AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AND
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) by and between Spok Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and ________ (the “Executive”) dated as of April ____, 2017 (the “Effective Date”). This Agreement amends and restates an agreement by and between the Company and Executive dated May 5, 2011 (the “Prior Agreement”) which is hereby superseded and replaced in its entirety with this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently an employee of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of the Executive in the Executive’s assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from any future reductions-in-force of employees at the Company and any possible Change in Control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board has concluded that the interests of the Company described above can be best satisfied by agreeing to make certain payments to the Executive if the Executive’s employment terminates in certain circumstances either before or following a Change in Control as set forth in and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. | Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: |
“Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Company, (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest and (iii) an affiliate of the Company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, in each case as determined by the Committee.
“Cause” shall mean (A) dishonesty of a material nature that relates to the performance of services for the Company by the Executive; (B) criminal conduct (other than minor infractions and traffic violations) that relates to the performance of services under for the Company by the Executive; (C) the Executive’s willfully breaching or failing to perform his duties as an employee of the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive having a Disability), within a reasonable period of time after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties; or (D) the willful engaging by the Executive in conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. No act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that such action or omission was in the reasonable best interests of the Company.
“Change in Control” shall mean and includes each of the following:
(i) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or
(ii) During any period of two consecutive years during the term of this Agreement, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i) above or clause (iii) below) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(iii) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:
(a)Which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and
(b)After which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.8(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
(iv) The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
In addition, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Disability” shall mean a condition or circumstance such that the Executive has become totally and permanently disabled as defined or described in the Company’s long term disability benefit plan applicable to executive officers as in effect at the time the Executive’s disability is incurred.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Good Reason” shall mean, without the Executive’s express written consent, any of the following, unless such act or failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination given in respect thereof:
(i) the Executive is removed from the Executive’s position as was in effect prior to the Change in Control for any reason other than (A) by reason of death, Disability or voluntary resignation or (B) for Cause; provided that such action results in a material diminution of Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities;
(ii) the Executive is assigned any duties inconsistent in a material respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting relationships), authority, duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control if such assignment results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities;
(iii) the Company materially breaches any agreement under which the Executive provides services;
(iv) the Executive’s annual base salary or annual bonus opportunity as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or thereafter if higher) is reduced (except for across-the-board reductions similarly affecting all senior executives of the Company and all senior executives of any Person in control of the Company); provided such reduction is a material diminution of Executive’s base compensation or a material breach of any agreement under which the Executive provides services;
(v) the failure by the Company to continue to provide the Executive with benefits at least as favorable in the aggregate as those enjoyed by the Executive under the Company’s pension, life insurance, medical, health and accident, disability, travel, deferred compensation and savings plans in which the Executive was participating at the time of the Change in Control, the taking of any action by the Company that would directly or indirectly materially reduce such benefits in the aggregate or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control unless such material fringe benefit is replaced with a comparable benefit, or the failure by the
Company to continue to provide the Executive with the number of paid vacation days to which the Executive is entitled; provided such reduction in benefits and compensation is material;
(vi) the failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in Section 10 hereof;
(vii) any relocation of the Executive’s principal place of business as of the date immediately preceding a Change in Control or thereafter that, in order to maintain the same commuting distance, would require him to relocate his principal residence by more than fifty (50) miles; or
(viii) any purported termination of the Executive’s employment that is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Section 5(b) hereof, which termination for purposes of this Agreement shall be ineffective.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination shall not be treated as a termination for Good Reason unless the Executive shall have delivered a Notice of Termination stating that the Executive intends to terminate employment for Good Reason within thirty (30) days, and such Termination must occur within seventy five (75) days, of the Executive’s having actual knowledge of the initial occurrence of one or more of such events, provided, in each such event, the Company fails to cure within thirty (30) days of receipt of such Notice of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of “Good Reason” or good faith determination of the Company’s failure to cure within the thirty (30) day period made by the Executive shall be conclusive.
“Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company and (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
“Section 409A Penalties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 of this Agreement.
“Specified Employee” shall mean any person described in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as determined from time to time by the Company in its discretion.
“Termination of Employment” shall mean and be interpreted in a manner consistent with the definition of “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). The Company retains the right and discretion to specify, and may specify, whether a Termination of Employment occurs for individuals providing services to the Company immediately prior to an asset purchase transaction in which the Company is the seller, who provide services to a buyer after and in connection with such asset purchase transaction; provided, such specification is made in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(4).
