obligation on the part of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to
provide any further payments or benefits (other than benefits
or payments already earned or accrued) described in paragraph
6, if, during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
employed by or otherwise engage or be interested in any
business which is competitive with any business of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or
any of its subsidiaries in which the Executive was engaged
during his employment prior to a termination and if, but only
if, such employment or activity is likely to cause, or causes,
serious damage to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or any of its subsidiaries;
provided, however, nothing herein shall prohibit Executive
from owning less than 3% of the issued and outstanding stock
of a company traded on a national securities exchange; and
B. During and after the Employment Period, he will not divulge
or appropriate to his own use or the use of others any secret
or confidential information or knowledge pertaining to the
business of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or any of its subsidiaries, obtained
during his employment by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or any of its subsidiaries.
10. No Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to seek
employment with any subsequent employer following his Termination of employment
from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, and no amounts payable hereunder shall be reduced by reason of any
compensation or benefits received by Executive from a subsequent employer.
11. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, shall be settled by
arbitration in the City of Syracuse in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York by three arbitrators, one of whom shall be appointed by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, one by
the Executive and the third of whom shall be appointed by the first two
arbitrators. If the first two arbitrators cannot agree on the appointment of a
third arbitrator, then the third arbitrator shall be appointed by a Justice of
the Supreme Court for the County of Onondaga, State of New York. The arbitration
shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association, except with respect to the selection of arbitrators which shall be
as provided in this paragraph 11. Judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. In the
event that it shall be necessary or desirable for the Executive to retain legal
counsel and/or incur other costs and expenses in connection with the enforcement
of any and all of his rights under this Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall pay (or the
Executive shall be entitled to recover from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as the case may be) his
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs and expenses in connection with the
enforcement of his said rights (including the enforcement of any arbitration
award in court), regardless of the final outcome, unless the arbitrator shall
expressly determine that such action was brought by Executive in bad faith.
12. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands and other
communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing
and if sent by registered or certified mail to the Executive at the last address
he has filed in writing with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or, in the case of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, at its
principal executive offices.
13. Non-Alienation. The Executive shall not have any right to
pledge, hypothecate, anticipate or in any way create a lien upon any amounts
provided under this Agreement. No benefits payable hereunder shall be assignable
in anticipation of payment either by voluntary or involuntary acts, or by
operation or law.
14. Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
reference to principles of conflict of laws.
15. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or cancelled by
mutual agreement of the parties in writing without the consent of any other
person and, so long as the Executive lives, no person, other than the parties
hereto, shall have any rights under or interests in this Agreement or the
subject matter hereof.
16. Successors to the Company. Except as otherwise provided
herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon or inure to the benefit of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
and any successor of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
17. Severability. In the event that any provision or portion
of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any
reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall be unaffected thereby
and shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set his hand,
and pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ has
caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CORPORATION
By: __________________________
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board
of Directors
_________________________
_________________________
Executive
