Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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AGREEMENT by and between Crown Vantage Inc., a Virginia corporation (the
"Company") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive"), dated as of the 1st day of
September, 1999.
1. Effective Date. The "Effective Date" of this Agreement shall be September
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1, 1999.
2. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in
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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 December 31, 2001
(the "Employment Period"). Should the Executive remain employed by the
Company following the expiration of the Employment Period, it shall not be
according to, or governed by, the terms of this Agreement in any respect.
Unless the Executive's employment is pursuant to another Agreement, the
Executive shall be employed "at will," according to terms and conditions,
and with compensation and benefits, as are offered by the Company and
accepted by the Executive.
3. Terms of Employment.
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(a) Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
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be employed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
and shall have such duties, responsibilities and authority as shall be
consistent therewith.
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. During the
Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for
the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or
teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments,
so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the
performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the
Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood
and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been
conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued
conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in
nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not
thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation.
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(i) Base Salary. The Executive shall receive an annual base salary
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("Annual Base Salary") of $375,000 during the Employment Period.
The Annual Base Salary
shall be paid in equal monthly installments or more frequently.
During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be
reviewed at least every 12 months. 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.
(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive
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shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the
Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") pursuant
to the Company's annual incentive plans, pro rated in the case
of a bonus for any year during which the Executive was employed
for less than 12 months. 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 the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such
Annual Bonus.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment
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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. As used in this Agreement,
the term "affiliated companies" shall include any company
controlled by, controlling or under common control with the
Company.
(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the
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Executive and/or the Executive's dependents, 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
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entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
business expenses incurred by the Executive.
(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive
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shall be entitled to fringe benefits at the discretion of the
Company, including, without
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limitation, tax and financial planning services, payment of club
dues, and an automobile of his or her choice and payment of
related expenses.
(vii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
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entitled to 6 weeks of paid vacation per year.
4. Termination of Employment.
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(a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall terminate
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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 11(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 day 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
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Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause"
shall mean:
(i) the continued failure of the Executive to perform 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) to the satisfaction of the President
and CEO, after a written notification is delivered to the
Executive which identifies the manner in which the Executive has
not performed to the satisfaction of the President and CEO; or
(ii) the engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross
misconduct which is injurious to the Company; or
(iii) failure to obey the lawful direction of the President and CEO,
not cured within five days following written notice from the
President and CEO; or
(iv) any act(s) that has a substantial and adverse effect on the
Company's business or reputation.
(c) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause shall
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be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereto
given in accordance with Section 11(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
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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
Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Cause shall not waive
any right of the Company hereunder or preclude the Company from
asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Company's rights
or defending against any claim of the Executive hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
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Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, 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 or Disability,
the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or
the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
5. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
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(a) Termination Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability if Employee
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Agrees to Cancellation of Change of Control Agreement. If, during the
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Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's
employment other than for Cause or death or Disability, and, subject
to (i) the execution by the Executive of the Release attached as
Exhibit A hereto, and (ii) the automatic cancellation of any right the
Executive might otherwise have under the Change of Control Agreement
previously entered into between the Executive and the Company, a copy
of which is attached as Exhibit B, the Executive shall be entitled to
all of the following:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash
within 15 calendar 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,
(2) the product of (x) the higher of (I) the Minimum Bonus
and (II) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including any
bonus or portion thereof, which has been earned but deferred
(and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than
twelve full months or during which the Executive was
employed for less than twelve full months), for the most
recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period,
if any (such higher amount being referred to as the "Highest
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,
and (3) any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings
thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in
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each case to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of
the amounts described in clauses (1), (2), and (3) shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and
B. an amount equal to the product of (1) three and (2) the
highest amount actually paid to the Executive in cash
compensation (that is, Annual Base Salary plus bonus(es)
actually paid) in any one of the previous three calendar
years; and
C. an amount equal to the excess of (a) the actuarial
equivalent of the benefit (utilizing actuarial assumptions
no less favorable to the Executive than those in effect
under the Company's qualified defined benefit retirement
plan (the "Retirement Plan") and immediately prior to the
Effective Date under the Retirement Plan, and any excess or
supplemental retirement plan in which the Executive
participates (together, 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 3(b)(i) and Section
3(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) all stock options, restricted stock and other stock-based
compensation shall become immediately exercisable or vested, as
the case may be, and stock options shall be exercisable for
three years thereafter;
(iii) for the Continuation Period (as defined below), the Company
shall continue to pay the premium for benefits to the Executive
and/or the Executive's dependents equal to those which would
have been provided to them in accordance with the plans,
programs, practices and policies described in Section 3(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 provided