2. | Term of Agreement. The term of this Agreement will commence as of the date hereof (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2020 (the “Initial Term”). On December 31, 2020 and on each subsequent anniversary thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew and extend for a period of 12 months (each such 12-month period being a “Renewal Term”) unless written notice of non-renewal is delivered from either party to the other not less than 60 days prior to the expiration of the then-existing Initial Term or Renewal Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of two years from the date of such Change in Control, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided. |
3. | Termination Prior to any Changes in Control. |
(a)Termination Without Cause. Upon a Termination of Employment of the Executive during the term of this Agreement by the Company without Cause prior to any Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Section 4 hereof. If Executive is terminated for Cause during the term of this Agreement whether before or after any Change in Control, Executive shall have no rights or benefits hereunder.
(b)Notice of Termination. Prior to any Change in Control, the Company may effectuate a Termination of Employment of Executive without Cause upon ten (10) days written notice, or for Cause upon immediate written notice, in either case delivered to Executive by hand or in accordance with Section 11 hereof.
(c)Date of Termination. In the event of Executive’s Termination of Employment by the Company prior to any Change in Control, Executive’s last day of employment shall be the date set forth in the written notice delivered to Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof.
4.Compensation upon Termination Without Cause Prior to any Change in Control; Release. Prior to any Change in Control, upon Termination of Employment of the Executive by the Company without Cause (other than because of death or Disability) during the term of this Agreement, in lieu of any severance benefits Executive would otherwise be eligible to receive under any employment agreement or arrangement with the Company or under the Company’s severance plan, if any, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits and payments, subject to Executive signing, within 45 days after the date of Executive’s Termination of Employment, and not revoking a release of claims in favor of the Company and its Affiliates in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company (a “Release”);
(a)Continuation of Executive’s base salary payable in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices for a period of twenty-six (26) weeks plus two (2) additional weeks for each year of continuous service by Executive with the Company and its Affiliates or predecessor entities for up to a maximum of fifty two (52) weeks (the “Severance Period”) commencing on the Date of Termination; and
(b)Payment in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices of the product of the (i) Executive’s Eligible Annual Bonus, multiplied by (ii) a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of days from January 1 of the year of Termination of Employment to the date of termination, inclusive, and the denominator which shall be 365, at the time annual bonuses are paid under the Company’s short term incentive plan for such year (the “STIP”) but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of termination. The “Eligible Annual Bonus” for Executive shall be determined by the Company in good faith based upon the Company’s actual performance during the full year in which Executive’s Termination of Employment occurred and the enumerated performance targets established by the Company under the STIP for the Executive; and
(c)Subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Section 8 hereof and the limitation in Section 13, life, accident and health insurance benefits substantially similar to those that the Executive was receiving immediately prior to the notice of termination until the earlier to occur of (i) the end of the Severance Period or (ii) such time as the Executive is covered by comparable programs of a subsequent employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines that providing such coverage would result in a violation of law or the Company incurring an excise tax, then in lieu of providing such life, accident and health insurance benefits, the Company shall pay Employee a monthly amount equal to the premium amounts the Company would have paid to provide such continued benefits.
5.Termination Following Change in Control.
(a)Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, upon a Termination of Employment during the term of this Agreement by the Company without Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Section 6 hereof.
(b)Notice of Termination. Following a Change in Control, any purported Termination of Employment by the Company or by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 11 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement after a Change in Control, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, shall set 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 shall specify the Date of Termination. The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company under this Agreement or preclude the Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights under this Agreement.
(c)Date of Termination. Following a Change in Control, “Date of Termination” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which shall not be less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given, (except for a termination pursuant to paragraph (vi) of the definition of Good Reason, in which event the date upon which any succession referred to therein becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination, or a Termination of Employment by the Company for Cause, in which event the date such notice is received shall be the Date of Termination).
6.Compensation upon Termination without Cause or for Good Reason Following a Change in Control; Release. Following a Change in Control, upon any Termination of Employment of the Executive by the Company without Cause (other than because of death or Disability), or any Termination of Employment by the Executive for Good Reason, in any case, during the term of this Agreement, in lieu of any severance benefits Executive would otherwise be eligible to receive under any employment agreement or arrangement with the Company or under the Company’s severance plan, if any, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits and payments, subject to Executive signing, within 45 days after the Date of Termination, and not revoking, a Release:
(a)A cash lump sum payment (payable within ten (10) days of the Date of Termination) of full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time the Notice of Termination is given or, if higher, at the rate in effect immediately prior to the reduction giving rise (pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of Good Reason) to such termination, plus all other amounts to which the Executive is entitled under any other compensation or benefit plan of the Company at the time such payments are due under the terms of such plans; and
(b)A cash lump sum payment (payable within ten (10) days of the Date of Termination) equal to the sum of the Final Salary and the Target Bonus. “Final Salary” means the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect on the Date of Termination or, if higher, the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the reduction giving rise (pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of Good Reason) to such termination. “Target Bonus” means 100% of the targeted cash bonus Executive would be entitled to receive if he (and, if applicable, the Company) were to achieve all of the enumerated performance targets established by the Company under the STIP for the Executive during the year in which the Date of Termination occurs; and
(c)A cash lump sum payment payable within ten (10) days of the Date of Termination equal to the product of (i) the Executive’s Final Salary, multiplied (ii) by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the sum of (x) twenty six (26) plus the (y) product of two (2) multiplied by the number of years of continuous service by Executive with the Company and its Affiliates or predecessor entities up to a maximum of thirteen (13) years, and the denominator of which shall be fifty-two (52); and
(d)Subject to the Executive’s continued compliance with Section 8 hereof and the limitation in Section 13, life, accident and health insurance benefits substantially similar to those that the Executive was receiving immediately prior to the Change in Control (or thereafter, if higher) until the earlier to occur of (i) the 18 month anniversary of the Date of Termination or (ii) such time as the Executive is covered by comparable programs of a subsequent employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines that providing such coverage would result in a violation of law or the Company incurring an excise tax, then in lieu of providing such life, accident and health insurance benefits, the Company shall pay Employee a monthly amount equal to the premium amounts the Company would have paid to provide such continued benefits. Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section 6(d) shall be reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received during the 18 month period following termination, and any such benefits actually received by the Executive shall be reported to the Company.
(e)In addition to all other amounts payable under this Section 6, the Executive shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable under any other plan or agreement relating to retirement benefits (if any) (including plans or agreements of any successor following a Change in Control) in accordance with the terms of such plan or agreement; provided that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Executive shall be credited under such plans or agreements (including plans and agreements of any successor) with one year additional service with the Company after the Date of Termination for all purposes, including vesting, eligibility and benefit accrual; provided that if the benefit attributable to such service cannot be paid from a tax-qualified plan of the Company, such benefit shall be provided as an additional benefit (before offsets) under any supplemental executive retirement plan or restoration-type plan in which the Executive participates, and if the Executive participates in no such plan, such benefit shall be paid in a cash lump sum (payable within ten days of the Date of Termination); and provided further that in no event shall such benefit be duplicated under two or more arrangements.
7.Full Settlement; Mitigation. 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 that the Company may have against the Executive or others. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in Section 4 or Section 6 hereof by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor (except as specifically provided in Section 4 or Section 6 hereof) shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in Section 4 or Section 6 hereof be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer or by retirement benefits after the Date of Termination, or otherwise.
8.Confidential Information; Non-Solicitation; Non-Competition. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret, proprietary, or confidential materials, knowledge, data or any other information relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses (“Confidential Information”), which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and that shall not have been or now or hereafter have become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). During the term of this Agreement and (a) for a period of three years thereafter with respect to Confidential Information that does not include trade secrets, and (b) any time thereafter with respect to Confidential Information that does include trade secrets, 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 Confidential Information to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it.
In addition, the Executive shall not, at any time during the term of this Agreement and for a period of two (2) years thereafter, (a) engage or become interested as an owner (other than as an owner of less than five percent (5%) of the stock of a publicly owned company), stockholder, partner, director, officer, employee (in an executive capacity), consultant or otherwise in any business that is competitive with any business conducted by the Company or any of its affiliated companies during the term of this Agreement or as of the Date of Termination, as applicable, or (b) recruit, solicit for employment, hire or engage any employee or consultant of the Company or any person who was an employee or consultant of the Company within two (2) years prior to the Date of Termination. The Executive acknowledges that these provisions are necessary for the Company’s protection and are not unreasonable, since he would be able to obtain employment with companies whose businesses are not competitive with those of the Company and its affiliated companies and would be able to recruit and hire personnel other than employees of the Company. The duration and the scope of these restrictions on the Executive’s activities are divisible, so that if any provision of this paragraph is held or deemed to be invalid, that provision shall be automatically modified to the extent necessary to make it valid.
9. | Remedies. The Executive acknowledges that a violation or attempted violation on the Executive’s part of Section 8 will cause irreparable damage to the Company, and the Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled as a matter of right to an injunction, out of any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or further violation of such promises by the Executive or the Executive’s employees, partners or agents. The Executive agrees that such right to an injunction is cumulative and in addition to whatever other remedies the Company may have under law or equity. |
10.Successors; Binding Agreement.