further that the Executive and the Executive's dependents
otherwise are and remain eligible for coverage under the federal
law COBRA. The Continuation Period shall be three years. 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;
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(iv) the Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide the
Executive with reasonable outplacement services the scope and
provider of which shall be selected by the Executive in his sole
discretion; and
(v) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company
shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts
or benefits, other than (x) severance benefits and (y) any
benefits or payments under the Change of Control Agreement
(Exhibit B), all rights to which the Executive shall have
relinquished as partial consideration for the payments and
benefits under this Section 5(a), that are required to be paid
or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive under
any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement
of the Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts
and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other
(b) Termination Other than for Cause, Death or Disability if the Executive
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Does Not Agree to Cancellation of Change of Control Agreement. If,
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during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the
Executive's employment other than for Cause, death or Disability, and
the Executive elects to maintain in effect the Change of Control
Agreement previously entered into between the Executive and the
Company, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit B, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations on the part of the Company
to the Executive other than obligation to pay to the Executive (x) his
or her Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (y) the
amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, and
(z) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.
(c) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
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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, the Severance Amount (as defined below) and the
timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. The "Severance Amount"
equals the sum of (x) one times the Annual Base Salary, and (y) one
times the Target Bonus, and (z) the pro rata share of the annual bonus
plan for the year in which death occurred. Accrued Obligations shall
be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a
lump sum in cash within 30 calendar days of the Date of Termination.
With respect to the provision of Other Benefits after the Effective
Date, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 5(c) shall
include, without limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or
beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to
the most favorable benefits provided by the Company and affiliated
companies to the estates and beneficiaries of peer executives of the
Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs,
practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in
effect with respect to other peer executives and their beneficiaries
at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive's estate and/or
the Executive's beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of the
Executive's death with respect to other peer executives of the Company
and its affiliated companies and their beneficiaries.
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(d) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
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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, the
Severance Amount 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 calendar days of the Date of Termination. With
respect to the provision of Other Benefits after the Effective Date,
the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 5(d) shall
include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability
Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits at least
equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company
and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their
families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and
policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with
respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during
the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if
more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in
effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their
families.
(e) Termination for Cause or by Resignation of Employee. If the
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Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the
Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the
Executive (x) his or her Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by
the Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent
theretofore unpaid. If the Executive breaches this Agreement by
voluntarily terminating employment during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations and the timely payment
or provision of Other Benefits, and the Company shall have any and all
legal and equitable rights for breach of contract that it may have
under applicable law. 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. Upon a termination of the Executive's employment for
Cause or by the Executive by resignation, the Executive shall forfeit
all stock options and restricted stock that are not vested on the Date
of Termination.
6. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit
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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 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.
7. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for
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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
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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").
8. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
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(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, 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 8 (a "Payment") would
be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 8(a), if it shall be determined that the
Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Executive,
after taking into account the Payments and the Gross-Up Payment, would
not receive a net after-tax benefit of at least $25,000 (taking into
account both income taxes and any Excise Tax) as compared to the net
after-tax proceeds to the Executive resulting from an elimination of
the Gross-Up Payment and a reduction of the Payments, in the
aggregate, to an amount (the "Reduced Amount") such that the receipt
of Payments would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up
Payment shall be made to the Executive and the Payments, in the
aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 8(c), all determinations required
to be made under this Section 8, 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 Ernst & Young, L.L.P., 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
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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 8, 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 Section 4999 of the Code 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 8(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 it 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 effectively to
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
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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 8(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 8(a) or 8(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 8(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
8(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.
9. Confidential Information. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity
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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,
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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 9 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts
otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
10. Successors.
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(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.
11. Miscellaneous.
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(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of California, 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:
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If to the Company:
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Crown Vantage Inc.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, President and CEO
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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 shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other
provision or right of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's 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
day and year first above written.
CROWN VANTAGE INC.
By__________________________________ Date 9/2/99
R. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Executive Vice President and CFO
"The Executive"
By___________________________________ Date 8/31/99
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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