(a)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 expressly assume 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 defined above and any successor to its business and/or assets that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. Prior to a Change in Control, the term “Company” shall also mean any Affiliate of the Company to which the Executive may be transferred and the Company shall cause such successor employer to be considered the “Company” and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and this Agreement shall be amended to so provide. Following a Change in Control the term “Company” shall not mean any Affiliate of the Company to which Executive may be transferred unless Executive shall have previously approved of such transfer in writing, in which case the Company shall cause such successor employer to be considered the “Company” and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and this Agreement shall be amended to so provide. Failure of the Company to obtain an assumption and agreement as described in this Section 10(a) prior to the effective date of a succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled to under this Agreement if the Executive were to terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason after a Change in Control, except that, for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.
(b)This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would still be payable hereunder if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.
11. Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be addressed and delivered, in the case of the Company, to the Secretary of the Company at the principal office of the Company and, in the case of the Executive, to the Executive’s address as shown in the records of the Company or to such other address as may be designated in writing by either party.
12. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
13. In-Kind Benefits and Reimbursements. In-kind benefits and reimbursements provided under this Agreement during any tax year of the Executive shall not affect in-kind benefits or reimbursements to be provided in any other tax year of the Executive, provided, however that the foregoing shall not apply to any applicable limits on amounts that may be reimbursed for medical expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code and are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, reimbursement requests must be timely submitted by the Executive and, if timely submitted, reimbursements must be made on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. In no event shall the Employee be entitled to any reimbursement payments after the last day of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. This paragraph shall only apply to in-kind benefits and reimbursements that would result in taxable compensation income to the Employee.
14. Claw-back Policy. Executive acknowledges that Executive’s incentive compensation payments under this Agreement are and shall be subject to and, when and to the extent applicable, governed by the Company’s compensation claw-back policy, as adopted by the Board and in effect as of or prior to the Executive’s Date of Termination, and that the Company may offset any payments hereunder against amounts owing or recoupable under the claw-back policy, as determined by the Board.
15. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.
16. Governing Law; Avoidance of Section 409A Penalty; Separate Payments. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event of a payment to be made, or a benefit to be provided, pursuant to this Agreement based upon Executive’s Termination of Employment at a time when the Executive is determined to be a Specified Employee by the Company in its sole discretion and such payment or provision of such benefit is not exempt or otherwise permitted under Section 409A of the Code without the imposition of Section 409A Penalties, such payment shall not be made, and such benefit shall not be provided, before the date which is six (6) months and one day after the Executive’s Termination of Employment. All payments or benefits delayed pursuant to this Section shall be aggregated into one lump sum payment following the first day of the seventh month after Executive’s Termination of Employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices.
This Agreement is intended to be written, administered, interpreted and construed in a manner such that no payment or benefits provided under the Agreement become subject to (a) the gross income inclusion set forth within Code Section 409A(a)(1)(A) or (b) the interest and additional tax set forth within Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B) (together, referred to herein as the “Section 409A Penalties”), including, where appropriate, the construction of defined terms to have meanings that would not cause the imposition of Section 409A Penalties. In no event shall the Company be required to provide a tax gross-up payment to Executive with respect to Section 409A Penalties.
For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), each payment that the Executive may be eligible to receive under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate and distinct payment.
11. | Validity. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. |
12.Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
13.Arbitration. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9 hereof, the parties agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy based on common law, equity, or any federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation (other than workers’ compensation claims) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement, its termination or any Termination of Employment, including whether such dispute is arbitrable, shall be settled by arbitration. This agreement to arbitrate includes but is not limited to all claims for any form of illegal discrimination, improper or unfair treatment or dismissal, and all tort claims. The Executive shall still have a right to file a discrimination charge with a federal or state agency, but the final resolution of any discrimination claim shall be submitted to arbitration instead of a court or jury. The arbitration proceeding shall be conducted under the employment dispute resolution arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association in effect at the time a demand for arbitration under the rules is made. The decision of the arbitrator(s), including determination of the amount of any damages suffered, shall be exclusive, final, and binding on all parties, their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
14.Status Prior to Change in Control. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall impair or interfere in any way with the Executive’s right to terminate employment or the right of the Company to terminate the Executive’s employment with or without Cause prior to a Change in Control. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as a contract of employment between the Company and the Executive.
15.Legal Fees. The Company shall pay the Executive’s reasonable legal fees and expenses that may be incurred by the Executive in contesting or disputing any Termination of Employment following a Change in Control or in seeking to obtain or enforce any of Executive rights or benefits provided by this Agreement, if the Executive is the prevailing party in connection with any such dispute. This Section 21 shall not apply to any action or proceeding instituted by the Company to enforce Section 8 of this Agreement or to seek the remedies afforded to the Company in Section 9 of this Agreement.
16.Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes any prior agreements between the Company and the Executive regarding the subject matter hereof, including the Prior Agreement. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
By: _____________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
CEO
Executive
______________________
[NAME]